Posted by By GEOFFREY ANYANWU, Awka on
Leader of Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Chief Ralph Uwazuruike upped the ante on Thursday, declaring that the struggle for the Biafran nation is a matter of life and death.
Leader of Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Chief Ralph Uwazuruike upped the ante on Thursday, declaring that the struggle for the Biafran nation is a matter of life and death.
In a statement he personally signed, in which the Movement declared a stay-at-home on Thursday, August 28, 2008, Uwazuruike stressed that the destiny of the Ndigbo and that of their children were tied to the Biafran struggle.
Uwazuruike who confirmed authorship of the statement to Daily Sun on phone stressed that the stay-at-home was for, 'Ndigbo wherever they are in Nigeria and beyond."
The five-paragraph statement also accused the Federal Government of using some expelled MASSOB members through some Igbo politicians to create the impression that the group was in crisis, but assured that the struggle was unstoppable.
The statement reads: 'I write to personally inform you that MASSOB has declared a stay-at-home on Thursday, August 28, 2008. The stay at home lasts from 7.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m.
'Perhaps, I need to re-emphasize the fact that MASSOB considers the struggle for Biafra a matter of life and death, as our destiny and the destiny of our children are tied to this struggle. And that is why we have resisted all temptations to compromise. And that is why we are still being tried with treasonable felony when others have been freed.
'Presently, the Federal Government, through some Igbo politicians, is using some of our expelled members to create the impression that there is crisis in MASSOB. This is a mere storm in a tea cup. The struggle for Biafra is unstoppable.
'We recently engaged a team of international lobbyists to facilitate the quick realization of Biafra. And this stay at home is highly needed to lead us to the next stage. We count on your usual cooperation"
Meanwhile, 48 days after the Court of Appeal Abuja granted bail to 11 leaders of MASSOB facing trial for alleged treasonable felony, 10 of them are yet to perfect the bail conditions.
A News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) investigation showed that the accused persons were languishing in the Kuje Prison, Abuja.
Only Chief Ralph Uwazurike, MASSOB national leader, was able to perfect the bail conditions, while the others could not.
The appellate court, presided over by Justice Olukayode Bada, had on May 15, granted bail to all the accused persons but they should produce two sureties each.
Bada also directed that each of the sureties must be a civil servant not below the position of Deputy Director in either the Federal or State Civil Service.
He said the sureties must also depose to an affidavit of means and own landed property in any part of the country.
NAN investigation, however, revealed that no civil servant of that calibre had shown interest to stand as surety for any of the accused persons.
Mr Kelvin Okoro, a counsel to the accused persons, told NAN that the conditions for the bail were too stringent.
'Some of the deputy directors we have spoken to are afraid that they may be witch-hunted or intimidated, if they stand sureties to the accused persons.
'You know they are under the employment of government and it is the government that charged the accused to court," Okoro said.
Okoro said the accused would file an application before the Court of Appeal for a variation of the bail conditions.
The accused persons who are yet to meet the bail conditions are Chibuike Nwosu, Benedict Alakwem, Chinankpam Okorocha, Kelechi Inabuike and Ambrose Anyaso.
Others are Augustine Ihuoma, Uchenna Madu, Vincent Ekwuazi, Arinze Agbani and Izuchukwu Izom.
They were charged before a Federal High Court Abuja, in 2005 for alleged treasonable felony and belonging to illegal society. The accused persons had pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Justice Binta Murtala-Nyako of the High Court had refused them bail and ordered their remand in prison custody since 2005.
A lawyer, Uche Okwonwo, who was later charged with them had been released on bail by the judge.
Uwazurike was granted a temporary bail by Murtala-Nyako, in late 2007, to enable him to bury his late mother.
Later, the appellate court overruled Murtala-Nyako and granted all the accused bail while Uwazurike was able to perfect his own conditions.
One of the prison officials, who preferred anonymity, told NAN that the accused persons were not happy about the development.