Special Announcement

Event:  

September 29 through October 1 to October 6:

A week of Remembrance and Mourning of Biafran Victims of Genocidal Massacre by Nigeria, in 1966 

Background: 

Fellow Biafrans: 

On September 29^th, 1966, the third wave of genocidal massacre of innocent and unarmed Biafrans took place in a bloody orgy and revelry in Northern Nigeria especially, and the rest of Nigeria, lasting one week, resulting in thousands of Biafran casualties, and adding up to the already high Biafran casualty count of the two previous similar murderous episodes since the beginning of that year. 

On October 1^st, 1966, 3 days into this heinous crime against Biafra and humanity, Nigerians paused to celebrate their Independence Day, drinking and toasting with the blood, and feasting with the flesh, of Biafrans, as it were, in their merriment. The following day, the butchery of Biafrans continued with renewed relish. 

Action: 

Starting this year, 2004, Biafrans will observe a Remembrance Week beginning on September 29 and ending on October 6, and especially on October 1,  to remember and mourn our dead and reflect on Biafra, and the meaning of being Biafran. 

Conduct: 

• Wear something black during that week: black patch, vest, shirt, pants / trousers, shorts, hat, tie, shoes, socks, belt, band.
• At religious services, commend our dead to the Lord and ask for strength for the surviving.
• At traditional ceremonies, permit the Spirit of our dead to come to eternal  rest.
• Go about your business, otherwise; but remain in constant mourning and remembrance of our Biafran victims of these atrocities.

Instructions: 

• This is a voluntary exercise: there will be no coercion or pressure on anyone else to participate: we shall neither endorse nor condone these practices. .
• No rallies. No public speeches. No marches. No public meetings. Just mourning and remembrance.
• If anyone seeks explanation for purposes of education and information for your action, you may tell them about the atrocities.

If anyone disturbs you because of, and in, your mourning and remembrance of our murdered dead, quietly and dispassionately wish for them that what happened to Biafrans on that day in 1966 should be their own experience today and henceforth.

This is the News Analysis segment of the Voice of Biafra International broadcasts

For September 25^th, 2004

You have heard the news; now, the analysis…

“My peoples and my nations shall not be sacrificed for the sake of preserving a worthless idea called Nigeria.” So speaketh the Lord. And so it is.

“The peoples and their nations must live and thrive, though the name and concept of Nigeria die. The peoples and their nations must not and will not be allowed to perish just to save a dying Nigeria.” So says the Lord.

Fellow Biafrans: The Word of God is not just alive: it is Life.

Today, in the midst of insults aimed at us, the Nation of Biafra, by and from some quarters of Nigeria, either directly in collectivity, or indirectly in symbolism expressed as the insult of Dim Ojukwu, let us bring you all up to speed. We have gauged the tone and tenor of Nigeria's SSS personnel in their statements designed to humiliate Dim Ojukwu personally, and by extension, humiliate the people of the nation of Biafra, there being, of course, no greater symbolism of Biafra than Dim Ojukwu himself. Then we read Vice President Atiku’s insensitive and humiliating statements about Biafra and Biafrans. No doubt, not only are they all taking their cue from General Obasanjo, but also, they are drawing from a well of gall and wrath whose depth reaches down in time, way back to 1965-66.

So, let’s revisit that epoch. While Ojukwu has become the whipping boy and the object of scorn and disrespect for these Nigerians today, peoples living and suffering in Nigeria forget that it was Ojukwu who foiled the so-called “Igbo coup”—the Nzeogwu-led coup—of 1966. He had put his life and career on the line for Nigeria. It is the same Ojukwu whose military discipline is still revered by even the current young Nigerian military officers: Ojukwu taught them to insist that no military officer should take orders from a junior-ranking officer. Ojukwu stood his ground in 1966 against the real rebel, Yakubu Gowon, a junior officer who usurped power and gave commands and orders to his senior officers following the Northern “Revenge coup” of mid-1966. While those other senior officers succumbed and followed the orders of Gowon, and also, subordinated themselves to this junior-ranking officer, he, Ojukwu, in the finest military tradition, refused. Now, imagine what would have happened if Nigerian military officers had this discipline and courage: no coups would have succeeded, and Nigeria would have been spared future ruination by successive idiotic coupists-usurpers. It is this man, this Giant, Ojukwu, whom today, cowards and kids hiding behind unsupervised, unmerited and usurped authority and power, are now throwing insults at.

In one of his speeches during the Biafran War, Ojukwu reiterated the reasons for Biafra coming into existence:

“Then worst of all came the genocide in which over 50,000 of our kith and kin were slaughtered in cold blood all over Nigeria and nobody asked questions; nobody showed regret; nobody showed remorse.”

