By: Okey Maduforo Awka

Exactly one week after the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) successfully staged a sit at home strike, the five states of the South East have been under tension, following fears of mass action by the body to ensure the release of 33 of its members who were arrested last week.

Already, the body is currently holding a crucial meeting chaired by the leader, Chief Ralph Uwazurike, at his country home in Okwe Onimo Local Government Area of Imo State on the way forward.

The meeting, which is to assess the success of the sit at home strike, is also to ensure that security operatives give the casualty figure of the MASSOB members and to send a stinker to the Presidency that all members must be released in the interest of security of the South East Zone.

It was also gathered that members of the group have already infiltrated the ranks of security operatives in the five states and have taken strategic positions for a possible mass action to release their members.

MASSOB’s Director of Information, Comrade Uchenna Madu, told Saturday Independent that “the meeting is very crucial for MASSOB and we are not happy with the arrest of our members by the Nigerian government. It is not a crime to belong to our organisation. Our people are being killed daily by Boko Haram and nothing is being done about it. We cannot continue to keep quiet over this.”

It is either they are charged to court now and given accelerated hearing or they are released forthwith. That we are a non-violent organisation does not mean that security operatives should perch on our nose and gain balance. We are running out of patience.

Madu further contended that some members of Boko Haram were recently released by security operatives even ‘though they are serial killers, yet members of MASSOB that are non-violent were arrested by policemen.

“What that means is that the Nigerian government can only take you serious when you are violent, killing people and bombing churches. Much as we would not want to take the path of violence, it is instructive to note that we are being pushed to the wall and effect, which will not be palatable, should be avoided early enough”.

While the movement plots the release of their members, it is already experiencing cracks within its ranks, following the emergence of concerned Igbo citizens who are members of MASSOB.

The group in a statement signed by the national coordinator, Chief Okechukwu Nniogu, and the national secretary, Comrade Sunny Okpaleke, alleged that MASSOB leader, Uwazurike, has turned the body to a business venture, being managed by the late Dim Chukwuemeka Odemegwu Ojukwu’s wife, Bianca, adding that the aim of forming MASSOB has been defeated.

In the statement titled, “Uwazurike’s secret plan exposed,” the organisation alleged that Uwazurike has deviated from the MASSOB’s struggle for Biafra actualisation. They said: The process of selling MASSOB started when Uwazurike directed members to register for voter cards but was fully consummated when Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu’s funeral plans was in process.

“Uwazurike and Bianca Ojukwu went to Aso Rock and collected N250million to stop MASSOB and other pro-Biafra groups not to appear in any Biafran colour/souvenir during Ojukwu’s burial including himself, Uwazurike. The collection of the money opens the door to Uwazurike’s frequent visits to Abuja, which brought MASSOB activities to a very low level,” the group said.

The group said the primary aim of Uwazurike’s call to Ndigbo to sit at home on June 8, 2013 is to revive his relevancy and popularity in Igbo land and convince the Presidency that he is the authentic leader and so that politicians including Mr. President will pay homage to him for them to win South East votes in coming elections.

When this reporter called Uwazurike on phone, he replied: “ I do not know you and I cannot grant you interview.” Even when a text message was sent to him, he did not reply.

Meanwhile, leaders of the pan-Igbo cultural organisation, Ohaneze Ndigbo, have chosen to keep sealed lips over the sit-at-home strike of last Saturday for fear of being branded anti-Jonathan.

Many of the leaders called refused to comment on the matter while others who offered to speak would not want their names on point.