Enugu: Group reactivates demands for an independent state of Biafra

Indigenous People of Biafra have stated that May 30, 2014 is the day of commencement of their agitation for an independent nation of Biafra to be carved out of Nigeria.

Leader of IPOB and executive director of Radio Biafra, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu stated this on Friday, at the memorial of Biafra’s fallen heroes held at hill top Ngwo, Enugu in Enugu North Local Government Area of Enugu State.

Kanu spoke on Friday, 30th May, when the event held. He told newsmen: “we have honoured our dead, today we remember those that fought and died for us”, even as he pointed out that the memorial marks the beginning of proper freedom fighting for the Biafrans: “we do Biafra freedom fighting the way freedom fighting should be done”.

He explained that though the agitation would begin peacefully, it might end up involving the taking up of arms since according to him, “there cannot be real freedom fighting and drinking a cup of tea”.

“We come in peace but we bring hell with us. If there is no Biafra this place will be completely destroyed; everything will die here or they give us Biafra. So there is and will be no compromise; we don’t retreat and we don’t surrender. We have come here to fight for our country or we die fighting for our freedom,” he declared.

Kanu decried the non payment of benefits due to Biafran soldiers by Nigeria: “it is a continuation of the same injustice that led us to try to extricate ourselves from this Lugard creation called ‘Zoological Republic of Nigeria”.

He further stated: “That is why it is very disheartening that you see old men in every blessed month crying and wishing that their money will come to them and nothing happens. The Yorubas have been paid, the Hausa Fulani have been paid then those of them belonging to Biafra have not been paid. It is an injustice that must be addressed and it is part of the reason why we are doing what we are doing because in the new Biafra we would not have this level of injustice”.

Kanu pointed out that the reasons for the re-declaration of Biafra was in reaction to the monumental and serial acts of injustice against the Indigenous People of Biafra, warning that: “Nigeria has no choice because Biafra will come on or before September 30, 2015!”.

A member of the Biafran war veterans, Col Ben Ndu said in spite of several letters and representations to the authorities, no meaningful action has been taken to address the plight of his colleagues adding that it was painful that Igbo legislators at the national assembly have never raised the issue for debate or discussion.

The memorial, which is symbolic, was held on May 30, making it exactly 47 years since Biafra was declared by late Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu.

High points of the event included a march past by various divisions of Biafra war veterans, who sang songs, and the unveiling of a cenotaph in commemoration of “all those that lost their lives fighting for Biafra and members of the Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra, (MASSOB)”.