The Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) on Thursday said it would resist any plan by the federal government to introduce toll gates in South East.
Speaking in an interview with The Nation Newspapers, MASSOB leader Comrade Uchenna Madu maintained it will resist the erection and dismantle all proposed toll gates in Biafra land.
He said: “We can never fold our hands and watch outside strangers to continue destroying Igbo land in disguise as a government of Nigeria.
”Though Biafra seems to be an occupied territory by the Nigeria state, MASSOB and other pro Biafra groups will never allow Fulani invaders from Chad, Niger, Senegal, Sudan and Ethiopia to occupy Biafra land forcefully.”
Madu insisted that there will be no toll gates in the zone as proposed by the government, wondering how establishment of these toll gates in Nigeria will ever work.
“We have only five states in the South East with more than 56 toll gates than the entire 19 states of the Northern region with only 35 toll gates.
“Igbo states are higher with 21 toll gates. This is in conformity that Igbo land is under siege and properly under exploitation.
“South east has more police checkpoints than any other region in Nigeria. South east has the greatest number of dilapidated federal road networks than any other region in Nigeria even the northern region that claims to have the highest population and yet, they will pay the lowest of the federal government toll gate fees.”
He wondered the basis for erecting more toll gates in the South East, saying toll gates should be done proportionately to reflect the mileage of federal roads in the zones.
The leader of the movement also condemned South East governors and other Igbo political leaders, who he said substituted themselves to second class politicians in Nigeria.
“Meeting President Buhari to beg for infrastructural development of Ala Igbo has also turned them to become political beggars.”
He described the situation as unfortunate, adding that the present political leaders of Ndigbo have turned themselves to political chaff in the hands of Fulani cabals.
“MASSOB is worried that our governors that supposed to be fearless have suddenly lost their Igbo bravery because of what they want to eat. Some leaders willingly turned themselves to become errand boys because they want to be vice president in 2023.
“Meeting President Buhari is completely meaningless and inconsequential. We strongly believe that President Buhari will never ascent to their demands, they should go and develop their zone,” he said.
