Like Biafra Like Catalan - By Richard Murphy

I was taken aback by images screening on BBC News of riot police smashing a glass door to gain access into one of the venues being used for the referendum by Catalan separatists in Spain. The harsh clamp down on the exercise is no doubt a reaction to the Spanish government describing the referendum, which Catalonians hope to use to declare independence, as illegal.

If video clips of the riot police smashing doors were jolting, the scenes on the streets were even more shocking. Security forces deployed maximum force in repressing protesters in a manner that made the combined approach of Nigeria’s military and security forces appear like the disposition of crèche staffers. Those that opposed the police efforts to stop the referendum were clobbered, hurled to the ground and peppered with rubber bullets.

To achieve the ultimate objective of these actions, the police were reported to have carted the ballot away, effectively raising questions about the integrity of any outcome announced for the referendum. This tallies with Spain’s desire to stick to the current arrangement where its constitution does not recognise secession rights for Catalonia, a wealthy region of 7.5 million people in north-eastern Spain.

The clamp down on the “illegal” referendum came at a time when a vocal minority from south-east Nigeria are, like broken records, chanting “referendum or death” or “no referendum no election” in their misplaced quest to revive a defunct republic of Biafra, the cause of a civil war five decades ago. In recent months the rabble agitating for the breakup of Nigeria has fallen under the control of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPoB, now officially designated as a terror group.

IPoB of course hinges its ridiculous for a referendum, not recognized by any Nigerian law, on some nebulous international instruments, the relevant sections or specific documents have never been cited. Its propaganda includes inviting the European Union, United Kingdom and United States to meddle in Nigeria’s internal affairs.

Interestingly, Spain is a visible member nation of the EU. The EU has maintained a stoic silence even when Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont has repeatedly appealed to the EU to intervene. The bloc’s position is that Catalan’s breakaway bid and Spain’s tough stance against it are internal affairs of that country, in which it would not interfere. United Kingdom has also been decadently silent while US President Donald Trump was categorical in declaring that his country is opposed to Catalan’s independence bid, which he described as “foolish”.

One is therefore at a loss as to why even those who lay claim to a sophisticated level of education from the south-east of Nigeria are counting on these same countries and the EU to help achieve in Nigeria what they are opposed to in Spain. It is confounding that Nigeria’s pro-separatist rabble does not see themselves as willingly handing their country over for re-colonization by their very demand for intervention from people who are loathe accepting what is being requested for their own selves.

More instructive is that the Catalonians have not threatened war crime charges at the International Criminal Court against the riot police that have violently disrupted their referendum the same way IPoB and other Biafra separatist groups always threaten the Nigerian Army and the police. The Catalonians definitely know the remit and limits of international organizations.

Even though Catalan has its distinct language, culture and economy within its geographical space in Spain it has not misled its pro-independence followers with lies that they are “indigenous people” with special rights that make attacking troops commonplace.

Nigerian military and security agencies should catch up with what has happened and continues to happen in Spain over the Catalan issue and take cue on how not to be intimidated by the blackmail of international bodies. It is to the credit of the military that on the day Catalonians are getting beaten and shot at for holding a referendum, Nigerians that truly believe in the country proudly decked themselves in the green-white-green national colours to celebrate Nigeria’s 57th independence anniversary. The military should help keep it so by dealing with any threat – internal or external – that seeks to undermine the integrity of Nigeria. This is still our country.

Murphy, a security expert writes from Calabar, Cross River State.

No, Nnamdi Kanu did not follow this the normal way .

Getting a country need a lot of underground work, and must not be during your life time.

Nnamdi's approach was poor.

,

Well said.
Nnamdi Kanu's approach is not the best he could.
But then, there is life.

Lagos - Ibadan express road journalist.
Calaba branch

This your opinion, niraland move everything that is against biafra here, wether from a mad man, fools, idiot as long as it's against biafra, freedom we want freedom we will get no matter when.

majamajic:
[s]No, Nnamdi Kanu did not follow this the normal way .

