"We strongly and unequivocally affirm that Igbo People have a right to self determination as clearly enshrined in Article 1(2) of the United Nations Charter (1945), as well as in Article 3, 4 and 5 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People (2007) . The right to self-determination is also enshrined in article 20 of the African Charter on Human & People's Rights, which Nigeria ratified and domesticated as a law of Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2004 (Ratification & Enforcement Act ) Cap 9 article 20(1), which provides that "all peoples shall have right to existence. They shall have unquestionable and inalienable right to self determination. They shall freely determine their political status and shall pursue their economic and social development according to the policy they have freely chosen"-[Igbo Groups Demand Referendum For Ndigbo, Vanguard , September 4 2018].
The emphasis on oil or size is STUPID, BULLSHIT. Oil is the cause of our sufferings. There is abundant evidence of successful economies that do not have the benefit of oil. They have thrived on efficient tax system, technology, entrepreneurship, trade, pioneering investment, creativity and innovation, greater economic diversification, modernisation, prudent management, good governance, Foreign Direct Investment including the myth of diaspora. Today there are 'conflicting and confusing messages out there that ordinary people are now split between the notorious past and unpredictable future. I think it's very imperative we help enlighten people about the urgent need for Independent State of BIAFRA, so that ordinary people can be well-informed about the need to fight for their future and demand change from the way things are. Never has the need for Independence become very imperative than now. What we have witnessed so far has necessitated the urgent need for political and economic independence. In the words of Peter Jay; "when we see nothing but improvement behind us , we expect nothing but deterioration before us'', our only hope is to take our own destiny in our own hands. The status-quo is not desirable as the power holders are not willing to address our continued marginalisation and exclusion in the Nigeria project. Till date the government is using conquering techniques to address our development challenges. It's very obvious in the current development policy of 90%/5% and jettissioning of the federal character in political appointments by the APC-led government of President Muhammadu Buhari. There is a new peril of the Fulani Herdsmen, the fourth deadliest terror group in the world forced on us by way of grazing policy. We have seen the devastations so far in our communities and other communities nationwide. Furthermore, No Igbo man is among the head of the entire national security organisations, this presents a great danger especially in an ethnic diverse society like Nigeria.
According to George Kerevan and Alan Cochrane: "the arguement that size should confer greater risk is not found in any economic textbook". Biafra population is more than so many young and prosperous countries. Biafra is a great technology and knowledge based society, so success is guaranteed. All that is needed is just to take our future in our own hands. We're being slowed down and forced to develop or detoriate alongside others despite our positive strength and comparative advantages. The truth is that there is conclusive evidence about the success of Independent State of BIAFRA, but it must be a process. We have recommended Regional Autonomy as the first process for the actualisation of Independent State of BIAFRA to reduce tension, potential violence, protect our investments and assets, savings, pensions, etc, and gradually put to end the prevalent sycophancy and political clientellism. Regional Autonomy is the shortest and easiest route to secure Independent State of BIAFRA. However, we must have a Regional political party that is not willing to compromise rather to form strategic alliance or vote for any political party that guarantees us Autonomy. This need visionary leaders not willing to allow itself be bribed with oil blocks and political appointments. Independent State of BIAFRA is better than the present 'ramshackle state' designed to run a Stanilist centralist state to issue orders. A Normadic democracy and opportunist politics- build a large army, fund pilgrimage, traditional rulers, religious leaders, fake prophets and alfas, sycophancy and dependency culture. The system is full of injustices . BIAFRA is a struggle of a people inspired by their own suffering and their own experience in the Nigeria Project. Independence aims to end the dependency culture and well-intentioned marginalisation of Ndi-Igbo in the Nigeria Project using conquering tactis. BIAFRA will not control its economic destiny or fulfil the potential of its people if it remains tied to the 'dictates of inherited priviledge and vested interests.' In the words of George Kerevan and Alan Cochrane; "the gains from independence come not from oil rather the ability to raise productivity, investment and innovation once economic and political autonomy has been attained"[The Great Debate: Scotish Independence Yes/No; Gerorge Kerevan and Alan Cochrane].
