austinsmat:
point of collection It is not 1 million but three million, more over is too late now we don't want true federation what we need now is nothing but Biafra. and don't bother about Nigeria remembering our lost hero when Biafra comes we will do it and don't compare us with Sudan and don't bother aftermath of the new nation,
I live in the north precisely Kano, I was there when Reinhard Bonnke riot broke out,reason why is because heal lame and blind peoples and at Kaduna and converted some Muslim and wanted to carryout the same in Kano.
But today nine indigenous IMO state Christian converted to Islam sultan sokoto and okoroacha give them millions of naira,do you hear any riot in Igbo land.
Something happen in far away Denmark causes riot here in Kano. Osama bin laden riot nko that happened in far away in middle east. and many more riot that takes peoples life. please we are not one and can't be one our ideology,upbringing, understanding differs.
culture nko and final one religion killed it.

cramjones:
I have keenly observed the current events that have led to the arrest of Nnamdi Kanu, the self-proclaimed leader of the Biafran movement. I have mixed reactions to the events that have transpired and have communicated my thoughts to the Nigerian Presidency. I will attempt elucidating my thoughts here.

ExInferis:


The jews didn't start world war 2, therefore they have every moral right to be the victim.

The Biafrans started the Nigerian civil war. Nogeria was the victim that fought back. Dont equate the biafrans with the jews, equate them with the Nazis.

No one celebrates the aggressor.

The igbos have the right to seek self determination as everyone else. But the way they go about it by intimidating and threatening violence is not the way.

I for one would very much want biafra to materialize if for no other reason than to be rid of the criminal empire of the igbos and get them off our passports.

cramjones:
I have keenly observed the current events that have led to the arrest of Nnamdi Kanu, the self-proclaimed leader of the Biafran movement. I have mixed reactions to the events that have transpired and have communicated my thoughts to the Nigerian Presidency. I will attempt elucidating my thoughts here.

1. I am of the opinion that the call for Biafra is legitimate: Firstly, Biafra existed before Nigeria was created. It was made up of people with similar cultures and language (with majority tribe being Igbo). It is perfectly legitimate for the original inhabitants of the country to yearn to have back their country and resources under their control. However, I do not believe that Biafra is a viable solution at this time.

2. During the Biafran war it is estimated that at least 1 million people of largely Igbo extraction were killed! This is no doubt in mind a genocide. However, the Nigerian government has made a fundamental mistake by:

a. Not recognizing it ever took place, or playing down the number of those that died for political reasons, only serve to fuel violence and the call for secession.
b. They have also made a major mistake by not even having a memorial day to remember those that died during the genocide - This action alone will give a sense of belonging and would foster a deepened National unity.

3. If the government does not look into the creation of a true federation whilst implementing its pseudo-federalism, and pretend that a genocide never took place, then the dissolution of Nigeria or even the metastasis of the Biafrian movement becomes inevitable.

4. Despite the premise I have laid out, I still do not think a Biafran state is viable. This is why

i. The Eastern Goverments are fundamentally corrupt; A visit to present day Imo and Abia will attest to the corruption and rot that have plagued the region. These leaders have all FAILED to develop the east with the resources given to them. If they had made the East the "dubai" of Nigeria, everyone including the international community would have taken the cry for Biafra serious. The argument would be if the "Biafran leaders" can develop their region with the "little" resources given them, it is only fair they secede and do even more for their people and their region. However, this is not the case. A Biafran state will only lead to another mini civil war, and a fight for resources and wealth among Biafrans.

ii. Since 1970 when the war ended the geo-political dynamics of the Biafran region has changed. For example the people of Rivers would not want to be part of a country where their individual tribes become a minority. Same will go to Akwa Ibom etc. This will then lead to a disintegration of the original Biafran state, and would lead to a battle for resource control.

iii. If the above happens, Biafra would essentially be a landlocked country, and this can lead to an invasion and fight of Rivers, in order to fight for port control, oil revenue etc. Igbos will definitely need the ports since most of them are international business men, and won't afford to pay regions like Rivers for all the billions of dollars of imports that takes place in the region.

In summary, an eventual Biafran state through a peaceful referendum will lead to a situation worse than South Sundan.

