IKENGA NNEWI, IKENGA BIAFRA, NWANNE, the indefatigable freedom fighter, Deputy Leader of the Supreme Council of Elders of Indigenous People of Biafra, we the Biafran Activists remember you today with a strong resolve to continue the fight from where you stopped. You were the first person to embrace the struggle for self-determination by legal methodology consisting of the judicial, political and diplomatic processes. When the vision bearer of the legal methodology of self-determination for Indigenous People of Biafra came to you and shared the vision, you understood it perfectly well, and because of your humility, you reached out to His Royal Majesty, His Lordship, the Honourable Justice Eze Ozobu OFR, and asked him to take the position of the Chairman while you became the Deputy. You and the Elders constituted the Supreme Council of Elders of Indigenous People of Biafra and established the Customary Government under the Nigerian Legal System.
You and the few courageous Elders of Biafraland signed the Legal Instrument authorising our human rights organization known as Bilie Human Rights Initiative to sue the Federal Government of Nigeria on behalf of Biafra. The fearful elders ran away and refused to join the Struggle despite your continuous preaching among members of the South East Elders Forum which you created for the purpose. You were bold and fearless. You preached Freedom for the Biafrans when other Elders kept silent. You laid the strong foundation on which we are building today. You said that we should be calling ourselves “NWANNE” to show that we are of one blood, to love one another and care for one another. In 2013, you abbreviated the names of our organizations to IPOB and BHRI. You emphasised the importance of unity among the Biafran activists and initiated the Unity Conference which was held first at Owerri.
Your departure was not a surprise to us. You told us several times that you had booked your flight ticket and entered the Departure Lounge waiting for your Flight Number to be announced so that you would fly away unto eternity. You invited the vision bearer of the legal methodology 72 hours before your departure and told him that your time was up. You gave detailed advice on what should be done after your departure. You signed the Deed Poll of Customary Governance anchored upon the rule of law and political diplomacy and instructed that the remnants of the Biafrans should be gathered together so that they would not be like sheep without a shepherd. You were our father in the Biafran Struggle. You advised that we should always stand on truth and honesty in our struggle for the freedom of the Biafrans without indulging in deceptions and lying propaganda. You advised that we should not give any opportunity to the enemies of the Biafrans to spill the blood of your children. You instructed us firmly that the struggle for self-determination must be anchored upon the legal methodology consisting of the judicial, political and diplomatic processes. We have followed your advice. We are engaged in legal battles with the Nigerian Government for the Biafrans. We are also engaged in the Nigerian politics for the freedom of the Biafrans just as the Scottish activists are engaged in the British politics for the freedom of Scotland. Although, the journey seems far and tedious, you assured us that it is the best methodology for self-determination which we must not deviate from.
Ikenga Biafra, we shall always remember you and follow the pathway you showed us in freedom fighting until the Biafrans are free.
Signed:
Emeka Emekesiri, Esq.
For and on behalf of all Biafran activists under the Supreme Council of Elders who believe in the Legal Methodology of Self-determination consisting of the judicial, political and diplomatic processes
