[DEBATE] : Biafra Press Conference, 11h00, Milpark Hotel, 6 May 2009

Sun May 3 18:56:11 BST 2009

Peter, greetings to your esteemed self.

Your questions are interesting. I cannot answer any of them, for lack
of any personal expertise in the specific matter. I posted the press
conference announcement because it was sent to me, in the interest of
free expression, and in the hope of some further and better
particulars, and debate.

The Biafrans in South Africa are energetic. Their political economy is
inscrutable to myself. As far as I know none of our structures have
what Russell Grinker likes to call a "position" on their BGIE (Bafran
Government in Exile).

The overall historical contradiction between the necessity for
anti-Imperialist African unity, championed in particular by Kwame
Nkrumah; unity of the national democracies; the
one-person-one-vote-in-unitary-state that we fought for in opposition
to Bantustans; and on the other hand the right of nations to
self-determination, is an old one. The latter part of the argument
tends to run along the empirical lines of Stalin's.notorious book on
the National Question, I have observed in the past.

If the Biafrans force us all into a fresh study of these matters, they
will have done us a service, in my always-humble opinion.

I'm not promising to go to the Biafrans' press conference, or to
report on it if I do go. It's a bit far for you, I guess. Maybe
somebody else will put a hand up?

Domza, VC.

2009/5/3 peter waterman <P.Waterman at inter.nl.net>:
> Dominic:
>
> Maybe you can inform me of whether Ralphael Uwazuruike is himself an Igbo
> and, if so, whether his Biafra project reproduces that of the Biafran
> project of the late-1960s? This was to create in the South-East part of
> Nigeria a little Nigeria, dominated by the Igbo. The price paid for this
> project was disastrous for the Igbo and all those peoples through whose
> territory the Nigerian army passed.
>
> To my recollection, which may be faulty, the Biafran state would have
> included the oilfields of the Niger Delta, where the indigenous people
> belong to a number of ethnic groups. Best-known might be the Ogoni, from
> whom sprang Ken Saro-Wiwa - who was concerned with ecological and
> human-rights issues, as well as the economic and cultural rights of the
> oppressed peoples of the Delta.
>
> In attempting to find more about Ralphael Uwazuruike on the web, I find
> various accusations concerning his honesty and reliability. These may, of
> course, be hostile accusations or even from Nigerian intelligence sources.
>
> Finally, I would appreciate your opinion on whether Uwazuruike is visiting
> South Africa in the hope of enlisting the political support of the new ANC
> Government and of new South African leader, President Zuma. Or do you
> reckon his arrival at this moment a coincidence?
>
> PeterW
>
>
>
>
>
>
> --
> Peter Waterman
> Jacob vd Doesstr 28
> 2518xn The Hague
> Netherlands
> Tel: +31 (0)70 3631539
> Mob: +31 (0)60 1753 1257
> Emb: p.waterman at inter.nl.net
> Emb: pwaterman at gmail.com
>
>
> INVITATION TO A PRESS CONFERENCE
>
>
> Dear Media,
>
> Biafra National Congress (BNC) cordially invites you to its press conference.
>
> VENUE: Conference room, ground floor, Holiday Inn Garden Court,
> Milpark Hotel Johannesburg.
> Corner Owl and Empire Roads Auckland Park. - Johannesburg. To confirm
> venue phone 083 714 2026.
>
> DATE: Wednesday, the 6th of May, 2009
>
> TIME: 11am.
>
> GUEST SPEAKER: Chief Dr. Ralphael Uwazuruike, the world leader,
> Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State Of Biafra (MASSOB)
>
> LUNCH will be served.
>
>
> EDITOR'S NOTE
>
> Date: 29/04/2009
>
> Biafrans In South Africa Mark A Giant Step Towards Freedom
>
> According to Chief Ralphael Uwazuruike, the leader of Biafra
> Actualisation Movement Worldwide, the next country to visit for an
> awareness campaign and to solidify relationship with is South Africa.
> This comes after years of non-violent protestations and agitation,
> aimed towards worldwide recognition of the Republic of Biafra.
>
> Ralphael Uwazuruike, a founding member of the Movement for the
> Actualisation of the Sovereign State Of Biafra (MASSOB), who will be
> coming to South Africa via New York in United States, where he will be
> addressing a UN sitting remarked that South Africa is a strong
> stake-holder in African and world politics, thus the need to enact and
> revive the relationship. Ralphael Uwazuruike spent 10 years in India
> studying Mahatma Gandhi/Martin Luther King’s non-violence approach to
> liberation and like Nelson Mandela is no stranger to prison as he has
> suffered years of incarceration in Nigeria.
>
> Once in South Africa, Ralphael will:
>
> •       Engage top political, diplomatic, Human rights and Government of
> South Africa and the entire Africa, informing of certain privileged
> development regarding the revived movements towards Biafra
> Sovereignty, avail opportunities, the future and possibilities in
> Biafra-land
> •       His visit, which coincides with South African electoral and
> inauguration period, will also assist in congratulatory message to the
> new President. He will also be lecturing on the need to end violence
> in African continent and the reason non-violence is a stronger tool
> than violence.
>
> The arrival of Ralphael Uwazuruike will also ensure the capacitation
> of the esteblished Biafra National Congress [BNC], which has been a
> flag bearer of Biafra non-violence actualisation activities in South
> Africa.  BNC hopes that the arrival of Ralphael Uwazuruike, which will
> be during the week of Presidential inauguration, will present Biafra
> suffering clearer to the new government in anticipation of rightful
> Biafra recognition.
>
> Ralphael Uwazuruike, who experienced the Biafra genocide from 1967 to
> 1970, remarked that the reasons for the war are still imminent and the
> marginalisation, killing and maiming of Biafrans in Nigeria is more
> now than it was before. In his endeavor to stop another war proposed
> for a non-violence approach to freedom, which has been working so far.
>
> Biafra is home to over 45million people, geographically, have the
> highest oil and gas field in Africa. Over 90% of Nigerians in South
> Africa are of Biafra decent and the arrival of Ralphael Uwazuruike is
> seen by the energetic Biafra citizens all over South Africa and
> Southern Africa as a remarkable achievement. The event will also work
> towards highlighting Biafra’s image positively, assisting in a
> different way of perceiving the Biafrans living in this country.
> ‘Biafrans have long been abandoned, neglected and treated like people
> with no origin, this must change now’. - Remarked the head convener.
>
>
> Contact:  Coleman Emejuru
> Head Convener, Ralphael Uwazuruike Visit to South Africa
> Tel: 083 714 2026   Fax; 011 440 2875  e-mail: bgiehomeaffairs at gmail.com
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