Founder of Biafra Independence Movement, BIM, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, has alleged that the Finland-based self-acclaimed prime minister of Biafra in exile, Simon Ekpa, is not fighting for the independence of Biafra, but is only confusing the land.
Uwazuruike, who stated this during the 25th anniversary of m MASSOB/BIM in Aba, said Ekpa cannot be the prime minister of Biafra when he is preaching violence and not in touch with the situation at home.
The Biafran leader, who was represented by the new prime minister, Ezinne Uwaezuoke David, insisted that the Independence of Biafra can only be achieved through a non-violence approach which MASSOB/BIM has been advocating since September 13, 1999.
He said; “Simon Ekpa said he is the prime minister of Bịafra in exile. That is his way of seeing things. However, we believe that one must start from home to be good before going out there in diaspora. Whatever he is doing outside, remains an outside something until he returns home. When you stay home to do whatever you are doing or saying, people will know you are serious and you have a stake in the nation you are trying to build. He’s alone in exile, but I’m at home just as UNPO approved.”
On the proliferation of pro-Biafra groups, Uwazuruike assured that the groups would soon come together because the independence of Biafra is at hand.
“Today is a special day. A day that the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Bịafra, MASSOB, was founded. There will be no more shedding of blood, there’ll be no more shooting of guns or any form of violence in our land again because what we are doing is a non-violent agitation.
“Human life is precious and we have moved away from anything that will cause us more issues in Bịafra land. We thank God that after 25 years, we are now at the end of the struggle.
“We have the recognition of the United Nations People’s Organization, UNPO. If this journey is not recognized by the UNPO, it would not have been successful. A child born 25 years ago, is an adult today. The issue of proliferation is not a problem. I know that each of them will return home back to their father soon.
“I know very well that we have gotten to our destination. We are waiting for the day of the celebration. We are Biafrans and we know we have gotten to where we are going. You can see today, nobody is being shot or killed as it used to be. From what you are seeing today, victory is here. God know the date and we are relying on that. Everything is in stages.
“We have crossed that stage of open space awareness/demonstration. We have done that and we have concluded on that. We have moved to another level. What we are into now is that people now look to us for better ideas. We are grown, all regions are celebrating today in Bịafra land and we chose not to go back to a level we have already crossed. We cannot be running up and down in such a manner anymore, but we are on a different level.
“Our agitation is non-violent and everybody knows it. However, in a family, all children will not have the same character. Therefore, we are not surprised to see people who are either recalcitrant or doing the unacceptable.
“However, we know that all those things will stop by the grace of God. All those groups are pro-Bịafra groups, but we will keep urging them all to see reasons to come together and recall where we are all coming from.”
