Enugu Rejoices; Lagos Orders Mobilisation

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31384, 1 June 1967, Page 13

Enugu Rejoices; Lagos Orders Mobilisation

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) ENUGU (Eastern Nigeria), May 31. Thousands of people shouting “power, power, power,” greeted the governor of Nigeria’s breakaway Eastern Region as he arrived for his swearing-in ceremony

In Lagos, the Nigerian capital, the Government ordered a general mobilisation. Civil war loomed. Thousands of Enugu workers and market women celebrated the secession of the Eastern Region by dancing in the streets shouting “Nigeria is dead, and we are Biafrans.”

The Governor, Oxfordeducated Lieutenant-Colonel Odumegwu Ojuku, aged 33,

early today announced the regions • secession from Nigeria, and said it would be named Biafra.

He was wearing a military uniform of material like leopard skin for the swearingin as governor. . Chief Justice Sir Louis Mbanefo performed the ceremony in front of the Parliament building and then administered oaths of allegiance to the hours-old republic to other military and civilian leaders.

After the ceremony, the Biafra flag—red, black and green with a rising sun—was hoisted and a 42-gun salute was fired.

Red represents the blood of youth, black mourning and green prosperity, according to official sources. The rising sun symbolises an emergent nation.

Celebrations spread to several outlying towns and commerce came to a standstill. The crowds carried tree branches bearing portraits of Colonel Ojukwu and chanted “Biafra, Biafra, we hail thee” and “In the name of Jesus we shall conquer.” Swift changes followed the dawn proclamation of secession. The Government-owned

newspaper, “Nigerian Outlook,” delayed publication today to change its masthead to the “Biafra Sun.’ The Easts secession came after 18 months of bitter intertribal strife and bloodshed and mounting evidence that there appeared to be no room for compromise between the countrys two strongest personalities —the head of the Federal Government, LieutenantColonel Yakubo Gowon, and Lieutenant-Colonel Ojukwu.

Within seven hours of the secession as the prospects of civil war appeared to come closer, Colonel Gowon broadcast a statement ordering general mobilisation of troops. At the same time, he im-

posed a land and sea blockade on the secessionist region, alerting shipping to keep away from the east’s two ports, Port Harcourt and Calabar, and “giving appropriate instructions” to the Nigerian Navy. In his proclamation today, Colonel Ojukwu said all political ties between the region and the Federal Republic were totally dissolved. He warned that any inter-

ference in Biafra’s Internal affairs would be repelled. But he left the door open to co-operation with the rest of the country. Late tonight the Nigerian Federal Government announced a freeze on all domestic and foreign money transactions with Eastern Nigeria, the “New York Times” news service reported. It also banned all import and export of the Nigerian currency to protect the pound. All foreign monetary exchanges will have to be cleared first by the Government’s National Bank.

Fishing Boat Lost—A 47ton Japanese fishing boat with a crew of 18 was believed today to have capsized in rough seas 500 miles east of Kushlro in the eastern tip of Hokkaido, northern Japan, the Maritime Safety Agency said.—Tokyo, May 31.