Enugu clash a plan to intimidate us away from 2023 presidency- MASSOB

The South-east group, Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) has reacted to its recent clash with security agents in Emene, Enugu state on Sunday, which culminated into a gory clash that left scores dead.

The group says the incident is part of a grand design to unsettle its bid for an Ndigbo president in the upcoming 2023 presidential election.

This was contained in a statement by its leader, Uchenna Madu, who described yesterday’s dramatics as a systematic plot aimed towards injecting fear and consequently dissuading the MASSOB faithful from pursuing their goal of producing a president of Igbo extraction come 2023.

“What happened in Enugu on Sunday between IPOB and combined security forces of Nigeria was not a clash or a confrontation but a systematic plot, an act of terrorism, hatched and orchestrated by the presidency to inflict fear that will demoralize the surging rise, clamour and support for Biafra and Nigerian president of Igbo extraction,” the group asserted.

“The loose venom of pathological hatred by this present administration against Ndigbo and Christians in general on Sunday in Enugu further proved our earlier revelation of conspiracy and plot to push back the political emancipation of Ndigbo in Nigeria.

“It is a well-known fact that all pro Biafra agitators including MASSOB, IPOB, EPC, BNYL, BIM, MOBIN etc. are non-violent and do not use arms. It is also on record that none of these groups have indulged in any act of terrorism, violence or killings.

“Why should the Nigerian police embark on a deceitful mission of blackmailing the peaceful and non-violent members of IPOB that they were engaged in firing spree with the agents of DSS that led to the combined team of Nigeria armed security forces to heavily descend on them in a war like scenario during their meeting at Emene, Enugu on Sunday which resulted on the death of innocent and defenseless citizens of Biafra?

“What happened in Enugu on Sunday between IPOB and combined security forces of Nigeria were not a clash or a confrontation but a systematic plot, an act of terrorism, hatched and orchestrated by the presidency to inflict fear that will demoralize the surging rise, clamour and support for Biafra and Nigerian president of Igbo extraction.

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“They fronted the DSS to provoke members of IPOB to an assault but IPOB members refused to fall into their trap, but because it was a designed mission that must be accomplished, the DSS opened fire on defenseless citizens, the police, army and Air Force immediately joined them in the brutality of IPOB members and terrorizing the inhabitants of Enugu City.

“MASSOB calls the attention of Igbo political leaders, irrespective of their political party or affiliation that they are the main target of this latest assault. It is against the political emancipation of Ndigbo in Nigeria they seem to lead; it is about 2023 general election. It is all about wounding the morale of Igbo socio political leaders. It is about creating fear among the Igbo populace towards 2023. Ndigbo must rise now in defence of our father land. Injustice to an Igbo is injustice against all Igbos irrespective of political differences.

“The presidency is using pro-Biafra agitators as their testing ground of wounding and inflicting injurious blow that will demoralize the chances of Igbo political emancipation in 2023. They knew that pro-Biafra agitators are a heavy factor to be reckoned with in 2023 towards Igbo political emancipation.

“MASSOB reiterates its earlier resolved decision that no amount of treachery and subtle clampdown, attacks, killings, arrest, mesmerization, prosecution by the Nigerian state will deter us from the Biafra actualization and restoration struggle” MASSOB said in the statement.

Recall that members of MASSOB and security agents had yesterday clashed in a violent fray in Enugu state which left many dead. The group has now alleged that there is an ongoing design to intimidate it to shun its concerted pursuit to produce an Ndigbo president in the next presidential election in 2023.