No future for Biafra, says French envoy
• Ambassador Expresses Country Support for Fight Against Insurgency
• Says France Is Ready To Sell Ammunitions To Armed Forces
• No Man Can Stop Realisation Of Biafra – MASSOB
The French government has ruled out any support for those agitating for the secession of any part of the country, particularly Biafra. France’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Denys Gauer in an interview with The Guardian, noted that his home country would not in anyway work with any group agitating for the dismemberment of the nation, saying his country is working with Nigeria and supporting it as a country.
Speaking against the backdrop of France’s previous support for Biafra during Nigeria’s civil war, Gauer pointed out that Nigeria has evolved since the civil war and that France has been cooperating with the country to overcome its challenges, especially the fight against insurgency.
However, Leader of the Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Uchenna Madu told The Guardian that the struggle for Biafra “is real and cannot be stopped by any man created by God”
He added: “We in MASSOB do not believe what he said because that does not represent the position of France. France is a friend of Biafra and even during the Nigeria/Biafra war, they assisted us so much. In this current agitation for Biafra, France has sympathy for us. We advise our people to disregard what he said. We think that the Nigeria media misinterpreted what the French envoy said.
But the French envoy further pointed out that there is no future for Biafra and urged proponents of secession or Biafra to continue to be part of the country.
“We are working with Nigeria and we are supporting it as the only country. This is absolutely clear and I don’t think there is any kind of future for Biafra. They are part of Nigeria and Nigeria has to remain as the only country,” he said.
He disclosed that France is working with the country in its fight against insurgency, saying the fight against Boko Haram has brought the two countries together, more than before.
The Ambassador explained how France helped the former Goodluck Jonathan government to organise a regional meeting with neighbouring francophone countries, Chad Cameroon and republic of Benin, in Paris, in 2014, following which the Multinational Joint Task Force, MJTF was established to fight Boko Haram.
He added: “Apart from encouraging neighbouring African countries to cooperate with Nigeria we have also developed a strong bilateral relationship with the Nigerian Armed forces. In May 2015, the Defence Ministers of Nigeria and France signed a cooperation agreement between the two armed forces, which we did not have before. Since September last year, we have two French military officers who are liaison officers with the Nigerian Armed Forces to work on daily basis with them in furtherance of the cooperation. We are organising training activities for the Nigerian Armed Forces both in France, Senegal and here in Nigeria.
“I can confirm to you that we are now very close allies to the Nigerian Armed Forces in the fight against Boko Haram.” He disclosed that France is ready to sell ammunitions to the Nigerian Armed Forces, saying “We have no restrictions on that, we can sell any kind of equipment to the Nigerian government without any restrictions.”
In the economic sector, Gauer said the trade balance between the two countries has always been in favour of Nigeria. This he attributed to the fact that France buys a lot of oil from the country.
He also pointed out that France exports a lot of goods to the country, saying despite the unfavourable economic climate, “We still have more French companies interested to come to Nigeria.
Related
Get the latest news delivered straight to your inbox every day of the week. Stay informed with the Guardian’s leading coverage of Nigerian and world news, business, technology and sports.
49 Comments
Liars
Biafra will stand with out your help
Biafra will always stand as a movement and as a rallying point for the Igbos, but to emerge as a country is very doubtful in this dispensation. The reason being that, the Igbo political elites and leaders do not want it, secondly the fiscal federalism in Nigeria is not in place meaning that resources from every part of the country is ‘jointly’ owned and shared according to revenue sharing formula. Secession will therefore not be supported by the majority until the issue of true federalism is addressed by the national assembly.
you are dreaming or perhaps trying to encourage yourself and your likes. Those elites and politicians are nobody before millions of Biafrans and therefore can never stop the restoration of Biafra. You think that those elders and politicians you kill and massacre their brother and sister in 1967-70 love nigeria so much? So you think a Biafran been a politician as a sign that they love nigeria so much, no they are grabing what they can lay their hands. Referendum is fast approaching then we shall see if the wish of visionless politicians previls or the wish of the people in general.
What do u expect from corrupt people that supporters one Nigeria.
“Afro-Arabs too, are subjugated and
exploited by military oriented juntas, sheikdoms and fiefdoms but enjoy giant
advanced development strides; Arabs react to checkmate corruption quicker than
other Africans and insists on internally ideal restructured struggles without
outsider influence unlike Nigerians who expect foreign intervention to salvage
local situations”. Internal mediation efforts would promote unity, justice and equity
to accelerate harmony and socioeconomic development
Yes, sell arms to Nigeria because you need the money. But your soldiers failed in their mission to Afghanistan and ran away from that country. You training Nigerian soldiers? Yeah, we have seen the result of that training, killing of innocents civilians in North East Nigeria, killing pro-Biafra agitator in Biafraland. Ok, your country supported Biafra during to what extent? No arms was imported into Biafra from France. French government did not recognise Biafra, but were only interested in oil.
