Between Biafra Agitators, Ndigbo
THE last time the South East and Ndi-igbo in parts of the world witnessed a Biafraordered sit-at–home was on May 30, 2017. The action was part of strategies by the agitators to attract the attention of the Federal Government, as well as, world leaders to the undying demand for independence by the people of the defunct Republic of Biafra. Over time, every May 30 has become an annual ritual as far as the struggle for the actualisation of the Biafra is concerned, especially since the end of the civil war.
Last year’s year’s sit-at-home, was a resounding success as it marked a turning point in the annals of the struggle. And smarting in the euphoria of the success achieved in the exercise, the Nnamdi Kanu-led Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), which championed the order, the Uchenna Madu-led Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), and other agitating groups respectively informed the world that their total compliance indicated how much the people loved and needed the much-sort after freedom from Nigeria.
They also added that it sent out a signal that there was no going back in the quest for independence for the people of Biafra.
It would not be in contemplation to outline that the outcome of that last year’s sit-at– home order regarded as the most successful in the history of the Biafran struggle further emboldened the groups into creating other activities afterwards with a view to driving home the point that they need freedom.
At the IPOB, it was followed by increased tempo in the holding of rallies with talks on self determination as its fulcrum; Kanu’s rise to fame as he became the rallying point for the struggle; his Afaraukwu Ibeku, Umuahia, Abia becoming a Mecca of sort with the level of visits being made at the place and the setting up of Biafra security outfit at Afaraukwu, where guard of honour was mounted daily with Kanu taking the salute.
Inside most cities in the southeast and elsewhere, sell of Biafra adornments took rather an upward swing. Newspaper stands were daily being crowded in search of headlines on Biafra, especially stories emanating from Kanu among several others. Promotion of Biafra activities gained prominence.
While the groups demanded date for referendum on Biafra as the only thing that was welcomed in the zone, different threats were issued out on why elections were no longer possible in the zone, even as promoters of the struggle, said the boycott would begin with the November 18, governorship election in Anambra state.
While the heat was on with increasing tension and southeast almost enveloped by protests; came the federal government’s military onslaught, “Operation Python Dance 11” with headquarters at Umuahia, Abia state. Although the Military high command had claimed it was not targeted at any group but aimed at fighting crimes and criminalities in the zone and to further unite the country, its operations later proved that it was targeted at crushing the agitators and reduce the agitations.
In the ten days in which the exercise lasted, many killings and injuries were recorded. Property and homes were wrecked in a manner never witnessed before in the zone since the end of the war. Kanu’s whereabouts has remained unknown since late last year in which his home was invaded by the soldiers in the exercise.
The federal government did not stop at that, it went further to procure the order of court proscribing the IPOB and reinforced the case in court against sureties of Kanu. That was few days after the governors in the southeast zone had banned the activities of the group in the zone and ordered its members to channel every grievance about governance in the country to it.
With the development, the agitators lost potency; the promoters began to disappear from the streets; the various Biafra adornments and insignia that were mounted at public places soon fizzled out; indicating that the nucleus of the struggle had been badly damaged and tension began to ease in the zone.
However, as another May 30, beckons, the pro-biafra agitators appear to have regained their voice and spoiling for another show down with the federal government with an “order” for sit- at –home on that date on people of the region.
They have insisted that the spirit of Biafra must be kept aglow with the civil disobedience, which according to them coincides with the date the former Biafra leader, late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, announced Biafra independence.
Major road junctions now wear posters of the trio of Ojukwu, Nnamdi Kanu and late Col. Joe Achuzia with a bold inscription “Igbos should sit at home on May 30 to honour them”. There are others forms of sensitization going on the zone by the groups.
But beneath the call for sit-at –home being championed by IPOB, MASSOB and others is another call on Biafrans being championed by the Biafra Zionists Federation (BZF) on the people to come out on that day. While IPOB is asking people for total compliance, BZF is asking Biafra indigenes to throng Enugu government house for the announcement of Biafra Inde- pendence. The Ralph Uwazuruike Biafra Independent Movement (BIM) says otherwise - Biafra day has held on May 22, this year. The discordant tones are given credence that there is a crack among the agitators. Announcing however, the sit-at-home for May 30, which it said coincided with the Biafra declaration several years ago, its promoters said it would be used to honour Biafrans killed during the Nigeria civil war.
The announcement which came in a statement signed by Emma Powerful, the group’s Publicity Secretary, said there would be “no vehicular, human and animal movement in the five states of the zone”.
It further advised churches, mosques, synagogues and other places of worship to open at the midnight of May 29 for special midnight prayer in memory of those killed in the struggle, adding that a special vigil would hold at some designated homes of Biafra heroes.
The group went further to call on the people of Southern Kaduna, Middle belt zone, especially Benue, Adamawa, Kogi as well as others affected by herdsmen terrorism in the southwest to observe a day of prayer and join in the sit- at –home.
Credence was lent to the call for sit-at – home when a coalition of pro-biafra groups which rose from a meeting allegedly held in Enugu last week, urged Ndigbo to observe a candle-night procession on the eve of the exercise.
“The people of Biafra all over the world are enjoined to observe the candle night prayers in their respective homes if they cannot participate in the holy procession. It will be a mark of respect and honour to our fatherland. It is also a reminder to the visions and commitments of our great ancestors that we are not Nigerians but Biafrans. We enjoin our people to get ready for the celebration of this great anniversary which we will hold to remind ourselves to continue the self determination movement for Biafra actualization and restoration”, the coalition said in their statement.
Those involved in the meeting according to them include the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Eastern Peoples’ Congress (EPC), Igbo Youth Cultural and Restoration Initiative (IYCRI), Bilie Human Rights Initiative (BHRI), Movement of Biafrans in Nigeria and Salvation People of Biafra (SP).
Others are World Union of Biafran Scientists (WUBS), Shadow Government of Biafra (SGB), Biafran National Liberation Council (BNLC), Biafra Revolutionary Organization (BRO), Biafran Liberation Crusade (BLC), Joint Revolutionary Organization (BRO), Biafra Revolutionary Force (BRF), Customary Government of Biafra (CGB), Biafran Intellectual Clergy Forum (BICF), Biafran Movement for Sovereignty (BIAMOS), Biafran Central Council (BCC) and Biafran United Liberation Council (BULCO).
But the Biafra Zionists Federation (BZF), led by Mazi Benjamin Onwuka who addressed a press conference in Enugu, last Wednesday, asked all indigenes of the defunct Biafra to ignore the call for sit-at –home and throng the Enugu government house where he would declare Biafra Independence and hoist Biafra flags.
He stated that sit- at-home protest had been observed in the last 15 years without any significant impact on Biafra, stressing that “Biafra will not be secured on a platter of gold”. Onwuka, who was flanked by members of his group, said that the group was relying on the support of the United States of America and Isreal to achieve the declaration, stressing that “Biafra failed in the past due to lack of international support.”
While faulting the strategy being adopted by the IPOB and MASSOB Onwuka said, “You can’t get Biafra by sitting at home; there is a saying in the Bible that ‘faith without work is dead’; you must act so that the United States of America can hear you.