A Focus On The Biafra Agitation
The issue of carving the state of Biafra out of the Nigerian
federation has been on since the Nigerian Civil War which pitched the
Igbo, now the South East geo-political zone, against the rest of the
country in a 30-month warfare, leading to loss of lives of great
magnitude.
Since after the war, due to the marginalisation of the zone in terms
of dearth of federal infrastructure and appointments, there has been
unending agitation for the creation of the state of Biafra as a national
entity, in reference to the entity which seceded from Nigeria, under
the leadership of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, a former Colonel of the
Nigerian Army.
Organisations like the Movement of the Sovereign State of Biafra
(MASSOB) under the leadership of Ralf Uwazuruike, and now the Indigenous
Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), headed by Nnamdi Kanu, have continued to
mount pressure on the federal government, for the state of Biafra to be
carved out of Nigeria, a demand which has not received a favourable
listening by the authorities.
With the recent release of Nnamdi Kanu, the IPOB leader from a long
detention on very stringent bail condition and the continued demand for
the creation of Biafra, the question that has been bothering Nigerians
is: Should the government allow Ndigbo (South East) to secede and be an
independent nation if they really want to.
The Issue Should Be Critically Looked Into – Don
Peter Iyeke, Mass Communication lecturer, in this response,
maintained that although the agitation of the Igbo has been going on for
over 40 years, it should not be looked into critically to know if there
are some wisdom in it.
Iyeke wondered if there is no selfish motive in the agitation, but
stressed that if the population of the country becomes too much, it
could be difficult to govern.
He added: “For instance, West Germany and East Germany went apart
until 1991, 1992 before the Berlin Wall was broken and they came back,
because they saw the difference between the East and West Germany. If
you go to Germany today, West Germany is more developed than East
Germany..
“Then go to North and Southern Sudan, go to Eritrea and Ethiopia,
there are so many countries that have been agitating for separation.
But the Biafra agitators can try their luck and if they find out that
they cannot sustain it, there is nothing wrong in returning as the East
and West Germany did.”
Mere Protest Cannot Guarantee Biafra – Omotayo
Olu Omotayo, the President of Citizens Rights Realisation and
Advancement Network (CRRAN) maintained that the issue of allowing Biafra
to break away should not even arise, as mere protest cannot guarantee
secession.
Omotayo, who did not see IPOB achieving more than MASSOB did in the
struggle for Biafra, stressed: “I just see IPOB as a mere pressure
group. During President Olusegun Obasanjo administration, we had MASSOB.
MASSOB was better coordinated and focused in its agitation. It had
solid structures, yet it could not achieve secession.
“I don’t see IPOB going beyond MASSOB. It is not a formidable group
to talk about agitation. It is an exaggeration. Mere protest cannot
guarantee Biafra.”
Ndigbo Can Go, But… -Activist
Alagoa Morris, a Niger Delta rights activist, said that the quest by
the Igbo or any other ethnic group in the country to secede is in
consonance with the principles of self-determination.
He highlighted some of the factors that are responsible for the
agitations for a break away to include lack of rule of law, unequal
rights, injustice, bad governance and abuse of democratic norms.
Morris, head of Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth
Nigeria (ERA/FoEN), Bayelsa State office, said there is nothing wrong
for a section to separate from the federation and become a Republic,
given the prevailing social, economic and political conditions in the
country.
Morris said the Igbo should be allowed to separate from the country
only after proper delineation of boundaries and the rights of others in
an area, who would not want to support secession, had been guaranteed.
Biafra Agitation Is Constitutional – Activist
Comrade Damian Ogudike, Public Relations Officer of Congress of Civil
Society Groups, Anambra State stated that the agitations of the South
South and South East are enshrined in the constitution and the United
Nation Charter.
He stressed that there is a clause that indigenous people have the
right to leave if they no longer want to stay in their country and
Nigeria is covered of the United Nation.