Way forward:

1. President Buhari MUST as a matter of urgency look into the white paper of the national conference and work assidiously with congress to make sure he implements true Federalism.

2. We must as a matter of urgency accept that at least 1 million Igbos where killed and establish a day to remember these precious lives that were gone. We must go a step further to make sure we teach this history to our kids, and not ban it from being tought in schools.

3. If the Federal government treat the Biafra issue with kids gloves, we may have something worse than Boko Haram in our hands.

4. Release Nnamdi Kanu immediately! Sit down with him and lay out your plans to resolve this issue. It would be a disservice to the Igbo people to compare the rise of Boko Haram with this present agitation, but history has thought us that as dynamic and complex Nigeria is, we MUST as a matter of urgency address the agitation of the Biafrans, before it metastasize to a problem bigger than Nigeria. A stitch in time saves nine!

Personally, I have shared these thoughts to my friend and brother Femi Adeshina with the hope that he would communicate this to P.M.B.

It is my hope that this does not destroy our country in our very eyes.

NOBLEDANDY:
The op write up is so much flawed...

Whoever that believe this poo can deny his legitimate mother.

Biafra we love and cherish....
No going back to the zoo

FrankAba1:
@OP; and all the "one Nigeria" chanters, why are you all recklessly determined on retaining your slave name (Nigerian), given to you by a strange Oyibo woman?

Even your usage of so-called official language (English) is not recognize by neither the English law nor the British law books, in fact no African country is recognized by it!

What is bloody wrong with the "black" man?

cramjones:
I have keenly observed the current events that have led to the arrest of Nnamdi Kanu, the self-proclaimed leader of the Biafran movement. I have mixed reactions to the events that have transpired and have communicated my thoughts to the Nigerian Presidency. I will attempt elucidating my thoughts here.

1. I am of the opinion that the call for Biafra is legitimate: Firstly, Biafra existed before Nigeria was created. It was made up of people with similar cultures and language (with majority tribe being Igbo). It is perfectly legitimate for the original inhabitants of the country to yearn to have back their country and resources under their control. However, I do not believe that Biafra is a viable solution at this time.

2. During the Biafran war it is estimated that at least 1 million people of largely Igbo extraction were killed! This is no doubt in mind a genocide. However, the Nigerian government has made a fundamental mistake by:

a. Not recognizing it ever took place, or playing down the number of those that died for political reasons, only serve to fuel violence and the call for secession.
b. They have also made a major mistake by not even having a memorial day to remember those that died during the genocide - This action alone will give a sense of belonging and would foster a deepened National unity.

3. If the government does not look into the creation of a true federation whilst implementing its pseudo-federalism, and pretend that a genocide never took place, then the dissolution of Nigeria or even the metastasis of the Biafrian movement becomes inevitable.

4. Despite the premise I have laid out, I still do not think a Biafran state is viable. This is why

i. The Eastern Goverments are fundamentally corrupt; A visit to present day Imo and Abia will attest to the corruption and rot that have plagued the region. These leaders have all FAILED to develop the east with the resources given to them. If they had made the East the "dubai" of Nigeria, everyone including the international community would have taken the cry for Biafra serious. The argument would be if the "Biafran leaders" can develop their region with the "little" resources given them, it is only fair they secede and do even more for their people and their region. However, this is not the case. A Biafran state will only lead to another mini civil war, and a fight for resources and wealth among Biafrans.

ii. Since 1970 when the war ended the geo-political dynamics of the Biafran region has changed. For example the people of Rivers would not want to be part of a country where their individual tribes become a minority. Same will go to Akwa Ibom etc. This will then lead to a disintegration of the original Biafran state, and would lead to a battle for resource control.

iii. If the above happens, Biafra would essentially be a landlocked country, and this can lead to an invasion and fight of Rivers, in order to fight for port control, oil revenue etc. Igbos will definitely need the ports since most of them are international business men, and won't afford to pay regions like Rivers for all the billions of dollars of imports that takes place in the region.

In summary, an eventual Biafran state through a peaceful referendum will lead to a situation worse than South Sundan.

Way forward:

1. President Buhari MUST as a matter of urgency look into the white paper of the national conference and work assidiously with congress to make sure he implements true Federalism.