The arguement for restructuring of the current political structure is synonymous to that of Independent State of Biafra. I have taken my time to present a very comprehensive arguement on the need for a restructured Nigeria to empower people not control. I have argued that in changing times, anything other than restructuring to ensure human liberation and empowerment is a distraction. Human empowerment is the future especially in an era of the challenges posed by technology/globalisation. Click on this link to read my position on restructuring Nigeria. The Hard Truth About Restructuring Nigeria: http://www.theleadprojectfoundation.com/2018/09/the-hard-truth-about-restructuring.html
*Better Governance:
"Good governance leads to better economic performance"-Professor Richard Griffiths.
BIAFRA presents that magic bullet to achieve good governance. Good governance is about openness, and transparency, efficient provision of public goods, infrastructure, building strong institutions that will remove the need for bribery and corruption, increased levels of trust, greater provision of public services including education and healthcare, reducing the incentive for grab your share of the national cake that has defined Nigeria, economic growth and prosperity . Independence is one sure way to have a fair and just society- freedom, equity, social justice reigns. Homogeneity increases trust, good governance and leads to economic progress.
*Trust:
In Nigeria today, trust is completely broken. without trust there's no business, the higher the levels of trust, the better the quality of governance. Undermining trusts is a threat to just about everything.
The government under President Muhammadu Buhari does not act in the interest of the whole as evidenced in his political favouritism and bias against Ndigbo. None of his security chiefs is Igbo man in their own country. 'Trust is central to the formation of the society'. Trust is very essential to society. Homogeneity in society leads to increase in levels of trust which leads to increase in quality of governance. Homogeneous society, interms of ethnic composition is a great advantage to nation building. According to Professor Richard Griffiths; "The higher the levels of trust, the better the quality of governance, good governance will lead to better economic performance, economic growth, peace and prosperity".- Political Economy of Institutions and Development, Universiteit Leiden
*Greater Citizen Engagement
Independence offers the greatest opportunity for citizen engagement. According to the world bank, "citizen engagement help improve transparency and accountability of public policies, promotes citizens trust, forge concensus around important reforms and build the political and public support necessary to sustain them". Independent State of BIAFRA addresses the UN Sustainable Development Goals- SDGs 1- No Poverty, 8-Decent work and Economic Growth, 10-Reduced Inequalities and 16-Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions. Employing a political economy approach, Independent States/Autonomy will avoid centralised leadership, promote decentralized leadership for more effective governance, prevent dominant coalition, make it 'easier to obtain consensus, develop and propagate its own agenda , build separated and strong institutions-investigative and judicial arm and promote its own ideology and diplomacy, cultural and historical factors, greater citizen engagement-accountability and transparency, embrace partnership as part of its own development strategy. Unlike the current structure characterised by self-interests, formation of dominant coalition, lack of transparency and accountability, weak institutions and mechanisms to hold leaders to account for their promises.
*The Myth of BIAFRA Diaspora
The population of Biafra diaspora is huge, the highest contributor of direct foreign investment in Nigeria, they need a place they call home to utilise their expertise, and resources to make a huge impact. BIAFRA offers them the place to do just that.
*Greater Economic Development
(Diversification-Agriculture, Mfg, Trade, Taxation,
Technology, Tourism,etc.)
*Infrastructutal Investment
(Int'l Airports, SeaPorts,
Power Generation,
Railways,
Re-Industrialisation,
Urbanisation, etc).
