The Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) has condemned the attack on former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu in Germany by members of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB.
Ekweremadu was attacked in Germany where he had gone to deliver a speech at an annual Igbo festival.
MASSOB, in a statement on Sunday by Comrade Edeson Samuel its National Director of Information, said it condemns in its totality “the assault, physical attack and disrespectful actions of some Igbos against Senator Ike Ekweremadu in Germany which we later confirmed as members of IPOB in Germany through the affirmation of IPOB’s spokesman, Emma Powerful.”
Edeson said it was disheartening that some groups had turned the non-violent struggle for the actualization of Biafra state into an abusive and systematic gestapo against the supposed citizens of Biafra.
He added that “The physical attack on Ike Ekweremadu by IPOB is not commendable. Igbo culture abhors disrespect on elders and persons in authoritative positions.
“If Ike Ekweremadu is sabotaging or has sabotaged Biafra struggle as alleged by IPOB, what meaningful and acceptable steps has IPOB taken to draw the attention of Ike Ekweremadu to the alleged degradation?
“MASSOB as a leading figure of current Biafra agitation advises other pro Biafra groups, including IPOB that Igbo political leaders are not the major obstacle to our chances of achieving independence from Nigeria state, the major hurdles militating against the freedom of Biafra people from Nigeria is non cohesion and brotherhood among the leaders of leading pro Biafra groups.
“The tendency of superiority complex on ideology and the spirit of lordship over others are the detrimental tendencies grossly affecting the freedom of Biafrans.
“Ike Ekweremadu and other perceived and alleged enemies of Biafra are not our major obstacle against Biafra. IPOB can never actualize Biafra alone, neither MASSOB, LNC, BNC, BIM and others operating individually can achieve Biafra alone.
“Biafra will be more achievable when a strong coalition of MASSOB, IPOB, Lower Niger Congress, BNC, BIM and others from Niger Delta regions are established under a collegiate leadership.
“The tendency of grooming authoritarian leadership under any guise in Igbo land and Biafra in general will never be tolerated because the republican nature of Igbo man does not allow such authoritative and empirical rulership.”
“MASSOB also condemns the directives to attack the governors of southeast; consciously attacking a governor will never give us Biafra but will continue sending our youths to untimely deaths because every attack on a governor will attract the trigger happy Hausa Fulani security agents in Igbo land to open fire on our defenceless youths. Tomorrow, they will say governors ordered the killings of IPOB members.
“MASSOB also apologizes to Chief Ike Ekweremadu for the physical assault on his person. We admonish Senator Ike Ekweremadu to absolve the assault as a family affair between a father and his children. Hausa Fulanis and other enemies of Ndigbo are happy but we must shame them when they see you in a cordial relationship with your people.
“MASSOB calls and extends a hand of fellowship to IPOB led by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, BIM led by Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, BNC led Alhaji Dokubo Asari and other pro Biafra groups to rally together in the true spirit of Biafra and defend Biafra land from the Fulani invaders and marauders.
“The era of propaganda and talking on radio / newspaper has gone, people’s opinions on social media will never give us Biafra. Let’s unite and confront our common enemy. Though our governors and other leaders are not assisting the Biafra struggle, we can engage them traditionally, not insulting them,” Edeson further stated.
