₦airaland Forum

ProWalker:
So its federal govt biz to come and clean your roads and gutters for you?
You igbos talk as if the local and state govt don't exist in your states

I think the problem with Nigeria generally is lack of restructuring in the state and local Government. We don't even know our LG chairmen in many areas and when people cry for help of Government on even little things, their focus is not on the local Government chairman(who is just there) but Buhari and at Best the Governor.
This is the Major restructuring we need.

Nonaira1:
Duh? Did you not know this before?

The funny thing is the ashawo onochie honestly think she did IPOB not knowing her buffoon self equally insulted her brain dead ass as well.

Ayam not understanding. Is Onochie not lgbo?

Diademk07:
Tbh, answer the question. Are you a Fulani or Yoruba? And I hope you say as it is because only a worthless fellow with no identity would claim another tribe as his.

Btw, there's no issue with any tribe wanting to secede. It's everyone's right! I'm only annoyed at the way Ipobs went about it.

It's not like Nigeria was built on the sweat of the people in it and as a matter of fact, most of the constitution implemented were coined at the expense of the people who weren't even aware of these constitution. Hence, what's Nigeria when its constitution weren't made by the people in it? Do you call that a country? We aint even one but were forced into a union by the British and you talk about a nation? What nation? A nation that has 3 different large tribes where each is as populous as the British and can stand on its own?

Abegi, dey use sense na.

Sincerely there's nothing wrong in having such a nation.
The only problem is that we haven't established the framework that pulls together such a nation or that guides it.

omohayek:
What I'm yet to see coming from maclatunji, freshest4live and all the other "One Nigeria" diehards on here is any logical justification for why Nigeria's unity is "indissoluble" and "inviolable", just more and more insistent assertions that it is so, plus threats of violence. What sort of country justifies its existence merely by fiat and menace? Why can't "One Nigeria" advocates provide any positive reasons for why the country's unity should be regarded as sacrosanct? Does a country exist for its people, or is it the position of the "One Nigeria" fanatics that the people of Nigeria solely exist for the abstract country?

I find it laughable how "One Nigeria" partisans repeatedly refer to the example of the USA as "justification" for why Nigeria's unity is indissoluble, as the one thing such references make obvious is that those making them have no idea of America's political construction or any real knowledge about the country's history. The USA can make assertions about the illegitimacy of secession because each and every one of its states voluntarily joined the union knowing full well what the constitutional arrangements would be, and understanding that they would not be allowed to unilaterally withdraw as long as said arrangements remained in force. The problem with the Confederate declaration of independence in 1861 was that it was a unilateral action undertaken even before Lincoln had lifted a finger to interfere with the "peculiar institution" of slavery the Confederate states were so eager to protect, and in any case, the legitimacy of their cause was undermined by the fact that it was being pursued for the "freedom" to deny millions of other human beings their own freedom.

None of the above has any relevance to the current Nigerian situation, under which 180 million people are governed by a constitution simply handed down at gunpoint by soldiers, and radically different from the arrangements under which Nigeria was granted independence in 1960. At independence there was no quota system, no "Land Use Act", no miserly 13% derivation, no "federal allocation" system breeding dependency on the center, and no lengthy "exclusive list" reserving sole authority for many vital parts of the economy to Abuja; the "federalism" of the 1999 constitution is a sham, and more people would be up in arms about it if the "federal allocation" system hadn't bred such a sense of dependency in most parts of the country.

I would like to see the "One Nigeria" chanters step back from making threats of war for a change, and address the points I've raised above. Give us your list of positive reasons for why peoples who have failed to make progress in joint nationhood for 57 years should remain together, and tell us why we should all want to stick together in the face of a refusal by one part of the country to accept any changes to the failed status quo. I bet none of you can rise to the challenge, and all your "One Nigeria" babbling is simply an expression of your fear of the unknown, which makes you cling tightly to the mediocrity you know so well.

