From Obinna Odogwu, Abakaliki, Jeff Amechi Agbodo, Onitsha and Perpetua Egesimba
Movement for Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), under the leadership of Mr. Uchenna Madu, has described the proscription of activities of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) as regrettable and unacceptable.
MASSOB accused governors of the South East of desirous of second terms more than the freedom of their people from slavery, marginalisation, harassment and molestation.
Madu however commended Ohanaeze Ndigbo, led by Chief John Nnia Nwodo, for their stand against the declaration of IPOB as a terrorist group.
“MASSOB is proud of Dr. Nnia Nwodo and his leadership style. Their stand against injustice, intimidation and brutal killings of our Ndigbo are commendable. They have proven that they are our fathers and we are their children. No matter the deferences between a father and son, the father will not disown his son.”
…Residents boycott army medicare
Meanwhile, residents of Abakiliki, capital of Ebonyi state have boycotted free medical check-up and treatment, offered by the Nigerian Army, in alleged solidarity with residents of Aba and Umuahia, who have been under military occupation.
Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, declared the programme open at Nkwagu Primary School in Abakaliki.
Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi, who was represented by his deputy, Dr Kelechi Igwe, at the flag-off thanked the military for the free medicare initiative and praised the military for protecting the territorial integrity of the country.
But, Chairman of Abakaliki Local Government Area, Emmanuel Nwangele, blamed low turnout on the experience in Abia, and noted that “people are afraid because of what is happening in the society. They have never seen the army carrying out such gesture.”
Meanwhile, Founder Powerline Bible Church, Bishop Lawrence Osagie, has said deployment of soldiers to the South East will not stop Biafra agitation and asked the federal government to create a forum where it can sit with IPOB and dialogue on what the agitation is about.
Osagie spoke in Lagos, at a press conference on the church’s upcoming Power Conference with theme ‘Signs, Wonders and Miracles Today’, scheduled tfor October 1 to 8, 2017. He regretted that successive leaders of Nigeria have bequeathed hunger and hatred to the country, and added that only God can give the country true freedom from the tentacles of the terrible leaders it has.