This is the News Analysis Segment of the Voice of Biafra International Broadcasts.  

For February 1st, 2003  

You have heard the news, now, the analysis…  

Fellow Biafrans:  

Every single day and every single act by General Obasanjo in the last few months shows what a hypocrite that he is when he mentions either democracy, transparency in government or the hand of God in his life which is supposed to extend to Nigeria and the peoples living in Nigeria. Before we recount some of these, we want to make sure that you know what the proper reaction is. Every time you are really angry at what is happening in Nigeria now, you must resolve to do the following:  

  1. make every effort to become united and in solidarity as one people—the people of the Nation of Biafra
  2. demonstrate that unity and solidarity by voting for APGA and Ojukwu
  3. demonstrate your commitment to the unity and solidarity of the Biafran Nation by giving full support to APGA and Ojukwu.

Let us give you reasons to react this way. When you are really upset and frustrated, channel your feelings and angst into a positive action that is meaningful, an action that can put you back in control where, earlier, you  felt helpless. When you are indignant about what is going on in Nigeria , when you look around you and in the future, and there is no hope, do not get hypertension from grief and hopelessness; do something that has the effect of opening the doors of hope for you and our people.  

Umu Biafra, you see, when we are all united and are in solidarity, we have hope because we have the unstoppable power of numbers and collectivity. Power without demonstration is still unfulfilled and means nothing. When we exercise this power by voting en masse for, and supporting APGA and Ojukwu, we have done something which is bound to open the door to hope and turn hope into fulfillment. We shall have taken back charge of our lives and taken our destiny in our own hands.  

This destiny, for us, is Biafra . It is as Biafrans, in Biafra , that we shall escape the frustration called Nigeria . It is as Biafrans, in Biafra , that we can wrestle away our lands from PDP (mis)governors and administrations which have ruined and killed our people, even in our own land, without accountability. It is as Biafrans, in Biafra , that we shall finally fulfill ourselves as individuals, as a Nation, as Africans, as members of the World, using our God given skills and talents. This is precisely why we ask you to react to what is happening now in Nigeria by doing the three things, and we shall reiterate them:  

  1. make every effort to become united and in solidarity as one people—the people of the Nation of Biafra
  2. demonstrate that unity and solidarity by voting for APGA and Ojukwu
  3. demonstrate your commitment to the unity and solidarity of the Biafran Nation by giving full support to APGA and Ojukwu.

So, there were promotion-opportunities for 16 Major Generals in the so-called Nigerian Military. First, you have to ask: why does Nigeria need 16 more Major Generals? Is Nigeria at war with some formidable external forces? Where is the money to pay these officers and carry their pension and benefits coming from—considering that the common foot-soldier and other-rank have not been paid regularly?  Are you angry? Remember what to do? Let’s remind you:

  1. make every effort to become united and in solidarity as one people—the people of the Nation of Biafra
  2. demonstrate that unity and solidarity by voting for APGA and Ojukwu
  3. demonstrate your commitment to the unity and solidarity of the Biafran Nation by giving full support to APGA and Ojukwu.

Good. Now, let’s proceed. So, General Obasanjo decides to fill these slots. He promotes 6 Yorubas, but only 1 Igbo. Let’s not forget that the Igbo are already underrepresented in the so-called Federal / one Nigeria Military when it comes to officers. So, in broad daylight, the General, who is supposed to represent the entire Nigeria, plays nepotism and demonstrates tribalism, in the one symbolic area where there was even a pretense of true “federal character”—i.e., equitable representation from all so-called geopolitical zones in Nigeria. This is the man who will come out tomorrow and tell you that he was anointed by God to rule Nigeria ? This is the man that is always harping about God-fearing? Are you getting upset? Good. Now:

  1. make every effort to become united and in solidarity as one people—the people of the Nation of Biafra
  2. demonstrate that unity and solidarity by voting for APGA and Ojukwu
  3. demonstrate your commitment to the unity and solidarity of the Biafran Nation by giving full support to APGA and Ojukwu.

