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| More attack on Biafrans: Sahara Reporters likens Radio Biafra to Boko Haram terrorists |
However, this is too cheap a propaganda considering that Sahara Reporters last year interviewed the Director of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu in New York for over 30 mins, where he laid out the mission of the Indigenous People of Biafra. So at what point did Nnamdi Kanu, the director of Radio Biafra become Muhammadu Yusuf, the acclaimed founder of Boko Haram?
The fact Sahara Reporters never wrote against Kanu's pronouncement after the interview, which has not different from the present message shows they did not hold dissenting views from him, Or are they afraid that many have become aware of the truth and true nature of Nigeria?
In the article, Sahara Reporters condemned the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) of Nigeria for merely urging Nigerians to simply ignore Radio Biafra. According Salkida the "NBC’s management claimed that they were aware of the pirate radio station that is 'transmitting seditious and divisive content contrary to the provisions of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code and law and they are “working with security agencies to track the source of the broadcast'.”
He claimed that Nigerian authorities similarly ignored Boko Haram while it was budding. "The authorities ignored this and did not consider the imminent peril of society."
He claimed that Nigerian authorities similarly ignored Boko Haram while it was budding. "The authorities ignored this and did not consider the imminent peril of society."
Salkida described Radio Biafra as "a broadcast platform that has committed time, energy, and resources to peddling resentful communication about Nigeria and her constituted authorities.
"Nnamdi Kanu, who is fondly called Director, is the name behind the radio show. On a daily basis, the radio is winning many Southern, Nigerian admirers. According to a random survey conducted for the purpose of this article, an increasing number of traders, men and women in villages, schools, and commuter buses tune to the 97.6 band width. In Aba, Abia State the radio’s audience is growing steadily among young people.
"A public commentator known as “Onye Nkuzi” on Twitter (@cchukudebelu), recently dissected this phenomenon, lamenting that “the Nigerian State doesn't have a narrative to challenge alienation - we've seen it in the North East and Niger Delta. It pops up again.” Radio Biafra, like the ongoing insurgency in northeast Nigeria, feeds on alienation to peddle a culture of violence through retribution of real and perceived injustice.
"Meanwhile, it serves every society well to pay attention to signals and other sub-signals that have the potential to erupt into other disturbing cauldrons of widespread violence."
"Meanwhile, it serves every society well to pay attention to signals and other sub-signals that have the potential to erupt into other disturbing cauldrons of widespread violence."
While narrating how he came to know about Radio Biafra (as he claimed) he stated "in Asaba, Delta State, with frightful alacrity, an Igbo man brought the consciousness of radio Biafra to one of these writers one evening in the southeast and implored everyone present to tune into the station.
"As soon as the right bandwidth was accessible, the voice of the ‘Director,’ Nnamdi Kanu, came through forcefully over the airwaves. To say the least, It was an arresting, almost hypnotic voice, but it was not the voice that was the problem, but the substance of what Kanu said and how he said it that called for concern."
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According to him, "With a warped history of the causes and effects of the 1967 Biafran Civil War, many unsuspecting listeners were spellbound as the voice of “director” resonated over the airwaves with ceaseless histrionics. With his commentaries on a wide range of subjects all geared towards the need for the burdened southern region to secede from the north and “the hypocrite southwest,” he seemed tireless."
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According to him, "With a warped history of the causes and effects of the 1967 Biafran Civil War, many unsuspecting listeners were spellbound as the voice of “director” resonated over the airwaves with ceaseless histrionics. With his commentaries on a wide range of subjects all geared towards the need for the burdened southern region to secede from the north and “the hypocrite southwest,” he seemed tireless."
He however acknowledged that Radio Biafra has gained wide grassroot support, which is actually what is terrifying them. The TRUTH about Nigeria has been unveiled and the guilty are trembling!In a clearly disturbed tone Salkida stated thus: "Our investigations have observed that the Director has a growing influence on the minds of many who come from the other side of the Niger. The danger in this is that people in that region are beginning to accept whatever he says as the gospel truth. To the unreasoning mind, the Director is framing the thoughts of many of his listeners and predisposing them to dangerous tendencies. Without going into specifics, but to underscore what one is trying to say, the relevant authorities should know the danger of a collective mind-set propelled towards a particularly risky direction.
"On a bus from Asaba to Onitsha, the bus conductor was busy amusing passengers with the resurgence of the Biafran agenda, Biafran currency, Biafran flag, and the Biafran identity card. Moreover, he spoke about how personnel of the Nigerian Police tactfully accord great recognition to Biafran I.D. cards and are liable to set someone free of any offence the moment he brandishes the I.D. card. The bus conductor was very vociferous in his claims, and one suddenly realised that the commuters were prone to give into emotion than to reason."
