The Biafra Nation That Never Existed - By Buwa Meldrick Memeh

Source: http://www.leadership.ng/editor-pick/the-biafra-nation-that-never-existed

The demand by a section of the Igbos for the sovereign state of Biafra has witnessed self-acclaimed heroes and their supporters championing its cause but after wasted periods of fighting this cause, the casualties of this agitation are always the gullible who are slaughtered while fighting from the frontline and painfully the innocent. The case of the Nigerian Civil War is certainly one that can never be forgotten in a hurry and this explains why the Late Odumegwu Ojukwu stated that ‘‘it is only those who have not been involved in a war that will always push war as the first solution to any problem. War does not solve, it cowers but the problem remains’’.

From Late Odumegwu Ojukwu to Chief Ralph Uwazuruike and much recently Nnamdi Kanu, the demand for a Biafran nation is anchored on the premise that the Igbos as the third largest ethnic group remain marginalized and treated by the Nigerian government as lesser citizens. Whether or not this assertion is true, one thing that stands clear is the fact that the agitators have pursued their agenda putting into consideration the rich oil region of the Niger Delta which has constantly led to the call for an abolition of the 1914 amalgamation. The agitators and other secessionist activists have clearly envisaged a small rich country with its leaders putting its resources into good use by providing basic amenities for its citizens and not saddled with the burden of using its resources to develop a land belonging to Almajaris. The dream of the rich small country where the Igbos would acknowledge they are first citizens and leadership rotate among the Igbos and Igbos alone. The dream of the first black nation with beautiful structures and cities to be compared side by side Dubai, its democracy compared with the United States and indeed a land to be reckoned flowing with milk and honey. Whoever believes all the problems will be solved by achieving this dream country through secession is certainly living in a fool’s paradise.

We must admit that if there ever exist a Biafran Nation, the next struggle will be the demand for self-governance by the people of the South South because as it stands the South South people have clearly stated that it is wrong for anyone to refer to them as Biafra. This has been followed by a stern call for the redesign of the Biafra map which enlist Agbor, Asaba, Ikot-Ekpene, Uyo, Eket, Ogoja, Calabar, Annang, Yenogoa, Warri, Ahoada, Ughelli, Degema and Port-Harcourt as part of Biafra’s 25 provinces. The South South people are quick to understand that they will still be regarded as minority by the dominant Igbos and would find it difficult managing their resources as it exists in present day Nigeria. There is also no doubt that the greatest motivation of any secessionist group still remains the rich oil region and right from 1967 the position of the non-Igbos who occupy the Mid-West States have been rather laissez-faire. The present day South South people accept the Igbos as their neighbors and will prefer it remains so under the Nigerian structure.

Another problem that is clearly visible is the division among the Biafra groups which clearly manifests today with Chief Uwazuruike renaming his group as the Biafra Independent Movement and accusing the Nnamdi Kanu Independent People of Biafra group as violent. To a lot of spectators, this division has always been the problem of the Igbos who have found it difficult to stay united and produce a president in the present day Nigeria. It is quite clear that the demand for the Sovereign state of Biafra has been politically motivated and unfortunately like many other struggles are hijacked by people with selfish reasons. How will you explain the case of Nnamdi Kanu who pledged last year in a recorded clip to support Nigeria under the government of former Pres. Goodluck Jonathan and suddenly turned a traitor immediately President Mohammadu Buhari took over power? I am led to ask Nnamdi Kanu and his supporters if there would have been a renewed cry for Biafra if President Goodluck Jonathan won the March 2015 Presidential elections.

Permit me to conclude that the present call for a Biafran Nation is a Kanu agenda borne from the irritation of having a Northern Muslim President. Most annoying is the fact that like a common rebel, he captured the psyche of a gullible uneducated few causing mayhem in the South Eastern parts of Nigeria. Thanks to the quick intervention of the Nigerian government who swiftly clamped down on his activities and cruel incitation.

