April 25 2008

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

For April 11, 2008

You have heard the news; now, the analysis…

Fellow Biafrans:

From time to time, we have to remind you that Courage does not mean “fearlessness” although we welcome the fearless. Courage means doing what one is supposed to do, in spite of all odds, in spite of opposing conditions, and in spite of one’s own fears, anxieties, worries, and insecurities.

On the other side of the coin, Cowardice does not mean running away from what one is supposed to do, out of fear or for the sake of self-preservation. Rather, Cowardice means first fleeing from responsibility; then, turning around to find the originally lacking strength only this time, to work against those who are standing their ground doing that which needs to be done.

For example, when you wear a pro-Biafra clothing item to a Nigerian court where wrongfully and unjustly imprisoned MASSOB members are being placed on trial in a blatantly ridiculous process, and you don’t allow your real fear of what Nigeria’s police and SSS can and will do to you to stop you in this exhibit of Biafra, that is a show of extreme courage. You are afraid alright, and, true, you may show it at anytime during the occasion, but you never let that stop you from showing your support for Good over Evil, nor allow it to stop you from mounting an active challenge of the gross injustice being meted to our Biafran people. You are too enmeshed in your support of Biafra, too convinced about Biafra that your tears and fears, big or small, imagined or realized, are of no consequence. You know that come what may, and regardless of real pains at the moment, Biafra remains Truth, and support for Biafra is not to be negotiated for any reason—not even for the reason of inflicted pain or worries of future pain. That’s courage!

Now, we also have examples of Cowardice. There are those who run away when they hear the word, “Biafra.” They cover their ears when you mention “MASSOB.” They act like they have pain when they think of Biafra. They are scared; they think that Nigeria will kill them should they as much as even entertain a consideration of Biafra, not to talk of actually saying the word, Biafra. But, remember, whatever this fearful and anxious reaction may be, we do not call nor consider it cowardice. Cowardice comes about only when the same persons who would not hear, think or speak of Biafra then turn around to start attacking those who stand for Biafra and those who stand up for Biafra. Cowardice happens when these persons invite the police to arrest or harass those of us who want Biafra. Cowardice is the act by these persons of actively trying to stop the Biafra movement for fear that the mere mention of Biafra will mean that Nigeria will mete out more punishment against all Biafrans, thereby causing these persons more pain. Only a coward can join and support his own oppressor to oppress his own people and himself for the reason that he is afraid of what the oppressor will do to him should he resist the oppressor.

Fellow Biafrans, what we have described above, we have real live examples of, among us today. We have people of great courage in Biafra—we indeed have courageous Biafrans. They hoist Biafran Flags all over; they wear Biafra paraphernalia, they talk Biafra all the time and they sing Biafra tirelessly. Nigeria, joined by the cowards, may threaten these courageous Biafrans, really hurt them, dispossess them, and even kill them; but, neither the fear of such, nor the actual occurrence of these terrible things, has stopped them from believing in Biafra and from proclaiming Biafra. These courageous Biafrans will not be deterred. That is the true spirit of Biafra. We need to emulate these Biafrans. We need to learn from their example—and apply it as they have. For the sake of Biafra, for, it’s all about Biafra.

We know the cowards only too well. They are the ones who preach “one Nigeria” to us, and they will not even tell their Nigeria to stop cheating, exploiting, molesting and killing our people; rather, they want us to remain enslaved to Nigeria because they are afraid of what Nigeria will do to them should they support Biafra. They hold “glass-ceiling” so-called “high posts” in Nigeria’s hierarchy when and as it pleases Nigeria, but even where it is the duty of their office, they will still refuse to protect our people against naked aggression by Nigeria; often looking the other way, remaining silent, or actually implementing such rapacious policies of Nigeria, on behalf of Nigeria, against our people—their own people. Such use funds meant for the betterment of our people to buy and equip the Nigeria police so that the police can kill more of our people and detain the rest unjustly and without legal reasons. Even some religious institutions and their personnel have, contrary to basic Morality, joined this group: here, the failure to understand the historic role of Religion in times like this, and the failure to understand Divinity, Divine Plan, Divine Heritage and the commitment of God to His Own Children, is so obvious. Only God can give mercy to this latter subset and the strength to look at themselves in the mirror, in the light of their Godless behavior.