What you are agitating for is a better framework of our coexistence. I am only against brainwashed secessionists.

jpphilips:
Have you figured out why the regional government failed in the past? thank God nigeria doesn't listen to folks like you.

Whatever, but there must be some restructuring of some sort, more accountability and an empowered local Government. We can't continue like this.

pauljumbo:
Once their is true restructuring the secession agitation will die automatic.

This government don't want it

Restructuring is a gradual process, what if there's a speedy one time restructuring and we still don't make progress? First we must establish devolution of powers and community police, abolish federal roads and empower local Governments. We must reform not the Federal Government but the state Government first.
Regional Government is also a good idea to me, any of them would do, but rushing into it especially during recession may not be the best.

pauljumbo:
The last president speech he said no room for such

That's why some of is supporting the idea of secession

Nope rather he said the opposite.

pauljumbo:
Op threats don't work anymore

Everything in your post is that if the igbos decided to secede their will be war and the igbos will loss.

We need better argument than threaths of war

There can only be arguement for restructuring and a better Nigeria. It's too late for secession.

che8:
Also the evidence of written consent from Indigenous People of Biafra to be part of Laggard's cesspit contraption

We had the time before independence to back out, but we decided to be independent together signing documents to that fact. Therefore the Luggard chapter is closed.

attackgat:
Because your entire claim to being a 'Nigerian' is based on it. If the British had not come, what country would you belong to today?




Now that is making unfounded predictions.





Really? So the guy in Maidugri is by brother wether I like it or not? So what it means is that Lugard has more rights than me in my own land? It is Lugard who can come from Britain to Africa to tell me what my country will be and who must be my brother? No wonder the white man had no respect for Africans, the white man knew that many African still reason like the early cave men.

Did Luggard also give us independence? If we didn't separate before our independence, and had to wait for the Northerners who weren't ready, then no one can back out now, it's too late. We had the chance, we blew it. All that is left is to work out the terms and conditions thereby of our coexistence. Whining changes nothing.

attackgat:
I dont know how somebody can call a mere 1914 "colonial arrangement" called Nigeria their country.

If Nigeria is actually anybody's country, it is the country of Frederick Lugard and his wife, Flora Lugard.
He created it, she named it.

As a result of this colonial creation, which nobody was consulted, someone in Maidugri will be telling an Igbo man like me in Enugu that we are 'one'. How? What is my connection to Maidugri? What historical connection did we Igbos have with Hausa or Yoruba before the coming of Lugard? Absolutely zero!

Because Lugard came, we are now ONE NIGERIA? I laugh in Chinese


How can somebody be telling us Igbos what our country is? Did we say we dont know how to form our own country? So what is all this unity begging for?

I totally support the independence of the Igbo nation from the British colonial fraud called Nigeria!

This your Lugard tale is stale already, we were colonized and brought together by colonial masters and so what? Even if Luggard did not come, the Hausa/Fulani's and the Borno Empire may have conquered your Biafra, and today you folks would be bowing your asses out in Onitsha before a giant Mosque. Luggard or no Luggard, we fought for our independence for Which Nnamdi Azikiwe waited for 3yrs to include the North. Even after that, he never allowed referendum in the constitution. So like it or not, the guy in Maiduguri is your brother and a fellow Citizen.

che8:
That is a clear sign of weakness! Obviously you are implying that "There is no Nigeria without Biafra", However Biafrans are saying "We can stay and manage our lives without Nigeria"....Defeat Biafra with "Facts", and not war threats.
Last time I checked, Millions of Biafrans on the street are no longer afraid of guns purchased with tax payers money and your genocidal military threats any more!



Bring it on!

You are right, there's no Nigeria without Biafra and nobody is going anywhere.

Sprumbabafather:
Inasmuch as I believe we have blood relationship with Ikwerres, (maybe) I cannot jubiliate just because one of them decides to grant an interview about it.

If they strongly feel they are part of us, they should identify with us in their numbers and from higher placed and notable Ikwerre people. Or they should stay on their own and enjoy their status as people who got their identity from state creation.

