In a short contribution titled "Biafra Without Our Consent?" which appears to have gone viral on social media, a social commentator wrote as follows:

"I think the current generation of 'Biafrans' are the most funny people I hve ever seen.

How dare you sit in your home or offices and draw your Biafra map and include places like Rivers, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, etc as part of your empire? Did you consult them? Did you seek their opinions? You are forcing people to join a country whose commander in chief you have already anointed- Nnamdi Kanu; whose currency you have already decided- Biafra Pounds; whose official religion you have already adopted- Judaism; whose God you have already chosen- Chukwu Abiama? Do you not realize that you are doing to those people the same thing you accuse the British and Nigeria of doing to you? For carving my state into your 'Biafra' and renaming it without my permission and consultation, I have a moral duty to stand against you with everything I have. I am not standing against you because I do not want your freedom; I stand against you because I love mine too. I don't stand against you because you don't have a right to your country; I stand against you because I have the same right. I stand against you because your map is an insult to me and my freedom to choose were I belong. Be warned!"

This commentator who I shall refer to as Miss X and those that think like her are being disingenious and unduly hostile to Nnamdi Kanu and the concept and spirit of Biafra.

She has made a point that appears to be valid but that point is based on a false premise. That premise is that the southern minorities would be compelled or obliged to be part of Biafra without their consent. This is false. It is not true.

The truth is that each of the bordering ethnic nationalities, and even the Igbo themselves, must and will have their own referendum before going anywhere. It is entirely up to them what they do and where they go.

They cannot and will not be forced to go with Biafra if they choose not to do so. And neither can they be forced to remain in Nigeria if they choose to leave.

Everything that is done must and will be based on the free and fair expression of the will of the people.

That is the basic point that needs to be grasped and clearly understood. Miss X's fear is therefore baseless.

Yet we cannot leave it there. We must consider the wider issues that her concerns have raised. We must learn to be clear-headed and strategic in our thinking and actions. We must know what we wish to achieve and we must learn from history.

The cost of petty bickering, division, undue rivalry, pettiness and age-old suspicions amongst the southern ethnic minorities and southerners generally is extreemly high.

It has cost us virtually everything and it has stripped us naked and bare before our enemies and adversaries.

Someone is fighting for the freedom of his people and you lend your voice to rubbishing that person and that cause? That cannot be right and neither is it reasonable or fair.

The sooner that we southerners get it into our skulls that there must be unity between us the better. Without that unity we are nothing and we shall continue to fail and falter.

Yours truly has attacked and joined issues with the Igbo in a series of literary debates and articles in the past perhaps more than anyone else but now I know better.

Now I know that historical and intellectual debate is one thing and political expediency and pragmatism is another.

Now I know that we are fighting a collective cause and that we have a collective adversary and oppressor who seeks to destroy and devour us all.

Now I know that when my Igbo or southern neighbour's house is burning, even if we are barely on speaking terms, it is in my own interest to help him to put it out before that fire spreads to mine.

Now I know that the "handshake across the Niger" that the late and great Ikemba, Colonel Emeka Odimegwu-Ojukwu, the former Head of State of Biafra, once spoke about is the only way forward.

Now I know that whether we like to admit it or not Igbo and Yoruba co-operation, understanding and unity is a fundamental pre-requisite to the freedom and emancipation of the entire south.

Now I know that the more I attack my Igbo brothers the more I weaken myself, my Yoruba people and the south generally from the incessant and relentless attacks, humiliation and indignities that we collectively receive from the ruling core Muslim Hausa-Fulani north.

Now I know that what fuels and feeds northern hegemony and subjugation more than anything else are the petty rivalries and divisions between the southern ethnic nationalities. And it has made us utterly powerless and hopelessly weak.

The end-result is that we have all been turned into pliant and cowardly slaves.

This has been the case since 1960 and it will continue into eternity if we don't sit up, grow up and set aside our many mutual suspicions and differences.

The Biafrans are simply asking for their own country and for an affirmative referendum to give it legitimacy.

No one can be made to join Biafra against his or her will or by force. It appears to me that this is obvious.

