Biafra: Biafra Heroes
And Heroines Remembrance
Day Seven [7]
Comr Onyegbula Solomon and Comr Nwawube
Ezeobi | Biafra Post
May 07, 2020
His Royal Highness Chief Frank Opigo
Dawai III, Amananaowei of Angiama was a
Biafran statesman politician, educationist and a philanthropist. He graduated
in 1953 as the first graduate of central/western Ijaw land who later served as
Assistant Registrar, Student Union.
In 1967, Chief Frank Opigo became the
Administrator head of Yenegoa Province of Biafra and the commissioner for rural
development. "Biafra", a name familiar with the Old Eastern region of
Nigeria was suggested by him to Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu and his Eastern
Assembly during one of their numerous meetings over the plights of Easterners
in Northern Nigeria during the pogrom.
Chief Opigo gave the name Biafra to the
Eastern General Assembly after the Bight of Biafra now Bonny, the name was
adopted by the Eastern region Assembly. Biafra historical record would remain
incomplete if
this great Ijaw son is not mentioned and
honored. For Ijaw man to suggest the name "Biafra" means that we have
been one indivisible people from time immemorial jettisoning the lies that we
are not one, or our riverine siblings are not in support of Biafra.
Chief Frank Opigo was one of the finest
intellectuals who knew, identifed and stood with his people during a period
where most of his kinsmen were seeking for favour from the hands of the Federal
suppressive regime of imposed Jack Yakubu Gowon as the head of the Nigerian
state, is worth honouring as his acts were uncommon and brave.
For his passion for Biafra and his selfless
contribution towards the struggle for Biafra freedom, on the 30th of May 2020,
we shall remember him and those who died that Biafra may be a sovereign Nation.
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Edited by Ndubuisi Eke
Biafra:
Biafra Heroes Remembrance
Day Six (6)
BRUCE MAYROCK
Biafra:
Biafra Heroes Remembrance
Day Six (6)
Bruce Baruch Mayrock born 6th May 1949 – died
30 May 1969 was from Old Westbury, New York, Bruce Mayrock was a student at
Columbia University who set himself ablaze at the premises of the United
Nations Headquarters in New York on 29 May 1969. He lit himself up to register
his displeasure with world governmental bodies silence to protest the genocide
against the Nation and people of Biafra in the Nigerian Civil War. Bruce Baruch
Mayrock doused himself with a flammable liquid and set himself afire on the lawn
outside the U.N. building.
The fire was spotted by United Nations
security guards who ran after him with fire extinguishers. Mayrock eluded them,
running to the north lounge of the building as witnessed by several hundred
delegates. Mayrock finally fell to his knees beside the bronze statue sculpted
by Evgeniy Vuchetich to represent the human wish to end all wars, which bears
the slogan "Let Us Beat Swords into Plowshares". The flames were
extinguished and he - Bruce Mayrock was rushed to Bellevue Hospital Center
where he was listed in critical condition and was pronounced dead in the early
hours of 30 May 1969, the Biafran Independence Day. He was carrying a cardboard
sign which said, "You must stop the genocide—please save 9 million
Biafrans." Bruce Mayrock had worked actively to protest the war in Biafra,
writing letters about the war to the U.S.
President and leading governmental figures
yet no good response were coming from them. Bruce Mayrock, a University
undergraduate took his life to protest the killing of innocent Biafran babies
and what he believed was genocide in Biafra. He was concerned that people were
being killed and no one was doing anything and no one was listening. Bruce
Mayrock graduated with highest honors from Flatbush Yeshivah and was a Student
of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America as well as Columbia University,
and worked as a photographer for the Columbia Daily Spectator. He had
previously studied briefly at Hofstra University. He is buried in Mount Ararat
Cemetery, Farmingdale, Suffolk County, New York.
In the midst of world conspiracy against the
people of Biafra. While all looked the other way as Biafrans were inhumanly
massacred. Saint Bruce Baruch Mayrock gave his life as a supreme sacrifice in
protest. If a young Man, a youth in far away America could kill himself in
protest of the the genocide against the innocent Biafran people, what are you
still waiting for?.
Why still delay?. His memory lingers on till
eternity, never shall we forget him and never shall we stop remembering him
until Biafra he strongly believe in is restored. When the world silently kept
mute on our killings Bruce Baruch Mayrock said no, no to injustice and
genocide, starvation and blockade as churned out by Jack Yakubu Gowon and his
army of perdition against a sacred breed from Chukwu Okike Abiama. History will
forever remember him for the selfless service to humanity that he played so
Biafra maybe heard. On 30th of May 2020, we shall remember Him and those who
died that we may live.
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