Massob Threatens Anambra State Commissioner

The Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, has given the Anambra State Commissioner for Information and Culture, Chief Joe-Martins Uzodike, a three-day ultimatum within which to tender an unreserved apology to the movement over his (Uzodike’s) alleged provocative and insulting statement against it.

In a statement in Onitsha, Anambra State, yesterday, shortly after their meeting, MASSOB leaders quoted Uzodike as instructing his fellow Awka-Etiti people and the entire Anambra people to disregard the group’s directive on the proposed June 8, 2013 sit-at-home order in honour of Igbo people massacred in some northern parts of the country, because the dead people were on their own.

In the statement jointly signed by the Media Assistant to Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, Mazi Chris Mocha, and MASSOB’s National Chairman for Sports, Chief Nathaniel Nwafor, MASSOB also quoted Uzodike as saying that MASSOB members were mainly Okadariders.

The statement regretted that some highly placed Ndigbo, such as Uzodike could become a source of shame to the race as a result of their alleged arrogant disposition, adding that the apology must be tendered within three working days from yesterday.

It, however, asked Anambra people to go about their lawful businesses but observe the sit-at-home order on June 8 as part of protest against the continued killing of Igbo in the north.

The statement added that based on the fact that the conditions that led to the outbreak of the Nigerian/Biafran war were now worse, no responsible Igbo man should work against MASSOB’s directive on Ndigbo to stay at home on June 8.

On the activities of members of Association of Igbo Youths, AIYO, MASSOB noted that the group which changed its name recently from Association of Igbo Youths Initiative Movement, AIYIM, to AIYO, was founded in 2012 after their expulsion of their members from MASSOB.

They further contended that AIYO’s evil machination was to perfect grounds for government to systematically build up evidence that would facilitate the arrest and prosecution of the MASSOB leader, Uwazuruike for purported treasonable felony, stressing that the objective of the statement was to request the general public and indeed security agencies to take proactive measures to forestall efforts by some  disgruntled elements from engaging in any unlawful acts and baming same on its members.