In any case did Miss X or her forefathers give their consent to becoming a Nigerian in 1914 when the amalglamation took place?

Where is her sense of outrage about that? Did she warn the British or the north about that and did she promise to attempt to fight them because of it?

Were we not all just herded into Nigeria like cattle at the time? Were those of us from the south not just lumped together with a north that the British described as our "poor husband" whilst we were described as their "rich wife?"

Have we not been raped, sodomised, cheated, battered and butchered by that poor husband ever since?

Have we not been turned into second class citizens and slaves in our own country? Has Miss X protested about that and has she expressed her outrage and "warned" our collective oppressors as well? Does she not feel a sense of revulsion and outrage about that? Or is her outrage and warning reserved only for her fellow southerners?

The people of Biafra are fighting for the self-determination of their own Igbo people and anyone or any other group that wishes to join them. Is that a crime?

Would you seek to deny them that right and instead join sides with their oppressors and keep them in Nigeria by the usage of state-sponsored terror, guile, deceit and tyranny?

I do not accept the notion that the Biafrans seek to compel anyone or any group of people to leave Nigeria with them if they do not wish to do so.

That would be unacceptable and it is not their intention. Unlike Nigeria, being part of or joining Biafra is not by compulsion but rather a matter of choice. And that choice can only be made in a free and fair referendum.

If you do not wish to be part of Biafra and leave Nigeria then dont join them and instead stay in Lugard's "happy" contraption. That is your right and your prerogative.

Yet the truth is that with or without you the Biafrans will achieve their objectives and realise their dreams and aspirations as long as it is God's will and the desire of the Igbo people.

Whatever you and your people choose to do, either to go with Biafra or stay in Nigeria, do not allow yourself to be used by the retrogressive core north, the primitive forces of oppression and the asinine peddlars of lies, ignorance and falsehood to destroy someone else's yearning for freedom from oppression and aspiration for liberty.

I say this because such an aspiration, yearning and quest is not only noble and pure but also deeply courageous.

It is an aspiration that we should mirror and admire and not attempt to rubbish or belittle.

This is all the more so because it has been paid for by the blood and suffering of many that have been killed over the last 50 years for daring to voice it, including many young people and many children.

If Miss X's Efik ethnic group had suffered just 10 per cent of what the Igbo have been subjected to since 1966 they would have agitated to leave Nigeria long ago or perhaps been driven into extinction by now. That is the bitter truth.

Finally let me say this: whether anyone likes it or not Nnamdi Kanu symbolises the Biafran struggle today.

He has earned it by the suffering he has endured, by the immense courage that he has displayed and by the gargantuan risks that he has taken.

He has energised his people and inspired and brought hope to millions of Igbo youth all over the world.

He has given them back their pride and self-respect which is something that no other leader has managed to do since the end of the civil war.

This is a beautiful thing and I wonder why anyone that lays claim to being enlightened or educated would attempt to besmirch or denigrate him?

Why try and demean him or discredit and belittle the views that he and his followers hold so dear?

Whether anyone likes it or not the truth is that Nnamdi Kanu speaks for millions.

And many other ethnic nationalist groups in the south and Middle Belt have precisely the same aspirations and dreams of emancipation and freedom that he espouses, enunciates, epitomises and holds so dear.

The challenge that they are faced with is that, unlike the Igbo, they have yet to produce a leader like Nnamdi Kanu that can unite and rally them together under one banner and lead them to the promised land.

http://www.reubenabati.com.ng/media/k2/items/cache/49365831e31f4f44649c206ca9ead85d_XL.jpg

http://www.reubenabati.com.ng/index.php/others-view/item/1693-nnamdi-kanu-biafra-and-the-false-premise-femi-fani-kayode

Femi femi how many times ah call you

Like seriously, I dont get when you turn ed Biafran activist or ambassador.

I find it quite funny when some of these minorities in the south of Nigeria who call themselves 'Niger Delta' or 'South South' suddenly find their voice when the issue of Biafra comes up.

You hear some say 'why did you add us in Biafra?', 'did we ask for referendum?'

