From Emmanuel Uzor Abakaliki
MOVEMENT for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) has said referendum for Biafra will collapse if the current move for a referendum fails.
MASSOB leader, Uchenna Madu, in a statement issued yesterday said Biafra, as a kingdom, existed many centuries before the amalgamation of the geographical area called Nigeria in 1914.
He said “before the coming of the Portuguese to Biafraland and eventual conquering by the British who later colonised Nigeria, the people of Biafra had nothing to do with the Hausa-Fulani or Yoruba tribe either politically, economically, culturally, religiously or socially.
“It was the British, because of their political and economic interests crowned with envy against the future existence of the people of Biafra that yoked the people of Biafra with that of Arewa and Oduduwa in Nigeria.
“Many Nigeria nationalists and some elders are now calling for restructuring of Nigeria.”
Madu further disclosed that ethnic pressure groups and activities of MASSOB, IPOB, Niger Delta Avengers, Biafra People National Council, Lower Niger Congress, Afra Descendants, EPC, BLC, Biafra Niger Delta Militant Warriors etc were “evidence of the political imbalance, systematic injustice, political domination, economical, academic, religious and social slavery experienced daily by Eastern/Middle Belt regions of Nigeria.
“MASSOB insists that referendum is the only solution to these numerous gigantic political imbalances against the future of the people of Biafra, a referendum that will determine and uphold the sovereignty of the rights,
choices and wishes of the indigenous people that are clamouring for Biafra.
“As the leader of MASSOB and a leading figure in over 16 years of Biafran struggle for self-determination, I will resign and cease to be a Biafran if referendum for Biafra exit fails.
“MASSOB also advised leaders and arrowheads of other Biafra agitating groups to abhor and avoid the spirit of self-centeredness, superiority complex and domination, saying such complexities and sentiments will always promote group interest over the general sacred interest of Biafra.”