Sunny Okereafor, MASSOB’s Acting Director of Information, spoke to 247ureports.com in Owerri, on the activities that marked the 16th anniversary of the existence of the group, the expulsion of Uchenna Madu and his accusation that MASSOB’s Leader, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, must be probed over acts of sabotage, amongst other issues.
Excerpt.
MASSOB just celebrated the 16th anniversary of its existence, how would you describe the events that characterized the day?
MASSOB celebrated her 16th anniversary with a thanksgiving service in the Churches scattered across the Biafran territory. The Police invaded most of the churches, beat up and arrested our members without any provocation. We are asking if it is now a crime to hold thanksgiving in a church. Is it because we are Christian? Can the Police invade a mosque or disperse a Muslim worship? They cannot try it. Let the World know that before we arrived the Churches on that day, Police has already barricaded the areas. We have been warning the Police to steer clear of our activities because we are non violent. MASSOB is a non violent group; I don’t know why the Police like to attack us. They not only invaded the church where the thanksgiving was holding, but shot and arrested our members in Nnewi, Aba, Owerri, Onitsha and other places. Police even claimed that we fought the Priests in the churches. But how do you think this is possible when we made request for the Novena mass over two months ago. It is just one of the many lies being told by the Police against MASSOB. The thanksgiving celebration was held by over 300 million MASSOB members worldwide. There is no group like MASSOB in terms of approach to issues. Our Leader, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike is the Mathma Gandhi of Africa. He has always advocated non violence despite attacks on MASSOB by the Police and other security agencies.
What do you think MASSOB has achieved in these 16 years of its existence?
We have achieved a lot of things. We have given hope to Ndigbo wherever they are living. Most importantly, Biafra is around the corner. Ndigbo should know that Biafra is around them. A boy of 16 years is no longer a toddler. MASSOB has matured and is the foremost group fighting for self determination in Nigeria.
Still on the 16th anniversary celebration, MASSOB’s National Director of Information, Uchenna Madu, accused Uwazuruike of telling the Police that MASSOB will not hold any celebration which later exposed his members to arrest and detention? He also said Uwazurike didn’t worship in any church in Igbo land.
Uchenna Madu is a liar and is no longer the National Director of Information of MASSOB because he has been expelled for sabotage. Let me tell you what happen because I was there. I went with Uwazuruike to see the Imo state Commissioner of Police. Uwazuruke went with his mattress, personal effects and dressed in casual wears. When he was asked why he dressed that way, he told them he came for his detention. But the Police told him that the AIG in Zone 9, Umuahia invited him, not for arrest or detention. Before then, I have already made contacts and told people that in a few minutes, I and Uwazuruike may be detained. The Police in Imo later drove us down to Umuahia to see the AIG. Before we got to Umuahia, Ndigbo who learnt of our coming has gathered everywhere and were hailing Uwazuruke. The Police even asked him, we know you as a non violent man, have you changed? He said no. They asked him about IPOB, he replied that he only knows about MASSOB and we remain non violent. At the end of the chat, there was no document signed. The Police even said they won’t leave Uwazuruike to go back alone so that Ndigbo won’t blame the Police if something bad happens to him on the way. They took him to Owerri and he went back to his residence. So, have you seen the lies of the misguided man called Uchenna Madu? On the Thanksgiving Day, Uwazuruike was at the MASSOB chapel, Ojukwu Library in New Owerri where he worshipped. As Governors and Buhari have their own Muslim chapel in Aso Rock and Government Houses, MASSOB also has its own chapel in Owerri. Uchenna Madu knows this, but he chose to be mischievous.
In a recent interview, Uchenna Madu said Uwazuruike must be probed over acts of sabotage against MASSOB. What is your take on this?
Uchenna Madu is not a member of MASSOB. He is a misguided fellow who broke away and formed Progressive MASSOB. However, there is no group without faction. I want to place this on record that Uchenna Madu should cover his face in shame for all subversive activities against MASSOB and Ndigbo. He collected 18 million bribe to cover the killing of MASSOB members whose corpse was dumped at Ezu River in Anambra State. This is why he is misbehaving because the ghosts of the slain MASSOB members are hunting him. After that, he got another contract from his sponsors to destroy MASSOB, this is why you see ranting the way he has been doing. We got this information from eminent Nigerians who are aware of Uchenna Madu’s deal with his sponsors. Uchenna Madu is part of the larger plot to incite anarchy in Igbo land. These are issues we know too well. This is why he is not happy with us. An example of Uchenna Madu’s mischief is saying that MASSOB’s headquarters is at Okwe while we are now in New Owerri. Okwe is no more the headquarters of MASSOB. We only have his criminal MASSOB deceiving people here and there. From Lagos, they have been fighting Uwazuruike. He came down to Okigwe and they plotted against him again, security agents came and burnt his house; it is still there. He went to Okwe, established and built up the area; now they have engaged Uchenna Madu to foment trouble. Due to our non violent approach, we have left Okwe for them to Ojukwu Library in New Owerri. Ndigbo can only trust Uchenna Madu at their own risk. Those who sabotage Biafra like Uchenna Madu are failures.
Uchenna Madu also accused Uwazuruike of not caring about the welfare of MASSOB members, some of who are languishing in detention centres across the federation while he dines with the federal government?
Uchenna Madu is confusionist. As at talking with you now, no MASSOB member is in prison anywhere. We are not violent. We are not criminals. It is only members of Uchenna Madu’s Progressive MASSOB that are in Prison because they bear arms. He is one who uses his faction of MASSOB to commit crimes in Anambra state which the Police mistakes as the mainstream MASSOB. Uchenna Madu has given MASSOB a lot of bad names; this is why he was expelled. If he accuses Uwazuruike of not caring for members, how did Uchenna Madu become a rich man today, is not through Uwazuruike? My brother, Uwazuruike is a selfless leader, as I’m talking with you now; he has willed all his property to MASSOB and supports members regularly. Do you know how much Uwazuruike has lost in the Biafra struggle, suffering countless detention and other deprivations? Is the caliber of man who doesn’t care about his followers? As for the allegation of dining with the federal government, I have told you that Uchenna Madu is being sponsored to destroy MASSOB. He is a modern day Judas Iscariot; this is why he was expelled from MASSOB.
What is the relationship between the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and MASSOB?
MASSOB remains MASSOB, we have no other name. MASSOB has not changed its name since it was founded. I also want to place it on record that MASSOB is a product of over 40 years wicked marginalization of Ndigbo in Nigeria. MASSOB means reaction against abandoned property and other injustice being perpetrated against Ndigbo in Nigeria. So, we have no link or relationship with any other group. There are other groups like Pioneer, IPOB, EPC, BZM, etc, which are agitating for Biafra. Some of these groups have gone under, but MASSOB keeps going. It is clear that what distinguishes MASSOB from the other groups is its non violent approach in realization of its set objectives.
There has been this allegation by security agencies that MASSOB members are criminals, terrorizing the society?
I assure you that No MASSOB member is a criminal, don’t mind the Police. This is just giving a dog a bad name to hang it. How many times have you seen criminals arrested and they turn out to be true MASSOB members? It can’t happen because we know our members; but many Policemen have been arrested in several places as criminals. Everybody knows it. Some Policemen are lawless, but you can never see a true MASSOB member engaging in acts of criminality.
Your message to Ndigbo?
Ndigbo should be aware of sell outs like Uchenna Madu. MASSOB has over 300 million members worldwide and is on course to achieve her objectives. We are determined to liberate Ndigbo from bondage through non violent struggle. They should know that Biafra is around the corner. It won’t be long.
