Nigerians are reactive people by nature. We hardly pro-act. We wait for trouble to brew before scampering for solutions. Well, we are all in the mess, and I’m going to say it as it is.

Please, I’ll solicit for your understanding ahead of time. I’m completely unconventional in this article. I’ll not be sticking to the rules of grammars or nuances, as I’ll be injecting feelings, guts and possibly pidgin matter on this post. So it might not be up to your expectation in areas of political correctness, grammatical structures and may be, even spellings. So, if you find the write-up bellow your taste, kindly take the message and spear me the rod of your verdict. Note, I said “spear” shey you get. The message na him matter pass. Just endeavor to read with an unbiased mind so as to get the message.

Why are the Biafrans growing stronger by the day? What is really the force behind this force? This no be joke’o. When you see Biafrans brandishing their flags and brands in the nation’s capital, then understand that this game is completely gone beyond a juvenile matter. Gra-gra na him dey tear shirt, a popular saying, and this guys are ready to do gra-gra with you.

Hmn…. An ember left uncontrolled possess the potential to metamorphose into a burning inferno. The problem, is very glaring, are the Biafrans only the paranoid? Every single Nigerian is paranoid. If you doubt me, ask the Benue guy….. The Southern Kaduna indigene, the man on the street, the Niger Deltan in the creek, or the South-Westerners in his office.

Now back to the topic. What should the Almighty Federal Government of Nigeria do to pacify these people and possibly kill the quest for Biafra? Here are my thoughts:

Develop The South East: yes, you heard me well, develop the South-Eastern region. Nigerians are aware that Igboland lacks Federal presence. If FG does it, the support for Biafra will certainly begin to wane down.

Create More States for the Igbos: Time to call a spade a spade, not shovel. Other geopolitical zones have the minimum of six states, but the case is different with the South Eastern zone. We all know the Maman Nasir boundary abradacabra in the 70s that saw Igboid areas gerrymandered into today’s South-South. Egbema, Asa-Ndoki, Ndoni Etche are now people with dual identities. Those in the eastern divide are Igbos, while those across the river are not.

The Igbo man hates injustice. He can go to any length to stand injustice in his face. These errors have to be corrected. You can’t imagine the level of deception, according to Nigerians, the Asa-Ndoki man in Abia State is Igbo, but the Asa - Nkoki man in Rivers State is not. Why? Oil politics at play. If the Ijaw man in Ondo or Edo is grouped according to his ethnicity, why should that of the Igbo be different?
In this light, more states should be carved out for the South East. Anioma State in the Delta, and Azumini State for the Asa clans both in Abia and Rivers State. These new states should be zoned to the South East geo-zone.

Switch back to Fiscal Federalism: When the drum beats goes frenzy, so the dancer. Time for the Federal government to take a drastic approach in solving this problem. Fiscal federalism is one area that have attracted a lot of debate, I can dare say very much intelligent debate. But some sha, very mumu debate. Let’s get a little bit honey. Why are Nigerian Government dragging her feet on this issue? Is it lack of creativity or lack of basic plan on adopting fiscal federalism?
Can’t she, at least, start from the economy?

If the Federal Government will be sincere, they can adopt an approach that will allow a gradual transition, at least, on the economy scale. In my opinion, adopt a 50% derivation for the oil producing states? 20% for the center, while 30%, on a ground of government bond, for the non-oil producing states. This should be strategically used to develop these areas, so that the bonds can pay back over time, with interest, to the oil producing states. After a while, the transition can round up in a complete loop.

Release Nnamdi Kanu on State Pardon: Let me be clear, if Kanu has not restricted his voice to Igbos and Biafra matter, by now Nigerian youths would have been strapping bombs in their blockos to blow to thy kingdom come some politifians dogs. Kanu is a product of injustice. He is a man that dares to say the truth as it is, even though he sounds vulgar at times.
Nigerian political system is structured like the famous Gorge Orwell’s Animal Farm. It’s a reality that in Nigeria, some groups are more politically relevant than others. Enough said, the Federal Government, should, as a matter of constitutional responsibility, release him. This will go a long way in assuaging some hearts that are already wounded, by this event.

