Why Uwazuruike Visited North-MASSOB/BIM Chieftain

From Alphonsus Nweze, Awka

Following grumbling and condemnation from the wide spectrum of Ndigbo by the visit of Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, leader of Biafran Movement (BIM) at a time the AREWA youths issued them with three months ultimatum to leave their place, a chieftain of BIM, Chief Arinze Igbani, has said the visit was to avoid the repeat of pogrom visited on Ndigbo in 1967 to 1970.
Igbani who spoke to newsmen yesterday in Onitsha said he was not particularly happy with Ndigbo and their youths for not remembering the exploits of Chief Uwazurike in his non-violent Biafran struggle.
He said the leader of BIM went to the North to tell them the need to embrace peace and to shun violence against Ndigbo in the North, saying as the Ijele Ndigbo and a father he has the right to do that.
Igbani who is the leader of MASSOB/BIM in Anambra State said those who have been accusing Chief Uwazuruike of betraying Biafran agitation should re-examiune their senses because they had made it abundantly clear from theonset that Biafran Independent cannot be achieved by violence.
“If it is by violence, we would have got it in 1967 to 1970 war through our leader, Ikemba Nnewi, Dim Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu. The rumour going on now in the South East and South South that Uwazuruike has sold Biafra is not true and unfair. H e went there to advise Northern youths to embrace peace as an Igbo leader and father of freedom fighting in the region” said Igbani.
He said all these unfounded rumours were part of grand plot to frustrate Chief Uwazuruike’s efforts, warning that nobody should undermine the contribution of their leader as the flag-bearer of MASSOB agitation.
He said it has become imperative for Uwazuruike to pursue peace because security report showed that the North was bent in carrying out their agenda, saying that intelligent reports available to them said about 26,000 youths from North have been taken to an unnamed Arab country for military training.
But for Ndigbo, Igbani said they are not making such arrangement, so the best option was to head off any out break of violence to avoid shedding the innocent blood of Igbos in the North>