2. We must as a matter of urgency accept that at least 1 million Igbos where killed and establish a day to remember these precious lives that were gone. We must go a step further to make sure we teach this history to our kids, and not ban it from being tought in schools.

3. If the Federal government treat the Biafra issue with kids gloves, we may have something worse than Boko Haram in our hands.

4. Release Nnamdi Kanu immediately! Sit down with him and lay out your plans to resolve this issue. It would be a disservice to the Igbo people to compare the rise of Boko Haram with this present agitation, but history has thought us that as dynamic and complex Nigeria is, we MUST as a matter of urgency address the agitation of the Biafrans, before it metastasize to a problem bigger than Nigeria. A stitch in time saves nine!

Personally, I have shared these thoughts to my friend and brother Femi Adeshina with the hope that he would communicate this to P.M.B.

It is my hope that this does not destroy our country in our very eyes.

Tripleclick:
Is obvious u gux dnt read history.. who told u nigeria suppliedbus foods? all the food deliver was done by international community.. espcially USA.. how can nigeria poison it?

ferdyabu:

1billion likes. Only miscreants want Biafra. My Dad's mum is Igbo and I totally I agree with you.

laudate:


Guy, kindly read my post again. I never said Nigeria or the federal govt, supplied them with food. The offer of a land corridor through which food could come into Biafra, was made by the federal govt after they had banned the dropping of food into Biafra, through airplanes. This offer was rejected by the Biafran govt. The propaganda in Biafra at that time was that Nigeria had plans to poison any food sent through the land corridor, if they accepted the federal govt's offer.

My own position was that they should have accepted the offer made by the Nigerian govt, and then tested the food to see if it actually contained poison or not, instead of resorting to propaganda. I hope you catch my drift.

jpphilips:
Not to worry, Nnamdi Kanu in captivity has released vital info on the workings of IPOB, first is their communication strong hold which is broken, next will be list of all the IPOB cell leaders, by the time Buhari is done with those urchins, they will understand the difference between a trained soldier and a sleeping civilian.
No more radio Biafra will mean peace for a very long time and no mobilization channel, they will only operate in pockets that will make them bulls eye for target practice.

Naijiant:
1. There was a Bight of Biafra b/4 Nigeria existed, but not a country of Biafra. “Bight” means exit from shipping lanes. The bight was named by Portuguese seafarers.

2. The Biafran agitation is more in relation to failures in governance in Nigeria in the last 20 years than what happened during the civil war. A lot pro-Biafra supporters were not even born during the war.

3. It may be likely that the people of Rivers, Cross River and Akwa Ibom may not want to join Biafra, but until you ask them, you can’t state this categorically.

4. While being a landlocked country is not ideal, it is no impediment to development. Switzerland is an affluent landlocked country. One of the most stable and relatively developed countries in sub-Saharan Africa is Botswana and it is landlocked (the highest ranked sub-Saharan country in the UN Human Development Index).

5. Nigeria needs to address the Biafran agitation in a mature and democratic way. We can learn from the Scottish and Catalan independence movements. Nobody is suppressing their rights to agitate and they are doing it democratically.

More info:
http://www.naijiant.com/articles/the-biafran-question/

EzePromoe:
[b]Who told you that the South East is underdeveloped? You guys don't know the actual meaning of development. Development is not by building roads or other infrastructures where its population are prevalently lazy by nature. For me, the South East is developed because of its Labour force and human resources which it supplies to the entire nation and still maintain a pace that can compete with what's obtainable in regions that are economically viable. The only indigenous Automobile industry Nigeria has is in the South East. With no federal government presence, the people of the South East have created the two of the largest markets in West Africa (Onitsha and Ariaria). That shows you that the Igbos are capitalist in nature and orientation. And again, need I remind you that Anambra is the only 3-city state in the country? WHAT YOU GUYS ALWAYS THINK IS THAT BECAUSE YOU SEE IGBO BUSINESSMEN IN YOUR HOMETOWN OR WHERE YOU LIVE, THEN IT EQUATES TO THE FACT THAT THE SOUTH EAST IS UNREDEEMABLY UNDERDEVELOPED. YOU SEE THE IGBO MAN IN YOUR COMPOUND AS SOMEONE COMING TO SEEK GREENER PASTURE, WHICH IS TOTALLY A VERY INCORRECT PERCEPTION. Many of you don't know the level of competition that exists in the South East. You will be marvelled at the vibrant business activity that goes on even in the remotest village in the South East. It's only normal that any sane man will migrate to a far away region where he thinks there are lesser competition and large purchasing power in order to do his business. Is Nigeria more developed than those Western or Asian countries that do businesses here? It's simple business strategy. It pains me that people can concoct garbage about Igbos in the comfort of their bedroom and publish it as fact, and the mentally lazy ones who can't make simple research will swallow it hook, line and sinker and relay the same garbage in an exaggerated manner, to his neighbour. Thank God I've been to the South East if not I will be making this kind of assumption.