Launching into his aim of tarnishing the image of Radio Biafra and Nnamdi Kanu, Salkida in a very clumsy logic tried to liken Kanu to Mummadu Yusuf by claiming they have something in common - which is followership! Can you beat this?
According to him: "The late Muhammad Yusuf, the founder of what started as a band of fundamentalists in Maiduguri and then transformed into a dreaded global Jihadi movement, did not have a radio of his own. He relied on cassette recordings of his messages, which were influenced by hardline Salafi teachers. However, both the late Yusuf and now Kanu, have one thing in common: inasmuch as their messages are in sharp contrast to one another, they both have the undivided attention of teeming youths in their regions."
Launching into his aim of tarnishing the image of Radio Biafra and Nnamdi Kanu, Salkida in a very clumsy logic tried to liken Kanu to Mummadu Yusuf by claiming they have something in common - which is followership! Can you beat this?
According to him: "The late Muhammad Yusuf, the founder of what started as a band of fundamentalists in Maiduguri and then transformed into a dreaded global Jihadi movement, did not have a radio of his own. He relied on cassette recordings of his messages, which were influenced by hardline Salafi teachers. However, both the late Yusuf and now Kanu, have one thing in common: inasmuch as their messages are in sharp contrast to one another, they both have the undivided attention of teeming youths in their regions."
It is mischievous, grave insult and injustice to liken roundly-well educated Kanu to a stark illiterate Mummadu Yusuf who was against Western Education!
Then he tried once again to hint that Biafrans are terrorists. But yet again, he fails to prove this.
According to him "It is important to note that ‘terrorism’ means different things to different people. While a weighty number of people in the Muslim world do not view groups like Al-Shabab, Taliban, Islamic State, and their affiliates as terrorists, a majority of people consider them full blooded terrorists. It is the same with the Biafran movement: a growing number of people consider the rebellion an inalienable right that will offer Igbos freedom from the superficial Hausa/Fulani hegemony.
According to him "It is important to note that ‘terrorism’ means different things to different people. While a weighty number of people in the Muslim world do not view groups like Al-Shabab, Taliban, Islamic State, and their affiliates as terrorists, a majority of people consider them full blooded terrorists. It is the same with the Biafran movement: a growing number of people consider the rebellion an inalienable right that will offer Igbos freedom from the superficial Hausa/Fulani hegemony.
"Indeed, Radio Biafra is a ticking time bomb."
There was no single evidence showing the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) are involved in terrorism! What a shame. Is this not a clear evidence that the Hauasa/Fulanis - Yorubas have no case to defeat Radio Biafra narrative of the Nigeria quagmire?
Biafrans have the truth, they have the lies and intimidation. This he accepted by stating "While we must accept that some of the claims made by the late Yusuf over a decade ago and now by Kanu have merit, like that of the alienation of people, what is generally said on radio Biafra is more emotive than rational. Hopefully Muhammadu Buhari’s new government combats some of these obvious imbalances."
There was no single evidence showing the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) are involved in terrorism! What a shame. Is this not a clear evidence that the Hauasa/Fulanis - Yorubas have no case to defeat Radio Biafra narrative of the Nigeria quagmire?
Biafrans have the truth, they have the lies and intimidation. This he accepted by stating "While we must accept that some of the claims made by the late Yusuf over a decade ago and now by Kanu have merit, like that of the alienation of people, what is generally said on radio Biafra is more emotive than rational. Hopefully Muhammadu Buhari’s new government combats some of these obvious imbalances."
Finally he launched his trump card - the overused Hutu radio station card.
"The Hutu power radio that heralded the 1994 Rwandan genocide should be a relevant example of what could result if such hate is left unchecked not only by Kanu, but championed by different groups across Nigeria. As people with a background in media studies, we need not overemphasize the power of the media and its inherent capacities to be instruments of negative or positive ends. But, the power of the media should never be underestimated, at least not in this case. Every serious federating unit should be mindful of the insidious influence of proponents of divisive rhetoric within their midst and their potential to nurture the embers of schismatic discords."
Expectedly the Sahara Reporters propaganda received serious knocks from various people.
Reacting to the report the deputy director of Radio Biafra Uche Mefor stated thus:
"Radio Biafra has set the KINGDOM OF DARKNESS, NIGERIA on IT'S EDGE. The aim has been to change the Narrative within the Nigerian government's corridors of power, comprehensively set the agenda for them and ultimately beat them into reassessing their very essence of existence. Every other thing is a sideshow. Today, they have employed both online and mainstream media agents but we will annihilate them with the inexorable principles of TRUTH EPITOMISED BY THE CENTRAL TENET AND TH...E PHILOSOPHY OF BIAFRANISM WHICH ARE FAST SWEEPING THE WHOLE WORLD WITH TSUNAMIC STILT. Simply put,we have come with the TRUTH which in all its ramifications unsettles corrupt minds---it interrogates and challenges the established orthodoxies of the monumental bundle of lies and illegalities in the EVIL EMPIRE CALLED NIGERIA. BIAFRA is that TRUTH such that at its mention, the forces of darkness in high and low places within the Nigerian establishment scamper for safety. Ignore Radio Biafra to your peril!"