This noise about trying to attach to minorities should stop. All of them should either stay on their own or be the ones asking to be forgiven for their past sins.

I feel more related to an Eskimo than an Ikwerre man.

we are all Nigerians in the end, whether Ikwere, fulani, Edo, Hausa, etc. Its our Zoo, one Zoo one people one love.

RisingSun1:
If the great Soviet Union can split into over 15 countries today. Then any country on planet earth can disintegrate including Nigeria.

Hope u get it?

Those were under separate circumstances. There's no reason for Nigeria to split rather to reform herself or establish the basis of her unity.
Tell me how do you hope to acheive the secession? Don't tell me it's by Shouting Biafra or death on the street.

RisingSun1:
We knew it weren't simply before we commenced and we won't quit because it seems hard.

Freedom and liberty is in our Dna

Not only is it not simple, it is practically impossible, even if there's a war(which would not happen).

RisingSun1:
This is an absolute idiotic comment!

You were informed that

1) Marginalization is not even a prerequisite for self determination. Meaning that even if Igbo were not marginalized, they still reserved the right of self determination according to the UN charter.

2)That what lead to Scotland and Catalonia agitations does not come close to what Igbos havepassed thru in Nigeria.Yet these people are still agitating to exit Spain and UK respectively.

If things were that simple then we would have more than 20 nations seceding across the world annually simply because of a UN charter.
In Kenya recently, opposition group lost an election and now they are also singing the song of secession.
A group would just organize themselves any time to demand secession, it doesn't work that way.
If you secede, Bendel secedes, Yoruba secedes, Arewa secedes, etc in a sprint of secessions, that would be independence to 5-6 new countries and at least 3 new South Sudan's and possible refugee crises.
UN would never make such a mistake twice.

RisingSun1:
Stop pretending to be smart when you are obviously dumb!

Are you aware that according to the UN charter of rights of self determination of indigenous people that MARGINALIZATION is not even a prerequisite for self determination? That the rights of self determination rest with every given people whether marginalized or not.

What it actually means is that even if igbos were not marginalized for example yet they still have the rights of self determination whenever they decides to activate it.

Scotland called for 2nd referendum for not being carried along during the Brexit. If it were to be in Nigeria, you will say that doesn't merit a referendum.

Catalonians live in a first world country with the basic amenities of life yet Catalonians want to go.

Igbos have 1001 reasons to go.

Since the amalgamation in 1914,igbos have lost more lives and properties to keep Nigeria one than any other tribe.

Igbo's lost lives to keep Nigeria one? that's a new one.
Scotland is not an ethnic group and can even be called a nation already in every way.
The Catalonians have been on this matter for 300years, and still l don't think they would get it. The Catalonia's are even better because they can sustain themselves, they already control things in Spain.

warripekin:
Call it what ever you want but the truth remains the South East you like to deride has taken a step in the right direction (a bold step at that)with the current agitation going on. Nigeria can not thrive effectively as presently constituted. It's not sustainable and those in the know will tell you. And theirs nothing wrong in letting Biafra go if that's what they so desire. The enemy of Nigeria are those shouting one Nigeria on the top of their voice without any plans on how to build a sustainable economy and at the same time making Nigeria livable for everyone. This proponent of one Nigeria are also the ones who will tell you that Nigeria is not negotiable in a form or way. While their idea of one Nigeria is an unworkable status quo that has only favoured and enriched a few elite and political jobbers.
This is not just about the agitation for Biafra , The time to face the truth and proffer credible ways forward is now. We can not continue robbing Peter to pay Paul and believe it will go on forever. No economy survives on that bases alone so Nnamdi Kanu's agitation is a wake up to all and sundry especially those of us in the south to take our future into our hands if people from other region are not willing to help them selves by growing their regional economy instead of leeching off on others.

