The Criminal Politicians, The Youths And The Biafra Question, By Romson Abia

The events unfolding since the successful #SitAtHome observed by the Biafrans on the 30th May 2017 has generated discussions on the Biafra question. On the 30th May, business activities, banks, schools were closed in Biafra territory to observe the Biafra #SitAtHome, a form of civil disobedience to press home their demand. The day was also to commemorate the millions of Biafrans murdered cold by Nigeria and her imperial collaborators in a terrible 30 months’ genocide aimed to annihilate the Igbos for wanting to chart their course.

International Media, Intellectuals and host of others have continued to discuss the Biafra question after the unprecedented fit that the Biafrans showed in their peaceful agitation. The people (majority) of Biafra (Igbos) have said many times that they no longer wish to be part of Nigeria. In simple terms, they want to restore their defunct Republic of Biafra (1967-1970). They have called for a referendum and have urged Nigeria and the international community to organise a referendum so they can decide their destiny.

In lieu of that, the Northern youths have ordered that the Igbos should vacate their territory within 3 months or face the consequences. Their order is based on the premise that Igbos want Biafra and thus should be allowed to have their independent nation. I welcome their reasoning but I fault their crude way. Their outburst reeks frustration and violently inclined as we know Northern-Nigeria to be emotionally volatile people. They went further to say that they are ready for #Arewa Republic comprising the bogus contiguous Northern Nigeria. I also agree with them as they have the right to want a separate nation if Biafrans genuinely and justifiably no longer feel their interest in the fraudulent union is taken care of.

Furthermore, I have also recently read that the people of political Niger Delta region want their excision from the contraption called Nigeria. They have detailed this in the “Rondel Declaration” as I read on 8/6/17. They had in their declaration proposed that their territory shall be called RONDEL, their language shall be RONDISH and their capital shall be a newly carved enclave which shall be called RONDLAND. The youths of this region have joined their Biafra counterparts to press home their demand for a separate territory from Nigeria.  

This development shows that the youths of the components of Nigeria Federation are tired of the green-white-green flag. They have shown in clear terms that they want their separate countries while being good neighbours if possible.

However, the politicians who have stolen Nigeria blind have continued to do eyes-right as listening to such will strip them of their thievery grasp. The politicians want larger territory so they can have much to steal while the youths want a nation where they can be part of its building process.

The youths of a country shape the future of such nation but in Nigeria, this is not the case. The 75-year-old President Muhammadu Buhari has continued to be AWOL in London for medical tourism since early this year (don’t tell me of the shadow in and out he did without public glance). The country is in both political and economic mess and the thievery goes unabated, but a section of the 1914 mistake continued to sentimentally justify the actions of those who have drenched the country in mess due to religious and tribal leanings.

For the Biafrans, they want a nation where they can help to shape its destiny. A nation where they can write their constitution and not by military fiat. A nation of EQUALS and FREEDOM! devoid of any intolerance. A nation where MEDIOCRITY will be buried permanently and EXCELLENCE will reign supreme.  A nation where a referendum will consist a core part of decision-making process.

The people (especially the Biafrans) will continue to press further for #Referendum so that those who still want to be a part of components of Nigeria should do so willingly by popular votes. The referendum will put all the seemingly unending predictions to an end. A people should be allowed to decide their destiny and not by coercion.
#ReferendumNow.