!) Genocide against Igbo-Biafra which claimed at least 50,000 lives at the hands of the entire Nigeria, but mostly the North. This was obvious: but he pointed out something else:

2) No apologies were rendered to Ndigbo-Biafrans; no compensations were made to them; and no remorse has been expressed or shown by Nigeria and the perpetrators of that crime against humanity, especially the North.

“...Nigeria had become a jungle with no safety, no justice and no hope for our people...”

3) No safety for our people in Nigeria

4) No justice for our people in Nigeria

5) No hope for our people in Nigeria.

So, we ask you Biafrans today: it’s been almost 40 years since Dim Ojukwu made those true and factual statements; are those conditions still not with us Biafrans living in Nigeria today? How many weeks ago was it when over 3000 Biafrans were murdered in cold blood in Kano, for the mere reason that they are Biafran, since the facts are that what the Kano Muslims claim to be avenging had nothing to do with these Biafrans residing in Kano, and the problem was in a different state, anyway? Was there a formal inquest into why Biafrans should have been victimized in Kano? Did anybody, including Obasanjo, Gowon, Atiku, or the SSS express any regret backed up by any show of remorse? The answer is, No!. Prior to that, how many more incidents had there been, and how many times did we get apologies  or hear remorse or even talk of compensation?

Do we have to ask you how safe Nigeria is for Biafrans today? Before your mind goes by reflex to those places, especially in Northern Nigeria where you were routed from, and frightened out of, and told never to return to because not even the government can guarantee your safety there,  let us remind you that right here in Biafraland, you are not even safe. This is because Biafraland is under occupation by the Nigerian security officers, the police and the military—that is, under occupation by the Nigerian government. For that reason, we are still being injured and murdered and dispossessed and maltreated without accountability, by the Nigerian government, right on our own very land, Biafraland.

What about justice? Which Biafran can say that the system has treated him or her with equal justice or with fairness? In the North and in the West, a Biafran can be murdered, and nothing will happen. But, our people can be picked up and charged to court because they are holding a MASSOB meeting; sometimes, they are even dragged out of a church for that. And, the Nigerian Security agents and police shoot to kill and maim unarmed  MASSOBIANS at will. Then, think of all the special laws passed by the Nigerian government in order to declare specific lucrative legitimate economic activities of Biafrans illegal and void; following which the inventory and assets of the business are “confiscated”—that is, given away for free to non-Biafrans.  Some justice, huh? And this has gone on for over 40 years.

Forty years ago, Dim Ojukwu’s speech reminded us that the loss of hope added to the reasons why we declared Biafra. Well, today, how many of you forced to endure Nigeria have any hope left? Especially when Nigeria has it as an official policy to deny Biafrans of any glimmer of hope anywhere? We are ready to bet that you know a friend or relative who became mad or seriously ill or turned bad or even up and died because of despondency—sheer hopelessness. Isn’t it the maddening state of hopelessness of being forced to exist in one-Nigeria that today has finally convinced you that Biafra is the only answer, 34 years after the war ended, and after we tried once again to integrate into Nigeria, and failed again because Nigeria does not want us as full citizens?

Yes, indeed, on August 26 you told us that you are totally with MASSOB and its leadership in the agenda of Biafra actualization. Who can blame you for that? Nobody can endure what you have gone through at the hands of Nigeria and still want to try to stay in Nigeria. Nobody can contribute what you have contributed to Nigeria and more importantly, to Nigeria staying together, and still tolerate the mistreatment and humiliation dished out to you by Nigeria on a daily basis.

So, we ask you: what is wrong with Dim Ojukwu saying that the conditions that precipitated the war almost 40 years ago are today still here, and worse? That, is fact: it is very true. And, why should he not support MASSOB? Nigeria is doing nothing but make the conditions worse, on purpose—another fact and truth—while MASSOB is reacting correctly and effectively, moving us in an agenda that will take us out of certain harm’s way. What would any living, breathing person do if they found their nation in such dire straits? You, the Biafra Oha, already spoke up and acted in response: that is the substance and reality of August 26. So has Dim Ojukwu.

It would have been immoral if Dim Ojukwu did not speak up and if he did not support MASSOB. But now, in speaking up and supporting MASSOB, he is set once again to teach Nigeria a final lesson in forthrightness, courage and bravery. This time around, we, the people of Biafra, shall reinforce that message and that agenda, no matter what it takes—in fact, we, the people of Biafra, are the message and are the agenda: we shall take ourselves out of Nigeria, into our own sovereign land of Biafra.