Tame the Herdsmen Terrorist: One of the core reason behind some silent support for Biafra among the Igbos, is the rampaging herdsmen. Should we tag them terrorist? Yes, they are terrorist. Why should one aboki from Libya, or Kenya, according to the FG, come to my farmland, destroy my source of livelihood, shoot me, if I protest, and rape my wife, and yet, you do nothing? Yet you are elected to protect me. If I wan take action, you send your aboki solders to round me up. Even if I be mumu, I’ll definitely react.

If you can create a task force to check cattle rustling, why not create one to check mate these terrorist herdsmen? Why not create a lasting solution to this problem? Don’t tell me that Grazing Reserve nonsense, because even the land use act is very unfriendly. If you approach me, as a Fulani Cattle Breeder, that you want a land for sale to practice modern ranching, that is quiet understandable, but not the other way round.

The Federal Government, should as a matter of fact, address this issue, because this is one fundamental reason some blocks are tired of been called Nigerians.


Redesign the Nigerian Constitution to Reflect the Will of the People: When you sit on a round table, as military dictator, with some “yes men” civilians, drafting a constitution that will affect more than 170 million people, is that not a joke? Nigerians are getting wiser by the day, and our constitution is one area that needs to be redesigned by the major constituents that makes up the country. This will give everybody a sense of belonging.

Conclusion: We know that Nigerian problem is the system. The structure is completely anti- competitive development anti-modern economy, anti-political sincerity, etc. The Biafrans really want to move at a fast pace, and they believe that if given enough freedom, without interference from one almighty federal entity, they will be competing in the world stage. This is not restricted to the Biafra’s alone, as other Nigerian zones do possess the potential to develop at a fast pace too, if given the platform. If Nigeria adopt a measure to solve these problems, the agitation for secession will die off, even development will spread across the land, and the most important part, bad blood will cease to exist.

cc: Igboid, Ngozi123, myPlaydiary, Iskander, cheruv, pazienza, udmaster, ugomba, nonaira, and free thinking nairalanders. Ya all welcome to voice your opinion.

@blues20

The Nigerian government may agree to one or two of these clauses but they'll never accept them all, particularly the one about giving back the oil producing communities to the South-East. Only when those communities run out of oil or oil becomes so cheap that it's a completely useless export will they do this imo.

Ok

Ngozi123:
@blues20

The Nigerian government may agree to one or two of these clauses but they'll never accept them all, particularly the one about giving back the oil producing communities to the South-East. Only when those communities run out of oil or oil becomes so cheap that it's a completely useless export will they do this imo.

Going by reality, this I'm sure is the sure-bet way to douse down the call for secession, but as you said, will the FG be willing to accept this truth?

blues20:

Going by reality, this I'm sure is the sure-bet way to douse down the call for secession, but as you said, will the FG be willing to accept this truth?

Judging by the last 60 years, no.

Develop The South East: yes, you heard me well, develop the South-Eastern region. Nigerians are aware that Igboland lacks Federal presence. If FG does it, the support for Biafra will certainly begin to wane down.

What federal presense do you want? Im guessing it's more infastrure projects like rail and inland ports. Maybe better federal roads.

Create More States for the Igbos: Time to call a spade a spade, not shovel. Other geopolitical zones have the minimum of six states, but the case is different with the South Eastern zone. We all know the Maman Nasir boundary abradacabra in the 70s that saw Igboid areas gerrymandered into today’s South-South. Egbema, Asa-Ndoki, Ndoni Etche are now people with dual identities. Those in the eastern divide are Igbos, while those across the river are not.

More bearly viable states. Second which one of the SE governors want to split their states. The Federal government isn't going to unilaterally do it. More votes in senate for each state is benefit your looking for I see.

Fiscal federalism is one area that have attracted a lot of debate, I can dare say very much intelligent debate.

Ok

Tame the Herdsmen Terrorist: One of the core reason behind some silent support for Biafra among the Igbos, is the rampaging herdsmen.

