BY UGOCHUKWU ALARIBE

In Aba, Abia State, an IPOB official,  who spoke to Sunday Vanguard  on the condition of anonymity, vowed that the protests will continue until the Federal Government releases Kanu.

‘’Even if Kanu is released, this is just the first stage of the struggle; you saw the Onitsha Niger Bridge blockade. This is just a tip of the iceberg. There will be no peace in Nigeria until an independent state of Biafra is actualized. There is no place for Ndigbo in Nigeria. Despite provocation from several quarters, we have been going about our protests in a non-violent way. Since we are not violent, we can’t be afraid. No IPOB member is afraid of any security agent whether soldiers or policemen,” the official said.

Also, MASSOB’s Assistant National Director of Information, Ralph Uwazuruike’s faction, Sunny Okereafor, said there was no going back on the actualization of an independent state of Biafra. “There is nothing like Igbo presidency in Nigeria. Even if an Igbo becomes the president, it means nothing to us because, after eight years, the Hausa/Fulani will be back in power and the marginalization of Ndigbo will  continue. So, the only way Ndigbo can have peace and satisfaction is to actualize Biafra. Count us out of Igbo presidency, MASSOB is not there. It is Biafra or nothing.”

Closing of markets hurting economy

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Abia State Market Development Committee, Chief Solomon Nwaigwe, has said the incessant closure of markets in Aba during the protests embarked by pro-Biafra agitators was hurting the economy of the commercial city and urged the protesters to allow markets open for business because when you close markets, you have shut down the city.

Also, a former Commissioner for Youth Development in Abia State, Barr. Ekele Nwaohanmuo, condemned the blockade of the Onitsha Bridge linking the South-East with other parts of the country, stressing that the action was misguided because it caused hardship to the people.