(INTERVIEW): IPOB COORDINATOR IN UNITED KINGDOM VOWS BIAFRA OR DEATH AFTER PRISON RELEASE

(INTERVIEW): IPOB COORDINATOR IN UNITED KINGDOM VOWS BIAFRA OR DEATH AFTER PRISON RELEASE

Onyinyechukwu Ezeosika is the IPOB Coordinator of Leeds and Bradford in the United Kingdom.

 Biafrans all over the world woke up on Saturday morning only to be greeted with the good news that the UK based hardcore Biafran who confronted Nigeria President, Muhammadu Buhari in London last month during an Anti-Corruption Summit, has been released.

 In this exclusive interview granted to Paul Ihechi Alagba of Family Writers, Onyinyechukwu Ezeosika gives details on the circumstances surrounding his arrest and imprisonment, even as he reiterates that there is no going back for him in the Biafra Restoration project.

  

PLEASE SIR, CAN WE KNOW MORE ABOUT YOU AND YOUR ROLE IN IPOB?

My name is Onyinyechukwu Ezeosika. I am the Coordinator of IPOB family here in Leeds and Bradford, United Kingdom.



EARLIER IN MAY, IT WAS REPORTED THAT SOME BIAFRANS WERE ARRESTED BY BRITISH POLICE OFFICERS DURING A PROTEST AGAINST THE INCEASANT KILLING OF BIAFRANS BY BUHARI'S GOVERNMENT. HAVING BEEN THE MAJOR CHARACTER AMONG THOSE ARRESTED, KINDLY EXPLAIN WHAT ACTUALLY TRANSPIRED WHICH LED TO YOUR ARREST AND THAT OF TWO OTHER PEOPLE.

 Thank you my brother. It all started on May 12 during an Anti-corruption Summit organised by David Cameron in London and which has Presidents and representatives of different countries of the world in attendance. As a result of that, IPOB in United Kingdom decided to stage a protest at the venue of the Summit against Buhari's genocidal activities against our people. Being the Coordinator of IPOB here in Leeds and Bradford, I organised my hardcore members and we took off to London for the protest. Before we left for London, I had already decided personally that I am going to take my own protest to another level should I set my eyes on Buhari. We have been doing peaceful protests against the killings and incarceration of our people in Biafra Land, yet Buhari has not stopped killing our people. The worst is that when Buhari commits these dastardly acts, some high profile British media such as BBC and others tries as much as they can to suppress and suffocate the news. We have even taken our protests to Downing Street and submitted numerous petitions to David Cameron, yet the British government have not done anything tangible on the killing of our people. So, I personally decided that I must attack Buhari, there is no way he will kill our people in Biafra Land and expect to have peace when he comes to United Kingdom.

 Initially, my plan was to invade the building where the building where the Summit is being held and embarrass him(Buhari) in the presence of the whole world, but luckily for him, the security was too tight for me to enter. So I had to move to where his car is packed having located it through the zoo (Nigeria) flag place on it. A lot of police and army personnels were guiding the cars, so I decided to hang around with the two other Biafrans that accompanied me. At this point, a lot of Biafrans were also holding their own protest at the other end. When I saw Buhari's convoy decorated with zoo (Nigeria) flags driving out of the Summit venue, I quickly rushed and carried a barrier which I used to block the lane of his convoy, I wanted to use it and smash Buhari's side of the car, but unfortunately, the object was heavy, before I could lift it up, the policemen on ground rushed and stopped me. I angrily hit the car Buhari was sitting in with my hand and his driver fearfully came down and ran away. As a result, the policemen arrested us. This is what actually happened.



WHERE YOU CHARGED TO COURT IMMEDIATELY AFTER YOUR ARREST?

   We were charged to court after two days of the incident.



CAN YOU BRIEFLY NARRATE WHAT TRANSPIRED IN THE COURT WHICH LED TO YOUR IMPRISONMENT?

