Ohanaeze, MASSOB disagree over conference

The apex socio-cultural group of the
East, Ohanaeze Ndi’gbo, and the
Movement for the Actualisation of the
Sovereign State of Biafra, have
disagreed on the proposed sovereign
national conference’s ability to ensure
the unity of the country.
While Ohanaeze said Igbo people
backed the conference as the only way
forward for the country, MASSOB
argued that it would only yield positive
results if the division of the country
would be discussed.
The National Publicity Secretary,
Ohanaeze, Mr. Tony Oganah, in an
interview with our correspondent on
Friday, said the shape the country would
take would be known during the
conference.
He said, “The East, Yoruba (South-
West) and the North-Central of Nigeria
are on the same page. I was a member
of Pro-National Conference under late
Chief Anthony Enahoro and ever since
then, we have all agreed that SNC must
be held. It is the only way to move
forward.
“One thing I know certainly is that
Nigerians want to stay together as one
country under the terms and conditions
the conference would define. Let us not
circumvent the conference.”
The Director of Information, MASSOB,
Mr. Uchenna Madu, however, told our
correspondent on Friday that although
the group could table its grievances at
the conference, it has not given the
conference a consideration.
Madu said MASSOB was not clamouring
for the conference but for the
actualisation of Biafra. He criticised the
Senate President, Mr. David Mark’s
position that there might be no-go areas
at the conference.
He noted that the group would not
participate if those to convoke the
conference introduced clauses that bar
discussion of the country’s dissolution.
He said, “We can never depend on a
clause or certain law made by certain
people; we depend solely on the things
that are leading us to Nigeria’s total
collapse – the corruption in Nigeria, the
ethnic sentiments, religious differences
and the killings of our people. These are
the things that can precipitate Nigeria’s
total collapse.
“Look at the political differences, look at
the Peoples Democratic Party today,
look at other political parties at the same
time. All these things are generating
tension in the land. They are a welcome
development; they make people to truly
know and understand why we are
agitating for Biafra.”

The National Publicity Secretary of
the Igbo apex socio-cultural body,
Ohanaeze Ndi’Igbo, Mr. Osita
Oganah