These are the same people that Lugard ambushed into Nigeria with no referendum

These are the same people who have little or no say in the running of Nigeria

These are the same people whose mineral wealth has been stolen for decades with no referendum.

Yet, the same person has no hope of ever getting a referendum in Nigeria to decide his future is wondering why Biafrans are giving him referendum? I laugh in Igbo.

Ok

HYPOCRICY OF A NATION AND OF A PEOPLE

*COUNTRY:
1- Nigeria will set out January 15th of each year to 'REMEMBER' FALLEN SOLDIERS while IGNORING THE LIVING ONES ; but when you set out a date, say May 30th, to REMEMBER your children and relatives those same soldiers killed- YOU TURN THE BAD GUY!

*PEOPLE:
2-Nigerians will travel across seas, ocean, forest and high in the skies to the Big Apple- New York; either on vacation or business and find time to visit the World Trade Center Memorial where victims of terror are REMEMBERED. They will look so sober while there. They will shake their hypocritical heads as if that was the worst calamity known to them. They will shade crocodile's- hypocritical tears (like the case of a Nigerian woman seen at the Memorial in 2015). BUT WHEN YOU SET MAY 30TH TO REMEMBER YOUR OWN CIVIL WAR VICTIMS - YOU ARE A TRIBALIST!!
What a SHAME!!!

*COUNTRY AND PEOPLE:
3-Have you noticed, and if you have, have you asked why recently Nigerians spend so much to bringing back those captured alive by Boko haram; whereas, those who paid the ultimate price have only abandoned mass graves in their REMEMBRANCE? When those captured were released, did you also notice the hypocritical activities and show-biz that went through? Presidency taking pictures etcs. WHO REMEMBERS THE DEAD? Only the bereaved families do. ANY DAY THESE FAMILIES PICK A DAY TO REMEMBER THEIR LOVED LOST ONES; EVEN THOSE THAT POST SOCIAL MEDIA PICS OF THEIR VISIT TO WTCM - NEW YORK, WILL NAME THEM -'TERRORISTS'!!!!

OUR CULTURE OF HYPOCRICY DAN TOO MUCH!

kingzizzy:
I find it quite funny when some of these minorities in the south of Nigeria who call themselves 'Niger Delta' or 'South South' suddenly find their voice when the issue of Biafra comes up.

You hear some say 'why did you add us in Biafra?', 'did we ask for referendum?'

These are the same people that Lugard ambushed into Nigeria with no referendum

These are the same people who have little or no say in the running of Nigeria

These are the same people whose mineral wealth has been stolen for decades with no referendum.

Yet, the same person has no hope of ever getting a referendum in Nigeria to decide his future is wondering why Biafrans are giving him referendum? I laugh in Igbo.

And dont also forget that 99.9% of "we south south" crew are impostors.

rxgodwin:
Femi femi how many times ah call you

Kindly call his name till 24th July 2026 at which time your brain will have reasoned something constructive to type that aligns with the points raised.

Not like I have anything to say inside this FFK matter sef

Check the map of Nigeria very well and you will wonder the kind people that divided the regions and the type of tools or equipment they uses..

How can South East be in the middle of South South and North Central?

The East and the South has always been one before state creation... The so called South South created by the Hausa/Fulani should better wake up...

Femi did not address the issues at all. Kanu has said that the official religion of Biafra is Judaism, please at what time was that decided and who were the people who made that decision.

The May 30 sit at home failed in the south south. What other statement do you need to know that the south south do not want to be part of Biafra.

KANU has already been referred to as the commander and invariably the leader of Biafra. Who choose him and at what forum. What we happened to the governors, honourables of the state house of assembly, commissioners. Will they just agree to fizzle out without a wimp.

And yes freedom of speech is freedom to disagree. To state that we must not disagree with KANU because he is fighting Southern war is the type of tyranny we forsee if people like Kanu continue to lead the struggle.

