Members of the House of Representatives from the South- East geopolitical zone have called for a provision for referendum in the Nigerian constitution to open up avenues for discussions on self -determination by Nigerians .
They also insisted that Nigeria was due for restructuring and that it would be done , no matter how long it would take.
The 1999 Constitution makes no provision for a referendum , leaving the National Assembly as the only legal representative gathering for deliberations on the governance of Nigeria .
But South - East lawmakers , who spoke with Sunday PUNCH , said a provision for referendum was long due because it was part of the fundamental rights of the people to self - determination .
They noted that a referendum and the debate on restructuring of Nigeria were tied together .
The members were embittered that a South - East Development Commission Bill , which they introduced as a vehicle to develop the region , was thrown out by the House on Thursday .
According to them, such actions are largely responsible for the cries of marginalisation and agitation in the South - East and other parts of the country.
One of the lawmakers , Mr . Igariwey Iduma- Enwo , who is from Ebonyi State , told Sunday PUNCH that a referendum would further open up the democratic space .
Iduma- Enwo , a lawyer , said , “ A referendum is an element of human rights . It is an avenue to feel the pulse of the people about a particular issue or issues .
“ We should have it in our constitution because a referendum also falls within the context of the restructuring of Nigeria , which a lot of people are today talking about .
“ Other countries and advanced democracies , including the US , have it in their constitutions . So , why can ’ t we have it in Nigeria ?”
The Chairman , House Committee on Works, Mr . Toby Okechukwu , also supported the idea of a referendum if the “ merits” of such a provision would be favourable to Nigeria .
“ We have to discuss it on the basis of the merits. If we find it justifiable to use a referendum to discuss a progressive agenda for Nigeria , why not ?” he added .
Okechukwu , who is from Enugu State , recalled that the country’ s constitution in the 1960 s , after independence , made provision for referendum and wondered why it was removed from the later versions .
“ Why was it in the independence constitution in the 1960 s ? If our founding fathers , in their own wisdom , included it in the constitution , why was it removed ?
“ We should look at the issue of referendum and juxtapose it with the United Nations Charter on the Rights to Self - Determination , ” he stated .
Reacting to the decision of the House on the South- East Development Commission Bill, Okechukwu told
SUNDAY PUNCH that the zone was denied a rare opportunity to advance its development .
“ This was an avenue to encourage development of infrastructure and investments , but it was thrown out just because of other factors , ” he said .
In a similar vein, Jerry Alagboso said there was nothing wrong in having a referendum in the constitution .
He explained that all Nigerians would be better off with it, besides the Igbo , who were denied a development commission “ for no justifiable reasons. ”
Alagboso described the rejection of the development commission bill as “ unfortunate , ” noting that lawmakers from the North had a wrong impression that it was an agenda to promote Biafra .
However , when contacted, the Chairman , House Committee on Media and Public Affairs , Abdulrazak Namdas , said , “ The National Assembly is for all Nigerians . It is a representative assembly and every Nigerian is represented here .
“ Whatever the grievances are , channel them through your representatives and they will be adequately addressed . ”

It was coming to this, becos the voice of the people is the voice of God.

We told dem, protested on the street and sat indoors.

They arrested us, murdered us and even banned us on nairaland.

Through it all we remained steadfast and unwavering in our demands for self deteremination. We are resolute with our conviction and determined to be separated from the Yoruba, HausaFulani and their middle-belt slaves.

We no longer believe in Nigeria. We want to start all over again.

Maybe this lawmakers don't really know what they might achieve by fighting for their people's wish and making it come alive

To me every eastern politician has nothing to loose but everything to gain by fighting for their Biafra

If it's comes alive they are automatically heroes in their new found country, if it doesn't become a reality, their people will still vote for them

But if they don't do anything about the agitation and then Biafra comes alive, they will be strangers in the new found country because they will be termed traitors

All igbo elites and politicians should join hands together to actualize Biafra

ONE NIGERIA AFONJA MUSLIMS WILL SOON INVADE THIS THREAD.

How to achieve Biafra in ten years or less
1.Form a political party with self-determination and self-rule for Igbo people as a platform. United Progressive Party(UPP) may already be positioning itself to be that kind of a party.

2.Elect majority of the region’s local and state government officials from that party. This will solve the problem of who is supporting Biafra and who is not amongst the ethnic minorities around the Igbo area.

3.Have two-third of elected officials sent to Abuja elected from that political party. You will be sending a clear message across Nigeria and the world, and the agenda of these officials in Abuja will not be ambiguous.

4.Once two-third of all elected Igbo officials are from this political party with a platform that says self-governance and self-determination, a pseudo- referendum would have taken place.

5.The party can demand a regional parliament in Enugu to govern themselves, similar to what happened in Scotland and Quebec. At this point, the government in Abuja will concede to demands to devolve power from the center as they do everything to delay the inevitable.

6.After a few years of regional governance, if so desired, then demand a formal referendum from Nigeria. A referendum to leave Nigeria can take place in 6-8 years time.

7.If the referendum passes, Biafra can be a state of its own.

Of course, there are other permutations and combinations that could give birth to Biafra. But those paths are lined with tears, blood, anguish and death.

BAILMONEY:
ONE NIGERIA AFONJA MUSLIMS WILL SOON INVADE THIS THREAD.

stop looking for their trouble, respect is reciprocal.

.

Now they are talking. I will support this