Getting a country need a lot of underground work, and must not be during your life time.

Nnamdi's approach was poor.[/s]

Afonjas and their useless hate excuse. Did Ojukwu preach hate when he led his own struggle? Ojukwu never uttered one iota of hate or even abused anybody, did everything the "normal way," never said anything bad against anybody including yorubas, yet Awolowo not only betrayed him, also starved 3 million Biafraan children to death. Nigeria helped by foreign powers declared war on Biafraa, killing over 5 million. All these happened despite Ojukwu never uttering a single hate speech, rather exhausting all avenues of dialogue..."normal way" as you said, even going to as far Ghana to get an agreement which Gowon reneged on. So stop this Hate Speech or Poor approach Excuse arrant nonsense. Whether Nnamdi Kanu had used or not used hate speech, it would not have changed anything because Ojukwu never used one, yet over 5 million Biafraans were massacred. So my people, when next they tell you that they would have supported Nnamdi Kanu and IPOB had they not used hate speech, tell them...you are a liar, you didn't support Ojukwu when he used dialogue!

Don't worry; USA, USB, Israel, UNICEF, Western Union, Moneygram, Chukwu Okike and North Korea are watching.

libertyhope2017:


Afonjas and their useless hate excuse. Did Ojukwu preach hate when he led his own struggle? Ojukwu never uttered one iota of hate or even abused anybody, did everything the "normal way," never said anything bad against anybody including yorubas, yet Awolowo not only betrayed him, also starved 3 million Biafraan children to death. Nigeria helped by foreign powers declared war on Biafraa, killing over 5 million. All these happened despite Ojukwu never uttering a single hate speech, rather exhausting all avenues of dialogue..."normal way" as you said, even going to as far Ghana to get an agreement which Gowon reneged on. So stop this Hate Speech or Poor approach Excuse arrant nonsense. Whether Nnamdi Kanu had used or not used hate speech, it would not have changed anything because Ojukwu never used one, yet over 5 million Biafraans were massacred. So my people, when next they tell you that they would have supported Nnamdi Kanu and IPOB had they not used hate speech, tell them...you are a liar, you didn't support Ojukwu when he used dialogue!

Now this is why I am always very critical about all this Ipob miscreant. Please tell me how does an entire tribe (Igbo) believe they own the sick shameless insane right to be fed by an enemy during a war ? Pls tell me are you Igbos cursed or something ? You and your forefathers shamelessly make this claim without any iota of shame. Pls did your father from the rising sun give Awolowo food to keep and distribute so you do not die of hunger and starvation during the Biafra war ?

[s]Like Biafra Like Catalan - By Richard Murphy

I was taken aback by images screening on BBC News of riot police smashing a glass door to gain access into one of the venues being used for the referendum by Catalan separatists in Spain. The harsh clamp down on the exercise is no doubt a reaction to the Spanish government describing the referendum, which Catalonians hope to use to declare independence, as illegal.

If video clips of the riot police smashing doors were jolting, the scenes on the streets were even more shocking. Security forces deployed maximum force in repressing protesters in a manner that made the combined approach of Nigeria’s military and security forces appear like the disposition of crèche staffers. Those that opposed the police efforts to stop the referendum were clobbered, hurled to the ground and peppered with rubber bullets.

To achieve the ultimate objective of these actions, the police were reported to have carted the ballot away, effectively raising questions about the integrity of any outcome announced for the referendum. This tallies with Spain’s desire to stick to the current arrangement where its constitution does not recognise secession rights for Catalonia, a wealthy region of 7.5 million people in north-eastern Spain.

The clamp down on the “illegal” referendum came at a time when a vocal minority from south-east Nigeria are, like broken records, chanting “referendum or death” or “no referendum no election” in their misplaced quest to revive a defunct republic of Biafra, the cause of a civil war five decades ago. In recent months the rabble agitating for the breakup of Nigeria has fallen under the control of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPoB, now officially designated as a terror group.

