November 5 2005

This is the News Analysis segment of the Voice of Biafra International (VOBI) broadcasts

Special Announcement

Mass non-violent Protest Action demanding the release of Ralph Uwazurike and other MASSOB members—Starting Monday, November 7, 2005

In keeping with our earlier warning, the people of the Nation of Biafra will commence a sustained series of non-violent protests this coming week, in Biafraland and in Nigeria, in order to secure the release of Ralph Uwazurike within the larger context of Biafra Self- Determination and actualization leading to the Sovereign and Independent Nation of Biafra.

A non-violent mass street protest has been scheduled for this Monday, November 7, 2005. Be there, and do your part! Keep it non-violent; you must not, repeat, must not allow provocations by saboteurs and other Nigerian agents tempt you into violence.

Then, stay tuned for more non-violent actions to be announced in the nearest future.

It is the season!

Godspeed, Biafrans, Godspeed!

For November 5^th, 2005

You have heard the news; now, the analysis…

Fellow Biafrans:

On October 25, 2005, Chief Ralph Uwazurike, the able leader of MASSOB (Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra), was abducted at gun-point, by members of the Nigeria State Security Service (SSS); and placed in illegal detention. More than a week later, still in detention, no formal charges have been brought against him by the SSS. MASSOB has hired an attorney to defend Uwazurike, but the attorney has been refused access to his client by the Nigeria SSS.

Let us not forget the circumstances of the abduction of Uwazurike by the SSS. The SSS operatives involved in the abduction disguised themselves as members of the Nigerian Youth Corp Service (NYSC), and lived in the NYSC hostel while scheming the abduction. This is almost like a soldier disguising himself as a Red Cross member in order to gain access to the enemy’s camp, there to abduct the commander. Or, it is like your enemy dressing himself up as your own son’s mate and friend in order to gain access into your household, which, having done, he now abducts you at gun-point.

It will be recalled that at the beginning of the year, the Federal High Court, sitting in Owerri, presided over by Justice J.E. Shekarhio, had on or about Tuesday, January 18 2005, restrained the SSS and the Nigeria police from arresting and harassing the MASSOB leader. We cite the official newspaper report by one Chidi Nkwopara in the National News segment of the Vanguard of Wednesday, January 19, 2005, titled: “Uwazurike gets reprieve from High Court Judge.” (http://www.vanguardngr.com/articles/2002/nationalx/nr319012005.html). In clear spite of that, the SSS has always and consistently violated this court order, (as has the Nigeria police, too), culminating in this current illegal abduction and unjustified detention of Uwazurike, after several brazen and well-publicized episodes of harassment of MASSOB and him by the SSS and the Nigeria police; including the destruction of MASSOB property, mayhem, confiscation and stealing of MASSOB funds in the possession of Uwazurike; shooting, resulting in injury and killing of MASSOB members and other civilians, and unrestrained arrests of MASSOB members.

No one needs a reminder that MASSOB is a non-violent organization, going about our agenda of Biafra actualization in peaceful ways, without as much as retaliating even in the face of inordinate and gratuitous violence being visited on her leadership and membership by the SSS and the Nigeria police constantly. Chief Ralph Uwazurike has never deviated from non-violence, his example being Gandhi, his other hero, Martin Luther King Jnr., the stalwarts of non-violent revolutions.

Fellow Biafrans and the rest of the world: why do we take the time to paint this picture and refresh the details? So that you will not be deceived by Obasanjo and his regime. Because, almost invariably, the first statement which will issue from their hypocrisy in order to justify Uwazurike’s unlawful abduction and illegal detention is something like: “…no one is above the law…” We have shown how the SSS and the Nigerian police flagrantly disobeyed Nigerian High Court orders pertinent to this instance. Of course, this is not surprising because they are following the same pattern and example set by Obasanjo himself, including even the party PDP which he also heads. Obasanjo and PDP are on record for brazen violations of court orders on several occasions; and they make no apologies and show no remorse about this. Now, you know what to say if he and his regime start foaming in the mouth about no one being above the law.

