Behold, Radio Biafra

Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu
...the architect of Biafra.

Sylvanus Eze unveils the seeming mystery behind Radio Biafra, a radio station generally perceived as being used for the promotion of the dreams and aspirations of proponents of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB).

FOr the sixth year running, Radio Biafra has been in hiding while it has been on the Nigerian air waves every Wednesday and Saturday, beating all efforts by security operatives in the country to unveil its location. Nigerian Tribune investigation revealed that it is situated in the heartland of the Washington DC in the United States of America (USA).

Checks also revealed that the broadcasting station is a brainchild of the Eastern Mandate Union (EMU), a pro-democracy group in diaspora. The Coordinator of the radio station, Professor Edward Okparaji of Howard University in Washington, who spoke with the Nigerian Tribune in Awka, Anambra State, said the station would continue transmission and it would soon begin to do so on daily basis.

He said it would be received worldwide with the benefit of the state-of-the-art satellite technology combined and its powerful 250,000 watts transmitter. Okparaji said the political situation in Nigeria, under which he said lies were told against members of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), made Nigerians in diaspora to organise themselves and sponsor the radio station so as to correct certain issues.

He said they were alarmed at the rate at which Ndigbo were constantly being bombarded with misinformation through the government-controlled media in Nigeria. He said this left them with no other choice but to create Radio Biafra. “A misinformed generation is a lost generation, hence, the need to provide Igbo citizens in Nigeria with an alternative in order to enable them to make informed decisions for themselves,” he said.

He said Radio Biafra, popularly called “Ogene Ndigbo Radio Broadcast,” would bring the issues of Igbo marginalisation in the Nigerian government and lack of respect and protection for Igbo life and property in Nigeria to the fore. Professor Okparaji said other issues to be addressed through the station included the role of Igbo leaders in championing the Igbo cause, lack or total neglect of infrastructure in Igboland and the abandoned property issue, the payment of reparation to Ndigbo for lost lives and property before and after the Biafran war.

“Restructuring of Nigeria to reflect true federalism, restructuring of the military and other security forces and addressing contemporary socio-economic and political issues are parts of Radio Biafra’s agenda,” he added.