THE LOUD MINORITY VS THE SILENT MAJORITY IN SOUTH-SOUTH: A CRITICAL EXAMINATION OF THE BIAFRA AGITATION

For some of us, the nay sayers in the South-South are more, since they are the ones that gambol like lambs whenever issues bordering on the restoration of Biafra pop up for confabulation. Well, I think you are wrong. My objective today is to do justice to the actual constituents of this noisy and self-acclaimed lot that paint the lugubrious picture that the Ijaw, Itsekiri, Urrhobo, Ibibio, Efik, Ikwerre, Orashi, Ogoni etc are not part of Biafra. I will tell you who these specious claimants are presently. Hold my hand and let us walk together as I do justice to the subject matter.

Let me blaze the trail by reminding you all that I am an Ijaw man from Bonny and Nkoro in Rivers State. I am tribally Ijaw, but nationally BIAFRA. Now, take note that I work with several Ijaw, Ikwerre and other tribes who share my national consciousness. I am sure you have noticed that some people call themselves names in their bid to dampen the spirit of our brothers and sisters in the East. Some bear the toga of Niger Delta Elders, same elders are become ghosts when our youths go on rampage. There are those that say they are IYC (Ijaw Youth Council), the same Ijaw association that has become a political group. Some groups spring up in Calabar and Akwa Ibom to distance the entire state from Biafra. Some of our brothers in the East, on seeing these, begin to fear that our unity will be herculean. Well, I write to correct it all. Self-determinism is what individuals, not political groups, do for themselves.

Back to these ersatz groups that claim they speak for the people. My dear brothers and sisters, these groups do not speak for anybody. Some of these associations have been balkanized by politics, making them the quiet extended arm of governments that become active whenever the people try to bring the activities of government to a halt. The rise of the agitation for restoration of Biafra is sufficient and necessary reason why these self-styled hitherto moribund associations have resumed action. None of them speak for the generality of their people. Besides, self-determination does not require REPRESENTATION, since each person in a clan, village, or community will be required to vote to STAY or LEAVE Nigeria in the referendum. The plebiscite does not even require voter's card, for even voice vote is acceptable.

So, my beloved Biafrans, don't be unsettled by the rantings of the NOISY MINORITY in South-South because there is a very quiet and enlightened MAJORITY praying fervently for the demise of Nigeria. We, the South-South IPOB, know what to do to reach them. The SILENT MAJORITY know, like we do, that politics cannot solve our problem. Do you even know that those that evince apathy over every Biafra issue do not have followers? None of them controls our region like Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, yet he is a very proud Biafran. I write as someone who dumped retrogressive politics for revolution, since I noticed to my dismay that the real problem bedeviling GROWTH and DEVELOPMENT in Biafra land is the kind of politics we play. Ours is a politics of recycled bad eggs; a politics OF the few corrupt BY the few corrupt, but FOR the majority. It has to die a quick death! I am tired of being ruled by people I should be teaching.

The Niger Delta Elders are the same people that whine and dine with the misgoverning government. The so-called regional associations are the unseen arm of government. The elders and members of these associations are politicians in the hood. Let me make it very clear that our associations in Niger Delta are funded by the government. Do you also know that our so-called elders do dramatised activism to gain government attention? It is the reason why most of them are inconsistent. Don't be dissuaded or dispirited by some of these things you hear from them. Nobody, no group/association speaks for us. Niger Deltans will decide when the time comes. The staccato of discordant reactions from the South-South confirms that our unity is what the North is scared of. We shall unite. The SILENT MAJORITY is waiting for us. Let us go at once.

It is not true that Niger Deltans hate their Igbo brothers and sisters. If it were, we would not be intermarrying and cohabiting in peace. Furthermore, unlike other regions, our sister regions have natural resources and share the same culture and religion. Is someone still finding it hard to believe that Niger Delta is Igbo writ large? We are ONE! I call on the National and State Coordinators of IPOB to work with me and intensify the reaching out programmes. The time is now.

All hail Biafra!
Forward ever, backward never.
Revolution without violence is our right.

Russell Idatoru Russell Bluejack is a thinker, revolutionary writer, university tutor, and socio-economic and political analyst that writes from Port Harcourt

Ok

If Biafra has right to self-determination then those within it have right also. People just can't think straight when financial gains is involved in any issue.

Desyner:
If Biafra has right to self-determination then those within it have right also. People just can't think straight when financial gains is involved in any issue.

I agree with you. Everybody must have a say

You just sit behind your keyboard and wrote this rubbish and post here.

Let me ask you; is it by force to belong to a group or country?
Why don't you and your Ipob consult other ethnic groups to know their stand than forcing them to belong to Biafra.

From this article there is no way you can claim to be Ijaw but Ipob disguised as a Niger deltan.

blablablablablablabla...

igbos are majority in the delta my foot....

none igboid tribes dont want biafra.....

when i speak with my people they only make jokes about ipob....

not necessrily against igbos.....

only igboid tribes in the delta want biafra...not even all of them...

hatchy:
You just sit behind your keyboard and wrote this rubbish and post here.