About Biafra, I think the Government escalated this agitation by negligence and show of tyranny. As much as I love this country, I'm afraid that this agitation has gotten to its climax where it can't be negotiated. This is the bitter truth that fellow patriots like me won't come to terms with. The FG made this mistake with Boko Haram and look at where they are today. The FG are indirectly radicalizing this pro-Biafran agitators without knowing it. They think they are defending the nation's unity but they're wrong. What they're actually doing is grooming the hatred for Nigeria in the heart of young Igbo Nigerians (who are no longer seeing themselves as Nigerians by the way). This hatred if not curtailed now at its infancy will grow to an extent where it will go violent, and that is the last thing Nigeria needs now. Some Nigerians are so foolish to think that any uprising that starts in Igbo land will be felt only in Igbo land. Use Boko Haram as case study. Nigeria's economy is dwindling today because the government is spending what it hadn't intended to on procuring ammunitions to combat the terrorists and with oil prize dwindling, the coffers where these money are coming out from are not being replenished. And here again we have investors closing their investments due to poor economic planning by this administration.
The Nigerian government should just leave these Biafran activists alone. You can use the police to kill them and stop their protests but you can't use the police to take their agitation from their hearts. What use is it having citizens that hate their country with all their hearts? [/b]

gists:
I just don't get it when people play the victim card on the number of people that died in the inglorious civil war. I don't care about the number be it 500k, 1m, 3m or even 10m! Afterall, it was a war and the biafra soldiers were not saying the lords prayers - they were busy killing Nigerians too.

For some reasons, I took a public transport some weeks ago I heard some guys discussing (they were both ibos). One of them ask the other "how on earth do you fight with someone that feeds you?" According to him, although Awolowo was wrong for the so-called starvation policy, but should be commended for ending the war sooner because he (Awo) could have chosen to poison the foods and kill millions more instead of the blockade.

I never thought of it that way before but it rang through to me. You can't pick up a fight with your boss and later turn around complaining that he sacks you! His point was that the ibos started a war that they were not prepared for and now complaining of the consequence - fighting someone that feed you and later complain of not giving you food.

Having said that the truth is that everybody has a GOD given right to call for self-determination. BUT it must be through peaceful means. Otherwise history is notorious of having a way to repeat itself. A friend showed me a video on a questions and answer summit by some Igbo group with Mr Kanu. It was shocking to see how unprepaired the guy is as he couldn't give convincing answers to some of the questions asked.

Any group is free to ask for independence but it has to be peaceful without insult to others especially those who they think should follow them.

dialfa:
see this zoo man
[s]instead of planning how to liberate your oduduwa from fulani occupation you wan get headache for another man matter and are providing advice to perpetuate the zoo
you dirty lot really love your zoo

1. I am of the opinion that the call for Biafra is legitimate: Firstly, Biafra existed before Nigeria was created. It was made up of people with similar cultures and language (with majority tribe being Igbo). It is perfectly legitimate for the original inhabitants of the country to yearn to have back their country and resources under their control. However, [b] I do not believe that Biafra is a viable solution at this time.

