March 21 2008

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

For March 21, 2008

You have heard the news; now, the analysis…

Fellow Biafrans:

From time to time, we need to remind Biafrans about what actualizing Biafra means. This is necessary because sometimes, even the most dedicated in a Cause may get tangled up with the struggle-aspect so much that the reason and benefits of the goal may be given second place, behind the foremost demands of sweat and tears, sacrifice and non-stop work.

Before we get to that point, it is also useful to point out that every struggle has phases; like a dance, we need to move to the current rhythm, while anticipating the change in music that is sure to come, and which will demand both a different step and our compliance in order that we stay in step. Thus, while in the Actualization phase of Biafra’s Independence as we are now, we need to understand what is required of us and we need to do such, according to the demands of the time and place, and according to our own individual and collective abilities. No one should assume, though, that actualized Biafra will be the same as actualizing Biafra. The phase of Biafra Independence (“actualized” Biafra) which is coming in the not-so-distant future is certainly going to be drastically different from the current Liberation phase. In practical terms, this means that we all should understand that the role we play today may not be the role that we will play tomorrow with regards to Biafra: we should all be ready to change our roles and perform accordingly in accordance with the phase-changes. Notwithstanding, one thing that is always required of us, and something we must show and remain steadfast to in all phases along the way is: Love for Biafra—dedication to Biafra. For, though phases come and go, our relationship to and with Biafra never changes. We are Biafrans, period. That’s our lot, that’s our luck—and for that matter, it is a Happy lot and Good Luck—it’s good fortune, because Biafra is truly blessed, when you sit down and count our many natural endowments and our innate drive. So, while we require the gracefulness which results from the flexibility and agility of the dancer, we also expect that the dancer stays dancing—the music is always on and the dance continues. Following Independence, Biafra will always be there—and we, with it.

From there we return to the meaning of having an Independent Biafra. No doubt, each one of us is nursing a thought or two or more about what Biafra means and will mean to him or her—that’s great! For all of us, though, Biafra means, first and foremost, the Restoration of Hope. Hope for us Biafrans. Hope for the entire region, Hope for Africa. Hope for the Blackman anywhere and everywhere in the world. Brothers and sisters: think about this seriously. Without Hope, there is nothing left; not even almighty Love can save you then, because those without Hope cannot and will not respond to even Love. Without Hope, there will be no dreams—and no thoughts or plans of what you can do or be when Biafra is actualized. People without Hope commit suicide if they have the nerve, because they understand that Life without Hope is no life at all; those hopeless who cannot summon the strength to end their life-less and worthless lives end up existing as such—no life, no worth—a comatose state equivalent to slow suicide in practical terms, anyway. Given these realities, those who still have any kind of life left in them, when faced with the condition of no-Hope, will do anything—and we mean, “anything”—to find or create in their desperation, any type of Hope at all, including the illusion of Hope. And, they will readily risk that little life in order to find such Hope—no matter where such Hope may be found. Look around you: you will see the truth of this matter among our people. Nigeria has snuffed out any Hope for our people: like foul-smelling stench displacing all the fresh air, Nigeria—one-Nigerianism—has placed all of us under a heavy and stinking toxic cloud in which we all are suffocating. Thus denied “health-ful” ventilation, we have no Hope for survival. Our Youth, the most impacted segment of the population, with whatever “little life” they have left, are desperately lunging out in pursuit of any (even if fake) Hope, sacrificing such last spark in so doing, dying en route to, and in slave-servitude in, the foreign lands wherein they thought some Hope exists. One of the most significant things Nigeria robbed our people of is no other than Hope. When we look around and see what is still happening in Nigeria and how Nigeria is today, we know for sure that this robbery is ongoing, and the “Hope-less” effects permanent, clear into the future. As we can now see and agree, Nigeria took it all from us if the only thing Nigeria snatched from us is Hope. But, this same Hope is precisely what Independent Biafra will restore to us and for us. Biafra brings back Hope.

Hope keeps life “alive,” whereas Opportunity first puts a spark in, and then, lights up, life; in so doing, sustaining the flame of fulfillment for life. Biafra, besides restoring Hope, also means great Opportunity for our people. Independent Biafra recovers pre-existing opportunities for our people; independent Biafra revives and protects existing opportunities for our people; independent Biafra creates fresh and new opportunities for our people. Independent Biafra is a natural anchor as well as a reservoir of Opportunity for us. Our people have Drive—no one can deny that: we have so much drive to succeed that other nations are first jealous of us, then envious, then hateful, and finally, threatened by our will and drive to succeed. This drive, we must agree, has consistently yielded positive results: as a group, we are in fact quite successful wherever and whenever there is a slightest chance or, failing that, if we are able to create a chance where there was once none. Opportunity is just “what the doctor ordered” for Drive. Given Opportunity, in the presence of Drive, even the Sky cannot limit oneself. It is because Nigeria systematically makes and carries out policies to selectively and specifically perish Opportunity for Biafrans that we find ourselves impoverished, despondent, bottled up—a talented and driven people to whom all doors have been deliberately barred shut by Nigeria. Independent Biafra opens all those doors, and sees to it that they remain open. Independent Biafra provides more open doors than we have ever known. In Independent Biafra, the sky poses no limit for Biafrans.

