Pascal Arogorn Ibe
THE Pan Niger Delta Forum and the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra have disagreed on Sunday ’ s declaration of a new Biafran de facto government by a former Niger Delta militant leader , Alhaji Mujahid Asari -Dokubo .
Asari -Dokubo , apart from declaring himself the leader of the new Biafra de facto government , had announced names of some officials , who would work with him .
The former agitator , who cited injustice and marginalisation against the Igbo in various zones of the country as reasons for seeking a better life for his people, said in a statement that the new Biafra administration would set up a provincial structure of government .
But while PANDEF expressed dissatisfaction over the declaration and called for the restructuring of the country instead , MASSOB described Asari -Dokubo ’ s action as a welcome development.
The spokesman for PANDEF, Mr Ken Robinson , said though the bias under the current regime was a contributory factor to the increasing call for secession by some ethnic nationalities, the forum was not created as a secessionist group .
Robinson told The PUNCH on Monday , “ We are not aware of the ethnic nationalities in the Niger Delta region that have communicated to us where they belong . We have seen some maps of ethnic nationalities or so – called republics , where some parts of the Niger Delta are crafted into Oduduwa Republic .
“ We have also seen maps that have been made concerning Biafra Republic , where some other parts of Rivers , Bayelsa , Cross River , Akwa Ibom and Delta states have also been crafted into the so – called Biafra Republic
“ But the Pan Niger Delta Forum is not a secessionist organisation. We believe in one Nigeria , but our concern is the way and manner the country is being governed . So , we are asking for the restructuring of the country for it to attain true federalism . ”
However, MASSOB’ s National Director of Information , Mr Sunday Okereafor , hailed Asari -Dokubo ’ s courage and added that the former fighter had been one of the pillars of the pro- Biafra body .
Okereafor said , “ We signed an agreement with them in 2004. Asari -Dokubo , Ateke Tom, Tompolo , Boyloaf and a lot of others ; we signed a treaty to work together as one group . Asari said in Newswatch magazine that they were proud of the Igbo and MASSOB .
“ So , we welcome Asari -Dokubo ’ s declaration yesterday ( Sunday ) . It is a welcome idea . Anybody criticising him does not know about the struggle . Asari -Dokubo is one of the pillars in the MASSOB/BIM struggle. We were formerly Eastern Nigeria , and then the Nigerian government is saying it is now South -South and South – East. ”
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