Members of Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) yesterday stormed the streets of Awka the state capital of Anambra state in a peaceful protest, demanding the immediate removal of the Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega.
The MASSOB members most of who were in their Biafran attire, flying their flags and carrying placards with inscriptions, “We don’t want Jega again; Jega must go says MASSOB; Sack Jega now, by MASSOB order” were led in the protest by the Awka Zonal leader, Jaway Okosi and the Awka South Administrator, Chief Arinze Igbani.
Speaking to newsmen on what led to their protest, the Zonal Leader Okosi described Jega as a saboteur and one who had a hidden agenda against Ndigbo.
“We want that Jega to go and he must go, he is a saboteur, as we watched him we found out that he is not honest with the serious job given to him to do. We want him to be removed.”
Also speaking, Chief Igbani said, “We are moving a heavy protest, this is clampdown protest to tell the world our findings in Nigeria because there is crisis in Nigeria and we are in the right position to advise them. This peaceful demonstration was with the permission of our leader, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, and we are here to say that Attahiru Jega must resign or be sacked immediately before the election.
“This is because he is causing problems and that had led to the postponement of the election, because Nigerians found out what he plotted to do. We don’t want this election to be shifted again, as observers we want the election to be conducted free and fair and without removing Jega, this election will not be free and fair.
“According to Jega himself, the number of PVCs collected in the north where there is crisis, where people have deserted is four times more than what you have here in the South-East and South-South where people fill everywhere.
“Through Biafran Intelligent investigations we found out that if Jega remains in Office, the election will not be possible.”
Meanwhile, some of the MASSOB members were allegedly attacked yesterday in Onitsha on their way home from the protest by men of the Nigerian Army and Navy and taken away to unknown destination.
Relating what happened to Daily Sun on phone, Chief Igbani said their members were embarking from an 18-seater-bus to go home after the event when the security operatives rounded them up and questioned why they should protest against Jega.
He said, “It was at Mgbemena junction by Owerri Road, Onitsha the bus was dropped them for them to go to their homes when Navy and Army people operating in two hilux vans came and rounded them up asking them why they were protesting against Jega. Chief Hyginus Nwonu, the Area Administrator, Awka South was among the people taken away with other seventeen in the 18-seater-bus. They were beaten up and wounded with the driver given a head injury.
“We don’t know where they took them to but we are demanding from Nigeria government that our members be released immediately as people are free to hold a peaceful demonstration.”
However, a faction of MASSOB has condemned the protest describing it as being against the interest of the movement.
In a statement signed by the National Director of Information, Corade Uchenna Madu, the faction said, “Today’s rally is against the interest of MASSOB as such diminishes the image and status of the organization. Uwazuruike has so commercialized himself with his shameful and uncontrolled romance with the politician that he has suddenly becomes the political errand boy of Abuja.
“Public protest for the removal of Jega is for civil right groups, non- governmental organizations and some sponsored groups not MASSOB as a Biafran agitation group.
“How can Uwazurike be so insensitive, callous and wicked against the relatives of members who died in active services of MASSOB. He does not console or sympathize with their family members but have the money to hire people for this shameful protest rally. Uwazurike paid N500,000 for each LGA to hire people for today’s rally with a communique written by him for submission to the press.”
“How can Uwazurike be so insensitive, callous and wicked against the relatives of members who died in active services of MASSOB. He does not console or sympathize with their family members but have the money to hire people for this shameful protest rally. Uwazurike paid N500,000 for each LGA to hire people for today’s rally with a communique written by him for submission to the press.”
