I hope, the non-separatists in Nigeria would learn a lesson from this small Pacific Island nation, Bougainville, and Papua New Guinea. People all over the world have a right to self-determination and Nigeria should be no different.

The people line up to vote in a referendum on Bougainville's independence from Papua New Guinea, in the region's interim capital of Buka Town, on The pro-secession vote won a landslide victory, although the vote is nonbinding. Now Bougainville's leaders have to negotiate with the PNG government.

"The people have spoken," says Albert Punghau, an official in Bougainville, speaking about the region's referendum on independence from Papua New Guinea.

After nearly three weeks of voting and counting, the results announced on Dec. 11 showed residents of the South Pacific island group overwhelmingly voted to break away from Papua New Guinea and form their own nation.

The referendum asked Bougainvilleans if they wanted greater autonomy or full independence. Nearly 98% of voters chose independence, with 87.4% voter turnout, according to the referendum commission.

After the results, "We all shouted and cheered and erupted as if there was thunder," Punghau, Bougainville's minister of peace agreement implementation, tells NPR.

He adds that he and his colleagues sang the regional anthem through tears. The school assembly hall where they gathered, in Bougainville's interim capital of Buka Town, was filled with "joy and happiness," he says. Now, hard work begins. The referendum is nonbinding. Bougainville, with nearly 250,000 residents, does not automatically become an independent country. Its government has to negotiate the terms of separation from Papua New Guinea, whose Parliament would then have to approve the agreement. The process could take months or even years.

Meanwhile, Australia, New Zealand, China, and the United States are closely watching as this Pacific island region has become the latest battleground for diplomatic influence between the West and China.

A troubled relationship

The referendum marks "a historic moment," Punghau says, for Bougainvilleans who've lived through decades of unrest and displacement. He says the vote is meant "to correct the mistakes of the past" tracing back to when Bougainvilleans were enslaved by British and German colonists in the 1700s and 1800s.

Named after French explorer Louis Antoine de Bougainville, the region is a smattering of islands and atolls sitting nearly 600 miles east of Papua New Guinea's mainland. Though only about 3,600 square miles, Bougainville is one of the most resource-rich areas of PNG, abundant in copper, gold, and tuna. Years of not seeing the same profits as the rest of PNG from the extraction of the resources on their territory have helped fuel the region's decades-long calls for independence.

"Our land was used for mining without our consent and we never benefited from it," Punghau says. "To put it short: We were exploited, dehumanized and finally, finally we are free."

Many Bougainvilleans also say there are cultural and ethnic differences between their people and those on the mainland. Punghau says they identify as Solomon Islanders, "not Papua New Guinean."

Bougainville has attempted to declare independence twice before. The first time was in 1975 when PNG was granted independence from Australia, but Bougainville's declaration was not recognized internationally. It tried again in 1990, during a brutal civil war. Papua New Guinea's military set up a blockade to prevent all food, medical supplies and fuel from reaching Bougainville. The blockade was lifted in 1994; the civil war officially ended in 1998.

The Australia-based Lowy Institute puts the death toll during the civil war at 10,000-15,000, "mostly through preventable disease and lack of medicine."

For the full story, click on the link below:
https://www.npr.org/2019/12/30/789697304/trying-to-form-the-worlds-newest-country-bougainville-has-a-road-ahead

Sovereignty belongs to the people - I heard this from Prof. Wole Soyinka many years ago!

I also believe in people choosing if they want to still be in a country through referendum. But, I don't believe in the way Nnamdi kanu is doing is own. It can lead to a bitter and brutal civil war in Nigeria if not now, but later, he should form a political party, the party main objective and goal should be to secede the 5 south eastern or every Igbo state or The former south east region out of Nigeria.

BabaOwen:
I also believe in people choosing if they want to still be in a country through referendum. But, I don't believe in the way Nnamdi kanu is doing is own. It can lead to a bitter and brutal civil war in Nigeria if not now, but later, he should form a political party, the party main objective and goal should be to secede the 5 south eastern or every Igbo state or The former south east region out of Nigeria.

The good news is that Bougainville tried twice and failed but succeeded on the third try.

Umu Chineke, there's hope for Biafra.

BabaOwen:
I also believe in people choosing if they want to still be in a country through referendum. But, I don't believe in the way Nnamdi kanu is doing is own. It can lead to a bitter and brutal civil war in Nigeria if not now, but later, he should form a political party, the party main objective and goal should be to secede the 5 south eastern or every Igbo state or The former south east region out of Nigeria.

can you hear yourself? You refused to go to school, now you are disgracing yourself. Did those people from political party or they had a referendum? What has Nnamdi Kanu been asking for since, and why is it difficult for your useless zoo government to grant the request for a referendum to be supervised by the UN?

