The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has expressed support for Nigeria-born American professor, Uju Anya, over her controversial tweet wishing the late Queen Elizabeth II of England ‘excruciating pain’
WITHIN NIGERIA recalls that Anya had tweeted hours before the Queen’s death, saying, “I heard the chief monarch of a thieving raping genocidal empire is finally dying. May her pain be excruciating.”
The tweet has since been deleted for violating “Twitter rules”.
In another tweet, Anya referenced the rumoured role of the British empire in supplying the Nigerian government with arms and ammunition during the nation’s civil war which spanned 1967 – 1970.
“If anyone expects me to express anything but disdain for the monarch who supervised a government that sponsored the genocide that massacred and displaced half my family and the consequences of which those alive today are still trying to overcome, you can keep wishing upon a star,” she wrote, following the announcement of the Queen’s death.
Reacting, the pro-Biafra Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, in a statement on Thursday said IPOB is solidly in support of Anya, who is of Igbo (Southeast of Nigeria) extraction.
The statement read, “We the global family and movement of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) wish to commend Prof. Uju Anya for her remarks on the late Queen of England and Buckingham Palace.
“Prof. Uju Anya’s opinion on the Queen and the British Government represented the opinion of over 98% of Biafrans.
“Until her viral comment and counter comments on Twitter, IPOB do not know the person called Prof. Uju Anya. But what is certain is the pain and scar of the Biafran genocide lives with every man or woman with Igbo blood.
“Prof. Anya’s viral statement on late Queen Elizabeth’s role in the mass murder of innocent citizens of Biafra during the 1967-1970 genocidal war and African colonization has shown that the history of Biafra genocide and issues of colonization cannot be forgotten unless it’s discussed and addressed.
“British Government and her allies under the leadership of Queen Elizabeth supplied military equipment and manpower to Nigeria to wipe out Biafrans. They used their propaganda media BBC to label Biafrans rebels and prevented any assistance to Biafrans. As a result, many Biafran lives were wasted including the family members of Prof. Uju.
“The world should know that Biafrans both young and old will not forgive the late Queen and the British people, especially the politicians unless the British Government allows Biafrans to regain their sovereignty through a referendum.
“The late Queen and British Government changed Aburi Agreement between Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, the Biafra leader and Yakubu Gowon with the sole aim of teaching Igbo or Biafran people lessons because of their resilience, determination and resistance from British colonization through Ekumeku warriors and other groups that stood in their ways.
“Queen’s interference thwarted the amicable agreement by convincing Gowon not to abide by the Aburi Agreement reached in Aburi Ghana. The rejection of the agreement by Gowon and the British Government led to the death of more than 5.5 million Biafrans. The pain and agony of this loss will never go unless the British Government stops sabotaging our quest for Independence Biafra Nation and supports us to achieve Biafra freedom.
“Biafrans doesn’t rejoice over the death of anybody neither do we mourn the death of evildoers, especially murderers. The Queen of England committed much atrocities against humanity and God Almighty. Queen was a mass murderer, hence Chukwu Okike Abiama and our Ancestors forbid us from mourning such a person or persons.
“Prof. Uju Anya has an indomitable Igbo spirit. She expressed anger that is hidden in all Biafrans especially Igbos who lost so much to the war levied and are still being levied on us by the same people we share the same country with.
“Dear Prof. Uju Anya, we thank you for showing the world our resilience and determination to fight for justice and to get justice.
“Biafran men and women including small children are ready to die in the hands of British people again if they wish to repeat what they did in 1967 in collaboration with the Fulani group and other genocidists like Yakubu Gowon.
“Those accusing Prof. Uju Anya of being an IPOB member or financier are just using that to intimidate and blackmail her. IPOB don’t know who she was until this moment and anybody or group threatening her is playing with fire. Moreover, IPOB doesn’t have secret members or secret financiers, we are IPOB and we fund our movement.
“We expect Prof. Anya to stand her ground without giving attention to Nigeria and those blackmailers who intimidate some influential Igbo so that they can publicly IPOB to submission. We have seen all and IPOB is still marching forward.
“If anyone expects Prof. Uju Anya not to express such a disdain for the killer of our fathers, mothers, pregnant women including children by every strategy of war and associating her with IPOB, such fellow is demented. The person or persons should visit a psychiatrist for proper brain examinations.
“All victims of Biafra genocide and victims of colonization stand with Prof. Uju Anya and her comments.”