Igbo leaders no longer respect Ojukwu, MASSOB laments

The Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra on Sunday cried out that Igbo leaders no longer respect the leader of the defunct Republic of Biafra, the late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu. Ojukwu was generally regarded as the leader of the Igbos while he was alive, even several years after he led the move to secede from Nigeria, which culminated in the Civil War. Years after his death, Ojukwu is literally worshiped by pro- Biafra activists, who continue to draw inspiration from his role in the history of the Igbos. However, MASSOB, which recently threatened to organise an ‘internal’ revolution against Igbo leaders, including state governors, has said Ojukwu was no longer accorded the same level of respect in Igboland. MASSOB leader, Comrade Uchenna Madu, who made the group’s feelings known in a statement, which was made available to our correspondent in Enugu, said the late Biafran leader was not happy with the current crop of political, traditional, religious and opinion leaders in Igboland. “Ndigbo have abandoned the legacies and visions of Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu (Eze Igbo Gburugburu) even his image, personality and name are no longer respected or regarded in the political, economical, social, traditional and religious lives of Ndigbo. “Ojukwu and our ancestors are not happy with Igbo leaders,” the MASSOB leader said in the statement. The secessionist group said Igbos have caused even more harm to themselves than the Federal Government. According to the MASSOB leader, Igbos put in more effort towards the development of foreign lands while neglecting Igboland. He also chided Igbos for what he described as a ‘nonchalant’ attitude towards their ancestors. Madu said, “Ndigbo have committed more harmful, dangerous and sacrilegious crimes against Igboland with their nonchalant attitude and selfishness against our ancestors. “75 per cent of infrastructural, economic, academic, commercial, technological and agricultural developments in Lagos, Kano, Abuja, Kaduna, Jos, Ibadan, Ilorin and other major cities outside Igboland are established by Ndigbo.” MASSOB insisted that Igbo leaders must ‘sit up’ and advance the interests of their people.