And that is oil which you do not even have in your biafra/igbo/nnamdi land. The 60s are long gone dude, wake up and smell the coffee. As far as biafra is concerned, its all yours now. It now begin and end with your five SE states of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo states. The SS have since evolved and will want a country of their own now without the igbos in it if push ever comes to shove. If the Ikwerres, Ikas or Aniomas of Rivers, Delta and Edo states want to(which i doubt very much), they can relocate to the SE and join you there like the S. Sudanese are doing. As for a future for your biafra, there is one in the illusion inside yours, your nnamdi and uwazuruike´s head as they smile to the bank with the stipend you throw at them monthly.
France does not want a broken up Cameroon, Anglophone Cameroon has been protesting for months now to stand on their own or be reabsorbed into Nigeria. While you igbos want out because you have become too obsessed and fixated on the SS oil and access to the sea which you want to control badly. You think the rest of humanity has not moved on since the 1960s just like you also think the rest of humanity live in denial like you as you seek to exercise your sinister agenda.
Dude, the sane can see through your mindsets already and everything in it smacks greed!
Any more useless talk from a useless country. All hail BIAFRA.
Man call Xray, have you seen the personality you are refering to,Charly boy, please we are expecting advice and strong words from men and not boys, then again if anybody is living on fools paradise, it should be you and not a nation that is realistic like Biafrans, so pls do not cry for them but cry for your self. My brothers and Sisters through God we are made,ALUTA Continua, Victory ascertain
The French ambassador is being diplomatic as a diplomat.However,Biafra is ordained and must be established like Israel.Southern Sudan did not need arms after all, once UN ordered AlBashir to conduct a referendum.
The campaigners for Biafra must be irretrievably naive if they are counting on France or any other P-5 country in the world to back up their ambition. The French envoy has told them the truth in diplomatese which they seem to lack the capacity to interpret correctly. ‘France would love to be selling arms to Nigeria’ – quite lucrative business for France, as it is for America, Britain, Russia and China. Who cares if 10 million black Africans are killed with those arms, they are Africans after all, not quite the rank of Caucasians.
Kalu works for British Intelligence. The whole Niger Delta crisis and Boko Haram were created by the Central Intelligence Agency. The whole thing is a mess created by foreigners who want to tear Nigeria and turn it into Libya.
and what rank are you Mystic Mallam? You are probably a mixed-race idiot living in Europe or America with no race or continent to belong to
Sorry Mr Azinwie, I wasn’t writing for illiterates.
And how lowly educated could you be to think 10million people wether blacks, caucasians or mongolians wouldn’t have a great economic impact in their region and the world over?
The said France ambassador who is quoted as said there is no future for Biafra etc., should know Republic Of Biafra do not ask France for any such support quoted, do not need it. France is the one that need Republic Of Biafra support. If it is about war, France do not have arms etc. to defend Nigeria of west and north, not to talk about arms etc. to defeat Republic Of Biafra. Nigeria of west and north do not have neither the money nor the resources to purchase arms etc. for defence, not to talk about money or resources to purchase arms etc. to defeat Republic Of Biafra. Republic Of Biafra have all it takes to Defend Republic Of Biafra and Crush any who stand on the way of Republic Of Biafra. The Official Declaration Of Republic Of Biafra Is March 15. 2017. All Igbos home and abroad should prepare to Celebrate and to Defend Republic Of Biafra. God Is With Us!!!
No Sir, Biafra was declared 30th May 1967 by Ikemba himself, no declaration will be bigger than that.
The illiterate called Denys Gauer who is quoted as said Biafra do not
have a future etc. should know France do not have principle etc. that is
why they could not defend their country against Germany, in which
Africa, Biafrans played key role and liberated France, and they are still
living at the mercy of America protection, because even presently,
France cant defend itself against Germany, only plays errand to Germany
in Europe despite all America etc. did to them to develop capability to
defend themselves in Europe. Ambassador of such country called France
will be talking about Republic Of Biafra not having a future, which is
like saying Israel do not have a future- so an insult. Considering the
present France situation- Social, Economic, Defence etc., it is France
that can be said do not have a future. Republic Of Biafra is a country
of Capability and Principle- Social, Economic, Defence etc. The Official
Declaration Of Republic Of Biafra Is March 15. 2017- three days to go.
All Igbos home and abroad should prepare to Celebrate and to Defend
Republic Of Biafra. God Is With Us!!!
Bifrans liberated France? na wa o
LOL ? at that incoherence you responded to, indeed.
……..
P34c3
…..
…
Within the context of principle of democracy, Igbos of Republic Of Biafra do not have the capacity to exist within Nigeria. Principle of democracy is number of votes, Igbos of Republic Of Biafra do not have the needed number to compete within the ruined entity called Nigeria.
Wake up and fight for our rights within Nigeria and lets stop livingin fools paradise.. You are not more Ibo than me.. lets wake up nwanne
Your not Igbo.
Not all Ibos rason like you. Am a realist and believe in real ideology… Charly Boy has told you guys the same ting. See of what use is it to you and your reason alike to come out and you ar killed? Wy didnt una mini god GEJ deliver the Biafra? Even one single road in the SE he didnt do.. Lets wake up and fght for our place in the committee of Nigeria I think thats what we need now.. Ohaneze is just a mistake.. Those old brats are just there looking for who will give them money. It baffles me that Ohaneze could not demand for conditions before closing their eyes to support GEJ.. We are just short sighted.. ourso called bros in the SS still holds our parents houses while Yorubas gave back.. Are we blind?
