A prominent Igbo politician and member of the All Progressives Congress, Chief Sam Nkire, has commended the leadership of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra for its change of strategy.
Chief Nkire said in Aba, Abia State at the weekend that the fact that MASSOB had replaced the word “sovereign” with “salvation” showed commitment that the organisation was ready to carry on with its agitation for the betterment of Igboland as a pressure group and not as a secessionist group.
The APC chieftain reiterated his earlier position that the problem of marginalisation of Igbo people in Nigeria could not be solved through the declaration of a Republic of Biafra or violent demonstrations, but peaceful pressure on government.
According to Chief Nkire, Igbos were doing well in every other field except politics, adding that Igbo politicians must desist from self aggrandisement and begin to work for the good of the people of Igboland.
He was of the opinion that Igbos must be careful not to follow the advice of those who do not wish them well by urging them to fight on until their homeland becomes a battle field.
Nkire added that there was hardly any tribe in Nigeria that lived a more qualitative life than Igbos and therefore warned that Igbos should not expect genuine pity from those pretending to “be more Catholic than the Pope”.
The former National Chairman of the Progressive Peoples Alliance appealed to the protesters to ensure that innocent people from other parts of Nigeria are not hurt in order to avoid retaliation against Igbos scattered all over the country.