International Conference on Biafra, 2003

Selected Articles and Events

On October 18th 2003, the first post-Biafran War International Conference on Biafra was held in Greenbelt, Maryland, USA. We provide you with some of the relevant information.

While the rest of the world works with an "open" paradigm, we are limited with respect to the amount and  nature of the information which we can provide here by the prevalent nefarious signature of Nigeria as can be deduced from this email we received afterwards  concerning the conference:

"... sending message regards to our prominent men that attended the last Biafra Conference that took place at Maryland USA. The information said that Federal Government of Nigeria has big plan to kill these our men in the persons of His Excellency Dim Emeka Odimegwu Ojukwu, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike and three others that came to the Biafra Conference last week 18th Oct. 2003. Again to prove how serious in this information they succeeded in killing seventeen of MASSOB/BLF at Owerri, Imo State. Even the radio Nigeria Owerri gave it in their news.
 
Please, we strongly advice Biafra Foundation to inform these our prominent men to be careful while returning home or else they have to come with a strong security.
 
Thanks.
 
Fraternally yours,..."

While we cannot adequately verify the present specific threat directly and immediately, it is  a well-documented and well-reported fact that the Nigerian Police and Nigerian Security Personnel have shot unarmed members of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB)  in the hundreds, killing hundreds, wounding hundreds, and detaining hundreds indefinitely, on various occasions, sometimes with the connivance of so-called State governors in Igbo-Biafraland. Keep in mind that MASSOB is a non-violent organization, and on no occasion have they ever attacked the Police or Security forces in retaliation, remaining true to their non-violent principles. The bitter-sweet irony is that more Biafrans are joining MASSOB in droves, in spite of, and often because of this type of murderous and injurious injustice meted to Biafrans because of their membership in MASSOB. We are looking forward to the day when all Biafrans are MASSOBians.

With that, we present to you what we can, from this at once most symbolic and substantive conference. The communiqué says it all...

 

6 months post conference...April 17 2004.

The final communiqué mentioned that if Nigeria does not hold a Sovereign National Conference (SNC) within six months following the conference, Biafra would explore the option of forming a Biafra Government in exile. Biafra Foundation (BF) and Biafra stand  by that statement. On April 17, 2004, Voice of Biafra International (VOBI) broadcast a supporting message. 

Play the message here, or 
at the "Voice of Biafra" link, or  
on the Communiqué link.

Message Text

Biafra Foundation
1629 K St., N.W.
Suite 300
Washington DC 20036
Phone:202-508-3795

Biafrafoundation@yahoo.com

MESSAGE FROM BIAFRA FOUNDATION April 17, 2004. 

Fellow Biafrans,

Tomorrow, April 18, 2004, will be six months since Biafrans gathered in Maryland, USA and asked the federal government of Nigeria to convene a conference of Ethnic Nationalities in Nigeria, to discuss if and the conditions under which they will relate to one another. Biafrans stated that if the government of Nigeria fails to call that conference after six months, Biafrans will “reserve the right to explore all avenues for establishing a Biafran government in exile”. If the Nigerian government does not summon this conference by midnight tomorrow Sunday, April 18, 2004, citizens of Biafra will automatically reserve the right to begin the process of establishing an independent government for the people of the Sovereign Republic of Biafra including setting up a Biafran government in exile.

We wish to make it categorically clear that establishing an independent government for the people of the Sovereign Republic of Biafra is an undertaking that every Biafran must view with the deepest sense of commitment, responsibility, and solemnity.

There comes a time in the affairs of men when a people are bound by their conscience, honor, and self-preservation to assert their humanity by rejecting and fighting injustice, tyranny and oppression and standing up for and protecting their freedom, liberty, and self-determination in accordance with the dictates of Natural law. For the good people of Biafra, that time is now.

Every segment of the Biafran Nation, men, women, clergy, religious groups, intellectuals, entrepreneurs, businessmen and women, traders, workers, farmers, students, market women, the youth, the unemployed, and children will be fully involved in the struggle, and the Freedom Movement that will lead to the actualization of the Sovereign Republic of Biafra.

So, prepare yourselves and remember that this is a PROCESS not a quick one time event. It is like a journey and it requires focus, stamina, dedication, determination, and perseverance until we reestablish our Sovereign State of Biafra.

May God guide and direct our efforts and the good people of Biafra!