- According to MASSOB, the fight for Biafra does not give room for restructuring
- The pro-Biafra group released a statement accusing IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu of betraying the struggle
- The group also claims that their struggle is non-violent, therefore President Buhari had no grouse with them
It
appears that the crisis within the pro-Biafra groups Movement for the
Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and Indigenous
People of Biafra (IPOB) has deepened.
On
Saturday, August 26, MASSOB said that Nnamdi Kanu has shaken hands with
the federal government and therefore compromised the struggle to achieve
an independent state of Biafra after he met with some politicians.
Accoridng
to Punch, Mr Sunday Okereafor, the MASSOB National Director of
Information, said in an interview that they would continue the struggle
through non-violent means and they would not be deterred by IPOB.
Okereafor said: “IPOB
has compromised the struggle; the IPOB leader (Nnamdi Kanu) has had a
handshake with the Federal Government. He has embraced restructuring.
What are we going to restructure in Nigeria? We are saying no to that.
“He
(Kanu) has told the world that he has compromised and he has deceived
millions of people. But we are insisting that it is Biafra or nothing.
We are storming Onitsha on September 13 to celebrate our 18th
anniversary.
“The IPOB leader is saying
that after restructuring of Nigeria, he will abandon the struggle. He
has a hidden agenda. He has access to politicians, senators and
governors. He is in the struggle for his selfish interest. But we are
telling the Federal Government that on Biafra we stand. No matter the
intimidation, the struggle continues.”
When
asked about the recent warning by President Buhari on groups clamoring
for disunity, he said the President could have been referring to Boko
Haram and Fulani herdsmen killing and destroying people’s farmlands.
Explaining, he said:and
“Our struggle is based on non-violence. We (MASSOB) are not among those
President (Muhammadu) Buhari mentioned that they have crossed the red
lines because we have been non-violent in our struggle.
“The groups threatening Nigeria’s unity are Boko Haram,
Fulani herdsmen, who are his brothers. Look at it now, Boko Haram is
looking for autonomy and the Fulani herdsmen are not interested in the
unity of Nigeria and they are killing people all over Nigeria. Yet, none
of them has been prosecuted.
“We have
continued to tell the Nigerian Government to hold a sovereign national
conference. Must we go to war? Must we stay together in Nigeria?
"Boko
Haram is saying that they want Islamic Republic and the Fulani herdsmen
are going everywhere and killing people and destroying farmlands.
Buhari knows who he is talking to; it cannot be MASSOB because we are
non-violent.”
According to reports, the group’s position was made public in a statement signed by one of its leaders, Uchenna Madu.
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