Nearly eveyman can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man character, give him power. Abraham Lincoln

Insightful and well written rejoinder

Cowards

AFONJA OP,y u carry biafra matter for head if d thing no dey kill u jejely for inside...come,u should b serving ur aboki masters during this time of their fasting and not coming here to worsen ur already compounded problems.d more u have sleepless nites over Biafra d more u get frustrated by d day..d earlier d free ur mind from d fear of d realisation of Biafra like ur masters,d better for u cos "with ur own eyes,shall u see d fall of Nigeria"..even ur own afenifere brains Don dey reset.
with or without FFK,nothing stops d impending freedom

AFONJA OP,y u carry biafra matter for head if d thing no dey kill u jejely for inside...come,u should b serving ur aboki masters during this time of their fasting and not coming here to worsen ur already compounded problems.d more u have sleepless nites over Biafra d more u get frustrated by d day..d earlier u free ur mind from d fear of d realisation of Biafra like ur masters,d better for u cos "with ur own eyes,shall u see d fall of Nigeria"..even ur own afenifere brains Don dey reset. with or without FFK,nothing stops d impending freedom

[s]

PureMe01:
AFONJA OP,y u carry biafra matter for head if d
thing no dey kill u jejely for inside...come,u should
b serving ur aboki masters during this time of their
fasting and not coming here to worsen ur already
compounded problems.d more u have sleepless
nites over Biafra d more u get frustrated by d day..d
earlier u free ur mind from d fear of d realisation of
Biafra like ur masters,d better for u cos "with ur own
eyes,shall u see d fall of Nigeria"..even ur own
afenifere brains Don dey reset.
with or without FFK,nothing stops d impending
freedom

[/s]
Seriously is common sense really that scarce among these peop…

Everyone is entitled to his opinion but...

Is FFK insinuating that because Lord lugard didn't consult us before the amalgamation of Nigeria, the same should be repeated with Biafra and the South South minorities?
How wise of him.

It is good he has acknowledged Nnamdi Kanu as the greatest leader since the civil war, meaning even the Yorubas, like the South South minorities that he sought to belittle, has no significant leader to rally them.

When the Jews left Egypt, according to Bible, they didn't co-opt anyone to go with them, so if the Jews in Nigeria are leaving for the wilderness, I wish them safe journey.

iamadonis2:



Kindly call his name till 24th July 2026 at which time your brain will have reasoned something constructive to type that aligns with the points raised.

Not like I have anything to say inside this FFK matter sef

Mr. Constructive brain, what have you constructed Jobless sycophant, how exactly is it your business what I say? Learn to mind your rerarded business.

Lol, imagine saying that SS isn't being forced to join Biafra and at the same time saying that we MUST have a referendum. Pls, When did the SS ever ask for a referendum? How can you impose a referendum on us when we did not ask for one?

Did Wales take part in the Scottish referendum?

For all the insults igbos have meted on us, I will do everything in my power to ensure that my people DO NOT join Biafra. In your next life you people will learn to be humble and do things the right way. SW can join biafra if they want to. FFK is not a SSner and has no say in our affairs.

Amberon:
Lol, imagine saying that SS isn't being forced to join Biafra and at the same time saying that we MUST have a referendum. Pls, When did the SS ever ask for a referendum? How can you impose a referendum on us when we did not ask for one?

Did Wales take part in the Scottish referendum?

For all the insults igbos have meted on us, I will do everything in my power to ensure that my people DO NOT join Biafra. In your next life you people will learn to be humble and do things the right way. SW can join biafra if they want to. FFK is not a SSner and has no say in our affairs.

I have warned you these so called SSners that you should talk about only your ethnic group and leave Igbo's in south south alone. Is that a difficult task or you want to grab their lands or what?
You said that Igbo people insulted your people and in turn you used the word ssner as your tribe. Are u ashamed of your tribe or what? Either you are Izon, Efik, urhobo, itsekiri, Igbo, or edo.

FFK don smoke that thing again.

If our forefathers and ancestors were embracing people who preached hate against them, who was inciting genocide against them, who back stabbed us by playing activities role in the annulment of Ju 12 freest and fairest election, who are ungrateful that we borrowed them £20 to kick start their lives and which they hav never repaid back --- Yorubas will not have a Kingdom spanning from Kaaba to Epe, Port Novo to Okitipupa Saki to Ore and Jebba to Ilaje.

