Leader of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, this morning declared that the coming year could see the realisation of his group’s dream to revive the shortlived republic.

Uwazuruike conveyed the message via Facebook, writing around 7am: “2014 can be the year of Biafra! Happy days to all!”

The MASSOB leader did not elaborate but his message came on the heels of another pro-Biafra group, the Indigenous People of Biafra, claiming that Nigeria’s Amalgamation Proclamation made in 1914 would expire next year, thus paving the way for the restoration of the Sovereign State of Biafra.

The letter dated 19th December, 2013, was addressed to the governors of Abia, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo, and Rivers states. It was copied to Ohanaeze Ndigbo and all Members of Senate and Federal House of Representatives in Nigeria from above-mentioned states, as well as Members of Senate and Federal House of Representatives in Nigeria covering Igbanke in Edo State and Idoma land in Benue State.

The letter entitled “Expiration of Nigeria’s Amalgamation Proclamation and Restoration of the Sovereign State of Biafra”, was signed on behalf of the Executive Council of Indigenous People of Biafra by the Director, Nnamdi Kanu Principle, Administrator Ikechukwu Enyiagu and Secretary Emmanuel Okafor. It reads as follows:

“In 1914, the British Government under the recommendation of Frederick Lugard amalgamated the southern and northern regions of areas bordering with Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Benin republic, and proclaimed the amalgamated geospace as a country with the name Nigeria. This amalgamation was executed without the consent of the indigenous people that constitute these regions. According to the proclamation documents, the amalgamation was conditioned to have a lifespan of 100 years (expiring on December 31, 2013) after which any of the amalgamating regions or peoples would have the right to opt out. For the past 100 years, the indigenous people of Biafra who are part of the constituents of Nigeria have suffered untold hardship, threats to their culture, tradition and their way of life combined with political and economic emasculation, and annihilation of her citizens by the Hausa/Fulani-Yoruba dominated Nigerian government.

“The attached chronology, as you all will attest to, is only a microcosm of the constant blood-letting being visited regularly on the Indigenous People of Biafra by the rest of Nigeria under a lawless society. You are all aware that the number of Biafrans murdered by the people of Nigeria, Nigerian government and their agents are now nearing 5 million. To date, no perpetrators have been brought to justice for all these crimes against humanity. The Judeo-Christian values of the people are today being eroded by combined forces of Islam and Arabia. All efforts made to ensure the implementation of genuine national reconciliation and forgiveness after the cessation of the Biafra-Nigeria war through the convening of Oputa panel were rebuffed. Many perpetrators including present day politicians – even flag bearers of major political parties – refused to attend the panel. They have, instead, empowered their people and agents to continue with the systematic killings and destruction of places of worship and businesses of our people with increasingly alarming intensity.

“Today, Boko Haram has taken over the existing northern states – forcefully spreading deaths, destruction and mayhem while Islamizing non-Muslims. What used to be a secular country is today implementing sharia legal code in 19 northern states unchallenged under official adoption of Islam as a state religion. Corruption and carting of state funds is now the order of the day. Your children whom you sent to schools have graduated without work. Your waters are now polluted. Your lands are deeply deforested and the rest are under severe erosion. This has rendered your lands unsafe without established measures to reverse the trends. In short, your lands are becoming inhabitable to humans. All these occur because the government of the day has become unresponsive to your yearnings, aspirations and conditions. The Treasury and Justice departments are no longer independent.

“In summary, Nigeria has become nothing but a lawless society. The Indigenous People of Biafra are putting you on notice, via this letter, to desist henceforth from parading yourself as an official representative of the Biafran people in whatever shape or form. You shall NEVER enter into any agreement or be signatory to any document that relates to the Sovereign State of Biafra unless you are mandated by the Executive Council of the Indigenous People of Biafra. Even if such agreement or signatures were executed prior to this letter, it is still null and void and of no effect.

“The Indigenous People of Biafra are no longer interested in the continuation of the union with other constituents of Nigeria. Rather, we are fully set for the restoration of the sovereign state of Biafra effective January 1, 2014. Therefore do not be involved in any activity that would pitch you against the citizens of Biafra. You can ONLY act on our behalf when you are chosen by the Indigenous People of Biafra to do so. Do not underestimate the resolve of the Indigenous People of Biafra. Ignore this letter to your own peril. Please support the restoration of the sovereign state of Biafra NOW!”

•Photo shows MASSOB Leader Uwazuruike.

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