Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola led tens of thousands of demonstrators at a rally in the city in support of the bid for the Catalonia independence referendum. The revered former manager of Barcelona's football club told the gathered crowd he would be voting for independence on October 1 'even if the Spanish state doesn't want it'.

Carles Puigdemont, leader of Catalonia's regional government, defied Madrid on Friday by setting a date for a binding vote even though the referendum has been ruled illegal by Spain's Constitutional Court.

According to DailyMail UK, Guardiola said: 'We will vote, even if the Spanish state doesn't want it,' Guardiola told the crowd speaking in Catalan, Spanish and English. 'There is no other way -the only possible response is to vote,' he added.

As Puigdemont looked on, Guardiola also spoke calling for the international community's support against 'the abuses of an authoritarian state'. While Barcelona authorities estimated the turnout at around 30,000 people, a separatist source put the figure at 47,000. 'I think independence is the only solution,' Ramon Fon, a retired 67-year-old at the rally, said.
'I want the referendum as a first step, and if the majority shares my opinion, then to win independence,' he said with the starred flag of Catalonia draped across his shoulders.
The latest regional government poll found that 73 percent of Catalans were in favour of holding a referendum similar to the one held by Scotland in 2014 - though that one had the approval of the British government.

But the same poll found that 48.5 percent of respondents opposed independence, with 44.3 percent in favour.
In 2014, Catalonia held a non-binding vote in which more than 80 percent of those who cast a ballot chose independence, though just 2.3 million out of 6.3 million eligible voters took part.

Catalonia, a wealthy region of 7.5 million people in northeast Spain, is fiercely proud of its language and customs, and has long demanded greater autonomy from Madrid. Puigdemont said Friday that people will be asked to vote on the question: 'Do you want Catalonia to be an independent state in the form of a republic?' If a majority votes 'yes,' the region's pro-independence government has said it will immediately start proceedings to separate from Spain
But the Spanish government of Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has vowed to be just as tough this time around as it was in the 2014 vote called by Catalonia's regional president at the time, Arturo Mas, despite it being outlawed by the Constitutional Court. Mas was later put on trial and banned from holding office for two years.

In February, the Constitutional Court ruled against the latest planned referendum and warned Catalan leaders they would face repercussions if they continued with their project. Spain has a variety of measures available to halt Catalonia's vote, including suspending Puigdemont for disobedience and even taking control of the regional government.

In a bid to circumvent such action, the regional government has drafted a law seeking to extract Catalonia from Spain's legal system. It is expected to present the bill in the next few weeks to the regional parliament, where pro-independence lawmakers have an absolute majority. But this too will probably be suspended by the Constitutional Court.

The proposal for the wealthy region to become a breakaway republic sets the stage for months of confrontation with the central government which says such a vote is illegal and must not take place.
Previous secessionist challenges in Catalonia, a populous wealthy region whose capital is Barcelona and which has its own language, were blocked by Spain's conservative government and the Constitutional Court.

'The question will be: 'Do you want Catalonia to become an independent state in the form of a republic',' Carles Puigdemont, president of the government of Catalonia, said. He said attempts to agree a date and the wording of the question with the Madrid government, which is vehemently opposed to allowing Catalonia to split from Spain, failed and left him with no other choice than moving unilaterally.

'We have always made very diverse offers and all of them have been rejected without any exception,' Puigdemont said. Pro-independence campaigners staged a symbolic ballot, organised by volunteers rather than government officials to get around court restrictions, in 2014, months after Scots voted to stay in the United Kingdom. Some two million people voted in favour of secession in that non-binding ballot, though turnaround was relatively low.

It is not clear how far the legal wrangling may go this time as the Catalan regional government has said it would throw all its weight behind the vote. Under Article 155 of Spain's constitution, Madrid has the power to intervene directly in the running of Catalonia's regional government, forcing it to drop the vote.

