August 17 2007

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

For August 17^th 2007

You have heard the news; now, the analysis…

Fellow Biafrans:

It is really crucially important that we understand and imbibe today’s message. Too often, we are distracted and even perhaps discouraged unnecessarily in our struggle for Biafra / Biafra actualization because we allow certain wrong influences and concepts to affect us adversely.

So, we want to make sure that we come to an understanding on the issue of “Unity.” It is common sense that if there is Unity, a lot can be achieved in a short period of time. So whenever Unity can be achieved, it is imperative to find it and work with it. But, everyone knows quite well that it is easier to talk about Unity and its benefits than it is to achieve it. By the nature of human beings, both individually and collectively, Unity is never easy to achieve. Most people who do not understand the implications of this spend a lot of time and energy trying to rally others around the “altar of Unity” first before they can embark on a collective project; in the end, all work is done seeking Unity in futility; it will not be found, and there will be no energy or time left to work on the project itself.

Many groups resort to the use of force, coercion, intimidation, threats, sanctions, hazing, autocratic authority, dictatorial hierarchy and artificial reduction of options to accomplish a “strained” Unity with and among the group.

Biafrans, by nature, abhor these methods of trying to achieve Unity. We are independent actors, individualistic to a fault, maverick, self-directed and more likely to follow our own individual lead than follow a leader: we live by “We have no Kings.” Needless to say, “Unity is a difficult place to find on our collective map.”

Does it mean that nothing can be accomplished without Unity? No! Nature, in her wisdom, has made allowances for goal-accomplishments even without unanimity: after all, that we are all different, a fact that fuels lack of Unity in the first place, is the work of Nature Herself. Yes, fortunately, we can make progress and reach what are considered impossible goals even without Unity—Nature makes that possible and allows it. We have to accept Nature’s way out in this matter.

To make up for lack of Unity or difficulty achieving Unity, we need to develop a couple of compensatory qualities which, naturally, and not surprisingly, are suited to people of individualistic bent, in the sense that group effort is not required for the acquisition and management of these qualities. The qualities are: 1) Will / willfulness and 2) Determination. Often, it is difficult to distinguish between the two: it takes a little discernment.

1. Have Will. To have Will is to possess an irrevocable commitment. Done right, it requires no more conscious energy to sustain (which is where this differs from “Determination.”) One with Will knows without a reminder and without any more questions or doubts or debate whatsoever that that which is willed, is: a foregone conclusion. Each and every single one of us is willful: we use this quality every day, most often without realizing it or seeing it that way. For example, your planning for tomorrow is not possible unless you already have Will to be there tomorrow—to be alive tomorrow.

2. Have Determination. To be determined is to work on a commitment, and if need be, against all odds. It takes a conscious effort and an unwavering resolve to see whatever it is, through—successfully—even if unusual obstacles and competing or compelling distractions present themselves and intrude into current realities. Because of the constant effort required, a determined person always knows it.

How do these qualities come in handy when Unity is scarce? Well, if each one of us cultivates the Will for Biafra / Biafra actualization individually, whether we later form a union or not, whether we are together or not, whether we agree on every detail of how to get there or not, is no longer that important. The only important thing for each and every one of us is irrevocable Biafra / Biafra actualization—a foregone conclusion in everyone’s mind. We will have thus become individuals with a common Will: we have become allies and will not see one another as being in one another’s way, rather, as facilitating the common will.

And, when each one of us has the determination to actualize Biafra and achieve Biafra, one has no time to look behind or look at one’s side or look around to see who else is contributing what or not contributing: we are all effort, then, and all that effort is going towards Biafra actualization. Thus even as individuals, in this determined effort, we are able to see what has been done already by others, and what else needs to be done by one to move the individual ahead to the ultimate goal of Biafra.

Nature has other “tricks” which we may not realize: She has a way to move Mountains by summating individual Wills that are common, making the collective Will larger than the sum of the individual common wills. Same for Determination: Nature multiplies rather than simply adds up individual efforts when each individual has the same Determination. And, as if to reinforce the point even more, as Margaret Meade once stated:

“A small group of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.” History and facts support this: it is Nature at work.

