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06.09.2011 Feature Article

HOW SOCIAL CLUBS AND TOWN UNIONS CAN HELP SAVE THE IGBO NATION

HOW SOCIAL CLUBS AND TOWN UNIONS CAN HELP SAVE THE IGBO NATION
06.09.2011 LISTEN

One important and popular saying of our people is that we should first secure the space where we would spread the mat before investing our fortunes and energy in trying to obtain the most beautiful and expensive mats. What that is saying to us is that we must learn how to prioritize our affairs as a people. In other words, we should do the first things first. Now what are the first things that are required from us to do as Igbo/Biafra people?

Amongst all the peoples of the Earth, no other group is in a needier position for a secured and free homeland than our people, Igbo/Biafra people. The reason is because no other group has been more oppressed, persecuted and made to suffer a more massive genocidal deaths and deprivations based on the hatred of who they are than us.

Yes, we have proved that we can survive, even thrive in spite of the hatred and persecution. We have dared Nigeria's hatred, deprivation, persecution, looting, rape, pogrom, genocide, ethnic cleansing, etc and have triumphed over these impossible odds. Some people have even argued that if these things had befallen lesser mortals they would have been run under and completely vanished. History is replete with instances where whole groups of peoples and races had disappeared when subjected to lesser evils. We are still here today because we have just been luckier, that is all.

We completely disagree with those who argue that perhaps we have been smarter. No. It's only that God, (Our Chi) has been kind to us. But have some of us ever wondered about how many times we can count on that luck, the benevolence of Our Chi? How far can we as a people go on depending on chance instead of on a planned and designed future where we as stakeholders will make vital inputs in the choice of materials and style of architecture of our future construct? This is the age of reason and science, should we not as a people work in partnership with God (Our Chi), to design a future and a destiny for ourselves and our children, as it will suit us? (When we say na onye kwe, chi ya ekwe what we are actually saying is that we can be co-designers with Our Chi on how our tomorrow shall be). Which is better, to contribute to and actually be co-creators of the way we would have it or just accept what would come our way as contrived and concocted for us by forces and persons other than us?

We believe that if we are be honest and sincere to look for satisfactory answers to these and many more questions as they concern us as a people then the search will inevitably lead us to the conclusion that hitherto we have not done enough to provide for our future. (We have not concurred with Our Chi as much as we should. We have not been doing enough partnership with Our Chi as much as we ought to). The truth is that we cannot find the right answers to these questions as citizens of the Nigerian state. It will be impossible to do any meaningful work in partnership with Our Chi within Nigeria. Our Chi has since on the 30th of May 1967 rejected Nigeria and the rejection is permanent. We can do all things better outside, than on the inside of Nigeria.

Every honest and sincere observer agrees that Nigeria has failed. It failed before it ever started. It is currently a no man's land and the other parties to the project have long found this out and are making very serious efforts at managing and launching their own separate states outside Nigeria. We the Igbo/Biafra nation must not be caught naked and unprepared. Biafra of 30th May 1967 was thrust on us as a sudden and unplanned for necessity. We proved ourselves creditably well, thanks to the great leadership and sacrifices of Emeka Ojukwu and his family, the generous application of the family's fortune and the dedicated and wise army of elders and young Igbo/Biafran people who gave the effort all they got. But this time we should prepare for, orchestrate and design this new Biafra. To do that we must be willing to do about everything we have been doing differently. We must accept that we have to be self-reliant. We must begin to see ourselves whoever we may be, as fellow team-member-architects and planners in this drive to reestablish the Igbo/Biafra nation. We must be willing to be contributors or donors to all the several causes and organizations working hard to accomplish the new Biafra.

There are several organizations and programs working for the independence of Igbo/Biafra people and Land, they need financial and moral support. Let all the traders' unions, social clubs, village and town unions come forward to sponsor some projects and programs geared towards the reestablishment of Biafra's independence. We are talking of such programs as some of the radio stations that broadcast Biafra's independence awareness and other programs. Among others, there are these two in Washington DC in the United States and London, United Kingdom respectively. They need our moral and financial support. You can reach these two organizations to donate to them through these links:

Please make check payable to one of the following Biafra organizations:

US preference:
1. Biafra Foundation (BF)
Address:
1629 K ST. NW,
Suite 300
Washington, DC 20036
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: (202) 355-6458
For direct bank transfer:
Acct number: 970066609
Routing Number: 022000046
Swift code: MANTUS 33
Bank name: M&T
Bank Address: 500 C street, S.W. Washington DC 20024

Phone 202-554-5312
• Donations are tax deductible in the USA.
_______________________________________
Europe preference:
2. Iroko Cultural Support Association (IROKO)
Website: http://irokoculturalsupportassociation.webs.com

Email: [email protected]
Phone number: +34 699478550
For direct bank transfer:
Acct number: 0075-1072-55-060-0095251
BANK NAME: BANCO POPULAR
IBAN: ES3200751072550600095251
BIC/SWIFT CODE: POPUESMM
B. By Credit Card: Please use Paypal—follow internet link: http://www.biafraland.com/donations.htm

C. By PayPal: follow the Internet Link: http://www.biafraland.com/donations.htm

D. On the Internet: Go to http://www.biafraland.com/donations.htm

You can get details of the organizations' programs or make money contributions to them by contacting them through email or by any other means as advertised. Get involved. Donating to most of these organizations can be quite easy since some of them are registered as 501C NGOs in their host countries, your donations can be tax deductible. You should always ask before sending money if you would need receipts for tax purposes. They usually take about any amount that you are comfortable with. You can pledge to send your donations through the means that is convenient for you as they usually have more than one option. You can opt to send your donations on a periodic basis or make one time donation and do not forget to encourage family, friends and neighbors to send in their own donations too. Some of you must have donated money, time and materials to these organizations and projects already but you need to encourage other individuals, social clubs and unions to which you belong to make donations as both individuals and or groups. This is important and urgent since these organizations need money to continue with the good work they are doing on the behalf of all of us.

It is equally important to point out that donating money and materials is not enough in this Biafra Project; parents should encourage their children and young ones to join the youth wings of Biafra movement. Both parents and children must get involved. The parents must get involved because it is their duty to create a better future for the children and, the children because it is their future, they will live in it. Those of us in schools as students or teachers should promote the message among our friends and show our pride and patriotism as Biafrans. We actually have no other country other than Biafra to call our own.

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