Sorry but it's not the same as in Nigeria.

First of all Biafra is a mythic creation. There is no place called Biafra anywhere in d world. So it's hard to fight for what doesn't actually exist.

Then to worsen the situation the so called secessionist are not serious. You say u don't what Nigeria but 99% of ur politicians are lobbying for federal govt political positions. U say u don't want Nigeria but no igbo man is prepared to pack his load and return to the east. This shows high unserioysness. If igbos really don't want nigeria then they should desist and reject anything Nigerian. Any thing less is fraud nobody will buy

boldaslion:
can you hear yourself? You refused to go to school, now you are disgracing yourself. Did those people from political party or they had a referendum? What has Nnamdi Kanu been asking for since, and why is it difficult for your useless zoo government to grant the request for a referendum to be supervised by the UN?

Must u insult pple

What works in Venezuela might not work in Senegal. Nothing exists out of context. This is wisdom that only a few will comprehend.

a lesson for Biafra to learn

allthingsgood:
Sorry but it's not the same as in Nigeria.

First of all Biafra is a mythic creation. There is no place called Biafra anywhere in d world. So it's hard to fight for what doesn't actually exist.

Then to worsen the situation the so called secessionist are not serious. You say u don't what Nigeria but 99% of ur politicians are lobbying for federal govt political positions. U say u don't want Nigeria but no igbo man is prepared to pack his load and return to the east. This shows high unserioysness. If igbos really don't want nigeria then they should desist and reject anything Nigerian. Any thing less is fraud nobody will buy

a useless talk from a cone head.

You say Biafra don't exist yet it's existence is very detailed on the internet with flags, currencies and a map...and even an ex president.

You say Igbo leaders are not serious about Biafra. There were at least 4 igbo senators who have openly spoken in favour of Biafra or supported the fight.

You say 'no Igbo man is prepared to pack to the east'. The number of igbos living outside the east is not up to 30% and half of that number live outside Nigeria and not in it skull mining land as your lying ancestors want you to believe.

Lastly igbos rejected Nigeria and everything about it and moved to the east...did it stop you guys from doing everything to bring us back to your stupid Nigeria?

Cone heads make me puke

Have you queried why Azikwe denied the succession clause which would have ensured we do not need a referendum to break up Nigeria or why didn't you Igbo ask for the referendum from Ebele ?!

boldaslion:
can you hear yourself? You refused to go to school, now you are disgracing yourself. Did those people from political party or they had a referendum? What has Nnamdi Kanu been asking for since, and why is it difficult for your useless zoo government to grant the request for a referendum to be supervised by the UN?

Please name those senators ? I do not know any.

selemempe:
a useless talk from a cone head.

You say Biafra don't exist yet it's existence is very detailed on the internet with flags, currencies and a map...and even an ex president.

You say Igbo leaders are not serious about Biafra. There were at least 4 igbo senators who have openly spoken in favour of Biafra or supported the fight.

You say 'no Igbo man is prepared to pack to the east'. The number of igbos living outside the east is not up to 30% and half of that number live outside Nigeria and not in it skull mining land as your lying ancestors want you to believe.

Lastly igbos rejected Nigeria and everything about it and moved to the east...did it stop you guys from doing everything to bring us back to your stupid Nigeria?

Cone heads make me puke

boldaslion:
can you hear yourself? You refused to go to school, now you are disgracing yourself. Did those people from political party or they had a referendum? What has Nnamdi Kanu been asking for since, and why is it difficult for your useless zoo government to grant the request for a referendum to be supervised by the UN?

Lol... Biafra can't be achieve this way, you need your politicians to achieve this, unless you want to do it through war.

OP - I will restrain from insulting you since it is an established fact that majority (about 95%) of you Nigerian secessionists, through demonstration & exhibition - have proven that your thinking & reasoning abilities are impaired no matter the level of your exposure & education.

It is this same backward reasoning & primitive thought-process that culminated into the evisceration & brutal annihilation of your stiff-necked & incorrigible ancestors during the Biafran war.

Now, three quick questions for you & your people.

1.) How many times have the ethnic extraction of Bougainville incited hate-speeches & violence against Papua New Guinea like the Biafrans are doing to the Yorubas, Hausas & Nigeria as a whole?