This could involve sending in the police or suspending the regional government's authority to rule. This is widely seen as a last resort move, however, and many analysts believe the clash will instead culminate in regional elections in Catalonia.

Source: https://thewhistler.ng/story/pep-guardiola-leads-tens-of-thousands-of-catalans-to-secede-from-spain-in-october-referendum

Booked

Now that is a civilized society where things are done in a civilized manner. Self determination is a universal right and referendum is the mechanism used to actualize these rights. See our dear Pep leading his people to referendum. Unlike the zoo where the call for referendum is seen as a call for war. If the vegetable was the president of Spain, he would have jailed Pep Gardiola like Nnamdi Kanu. Whata dunce.
Spits on the zoo.

And some eediots don't want such thing to happen in my country

The catalans even went further to fix a date for their own referendum, and some ewedu/unity beggers are crucifying Kanu. Like Carles Puigdemont like Nnamdi Kanu. Two fearless souls working for the freedom of their people!


Where's Lalasticlala this is frontpage material.

Just a waste of time...the court refuses it,then why go ahead?.......majority will have their say minority will have its way!!!!!

The strong reaction of the Spanish government is what our own government should emulate which is a massive hardline crackdown on all secessionist groups in the country. Sadly this is not the case as Buhari languishes in a London hospital and osibanjo is either in too weak o position to take strong actions, or does not have the power to do so

Those iddiots in the zoo here are damn backward. Just look at how civilised people are doing theirs.

Lai,Lai Nigeria Is A Zoo it Can Neva Happen Willingly

babyfaceafrica:
Just a waste of time...the court refuses it,then why go ahead?.......majority will have their say minority will have its way!!!!!

Wat Is Ds One Saying

babyfaceafrica:
Just a waste of time...the court refuses it,then why go ahead?.......majority will have their say minority will have its way!!!!!

You think Catalans gives a crap about the court Wait and see how they will free themselves from Spain.

paBuhari:
You think Catalans gives a crap about the court Wait and see how they will free themselves from Spain.

lemme know when they get it

This one will not make front page. If it is Akwa Ibom doesn't want Biafra, SS wants Nigeria to remain one and other useless talks by fake people it will make front page like hundred times. I don't understand what these Yorubas are gaining by being with the north.

Btw, I'm from Niger Delta

So many events to look out for on 1st of October this year
1. Catalan referendum day

2. Nigeria independence day

3. IPob must go day

Need someone to supply me popcorn that day

waledeji:
So many events to look out for on 1st of October this year
1. Catalan referendum day

2. Nigeria independence day

3. IPob must go day

Need someone to supply me popcorn that day

4... And the birth of a new nation call Biafra!

Unity beggars would avoid this thread like plague.

Hypocrisy.

NK is civilized and knows the route to the promised land!

Even this news report shows that the Catalans despite pushing for independence using the recognised democratic structures of their region, are still opposed by the Spanish government and have been deemed illegal by the Spanish courts.

How moreso a push for secession by a mob of thugs called IPOB led by a miscreant emperor, that does not even have the backing of the democratic structures and recognised authorities of the region they want to liberate?

Again I ask, why is Senator Ekweremadu or Senator Abaribe or Stella Uduah waiting for Fulani or Yoruba Senators to move a motion in their own favour?
What are the SE state governors waiting for?
What are the SE state assemblies waiting for?

Kanu is just making noise in the wilderness.

StOla:
Even this news report shows that the Catalans despite pushing for independence using the recognised democratic structures of their region, are still opposed by the Spanish government and have been deemed illegal by the Spanish courts.

How moreso a push for secession by a mob of thugs call IPOB led by a miscreant emperor, that does not even have the backing of the democratic structures and recognised authorities of the region they want to liberate?

Again I ask, why is Senator Ekweremadu or Senator Abaribe or Stella Uduah waiting for Fulani or Yoruba Senators to move a motion in their own favour?
What are the SE state governors waiting for?
What are the SE state assemblies waiting for?