IPoB of course hinges its ridiculous for a referendum, not recognized by any Nigerian law, on some nebulous international instruments, the relevant sections or specific documents have never been cited. Its propaganda includes inviting the European Union, United Kingdom and United States to meddle in Nigeria’s internal affairs.

Interestingly, Spain is a visible member nation of the EU. The EU has maintained a stoic silence even when Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont has repeatedly appealed to the EU to intervene. The bloc’s position is that Catalan’s breakaway bid and Spain’s tough stance against it are internal affairs of that country, in which it would not interfere. United Kingdom has also been decadently silent while US President Donald Trump was categorical in declaring that his country is opposed to Catalan’s independence bid, which he described as “foolish”.

One is therefore at a loss as to why even those who lay claim to a sophisticated level of education from the south-east of Nigeria are counting on these same countries and the EU to help achieve in Nigeria what they are opposed to in Spain. It is confounding that Nigeria’s pro-separatist rabble does not see themselves as willingly handing their country over for re-colonization by their very demand for intervention from people who are loathe accepting what is being requested for their own selves.

More instructive is that the Catalonians have not threatened war crime charges at the International Criminal Court against the riot police that have violently disrupted their referendum the same way IPoB and other Biafra separatist groups always threaten the Nigerian Army and the police. The Catalonians definitely know the remit and limits of international organizations.

Even though Catalan has its distinct language, culture and economy within its geographical space in Spain it has not misled its pro-independence followers with lies that they are “indigenous people” with special rights that make attacking troops commonplace.

Nigerian military and security agencies should catch up with what has happened and continues to happen in Spain over the Catalan issue and take cue on how not to be intimidated by the blackmail of international bodies. It is to the credit of the military that on the day Catalonians are getting beaten and shot at for holding a referendum, Nigerians that truly believe in the country proudly decked themselves in the green-white-green national colours to celebrate Nigeria’s 57th independence anniversary. The military should help keep it so by dealing with any threat – internal or external – that seeks to undermine the integrity of Nigeria. This is still our country.

Murphy, a security expert writes from Calabar, Cross River State.[/s]

The write up was apt, if the US, EU, UK, ICC are all silent about the case of Catalonia in Europe for that matter, what chance does IPOB thinks it has.
The problem IPOB had and still has is that the few educated ones among them will only tell the majority uneducated what they want to hear instead of the plain truth.
They will never tell them basic rules in getting a referendum, never tell them that the international community does not recognize IPOB nor Biafra and therefore they can't file any case against Nigeria.
As the writer rightly said, Catalonians knew their limit and can never mention ICC or even the UN that IPOB made its followers to believe they can run to.

Yyeske:
The write up was apt, if the US, EU, UK, ICC are all silent about the case of Catalonia in Europe for that matter, what chance does IPOB thinks it has.
The problem IPOB had and still has is that the few educated ones among them will only tell the majority uneducated what they want to hear instead of the plain truth.
They will never tell them basic rules in getting a referendum, never tell them that the international community does not recognize IPOB nor Biafra and therefore they can't file any case against Nigeria.
As the writer rightly said, Catalonians knew their limit and can never mention ICC or even the UN that IPOB made its followers to believe they can run to.

how I wish they understand

One is therefore at a loss as to why even those who lay claim to a sophisticated level of education from the south-east of Nigeria are counting on these same countries and the EU to help achieve in Nigeria what they are opposed to in Spain. It is confounding that Nigeria’s pro-separatist rabble does not see themselves as willingly handing their country over for re-colonization by their very demand for intervention from people who are loathe accepting what is being requested for their own selves.

Let IPOB continue to deceive themselves by comparing their aimless struggle to other well structured, yet illegal secession campaigns.

EU will come and give them referendum in Africa.