That, fellow Biafrans, is our Divine destiny working out through the Divine agenda. We shall do our part.

It is God’s pleasure to create Biafra and Biafrans, and to sustain and uphold them in His Divine Grace..

Biafra alive!

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

God bless and keep Biafra, and you, until our next broadcast. Voice of Biafra International (VOBI) broadcast continues (http://www.biafraland.com/vobi.htm) with the summary of the News Analysis in Igbo language. 

Ndi Biafra anyi e kele unu.
Ge e unu nti! ge e unu nti!
Nke a bu ogene na ekwe na olu otimkpu Biafra na a biara unu na abali a.
Na izu uka si te na September 29 rue na October 6 anyi na agwa ndi Biafra na ile ka ha me ihe anyi ga eji e ru onuma na uju na na echeta ndi igwe mmadu ndi Biafra ndi nde Awusa gburu na oge a na izu bidoro na September 29 na afo 1966.

Ubochi October 1 nke bu emume Independence Nigeria da ra na ime izu a. Onye esokwala ndi Nigeria nde ogbu-nde-Biafra na aňuri na omume ha na ubochi ahu. Ka anyi na ile ndi Biafra nodu na i ru onuma na uju na na ncheta nke ndi anyi ndi Biafra ndi ndi Awuasa gburu na izu ahu na ubochi October 1.

Anyi na acho ka ndi Biafra na ile, na izu ahu, yiri ihe ojii na ahu ha, ma obu uwe ma obu efe, ma obu akwa ma obu akpupko-ukwu, ma obu opku-isi; ma obu ola; ma obula kwa mpempe akwa ma obu akwukwo ojii, na ahu ha.

Anyi achoghi onye obula ga wa ngaari-iwe ma obu nzuko oha, na oge a. Onye obula ga na eme ihe o na eme, kama, yiri ihe ojii, na echeta na na e ru onuma na uju maka ndi igwe anyi ndi Biafra egburu. Ime ihe a wu ihe ga esi na obi gi—anyi achoghi ka onye obula ga nye wa onye ozo nsogbu maka ihe a anyi na eme. Onye osoro, ya me e ka anyi siri kwuo; onye osooghi, ya me otu ozo otu o siri so ya.

Ndi Uka Chukwu, kpere unu Mmuo ndi Biafra—ma ndi di ndu ma ndi nwuru anwu—ekpere na oge a. Ndi Omenala, tuo ro nu Chi anyi aja na ogu ka Mmuo ndi anyi nwuru anwu nweta ezumike.
Ndewo unu.

Anyi ekele unu.

Nke a bu akuko nke anyi na akpo News Analysis si na Voice of Biafra International radio di na Washington DC na ala Amerika na abia ra unu na abali a.

Na mbido, anyi na e wetara unu okwu si na onu Chineke anyi na a si na Ya agaghi e kwe ka okike Ya, nke unu dum bu, la na iyi site na ihi ihe ojo o ahu a na akpo Nigeria. Chineke na e kwu si na Nigeria ga a nwu, ma na okike nke Chineke, nke bu unu dum, ga adi ndu, ma na e ri kwa ndu, bie kwa ogologo ndu. Nde Biafra: Owughi na a ni na Okwu Chineke di ndu: Okwu Chineke wu ndu na onwe ya.

Ta, anyi ga e kwu ihe gbasara nle da anya nke ndi SSS na Atiku na ndi Nigeria ndi ozo na e leda Dim Ojukwu. Na ebe  Dim Ojukwu na a nochita anya nde Biafra na ile, ihe o bula ha mere Dim Ojukwu, o wu nde Biafra na ile ka ha mere ya. Atiku na ndi SSS na ndi Nigeria ndi ozo na ha akpari anyi wu Oha Biafra, na akpari kwa Dim Ojukwu.  Anyi a mara la na aka Obasanjo no na ihe na eme ugbu a; o wu ya zi gara nde nka a ka ha na ga na akpa udi agwa di otu a dinyere nde Biafra na Dim Ojukwu na onwe ya. Anyi a mara la na emume ojo o na ihe ojo o na ile na eme ndi Biafra na Dim Ojukwu  bido ro na afo 1965-66.

