UWAZURUIKE EXPLODES, SAYS MARGINALIZATION OF NDIGBO FROM 1970 GAVE BIRTH TO MASSOB

The leader of Biafra Independence Movement (BIM) Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, yesterday, recalled how the absence of Igbos in the key Political appointments made by former Nigerian military Heads of State and presidents, led him to float movement for actualization of sovereign state of Biafra, MASSOB in 1999
Uwazuruike recalled that on August 7,1999, then as president, Igbo National Council Of Chiefs, he made public the communique of the National Delegates Conference of the Igbo National Council Of Chiefs that were mandated to work out the modalities and pursue the immediate actualization of sovereign state of Biafra based on the principle of “non- violence” adopted by the Indian people in their struggle for independence.
 The Biafran leader who spoke in a press statement signed by the manner of Biafra Elders-in-council of BIM, Mazi Chris Mocha which the Authority obtained in Onitsha said that the communique advised Igbo leaders, who for any reason were indisposed to lend support to this cause to stay out of it, warning that any attempt by any Igbo leader to sabotage the objective of actualizing Biafra as an independent State would incur the wrath of Ndigbo.
Mocha recalled that on that day, the Executive of the Igbo national Council of Chiefs conveyed to the then president, Obasanjo, the intention of the Eastern Nigeria which existed for 3 years between 1967-1970 as an independent nation under the name and title: Republic of Biafra to re-actualize itself as a sovereign independent Nation.
The Chiefs he said, formed the movement for actualization of sovereign state of Biafra, MAASOB, with myself as its coordinator, It was based on this mandate given me by the council on August 16, 1999, that I wrote the members of the Nigerian National Assembly from South East and intimated them of the desire of MASSOB to actualize Biafra, saying it had become clear that the hatred of Ndigbo in Nigeria cannot be changed by their patriotism or good statesmanship.
“We have a duty to our children and our future generation. We also hope you feel concerned about the un-abating humiliation of Ndigbo in terms of office sharing in Nigeria, it is no more news that no Igbo man can be president of Nigeria. And in future Igbos would be stopped from holding any public office” Uwazuruike told the SouthEast legislators and House of Representatives.
Assuring them that MASSOB had adopted the principle of Non-violence and Non-exodus to guide the struggle in order to avoid jeopardizing the huge investments of Ndigbo outside Igbo land and loss of lives, Uwazuruike following the formal inauguration of the movement embarked on its first public outing in Lagos on Sept 13, 1999.
Uwazuruike lamented that before the past Obasanjo regime Nigeria was reduced diplomatically as Hausa-Fulani country, pointing out that all the important foreign missions like those in the United States of America, Germany, China, Britain, France, Japan, Italy, Canada, South Africa, India, Brazil etc were usually manned by them and in few instances with the sprinkle of their Yoruba collaborators. He frowned that Igbo ambassadors were always posted to obscure corners of the globe like Equatorial Guinea or mali.
 He also recalled that since the end of the civil war, the Nigerian government had been a cover of conspiracy and exclusion of the Igbos from military positions of authority, influence and sensitivity, adding that Gowon while preaching reconciliation in 1970 had five principal officers, himself (Gowon)and kanem-salem, North, Awolowo west. The other two came from the mid-west, there was no Igbo.
Uwazuruike emphasized further that in 1975, Muritala Mohammed formed the Supreme Military Council (SMC). Twelve out of the 21 member council came from the North while East had only Godwin Ndubuisi Kanu as a member. He added that in 1984 Muhammed Buhari’s supreme military council (SMC) had 18 members. The North had 11, West had two, Mid west  two and Eastern minority had two, Igbo had only Mr. Chike Ofodile, a Civilian  as attorney general.
He recalled, "In 1984 Badamosi Babangida had to replace the supreme military council AFRC. The fist AFRC in 1985 had 30 members 15 of them from the North. Commodore Ebitu Uriwe was the only Igbo man but was removed unceremoniously out of the council membership.
"The second AFRC in 1989 had 11 members. Seven of these were from the North. Mid west had two members. One came from the west and only Maj. Gen Ike Nwachukwu was from the East. The last Babangida’s  AFRC in 1992 had 18 members with 10 from the North, five from the Mid-West, while the whole East had only one Admired C.kaja.
"Later Babangida changed AFRC to National Defence and Security Council (NDSC). It had 15 members with only Mr.Clement Akpamgbo from the East. Abacha’s provisional Ruling council (PRC) in 1993 had 11 members, six came from the North, Three from the West, one from Mid West. Only Alison Madueke from the East, he was later removed.
 "Gen.Abdusalami Abubakar who succeded Gen.Sani Abacha toed the line of his comrades from the North. He did not only exclude Igbos like the others but he made history as the only military head of State who did not pay a working visit to south East.