I laugh in Biafra.

personal59:


how I wish they understand

I don tire for those pigs

E no go better for you Murphy

Catalonia's independence: 90% vote 'Yes' to break away from Spain


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j49z9Q9mHoo

IPoB of course hinges its ridiculous for a referendum, not recognized by any Nigerian law, on some nebulous international instruments, the relevant sections or specific documents have never been cited. Its propaganda includes inviting the European Union, United Kingdom and United States to meddle in Nigeria’s internal affairs.

There is nothing ridiculous about asking for a referendum even though it is not in the constitution. Thats like saying it is ridiculous to ask for restructuring since it is not in the constitution.

The one good thing about the Catalan referendum is that it shows that the unity of any country is not cast iron, there is nothing like "non negotiable unity"

Another thing to be learnt from Catalan is that while some the referendum move turned violent, the Spanish Army was not used to do the job of the Police and no life was lost. I would rather have injured people than loss of life

libertyhope2017:


Afonjas and their useless hate excuse. Did Ojukwu preach hate when he led his own struggle? Ojukwu never uttered one iota of hate or even abused anybody, did everything the "normal way," never said anything bad against anybody including yorubas, yet Awolowo not only betrayed him, also starved 3 million Biafraan children to death. Nigeria helped by foreign powers declared war on Biafraa, killing over 5 million. All these happened despite Ojukwu never uttering a single hate speech, rather exhausting all avenues of dialogue..."normal way" as you said, even going to as far Ghana to get an agreement which Gowon reneged on. So stop this Hate Speech or Poor approach Excuse arrant nonsense. Whether Nnamdi Kanu had used or not used hate speech, it would not have changed anything because Ojukwu never used one, yet over 5 million Biafraans were massacred. So my people, when next they tell you that they would have supported Nnamdi Kanu and IPOB had they not used hate speech, tell them...you are a liar, you didn't support Ojukwu when he used dialogue!

You seem educated but not learned or wise. What has changed since 1967 that will make the world powers who opposed Biafra to support it today. Is it not foolish to believe you have UN, EU, USA support because Kanu said so?
Biafra could not even exploit the cold war, East-West divide to it's advantage. It is now that you have an almost Unipolar world that you expect international support

No country wants to breakup

Forget awa oyel and other PDP miscreants, it ain't happening

Idiotic Yoruba Muslim

DieBuhari:
Idiotic Yoruba Muslim

LOL. see painment from a fake ibo osu jew.

Yyeske:
The write up was apt, if the US, EU, UK, ICC are all silent about the case of Catalonia in Europe for that matter, what chance does IPOB thinks it has.
The problem IPOB had and still has is that the few educated ones among them will only tell the majority uneducated what they want to hear instead of the plain truth.
They will never tell them basic rules in getting a referendum, never tell them that the international community does not recognize IPOB nor Biafra and therefore they can't file any case against Nigeria.
As the writer rightly said, Catalonians knew their limit and can never mention ICC or even the UN that IPOB made its followers to believe they can run to.

You keep talking trash as usual
Was it not you and buhari who came crying to the US and UK when they refused to declare Ipob a terrorist group......

We argue about everything
Simply because we have nothing in common
Have your Nigeria ...good luck
But don't derail or prevent me from having my own biafra....
It's that simple

DaBullIT:
No country wants to breakup

Forget awa oyel and other PDP miscreants, it ain't happening

It will surely happen
Because we are different in all ramifications... That's why we disagree on all issues
I leave u in peace

make una wait until we deltans start shouting to the world that we are not part of biafra....then una eyes will open...

zombieHUNTER:

You keep talking trash as usual
Was it not you and buhari who came crying to the US and UK when they refused to declare Ipob a terrorist group......

We argue about everything
Simply because we have nothing in common
Have your Nigeria ...good luck
But don't derail or prevent me from having my own biafra....
It's that simple

IPOB has been declared a terrorist group by Nigeria and the opinion of the UK and US are not needed.
Nobody is holding you back from getting your Biafra so stop blackmailing anyone with that excuse, go get it now