When we emulate Biafrans who demonstrate courage, we must, on the other hand, also shun the cowards—cowards by our definition above. We will stay away from the counsel and council of cowards; but we must challenge any and all their cowardly acts against our people. There are more of us Biafrans with courage than there are such cowards, even though the cowards are physically armed with vicious weapons and have access to looted funds and nefarious resources which they have prepared just to use against us. Above all, let us find every means—and use it—to point out to the cowards what makes them cowards: not that they are afraid to be who they really are—Biafrans—and acknowledge such, for fear of what Nigeria may do to them—no; but that somehow they, in their fear, still manage to find the strength and the will to join Nigeria in Nigeria’s ongoing pernicious activities against our people—their people; they still find the strength and means to try to oppose us in our resolve to do the right thing. Spare them not this reality.

Yes, “a coward dies many times before his death…” running and barking up the wrong tree; but the courageous, though he dies, accomplishes his obligations nonetheless. Embrace Courage. Shun Cowardice. That’s our formula for getting our Biafra, and we will.

Our fellow-Biafrans and MASSOB members such as Uchenna Madu, his fellow MASSOB officials, and other MASSOB rank-and-file, remain in Nigeria’s jails without trial and without bail. It is still unclear what the jail / bail status for Uwazurike, the Leader of MASSOB himself, is. Now, this much is clear: these brethren demonstrate that Courage that we speak of. And, we are clear about what is right in this instance, and what we want: their unconditional release from Nigeria’s jails. Such is our demand, such they deserve, and such we will achieve.

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.

Site na mgbe rue na mgbe, anyi ga e chetara unu ka unu nwee obi-sie-ike ma a bia na ihe gbasara Biafra na nweta Biafra. Mara kwa unu na obi-sie-ike a wughi na ujo a naghi a tu gi, ma o wu na a gaghi e meru gi ahu—mba. Onye ahu nwere obi-sie-ike nke na e me ihe o kwesiri i me—mechaa kwa ya nkeoma—o wurugodu na ujo na a tu ya, ma o wu na ihe ahu o na a tu ujo biara mezuo. Onye nwere obi-sie-ike ma na ihe ahu o ga e me, na ujo ma o wu onwu e nweghi ike gbochie ra ya uzo i me ya. O nwe kwara nu umu Biafra di otua: o wu ndia—ndi nwere obi-sie-a—ka anyi si ka unu na e je ejije, were obi ha cho wa Biafra.

Na aka nke ozo, unu e chefughi kwa la na e nwere ndi obi-lululu; ma ihe ha jiri wuru ndi obi-lululu a wughi na ujo na a tu ha i kwu, ma o wu i nu, ihe gbasara Biafra—mba. Kama, ha gbachaa oso na ujo ha, ha a tuagharia azu na zi a lusi ndi kwuru chim na Biafra ogu. Ujo ihe gbasara Biafra ba ra ha maka ihe ha chere na Nigeria ga e me ha o wuru ma ha mepee onu ha kpo Biafra aha; ma ha wu ndi ujo a chota zie ike, na ime etiti ujo ha, i ji so Nigeria na e tigbu na na e megbu Biafra. Nkea ka anyi kporo “obi-lululu.” Anyi na a gwa nde Biafra ka ha kuzie re ndi ya ihe anyi jiri si na ha wu ndi obi-lululu; ka ndi Biafra mee re ha ebere, ma e kweghi kwa la ka ndi obi-lululu ya na e mebiri anyi ihe anyi na e me na nweta Biafra.

Taa, anyi nwere ndi obi-sie-ike na Biafra, nwee kwa ndi obi-lululu. Nde Biafra nwere obi-sie-ike kariri ndi obi-lululu a kari na onu-ogugu. Ihe anyi na a gwa unu wu ka unu soro nwee obi-sie-ike na oge na ile na ihe gbasara anyi i nweta Biafra. Unu e nyeghi kwala ndi obi-lululu ohere i megbu anyi; kama, unu na e mesi ihe anyi na e me ike, were otua kuziere ha na, o wu na ezi na ujo, mmeru-ahu na onwu diri anyi, ma o nweghi nu otu ihe ndia ga e nwe ike i kwusi anyi i me ihe anyi kwesiri i me i ji nweta Biafra. Anyi ga na e me ihe ahu rue mgbe anyi ga e nweta Biafra.

Ufodu umu Biafra ndi MASSOB ka no na mkporo Nigeria, umunne anyi di ka Uchenna Madu na ndi ndu MASSOB ibe ya ndi ozo, na umu otu MASSOB ndi ozo, ma Uwazurike, onye isi MASSOB kwa. O wu kwa nu obi-sie-ike ya anyi na e kwu okwu ya ka umunne anyi ndia na e zi anyi. Ihe anyi ma wu na a ga a hapuriri ha aka, si na mkporo Nigeria weputa ha. Otua ka o ga e me.

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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