And May 30
“I’m saying it loud and clear; don’t listen to IPOB; we have been doing it since 2003, what have we achieved with the sit-at-home? Has it worked? They should also stop all these protests in London, New York, China and the rest of the world. They have freedom of expression in those countries, and that is the highest you can get from them. Has any leader in those countries said anything about Biafra? So, these protests by IPOB are a waste of time.
“Making protest in Rome and London is noise making. We have to concentrate on America’s support. IPOB has not won Biafrans any friendship across the world from their sit-at-home and protests.”
He repeated his call that Biafrans, “wherever you are in the world, wherever you are in Nigeria or Africa, come back home on or before May 30th. We are telling Biafrans not to sit at home thinking that Manna will fall from heaven for them; it is not possible.
“There will be public holiday on May 30; I’m appealing to all market traders, are you in Enugu, are you in Onitsha, are you in Lagos, are you in Alaba, are you in Ariara Market Aba, Ogbete Enugu, wherever you are, bear it in mind business without security is nothing.
“I’m bringing everybody to Enugu, let everybody come, we shall win because we have US backing. So, all schools should remain closed that day. We shall restore our educational system as soon as we declare
Biafra.
It could be recalled that Onwuka had on March 7, 2014 led a group that attacked the Enugu government house and hoisted the flags of defunct Biafra. However, his return to the state Broadcasting Service (ESBS) on June 5, 2014 to use facilities of the broadcasting house to announce Biafra Independence was met with stiff resistance by security operatives who arrested him alongside ten of his members.
He was charged with treasonable felony by the federal government and for three years was held behind bars only to be discharged last June 5, by the Federal high court, Owerri, for want of evidence in the case filed against him. A day after his discharge however, he had gathered his members in Enugu, where he declared that Biafra republic would “be re-launched to make it more forceful and impactful”.
The Uwazuruike’s BIM has already held a procession last Tuesday, May 22, as a mark of Biafra day celebration. In that exercise which held throughout the zone, several of the members were arrested and clamped into prison.
Meanwhile, the different sound beats from the pro-agitators over May 30 is eliciting some concerns; Are there cracks in the struggle, who should the people follow? Several questions are also being asked on what the date portends for Ndigbo considering what the zone suffers each time; there was sit-at – home and other activities of the agitators. Will the call for sit-at –home be observed by the people or will they troop to Enugu government house to declare Biafra for Ndigbo and hoist the Biafra flag as clamoured by Benjamin Onwuka?
There is the believe however that the way and manner Nnamdi Kanu “fizzled out when ovation was loudest” would continue to hunt the struggle, stressing that, “Anambra state governorship election held after all the threats they issued; so I do not know why anybody should continue to listen to the or- ders of the promoters of Biafra”
Again was the Igbo Summit of Ohanaeze Ndigbo which held in Awka, last Monday which the IPOB had threatened to disrupt as well as called on Igbos to boycott.
Of course the Igbos refused to listen to them as the event was peaceful and massively attended. Security forces overwhelmed the members of the group that and nothing was heard about them.
Many Igbo feel that it would be unreasonable to lose further lives to a cause that could be dialogued in a way, especially, when apex Igbo socio –cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo was still asking for justice over the killings of its youths during the last military operation python dance in the zone by soldiers.
But Chief Jude Igwesimba, a pro-biafra member told the Guardian that
“Biafra is a moving spirit. It lives within the people of the old eastern region and therefore cannot die. We are not forcing anybody to sit at his place, we are not asking anybody not to go to market or work because the last time, we held the exercise, the police on their own started opening the markets and begging people to come and do business. But we have made an appeal and we believe our people will listen to us.
“They will listen to us the more because the country is structured against Biafra people. They will respond to the clarion call because herdsmen are now licensed to kill at any given point with the federal government almost helpless. They will listen to us because Biafra has not been achieved. They will listen to us because there is so much injustice in the land.
“They will listen to us because the success of the sit-at-home will mark our collective quest in the condemnation of the invasion of Nnamdi Kanu’s residence and his disappearance last year as well as our call on the Nigeria army to produce him wherever he is kept. “I want you to watch out in the coming days what will happen. We have no guns to distribute; but the truth is that, you will not ask a man who decided that he will not leave his house to report to his business. So all the opposition being mounted is to discourage an idea whose time has come; but we are not relenting”.
Guardian gathered that already the groups have begun sensitization of residents on the need to observe the sit-at-home exercise. The proponents are moving into markets and other public places to appeal to the people to ensure its strict compliance to the order. THE POLICE CONNECTION:
It does not seem that the police will fold her arms and watch, while what appears like a challenge on public peace is implemented. In, fact, sources said every facet of security around the zone is being activated to ensure there was no breakdown in law and order as the May 30, date draw closer and a trail on the promoters of the cause.
Enugu State Police Public Relations Officer, Ebere Amaraizu has warned that no act of lawlessness would be allowed in the state, explaining that the force was prepared to protect all surroundings in the southeast zone.
“Security will be provided for people to go about their normal businesses as there are no two governments in one. Let nobody take laws into his hands and engage in activities that will derail public peace because the police are prepared to resist any such attempt”, he warned.