By Destiny Obinna
Founder of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, has called for the restructuring of Nigeria into six independent countries as a way of addressing the country’s security and political challenges.
Uwazuruike who is also the leader of the Biafra Independence Movement (BIM) made the call in a statement issued by the group’s National Director of Information, Mazi Chris Mocha, ahead of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.
He urged Western leaders attending the UN gathering, including United States President Donald Trump, to support what he described as a peaceful reorganisation of Nigeria along its six geopolitical zones.
The proposed countries would correspond to the South-East, South-West, South-South, North-Central, North-East and North-West zones.
Uwazuruike argued that allowing each zone to operate independently would reduce political tensions and address what he described as state-sponsored insecurity in the country.
He said the continued resistance to calls for self-determination had created tensions among different groups, particularly over the agitation for an independent Biafra.
“If someone living with you wants to go home, it will be useless to say no to such a demand,” he was quoted as saying.
Uwazuruike also restated his commitment to achieving an independent Biafra through non-violent means, saying his approach was influenced by Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy of peaceful resistance.
He recalled that he founded MASSOB on September 13, 1999, saying the organisation’s campaign was based on non-violence and what he described as a non-exodus philosophy.
He also drew parallels between his movement and India’s independence struggle, citing Gandhi and India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, as examples of individuals who contributed to the country’s independence movement.
The BIM-MASSOB leader further spoke about how he wanted his remains handled after his death.
According to the statement, Uwazuruike directed his followers not to bury him in a conventional manner but to cremate his body and scatter his ashes in major rivers across what the group considers Biafran territory.
The rivers mentioned included the Ezu, Cross, Ulasi, Imo and Niger rivers.
Uwazuruike has previously advocated dividing Nigeria along its six geopolitical zones, arguing that the arrangement would allow the regions to govern themselves and develop according to their respective priorities.
