You can have a good Facebook page or radio station. You can assemble members but if that is the criteria for being a leader, Sowore would be the leader of Nigerians. There is a pattern for everything; that was why a certain Biafran leader was disgraced by ECOWAS court, because when it comes to substance, he has none. Street funfairs cannot be used to measure leadership when leaders are searched or wanted. Asari Dokubo is the worldwide leader of Biafrans. Nnamdi Kanu is the worldwide leader of Biafrans. Ralph Uwazurike is the worldwide leader of Biafrans. The fight to claim main leadership seems to be measured by the amount of noise one makes with his members. Quite childish and sick! We have not even mentioned Emeka Emekesiri, Tony Nnadi, RBI etc.
I try to answer all the questions posed to me by both misguided, oath held and free Biafrans. I have found myself in a position every question must be answered. Speaking with a notable Biafran three days ago; he emphasized that God kept me alive to be able to tell the story of Biafra now and after the restoration. I completely agree with him because I have achieved that prominence regarding what is going on and what is not going on in the struggle.
I can presently tell where Biafra is coming and where it is going. Who is fighting for Biafra and who is not. Who believes in Biafra of the mouth until miracle happens and who believes in the Biafra of secret politics. I know everyone, one after another, should I write their different stories, it would make a voluminous book for national library.
I don’t have a preferred leader; I have chosen to serve national interest and in most cases, my column conflicts with different groups. There is no Biafran group that had not in one way or another had issue with me over what they perceived as opposing journalism. It is a clear indication I serve the interest of 3.5 million souls we lost in 1967 that formed the foundation of Biafra. It seems more like my light is beamed on Nnamdi Kanu simply because he is the noisiest of them all and also, the self-acclaimed champion of current struggle- even though African regional court had declared him persona non grata.
For the record; I have not publicly endorsed any leader but I have a soft spot. My endorsement is based on ability to deliver and not ability to ranting every week on a radio from the comfort of one’s bedroom, neither can it be based on diplomatic offensive, press release or public impressing/media stunt. I am more or less a realist and I believe in practicality and result oriented struggle. What can give Biafrans the desired freedom irrespective of the consequences is the driving factor of any endorsement.
Ralph Uwazurike’s team had accused me of working for Nnamdi Kanu in spite my public disapproval of his treachery. Nnamdi Kanu’s IPOB had also accused me of being sponsored by Uwazurike; in spite of my public battering of Uwazurike. I have had less accusation from LNC; although, Nnamdi Kanu believes my disapproval of him was largely down to Dr Clifford Iroanya’s influence. BNC has stayed grounded and working their way to stardom, RBI picking her pieces while MOBIN is strategically sound but yet to fly the height of success. I have stayed very much neutral simply because the ideologies of these groups quench not my thirst and they appear frightened to embrace the surest route to freedom which comes at the expense of one’s life. I believe more nobody wants to die for this freedom for now and that is a classical problem between freedom and price.
The general argument or one thing binding all the groups is one phrase “We don’t want to make 1967 mistake and as such, we are peaceful. Biafra will come through peaceful engagements with local and international bodies” this phrase has done much to clothe their cowardice and insincerity; but, some of us already know where they are heading to.
This is Nigeria and every Biafran agitator has that African mentality that has led to Africa being the dustbin of the civilized and developing world. A Biafran agitator would believe a leader who shies away from argument and media interview- a leader that markets himself and feed the people garbage. This is why a leader wakes up and says he will restore Biafra in 2020 and two months to 2021, he shouts ‘April Fool’ and urge his members to understand when he is joking and serious. We have seen a lot; from different leaders; preaching how this Biafra will come by mere words and meeting. Journalists that stand in the gap and represent the people have been misjudged, giving leaders opportunity to grow disastrous wings. Although; Biafrans are coming back to that understanding- that radical and critical journalists are patriots and soldiers of the nation who uncover the rot and deceit of make-believe leaders.
However; within their various memberships, there is a heavy fight of who is the authentic leader of Biafra, we see members of the frontline groups, like MASSOB, IPOB, BNC going about their street funfair while LNC, MOBIN, are in the diplomatic frontline, RBI struggles with RBL on who occupies radio space, a mass media tool that has been beneficial to Nnamdi Kanu’s IPOB.
This question was posed to me by Thomas Clare of commonwealth and I faltered by siding a leader; in the end, Thomas Clare told me we have to first put our house in order before asking for self-rule because they don’t want another South-sudan. While election is off the cards because there is no legitimate government in place, indigenous custom looks the only option and going by indigenous custom- Elders will decide but frontline leaders of different groups have shades of terror and opposed by elders- it is a classical dilemma for the people.
Perhaps; military takeover seems to be the only option, so, anyone ready to walk this path everyone is running away from will wear the crown undisturbed. I believe everybody will submit to the hero that will walk that path unless these leaders have forgotten the history of Jerry Rawlings of Ghana- very much alive in Biafra land.
Ifeanyi Chijioke- a freelance/investigative journalist
Writes from Enugu
Ifeanyichijioke97@gmail.com