Fellow countrymen and women

Once again, I salute you.

My Government has been reviewing the progress of this war that has now raged for the past two and half years with increasing fury. It is well that at each stage we remind ourselves of the purpose of this war, what we are fighting to safeguard, and why we are so determined to continue to defend ourselves.

You have borne the brunt of the strain of this fight. You have suffered unmentionable privations at the hands of an enemy that has used every conceivable weapon, particularly the weapon of starvation, against an innocent people whose only crime is that they chose to live in peace and security according to their own beliefs and away from a country that has condemned and rejected them.

Your heroism as a people has sustained our gallant armed forces in defending the territory of our fatherland, and in giving you the protection that we all so ardently need and desire. You have had your villages and homes ravaged and plundered, your assets destroyed, millions of your sons and daughters murdered by the enemy's recent movements and indiscriminate shelling and bombing of hamlets, villages and refugee camps and on the roads.

All this sacrifice has been in the interest and with the sole purpose of achieving security which is the main motive of our taking up arms to defend ourselves.

We have proclaimed ourselves a republic, independent and sovereign because we were and are satisfied that only through it can we guarantee our security. Nevertheless, we left the door open and declared on several occasions that we welcome any other initiative that offers us the security we need. Each time we have said so, our enemies and detractors have mischievously distorted our statement. We are entitled in the light of our recent experience to demand to know what measures are being proposed for our society.

The task of a leader of a people at war is to be responsible to the plight of his people, to determine what level of sacrifice can be accepted. Your patriotism has exceeded all expectations and earned worldwide admiration for your fortitude. Armed with your mandate I have striven to apply the forces at our disposal to the best of our ability against overwhelming odds. Throughout we had made strenuous efforts at peace, taking initiatives of our own to get our adversaries to settle our conflict at the conference table. each condition that we fulfill gives gives rise to an entirely new one. More recently, some friends of both sides have made some proposals for an arrangement with Nigeria that in our view will offer Biafrans the security to which we aspire. This has been referred to as certain forms of union, confederalities, association, or common-wealth arrangements with Nigeria.

Once more, to show our honesty, and in accord with my own frequent affirmation that I would personally go anywhere to secure peace and security for my people, I am now traveling out of Biafra to explore with our friends all these issues to the best of my ability, always serving the interests of my people. Our detractors may see this move as a sign of collapse of our struggles, or an escape from my responsibilities.

If, God willing, we can buy this latest show of earnestness secure for our people the end of destruction of your homes and property, I shall be satisfied that this venture on which I embark with your blessing has yielded fruit. I know that your prayers go with me as I go in search of peace and that, God willing, I shall soon be back among you.

In my short absence I have arranged for the Chief of General Staff, Major-General Philip Efiong, to administer the Government with the rest of the cabinet to run the affairs of this Republic while I go on this mission, accompanied by my Political Adviser and my Chief Secretary.

I once more pay my tribute to the Biafran Armed Forces, and urge all ranks to maintain their positions while I seek an early and honorable end to this struggle and all the suffering it had brought to our people.

Proud and courageous Biafrans,

Noble Biafrans,

Biafra shall live.

God bless you all.