Unknown to many, a silent and steady assemblage of Igbo citizens is going on, occasionally, in several parts of the country, and the world.
Igbos in Nigeria, who still feel disenfranchised, and those in diaspora who have been displaced ever since the war ended in 1970, are at the forefront of the movement, a rising tornado, which without gainsaying or any iota of overstatement, is a bubble waiting to burst.
The recent arraignment of self-styled Biafran Zionist Movement leader, Benjamin and his cohorts, and their apparent inhumane treatment by the security forces is enough reason for the disgruntled and even the most apathetic Igbo, to harbour some sense of unbelonging and bias by the country towards their tribe.
In a nation where the rule of law has often fallen under gross abuse, it is probably lost on the security forces in charge of the incarceration of the Biafran Zionist Movement, that being tried for treason doesn’t make one an animal, who should be degraded and dehumanized.
Also, the fact that somehow, in the Nigerian hierarchy, there are not too many Igbos occupying positions of power, either in the military or in the political landscape.
There are simply too many northerners in charge of the nation’s affairs, a chunk is Yoruba, while a few are Igbo. The disparity is starkly evident that Igbos receive the smallest slice of the cake, and consequently, they are unhappy and discontent gradually creeps in.
Home and abroad, quietly and increasingly, various Biafran groups and people who are sympathetic to their cause are converging to keep alive, the hope that the Biafran nation may someday rise again, perpetually.
He brazenly urged the Nigerian government to order everyone “to go back to where they came from”, implying that the nation’s leaders should allow wilful secession to take place.
“Nigerian government should ask everybody to go back to where they come from. Jonathan should leave where he is and start heading back to Biafraland because this is an announcement that even Jonathan’s life is at stake. They will kill him. Unless Jonathan divides the country, I am afraid he will pay dearly with his own life. Ask Aguiyi Ironsi, you will know what I mean.”
Kanu expressed a deep resentment by the Northerners and the rest of Nigeria for the Easterners, adding that affection can never be mutual between his region and others.
He added: “They hate us, they don’t like us, they feed from our oil and everything they do is designed to put themselves at the helm of affairs while we remain mere servants. Yet they are ready to kill us at every slight opportunity. It has now come home starkly for everybody to observe that they do not like us, will never like us, and can never like us.”
Recently when the Kano Central Mosque was bombed, the Facebook page of the IPOB was buzzing with excitement. The contributors were openly delighted that northern Muslims were the casualties of the attack by Islamic terrorist sect, Boko Haram.
A contributor wrote: “For those hypocrites, GOD is revenging for us and he is using your fellow northern Muslims to avenging for us, Isaiah 49 vs 26. I will make your oppressors eat their own flesh; they will be drunk on their own blood, as with wine. Then all mankind will know that I, the LORD, am your Saviour, your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.”
The post added that it would have been more satisfactory if more than 200 people had died in the bombing:
“I AM VERY HAPPY FOR THE (KANO MOSQUE BOMBING) BUT MY GRIEF WAS ONLY 200 ‘’NOMADS’’ DIED….. HOW I WISHED THE DEAD IS IN THEIR THOUSANDS (1000’S) LIKE THIS THEIR DIRTY SLIPPERS……………….ALLAH IS GREAT……..BIAFRANS WHAT DO YOU SAY??”
Meanwhile, on the same Facebook page, a contributor, Ozoemena, counseled the affluent Igbos whom have invested so much outside their region to do the needful and return back home.
Ozoemena wrote: “For sure about 95% of Biafran needs independent but our problem is that some few rich men invested so much outside our region. The fear of what may happen to their resources makes them enemy to themselves and to Biafra. My advice to them is to make hair while the sun shines. Tomorrow may be too late. At the appointed time Pharoh did not only released d Israelites lost his soldiers and horses for their sake. As far as God leaves, Biafra must soon be a soverign state.”
Media is a powerful society shaping tool everywhere in the world, and the surging Biafrans have also realized this, and have therefore set up the ‘Radio Biafra, which has Nnamdi Kanu has its Director.
The station on the frequency CHK 97.6 and 97.7 FM , which operates in Nkwerre, Ideato, Ntigha Ngwa, Ihiala, Owerri, Mbaise, Etiti, Mbano, Okigwe and Orlu, all in Imo state.
The Biafran radio station also has an internet listenership, as a sister Radio Station [RBL World] has been set up to take care of their “expanded focus in aggressive media activism/campaign bringing all cultures of the world to Biafra”.
On another Facebook page of the Biafran nation, calls for volunteers into the ‘army of Biafra’ has been put out multiple times in recent time.
At the same time, a ‘soldier’s pledge’ has been released for the “genuine volunteers”, the brave sons of Biafraland who have been drafted into the army.
It reads: “O ALL GENUINE VOLUNTEERS INTO THE ARMY OF BIAFRA, YOU MUST MEMORISE AND RECITE THE SOLDIERS PLEDGE THREE TIMES A DAY…..I pray that Chukwu Abhiama guide each and every one of you brave first sons of Biafraland on this historic occasion. I salute your courage and patriotism. Happy camping”
Soldier’s Creed
I am a Biafran Soldier. I am a warrior and a member of a team. I serve the people of Biafra, and live the Army Values.
I will always place the mission first. I will never accept defeat. I will never quit. I will never leave a fallen comrade.
I am disciplined, physically and mentally tough, trained and proficient in my warrior tasks and drills.
I always maintain my arms, my equipment and myself. I am an expert and I am a professional.
I stand ready to deploy, engage, and destroy, the enemies of the Biafra in close combat.
I am a guardian of freedom and the Biafran way of life. I am a Biafran Soldier.
It is factually unknown how legitimate the threat of the Biafran groups are and how serious-minded they are about their causes.
It may even be hard to ascertain if their agitations really carry weight or whether their dream of recreating the Biafran land is shared by all and sundry of their tribe.
In spite of these uncertainties, a fact remains though, that a movement is rising, and its name is Biafra.
You claimed the Oil is yours, don’t buy south south with your tricks, they are wiser than you.
@Durkamz, u must be mentally derailed… Do u think oil is found only in south south? mtcheew!!!! oil my foot.
@durk, you should learn to read carefully before commenting. How do they claim the “OIL” ?. We have our own ! Many part of igbo state has oil , we don’t want to work on them until we freed from this dead country called “Nigeria”.
I don’t think we need sourther because they were the cause of the defeat during the war. I was there when the war began but I’ve read allot of different books regarding the war so I know little that guard me .
We are good people so we can create anything we wish so we don’t need your region. Thanks for commenting anyway.
Nigeria Free us let us have our dream freedom ” Biafra” I’m Biafrain.
Biafra evokes fantasy, mmisadventure and utter failure! The Ibos are free to embark on that journey once more but should leave other tribes sharing boundaries with them from the equation. They should not rely on resources from their neighbours’ land for their sustainability.