Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Re: Achuzia and Realuzation of Biafra

IBK:

This is why, in my opposition to Biafra given in another contribution, I have given:

(1) a Constitutional objection

When Nigeria became independent in 1960, it was a result of various prior negotiations involving representatives of the region that now calls itself Biafra.  The labor of such cool heads should not be thrown away in vain just like that.  We negotiated to be together, so we should negotiate to go apart, if at all.  No secession  - the experience of 1967-70 was a short, nastý and brutish one - or expulsion (Biafra has not been sufficiently pesky.).

(2)  a Geopolitical objection

I object to the name Biafra.  First it is not indigenous,  being of Iberian origin. The acronym IPOB is thus an incongruity.   Secondly, its first use as a secessionist name included Igbo, Ikwerre, Ijaw, Ibibio, Efik, Ogoja people, among others of the Eastern Region. It has now been reduced to an igbo agitation.  Call the new secession bid as AlaIgbo or IkengaLand or NdunIri, and that might be considered.  Biafra, that name has been taken at the CAC - on May 30, 1967.

(3)  an Economic objection

During the almost sixty years of Nigerian existence, the industrious Igbo, all 20.123 million of them, both land-hungry and adventuresome, have spread far and wide in Nigeria's almost 1 million square kilometers, thriving and succeeding in unimaginable ways .  Except for some episodic situations - particularly a gruesome one in 1966 that eventually led to the civil War - the Igbo have been part of the fabric of Nigerian just like any other Nigerians - after all, they are Nigerians.  To wish to squeeze themselves into a region less than one-thirtieth the size of the whole of Nigeria seems mighty unwise, almost suicidal.  It is criminal to allow your loving neighbor to commit suicide.

(4) a Fallacy-for-Secession-Agitation inconsistency objection

The major agitation point for Biafra  has been marginalisation within the state of Nigeria,  particularly post-war.,   I am not convinced, and no convincing argument has ever been advanced.  That for example an Igbo has not been elected president so far is jejune and should not be advanced as a reason:  there are 300+ ethnic groups in Nigeria,  and the there is no constitutional requirement of rotation of the presidency that has skipped the Igbo. An Igbo who is President - not an Igbo presidency -  will eventually happen - maybe not in the lifetime of some of the agitators - but you cannot hurry the sunrise.  Violent agitation merely delays it, because it causes suspicion and distrust by the rest of Nigeria. The call for restructuring in Nigeria is a common and valid one - I support the restructuring of Nigeria to a truly cooperative fiscal federalism akin to what was concocted in 1960.  But this should not be an issue of Restructuring or Secession.  Otherwise, all Nigerians should be seceding from each other.

(5)  a Personal Stake objection

On a personal note, between December 1964 and April 1967, as a 9-12-year-old,   I called Nsukka (now in Enugu State) home, and made good friends and have good memories   From September 1976 to June 1977, I again called Aba (then in Imo State and now in Abia State) home during a year of NATIONAL SERVICE - repeat national service - with two weeks or so leading an NYSC team in community service at Ohaozara (currently in Ebonyi State), with good memories.  In between those times, I spent six months living in Ikwerreland's Port Harcourt, which the Igbo controversially claim to be theirs and call Igweocha, but from where the Igbo were substantially displaced since the war. More importantly, I left my blood, sweat and tears - and other fluids - in those parts of Biafra, Unless  those fluids are harvested and returned to me, I ain't letting that land go anywhere if it depends on me.  Just as those who died for One Nigeria don't want a disintegration of Nigeria, I who lived in Igboland don't wañt a secession/expulsion of AlaIgbo.

Those are just five of my one-hundred-and-one reasons.   There are those who don't  agree,  but Biafra does not have my vote.   We should continue to be engaged however and build a stronger, more perfect union together.  We are still on a rickety bridge which needs strengthening.

And there you have it.

Bolaji Aluko

On Sun, Jun 25, 2017 at 2:55 PM, Ibukunolu. A. Babajide <ibk2005@gmail.com> wrote:

CAO,

Yes!  In international law conquest is a valid basis for assimilation and nation building!  The BRITISH conquered all the areas that has comprised Nigeria and for over 100 years moulded it between 1861 and 1960 into what we call Nigeria today! The OAU in 1963 agreed to respect existing colonial boundaries!  Any attempt to reconfigure the current boundaries is attended by war and bloodshed!  Show me one peaceful reconfiguration and I will show you 10 bloody ones!

Those who are enlightened should hear and educate the ignorant ones in our midst.

Cheers!

IBK

Sent from my iPhone

On 24 Jun 2017, at 7:45 PM, Olayinka Agbetuyi <yagbetuyi@hotmail.com> wrote:

Again it will not be unlawful if such homeland is NOT to be carved out of an existing nation.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy smartphone.

-------- Original message --------

From: Chidi Anthony Opara <chidi.opara@gmail.com>

Date: 24/06/2017 17:01 (GMT+00:00)

To: USA Africa Dialogue Series <usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com>

Subject: Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Re: Achuzia and Realuzation of Biafra

Toyin,
What if Nigeria is restructured and working well and I still want a homeland of whatever name for my people and I go about persuading them to join me in the quest, offering no other reasons other than that it's our inalienable right, would the quest be unlawful?

CAO.

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