The message, therefore, is that we do not want to see people wasting time lamenting about Unity and lack thereof; or running around, waiting, looking or organizing for Unity. Nor do we want to hear people expressing hopelessness or readiness to give up the struggle because they do not see “Unity” among Biafrans. Rather we encourage our people to individually develop and cultivate Will for Biafra / Biafra actualization and let such Will take over each individual “Will-er.” We want to see our people individually demonstrate each his or her possession of Determination for Biafra / Biafra actualization, that way, each works the resolve without regards for whatever anyone else is doing or not doing.

Do we have proof that this works? Yes. Successful boycott of Nigeria’s elections, 2007. Successful boycott of Nigeria’s Census, 2006. August 2004 earth-shaking sit-at-home protest by Biafrans. 2003 Nigeria elections successful Biafra Unity and Solidarity vote for APGA . And, our brethren in Nigeria’s jails—Ralph Uwazurike, the leader MASSOB, Uchenna Madu, other MASSOB officials, other MASSOB members in Nigeria’s jails have caused significant panic and confoundment in Nigeria’s government by their showing Will and Determination for Biafra and Biafra actualization. Yes, it works!

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, e kele e o-o! Anyi e kele e 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.

Biko gee zie unu nti ike na ihe anyi na a gwa unu taa. Onye a da kwa la mba ma o wu obi a juo ya oyi maka onye ahu a hughi “I-di-na-otu” na ime anyi wu ndi Biafra. O na a di mma ka e nwee “I-di-na-otu,” ma anyi ma na orara ahu.

Kama anyi ga a si na anyi a gaghi e me ihe maka “I-di-na-otu” a dighi, ma o wu che wa mgbe anyi nwere “I-di-na-otu” tupu anyi e mee ihe anyi kwesiri ime, anyi na a duu unu ka anyi gbaa mbo nwe ntachi-obi na “evum-na-obi” maka ihe anyi ga e me gbasara Biafra.

Onye Biafra owula na ime nke onwe ya, na mmuo nke ya, jiri ntachi-obi na a cho Biafra, anyi ga e nwetariri Biafra na mgbe e teghi anya, ma “I-di-na-otu” o di ma o dighi. Onye Biafra owula vuru ya na obi nke ya na na mmuo ya na Biafra wu oke nke ya, na akara-aka ya, o nweghi nu ihe nwere ike i napu onye ahu Biafra. Biafra noro onye owula na obi oge dum, ma onye ahu o na e tee e te, ma o no na urha, gi a mara na Biafra a wuru la nke anyi.

Uzo ihe abuo ya ka anyi na ekwu ka onye owula na ime anyi mee:

Otu) ka obi gi noro na Biafra, Biafra a noro kwa gi na obi, na oge na ile

Abuo) ka gi nwee ntachi-obi na gi ga e nwetarari Biafra, na o nweghi ihe ozo e meta ra ya.
Anyi mee ihe abuo ya, anyi ga e nweta Biafra na oge na a dighi zi anya, ma anyi nwere “I-di-na-otu” ma anyi e nweghi ya. Ihe abuo ya no na aka gi—so-o-so na aka gi na onwe gi ka o di; o wughi ihe di ka “I-di-na-otu” nke di na aka otutu mmadu, omume ya were raa ahu.

Nke wu na onye owula na e me nke ya, maka o di ya na obi na mmuo, onye ahu e nweghi efe i le-nle; oru Biafra si zie otua na a ga na ihu na ihu; nweta Biafra a diri nso. O wu kwa nu otua ka mmeri anyi nwere na 2006 Census Boycott, 2007 Election Boycott, na “Sit-at-home” omume-iwe August 2004 anyi mere ndi Nigeria—o wu otu ahu—ka anyi jiri nwee mmeri ahu. Otu mmeri ahu kwa Ralph Uwazurike, onye isi MASSOB, Uchenna Madu, onye ndu MASSOB, na nde ndu MASSOB ndi ozo, na umu MASSOB ndi ozo, nde Nigeria ji na nga ha, mmeri ha meriri Nigeria maka umu nne anyi ndea vu Biafra na obi na mmuo ha, nwee kwa ntachi-obi na nweta Biafra, nke na a ba Nigeria oke ujo.

Otua ka o ha anyi na olu: jisi zie unu ike.