2. [[b] During the Biafran war it is estimated that at least 1 million people of largely Igbo extraction were killed! This is no doubt in mind a genocide. However, the Nigerian government has made a fundamental mistake by:

a. Not recognizing it ever took place, or playing down the number of those that died for political reasons, only serve to fuel violence and the call for secession.
b. They have also made a major mistake by not even having a memorial day to remember those that died during the genocide - This action alone will give a sense of belonging and would foster a deepened National unity

i. The Eastern Goverments are fundamentally corrupt; A visit to present day Imo and Abia will attest to the corruption and rot that have plagued the region. These leaders have all FAILED to develop the east with the resources given to them. If they had made the East the "dubai" of Nigeria, everyone including the international community would have taken the cry for Biafra serious. The argument would be if the "Biafran leaders" can develop their region with the "little" resources given them, it is only fair they secede and do even more for their people and their region. However, this is not the case. A Biafran state lwill only lead to another mini civil war, and a fight for resources and wealth among Biafrans.

1. Oluesgun Obasanjo – He stole $25 billion from 1999-2007 ($16.4 from power sector alone)

2. Ibrahim Babangida – He stole $15 billion from 1985-1993 ($12.4 billion from oil wind fall in 1990)

3. Abdulsalam Abubakar – He stole $9 billion from 1998-99

4. Sani Abacha – He stole $7 billion from 1993-1998

5. Ahmed Bola Tinubu – He stole and continues to steal from Lagos State treasury since 1999 till date. It’s estimated that he has stolen $6 billion so far.

6. TY Danjuma – He fraudulently got enriched through oil blocks from the Niger Delta worth $20 million in the 70s after the counter coup. Those oil blocks worth billions of dollars in today’s value.

7. Sanusi Lamido Sanusi – He stole $1.2 billion as CBN Governor from 2008-2014.

8. Bukola Saraki – Through his father, Olukola Saraki, their bank, Societe Generale and as a governor of Kwara State (2003-20111) he stole $1.1 billion

9. Nasir El Rufai – Before he was made the FCT Minister, El Rufai was broke, homeless and was looking for loan to import taxis from the UK. After he was made the minister, he seized landed properties that belonged to Nigerians and resold them with huge profit. It’s estimated that he stole $1 billion from 2003-2007.

10. Tunde Fashola – He is the poster boy of Tinubu. Boht of them looted Lagos dried and left it in debt of about N1 billion. Fashola, among other thing built his personal website for N78 million, drilled borehole for over N100 million per each and built a kilometre road for N1 billion. He stole $900 million from 2007-2015. He’ll soon be a minister to continue the looting.

11. Chubike Rotimi Amaechi – From 2007 to 2015, he stole $700 million and $150 million from that money was used to sponsor Buhari and APC.

12. Atiku Abubakar – When he as asked by our reporter how he made his money, he simply said “he was always at the right place at the right time.” Atiku is an astute businessman, but through shady deals, he stole $500 million from 1999-2007.

13. James Ibori – He stole $150 million from 1999-2007 as governor of Delta State. He’s serving his term for money laundering in the UK.

14. Amina Mohammed – This woman was the founder of Afri-Project Consortium (APC) that was in charge of all PTF Projects during Abacha’s regime. About $125 million was stolen from PTF accounts from 1994-1998. Buhari has just nominated the same woman as a minister to continue to stealing.

15. DSP Alamieyeseigha – He stole $120 million and was arrested for money laundering. He pleaded guilty and long served his term.

16. Sule Lamido – He stole $110 million between 2007-2015 and out of that amount, $50 million was found in his sons’ bank accounts. He was arrested and detained for days together with his sons.

17. Rabui Kwankwaso – He stole $100 million as a governor of Kano State. EFCC has arrested many of his aides and they are “singing” how they siphoned the money

18. Kashium Shettima – this governor has stolen about $80 million and still counting.

19. Rauf Aregbesola – he has milked Osun State to the tune of $60 million.

20. Kayode Fayemi – this former governor stole $40 million and stashed some part of the loot in Ghana. He was reportedly bought a bed for N50 million

. Release Nnamdi Kanu immediately! Sit down with him and lay out your plans to resolve this issue. It would be a disservice to the Igbo people to compare the rise of Boko Haram with this present agitation, but history has thought us that as dynamic and complex Nigeria is, we MUST as a matter of urgency address the agitation of the Biafrans, before it metastasize to a problem bigger than Nigeria. A stitch in time saves nine!

Ephemmm:
I doubt it if this Biafra lunatics read the write up. Op mentioned another disintegration which somebody like Isaac Boro has tried under the former Easter Region to liberate Ijaw people from Eastern part, but which was subdued by the same Igbo former President all to protect the interest of Igbos over minority.

