Referendum: Why The Quest For Biafra Self-Determination Has Outgrown Attempted Suppression

 Referendum: Why The Quest For Biafra Self-Determination Has Outgrown Attempted Suppression The quest for Biafra self-determination is one w...

 Referendum: Why The Quest For Biafra Self-Determination Has Outgrown Attempted Suppression

The quest for Biafra self-determination is one which is fraught and was infact spurred with immense historical mishaps. The 'Biafran dream' contrary to purview of , did not come to live on the basis self-development or sectoral interest rather it was ignited by the natural humanly instinct for self-preservation against existential threat. 

The birthing of the short-lived Biafra republic of 1967-70 and its resurgence decades later is the unmistakable indication that, when a race existence is threatened, it does not matter how overwhelming or sophisticated the detractors appears, the quest to break free will always prevail. 

The current quest for self-determination championed by the IPOB movement, was revived by revolutionaries like Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the IPOB leader amongst others as they foresaw the existential threat which is now bedeviling the Nigerian state in the form of ethnic cum religiously motivated killings against indigenous populations.

And, while the Nigerian government as always sought to suppress the legitimate quest for peaceful resolution over the preservation of ethnic fabrics of the Eastern region through violent extrajudicial crackdowns of advocates, the agitation for the Biafra quest afloat as the driving force for this agenda is not necessarily the enthusiasm to be able to determine your political and economic future as a nation but infact to escape an impending calamity which is already unfolding in the north and middlebelt, where the Fulani agenda against indigenous populations masked under the veil of religious vendetta is reigning unabated.

The existence of the Biafrans of 1967-70 were threatened by vile and vindictive tendencies of the north and they sought for a safe haven and infact choose a 30-months genocidal war with massive casualties until their existence was relatively guaranteed.

Unfortunately, the existential threat confronting the Biafran race today as well as other ethnic groups in the Nigerian enclave is one which cannot be guaranteed against nor its threat severity reduced. It is one which has eaten deep and compromised beyond repair the very institution(s) which could have guaranteed the existence of Biafran people amongst other ethnic groups in Nigeria.

It is the state-enabled, ethnic supremacist Fulanization agenda through the aegis of the islamic order. This very agenda is an affront and an existential threat to survival of the Biafran race and it is incumbent on not just the Biafrans — whom have been at the front burner of foresightedly initiating self-preservation measures, but also on all ethnic nationalities whom are incompatible and are not willing to tolerate the ulterior agenda of a minority group.

Thus, the Nigerian government and the international community especially those interested in seeing lasting solutions to the problems bedeviling the enclave and region must come to terms with the indisputable truth that the quest Biafra self-determination or the agitation which is basically for self-preservation against the encroaching threat against the thriving and existence of the Biafran people and allow the peaceful resolution of the quest either through a referendum or outright political solution for 

Anything short of this will prove counter-productive as the natural instincts to defend, protect and preserve one's life will always drive the quest for Biafra self-determination as long as the threat to Biafran lives continues to exist and infact flourish, a stitch in time saves nine.

Family Writers Press International