If you are not our ally, you our enemy. Nupes were our ally, Ewes were our ally but igbos have never been and will never be politically because they are too myopic, emotional and ac with brash and brawn before thinking of their actions.

They burnt th bridge in 2011 and we will continue to power the bridge they burnt with petrol.

We picked our fights with the North and we won, that ushered in OBJ despite all they tried to stop it from happening. We picked our fight with the military and they were sent packing back to the barracks till today, we demystified the Northern Oligarchy till date. The North knows who to respect and who to fear.

We do not owe anybody any alliance. Our natural allies remains our cousins from Itshekiri and to a large extent Benins. Even alliances with them is based on historicals and they will always be recognised as a different entity from us with a right to be on.their own.

FFK, you and Faroese and Deji Adeyanju can continue to build your alliance with chest beaters, backstabbers, liers, Ugandan Developers, Akpu Republic, Red Mud Land of Gully Erosion, Secessionists, children of Chukwuemeka Druggie Abiama, Sons of Hatred, Cousins of Benjamin Netayanhu and King Kong.

We do not care. We will all be here the day they will start calling the trio unprintable names.

Just wait patiently and see.

Hypocrite! Talk about your own ethnic group and region.
What Igbo's in the SS? The ikwerres that reject being Igbo? Or is the aniomas? Unity beggars.

What's the point of telling you people my ethnic group so you will scream afonja? I'll leave you to your delusions. [s]

caleboxylic:


I have warned you these so called SSners that you should talk about only your ethnic group and leave Igbo's in south south alone. Is that a difficult task or you want to grab their lands or what?
You said that Igbo people insulted your people and in turn you used the word ssner as your tribe. Are u ashamed of your tribe or what? Either you are Izon, Efik, urhobo, itsekiri, Igbo, or edo.

[/s]

najoke:
[s][/s]
Seriously is common sense really that scarce among these peop…

go borrow from ur masters come give us nah cos the ones wey una even get na hydraulic oil full inside..

dionma:
Femi did not address the issues at all. Kanu has said that the official religion of Biafra is Judaism, please at what time was that decided and who were the people who made that decision.

Can u pls point me to where he made that declaration?

Interesting

Nice write up

Amberon11:
Hypocrite! Talk about your own ethnic group and region.
What Igbo's in the SS? The ikwerres that reject being Igbo? Or is the aniomas? Unity beggars.

What's the point of telling you people my ethnic group so you will scream afonja? I'll leave you to your delusions.

You are a toddler.
So Anioma is now a tribe and no longer an acronym. Ndoki, eche, omuma, and ASA people are not Igbo again rather tribes.

You should not be ashamed to state your tribe here.

Its quite strange that you haven't mentioned afonja

I have mentioned my tribe, LGA, Hometown, Village here before and all they did was tag me afonja. Can't be repeating myself.

caleboxylic:


You are a toddler.
So Anioma is now a tribe and no longer an acronym. Ndoki, eche, omuma, and ASA people are not Igbo again rather tribes.

You should not be ashamed to state your tribe here.

dionma:
Femi did not address the issues at all. Kanu has said that the official religion of Biafra is Judaism, please at what time was that decided and who were the people who made that decision.

The May 30 sit at home failed in the south south. What other statement do you need to know that the south south do not want to be part of Biafra.

KANU has already been referred to as the commander and invariably the leader of Biafra. Who choose him and at what forum. What we happened to the governors, honourables of the state house of assembly, commissioners. Will they just agree to fizzle out without a wimp.

And yes freedom of speech is freedom to disagree. To state that we must not disagree with KANU because he is fighting Southern war is the type of tyranny we forsee if people like Kanu continue to lead the struggle.

Nearly eveyman can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man character, give him power. Abraham Lincoln

So y don't u raise ur lazy sorry from whoever it's seated so we can declare u the leader and follow you sheepishly?