The Utopian Republic of Biafra envisioned by Director of pirate Radio station (Radio Biafra), Nnamdi Kanu and MASSOB, has been dealt a diplomatic blow.
The National Director of Information of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) Sunny Okereafor, had blustered a fortnight ago that the Biafran passport was valid worldwide for a fee of N5,000 and a renewal cost of N2,000.
Okereafor was quoted as saying: “I assure you that the Biafran passport is valid. Except Nigeria, other countries of the world accept Biafran passport and allow our citizens to travel with it. In Europe, North and South America, Biafran passport is accepted. Nigeria is the only country that seizes Biafran passport. Go to neighbouring Ghana here, they will stamp the passport for you. Don’t be confused by the propaganda of the Nigerian government that there is nothing like Biafra passport.
“MASSOB appeals to Biafran citizens to procure their passport and use it to travel. If you doubt me, get a Nigerian passport while I have my Biafran passport; when we get to Europe, you will see who they will welcome than the other. Many people with the Nigerian passport have been repatriated, but have you heard of anybody with Biafran passport receiving such ill-treatment?”
Except that the United States and the United Kingdom won’t be welcoming Biafra citizens any time soon.
Deputy Public Affairs Officer at the U.S consulate, Frank Sellin, told The Punch upon an inquiry: “The United States does not consider passports purporting to be from a Biafra entity to be a valid legal document for purposes of visa issuance.”
A similar response ensued from the British Government.
The UK recalled that it did not support the disintegration of Nigeria during the 1967 Biafran War and will not be changing its stance 49 years after.
A statement by the Press and Public Affairs Officer, British High Commission, Abuja, Mr. Joe Abuku, read in part, “The answer is unequivocally ‘no’. The UK does not recognise the so-called Biafran passport
“The position of the UK Government during the Biafran War is a matter of historical record. The UK Government’s position, which reflected the Charter of the Organisation of African Unity, was to recognise the borders laid down at independence.
“The Biafran War caused great suffering and the UK supported the reconciliation work that followed the conflict. The UK supports the territorial integrity of Nigeria and the Nigerian Government’s commitment to work for a secure and prosperous Nigeria for all Nigerians.”
The post Eat your heart out, Nnamdi Kanu as the U.S and U.K say they don’t recognize the Biafra passport appeared first on Ekekeee.