The problem with Igbo is greed, self-entitlement and born to rule, control and exploit mentality. Qatar is smaller than Bayelsa in population and half d size of Bayelsa state by landmass. Bayelsa is four times the size of Singapore. if Qatar and Singapore can be a country, why cant we have an Ijaw nation as a country? Do u think Ijaw people dont want to be like Qatar and enjoy their oil alone like Qatar does? Note: Bayelsa State is d smallest state in the south south by population and second to the last by landmass!!

For your information, it is now obvious that Igbo primary interest is separation from Nigeria with Niger delta as their trophy.

Phinity318:
Attention: Nigeria is one, It's high time the igbos realise the fact that we are an indivisible sovereign state.

dialfa:
see this zoo man
instead of planning how to liberate your oduduwa from fulani occupation you wan get headache for another man matter and are providing advice to perpetuate the zoo
you dirty lot really love your zoo

Tripleclick:
You want them to start testing foods in d mist of war and hunger u gux funny sha d way u ppl judge things

cramjones:
I have keenly observed the current events that have led to the arrest of Nnamdi Kanu, the self-proclaimed leader of the Biafran movement. I have mixed reactions to the events that have transpired and have communicated my thoughts to the Nigerian Presidency. I will attempt elucidating my thoughts here.

1. I am of the opinion that the call for Biafra is legitimate: Firstly, Biafra existed before Nigeria was created. It was made up of people with similar cultures and language (with majority tribe being Igbo). It is perfectly legitimate for the original inhabitants of the country to yearn to have back their country and resources under their control. However, I do not believe that Biafra is a viable solution at this time.

2. During the Biafran war it is estimated that at least 1 million people of largely Igbo extraction were killed! This is no doubt in mind a genocide. However, the Nigerian government has made a fundamental mistake by:

a. Not recognizing it ever took place, or playing down the number of those that died for political reasons, only serve to fuel violence and the call for secession.
b. They have also made a major mistake by not even having a memorial day to remember those that died during the genocide - This action alone will give a sense of belonging and would foster a deepened National unity.

3. If the government does not look into the creation of a true federation whilst implementing its pseudo-federalism, and pretend that a genocide never took place, then the dissolution of Nigeria or even the metastasis of the Biafrian movement becomes inevitable.

4. Despite the premise I have laid out, I still do not think a Biafran state is viable. This is why

i. The Eastern Goverments are fundamentally corrupt; A visit to present day Imo and Abia will attest to the corruption and rot that have plagued the region. These leaders have all FAILED to develop the east with the resources given to them. If they had made the East the "dubai" of Nigeria, everyone including the international community would have taken the cry for Biafra serious. The argument would be if the "Biafran leaders" can develop their region with the "little" resources given them, it is only fair they secede and do even more for their people and their region. However, this is not the case. A Biafran state will only lead to another mini civil war, and a fight for resources and wealth among Biafrans.

ii. Since 1970 when the war ended the geo-political dynamics of the Biafran region has changed. For example the people of Rivers would not want to be part of a country where their individual tribes become a minority. Same will go to Akwa Ibom etc. This will then lead to a disintegration of the original Biafran state, and would lead to a battle for resource control.

iii. If the above happens, Biafra would essentially be a landlocked country, and this can lead to an invasion and fight of Rivers, in order to fight for port control, oil revenue etc. Igbos will definitely need the ports since most of them are international business men, and won't afford to pay regions like Rivers for all the billions of dollars of imports that takes place in the region.

In summary, an eventual Biafran state through a peaceful referendum will lead to a situation worse than South Sundan.

Way forward:

1. President Buhari MUST as a matter of urgency look into the white paper of the national conference and work assidiously with congress to make sure he implements true Federalism.

2. We must as a matter of urgency accept that at least 1 million Igbos where killed and establish a day to remember these precious lives that were gone. We must go a step further to make sure we teach this history to our kids, and not ban it from being tought in schools.

3. If the Federal government treat the Biafra issue with kids gloves, we may have something worse than Boko Haram in our hands.

