The Igbo-Biafra Nationalists, advocates for Ala-Igbo self-determination on behalf of the indigenous people of the Igbo nation, would like to express our heartfelt appreciation to the political leaders, including the governors, the State Houses of Assembly members, the Federal House of Representatives members, the senators, and the Ohaneze Ndigbo, for heeding our clarion call to begin discussions on the future of the Igbos in Nigeria or the future of the Igbos without Nigeria.
We take this opportunity to remind all stakeholders that the starting point of these discussions must include questioning the obnoxious state-sponsored apartheid policy of marginalization. It is worth noting that the Southeast region is the only region in Nigeria with only five states, while other regions have six each. This apartheid policy effectively renders the South East (the Igbos) as permanent minorities within Nigeria. The implications of such a policy are numerous:
1. Least Number of States and Local Government Areas: The South East suffers from the lowest number of states and local government areas, which hampers effective regional governance and development.
2. Lowest Representation in the House of Representatives and Senate: The Igbos have the lowest number of House of Representatives members and senators, meaning they merely make up the numbers in the Nigerian political landscape.
3. Lowest Allocation of Resources: The South East receives the lowest allocation in terms of financial resources and infrastructure development. This disparity has a direct negative impact on the human and infrastructural development of the region.
4. Underrepresentation and Political Exclusion: The Igbos are subjected to underrepresentation and political exclusion, relegating them to fifth-class citizens in Nigeria.
We strongly believe these injustices result from human manipulation, not natural causes. In light of these challenges, we offer a practical solution to address the oppression of the Igbos by the Nigerian state. We reiterate our earlier stand on the following:
1. The Nigerian state has not operated and treated the Igbos based on the principle of equal rights. If the Igbos are integral to the Nigerian project, why must they be shortchanged on fundamental issues such as state creation and resource allocation?
2. The Igbos must seek justice by engaging in serious discussions with the Nigerian state through the instrumentality of Igbo political representatives, as previously mentioned (internal self-determination). We call upon the Federal House of Representatives and the senators to sponsor bills on the creation of additional states in the Southeast region, which, for evidential purposes, may be voted down.
3. The State Houses of Assembly members in all the states within the South East region, in collaboration with their respective five state governors, should pass coordinated bills or resolutions acknowledging the imbalance in the number of states and local government areas in the South East.
4. The state governors, through the offices of the Attorneys General of their respective states, should jointly file a lawsuit against the Nigerian state in their own courts in the first instance. The objective is to compel the Nigerian government to create an additional state in the SouthEast region, bringing it to par with other regions in Nigeria. If this issue remains unresolved, we will escalate the matter to the African Commission and the United Nations.
Should the Nigerian state fail to rectify these injustices, the South East will have no choice but to embark on what we describe as South East Democratic Secession. This process involves using the State Houses of Assembly to pass a bill on the autonomy of the South East, which may lead to referendum/remedial secession/external self-determination. We firmly believe in the legal-political process as a means to internal or external self-determination.
In conclusion, the Igbo-Biafra Nationalists urge all stakeholders to join hands in addressing the historical marginalization and discrimination faced by the Igbos in Nigeria. By rectifying these injustices, we can foster a more inclusive and equitable society that upholds the principle of equal rights for all citizens.
For media inquiries and further information, please contact:
Contact Person: Uche Mefor;
Convenor, Igbo-Biafra Nationalists, Advocated for ALA-IGBO Self-Determination/Indigenous People of Igbo Nation
Email Address: contact@igbobiafranationalists.org
Phone Number/WhatsApp: +447916752059
### Note to editors:
About Igbo-Biafra Nationalists: The Igbo-Biafra Nationalists is an advocacy group committed to promoting the self-determination of the Igbo people in Nigeria(internal self-determination if the injustices are rectified) or external self-determination(if the egregious human rights violations continue if and when the conditions are met). Focusing on addressing historical injustices and promoting equitable representation, the group seeks to foster a society where all citizens, including the Igbos, can thrive and contribute to the collective good.