We refresh your mind of these details because Obasanjo and his regime will conveniently forget how they have violated moral laws and rules of fairness and decency when his agents disguised themselves as NYSC youths and used the NYSC facilities to plan and carry out this criminal act. There may even be a law in Nigeria proscribing the use of NYSC in such a nefarious and criminal role involving regime-sponsored armed abduction and subterfuge in their kidnapping of Uwazurike. So, you won’t forget this, will you? Next time, Obasanjo will use the NYSC as informers, spies, enforcers, and even combatants—against the hapless peoples living in Nigeria: mark our words. The corruption (and it is indeed a form of corruption of the worst kind—the corruption of otherwise innocent youth) of the NYSC has started by the leprous fingers of the SSS in this act; further silence by the peoples suffering in Nigeria condones it; pretty soon, the NYSC becomes yet another organ and arm of dictatorship and repression.

As our elders reminded Obasanjo in their demanding the release of Uwazurike, the entire Nigeria has been in a condolence mood, a situation which ordinarily should generate mutual compassion and gentleness. While Obasanjo in sheer hypocrisy talked of the deadly personal and national events of the previous weeks “uniting the peoples of Nigeria” from one corner of his mouth, the other corner of his mouth was busily giving orders to his SSS to abduct Uwazurike under gunpoint and place him under detention without charge—and for that matter, in complete violation of an earlier relevant Nigeria High Court injunction. Of course, a leopard does not change its spots: we know Obasanjo well enough to understand that he will exploit the condoling empathy of the peoples to buy himself goodwill while he continues in his wicked anti-people ways. We had naturally hoped that the sudden and unexpected death of one of his wives and the peoples’ expressed condolences would bring a dose of sanity and a touch of sensitivity back to Obasanjo, as it would have for normal persons. But, it is not to be, because Obasanjo is too mean and too vindictive, too hypocritical and small minded, too unethical and too uncouth to be considered a normal person.

So, do not let your guards down because of the tragic events of the recent past. Even though Obasanjo is preaching that this will bring the peoples together, he is lying, and he knows it, because the same anti-people policies and the same selective anti-Igbo / anti-Biafra agenda of his which have already torn the country apart have not changed and will never change, not even temporarily out of respect for the solemn season, as you all are now witness to. And, do not let anyone fool you if they claim that the recent events have a healing effect on the warring peoples of Nigeria, or that such calamities offer hope of recovery from the doldrums and from the abyss for Nigeria. These recent events have only shown that Nigeria is a paper tiger, a self proclaimed “giant” of Africa which turns out to have feet made of wet clay. These events not only reveal past and present deficiencies, delinquencies, inadequacies—in both scope and depth—but also, a huge gaping hole where there should be hope for the future. This fate is sealed when the peoples of Nigeria, in psychological denial, turn condolence into a show of sham sycophancy, and (mis)take empathy for goodwill and hope. The fact is that Nigeria is lost already, without any hope of restoration or of redemption.

We want to remind you of this because we have no intention of letting Obasanjo, his SSS and Nigeria get away with the kidnapping and wrongful incarceration of Uwazurike, and ongoing harassment of MASSOB members, and other Biafrans: it makes no difference to us what calamities have befallen Nigeria, because we know that calamities or not, Obasanjo and Nigeria still want the Igbo and Biafra to be annihilated in this dispensation, and are still working towards that goal. We have no intention of letting up on our drive for the independence and sovereignty of Biafra.

