Since the struggle for the actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra began, one personality that had been synonymous with it was Chief Ralph Uwazurike, leader of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB.

For the Ijaws, the fourth largest ethnic nationality in the Nigerian federation, Wednesday signing into law of the Bayelsa symbols and seal by Governor Seriake Dickson was a welcome development.

EZE was at the peak of his activism at this time. The then two labour centres; the Trade Union congress of Nigeria, TUCN, and the Nigeria National Federation of Labour, NNFL, set up a joint National Labour Committee, NLC, to prosecute the Iva Valley case.

A recent declaration of political autonomy by the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People, MOSOP and the Bakassi people have been generating reactions. In a live broadcast on a newly-established radio station, Voice of Ogoni, MOSOP President and Spokesman, Dr. Goodluck Diigbo, on August 2, 2012 declared political autonomy from Nigeria thus: “By this declaration of political autonomy, we, the Ogoni people, are determined to enforce the United Nations (UN) Declaration on Rights of Indigenous Peoples, without fear or retreat.”

“I want to assure all Nigerians that Nigeria cannot be disintegrated in any form and the present terror attacks across the country came as a thief in the night. My request for Nigerians is for us to continue in
prayers while we do our best to satisfy the needs of all citizens.”

Declaration of autonomy by aggrieved groups in Rivers and Cross River states of the federation while Bayelsa State intends having its own anthem, flag and coat of arms may be pointers to secession, suggestive of disgruntled citizenry lacking a sense of belonging with regard to the Nigerian federal arrangement.

AUGUSTINE Bamidele Dania, one of the affected workers explains why “Suddenly, they stopped beating us. We never knew what was happening.

IMOUDU’S biographer, Baba Oluwide wrote that: “A week after the German instrument of surrender was gladly accepted, the war cabinet of Mr. Winston Churchill of Great Britain despatched to all their possessions, the world over, for amendments to the Defence Regulations (under which Imoudu was detained) Speculations were rife that Imoudu would soon be released”.

The man elected President of the new NLC in 1978 was a charismatic follower of Wahab Goodluck; Comrade Hassan Adebayo Sunmonu. Same period coincided with the last phase of the military’s self-imposed transition programme which was to end on October 1, 1979 with the handover of power to civilians.

ON the other hand the West African Pilot and Daily Comet both Zik Newspapers highlighted Imoudu’s role and encouraged the strike.