The leadership of the progressive members of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (P-MASSOB) has described Chief Ralph Uwazurike as a deceit. The group which is an off-shoot from Uwazurike’s MASSOB said it has now become clear that the MASSOB chief was only capitalising on the gullibility of its members to dupe them, while raking in millions and leaving his members impoverished. In a press release signed for the new group by its Information director, Uchenna Madu, the group called the attention of Anambra State Government over the plight of 22 members of MASSOB detained in Awka and Onitsha prisons since April 2007 (7years) on frivolous charge of the treasonable felony. Part of the release reads, “Among the 22 detained members, one is a crippled man and two were female. They have been abandoned in the prison yard to rot away for being MASSOB members, about 15 of them need serious medical attention including the female and crippled members. “Several Court adjournments, transfer of judges who wants to establish justice and systematic delay of their trail has been the calculated method to frustrate their release at Federal high court Awka and State high court Ogidi. “The names of the detained MASSOB members at Awka prison are Sabastine Amadi, Ikechukwu Chikwem, Peter Igbokwe, Uchenna Nicholas, uche Idika, Casmir Odokara, Eni Kalu, Chidiebere Ezekwem, Chima Asoh (cripple), Ojimba Anyanwu, Ndubuisi Okam, Emmanuel Orji, Micheal Okezie, Ikechukwu Aghari, Mmaduabuchi Asika, Chinwike Irondi, Chukwuma Kalu, while those at Onitsha prison are Innocent Orji, Chukwuebuka Ikenwa, Amah Onu, Okwudiri Basil (female) and Onyekachi Orji (female). “MASSOB appeals to President Jonathan, Gov. Willie Obiano, Human Right and Civil Society Organizations and other Progressive Igbo Leaders to intervene and effect their release because of their aged parents who were subjected to psychological trauma, many of the detainees are bread winners of their families, many of their children are no longer in schools, their wives has gone back to their respective villages. “They have realized that they are being deceived by Uwazurike and his false propagation of Biafra actualization using Ojukwu’s name to gain personal wealth and enhancing his political ambition. “Our brothers have died, many are dislodged as a result of MASSOB activities and abandoned by Uwazuruike. They are rotting away because of Uwazuruike’s MASSOB. “We appeal to Igbo leaders, Gov. Willie Obiano of Anambra State to help them as they have realize their mistake of following Uwazuruike’s vain promise of better Igboland through Biafra Actualization”, the release stated. The group had months back split as a result of what most members termed high handedness by Uwazurike and selfishness, leading to the group seceding.
