wazuruike, MASSOB leader threatens: I may join Boko Haram

The leader of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Chief Ralph Uwazuruike has threatened that his group may abandon its non-violent approach and toe the line of the Boko Haram since the Federal Government understands the language of violence.

Uwazuruike, in an exclusive interview with Daily Sun in Owerri at the weekend said both groups were calling for the division of the country in different ways, saying while the Boko Haram adopted violence approach to press their demands, the latter (MASSOB) engaged in non-violent method to achieve the same objective.

According to him, it had taken MASSOB over 12 years preaching the gospel of Biafra sovereignty through non-violence, government had not deemed it necessary to invite the group for discussion but regretted that within a short space of time of the Islamic group’s bomb attack across the country, government had extended olive branch to it.  “I congratulate them because it has taken me more than 12 years to preach the same language that they are saying today that Nigeria needs to be divided at least between Christians and Moslems, but the Federal Government has ignored me for 12 years.”

“Now, within a very short space of time the Boko Haram people have said the same thing I was saying through non-violence, the Federal Government has invited them and of which the group, (Boko Haram) has ignored the government and continue what they are doing.”  The MASSOB leader made it clear that if he had his way, the group would join the Boko Haram and the entire nation would be in flames, since it was the only language the Federal Government understood.

 “I am telling you that if I have my way now, I will join the Boko Haram and the entire country will turn into crisis, since it is what the Federal Government wants. I am saying it today that, I congratulate the Boko Haram people and I wish they will continue in their efforts and if I have my way, I will join them.”  He regretted that, whenever the MASSOB embarked on a peaceful demonstration, government, through its security agencies would clamp down on them, even maiming and killing them in the process.

 He, however, advised the Boko Haram not to bomb the rural areas, where common people reside, but, should focus attention on those who were clamouring for oneness of the country because of what they gained from the national treasury.  He dismissed the insinuations that members of the Boko Haram group were invisible, alleging that some members of the nation’s security agencies belonged to the sect. Alleging further, the MASSOB leader said the Boko Haram were being sponsored by top politicians and business tycoons in Nigeria.

 Uwazuruike, who dismissed those who claimed that members of the Islamic group were invisible, said the sect were human beings made up of flesh and blood but decided to make themselves invisible because they were committing crimes.  He warned: “It is not only the Boko Haram that can throw bombs and they are not the only people that are courageous to be suicide bombers, any other person who believes in whatever he is doing can be a suicide bomber, but we are considering the fact that we can still achieve the same purpose by peaceful means without anybody dying.”

via Sun Newspapers