Federal Government needs to secure borders better. The other issue is states not taking action like they did in other states like Ekiti to regulate and prosecute.

Redesign the Nigerian Constitution to Reflect the Will of the People

Ok.

Not going to happen

Blue3k:


What federal presense do you want? Im guessing it's more infastrure projects like rail and inland ports. Maybe better federal roads.



More bearly viable states. Second which one of the SE governors want to split their states. The Federal government isn't going to unilaterally do it. More votes in senate for each state is benefit your looking for I see.



Ok



Federal Government needs to secure borders better. The other issue is states not taking action like they did in other states like Ekiti to regulate and prosecute.



Ok.

The points you raised..... I'm picking your number 2. South Eastern Governors are ready to let go, but if the motion is raised in the senate or house, do you think they will get the necessary support?

babyfaceafrica:
Not going to happen

How do you mean?

blues20:

How do you mean?

none of your points will be taken

babyfaceafrica:
none of your points will be taken

Why do you think so? Are they not practicable?

Also on the conditions.

1. Open and expand sea and River ports in SS and SE to Lagos standard...Warri, Port Harcourt, Onne, Calabar and Onitsha.

2. Open and expand major Airports in SS and SE to Lagos and Abuja standards and accord them full international status without future interference. Enugu, Port Harcourt, Calabar, Uyo and Asaba.

3, Abolish quota system.

Then we can talk about One Nigeria built on fairness. If you object to my conditions then you are naturally wicked and evil.

blues20:

Why do you think so? Are they not practicable?

not politically viable........your points are not good for national politics,so the government will jettison it..it is all about politics

babyfaceafrica:
not politically viable........your points are not good for national politics,so the government will jettison it..it is all about politics

Well, this the same reason the country is in such an unending conundrum, been politically smart, but practically dunce. Imagine if the country is sincere to address these burning issues, 80% of our problem will be solved.

blues20:

Well, this the same reason the country is in such an unending conundrum, been politically smart, but practically dunce. Imagine if the country is sincere to address these burning issues, 80% of our problem will be solved.

oga politics is everywhere,in house,church, schools familye.t.c......it is Like that everywhere,you think breexit does not have a political undertone, you think trump been the president is by emotion...it is all politics!!!!.....Wenger still being the coach of arsenal is politics.........you have to bring something to the table... The world is mess-up because of politics,but unfortunately that is how it works.Am not just tired of this country,am tired of how the world reason.No one becomes the head of any organization because of love..you have to play your game..God help us

blues20:

The points you raised..... I'm picking your number 2. South Eastern Governors are ready to let go, but if the motion is raised in the senate or house, do you think they will get the necessary support?

Now you are talking.

We are the voters and we have subrogated our rights of setting the agenda to our politicians, whose interest , to my mind, is filthy lucre.

All the issues raised by the OP make some sense but who will bell the cat. Politicians harangue us with slogans of development on roads, health, etc, They never address issues of political structure, fiscal federalism and the constitution. And we sheepishly follow the trend.

Unless these issues become platforms for electoral campaigns, I do not see any meaningful progression towards a solution. The Biafran enterprise is stymied because no elected person, across the parties, was elected on that platform. The Scottish and Catalonian separatist effort has always been championed by elected representatives sitting in parliament. They were elected primarily on this premise. What do we have in Nigeria?
The politicians must address us on these issue. Failing that, we are going nowhere. Proceedings in the senate so far indicate clearly that politicians of this era must be forced to address us on these issues.

Perhaps those agitating for Biafra would begin the process by electing only politicians that champion their aspirations in 2019.

My take

babyfaceafrica:
oga politics is everywhere,in house,church, schools familye.t.c......it is Like that everywhere,you think breexit does not have a political undertone, you think trump been the president is by emotion...it is all politics!!!!.....Wenger still being the coach of arsenal is politics.........you have to bring something to the table... The world is mess-up because of politics,but unfortunately that is how it works.Am not just tired of this country,am tired of how the world reason.No one becomes the head of any organization because of love..you have to play your game..God help us

Political undertones in everything is sure, but those examples are far more acceptable than what is obtainable this part of the globe. Africans are still stuck in the Machiavellian politics that is century dead. Europe was once in this endless circle, which led to two deadly world wars. I hpe we don't move into that spot. Today, the Europeans are not only organized on ideological concept, but on ethnic arrangement... the rights and will of the people rakes a top priority in her policies. Statistics is there to prove...
The questions is, can't we learn from these guys? What does it take for us to sit down, shove aside sentiment and ethnic superiority, and negotiate a better terms of co-existent? Nigeria, a potential world power, is crippled by her inherent structure. When, are we going to get it right, if not now?

