EXTRA: ‘New’ Biafra leader declares secession, names Gana, Utomi, Soludo as ministers
Benjamin Onwuka, leader of the Biafra Zionist Federation (BZF), on Monday declared an independent “Republic of Biafra” and named himself president.
And he even said it is not a joke!
Onwuka named Jerry Gana, who is from Niger, and Labaran Maku, from Nasarawa, as ministers of transportation and aviation.
Pat Utomi was announced as the foreign minister and Nnia Nwodo, president-general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, was named ambassador of the Biafran Republic to the US.
While he appointed Chukwuma Soludo as governor of central bank of Biafra, the BZF leader appointed Barth Nnaji, a former power minister, as energy minister.
Arunma Oteh, a former director-general of securities and exchange commission, was named the Biafran minister of finance.
He said Beni Lar, a member of the house of representatives from Plateau, would be secretary to the government of the federation, while Amarachi Ubani and Mary Okafor, were named ministers for information and trade and industry, respectively.
Onwuka named Gabriel Oluwole Osagie as minister of education and Philip Effiong as health minister.
Onwuka said the republic will officially come to life on Tuesday while he also reeled out the names of the ministers in his cabinet and their portfolios.
He claimed that ex-US president Barack Obama supported the independence of Biafra Republic before leaving office, although he did not provide any evidence to back his claim.
“We have formed an interim government that will be in place till the next 30 days. The interim government will take off on August 1 and last till August 31, 2017,” he said.
“America is behind the Biafra people because former President Barrack Obama already endorsed Biafra before he left office and President Donald Trump will not go against it considering that it has formed part of America’s foreign policy.”
He called on Niger Delta militants leaders to support the new republic and defend them.
“I am also calling on the avengers, the militants to come out from the creeks and join us to defend and protect Biafra. I’m beckoning on Asari Dokubo, Tompolo, Ateke Tom to come out and join us. I am calling on all our boys in Biafra land to come out. I’m not afraid, the US is with us.”
His announcement elicited laughter from journalists present at the declaration of secession in Enugu.
Reacting, Onwuka who did not name a vice-president, said: “This is not a laughing matter.”
They have not seceded, they are having a Jewish leader and another self declared president. Humans… We are our own problem.
This headline is a confirmation that this new movement for Biafra is a joke.
Firstly no one in the north is interested in any civil war, should there be one, it will be amongst those who believe in IPOB/Nnamdi Kanu and within the South East States.
Secondly IPOB/Nnamdi Kanu no longer Nigeria’s problem, the movement and its wahala squarely rest on South East States’ leaders.
Thirdly IPOB/Nnamdi Kanu narrative has gradually turned the Igbos into a political minority, after all politics and democracy is a game of number. Numerically it’s always been and will always be an uphill task for someone of South East State to be president, unless through rotation, consensus and trust. These items seem not exist in the South East anymore.
Finally the IPOB/Nnamdi Kanu risk making people of the South East a social minority.
IPOB/Kanu Nnamdi should champion the fight against the common enemy: nepotism, corruption, poor leadership, and so on. We are all afflicted north, south, east, west. No one is spared.
Enough of this senseless and not well thought out agitation.
Thus your point us highly on point.
I thought the Biafra agitation was headed by Nnamdi Kanu….nawa for naija!!! Something That Has Not Come To Fruition Is Having Ministers Already
i could not but laugh out loud at the last two paragraphs. It is indeed not a laughing matter. I recommend Afe Babalola, erudite lawyer, as the Chief Justice of the new republic.
Nigeria I hail thee. What a comic relief from all the nauseating melodrama coming out of Nigeria. Lai Mohammed will be the Minister of Tourism
@Mamman Bako, I would have given u kudos for ur comment but u tainted it with a partisan projection by saying Ibos are minority. I beg to disagree with u. The last election in Lagos state was a pointer. Also, ibos are Republicans and tend to be passive politically but are also determining factor in Nigerian politics. Politics is a game of numbers and ibos are well spread all over the country to tilt any political equilibrium when excited by events. All the same, peace, equity, equality and love are the only panache to a progressive Nigeria and not arrogancy, threat and superiority complex being bandied around!! Aluta
Plateau and Nasarawa State are part of Biafra
Hahahahahaha”Mr onwuka please tell us how much did Buhari govment gave that you have to go this far,your end has come, BlAFRA is a divine project signed by God Almighty(Chukwu okike abiama)no body toils with God project and go free that’s why I said your end has come.onwuka from now you are an enemy to BIAFRA unless you repent
Division Can never be Divine agender. I want you to be guided so that you don’t kill yourself untimely.
Who is Onwuka and how much was he paid to ridicule the agitation.our leader is Kalu Nnamdi. DSS style is funny but as usual they will fail