A
former friend of Biafra in the 1967 secession bid, has ruled out any support
for the secession of any part of the country, particularly Biafra. France’s
Ambassador to Nigeria, Denys Gauer, told newsmen that his country would not in any
way work with any group agitating for the dismemberment of the nation.
He
said France was working with Nigeria and supporting it as a country. Speaking
against the backdrop of France’s previous support for Biafra during Nigeria’s
civil war, Gauer pointed out that Nigeria has evolved since the civil war.
France
has been cooperating with the country to overcome its challenges, especially
the fight against insurgency. But in reaction, MASSOB said the opinion of Gauer
does not represent that of France and as such, would not be taken as truth.
Members of the Movement for the Survival of the Sovereign State of Biafra
(MASSOB) during their rally to mark the 17th anniversary of the movement,
yesterday, in Awka, Anambra State.
Leader
of the Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB),
Uchenna Madu told pressmen that the struggle for Biafra “is real and cannot be
stopped by any man created by God” “We in MASSOB do not believe what he said
because that does not represent the position of France.
France is a friend of Biafra and even during
the Nigeria/Biafra war, they assisted us so much.” “In this current agitation
for Biafra, France has sympathy for us. We advise our people to disregard what
he said. We think that the Nigerian media misinterpreted what the French envoy
said. But the French envoy further pointed out that there is no future for
Biafra and urged proponents of secession or Biafra to continue to be part of
Nigeria. “We are working with Nigeria and we are supporting it as the only
country.
This
is absolutely clear and I don’t think there is any kind of future for Biafra.
They are part of Nigeria and Nigeria has to remain as the only country,” he
said. He disclosed that France is working with the country in its fight against
insurgency, saying the fight against Boko Haram has brought the two countries
together, more than before.
The
Ambassador explained how France helped the former Goodluck Jonathan’s
government to organize a regional meeting with neighboring Francophone
countries, Chad Cameroon and Republic of Benin, in Paris, in 2014, following which
the Multinational Joint Task Force, MJTF was established to fight Boko Haram.
“Apart from encouraging neighbouring African countries to cooperate with
Nigeria, we have also developed a strong bilateral relationship with the
Nigerian Armed forces.
In May
2015, the Defence Ministers of Nigeria and France signed a first-ever
cooperation agreement between the two armed forces. Also, Nigeria’s Chief of
Army Staff, Gen. Tukur Buratai, recently warned those agitating for an
independent state to “forget it.” The groups are Independent People of Biafra
(IPOB) and the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra
(MASSOB).
Though they have the same aim, they are rival
groups; and have consistently clashed with themselves and security agents. Speaking
in Abuja after receiving an award conferred on him by a coalition of over 80
civil society organizations (CSOs), Buratai said the army would not condone any
act that could lead to the disintegration of the country.
“Those individuals and groups that are bent on
destabilizing our country I think they have to wait till may be the next three
or four millennium for them to do that. That is, may be the next generation of
officers and men will allow them at all,” he said.
A
former friend of Biafra in the 1967 secession bid, has ruled out any support
for the secession of any part of the country, particularly Biafra. France’s
Ambassador to Nigeria, Denys Gauer, told newsmen that his country would not in any
way work with any group agitating for the dismemberment of the nation.
He
said France was working with Nigeria and supporting it as a country. Speaking
against the backdrop of France’s previous support for Biafra during Nigeria’s
civil war, Gauer pointed out that Nigeria has evolved since the civil war.
France
has been cooperating with the country to overcome its challenges, especially
the fight against insurgency. But in reaction, MASSOB said the opinion of Gauer
does not represent that of France and as such, would not be taken as truth.
Members of the Movement for the Survival of the Sovereign State of Biafra
(MASSOB) during their rally to mark the 17th anniversary of the movement,
yesterday, in Awka, Anambra State.
Leader
of the Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB),
Uchenna Madu told pressmen that the struggle for Biafra “is real and cannot be
stopped by any man created by God” “We in MASSOB do not believe what he said
because that does not represent the position of France.
France is a friend of Biafra and even during
the Nigeria/Biafra war, they assisted us so much.” “In this current agitation
for Biafra, France has sympathy for us. We advise our people to disregard what
he said. We think that the Nigerian media misinterpreted what the French envoy
said. But the French envoy further pointed out that there is no future for
Biafra and urged proponents of secession or Biafra to continue to be part of
Nigeria. “We are working with Nigeria and we are supporting it as the only
country.
This
is absolutely clear and I don’t think there is any kind of future for Biafra.
They are part of Nigeria and Nigeria has to remain as the only country,” he
said. He disclosed that France is working with the country in its fight against
insurgency, saying the fight against Boko Haram has brought the two countries
together, more than before.
The
Ambassador explained how France helped the former Goodluck Jonathan’s
government to organize a regional meeting with neighboring Francophone
countries, Chad Cameroon and Republic of Benin, in Paris, in 2014, following which
the Multinational Joint Task Force, MJTF was established to fight Boko Haram.
“Apart from encouraging neighbouring African countries to cooperate with
Nigeria, we have also developed a strong bilateral relationship with the
Nigerian Armed forces.
In May
2015, the Defence Ministers of Nigeria and France signed a first-ever
cooperation agreement between the two armed forces. Also, Nigeria’s Chief of
Army Staff, Gen. Tukur Buratai, recently warned those agitating for an
independent state to “forget it.” The groups are Independent People of Biafra
(IPOB) and the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra
(MASSOB).
Though they have the same aim, they are rival
groups; and have consistently clashed with themselves and security agents. Speaking
in Abuja after receiving an award conferred on him by a coalition of over 80
civil society organizations (CSOs), Buratai said the army would not condone any
act that could lead to the disintegration of the country.
“Those individuals and groups that are bent on
destabilizing our country I think they have to wait till may be the next three
or four millennium for them to do that. That is, may be the next generation of
officers and men will allow them at all,” he said.
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