According to him, even the courts have declared the agitations as
legal, adding that it is the duty of the government to conduct
referendum to ascertain their opinions, if not, the Nigeria nation state
may remain in shambles.
He pleaded with security agencies to stop terrorizing the agitators.
He said: “I have seen IPOB members and they are so peaceful in the
content of their rights ethics. So far, they are non-violent. I also
appeal to agitators to remain non-violent. As long as they follow the
lay down rule as articulated in the UN charter, they are free,” he
concluded.
‘The Agitation Portends Danger’
Ayo Adesopo, Professor of Public Administration, Obafemi Awolowo
University (OAU), Ile Ife, maintained that the trend portends danger and
advised the government against it.
Adesopo cautioned that should the government welcome the agitation
and allow it, other regions may start similar agitation to the extent
that the government will have no choice but to comply and that may be
the beginning of disintegration of the giant of Africa, called Nigeria.
He maintained that although it is the right of a people to agitate
for self-determination, “the consequences is great as country may not be
the same again,” even as he described the demand as sectional, as not
all Igbo are involved in the demand because they are scattered across
the states and world.
Adesopo stated that even if the government wants to entertain it, the
processes to follow are so cumbersome that the country cannot handle it
without it degenerating into political upheaval.
He maintained that the review the constitution by the National
Assembly has been so difficult, how much more the issue of carving out a
part of the country as separate entity, which may lead to chaos.
Agnes Nneka Uzozie, a cleric, maintained that South East believes in
the corporate existence and unity of this Nigeria, especially as Ndigbo
have chains of businesses all over the country.
She stressed: “However, we cannot say that we are being fairly
treated by the federal government and even by our neighbours. To this
extent, I support those clamouring for a sovereign state of Biafra.”
Johnson Mbadike Osuji, a Second Republic politician maintained that
any Igbo who has a contrary view on the agitation of the Biafra state is
not a true Igbo man and his ‘Igboness’ should be doubted. He added:
“Our secession is long overdue because there is a thick conspiracy to
drive us to extinction in this country.
“The marginalisation of Ndigbo in the scheme of things is unspeakable
and when we voice out our grievances, the powers-that-be descend on us.
How old were you when the now late Chief Sam Mbakwe was governor? He
saw what was happening and voiced out vociferously against this.
“But, he was derided and scorned, and was called a weeping governor.
They should allow us to go because from all indications, we are no
longer wanted in this country and we are aware of this.
“Nnamdi Kanu was thrown into jail for pursuing a popular course. Look
at the harsh bail conditions handed down on him before he was released
from detention.”
If you don't fancy getting there early, try and get yourself on the
guest list. Have
a look at the Facebook page or Twitter account of the club organisers
and try buttering them up with a DM telling them how much you love their
nights and that you're hoping to bring a crew of friends down (i.e.
promise of a busy dance floor and more cash in their pockets in the
long-run).
Whilst
the word 'budget' has kinda gross connotations these days (no thanks to
the man above), it really is a good idea to set a limit on how much you
are going to spend that night and stick to it. Sorry for sounding like
your parents here.
However
much you wanna be the good guy, don't get pulled into buying full
rounds of drinks, especially if you're out in large group. You don't
have a party budget like P Diddy, and if you do, what you doing reading
this guide?
Ever looked at your bank balance the morning after and had the shock of
your life? Taking your debit or 
Taking out a cash budget with you for the evening can also be a good
trick to keeping an eye on your spending.
Contrary to whatever Ms Black tells you, Friday isn't the only day you can get down to boogie.
It
may look a bit excessive, but a cocktail pitcher will often work out
cheaper than individual drinks. 
For
every alcoholic drink you have, get a glass of tap water too. It'll
give your liver a break and there is less chance you'll wake up with a
cracking headache.
If
you don't have the Naira, just don't go out – simple as that!
Essentially the point is to have fun with your friends, and you don't
need to be up in da club to do that.