That’s not all. General Obasanjo, who always brags about his administration’s record on Transparency of government, made these promotions in secret weeks ago. Isn’t he the one who is always talking about the dividends of democracy? If the press had not found out somehow and started making inquiries, who would have known? Even the top military brass who were supposed to be in the loop were totally kept in the dark as to what General Obasanjo did. What an abuse of power! What an abuse of authority! What hypocrisy! Doesn’t that make you want to scream? Good, but this is what we suggest:

  1. make every effort to become united and in solidarity as one people—the people of the Nation of Biafra
  2. demonstrate that unity and solidarity by voting for APGA and Ojukwu
  3. demonstrate your commitment to the unity and solidarity of the Biafran Nation by giving full support to APGA and Ojukwu.

Oh, General Obasanjo, all of a sudden, "discovered" that even after it was agreed that littoral States should get 13% revenue allocation, these states, when they received anything at all, got less that one half of that amount. This has been going on for months. The timing of this "discovery" by the General is quite interesting—only weeks before the elections. The circumstances of "discovery" were also quite revealing: the affected States representatives went to see the General. So, the General called in the bursar and ordered that the States be paid in full what is owed them. We ask: what kinds of voting election promises did the General extract from these States before he ordered the release of the funds originally due them? Was the General claiming ignorance of the situation thus far? Don’t get mad; rather:

  1. make every effort to become united and in solidarity as one people—the people of the Nation of Biafra
  2. demonstrate that unity and solidarity by voting for APGA and Ojukwu
  3. demonstrate your commitment to the unity and solidarity of the Biafran Nation by giving full support to APGA and Ojukwu.

Why is the Yoruba General Obasanjo padding the military preferentially with Yoruba senior officers? Does he want to place them there to prevent a coup against himself? A military intervention by Northern Nigerian officers becomes ever more likely when it has now become clear that the General is stacking the cards in his favor with his Yoruba kinsmen-officers. On the other hand, if General Obasanjo fails to win the Presidency, or if the results are inconclusive, is the General planning to use a military that is now decidedly Yoruba-run to keep himself enthroned and entrenched in power? Do not panic; instead,

  1. make every effort to become united and in solidarity as one people—the people of the Nation of Biafra
  2. demonstrate that unity and solidarity by voting for APGA and Ojukwu
  3. demonstrate your commitment to the unity and solidarity of the Biafran Nation by giving full support to APGA and Ojukwu.

Now that there is no doubt that the General is out to buy votes by either intimidation, ransom, blackmail, or largesse—using somebody else’s money, of course—does it not make you wonder how far he will go? Remember that General Obasanjo is the one going around telling people that the elections will be peaceful and democratic? Yet he is the one person that is doing everything to the contrary! Upset? Then:

  1. make every effort to become united and in solidarity as one people—the people of the Nation of Biafra
  2. demonstrate that unity and solidarity by voting for APGA and Ojukwu
  3. demonstrate your commitment to the unity and solidarity of the Biafran Nation by giving full support to APGA and Ojukwu.

Umu Biafra: you obviously witnessed APGA / Ojukwu wildly successful rally in Aba either in person or you read about it. Our people are now showing that kind of unity and solidarity which we have been asking for. We want to see this repeated in city after city, in state after state, in region after region where Igbo-Biafrans and other Biafrans reside, so that there will be no doubt that we are a united people acting in solidarity. That will send a signal to what is left of Nigeria that we are at the door of Biafra actualization, regardless of the outcome of the elections. We are taking our own destiny in our own hands instead of leaving it in the hands of the likes of General Obasanjo and his Nigeria . It’s Biafrans who shall actualize Biafra , and we are doing that right now, by being united and in solidarity and voting for and supporting APGA / Ojukwu. And we say, about time!  

Fellow Biafrans: act out our unity and solidarity now: support and vote for APGA / Ojukwu. That is our ticket to Biafra !  

Biafra lives!!!  

That’s the news analysis for the week. Thank you

 

God bless and keep Biafra ; and you, this New Year, and until our next broadcast. Voice of Biafra International Broadcast continues (go to http://www,biafraland.com; follow “Voice of Biafra” link for the web version).