MASSOB Condemns Attack on Ekweremadu, Offers Apologies

The Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) on Sunday described as unwarranted and despicable the physical attacks unleashed on the former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu by suspected IPOB members in Germany last Saturday.

The pro-Biafra group also dismissed a directive purportedly issued by IPOB leadership to the effect that Govenors of the South-east states should be attacked anytime they are seen outside the country, noting that violence had never been the best strategy for them to achieve the Biafran project.

MASSOB in a statement signed by its National Director of Information, Edeson Samuel, and made available to journalists in Enugu on Sunday, however extended its apologies to Senator Ekweremadu for the international embarrassment.

 
“It is disheartening that some groups have turned the non violence struggle for the actualisation of Biafra state into an abusive and systematic Gestapo against the supposed citizens of Biafra.
 
“The physical attack on Ike Ekweremadu by IPOB is not commendable. Igbo culture abhors disrespect on elders and persons in authoritative positions. If Ike Ekweremadu is sabotaging or has sabotaged Biafra struggle as alleged by IPOB, what meaningful and acceptable steps has IPOB taken to draw the attention of Ike Ekweremadu to the alleged degradation? 
 
“MASSOB as a leading figure of current Biafra agitation advices other pro Biafra groups including IPOB that Igbo political leaders are not the major obstacle of our chances of achieving independence from Nigeria state, the major hurdles militating against the freedom of Biafra people from Nigeria is non cohesion and brotherhood among the leaders of leading pro Biafra groups. The tendency of superiority complex on ideology and the spirit of lordship over others are the detrimental tendencies grossly affecting the freedom of Biafrans,” it said.
 
According to the group, Ekweremadu and other perceived and alleged enemies of Biafra were not the major obstacle against Biafra, stressing that “IPOB can never actualize Biafra alone, neither MASSOB, LNC, BNC, BIM and others operating individually can achieve Biafra alone.”
 
“Biafra will be more achievable when a strong coalition of MASSOB, IPOB, Lower Niger Congress, BNC, BIM and others from Niger Delta regions are established under a collegiate leadership.
 
“The tendency of grooming authoritarian leadership under any guise in Igbo land and Biafra in general will never be tolerated because the Republican nature of Igbo man does not allow such authoritative and empirical rulership.
 
“MASSOB also condemns the directives to attack the governors of southeast, consciously attacking a governor will never give us Biafra but will continue sending our youths to untimely deaths because every attack on a governor will attract the trigger happy Hausa Fulani security agents in Igbo land to open fire on our defenceless youths. Tomorrow, they will say governors ordered the killings of IPOB members.
 
“MASSOB also apologized to Chief Ike Ekweremadu for the physical assault on his person at Germany during the Igbo traditional ceremony of iri ji. We admonished Ekweremadu to abreast the assault as a family affair between a father and his children. Hausa Fulanis and other enemies of Ndigbo are happy but we must shame them when they see you in a cordial relationship with your people.” 

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