The leadership of Biafra Independence Movement (BIM) and Movement for Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) otherwise known as (BIM-MASSOB), yesterday, cleared the air why the Biafra agitators have adopted every 22nd of May as Biafra Day as against 30th May.
In a statement to journalists, Director of information, Mazi Chris Mocha said while the group recognized the historical importance attached to 30th May as Heroes’ Day, May 22nd every year was ratified by the leadership of BİM-MASSOB as the day the New Biafra struggle for independence was re-declared by Barr. Chief (Dr.) Ralph Uwazuruike after about 30 years of Biafra’s temporal surrender.
“Biafra temporarily surrendered in 1970 to enable our people organize ourselves better.
“What was re-declared at Faulks Road, Aba, Abia State, on May 22nd 2000 was New Biafra. The name New Biafra is derived from the fact that the Biafra of today is different from the former one of 1967.
“The Biafra of 1967 was characterized by violence and loss of lives of our people of over 3 million and properties. But the current one which was re-declared by Chief Ralph Uwazuruike in the year 2000 is built on the principles of non-violence, non-exodus, “Mocha said.
He further explained that the Biafra of 1967 was discontinued after about 36 months of war with Nigeria while Biafra of today is a continuation of the former, using a new method, new concept and new ideology.
Mocha emphasized that the Biafra of 1967-1970, according to Dim Emeka Ojukwu was a resistance against genocide, and not a struggle for independence.
He explained the efficacy of non-violent agitation for New Biafra being championed by Ralph Uwazuruike as in New York, New Delhi, New Zealand, New Jerusalem, and New Jersey, among other places, insisting that the would-be Nation would be achieved without firing a gunshot.
He also said that the New Biafra would be built on the same plan as the United States of America assuring that New Biafran leaders would study all the things that made America Great as a free world and adopt such things in the New Nation building for the growth of the expected emerging republic.