It is for this reason that we praise the Igbo women of Biafra who have been holding protest marches calling on Obasanjo to release Uwazurike. These are the true daughters of the women whose courage and bravery and dignity is exemplified and immortalized by the famous “Aba Women’s Riot of 1929.” We say to you, “Carry On!” In a similar vein, we praise the boldness of the group of our Igbo elders who have reprimanded Obasanjo for his cowardly act of sending his SSS men in NYSC youth-disguises to abduct Uwazurike at gunpoint, especially when the peoples were feeling sorry for, and empathizing with, him, Obasanjo, and the rest of society, for the calamities of the past week. We acknowledge them and give them our respect for asking for the immediate release of Uwazurike.

We of VOBI, and all of Biafra join in one voice to demand the immediate and unconditional release of Ralph Uwazurike, and the cessation of the harassment and killing of MASSOB members and other Biafrans. We want Obasanjo, Nigeria, and the whole world to understand that no one will stay in a bad, failing, exploitative, enslaving, smothering and murderous one-sided relationship which Nigeria is (and will continue to be), forever, for the victimized Igbo and other Biafrans. Indeed, Obasanjo, Nigeria and the world should be surprised only if Biafra was not leaving Nigeria. Our destiny is Biafra, and we shall get there: we are well on our way, we are getting there.

Fellow Biafrans, gird your loins, because we are going to participate fully and relentlessly in protest and assertive actions which have already started and are soon to intensify. We will engage in non-violent acts, and will not be distracted by murderous provocative actions and trumped up charges of the lying Nigeria police and the SSS and other murderous Nigerian agents. We keep our acts and goal focused on Biafra actualization, and we refuse to engage in any acts of violence in our protests. This is the call to stand up for your freedom; stand up against selective injustice meted out to our people; stand up for our destiny, Biafra; stand up to take over the reins of our own destiny and be masters of our own future and fate. Come however you are; do whatever you can, but, do come, and do act. Non-violence is our motto, and we stick by it even as we remain true and unwavering to our goal of Biafra actualization. Let us re-discover the strength and the power of God in us. Arise; the time is here!

Biafra alive! For, God makes it so.

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), now with the summary of the News Analysis in Igbo language.

Ndi Biafra, ekele e o-o! Anyi e kelee unu.

___________________________________

Ozi Otimkpu Biafra

Gbasara ngaari-iwe na uzo nke udo na a cho mgbaputa Ralph Uwazurike na ndi MASSOB ndi ozo nke ga e bido na Monday, November 7, 2005.

Otu anyi kwuru na mgbe gara aga, nde Biafra dum ga e bido ngaari-iwe na uzo nke udo site na izu na a bia, na ime ala Biafra na na ime ala Nigeria, i ji nweta mgbaputa Ralph Uwazurike na ndi MASSOB ndi ozo na aka Obasanjo na ndi SSS ya, na na aka Nigeria, nke a wuru otu uzo ihe na ime ihe ndi ozo na anyi i nweta Biafra.

Anyi ga e me ngaari-iwe na uzo nke udo na Monday ya, November 7, 2005. Anyi choro ka gi onwe gi mee otu ike ha gi. Ma ihe owula anyi na e me, o ga a wuriri na uzo nke udo, o wurugodu na ndi police ndi Nigeria jiri ike na egbe na a kpaari anyi ma o wu na a kpasu anyi iwe. Naani na uzo nke udo ka anyi ga e ji e me ngaari-iwe anyi na ile.

Ihe ndi ozo anyi ga e me, na uzo nke udo, unu ga na a nu ihe gbasara ya mbge oge ya ruru.

O rue la nu—ugbua!

Chineke anyi—Chineke Biafra—du be anyi, gbaa kwa anyi ume.

Nke a wu akuko nke anyi na a kpo News Analysis si na Voice of Biafra International Radio, di na Washington DC, na ala America, na a bia ra unu na abali a.

Na ubochi ogu-na-ise, na onwa iri, nke wu October 25 na afo 2005, ndi SSS Nigeria nde Obasanjo dugara, jiri egbe jide Chief Ralph Uwazurike, onye isi MASSOB; tinye ya na nga. Rue taa, otu izu kemgbe ahu, Uwazurike ka no na nga nde SSS; ha e weghi ga bee ya cotu; o nweghi bee ebubo e boro ya. Ndi SSS a jula ka onye lawyer ndi MASSOB kporo i nochita anya Uwazurike hu ya wu Uwazurike.

