By Ayeotan Shola
Pro-Biafra agitators under the aegis of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) have agreed to sheath their swords in order to give peace a chance.
The protesters, who were agitating for the unconditional release of detained Director of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, said they were ready to dialogue with the Federal Government to find an amicable solution to the crisis.
It was reliably gathered that the turnaround of the two groups may not be unconnected with a meeting among governors from the South East geo-political zone aimed at charting a new course of action to secure the release of Kanu and address other issues surrounding the protests.
The decision to dialogue with the Federal Government was disclosed in a joint statement issued by National Secretary of MASSOB, Ugwuoke Ibem and Spokesman of IPOB, Emma Powerful on Tuesday.
In the statement, the groups also lambasted founder of MASSOB, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, whom they described as a “sell out”, after he castigated them for introducing violence into a non-violent struggle for the creation of a Biafra nation.
The statement read: “We have decided to halt our demonstration, protest to pave way for the much published dialogue on Nnamdi Kanu’s release. Our withdrawal from the major cities of Biafraland is not out of cowardice but to prove maturity, professionalism as a decent self determined group.
“We hereby issue an ultimatum to the Federal Government to prove their seriousness and sincerity on the much published dialogue on the release of Nnamdi Kanu. We shall continue with our non violence self determination on Biafra. MASSOB, IPOB will never relent or backside on the agitation for Biafra actualization. We condemn the stupidity, sabotage statement of Ralph Uwazuruike that IPOB, MASSOB introduced violence in Biafra struggle.
“Uwazuruike is a drowning man who is living on yesterday shadow. Uwazuruike has lost his grip on Biafra issues because of his deviation, compromise, open romance with Nigeria Government which has grossly affected his personality.
“We warn Uwazuruike and his brainwashed group to stop dragging MASSOB, IPOB into a shameless, naked dance of visionless, missionless, blind existence.”