4. Release Nnamdi Kanu immediately! Sit down with him and lay out your plans to resolve this issue. It would be a disservice to the Igbo people to compare the rise of Boko Haram with this present agitation, but history has thought us that as dynamic and complex Nigeria is, we MUST as a matter of urgency address the agitation of the Biafrans, before it metastasize to a problem bigger than Nigeria. A stitch in time saves nine!

Personally, I have shared these thoughts to my friend and brother Femi Adeshina with the hope that he would communicate this to P.M.B.
It is my hope that this does not destroy our country in our very eyes.

cramjones:
I have keenly observed the current events that have led to the arrest of Nnamdi Kanu, the self-proclaimed leader of the Biafran movement. I have mixed reactions to the events that have transpired and have communicated my thoughts to the Nigerian Presidency. I will attempt elucidating my thoughts here.

1. I am of the opinion that the call for Biafra is legitimate: Firstly, Biafra existed before Nigeria was created. It was made up of people with similar cultures and language (with majority tribe being Igbo). It is perfectly legitimate for the original inhabitants of the country to yearn to have back their country and resources under their control. However, I do not believe that Biafra is a viable solution at this time.

2. During the Biafran war it is estimated that at least 1 million people of largely Igbo extraction were killed! This is no doubt in mind a genocide. However, the Nigerian government has made a fundamental mistake by:

a. Not recognizing it ever took place, or playing down the number of those that died for political reasons, only serve to fuel violence and the call for secession.
b. They have also made a major mistake by not even having a memorial day to remember those that died during the genocide - This action alone will give a sense of belonging and would foster a deepened National unity.

3. If the government does not look into the creation of a true federation whilst implementing its pseudo-federalism, and pretend that a genocide never took place, then the dissolution of Nigeria or even the metastasis of the Biafrian movement becomes inevitable.

4. Despite the premise I have laid out, I still do not think a Biafran state is viable. This is why

i. The Eastern Goverments are fundamentally corrupt; A visit to present day Imo and Abia will attest to the corruption and rot that have plagued the region. These leaders have all FAILED to develop the east with the resources given to them. If they had made the East the "dubai" of Nigeria, everyone including the international community would have taken the cry for Biafra serious. The argument would be if the "Biafran leaders" can develop their region with the "little" resources given them, it is only fair they secede and do even more for their people and their region. However, this is not the case. A Biafran state will only lead to another mini civil war, and a fight for resources and wealth among Biafrans.

ii. Since 1970 when the war ended the geo-political dynamics of the Biafran region has changed. For example the people of Rivers would not want to be part of a country where their individual tribes become a minority. Same will go to Akwa Ibom etc. This will then lead to a disintegration of the original Biafran state, and would lead to a battle for resource control.

iii. If the above happens, Biafra would essentially be a landlocked country, and this can lead to an invasion and fight of Rivers, in order to fight for port control, oil revenue etc. Igbos will definitely need the ports since most of them are international business men, and won't afford to pay regions like Rivers for all the billions of dollars of imports that takes place in the region.

In summary, an eventual Biafran state through a peaceful referendum will lead to a situation worse than South Sundan.

Way forward:

1. President Buhari MUST as a matter of urgency look into the white paper of the national conference and work assidiously with congress to make sure he implements true Federalism.

2. We must as a matter of urgency accept that at least 1 million Igbos where killed and establish a day to remember these precious lives that were gone. We must go a step further to make sure we teach this history to our kids, and not ban it from being tought in schools.

3. If the Federal government treat the Biafra issue with kids gloves, we may have something worse than Boko Haram in our hands.

4. Release Nnamdi Kanu immediately! Sit down with him and lay out your plans to resolve this issue. It would be a disservice to the Igbo people to compare the rise of Boko Haram with this present agitation, but history has thought us that as dynamic and complex Nigeria is, we MUST as a matter of urgency address the agitation of the Biafrans, before it metastasize to a problem bigger than Nigeria. A stitch in time saves nine!

Personally, I have shared these thoughts to my friend and brother Femi Adeshina with the hope that he would communicate this to P.M.B.

It is my hope that this does not destroy our country in our very eyes.

Kennydoc:


First time I will agree with you 100%.

laudate:


This is getting interesting! I am intrigued by this analysis. Do carry on...