2.) How many times have the ethnic extraction of Bougainville traveled abroad to soil & batter the reputation of Papua New Guinea through Cocaine-Trafficking, Armed-Robbery, Yahoo-Yahoo, Production of Fake Goods, Rape, Human Trafficking like the Biafrans have done and are still doing to Nigeria?

3.) In how many prison of Countries in the world are the ethnic extraction of Bougainville being jailed for various criminal offenses such as those listed above?

Malaysian Prisons, Indonesian Prisons, Amerikan Prisons, European Prisons & even Afrikan Prisons are populated & dominated by the Biafrans.

The other day, Abike Dabiri revealed that 22 out of 23 Nigerian inmates in Cotonou Prisons are Biafrans.

Your people bought flight tickets to the UAE & robbed several Bureau de Change outlets in broad-day light.

79 out of 80 Nigerians arrested for wire-wire fraud in Amerika IN JUST ONE DAY were Biafrans.

And after you have soiled & disvirgined our reputation home & abroad through your greed & evil vices, you're now looking for a shortcut to get a fresh start all over - while the rest of us in Nigeria continue to bear the brunt of your criminal antecedence & behaviour.

No! That will only happen when this world ends, and another world begins & ends too.

Yes, I know that other ethnicities like the Yorubas & Hausas have also contributed to the crisis of Nigeria's battered image but never on the same level & frequency like the Biafrans.

And unlike the Biafrans, neither the Yorubas nor the Hausas are trying to be clever by half - by shouting secession, marginalization, Atiku, 2023 Igbo Presidency & Ogbunigwe Nuclear Bomb.

My point is, we all contributed to bring Nigeria down on her knees and we shall all suffer the consequences together. No shortcut or escape route for any agitating ethnicity.

Comparing & using the independence of Bougainville from Papua New Guinea as a form of blackmail against Nigeria is nothing but a childish & wishful thinking.

Insulting, intimidating, threatening & throwing subtle shades on the social media against other ethnicities in Nigeria who hold the key to your Biafran Dream & Independence will only compound your woes.

Any attempt by any stubborn agitating ethnicity or group to forcefully or violently secede from this divine orchestrated marriage & union will be met with swift response from the Military, Navy, Airforce, DSS and all other security apparatus of Mother Nigeria.

And no amount of cries & shedding of crocodiles tears to garner sympathy from the international communities will save you. You can ask the butchered corpse of Jamal Khashoggi.

I trust the Presidency to instruct the GPMG-wielding Guards Brigade to mow down any agitating cockroach that chooses to be unfortunate & misfortunate by listening to the order or instructions of an "Albino Porn-Star" who is safely tucked-away in London broadcasting his hateful & inflammatory messages while his brain-dead followers are being roasted here like MannaBBQsuya.

Lastly, since today is your birthday as hinted by the birthday cake & candlelights in your profile, my advice to you is to spend today in sober reflections by locating a serene & quiet environment (like a forest in Enugu, Anambra or Imo) where you can sit down alone & meditate & ponder on all the abominable atrocities that have been committed since 1914 by your ancestors to impede Nigeria's growth & glory (in their bid to seize power, oppress & dominate other ethnicities in Nigeria and to prove their jewish ancestry to the world) - and then seek genuine repentance & forgiveness on behalf of your people - Otherwise, the Biafran dream & vision of independence will only manifest in form of flatulence inside the anus of Lord Lugard.

boldaslion:
can you hear yourself? You refused to go to school, now you are disgracing yourself. Did those people from political party or they had a referendum? What has Nnamdi Kanu been asking for since, and why is it difficult for your useless zoo government to grant the request for a referendum to be supervised by the UN?

Who is kanu? You think any slowpoke can just wake up and ask for referendum? Is he a representative of the people? Who elected him?

Illiterate calling others illiterate.

selemempe:
a useless talk from a cone head.

You say Biafra don't exist yet it's existence is very detailed on the internet with flags, currencies and a map...and even an ex president.

You say Igbo leaders are not serious about Biafra. There were at least 4 igbo senators who have openly spoken in favour of Biafra or supported the fight.

You say 'no Igbo man is prepared to pack to the east'. The number of igbos living outside the east is not up to 30% and half of that number live outside Nigeria and not in it skull mining land as your lying ancestors want you to believe.

Lastly igbos rejected Nigeria and everything about it and moved to the east...did it stop you guys from doing everything to bring us back to your stupid Nigeria?

Cone heads make me puke

You are just senseless. Tell Igbo lawmakers to raise a motion in the house for Biafra restoration just like Nigeria did in the 50’s. Not talking about Biafra.