Biafra protests tailored to run down Uwazuruike, says aide

The leader of Biafra Independent Movement (BIM), Ralph Uwazurike, has once again dissociated himself from the protests organised by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), the Biafra Zionist Movement (BZM) and a faction of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) led by Comrade Uchenna Madu, saying that the agitations were designed to tarnish his image.

Uwazuruike’s aide and Nnewi South Regional Administrator, Tony Nwodo, who spoke in Onitsha after a meeting in which he represented Uwazuruike described the protesters as members of splinter groups from Uwazuruike’s original concept of MASSOB. He said the protesting groups were deliberately set up against him and his MASSOB.

According to Nwodo: “They are expelled members because of their anti-MASSOB activities, and they have no other option than to rush to politicians who now sponsor them to discredit me and other MASSOB members. We had to form the Biafra Independent Movement (BIM) because of their infiltration into MASSOB through Uchenna Madu.”

According to him, the recent protests by IPOB have grounded business activities in South East and South South zones, all in a bid to discredit Uwazurike.

“People don’t know that Uchenna Madu and Nnamdi Kanu emerged to destroy the Biafra struggle for their selfish interest”.
“Uchenna Madu who announced himself a new leader of MASSOB, lied against Uwazurike and dispatched his group to Onitsha where they joined IPOB and carried out the protest. We condemn and warn in strong terms that using BIM to cause mayhem will be met with disaster.”

“It is not through radio broadcast and the pages of newspapers that a Biafra republic would be actualized”.
According to him, “Kanu does not know that Biafra cannot be achieved through insulting and using empty threats on Radio Biafra based in London. Kanu and his cohorts do it because they are over-zealous without knowledge.”

Nwodo added: “Uwazurike has asked the people to remain resolute and use non-violent approach in the struggle to achieve a Biafran state. “Whoever blackmails or puts his name to ridicule would not be spared.

He synpathised with those whose property were destroyed and with families of those that lost their lives, praying that God would see them through the current phase of agony.