- The coalition reaffirmed their commitment to non-violent methods and self-determination
A coalition of pro-Biafra groups has called off the South East sit-at-home protest scheduled to coincide with the nationwide demonstrations against hunger and poor governance, due to fears of potential violence from security forces.
The groups, including the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Eastern Peoples Congress (EPC), Billie Human Rights Initiative (BHRI), Biafra Liberation Council (BLC), Biafra Revolutionary Force (BRF), Biafra Revolutionary Organisation (BRO), Biafra Reconciliation (BR), and Union of Biafra Scientists and Engineers (UBSE), stated their decision was made to avoid giving security agencies a pretext to harm protesters.
They also criticised a statement by Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, which they claimed was an attempt to blame Peter Obi and the Igbo community for the protests.
The coalition reaffirmed their commitment to non-violent methods and self-determination, urging the government to focus on resolving economic issues instead of making accusations.
Their statement reads: “President (Bola) Tinubu has caused significant hunger among Nigerians. The citizens are protesting; why blame and accuse Mr Peter Obi and the Igbo people?
“Onanuga and his allies should understand that attacking Peter Obi is a grave provocation, invoking the spirits of our ancestors and all progressives.
“Onanuga should remember the Igbo proverb that says ‘onye apkala nwa agu aka n’ odu, ma odi ndu ma onwuru- anwu’, meaning ‘no one should touch the tiger’s tail, whether alive or dead’.
“Onanuga should not exacerbate the nation’s suffering by reminding Nigerians of what they lost in Peter Obi, as an American saying goes, ‘you don’t know the value of what you have until you lose it’.
“We recognise the damaging efforts orchestrated by Onanuga and his allies against Peter Obi and hereby declare: To avoid the federal government’s genocidal plot that could lead to mass killings of Biafrans during the nationwide protest, COPROBIG declares there will be no sit-at-home in Biafra land during the weeklong national protest.
“Canceling any public pro-Biafra activities ensures Nigerian security agencies do not have an opportunity to harm Biafrans.
“The planned weeklong national protest is a covert attempt to lure Igbo youths to their deaths.
“Biafrans should continue their daily activities as usual.”
The statement was signed by Comrade Uchenna Madu for MASSOB, Mazi Okechukwu Orji for EPC, Mr Innocent Amadi for BHRI, Comrade Festus Obiorah for BLC, Comrade Bidwell Ogbonna for BRF, Rev Chioma Ajah for BRO, Elder Anya Kalu for BR, and Mr J Okasi for UBSE.
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