MEETING, OJUKWU WALKING TO ROSTRUM; FLAG; OJUKWU SALUTING; LEADERS; OJUKWU SPEAKING (SOF).



TRANSCRIPT



OJUKWU: A PROBLEM NO LESS MOMENTOUS THAN THE WAR ITSELF IS THE PROBLEM OF REFUGEES. THE GOVERNMENT IS DOING ITS UTMOST TO TACKLE IT. IN THIS EVERYONE IN BIAFRA IS, AS USUAL, INVOLVED. AND AS I HAVE SAID, WE WELCOME ANY ASSISTANCE FROM ANY PART OF THE WORLD COMING FROM GENUINE AND UNADULTERATED MOTIVES. WE ARE GRATEFUL TO THOSE WHO HAVE RISEN TO OUR NEEDS. THE STRUGGLE CONTINUES, AND NO ONE CAN PREDICT WHEN IT WILL END. BUT WE KNOW HOW IT WILL END - IN TRIUMPH FOR OUR RIGHT TO SURVIVE AS A PEOPLE, IN SPITE OF ALL ODDS (APPLAUSE).




Initials GEM/VS/BOB/OS



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ODUMEGWU OJUKWU, LEADER OF BIAFRA, THE BREAKAWAY EASTERN REGION OF NIGERIA, HAS TOLD A JOINT MEETING OF HIS REGIME'S CONSULTATIVE ASSEMBLY AND COUNCIL OF CHIEFS THAT HE DOES NOT WANT RELIEF AID FOR THOUSANDS OF REFUGEES THREATENED WITH DEATH IF IT COMES FROM "HALF-HEARTED AND HYPOCRITICAL" GOVERNMENTS....AND HE MADE IT CLEAR THAT HE WAS REFERRING TO BRITAIN.

BUT COLONEL OJUKWU ALSO SAID THAT BIAFRA WOULD WELCOME HELP FROM WHAT HE CALLED GENUINE SOURCES. U THANT, THE UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY GENERAL, TODAY APPEALED TO HIM TO ALLOW MEDICAL AND FOOD SUPPLIES TO BE CHANNELLED THROUGH FEDERAL NIGERIA, A COURSE WHICH BIAFRA HAS ALREADY TURNED DOWN.

AT THE MEETING IN OWERRI, THE SECESSIONIST LEADER SAID......