*Technology/Globalisation:
"Technology is a force for peace and prosperity"-WEF
BIAFRA is a technology nation, nation of makers, innovators and inventors. Independence will offer the opportunity to develop its technology capacity to "raise productivity, creating new better paid jobs for its citizens and spreading the benefits across the new country". Independence will enhance the adoption of new technologies and take the new country into the next industrial level. The world has changed, it favours countries willing to embrace new technologies, of which Biafra is reputable for that. I have chosen to reproduce ex- BIAFRA leader, Late Chief Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu's remarks here to guide our readers. 'The Pride of Black Race'; Emeka Ojukwu, Nigeria Law School, Lagos , February 1994: "The war has come and gone but we remember with pride and hope, the three heady years of freedom. These were the three years when we had the opportunity to demonstrate what Nigeria would have been even before 1970. In the three years of war necessity gave birth to invention. During those three years we built bombs, we built rockets, we designed and built our own delivery system. We guided our rockets, we guided them far and guided them accurately. For three years blockaded without the hope of imports, we maintained engines, machines and technical equipments. The state extracted and refined petroleum with our own indigenous technology called 'the Biafran pot'. Individuals refined petrol in their backyards gardens. We built and maintained airports and airstrips. We maintained them under heavy bombardment. We spoke to the world through a telecommunication system engineered by local ingenuity. The world heard us and spoke back at us. We built armoured tanks and cars. We modified aircraft from trainers to fighters, from passenger aircraft to bombers. In three years of freedom we became the most civilised, the most technologically advanced black people on earth".
*Immigration/Emigration:
People migrate from neighbouring countries to Nigeria and threaten indigenous land owners. This threatens food security, security and prosperity of Biafra citizens as we have witnessed in the case of the Herdsmen policy in Nigeria, where the government wants them to be accomodated by various indiginous communities despite abundance evidence of the 'bloody borders' with the herdsmen. Independent State of BIAFRA is one sure way to secure our borders from maurading invaders and for innovative management to achieve growth, by focusing on Big businesses and other Foreign Direct Investment.
*Defence/Security & Jobs
*Cultural, Moral, Identity & Growth
*International Organisations/NGOs, etc
*Global Partnerships/International Institutions
*Growth And Stability:
The recent intervention by a group of Igbo organizations in the diaspora and at home comprising Alaigbo Development Foundation (ADF), Global Igbo Alliance (GIA), World Igbo Congress (WIC), and Igbo Caucus of the Lower Niger Congress( LNC), calling on the Federal Government of Nigeria to organise a referendum for the Igbo People to determine their future in Nigeria is a good development whose time has come. Indeed, the time has come for Ndigbo to take their destiny in their own hands.
Uche Okeke is a Statistician, Social Entrepreneur and Development Practitioner. He is the Founder of The LEAD Project Foundation and the Author of Nigeria's Democracy And Its Crisis Deliberate Avoidable-'Bribe & Bullet'. What Can Be Done About It. He has participated in the course Political Economy of Institutions And Development, Universiteit Leiden, and several International Development courses. He lives in London.
References:
1. Automation And AI Are Leading The UK Into A New Industrial Age; Greg Clark CityAM Thursday 27 September 2018.
2. Biafra : The Hard Choice Between Notorious Past And Unpredictable Future, Uche Okeke, The LEAD Project Foundation, June 26, 2017.
3. Engaging Citizens; A Game Changer For Development, The World Bank Group/LSE
4. Igbo Group Demands Referendum For Ndigbo, Vanguard September 4 2018.
5. Igbo Presidency is not the Answer to Equality and Liberty in a 21st century Nigeria, Uche Okeke, The LEAD Project Foundation 2018.
6. Igbo President is a Right not a Choice in their own country, Uche Okeke, The LEAD Project Foundation 2018.
7. The Great Debate; Scotish Independence Yes OR No; George Kerevan and Alan Cochrane.
8. 'The Pride of Black Race'; Emeka Ojukwu, Nigeria Law School, Lagos , February 1994:
9. .Peter Jay, London 2000; Road To Riches or The Wealth of Man.
10. Political Economy of Institutions and Development, Professor Richard Griffiths, Universiteit
Leiden.
11. Quit Notice: Bluffing Inorder To Diminish The Agitation of Independent State of Biafra, Uche Okeke, The LEAD Project Foundation, June 26, 2017.
12. Small States in World Markets: Industrial Policy in Europe; Professor Peter Katzenstein, 1985.
13. We Are No Longer Comfortable Being Part of Nigeria, Says Ohaneze Ndigbo, Uche Okeke, The LEAD Project Foundation, 2018
So true!!
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