The Alaigbo Development Foundation (ADF) on Tuesday cautioned pro-Biafran groups against predicting a date for the restoration of the Republic of Biafra, saying it would amount to a great fraud in Igbo history if the predictions fail to materialize.
In a statement entitled ‘On Biafran Restoration Timeline,’ which was signed by Chief Abia Onyike, chairman, ADF Publicity Bureau, and made available to journalists, the Foundation said that it believes the liberation of the marginalized Igbo people would surely come one day through dedicated struggle rather than from propaganda.
The ADF said the predictions on the imminent restoration of Biafra was rooted in the marginalization/dehumanization of the Igbos; the unwarranted serial killings/systematic programme of occupation of Alaigbo, and their total exclusion from the political equation in Nigeria…”
The group, however, contended that by the nature of the struggle, it is “mechanical” to set a date for Igbo emancipation and freedom, arguing that the struggle is not “a game of mathematics.”
The ADF however prayed that what it described as the “curious predictions” by some pro-Biafran organizations of a date for the revalidation of Biafra comes to fruition.
The statement reads: “Following the persistence of curious predictions about the impending restoration of the state of Biafra by some pro-Biafran organizations, the Alaigbo Development Foundation (ADF) has reviewed such predictions and wishes to state as follows:-
“That these predictions about the restoration of Biafra have become strident recently, to the extent that the overall timeline has been put at the last quarter of this year, 2020.
“ADF believes that the root causes of these curious predictions are the marginalisation/dehumanization of Ndigbo, the serial killings/systematic programme of occupation of Alaigbo and their total exclusion from the political equation in Nigeria (ranging from the Executive to the Legislature, Judiciary, Bureaucracy, Parastatals to all spheres of political and economic life of the state).
“Given this type of most unusual state of affairs, the longing for Igbo Redemption becomes more and more acute and a most welcome idea to all strata of the Igbo society. Thus, the dreams of Igbo Emancipation, Independence and Freedom are bound to be arresting to the youths and pauperized population of Alaigbo.
“To be told that our freedom would come on any particular date is the most seminal news anybody can give to the marginalized Igbos. Within the ranks of these Igbos, there is palpable anxiety and expectation and a longing for the day of freedom.
“ADF, like all strata of the Igbo nation and their equally emasculated neighbors, prays that this prediction be true some day. By the nature of the struggle it is mechanical to set any date to it as if the struggle is a game of mathematics.
“Incidentally, if this epochal prediction of a date fails to materialize, it will surely turn out to be a most damaging and frustrating piece of sheer propaganda as well as a great fraud in Igbo history.
“The impact of such empty propaganda on the psyche or our people is bound to be excruciating.
“The masses of Ndigbo are bound to regard whoever falsely raises their hopes as a great con-man in Igbo history.
“The Alaigbo Development Foundation (ADF) believes that the ultimate liberation of our people will surely come some day, but not through sheer Egbe-Onu. It will surely come some day through dedicated struggle and faith in the justness of our cause and in our God.”
