Biafra: We want total freedom not referendum - Okereafor tells Madu

The Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Bia­fra (MASSOB), seems to be divided over its call for ref­erendum to determine the exit of Biafra from Nigeria, with the Chief Ralf Uwazurike-led fac­tion insisting that the exercise is uncalled for.

Its position is coming on the heels of a recent call by MAS­SOB’s new leader, Uchenna Madu, urging the Federal Gov­ernment to quickly conduct a referendum for Biafra’s exit just as Britain did recently when it opted to quit the European Un­ion.

But contrary to Madu’s view, MASSOB’s National Director of Information, Comrade Sunny Okereafor who is loyal to Uwa­zurike, said MASSOB had since conducted referendum in 2005 for Biafra’s exit.

He said that what “ is needed at the moment is not referendum but total freedom as the people had overwhelmingly indicated their desire to quit Nigeria”.

Okereafor said Madu was only trying to gain popularity by calling for an exercise that had long been concluded, saying that the struggle for Biafra’s autono­my has gone past that stage.

The MASSOB’s spokesman who expressed the confidence that Biafra’s total independence would soon be realised, urged members of the public to ignore Madu who according to him “is only playing politics with the name of MASSOB”.

His words: “Uchenna Madu can’t say that we need a referen­dum when we have since con­cluded that. He must be living in the past. What we need now is total freedom, and very soon, Biafra will be free from the op­pressors”.

He enjoined all Biafrans to be united in the struggles for in­dependence, saying that Biafra’s autonomy is non-negotiable de­spite the antics of the enemies.