of Biafra

When I hear “we want a return to Biafra”, I ask…..return to what exactly?

The geographical space called Eastern Nigeria? Self-determination? Fiscal federalism? What?

The Biafra agitators have not been clear. Mr Nmandi Kano of Radio Biafra calls for violence and preaches hate to actualize Biafra, will he as the Premier of New Biafra then rule in violence and hate?

MASSOB calls for a sovereign state of Biafra, if Biafra becomes Sovereign…that means the citizens of Biafra in Lagos, Kano and Abuja become non-sovereigns of Nigeria because you are Nigerian by virtue of belonging to a State of ORIGIN. 

Will MASSSOB compensate Cosmus Maduka when he has to obtain expatriate quota? Will MASSOB compensate millions of Non-Nigerians who own homes in Okota and Shops in Alaba? Who will give the Biafran’s visa to go and clear their containers in Apapa wharf?

Also where is Biafra? Igbo speaking land? or the former Eastern Region? Is Rivers part of Biafra? What about the Igbos in Delta State, the “delta Igbo”…are they part of Biafra?

So the plan is to transit to a landlocked state? When the illegal immigrants are deported form Lagos and Kano, will they resettle in Aba?

Has Radio Biafra and MASSOB really thought this through?

Should the “Biafra” agitators not focus on fighting for a level playing field in Nigeria? For instance, it’s only the South East region that has 5 states, all other regions have 6 states, and one region has 7.

This has immense implications as FAAC is shared by many criteria including number of Local Governments. Eg From January to June 2014, Kano state with 44 LGAs got N46b, Abia got N16b, let me put this in perspective, if you remove Lagos, and the oil starts of Delta, Rivers, Edo, Abia generates the highest IGR in Nigeria as at 2101…is this not a good place to focus the energy of the agitators?

The South East until 2012, had no international airport, no steel rolling mill or plant, this is a region that in 1964 was the fastest growing economy in the world, a region which has Aba, Nnewi and Onitsha, 3 manufacturing clusters, yet no port or international airport, maybe it was an oversight. Can the agitators not remind the Federal Government, the State, the Legislators?

Can the agitators not hold each State Governor in the South East to build a 10 lane expressway with rail link to their respective borders with each other SE state?….. Should holding the South East Governors to account on infrastructure not be a priority of the Biafra agitators? How many state roads in the SE are motorable?

The Nigerian state seems embarrassed by Biafra, it must not be discussed. An attempt to show a international movie about a love story set in war time Biafra was stopped by the NBC as having violent scenes, yet the NBC allowed “Saving Private Ryan” and “300”, to show. Is press freedom not a fight that can be taken up?

Has the Biafra agitators held the SE states like Imo state to task on WASC performance? Only 2 states, Anambra and Abia are on the top five states in WASC performance for two years running. Imo pass rate in WASC has been between 26-46% for 2 years…why? Cant this be a agitation?

Last month the Supreme Court ruled that Igbo Woman can NOW inherit land, why have the agitators not commented on practices such as the treatment of widows, even the Osu caste as these not issues? Or they wait till Biafra is sovereign?

Let me now address the Federal Government of Nigeria, you cannot win this Biafra debate by arresting, jailing killing and people who want Biafra. Mba! Freedom of speech and association is a fundamental human right also in Nigeria. You simply cannot arrest any Nigerian because he belongs to MASSAOB.

The Nigerian Constitution in Section 39 (1): ‘Every person shall be entitled to freedom of expression, including freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart ideas and information without interference.

Or has belonging to “Biafra” being proscribed?

I believe those that want Biafra should be clear what this Biafra means, in this era of denied promises, let the agitators tell what will be in Biafra that is currently not in Nigeria….

Biafra cannot in 2015 be a fight for geography, but a fight for good governance.