While the natural resources and wealth of Biafra are obvious facts (material assets for which we Biafrans are being dispossessed and killed and our land despoiled by Nigeria and her supporters) and do in fact undeniably contribute immensely to our Opportunity-pool, it is our natural National character, talents and natural human endowments which complete the match-up and ensure a good fit between us and our opportunities. We are therefore well-equipped to shine at home and to amaze outside home. It was Chinua Achebe who put it this way in his book, “Things Fall Apart”:

"Unlike the Hausa-Fulani, the Igboman [Biafran] was unhindered by a weary—that is a Moslem—religion. And unlike the Yoruba, he was unhampered by traditional hierarchies. This kind of creature, fearing neither god nor man was custom made to grasp the opportunities of the white man's dispensation."
[Parenthetic insertion by VOBI].

Biafra represents the restoration of Hope for our people, and the revelation and protection of unimaginable Opportunity for our people. That’s what Independent Biafra means. That’s why, Biafra, for us.

Biafrans of MASSOB membership are still in Nigeria’s jails. We continue to remember them all: Uchenna Madu, other MASSOB officials, all other MASSOB members; and Uwazurike, the Leader of MASSOB himself. We insist on their release from Nigeria’s jails.

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 (VOBI) Radio, di na Washington DC, na ala America, na a bia ra unu na abali a.

Ka anyi chetakwara unu ihe Biafra putara—ihe anyi ji a cho nweta Biafra. Tupu anyi e mee otua, ka anyi chetakwara unu na onye Biafra owula jikwara kwa i ruru Biafra oru oge dum, ma mara kwa na udi oru o ga a ruru Biafra ga a gbanwe site na mgbe rue na mgbe; nke-ka-cha-nke, site ugbua mgbe anyi ka na a cho Biafra rue mgbe anyi chotara Biafra, na oge na a bia na iru, mgbe Biafra diri onwe ya. Onodu onye Biafra no taa na oge ya anyi na a cho Biafra ga a gbanwe mgbe anyi nwetara Biafra. Ma o nweghi mgbanwe di na anyi i wu ndi Biafra: rue mgbe e bighi-ebi, ndi Biafra ka anyi wu.

Biafra kwuuru onwe ya wu nkwusi “e-nweghi-nchekwube” nke wu onodu Nigeria tinyere anyi wu ndi Biafra. Unu ma nu na ebe nchekwube a dighi, o nweghi ndu di ebe ahu: o wu kwa nu ebe di otu ahu ka Nigeria kwabara anyi, tuchie-uzo, Ma, nzoputa anyi wu Biafra: Biafra noro onwe ya, na a chi kwa onwe ya, ga e wetara anyi nchekwube na ihe ga a diri anyi mma, na zi e nye anyi olile-anya na anyi nwere ike i bi ndu oma na uwa ya. Nigeria e zuru la, na napu, anyi nchekube, ka anyi nwuchaa a nwuo. Ma Biafra dobere anyi ndu, maka Biafra wetarala anyi nchekube, Biafra nyere anyi nchekube.

Ihe ozo Biafra putara wu na Biafra nooro onwe ya, na a chi onwe ya, nyere ndi Biafra nnukwu Oghere—oghere anyi ga e ji e me ihe soro anyi na obi na ime uwa ya; oghere anyi i ji baa, muo, rigoro Elu-igwe; oghere i ji nwee oga-na-iru; oghere i ji ruo ezigbo oru, ru sie ya ike, kpata aku na uba, na rie uru di na ime ya. O wu oghere di otua ka Nigeria na e gbochi anyi i nwe; o wu oghere ya ka Biafra wetarala anyi. Chineke goziri anyi, nye anyi ike oru na ike ogugu-isi, nye kwa anyi ala mara oke mma--Biafra; anyi naputa Nigeria oghere anyi o gbochiri anyi, anyi e nwee ike ji ngozi Chineke ya mee ihe puru-iche. O wu kwa nu nkea ka Biafra putara; o wu ihe Biafra na a chi onwe ya ga e mere anyi. Unu echefughikwala.

Umu Biafra ndi MASSOB ka no na mkporo Nigeria, umu nne anyi di ka Uchenna Madu na ndi ndu MASSOB ndi ozo, na umu otu MASSOB ndi ozo, ma Uwazurike, onye isi MASSOB. Ihe anyi kwuu na ya wu na a ga e weputariri ha site na mkporo Nigerai, ugbua!

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
transmitting on 15.67 MHz (on 19 meter band)
at 2000 - 2100 Hours UTC (Universal Time [Coordinated])
equivalent to 9.00pm - 10.00pm Biafraland time
every Friday
A project of Biafra Foundation (BF) and Biafra Actualization Forum (BAF)