Ol boy. You are a genius. God created Nigeria for Ibos. 200million people market. No erosion in most of the areas. And they allow you to occasionally poison people with fake drugs and sell fake clutch plates and brake pads. We are you going to get that kinda deal, South Africa?
This post is senseless and from probably an idiot
NO,that post makes a whole lot of sense and i believe you are intelligent enough to recognize so. However some of your people will only come to realize it when they will require a visa in order to visit Alaba Market and many other places all over the country where your people dominate the markets unmolested. Fact is, in Nigeria your people have a deal that is unbeatable. You better remain in this huge market you have in this country called Nigeria because your peoples sole endeavor is buying and selling. No ?.
we have wake-up on what we believe in and that is the restoration of Biafra. We shall prove ourselves right or wrong by means of REFERENDUM.
Still that little brain…hear yourself..who is granting you referendum? Wake up and move forward nwanne
He disclosed that France is ready to sell ammunitions to the Nigerian Armed Forces, saying “We have no restrictions on that, we can sell any kind of equipment to the Nigerian government without any restrictions.”
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
No Sir, you can not sell any kind of ammunitions to the Nigerian Armed Forces, because they abuse human rights, they have no respect for rule of law. So you mean you will also sell nuclear bomb to a country like NIGERIA? What a diplomatic blunder.
The statement by the French diplomat underscores naivety. Of course France and other arms manufacturers want to
sell arms to any potential buyers. What France and others cannot do is to sell arms to a country that cannot pay salaries, with depleted foreign reserves, Naira is worthless and the only foreign currency earner the oil is now under the control of the rightful owners the people of the Niger-delta who are integral part of Biafra land. The French should do their home work well, negotiate arms sells with Biafrans including the Niger-deltan and buy our oil or sell arms to the zoo and buy colanut and amala from them. My guess is he know the truth, he is telling the zoo government what it wants to hear but in reality he is open for business with the people of the rising sun, the Biafrans.
Ok… Just a few corrections though. You may want to say “arms sale(s)” not “arms sells”, and “he knows” not “he know”. Cheers
Yes those were errors, thanks!
That is it.
Boys go back to your spare parts “shades” and continue honest work.
This Biafra project is cancelled.
The world is not ready for a divided Nigeria.
Africa, the UN, God himself is not ready.
If Nigeria is not perfect work and fight within your country to make it perfect.
You cannot win by stealth what you lost 3 million people trying to achieve. Even Ojukwu renounced Biafra. As for the bi polar Amadioha worshipping, prostitute consortium demagougue in Kuje. He should be made to sign undertakings and released, if he refused put a bullet on his head and release his body to his family. Maybe his followers will build a shrine and worship him.
Yariba Islamic pig, better concentrate your self with incestous life style you and your dirty people are known all over the world than dabble in to topic that is beyond your intellect. Midget. Biafra is spirit. All Hail Biafra.
Yes I agree Biafra is a spirit.
Remember these are the most educated people in Nigeria according to available records from both JAMB and WASCE. You can continue to call them ‘spare parts’ traders all you like, that does not diminish the fact that for more than 25 years, the SE and territories closest to the SE have outperformed other regions in the education sector. Your SW is now competing with the far North for the educationally disadvantage spots. Deal with it.
France please Nigeria needs 12 Rafale jets and 24 upgraded Mirage 2000.
The Nigerian Navy needs one submarine. The Nigerian Army needs 200 Leclerc tanks
We will use all these to stabilise West Africa and protect their Golf of Guinea.
There is no shaking at all that means that France has taken a side already, and other countries will take they own side too not necessarily be on France side. France has a track record on not with majority when it comes to supporting wars anyway.
BIAFRA OUR NATION
During Iraq war, France supported Saddam Hussein. Where is Saddam Hussein today?
Thank you Mr Ambassador .
You are a Stockholm syndrome sufferer, thanking African blood sucker for keeping your slave status in perpetuity. Tufiakwa. All Hail Biafra.
Really BIAFRA is gaining unbeliable speed and momuntum both home and abroad.NIGERIANS need to sit down and taik.
Nigerians need to eat goat head…. idiot. Because you read too much fake News media like CNN and Reuters you believe Kalu a British Intelligence agent can actually tear Nigeria apart? You need to replace your head with a goat’s head, it will be smarter.
Sadly, our African leaders are too dim to see through the commercial tunnel of imperialism. After all, Ibori et al stole from their fellow Nigerians to line the fortunes of the UK and elsewhere but home. it is compounded by big-eyed and fat-assed deltans ‘rejoicing’ at the release from jail of that thief. Africans of that ilk lack morals and dignity.
The envoy should be more concerned about the unraveling of the EU.
Most Nigerians are naive to think that France will OPENLY support Biafra.
We will review and take appropriate action.