The real reasons why the pro-Biafra protesters might still be back after sheathing their swords has been revealed, as the Federal Government has been accused of not doing enough to settle the issues causing the agitation.
An Evangelist who is also the National President of Igbo Youths Movement, IYM, Evangelist Elliot Uko has given important reasons why government cannot win the fight against protesters as he said the Movement For The Actualization of The Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) would not give up the fight for the actualization of Biafra Republic.
He called the protest by over six million MASSOB members as an indication of the “shameful bootlicking and crumb picking culture of a large section of Igbo elite,” which they believed was largely responsible for the pitiable condition of Igbo land.
He further said that Ndigbo had been aggrieved against Nigeria for over 45 years now due to marginalization in all spheres of life, pointing out that MASSOB and IPOB leaders were afraid of bringing up children that would be treated as slaves in their own country.
He spoke in an interview with newsmen in Enugu. Read excerpts:
"A willingness to address the fears and grievances of Nigerians across the six zones. I can only talk about the South East where I know that the younger Ndigbo are so bitter with Nigeria and the formula which Nigeria applies on Ndigbo for decades now.
For instance:
- Erroneous application of the very wrong strategy of compromising large sections of the elite of the oppressed zones in the false belief that they could be useful in holding their own people down in the event of a rebellion.
- The mindless and single minded commitment to the breeding of quislings and vassals in the oppressed zones, who are deliberately empowered by external forces just for the sole purpose of weakening the elite base of Ndigbo. The idea is to make a large number of them to own allegiances and loyalty to power bases outside Igbo land
- The abuse and talking down of youth activists, who genuinely believe that it is better and more honourable to die fighting for freedom than to remain in perpetual slavery. The truth is government can only succeed when the Federal Government gets down to reality and acknowledges and regards them.
- The dangerous and false belief that secessionist agitators can be intimidated by threat of military action. In actual fact, the use of force can only result to pouring petrol to fire. *The continuous insistence that the lopsided structure of state, local government and delineation of federal constituencies based by land mass is iron cast. As this remains the root of much bitterness to those, who genuinely feel short-changed by the military creations.
- The refusal to create and adopt a people’s constitution based on true federalism, as the majority of Nigeria do not have faith in the 1999 military constitution. *The shameful boot-licking and crumb-picking culture of a large section of Igbo elite, something the young generation, not only believes is disgraceful, but largely responsible for the pitiable condition of Igbo land.
- They believe by 99 per cent of Ndigbo that most Igbo organisations are merely tools designed by the elite to achieve relevance as opposed to the great need to protect and promote group interest. Nobody believes they are interested one bit in group interest.
- The continuous encouragement by the oppressive Nigerian state to practise carpet-bagging on Ndigbo, thereby, successfully dividing the masses and the so-called leaders. Imposed leadership, has remained the biggest problem facing Ndigbo. As the queer political structure of Nigerians makes it possible for external forces to influence, who and who emerges as leaders in Igboland.
- The blunt refusal by Nigeria to face the reality that someday, a generation of Ndigbo will arise, who will reject the unending humiliation of Igbo race. Worried about the future of their unborn children. This generation will fight for their honour. That day has come.
- The ongoing Pro-Biafra agitation has clearly split Nigerians, and Ndigbo along three and six broad groups respectively. Amongst Nigerians, the first group are angry at Biafran boys and want them crushed even if it means spilling blood.
The second group wants Federal Government to reassure the East, by addressing infrastructure decay and draw the East closer to Federal Government through appointments and other incentives that will give Ndigbo a sense of belonging to avoid crises of any sort.
The third group wants Nigeria to use this opportunity to find lasting solution to the lingering unresolved national question. They want Nigeria restructured along the lines of true federalism. They know that when Nigerians agree peacefully on how best to stay together that Nigeria will unleash her God given potential towards true greatness.
For the Igbo, the first of the six groups are the Pro-Biafra boys, who believe Nigeria hates them with passion, that salvation lies only in actualizing a separate state, where no one will oppress them again. The second group is afraid of and averse to bloodshed, they don’t want anything that will lead to violence, they pray for peace and harmonious co-existence.
The third group are quislings and opportunists, who as always are only out for their own pocket either way, they don’t care about the future of the country, they work against everything good as long as they pick crumbs that fall off the table. They exploit every situation just to advance their self-interest. They ruthlessly take advantage of every situation to benefit themselves. Their philosophies is me, myself and I.
They are usually everywhere in situations like this, running up and down as informants and agents of oppressors while pretending to mean well. The fourth group are selfish leaders who try to cash in on the situation to achieve relevance. Pricked always by their conscience that they are neither respected nor accepted by Ndigbo as their leaders, they always form convenient cabals in their struggle to present themselves as the leaders.
They run to Northern leaders, Presidency and organisations of all sorts, pretending to have the answers to the problem, they claim they control the Biafran boys which is false, they hustle to put themselves into and inside every arrangement, their desperation for relevance knows no bounds. They don’t believe in anything.
The fifth group are clearly the majority, they empathise with the Biafran boys, but they don’t believe secession is the only solution. They are sitting on the fence, they will only throw in with the Biafran boys if the Federal Government applies force. The Biafran boys are their sons, cousins, brothers, among others. They believe in the justice of the struggle, but they lack the courage to join now.
The sixth and final group are honest Igbo men and women, who know that only a presentation of the truth will save the country. What is the truth? That Nigeria should return to true federalism in order to give every section a sense of belonging. This group, where I believe I belong, is standing up for truth, knowing full well, that they will not be popular with the oppressive elements of Nigeria who want to sustain at all costs this unsustainable unitary structure.
They also know that elements within the F.G. are only interested in those Ndigbo who will help to crush these boys without addressing the real root of the problem, the root and the truth is that Nigeria must be restructured without delay. Not heeding to the truth is only postponing the evil day."