Chidi Nkwopara
1 July 2009
Owerri — As part of programme to celebrate the 10 anniversary of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), the organisation has launched what it called "the Biafran International Passport".
Presenting the document to MASSOB loyalists, Tuesday morning, at the Freedom House, Okwe, Onuimo Local Government Area of Imo State, the leader of the organisation, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, said the use of the document takes immediate effect.
He similarly appointed a Passport Control Officer (PCO), Mr. Ambrose Anyaso, stressing that "every Biafran is entitled to own the passport but such a holder must be screened before being issued with one".
According to Uwazuruike, the production of the document was in response to persistent demand by Biafrans in diaspora, adding that in an effort to bring the passport to international standard, it was printed in South Africa and brought into the country.
He said that he would lead a delegation of MASSOB members on a condolence visit to the family of the late Gabonese President, pointing out that this was necessary because the late sage saved a lot of Igbo lives during the 30-month old Nigeria/Biafra war.
Uwazuruike also directed MASSOB loyalists to take active part during the burial of the former Governor of old Anambra State, Chief Christian Onoh.
On the amnesty recently announced by the Federal Government for militants in the Niger Delta region, Chief Uwazuruike said "it was sheer nonsense", stressing that you can only grant amnesty to a convicted person.
"How does the Federal Government know that the so called militant will be found guilty of the charge they are peddling against them, if they are taken to court, before talking of amnesty? Amnesty can only come when the guilt has been established", Chief Uwazuruike said.
While congratulating MEND for their actions so far, he said they should go ahead and blow up all the oil pipelines because the oil belongs to them.
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