MOVEMENT for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (Massob) leader Chief Ralph Uwazuruike has created a new group called Biafra Independent Movement (Bim) in response to his recent expulsion from the body.
Earlier this month, Massob decided to not only depose Chief Uwazuruike and replace him with Uchenna Madu but also expelled their former president. He is alleged to have raised money in the name of Biafra, which is campaigning to secede from Nigeria and convert the cash to personal use.
Massob has subsequently warned Chief Uwazuruike to stop parading himself as its leader or using the name of Chief Odumegwu Ojukwu, the former Biafran leader to dupe Ndigbo or garner personal fame to pursue his political ambition. As part of these changes, Massob also announced Ibem Ugwuoke as its new national secretary.
In response, Chief Uwazuruike has formed a new group called Bim, adding that Massob will be reorganised and made to be the youth wing of the Biafra agitation. He pointed out that Massob been rested temporarily and old members will now belong to Bim.
Chief Uwazuruike said: “We condemn the recent Onitsha demonstration in its entirety as Massob was not part of it and we apologise to the victims, including the Hausa community. There is nothing special about Nnamdi Kanu’s detention as he is not the only person to be detained because of Biafra.
"I have been to prison more than 16 times and nothing happened. We cannot continue to suffer our people by closing the roads and forcing traders to close their shops, so the Independent People of Biafra should take the demonstration to Abuja and Lagos where the impact will be felt by the federal government, instead of creating problem in the southeast.”
Chief Uwazuruike apologised to victims of the Onitsha mayhem, which left about 13 people, including two policemen, dead. He added that he would be referred to as Biafra leader instead of Massob leader, as he was previously known, noting that the metamorphosis was in line with laid down plans for the actualisation of Biafra.