There is no doubt that the Nigerian problem cannot be solved by secession because among the ethnic groups that make up Nigeria, there is still a feel of alienation. Even in the rich Niger-Delta, the various ethnic groups have severally been at logger heads over the control of state resources and power. Some of us have admitted that some of the problems we face in Nigeria is the insincerity on the part of our leaders and their corrupt practices. Any group that believes the solution to its problem is secession might have to think again because till date the South South and South East states still receive the highest in terms of Federal Government allocation but its leaders have failed to effectively utilize the money they receive. Corruption among the leaders have led to individuals pocketing money meant for the development of the region. Those who visit the South South and South East states would be forced to ask their leaders how they spend their allocation. The level of development in those states cannot be compared with what the states generate and allocation received from the Federal Government.

The energy the youths put in demanding for a sovereign state should rather be used to call our leaders to order and demand for accountable leadership. We all witness Governors in Nigeria who claim to have built world class hospitals but the slightest headache force them to receive treatment abroad. Their children do not attend schools in Nigeria and as a result of their misrule there is a huge gap between the rich and poor. The youths have the power to drive social change and the demand for good governance must be pursued with the same vigor that was used to request for a Sovereign state of Biafra.

In other African countries like Egypt, Tunisia and Burkina Faso young people have changed governments and very recently the world was alerted at the protest driven by South African youths demanding a reduction in their tuition fees. As it stands, Nigerians alone have the power to determine the kind of country they want and this must start from a renewed call for responsive leadership.
No doubt the demand for Biafra has attracted sympathy from non-Igbos and more people would be willing to support them if they can successfully put heads together to present a Presidential candidate for the year 2019 which represents their best chance at clinching the Presidency. If 2019 becomes the year we have an Igbo man as President, I am certain Biafra would only remain the Nation that never existed.

Buwa Meldrick Memeh
Public Affairs Analyst and Social Commentator
Twitter: @buwamemeh

This sounded anti-Biafra. You shall not be banned.

useless ppl creating useless thread 2 stop biafra...u guyz ar late....social media cannot stop biafra

lolllz. Biafra is only a figment of imagination and so will it remain.

Biafra agitation secret uncovered!

It is quite clear that the demand for the Sovereign state of Biafra has been politically motivated and unfortunately like many other struggles are hijacked by people with selfish reasons. How will you explain the case of Nnamdi Kanu who pledged last year in a recorded clip to support Nigeria under the government of former Pres. Goodluck Jonathan and suddenly turned a traitor immediately President Mohammadu Buhari took over power? I am led to ask Nnamdi Kanu and his supporters if there would have been a renewed cry for Biafra if President Goodluck Jonathan won the March 2015 Presidential elections.

Permit me to conclude that the present call for a Biafran Nation is a Kanu agenda borne from the irritation of having a Northern Muslim President. Most annoying is the fact that like a common rebel, he captured the psyche of a gullible uneducated few causing mayhem in the South Eastern parts of Nigeria. Thanks to the quick intervention of the Nigerian government who swiftly clamped down on his activities and cruel invitation.

If 2019 becomes the year we have an Igbo man as President, I am certain Biafra would only remain the Nation that never existed.

Aufbauh:
Biafra agitation secret uncovered!

It is quite clear that the demand for the Sovereign state of Biafra has been politically motivated and unfortunately like many other struggles are hijacked by people with selfish reasons. How will you explain the case of Nnamdi Kanu who pledged last year in a recorded clip to support Nigeria under the government of former Pres. Goodluck Jonathan and suddenly turned a traitor immediately President Mohammadu Buhari took over power? I am led to ask Nnamdi Kanu and his supporters if there would have been a renewed cry for Biafra if President Goodluck Jonathan won the March 2015 Presidential elections.

Permit me to conclude that the present call for a Biafran Nation is a Kanu agenda borne from the irritation of having a Northern Muslim President. Most annoying is the fact that like a common rebel, he captured the psyche of a gullible uneducated few causing mayhem in the South Eastern parts of Nigeria. Thanks to the quick intervention of the Nigerian government who swiftly clamped down on his activities and cruel invitation.

If 2019 becomes the year we have an Igbo man as President, I am certain Biafra would only remain the Nation that never existed.

The demand is just for an Ibo President not necessarily Biafra