NIGERIAN STATE: BIAFRA AND THE INTRINSIC NEED FOR SELF-DETERMINATION.

This reflection is about aspirations of ethnic nations or groups of people with ethno-religious cum cultural affinity to freedom of expression in terms of governance or political aspirations to pursue own cultural, economic and social development.



I take it as truism that it is the fundamental right of ethnic nations to decide how it will be governed since ethnicity is an acceptable criterion and the ultimate political legitimacy in agitation for self-determination.

"National aspirations must be respected; people may now be dominated and governed only by their own consent. Self determination is not a mere phrase; it is an imperative principle of action. . . . "— Woodrow Wilson.

This is a reflective argumentation amongst ethnic socio-political organizations in Nigeria in respect of Biafra intrinsic need for self determination.

''Good morning Mr. IPOB.'' said AREWA.
Silence... ''Why the greeting? I am not in the mood.'' IPOB answered.
''Look it is about this your cry for self-determination.'' said AREWA.
''What about it?.'' queried IPOB.

IPOB took a deep breath and replied; ''Biafra is not just a cry for statehood by Igbo nation but it is also a kind of psychological conditioning associated with the pursuit of intrinsic well-being outside the socio-political and economic architecture that we experienced as hostile to our need for self actualization, self realization and self determination.''

'' Who is afraid of Biafra statehood.'' AREWA replied sarcastically.

Suddenly there was an interjection by AFENIFERERE, ''Self-determination! I don't think you are serious.''

''Yes, self-determination and Statehood is our ultimate goal.'' replied IPOB.

AFENIFERERE looked at AREWA and IPOB and said, "The problem of ethnic nationalities in conflict with the Nigerian state is nothing new, our history is riddled with ethnic agitations that it would be superflous for me to start mentioning what is obviously openended and factually metastatizing daily events involving the centre and the periphery.''

Just as if there was some kind of complot or surreptitious argreement between AFENIFERERE and AREWA.
AREWA replied with statement of concurrence; ''While this kind of conflict or disagreement between the centre and the periphery is normal within a democratic organism. However, what is worrying is the common denominator in most of these agitations which revolves around the need for self determination or statehood predicated on the argument that they are being marginalised as an ethnic group.''

''Yes, IPOB especially inclusive Niger Delta militants I must mention. If every ethnic nations within Nigeria seek statehood on the argument of marginalization there would not be any state with the nomenclature Nigeria anymore because everyone shall use political sovereign autonomy as a panacea to avoid domination by the majority and this is the direction in which the demand of Biafra agitators rest their logical superstructure A BIAFRA STATE.'' replied AFENIFERERE.

IPOB angrily responded,'' We want independence and our agitation for Biafra is not about devolution of power or restructuring as some politicians would want Nigerians to believe. We are Nigerian Jew the anointed people of Igboland demanding freedom from the oppressive Nigerian state.''

This statement from IPOB provoked equally angry response from AREWA, '' You see AFENIFERERE, they keep talking about the fact that statehood, to secede from Nigeria is their ultimate goal granted that they have tried once under the leadership of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu and failed. No problem this time around we will help them out of Nigeria quickly by given them ultimatum to leave Northern Nigeria before October 1."

AFENIFERERE sensing danger of such declaration quickly rationalize response to AREWA statement thus; ''One may be tempted to ask why again? But the answer could be found in what IPOB conceptualised as the psychological conditioning associated with the pursuit of intrinsic well-being synonymous with the concept of self determination and extensively supported with methodically presented philosophical agumentations to question the legitimacy of state and challenge the internal contradiction of structural inequality the Igbo nation theoretically perceived in Nigeria and this perception of structural inequality by Igbo nation has created in them ethnic entitlement mentality with all its complexity in a multi-cultural geopolitical environment like Nigeria.''

''Uhm... while I concurr with your philosophical submission but I am in disagreement with your conclusion of theoretical perception of structural inequality because you are denying our concrete reality of experiences.'' replied IPOB.

''What concrete reality of experiences are you talking about come to the North and see poverty, socio-economic impoverishment etc yet we are not demanding to secede from Nigeria but with your doggedness to leave Nigeria you must vacate the Northern territories before October 1.'' insisted AREWA.

Since the declaration of an exit strategy for IPOB by AREWA, many politicians and the so called patriots have condemned the move but I ponder why these aggressive condemnation when factually such exit strategy is the simplest way for IPOB to statehood and all they need afterwards is to ask for referendum. Please, don't get me wrong I understand that it is a lot more complicated than what I am presenting right now but condemnation of AREWA youth for seeking a simple exit strategy for IPOB is anti-democratic for lack of a better word to describe such aggressive action from politicians who infact are the source of socio-economic impoverishment and political leadership apartheid that led to agitations from ethnic nations within Nigerian State.

These political elites or people in leadership positions in Nigeria are in denial unwilling to take responsibility for the existence of conflict between the centre and the periphery and also denying the fact that some if not all ethnic nations in Nigeria demanding autonomy are well endowed and might be well off economically if granted autonomy.

Now is the time to seek restructuring of Nigeria and devolution of power to remove the perception of socio-economic and political apartheid generating conflict leading to mass agitation as we are witnessing with IPOB.

LONG LIVE THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA.

OTUNBA ADE ILEMOBADE IS A PHILOSOPHER.
TWITTER: @PEARL2PRINCE