What is your idea of one Nigeria? It's possible we agree on that but do you think using secession as a scare tactic to acheive a transformed Nigeria is sustainable in the long run? You can take your destiny into your hands and even join Charlie boy and Deji in OUR MUMU DON DO.
But secession should not be discussed because the unity of Nigeria or the Zoo(if you like) is non negotiable.

NLandIsHypocrit:
I think you and your fraudulent unity beggars are the ones fighting a lost battle, I'm not obliged to feed you with any notion, but the simple thing I can tell you for now is: WE SHALL SEE.

Exactly, we shall see.

NLandIsHypocrit:
First of all, I need you to purge yourself of the delusion that Nigeria is not divisible, that's the centre box of your misunderstanding and lack of follow up on Biafra as an independent nation and her existence. You talking about where major seaports are located, but you know that's part of the reasons Biafrans are demanding their independence; you questioned why and how Biafrans who has their assets in Nigeria territories will have to manage them when Biafra would have become a nation, honestly I found such way of thinking as insensitive and archaic. Does it mean there're no international business firms in Countries? What about the big international companies that recently relocated their businesses out of Nigeria? If all this could be possible, why would you think there will be any difficulty in the case of Biafra? Mind you that once Biafra is restored, automatically there will be numerous job vacancies awaiting to be occupied by Biafrans alone, you may ask how, all positions currently occupied by individuals in Nigeria as a country especially the northerners and westerners, both in Government institutions and palestetals and government management firms are automatically vacant to be occupied by only Biafra indigents including you and I. I wish I could go on but I must attend to other things.

The unity of Nigeria is non negotiable, you are fighting a lost battle.

You don't expect to have Igbo businesses and firms in Nigeria peradventure Biafra is formed(which is impossible) when your relationship with Nigeria is frail. If the new Biafra is formed on the basis of hatred and mistrust and becomes an enemy to Nigeria, it would do both parties/citizens no good.

Igbo's still occupy key areas of Nigerian Governmental positions moreso in the Jonathan administration.

ApexPredator:
I wonder do citizens of other countries make such threads about their countries? You 're fighting against the inevitable, friend.

No, you are the one fighting against the inevitable.

In the city l grew up Warri, l attend a large church and there's a great network of many tribes, ljaw, itsekiri, Urhobo, lgbo, Yoruba, lsoko, few Hausas, etc. Every year there's what we call Cultural week where there are cultural displays and at least not less than 30 tribes from across the country are represented, it's a beauty to behold and we always look forward to that Week.
Sincerely if you grow up in my city(from my experience) l don't think you'll take a mental note of tribalism as a dominant factor, l kid you not nairaland exposed me to it first.
But l think this may be the case because Warri is no man's land, English and Pidgin is the dominant language because 3 tribes(Urhobo, Itsekiri, Ijaw) can all lay claim to the city.
A lot of us grow up not even learning our language, just pidgin and English (which l don't think is a good thing though).

Nonaira1:
That's the million dollar question. That same line you quoted, I've heard it repeatedly from the mouths of unity beggars.

Each time I wonder who the Bleep did Igbo offend up there in heaven that God cursed us with such brain dead people as our country's men. Like which of the angels did we offend?

Honestly Nigerians continues to prove the statement racist whites has about black people accurate because only a very shallow minded, poor mentality nigger would think because "others are marginalized too and not just igbos" is a good defense against independence. Just because the rest of them accept the backwardneess that is nigeria as it is and also accept the slave mentality does not mean they should expect others to follow them in that part.

