November 18 2006

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

For November 18^th, 2006

You have heard the news; now, the analysis…

Fellow Biafrans:

Let us illustrate again the ongoing problems of our people in their “killing place” and “shaming space” known as Nigeria. As reported, the leader of the Alaba International Amalgamated Traders Association recently gave an interview to a Nigerian Newspaper complaining about the treatment the organization received from the Nigeria Police in Lagos State. For clarity, it ought to be noted that this organization is made up of essentially Igbo business men; their business shops and offices constituting a “Market,” are located in Alaba, Lagos, Nigeria.

The Nigeria Police in Lagos, through the Police Commissioner, refused to allow an event planned by this Igbo organization to which one of the Igbo governors was invited as an honored guest. This negative action by the Nigeria Police was unprecedented and unwarranted: first, no permit is required from the Police for such events; and secondly, there are no legal grounds for rejecting the permit application which the surprised and stunned organization went ahead to send in, anyway, having done so to appease the Police Commissioner. This is a specific case of selective, unwarranted, gratuitous anti-Igbo policy being carried out by the Nigeria Police against the Igbo living and doing business in Lagos.

The interview goes on about the status of this Alaba Market. It is a wholesale goods market serving the entire Africa, regarded as the best of its kind. It brings collateral benefits and revenues to Lagos State, but the Lagos State government does nothing to provide supportive amenities such as parking garages, security installations, Fire service; motorable roads and access to it, and things like that. In fact, the organization planned to have the visiting Igbo governor bring up this their plight to his Lagos State counterpart.

Next, the interview mentions goods which provided lucrative business for the marketeers—goods unilaterally banned by General Obasanjo and his government, for no good reasons at all, a ban which made no business sense, except to maliciously deprive, dispossess and punish these Igbo traders, for no other reason than that they are Igbo.

In analyzing this matter, it once again becomes clear why we have called on our people to now turn their attention to siting their businesses in our homeland, too, if not first. A client that wades his way through to Alaba, Lagos, can also find his way to Owerri or Umungasi or any other Biafran town or village or market. These Igbo Alaba traders actually pay out of their pockets to build and maintain the roads and access serving their Market, and for the Security and the fire service. If so, why can’t they pay for the same amenities and infrastructure to develop the same Market in our own homeland, too? Why do Igbo insist on fighting with others to build and maintain infrastructures in those others’ lands, when they could just as well build and maintain such infrastructure in Igboland – Biafraland, their own land, without such hassle and without such deliberate interference?

The solution to Obasanjo whimsically and vindictively banning goods of importance to Igbo business is not the institution of a “Ministry of Business,” as advanced in the interview, because Obasanjo will certainly still be in control of all his ministers, like he is in control of all things in Nigeria. The logical and permanent solution is Biafra—a country of our own. Biafra protects us from such hostile external enemy action, and provides an internal environment where such would be unthinkable.

The unnecessary, unjustified and targeted Police repression of our people and the willful denial of their civil rights continue, as we can see from this—whether it be in Igboland or Biafraland or elsewhere in Nigeria. This validates the selective anti-Igbo anti-Biafra Nigeria government’s policy and actions against our people anywhere they can be found, even outside of Nigeria—the evil policy we have been speaking about all this time. Only when we actualize Biafra can we put a complete and definite stop to this.

We must also have to wonder at the mentality of our Igbo brethren who continue to cling to one-Nigeria even though Nigeria continues to mistreat us all, including these members. We are not surprised that the Igbo governor invited by this organization is Orji Uzor Kalu, the efulefu Igbo governor who goes around saying that Nigeria must remain one or some nonsense like that. Members of this organization should now be asking themselves: “why are we still supporting one-Nigeria if Nigeria continues to treat us like this?” And, “why are we still supporting Orji Uzor Kalu who wants one-Nigeria when he sees what one-Nigeria is doing to us, and he won’t say anything about it and can’t do anything about it either?” These brethren deem it easier to keep begging, and inviting someone else to beg for them—this is their idea of one-Nigeria?

We recommend that members of the Alaba International Amalgamated Traders Association demonstrate that they truly understand what is happening and show their real indignation by making the symbolic gesture of purchasing, procuring, installing and deploying a Commercial Power Generator for the Owerri Airport. Their clientele in the future will use this airport when they come to do business in their future market to be sited on Igboland – Biafraland. In the meantime and as such, when next they visit their own motherland—Igboland / Biafraland— they will have a safe, high-class and functional airport to land in.

