Nigeria@66: MASSOB Blames Abuja Politicians, Contractors for Stunted Development

By Cyprian Ebele, Onitsha

The Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) has blamed Abuja-based politicians and Federal Government contractors for what it described as Nigeria’s failure to achieve meaningful development 66 years after independence.

MASSOB’s Director of Information, Mazi Chris Mocha, made the assertion in a statement marking Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary, accusing members of the National Assembly and government contractors of allegedly frustrating the country’s infrastructural and economic development.

Mocha said the political elite had continued to promote what he described as “one Nigeria” because of the benefits they allegedly derived from the existing political structure.

According to him, the consequences of the country’s developmental challenges are largely borne by ordinary Nigerians, who, he said, continue to grapple with insecurity, poverty, unemployment and inadequate infrastructure.

He also recalled the late Biafran leader, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, saying Ojukwu had warned about the challenges confronting Nigeria and the need to address the country’s structural problems.

“The Abuja politicians and contractors believe in the elusive one Nigeria, the one Nigeria that is their source of corruption and impunity,” Mocha alleged.

MASSOB argued that the country’s present political structure had failed to adequately address the grievances and aspirations of its diverse ethnic nationalities.

The organisation consequently renewed its call for the six geopolitical zones to become independent republics, namely South-East, South-West, South-South, North-Central, North-East and North-West.

It said the assets of citizens in the proposed republics could be protected under international law, while bilateral agreements would guide relations among the new countries.

MASSOB also dismissed a national conference as a solution to Nigeria’s challenges, alleging that deep-rooted mistrust among the various nationalities would make such an arrangement ineffective.

The group expressed concern over the continued loss of lives to insecurity, saying political interests should not be allowed to override the need to protect the lives and welfare of citizens.

MASSOB said its position was consistent with the vision it attributed to Ojukwu, adding that its leader, Ralph Uwazuruike, and members of the organisation would continue to canvass the group’s position through non-violent means.

It maintained that restructuring Nigeria into six independent republics remained, in its view, the solution to the country’s longstanding political, economic and security challenges.