BIAFRA AND THE THEORY OF HATE

PROLOGUE

"IN the name of the Supreme Council of the Revolution of the Nigerian Armed  Forces, I declare martial law over the Northern Provinces of Nigeria. The Constitution is suspended and the regional government and elected assemblies are hereby dissolved. All political, cultural, tribal and trade union activities, together with all demonstrations and unauthorised gatherings, excluding religious worship, are banned until further notice. The aim of the Revolutionary Council is to establish a strong united and prosperous nation, free from corruption and internal strife. Our method of  achieving this is strictly military but we have no doubt that every Nigerian  will give us maximum cooperation by assisting the regime and not disturbing the  peace during the slight changes that are taking place......"That was the introductory paragraph of the broadcast that marked the genesis of military dictatorship in Nigeria. It was made in the early hours of January 15, 1966 by late Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu, the leader of the group of soldiers that planned and executed the coup.

HISTORY

The history can be traced as far back as the amalgamation of Nigeria in 1914 and the varying system of governance but I'll filter it to a more modern time.The first coup d'etat in 1966 can be described as the genesis of this crisis. Mutinous Nigerian soldiers led by Kaduna Nzeogwu (Igbo) and Emmanuel Ifeajuna (Igbo) killed 22 people including the Prime Minister of Nigeria, many senior politicians, many senior Army officers (including their wives), and sentinels on protective duty. The coup plotters attacked the cities of Kaduna, Ibadan, and Lagos while also blockading the Niger and Benue River within a two-day span of time before the coup plotters were subdued. The General Officer Commanding, of the Nigerian Army, Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi then used the coup as an avenue to annex power, ending Nigeria's nascent democracy. Prominent among those who lost their lives were Prime Minister Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Premier Ahmadu Bello, Premier Samuel Ladoke Akintola, Finance Minister Festus Okotie-Eboh, Ahmed Ben Musa (Senior Assistant Secretary for Security), Hafsatu Bello, Mrs Latifat Ademulegun, Zarumi Sardauna among others. Through this action and inaction, a seed of discord had been sown between the Igbos and the Hausas because the Hausas had the most casualties and they were led to believe that the coup was an 'Igbo coup' which can be refuted because the participants cut across every ethnic group including Hausa. However, there was a counter-coup in July, 1966 which was masterminded by Hausas. It is note-worthy that some Hausas wanted a secession of Hausas from Nigeria but it ended in futility. The new military Government was ruled by a Hausa man, Yakubu Gowon. Shortly after, the Easterners began to play tunes of discord during to allegations of persecution of the Igbos by the Northerners. The division of Nigeria into 12 states by Gowon on 27th May,1967 further exacerbated the situation because the Igbos lost control over most of the petroleum as the east was carved into South-Eastern, East-Eastern and Rivers state and the Igbos were restricted to the East-Eastern state. Ojukwu declared Independence of Biafraon 30th May, 1967. A meeting was fixed in Aburi, Ghana for 4-5 Jaunary, 1967 between Gowon, Ojukwu (the voice of the Igbos) and other top-shots in the Supreme Military Council. The meeting which was an effort in futility because The Aburi Accord did not see the light of the day, as the Gowon led government had huge consideration for the possible revenues, especially oil revenues which were expected to increase given that reserves having been discovered in the area in the mid-1960s. It has been said without confirmation that both Gowon and Ojukwu had knowledge of the huge oil reserves in the Niger Delta area, which today has grown to be the mainstay of the Nigerian economy. Shortly after this, Nigeria declared war on Biafra.. The war lasted for 2 years and 6 months before the Biafran forces surrended to the Nigerian forces. However, the allegations of oppression and marginalization didn't tone down. They were only suppressed by the  'helplessness' of the Igbos. Years after, some groups have sprung up with the aim of emancipating the Igbos from 'oppression'. Such groups include Movement for the Actualization for the Sovereign State Of Biafra (MASSOB) and Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