Unu e chefughi kwala otu ndi SSS jiri nwude Uwazurike: ha tiiri uwe ndi umu okorobia na agboobia a na a kpo youth ndi NYSC, umu aka ndi o nweghi ihe ha na ndi SSS ma o wu ndi police jikoro onu. Unu echefughi kwa la na o wu kwa nu oge ndi mmadu na eri onume na e be akwa na a kasi Obasanjo obi maka ndi nwuru na odida na mmebi ugbo elu (plane crash), na nwunye Obasanjo nwuru, na o wu na otu oge ya ka Obasanjo zigara ndi SSS ka ha gaa jiri aghuho ga jide Uwazurike, tinye ya na nkporo ndi SSS.

Unu cheta kwa na Omaa Ikpe High Court Nigeria a na a kpo Justice J.E. Shekarhio mara iwu na January 18 2005 na ndi SSS na ndi police kwusi mmekpa-ahu ha na e nye Uwazurike na nde MASSOB, na i chuari na i jide Ralph Uwazurike na ndi MASSOB. MA ndi SSS na ndi police a choghi i debe iwu High Court a.

Anyi na a si Obasanjo gwa kwa ndi SSS ya ka ha weputa Uwazurike na nkporo ha, hafu kwa ya aka. Otu ihe ahu kwa, maka ndi MASSOB ndi ozo nde no na nkporo na ime Nigeria ma o wu na ime Biafra taa. Anyi na e me ka Obasanjo na ndi Nigeria na ndi uwa a mata kwa na Biafra wuru anyi ihe akara-aka: o nweghi ihe nwere ike i me ka anyi hara i nweta Biafra. Biafra wu ihe anyi, anyi wu ihe Biafra: otua ka Chineke jiri me e ya.

Anyi na e kele umu nwanyi Biafra nde gara ngaari-iwe na Onitsha ebe ha gwara Obasanjo ka ya hapu kwa Uwazurike aka, weputa ya na nga. Umu nwayi anyi ndea wu dike; o wu ndi nwanyi Biafra ndi mere ngaari-iwe ukwu a kporo “Aba Women’s Riot” na afo 1929, muru ha. Anyi e kele kwa ndi Okenye anyi ndi gwara Obasanjo na o wu ihe ojoo ka o mere i ji gaa jide Uwazurike na oge nkea, mgbe ndi mmadu ka na e be akwa na a kaasi Obasanjo na onwe ha obi maka ndi nwuru na mgberede na izu ya. Ndi Okenye anyi ndia gwa kwara Obasanjo ka o kpoputa Uwazurike na nga, hapu kwa ya aka.

Taa, anyi na a kpo unu na ile oku, na a gwa unu ka unu jikwara kwa i ga ngaari-iwe owula anyi ga a kpo maka ihe anyi na e kwu okwu ya na ebe a. O wu naani uzo nke udo ka anyi ga e so na ihe owula anyi ga e me i ji weputa Uwazurike na nkporo, na i ji i nweta Biafra; ma na anyi ga kwa na e me si ihe ahu anyi na e me ike nke ukwuu. Mgbe anyi ga a kpo unu, unu zaa kwa anyi oku, me e ihe ahu anyi si na anyi ga e me; otua ka anyi ga e ji e mepe anya anyi ka anyi were hu ike Chineke no na ime anyi.

Biafra, ndu gi! Biafra, ndu gi!! Biafra, ndu gi!!!—na ndu anyi kwa. Maka Chineke nonyere la gi—nonyere kwa ra anyi!

Ndewo 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 and every Wednesday..
A project of Biafra Foundation (BF) and Biafra Actualization Forum (BAF)