We want to remind all Biafrans that Biafra actualization does not prevent them from doing business or siting their business anywhere else in the world that they like or are wonted to. Rather, Biafra as a Nation provides us with, and qualifies us for, the guarantee of International Law to protect our lives and our businesses anywhere in the world, including Nigeria, too, just as International law protects all foreigners and their businesses in their host countries. A country of our own will also motivate us to “begin that Charity at home…” thereby developing our own homeland before, or at least, even as we develop other areas; as a matter of principle, pride of ownership and identity.

We continue to call for the release of Ralph Uwazurike, the leader of MASSOB, Uchenna Madu, and all other MASSOB members being held in various Nigerian jails. The MASSOB agenda, Biafra actualization, suing non-violent means, is the correct thing to do at this time.

Biafra alive! Because it is God Who makes it so.

That’s the News Analysis for the week. Thank you.

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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.

Nkea 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.

Akuko ruru anyi nti na ndi Igbo ndi otu Alaba International Amalgamated Traders Association, nke wu Ahia ukwu nke ndi Igbo ya wuru na Alaba, Lagos, na ndi Police e kweghi ka ha mee emume ebe ha kporo Orji Uzor Kalu ka o bia rio governor ndi Lagos State ka o lebara anya na ihe State government ji a kwado ahia ukwu di mkpa otu Alaba Market di; ihe di ka garage-moto, na Fire department, na uzo di mma e ji a ga Ahia ahu; na ihe ndi ozo. Ndi otu ya na e kwu na hana e ji aka ha ruo uzo na mezie uzo moto a na e si a gbaga ahia ahu. Ha si kwa na Obasanjo mere ban ngwa-ahia ndi ufodi nde a wughi ihe njo, ngwa-ahia nke na e nwetera ha uru-ahia,

Nke mere anyi ji na a ju ndi otu Alaba International Amalgamated Traders Association si: “Olee mgbe ha ga a muta ako?” Oge na ile ka anyi na e chetara ha na i ma-mma na e si na ulo bia futa ezi. Ha kwesiri i dozi ala anyi—Ala Igbo – Ala Biafra tupu ha e dozie obodo ndi ozo, ma o wu otu mgbe ahu kwa ha na a e mezi obodo ndi ozo. Ha kwesiri i wu ulo-ahia di otua na ala Igbo – Ala Biafra, jiri otua mezie ala nke nne na nna ha, kama ha na ndi mba ndi ozo i na a gba-mgba maka ha choro i wu ihe-ukwu na mba nde ozo ndia.

Anyi na a ju ha ihe mere ha ji ka na a kwado Nigeria mgbe Nigeria na ndi Police ha na e me ha ihe njo di otua? Kedu ihe ha ji a kwado Oji Uzor Kalu ebe Kalu choro one-Nigeria, nke butere udi mmegbu na mkpaari ya Nigeria na a kpaari ha? Elee kwanu uru o bara na onye a na e megbu e megbu ga ziri gbakuru ihe ahu na e megbu ya? Nkea e zighi ako ma o wu ogugu-isi.

Anyi na a gwa ndi otu ya ka ha zi anyi na iwe di ha, na ha ghotara ihe anyi na a rutu aka. Ha gaa zuo Electric Generator nye Airport no na Owerri, i ji gosi na i mezi ala nke ha wu ihe kwesiri ekwesi.

Onye o wula mara kwa na o wu naani nweta Biafra wu ihe ga a kwusi njo ndi ya na ile Nigeria na e me anyi—so-o-so Biafra.

Maka nkea, anyi na a gwa Obasanjo na o ga e weputariri Ralph Uwazurike, Uchenna Madu na ndi MASSOB ndi ozo, site na ime mkporo nde Nigeria. Ihe MASSOB na a cho na nweta Biafra wu ihe ziri ezi na ihu nke mmadu na na ihu nke Chineke 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.

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Voice of Biafra International (VOBI) broadcast continues

Voice of Biafra International (VOBI)
A SHORTWAVE Radio Broadcast Service
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