Biafra: biri kwa!

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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equivalent to 9.00pm - 10.00pm Biafraland time
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A project of Biafra Foundation (BF) and Biafra Actualization Forum (BAF)

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http://www.biafraland.com/NewsAnalysis.htm

http://www.biafraland.com/vobi.htm

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

For August 10^th 2007

You have heard the news; now, the analysis…

Fellow Biafrans:

Are we surprised that Mike Okiro and his corrupt, inept Nigeria Police are trying to accuse MASSOB of being involved with the kidnap of foreign nationals in Northern Biafran territory? We are not. Because, of all priority and serious challenges facing the flunky corrupt Nigeria State “Agency of Violence and Mayhem,” otherwise known as the Nigeria Police, none was worthy of Okiro’s attention, going by the acting Inspector-General of Police’s maiden speech: all Okiro wanted to do was to go after and annihilate MASSOB. So, why should anyone be surprised that he is cooking up non-existent evidence to pin on MASSOB on this matter?

You all know very well that MASSOB is a non-violent organization which has successfully resisted, with such ease as can only come from a deep moral commitment, sound moral mooring and moral authority, any attempt or temptation to be drawn into violence—even in its own self-defense. All of the State of Nigeria’s armed agencies—from the Military to the Mobile Police to regular armed constables, from the SSS to hired freelance so-called security agents to paid and well-armed thugs, from Nigeria’s paid LGA officials to Nigeria’s governors in Biafraland officially designated as “Chief Security Officers,” all—have, at one time or another, killed, maimed and dispossessed MASSOBians; and even now, are maiming, dispossessing and killing MASSOB members; they are publicly taunting MASSOB members, to boot. Yet, MASSOB, real victim to these real heinous crimes against humanity, has continued undeterred on its path of non-violence.

Recall when the Nigeria Police tried to pin the crime of armed robbery in Nigeria on MASSOB, thus to give the Police cover to shoot and kill unarmed and innocent MASSOB members on sight. After failing woefully to credibly manufacture evidence against MASSOB, the Nigeria Police, through one of its Commissioners, announced to the Press and to the Nigeria public that the Police would thenceforth just treat any MASSOB members they could find as armed robbers—and of course, shoot the MASSOBians on sight, the standing order and treatment of armed robbers by the Nigeria Police. That way, there would be no need for evidence or evidence gathering, no need for arrest, no need for trial: bypass all legal due process and just shoot the MASSOB member and pin him with armed robbery; and of course, there will be no investigation.

In Onicha, the Nigerian government and the Nigeria police paid thugs to claim that they were MASSOB, gave them Biafra flags to wave, and organized them to go on a violent rampage so that MASSOB would be blamed. As predicted, the Nigeria Police blamed MASSOB, using that as an excuse to go on a killing spree which led to the deaths of many MASSOB members and many Biafran innocent men and women who were not members of MASSOB. When the plot unraveled and it was revealed that MASSOB was not responsible for the destructions in Onicha, the Nigeria Police and Mobile Police, joined by the Military, did not even care: they just continued the killing and looting and destruction of MASSOB and MASSOB’s property, anyway, and the deliberate targeting of other innocent Biafrans. Nigeria Police “mop-up” operation is still going on in and around Onicha, even as we speak.

These are only a couple of the major provocations—lethal to MASSOB—engineered and executed by Nigeria, its Police and armed agents and agencies. Through it all, MASSOB never deviated, not even once, from its non-violence stand. These deliberate violent provocations against MASSOB are continuing in various other forms; MASSOB, true-to-type, will never respond to them with violence.

Kidnapping is a violent activity: MASSOB will never be involved in or with such violence; and, it has never been involved in the past. It is unthinkable to MASSOB that it should be associated with violence—any violence at all—by anyone or by any agency.

Oh yes, MASSOB instructed the immensely successful boycott of the fraudulent Nigeria’s Census of 2006: definitely! That’s what MASSOB does. We did it without violence: no one was coerced. The only violence was that coming from Nigeria, against the boycotting MASSOB members and other Biafrans. In spite of that, MASSOB (and our people) achieved our purpose. Without violence on our part.