Kanu is just making noise in the wilderness.

Ewedu consumers never dissapoint. Always displaying their low IQ. Biafra is NOT a movement for politicians but a movement of the people.
Name one country on this earth where revolution was led by a politician?

hucienda:
shey na same country wey Segio Ramos dey folo campaign for with dat flag a few weeks back in Cardiff?

Good luck Carles, Pep and Catalans on your eventual decision based on the referendum results.

Nnamdi Kanu, IPOB, Biafra, Nigeria. Over to you.

Sergio Ramos is from Andalusia, not Catalonia.

Spain is like Nigeria, they speak different languages, but lumped up together by the “born to rule ” region Castille(the Hausa fulani of Spain)

excanny:


Sergio Ramos is from Andalusia, not Catalonia.

Spain is like Nigeria, they speak different languages, but lumped up together by Castille(lord Lugard version of Spain)

Fixed.

paBuhari:
4... And the birth of a new nation call Biafra!

And of course, the rebirth of the Islamic republic of Arewa-Oduanistani, with capital at Sokoto and branch at Ilorin.

This is their ( they know themselves ) greatest fear, but it's their fate, their destiny, their reward and there is no running away from it.

paBuhari:
Fixed.

Castille is the ruling class, not a person. Its a ruling “tribe” and forces other region to speak its language as the only official national language like what they are doing with Hausa now .

Igbo intellectuals and think tanks should learn from Guardiola. Is Spain not a first world country? Are any of them more exposed than Guardiola, yet he stands with the commoners in Catalonia in demanding for freedom for Catalonia.

pazienza:


And of course, the rebirth of the Islamic republic of Arewa-Oduanistani, with capital at Sokoto and branch at Ilorin.

This is their ( they know themselves ) greatest fear, bit it's their fate, their destiny and there is no running away from it.

No be lie.

We Nylon-shiit throwing ewedu elements of Gbegiriland thinks Guardiola is a 'Scam' for asking for seperation. We also know that Catalonia will become 'like south sudan' if they seperate Insha Allah! Amin kufayakun!

AirFireEarthH20:
This one will not make front page. If it is Akwa Ibom doesn't want Biafra, SS wants Nigeria to remain one and other useless talks by fake people it will make front page like hundred times. I don't understand what these Yorubas are gaining by being with the north.

Btw, I'm from Niger Delta

dont mind all these fake ss peeps

i am proudly akwa ibomite and i support biafra

ShootToKill:
We Nylon-shiit throwing ewedu elements of Gbegiriland thinks Guardiola is a 'Scam' for asking for seperation. We also know that Catalonia we become like south sudan. Insha Allah! Amin kufayakun!

Barcelona is arguably the most beautiful city in the world and the main tourist attraction of Spain. Hopefully they pull thru with their secession.

ApexPredator:
Barcelona is arguably the most beautiful city in the world and the main tourist attraction of Spain. Hopefully they pull thru with their secession.

And Catalonia will also a great footballing side, better than Brazil and Argentina.

StOla:
Even this news report shows that the Catalans despite pushing for independence using the recognised democratic structures of their region, are still opposed by the Spanish government and have been deemed illegal by the Spanish courts.

How moreso a push for secession by a mob of thugs called IPOB led by a miscreant emperor, that does not even have the backing of the democratic structures and recognised authorities of the region they want to liberate?

Again I ask, why is Senator Ekweremadu or Senator Abaribe or Stella Uduah waiting for Fulani or Yoruba Senators to move a motion in their own favour?
What are the SE state governors waiting for?
What are the SE state assemblies waiting for?

Kanu is just making noise in the wilderness.

Worry more about what your SW leaders are doing to get you Odua republic.
At this rate, Biafra will be gone, followed by Niger Delta, and you will be forever trapped in a retrogressive Islamic union with Arewa.

Focus on your problems, worry less about Biafrans, Yoruba man.