Na oge ahu (na afor 1966), Ojukwu wu onye ofisa na ami nde Nigeria onye kwusiri coup Nzeogwu, we re otu a zo o Nigeria. O wu isi ya na ndu ya onwe ya wu Ojukwu ka o ti i ri na omume nke a. O ziri na Ojukwu na acho ihe gadiri Nigeria mma na oge ahu. O wu kwa otu a ka Ojukwu si ri gwa nde ofisa nde ami Nigeria na onye ofisa ekwesighi i nara oda si na aka onye ofisa ozo o wuru na okwa onye na e nye oda akarighi okwa ofisa nke a na enye oda. Maka nke a, Ojukwu e kweghi i nara oda si na aka Gowon bia, na mgbe ahu. A si na nde ofisa ndi ozo nde ami Nigeria ge e re nti na ihe Ojukwu kwuru, me kwa ka Ojukwu jiri me na ihe a gbasara ofisa na okwa na oda, o nweghi coup gara ime kwa ozo na Nigeria. Otu a ka Dim Ojukwu jiri zi na ya wu dimpka nwere ugwu. O wu udi ezigbo mmadu nke di otu a—nke di ka Dim Ojukwu—ka ndi SSS na Atiku na ndi otu ha na akpari ta?

Na oge ahu, Ojukwu gwa ra ndi uwa na ile ihe mere Oha ji ri cho, na bido, Biafra:

Otu) Nde Nigeria gburu igwe mmadu ndi Biafra, ma onweghi ihe ndi Biafra mere ha: o wu so so maka ha wu ndi Biafra

Abuo) O nweghi mgbe o jiri metu Ndi Nigeria na obi na ihe ha mere ndi Biafra wu ihe ojo o, wu aru. O nweghi mgbe ndi Nigeria na nde Awusa biara si ndi Biafra, “ndo unu o o.”

Ato) Ndu ndi Biafra na ngwongwo ulo ha ma obu ngwongwo ahia ha a dighi sefu na ala Nigeria

Ano) A na emegbu ndi Biafra na oge na ile na ime Nigeria

Ise)  Ndi Biafra e nweghi nchekwube na ime ala Nigeria.

I ma kwa na na afo abuo na a bia, o ga a wu ogu-afo-abuo mgbe Ojukwu kwuru ihe a. Ma na o nwebeghi ihe gbanwere agbanwe na ihe ojo o  na ile nde Nigeria na eme ndi Biafra kembge ahu; kama, ta, ihe ojo o ndia na ile a karia la otu osiri diri na mbge ahu. Nka mere ka Ojukwu jiri we e kwue na ihe adighi ri ndi Igbo-nde Biafra mma na ime Nigeria; otu o di na afo 1966, o kariri di njo na afo 2004. O wu ezi okwu ka Dim Ojukwu kwuru. Ebe Nigeria e nweghi ike ime ihe o wula ga e dozi ihe ndia na ile, ke du kwa nu uru o bara Ndigbo nde Biafra i ka nodu na one-Nigeria? Ma ka nka a, Ikemba na akwado MASSOB, si na ya kwere na ihe MASSOB na eme, maka MASSOB na acho inweta Biafra ebe ihe ga adiri Ndigbo-ndi Biafra mma; ebe Nigeria e nwekwaghi ike i gbu ma o bu i megbu anyi wu ndi Biafra ozo. Kedi kwa nu ihe wu ihe ojo o na ime ihe Ikemba kwuru? I ma kwa na o wuru na Ikemba e kwughi ihe di otua, Mmuo na Chi ndi Biafra ga e wesiri Ikemba iwe, na ma a kwa Ikemba ikpe. Obi di anyi uto nke ukwu ma ka Ikemba kwuru ihe okwuru, otu o siri kwue ya, ba nyere MASSOB na Biafra.  Otu a, Ikemba ga ezi ndi Nigeria na o kwesiri ikwu ezi okwu, o wurugodu na nde SSS nwere ike igbu onye ahu. Ikemba e zila ndi Nigeria na dimkpa kwesiri i wu dimpka.

Anyi inweta Biafra no na akara-aka anyi, otu a ka Chineke anyi siri me e ya. Anyi ga eme ihe obula o kwesiri ime ka anyi nweta ihe Chineke na onwe ya kere nye anyi.

Biafra, ndu gi! Biafra, ndu gi!! Biafra, ndu gi!!! Ma ka Chineke no nyere la gi!

Nde ewo unu!

Voice of Biafra International (VOBI) broadcast continues
Voice of Biafra International (VOBI)
A SHORTWAVE Radio Broadcast Service
transmitting on 7380 kHz (on 41 meter band)
at 2100 - 2200 Hours UTC (Universal Time [Coordinated])
equivalent to 10.00pm - 11.00pm Biafraland time
every Saturday.
A project of Biafra Foundation (BF)  and Biafra Actualization Forum (BAF).