And, yes, MASSOB definitely instructed the very effective boycott of Nigeria’s fraudulent 2007 elections. That’s MASSOB in action, and we did it without violence, leaving the violence recorded to those who own it, Nigeria’s agents and goons, who did not disappoint, either. We succeeded, and we had employed non-violence methods, as usual. That’s the MASSOB way.

One of the greatest shows of solidarity and power in these times was in August of 2004 when MASSOB successfully appealed to our people to engage in a sit-at-home exercise all over Nigeria. Without coercion, without violence, our people carried out the instructions to the letter and in so doing, shut Nigeria down for the duration. With that act, MASSOB had also united our people in a common action, something that had never been done since the Biafra War 30-some odd years ago. The success was breathtaking: recently, oppressed Nigeria peoples were to borrow a leaf from that powerful tactic. Non-violence works for us. It serves us and serves MASSOB well.

As you can see, folks, MASSOB has no need to resort to violence: we do well without. We have amply demonstrated that. Nigeria knows that it cannot defeat a non-violent movement, no matter how many of us it kills. So, Nigeria is trying to demoralize us, and or tarnish our reputation in the eyes of the World. Well, we are stronger than Nigeria even though Nigeria has all the military and force-gear, because we have Moral Authority and Justice on our side. Nigeria has never succeeded at anything, in any case; any apparent successes—if you can find even one—were already achieved by colonial masters, now only left for Nigeria to ruin and turn into certain failure. Oh, in case Nigeria thinks that the Biafra-Nigeria war was a success for Nigeria, it should think again.

Nigeria Police—known, shameless pathologic liars—are parading persons who allege that they kidnapped foreign nationals as (they claim) ransom for the release of Ralph Uwazurike, the Leader of MASSOB, from Nigeria’s Gulag. Did we not just relay to you last week that Uwazurike himself turned down a plea-bargain initiated by Nigeria’s government for him to renounce MASSOB and Biafra as a condition for release from Nigeria’s jail? Uwazurike has challenged Nigeria publicly to put him on trial if Nigeria thinks it has a case against him. While we continue to demand and press for his release, and the release of Uchenna Madu and other MASSOB members and officials from Nigeria’s jails, we will never compromise on Uwazurike’s own philosophy of non-violence on which he founded MASSOB, and to which we fully subscribe; no MASSOB member will use or support violence. Let the Nigeria Police wallow in their lies, as usual: but, the day and time of reckoning cometh, for everyone—even for Okiro and his Nigeria Police.

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

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

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Ndi Biafra, e kele e o-o! Anyi e kele e 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.

Ndi ugha na ndi ama, ndi aghugho na a kpo onwe ha Nigeria Police, a bia kwa la ozo. Ha a tuo la asi ozo kwa na a si na aka ndi MASSOB di na oji-ji e jigidere ndi oru si China, na ime ala Biafra. Nkea wu kwa nu oke-ugha.

Nkea a wughi mbu, o wughi abuo, mgbe Nigeria Police jiri bo MASSOB ebubo ugha, ka ha kworo otua ahu meruo ndi MASSOB ahu, ma o wu gbagbue ndi MASSOB na egbe. Ma, anyi na ile ma na uzo nke MASSOB wu uzo nke udo, na a wughi uzo i jigide mmadu ma o wu i meru mmadu ahu ma o wu i gbu mmadu: mba!

Uwa na ile, ma Nigeria kwa, a hula ka MASSOB jiri diri ire, na o nweghi mma ma o wu egbe anyi ji, na o nweghi onye anyi jigidere ma o wu onye anyi gburu. Ochi ka anyi chiri Nigeria na police ha na asi ya ha na a si, maka anyi a marala na MASSOB na e nwe mmeri nke di ukwuu site na uzo nke udo MASSOB na e so.

Anyi na a gwa Nigeria ka ha weputa Ralph Uwazurike, onye isi MASSOB, Uchenna Madu, na ndi ndu ndi MASSOB na nde otu MASSOB ndi ozo, kpoputa ha na mkporo Nigeria. Na i cho n’weputa umu nne anyi ndia, anyi ga kwa na e so uzo nke MASSOB, nke wu uzo “non-violence” rue mgbe a ga e weputa ha site na nga Nigeria. Rue mgbe anyi ga e nweta Biafra!

Biafra: biri kwa!

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