Let me ask you; is it by force to belong to a group or country?
Why don't you and your Ipob consult other ethnic groups to know their stand than forcing them to belong to Biafra.

From this article there is no way you can claim to be Ijaw but Ipob disguised as a Niger deltan.

he said he is ijaw like dokubo....

so what??...

am not ijaw and am in the delta too....am not becoming biafran because of ijaws....period...

hatchy:
You just sit behind your keyboard and wrote this rubbish and post here.

Let me ask you; is it by force to belong to a group or country?
Why don't you and your Ipob consult other ethnic groups to know their stand than forcing them to belong to Biafra.

From this article there is no way you can claim to be Ijaw but Ipob disguised as a Niger deltan.

Nobody is forcing anybody or group be partof Biafra. Biafra is a free and voluntary union.

It has been proven by ancient culture and traditions and historical ties that we are all Biafrans . The sensitization/consultation is ongoing, we are consulting widely and the response has been massive. When the plebiscite will be drawn, everybody will vote out.

Biafra is not for everybody, it's for the oppressed. We are tired of been ruled by people who we are suppose to be teaching.

bantudra:


he said he is ijaw like dokubo....

so what??...

am not ijaw and am in the delta too....am not becoming biafran because of ijaws....period...

You are not Biafran because of ijaw. God made you a Biafran.

bantudra:
none igboid tribes dont want biafra.....

when i speak with my people they only make jokes about ipob....

not necessrily against igbos.....

only igboid tribes in the delta want biafra...not even all of them...

Then why are the politicians afraid of a plebiscite?

Yawn

biafran1stson:



Then why are the politicians afraid of a plebiscite?

what the hell is a plebiscite??...

bantudra:


what the hell is a plebiscite??...

It's referendum

biafran1stson:



It's referendum

then say it.....

THE GOVERNORS OF THE REGIONS HAVE MET, YORUBAS ARE SHAKING

As an Oloibiri man , I will always vote YES 4 a Biafra referendum

bantudra:


then say it.....

I just did

THIS IS GETTING INTERESTING EVERYDAY.








ALL HAIL BIAFRA

Desyner:
If Biafra has right to self-determination then those within it have right also. People just can't think straight when financial gains is involved in any issue.

I guess that was the essence of the thread. The people under the subject matter cannot be government sponsored political jobbers such as the so-called Niger Delta Elders.

biafran1stson:



Nobody is forcing anybody or group be partof Biafra. Biafra is a free and voluntary union.

It has been proven by ancient culture and traditions and historical ties that we are all Biafrans . The sensitization/consultation is ongoing, we are consulting widely and the response has been massive. When the plebiscite will be drawn, everybody will vote out.

Biafra is not for everybody, it's for the oppressed. We are tired of been ruled by people who we are suppose to be teaching.

proven by ancient culture and tradition my foot.we are Niger deltans,we are Nigerians.I have made my voice clear.we can call only be biafrans by choice and not by any ancient historical culture

jossyr:
proven by ancient culture and tradition my foot. we are Niger deltans, we are Nigerians.I have made my voice clear.we can call only be biafrans by choice and not by any ancient historical culture

You are one of the reasons Nigeria is an abysmal state. The OP made clear the he is Ijo. Yet you are perpetuating the idiocy of "we are Niger Deltans". Even as moronic Nigeria could become, it does not subscribe to crap you termed Niger Deltans. If you are ashamed of your ethnicity, you can never be a Biafra. A timid patriot must end with Nigeria.

una get time o

jossyr:
proven by ancient culture and tradition my foot.we are Niger deltans,we are Nigerians.I have made my voice clear.we can call only be biafrans by choice and not by any ancient historical culture

What was your name before the coming of the whiteman?

You are a Biafran, but you have a choice not to be part of the union.

Praying for the demise of Nigeria don't mean the birth of Biafra
This people and land grabbing.....Ijaws are not part of Biafra. Why would Ijaws do that when they have the capacity to stand on their own? Never....

Funny enough, most of these Biafra singers from down south do so because they have Igbo girlfriends

Dedetwo:


You are one of the reasons Nigeria is an abysmal state. The OP made clear the he is Ijo. Yet you are perpetuating the idiocy of "we are Niger Deltans". Even as moronic Nigeria could become, it does not subscribe to crap you termed Niger Deltans. If you are ashamed of your ethnicity, you can never be a Biafra. A timid patriot must end with Nigeria.

It's very sad that you disrespect our choice to be called Niger Deltans. And that's part of the reason most South South suddenly became uncomfortable with Igbos Biafra.

Let me explain to you once more. We have chosen to be termed Niger Deltans to represent our minority status under one umbrella. That way, we have a voice versus the big groups like Igbos, Yorubas and Hausas.
But no, you want us divided along ethnic lines where we would fight ourselves over trivials. You are a monoethnic block of 40 million. We are a multiethnic block of 30 million with over 30 ethnic groups.