OPINION

When Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), led by Nnamdi Kanu, sparked life into the struggle for Biafran realisation in 2012, it was greeted with mere wave of hands because it was of general opinion that their agitation could not hold weight. 5 years later, this agitation has degenerated into a national crisis. Recently, there was a raid by the Nigerian Army on the Biafra agitators stronghold and 15 people were alleged to have been killed. on the Aba-Port Harcourt way. In a separate incident, trucks were burnt in IPOB, Army cash in Abia state. Infact, the Abia state Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu has declared a 6 p.m to 6 a.m curfew in Aba as a measure of curtailing the violence. Worse still, the Defense Head Quarters has declared IPOB a terrorist group due to the alleged clandestine activities of the group which include “The formation of a Biafra Secret Service, claimed formation of Biafra National Guard, unauthorised blocking of public access roads and extortion of money from innocent civilians at illegal road blocks. “Militant possession and use of weapons (stones, molotov cocktails, machetes and broken bottles, among others) on a military patrol on Sept. 10, 2017. “Physical confrontation of troops by Nnamdi Kanu and other IPOB actors at a check point on Sept. 11, 2017 and also attempt to snatch their rifles. “Attack by IPOB members on a military check point on Sept. 12, 2017, at Isialangwa, where one IPOB actor attempted to snatch a female soldier’s rifle.’’

 However, the authenticity of such declaration is debatable because the unorthodox actions of IPOB members are clearly not inimical to warrant being described as a terrorist group. It can be argued that some of their actions are 'self-defense' according to their claims. Also, such declarations threaten the peace and development of our country. However, there are some facts, truths and hoaxes that need to be established.

FACTS

Before a secession can occur, it has to be backed by a constitution. A referendum has to take place to determine whether the secession will occur or not. A referendum can be initiated by the Parliament in some countries but some have provisions for citizens to call a ballot too.Switzerland can be cited as an example. A referendum can be called by an individual who gets 50,000 signatures in support of challenging an existing law. Also, there is a provision of popular votes. A constitutional change can be initiated by anyone who collects 100,000 signatures. However, the 1999 constitution has no definite provision for referendum. Series of amendments have been tabled forwards in the highest echelons of legislature but a bill of referendum hasn't been tabled. Also, the last time a popular agitation of the same vein occurred, it resulted in a civil war. This speaks volumes.

THE TRUTH 

The agitation for secession can be described as illegal because it is unconstitutional.  Also, the launch of a secret service other than Government-approved is ridiculous because it threatens the supremacy of the Government armed forces. Furthermore, the incessant use of coercion on legitimate citizens of a country is best described as inhumane and unjust. Rather than engage martial force, arrest of erring individuals isn't out of place. Every individual has the right to fair trial and not instant judgement meted out on people. It is opprobrious for videos of maltreatment by army officials to circulate round the virtual sphere. It portrays our country in a bad light. 

FALSEHOOD

It is a popular opinion that the first coup d'etat was an 'Igbo coup'. This is not true. Soldiers from different ethnic groups planned and executed the coup. Also, another popular notion is that Hausas hate Igbos generally. This is a hoax. Because some moronic individuals have threatened to hamper the unity of the Nation by killing Igbos in the North is no proof that Hausas hate Igbo. In fact, actions should not be based on ethnicity but on individuality because each man is responsible for his thoughts and actions alone. 

WAY FORWARD

The panacea for these threats to unity are straightforward. A ceasefire has to happen in the Eastern part followed by a truce meeting to iron out issues and grievances. However, if the agitators are bent on secession, they need to engage their lawmakers to follow due process by tabling a bill of referendum before their respective houses because as a law-abiding country and a country backed by law, the rule of law has to be in force. Nigeria CANNOT afford a repeat of 1967-1970 because of the adverse effects of war especially at a time when the country is just recuperating from Economic instability. 

EPILOGUE

”I led the first one and I can say I led ‘proudly’ the first one but I don’t think a second one is necessary.“We should have learnt from the first one, otherwise, they would all have been in vain......”

This is an excerpt from an interview General Ojukwu granted before his death.