    Yes, when we got to the court, the trial started. After the hearing of the case, the Judge remanded me in prison and adjourned the case to May 18. On the 18th of May, we went back to court. They wanted me to admit guilty of their accusations, but I vehemently refused and told the court that Buhari is a murderer, killing my people simply because we asked for our own country and freedom, and the British government has been supporting him. I told them that if they want to tackle the problem, they must first of all tackle it from the root cause- which is that they must accept the truth that Biafrans have the right to be free, and that Buhari is committing genocide against Biafrans. I told them that nothing can ever make me backtrack from the struggle that I am ready to die, if my death will bring Biafra.

 After the whole drama in court, the Judge sentenced me to 12weeks imprisonment, which is equivalent to 6weeks in Biafra Land, but thank God today I’ve regained my freedom, stronger than ever.



IS THERE ANY ROLE OR HELP THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF BIAFRA (IPOB) PLAYED OUT FOR YOU IN THE COURSE OF YOUR TRIAL AND IMPRISONMENT?

    I am very happy for this your question. On the first day of my appearance in court, I was the only one in court due to the fact that the IPOB leadership couldn't get information on my whereabout and the court date on time. IPOB were making contacts to reach me and know my condition and whereabout, but they couldn't reach me because I had no means of reaching out to them. So when I got the opportunity to make calls, I contacted some Biafrans and IPOB leadership in United Kingdom and notified them of the next court date and venue. Then on the second day of my court appearance being the 18th of May, something marvelous happened, Biafrans including Barrister Emma Mmezu flooded the court room wearing their Biafra customised T-shirts. I was so happy seeing numerous of my Biafran brothers and sisters at my side in court. Biafrans really turned up on that day in their numbers to the extent that the judge was becoming intimidated. Even when it came to a point where the Judge wanted to pronounce his prison sentence on me, most of the Biafrans in the court rose up in annoyance and protested. Some of them were later taken outside the court to enable the Judge continue. IPOB presence really boosted my resolve, I was ready to take anything, even the Judge became aware that we are serious with what we are doing. Finally, I am really happy with what IPOB did. They didn't disappoint or abandon me.



WHAT LATER BECAME THE FATE OF THE OTHER TWO BIAFRANS WHO WERE ARRESTED ALONGSIDE WITH YOU?

  The other two Biafrans were released on the first day in court. One of them is called Yagozie while the other is Ozuoka. I was the only one remanded in prison by the Judge because I am the person that attacked Buhari's convoy. The other two Biafrans only stood by the side shouting 'ALL HAIL BIAFRA!' in support of the lessons I was dishing out to Buhari. Even when the clerk was reading out the case file in the court and included Yagozie and Ozuoka, the Judge asked her to remove their names because they didn't do anything. So I was the only that faced trial.



DOES YOUR IMPRISONMENT HAVE ANY EFFECT ON YOUR STANCE AND RESOLUTENESS ON BIAFRA RESTORATION?

The only effect is that my imprisonment has strengthened my resolve to help restore Biafra more than ever. In fact, it is now that I am out that I have been motivated to do more for Biafra restoration. I can never backslide on this divine task of Biafra restoration.



FINALLY, WHAT WORDS OF ADVISE AND ENCOURAGEMENT DO YOU HAVE FOR BIAFRANS ALL OVER THE WORLD?

 Well, one thing I have for them is that they should always remain resolute. I recently stayed for more than six months in Biafra land that is before I confronted Buhari in London. During my stay in Biafra Land, I traveled to a lot of places including Port-Harcourt(Igweocha),Enugu, Aba and Onitsha for one Biafra event or the other. I even had an accident on my way to Port-Harcourt to attend a crucial Biafra meeting. So finally, what I want to tell Biafrans all over the world especially those in Biafra Land is that Biafra is coming and Biafra must surely be a reality. They should also know that truth is the only weapon we can use to restore Biafra. Our leader Nnamdi Kanu alway say it that we should always remain steadfast in all truth and honesty because Chukwu Okike-Abiama(God) will restore Biafra by himself. So we must always remain whiter than white in our dealings. Anybody who joined or wants to join IPOB to make money or defraud people should remove themselves from Biafra Restoration project or face the wrath of God because Biafra restoration is sanctioned by Chukwu Okike-Abiama and we must execute his mandate by ensuring that we restore Biafra.