"Radio Biafra has set the KINGDOM OF DARKNESS, NIGERIA on IT'S EDGE. The aim has been to change the Narrative within the Nigerian government's corridors of power, comprehensively set the agenda for them and ultimately beat them into reassessing their very essence of existence. Every other thing is a sideshow. Today, they have employed both online and mainstream media agents but we will annihilate them with the inexorable principles of TRUTH EPITOMISED BY THE CENTRAL TENET AND TH...E PHILOSOPHY OF BIAFRANISM WHICH ARE FAST SWEEPING THE WHOLE WORLD WITH TSUNAMIC STILT. Simply put,we have come with the TRUTH which in all its ramifications unsettles corrupt minds---it interrogates and challenges the established orthodoxies of the monumental bundle of lies and illegalities in the EVIL EMPIRE CALLED NIGERIA. BIAFRA is that TRUTH such that at its mention, the forces of darkness in high and low places within the Nigerian establishment scamper for safety. Ignore Radio Biafra to your peril!"
Also another commentator by the name Tawanda Incommunicado stated that "The unwritten marginalisation policy which was unleashed on the SE for more than 40 years after the war is directly responsible for the resurgence of the Biafran phenomenon.The average person from erstwhile Biafra does not need Radio Biafra to see that even a second bridge across the Niger which the SE has been begging for many years cannot be approved in a budget or does one need Mr Kanu to tell him or her that to get into a unity school,a child from say Anambra or Imo needs a score of above 134 while those from Zamfara need to score 2,yes......02 I am not making a mistake.
"The government has to present a counter narrative but more importantly quickly unwind all aspects of marginalisation still in practice,the basic principle of equity must be adhered to in government policies,the quota system need to be scrapped,the bogus population figures which makes Kano more populated than Lagos rectified through an ID system,the lopsided state and local government configuration rectified,the dysfunctional and skewed military doctored constitution which is near impossible to amend must be reviewed or replaced.
"Nigeria cannot afford another costly conflict so it is easier to attend to these issues, most of the issues dealt with in the last National conference were spot on and need to be implemented somehow instead of adopting the old style of sweeping stuff under the rug and pretending that it does not exist. As for Radio Biafra,most educated Igbos do not agree with some of it's utterances but we must all accept that there are some points in the narrative which one cannot just find fault
"The biggest mistake however will be the deployment of any form of military force or state bullying in countering the Biafran phenomenon,it will expand rapidly and solidify,the government should rather confront those issues constantly raised by the likes of Radio Biafra with actions which will nullify their logic or rectify any perceived injustices meted out on the people of erstwhile Biafra. Pride goes before a fall,the present leader of Nigeria fought in the civil war,he must understand that diplomacy works wonders which the best weapons cannot offer.
"It is pertinent to mention that the Igbo name included as one of the writers of the above article is a ploy which borders on mischief. Ahmed is a journalist whom we all know,he need not play childish pranks."
Another stated: "These reporters, I expect you to narrate some comments made by our amiable Director Nnamdi Kanu that are not true. He always threaten to destroy Nigeria with nothing but 'The Truth'. Now from your report you acknowledged that he says the truth but you are afraid to proclaim it.
"Perhaps, you studied in a "zoo" (nigerian) university where half baked graduates are dished out, you are unable to reason properly to ascertain that Nnamdi Kanu is fighting not only for Biafrans but for those of you vissionless hausa and yoruba people. You are blinded by the frenzy of nigeria being an oil producing state, you live only on bribery and corruption. You the reporter are probably employed by one of the criminal octogenarian Nigeria politicians who have stolen nigeria dry and left the self acclaimed "giant of Africa" with no electricity, no good road, deplorable education system etc.
"You are worried about Radio Biafra on FM, you may not be aware that it has been on the internet and on satellite for years having enjoyed world wide audience before coming down home.
"You should be worried that Radio Biafra is financed by the Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB) in the diaspora and all engineering works are also done solely by Biafrans. Soon our TV will also come on satellite to expose to the world more of your Nigeria rottenness.
"You see, your filthy, useless and corrupt NBC cannot do anything to stop it. Radio Biafra is our mouthpiece.
"We are Biafrans, we are born scientists. Nigeria should be afraid of us because we came prepared.
1967-1970 is different from now."
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