The guy that made the crab in the box ideology when addressing blacks should look no farther than nigeria when looking for example. Unity beggars or one nigerian or whatever people call them nowadays are a perfect example of the black men crab in the box behavior. A huge perfect example

Nobody accepts the backwardness that is Nigeria, the country has always been debated and we must fight for a better Nigeria, criticize Nigeria all we want , but her unity is non negotiable. No right thinking President would say otherwise, even Jonathan used same words.

eagleeye2:
Gbagam...
What even baffles me is why anyone will view the quest for an independent Biafra as a call to BATTLE. The OP, is a well known religious and tribal bigot and I am not surprised by what he wrote up there. The same people speaking against Kanu (whom I don't always agree with his tactics) will never condemn the murderous Fulani herdsmen. They will never condemn, the trigger happy armed forces men who kill harmless Nigerians with impunity. They will never condemn the Above the Law Arewa Youths. They will never condemn the FG who flagrantly disobey court rulings. And I can go on and on.
Lastly, if Kanu's agitations is a call to battle, what of Zazzaky and his movement? Maclatunji.

The quest for independence is a call to battle. Enough of this crap, wake up from your lala land.

mpianya39:
Unity beggar

Yes l am a Unity Beggar just like the Northern lgbos and the Ohaneze's.

mpianya39:
Unity beggars don upgrade to another level

So because every group has been marginalized we have to keep quiet too
I don't really understand how you guys reason but make no mistake cox is either biafra or death

(in Nnamdi Kanu voice) when we finish with the Zoogerian they will beg us to go

You don't get it, my point is that so called marginalization theory is no longer an excuse for secession. Nigeria's unity is non negotiable, but we can always debate the framework of the unity.

krendo:
People are asking to secede because of lack of confidence in the system

There are already existing laws that guarantees the right of all but successive governments refuse to implement them because of sectional insterest

And yet you are asking people to come to table to make new laws and engage in dialogue

How many confabs have we had so far?

This APC government discarded the last confab

Just before senate recess, the senate voted down restructuring because of selfish interest by some

Nigeria is getting beyond salvage my dear!

Secession is not the answer, if nations secede over every challenge they face then we would have an average of 20 secessions annually.
Now there's even a recent Kenyan cry for secession as well over perceived marginalization, and Secessionist are all over in our modern day world, you see why the U.N can't take all seriously.
Sudan seceded because there was an agreement after so many years of war and instability. The Government agreed in 2005, and the referendum for South Sudan took place 2011, but South Sudan was definitely not ready for this and the U.N regrets till ddate.

zenmaster:
Keep bowing down to your masters and others do the talking

You are the only one seeing masters.

zenmaster:
some people want to dialogue about secession

Impossible.

krendo:
A lot of you yorubas are aloof to what happens in Nigeria that's why you support the institutional and systemic discrimation that goes on in Nigeria

You complain about marginalisation in 6 years of Jonathan but forget that Igbos have been marginalised since 1970

Igbos are facing tribal attacks and genocide in the North since 1970 and you yorubas turn a blind eye to it but are quick to come online to criticise Kanu and IPOB for engaging in peaceful protest?

How do you guys sleep at night?

I am not Yoruba, and to say that the lgbos were the only ones killed during the religious crises in the North is false. Every group has been marginalized in one way or the other, what we need is dialogue on how to coexist as a nation, bringing all the previous killings of southern christians over things like cartoon, to the table, a new constitution orva penalty that guarantees such criminals would no longer be spared, not this noise of secession because it is much more difficult and may lead to conflict.

delugajackson:
I'm no hater or hypocrite. If any tribe feels cheated and wants to secceed, they should go ahead peacefully. I have no personal interest in the resources you are mentioning. Before the oil, people survived, and are still surviving without the oil.

Tribes would always feel cheated, even the so called Hausa fulani. The unity of Nigeria is non negotiable, Discuss something else.

krendo:
When did you discuss to enter or accept a union with other tribes? Nigeria was imposed on us by the British!

Ipob are protesting against a state that celebrates its ability to exclude the Igbos from full participation in government, military and the economy and they have a right to do so under article 1 of the UN charter to which Nigeria is a signatory to!

The igbos still actively participate in the economy and the Government. The yorubas complained about their marginalization from Government in the early years of the jonathan era, but did they call themselves slaves in their own country because of this? why should another region be so powerful in your eyes to enslave you in a country Azikiwe fought for?