Igbo-Biafra Nationalists Movement logo
Originally Published by Vanguard
If one-Nigeria represents the embodiment of black man’s inhumanity towards his fellow black man, if one-Nigeria means an epitome of backwardness and arrested development for the growth and development of its citizens, if it symbolises perpetual enslavement and marginalisation of the South-East region, particularly the Igbos-Biafrans, if it stands for Nigeria’s apartheid-like suppression of the South-Easterners, and if it means an existence akin to hell for its citizens, then let Nigeria be re-colonised.
The Igbo-Biafra Nationalists Movement (IBN) and the Indigenous People of Igbo Nation for Self-Determination (IPINS) vehemently support this radical proposition. We argue that the continued existence of Nigeria, in its current form, perpetuates a cycle of oppression, discrimination, and violence, particularly against the South-Eastern region. These groups have consistently alleged that the South-East region(the Igbos) have long endured the brunt of systemic marginalisation and discrimination. For them, the concept of one-Nigeria has been a euphemism for sustained oppression and deprivation. The political and socio-economic landscape of Nigeria has, for decades, failed to offer the Igbo people equitable opportunities or a sense of belonging within the federation. Instead, it has perpetuated a cycle of disenfranchisement and alienation.
The Igbo-Biafra Nationalists Movement, therefore, sees the alleged overture for the establishment of American and French military bases in Nigeria as a welcome intervention and must be enforced if Nigerian rogue leaders decline. We urge these superpowers, traditionally seen as global guardians of human rights and democracy (if and when they want to), to disregard the UK’s concerns and to stand firm on their commitments to the principle of the responsibility to protect (R2P). This doctrine, born out of the international community’s collective conscience, mandates intervention when a state fails to safeguard its citizens from gross human rights violations.
Nigeria’s consistent failure to protect its citizens, coupled with its role as a source or hub of perpetual strife, terrorism and serial human rights violations justifies such international intervention. The Igbo-Biafra Nationalists argue that Nigeria, as it stands, is irredeemable and remains a curse not only to its inhabitants but to humanity at large. Therefore, a fresh scramble for Nigeria’s territorial integrity, underpinned by a commitment to human rights and self-determination, is not only justified but necessary.
The call for self-determination through democratic remedial secession by the Igbo-Biafra Nationalists and the Indigenous People of Igbo Nation for Self-determination is deeply rooted in historical grievances. The Biafran War (1967-1970), also known as the Nigerian Civil War, remains a poignant reminder of the catastrophic consequences of ethnic tensions and the struggle for autonomy. The post-war era did little to heal the wounds or bridge the divides. Instead, it entrenched a sense of betrayal and disenfranchisement among the Igbos. Economic blockades, political exclusion, and targeted policies further exacerbated their plight.
In recent times, the resurgence of Igbo-Biafra nationalism has been driven by a generation, disillusioned by the failures of successive Nigerian governments to address the region’s concerns resonate with a broad spectrum of the Igbo populace, who see no future within the confines of a state that has continually marginalised them.
Our call for international intervention, therefore, is not a cry for external dominance but a desperate plea for justice and equity. The Igbo-Biafra Nationalists believe that a reconfiguration of Nigeria’s territorial integrity, supervised by global powers committed to human rights, might be the only viable solution. Such intervention is seen as a last resort, a necessary measure to safeguard the future of a people who have long been denied their fundamental rights.
In conclusion, the Igbo-Biafra Nationalists Movement and the Indigenous People of Igbo Nation for Self-Determination represent a profound and persistent struggle against systemic injustice. Their quest for autonomy is not merely a political statement but a human rights imperative. The involvement of international actors is posited as a necessary intervention to rectify decades of oppression and to ensure a future where the Igbos can live in dignity and peace. The enduring crisis in Nigeria calls for bold and decisive action, one that prioritises the rights and aspirations of its people above the preservation of a flawed and failing state structure.
Uche Okafor-Mefor is the convenor of the Igbo-Biafra Nationalists Movement and the Indigenous People of Igbo Nation for Self-determination
