BZM Proclaims Secession of South East from Nigeria, Declares ‘Biafra Republic',

The Biafra Zionist Movement (BZM), Monday, in Enugu, declared that Eastern part of the country had parted ways with Nigeria and declared itself ‘Republic of Biafra’
He said that Biafra has taken off as an independent country from August 1, 2017.
Benjamin Onwuka, leader of BZM, declared himself the ‘Interim President’ of the new nation.
In a press briefing at the Enugu secretariat of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, Onwuka went ahead to name ministers and other top government officials of Biafra.
Prof. Pat Utomi was named the Foreign Minister while a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, was appointed as the Governor of the Central Bank of Biafra.
Others Minister, according to him, are Ms. Arunma Oteh (Finance Minister), the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo (Ambassador of the Republic of Biafra to the United States) , Prof. Jerry Gana, from Niger State (Transport Minister.)
Another former Information Minister and former Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State, Labaran Maku, was named as the Minister of Aviation.
Other key appointments, as announced by Onwuka, include Amarachi Ubani, information; Mrs. Mary Okafor, Trade and Industry; Benny Lar, from Plateau State, Secretary to the Government of the Republic of Biafra; Gabriel Oluwole Osagie, Education; and Philip Effiong Jnr, Health.
Prof. Barth Nnaji, a former Power Minister, was named as Energy Minister.
Onwuka claimed that the nascent Biafran government was an interim one, and that he had the backing of the US.
According to Onwuka, the alleged recognition of the independence of Biafra was part of US foreign policy, having been endorsed by former President Barack Obama before he left office.
Onwuka was first detained and charged with treason after leading some members of the BZF to invade the studios of the Enugu State Broadcasting Service in a failed bid to announce the secession of Biafra on June 5, 2014.