You don't know our story nor our struggle! We cannot afford ethnic chauvinism. It will cause turmoil in our land. For you guys that are monoethnic, you are fine with that. We I repeat, cannot afford it.

And that's where IPOB and its followers are finding no support in the Niger Delta.

We love our Igbo brothers and would love to be in the same country with them but surely not under Igbos Biafra and it's ethnic chauvinist ideologies!

When America wanted to conduct elections, someone elements were making noise all over the net that Trump can never win and that they Support Clinton. The noise was so overwhelming that even some clergies went along with them. I too was even convinced that Trump had no choice. But at the end of the day, we all know how that turned out. This scenario thought me something about the Silent majority . Some Elements in the Niger Delta can make noise all they want but they never know the mind of the people. It's only when it boils down to referendum that we can know, then they can pack their loads and go back to Nigeria when they finally vote Biafra. And for those clamouring for NDR, I think Biafra is more realistic to me, so if u want to do away with Nigeria anytime soon, Biafra is the answer.

ReubenE:
Praying for the demise of Nigeria don't mean the birth of Biafra
This people and land grabbing.....Ijaws are not part of Biafra. Why would Ijaws do that when they have the capacity to stand on their own? Never....

Funny enough, most of these Biafra singers from down south do so because they have Igbo girlfriends

"Ijaws are not part of Biafra" please speak for yourself. I am Ijaw and I am a Biafran.

"This people and land grabbing" this is ridiculous, since you became conscience of your land, what have you done about the Hausa- Fulani who forcefully took over all the oil well in your black yard.

"Most of the Biafra singers down south do so because of their igbo girlfriend" please note that it goes beyond girlfriend and boyfriend. Like I have said before, we are Biafrans by ancient culture, tradition and historical ties.
The great king jaja of opobo is an igboman.

Idiotic slowpoke

biafran1stson:


"Ijaws are not part of Biafra" please speak for yourself. I am Ijaw and I am a Biafran.

"This people and land grabbing" this is ridiculous, since you became conscience of your land, what have you done about the Hausa- Fulani who forcefully took over all the oil well in your black yard.

"Most of the Biafra singers down south do so because of their igbo girlfriend" please note that it goes beyond girlfriend and boyfriend. Like I have said before, we are Biafrans by ancient culture, tradition and historical ties.
The great king jaja of opobo is an igboman.

@bold
Ijaws are Biafrans because of the above? Maybe it is your clan of Ijaw.
Let me remind you, King Jaja being an Igbo does not make you a Biafran. The Ijaw kingdom of Opobo had long being in existence before the slave boy Jaja (not his birth name) was bought by the ruling house of Opobo. Jaja was only a slave boy that later rose to become an Ijaw man by acculturation.
My brother, if you're truly Ijaw as you claimed, you are not a Biafran by any means, except you wish to live as part of Biafra as an Ijaw man.
But let me warn you, the average Igbo man do not even see you and me as one of them, after all, we're not them. Ijaws and Igbos are only united by a common problem.

Let me not say some things here in order not to sound like an ethnic champion
Good day

PapaBrowne:


It's very sad that you disrespect our choice to be called Niger Deltans. And that's part of the reason most South South suddenly became uncomfortable with Igbos Biafra.

Let me explain to you once more. We have chosen to be termed Niger Deltans to represent our minority status under one umbrella. That way, we have a voice versus the big groups like Igbos, Yorubas and Hausas.
But no, you want us divided along ethnic lines where we would fight ourselves over trivials. You are a monoethnic block of 40 million. We are a multiethnic block of 30 million with over 30 ethnic groups.

You don't know our story nor our struggle! We cannot afford ethnic chauvinism. It will cause turmoil in our land. For you guys that are monoethnic, you are fine with that. We I repeat, cannot afford it.

And that's where IPOB and its followers are finding no support in the Niger Delta.

We love our Igbo brothers and would love to be in the same country with them but surely not under Igbos Biafra and it's ethnic chauvinist ideologies!

Ibos that regard their brothers as second class citizens will respect you Niger Delta?
I dey laugh at you

ReubenE:

@bold
Ijaws are Biafrans because of the above? Maybe it is your clan of Ijaw.
Let me remind you, King Jaja being an Igbo does not make you a Biafran. The Ijaw kingdom of Opobo had long being in existence before the slave boy Jaja (not his birth name) was bought by the ruling house of Opobo. Jaja was only a slave boy that later rose to become an Ijaw man by acculturation.
My brother, if you're truly Ijaw as you claimed, you are not a Biafran by any means, except you wish to live as part of Biafra as an Ijaw man.
But let me warn you, the average Igbo man do not even see you and me as one of them, after all, we're not them. Ijaws and Igbos are only united by a common problem.

Let me not say some things here in order not to sound like an ethnic champion
Good day

u are wrong, am an igbo man the biafra we all envision is a country where peace, equity and prosperity shall reign