Thumbs up @Saint7000. Nice points Blues20. Fortunately or unfortunately,the FG is never going to agree to this wonderful terms. If you can't see it,I can.

Not happening anytime soon....you don't use sentiments to demand for sometime..you build alliances... Are you guys doing that nope?..Hausa,you loathe,yorubas you despise,the middle beltans are Hausa slaves to you,the Niger deltans are land grabbers...sir , you are an island and its not going to be easy

blues20:

The points you raised..... I'm picking your number 2. South Eastern Governors are ready to let go, but if the motion is raised in the senate or house, do you think they will get the necessary support?

I have no idea if they would. Having more states is tough decision when they need Paris fund bailouts.

anybody who tinks dat IPOB's agitation can be quelled down is decieving himself.

babyfaceafrica:
Not happening anytime soon....you don't use sentiments to demand for sometime..you build alliances... Are you guys doing that nope?..Hausa,you loathe,yorubas you despise,the middle beltans are Hausa slaves to you,the Niger deltans are land grabbers...sir , you are an island and its not going to be easy

One thing you fail to understand..... in the face of prevailing injustice, emotions are bound to flare. But that doesn't mean sanity is lost to the wind. And I tell, if Nigeria keeps treating the Igbos as conquered people, both in tones, and policies, the nation is bound to keep experiencing upheavals and retrogression. This is sensitive, but we have to tell ourselves the truth. Give everybody a sense of belonging and watch how great Nigeria will turn to.

drss2:
anybody who tinks dat IPOB's agitation can be quelled down is decieving himself.

It can be quelled- quite easily imo but only if the FG and Nigerians as a whole agree to do what is mentioned in the op. However, they won't do this due to their inexplicable paranoia towards Ndigbo, that's the sticking point here.

Ngozi123:


It can be quelled- quite easily imo but only if the FG and Nigerians as a whole agree to do what is mentioned in the op. However, they won't do this due to their inexplicable paranoia towards Ndigbo, that's the sticking point here.

Funny how most of those gerrymandering took place during the military regime, of a particular character and from a particular region. The evil embedded in oil politics is mind blowing.

we should be nice to people that were ranting nigeria must burn 1year ago.....

op,you are not serious....

Ngozi123:


It can be quelled- quite easily imo but only if the FG and Nigerians as a whole agree to do what is mentioned in the op. However, they won't do this due to their inexplicable paranoia towards Ndigbo, that's the sticking point here.

quelled.....become boko haram,we dont care.......nigeria will beat you up,big time...

bantudra:


quelled.....become boko haram,we dont care.......nigeria will beat you up,big time...

You should be worrying about why your country is featured in the UN's regions under threat of famine and terrorism index rather than what the Biafrans are doing .

Nice points raised @Op but what will Nigeria loose if they allow Igbos to go?

We are tired of hearing about restructuring and given us more state but all we ask is to allow us to go and suffer in our new Biafra country. Is that too big?

Thumps up op, you r a sincere ipob/nigeria. I like d way u articulated ur point devoiding of anything afonja. Nigeria needs to give d easterners more breathing space.

Ngozi123:


You should be worrying about why your country is featured in the UN's regions under threat of famine and terrorism index rather than what the Biafrans are doing .

It is finished.

bantudra:
we should be nice to people that were ranting nigeria must burn 1year ago.....

op,you are not serious....

Yoruba man is it raining osun ?

bantudra:
we should be nice to people that were ranting nigeria must burn 1year ago.....

op,you are not serious....

Yoruba man is it raining in osun ?