You can’t kill Biafra! – Buhari's former spokesman

You can’t kill Biafra! –  Buhari's former spokesman 

The sustained protests in the South East for weeks now drumming support for a Sovereign State of Biafra have confirmed what social scientists have correctly argued over the years: you can’t kill ideas. A sane state should by now known that what is required at this point is social reengineering that would make centrifugal feelings to be less popular when the nationality question is well addressed and we begin to focus on the things that bind us as different peoples united by a common vision. It is rather unfortunate that what we continue to see is the usual irrationality that has made Nigeria a folly in the last 55 years.

Rather than seeing this as a moment to address issues of nationhood, our leaders continue the bulldozing strategy whereas what is required is reconstructive surgery. One fellow from the Nigerian Army was threatening ROE (Rule of Engagement) against the protesters. Short of dropping atomic bombs on the entire South East and wipe out all the inhabitants, what ROE is he threatening that could be worse than over a million Igbo killed during the Biafran war from 1967-70 that would now kill the Biafra idea? I have also read some jokers who styled themselves State Presidents of Ohanaeze Ndigbo clownishly declaring that Biafra died 40 years ago. If it is four decades dead, why are they addressing it and why is it hat the authentic Igbo voices we know are not the ones making such statement? The silence of renowned Igbo leaders speak so eloquently than the jejune statements of these deluded fellows who can’t read the social thermometer correctly.

Anyone who has observed events carefully in that that part of the country for years now would not have missed out that the Biafran flags have been flying all over the place just as the currency has been circulating. The Nigerian security operatives have had running battles with Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB). A state that has the capacity to maintain and extend its life span should have been devising creative ways of combating such mood that is so strong by offering constitutional reforms. Canada has been dealing with Quebec question in referendum after referendum which has now become NEVERENDUM.

United Kingdom in September 2014 had a referendum in Scotland to address similar question. Despite the inability of the separatists to win at the polls, the UK government in January 2015 published a new devolution deal. The UK government published the draft legislation transferring new powers over tax and spending to Scotland, dismissing nationalist claims that it was “watering down” devolution promises made before the independence referendum. The move marks an important step towards rapid implementation of a cross-party deal brokered by Lord Smith of Kelvin to make good on the pledges made by pro-Union leaders. UK officials said the draft legislation will give Scotland the third most powerful devolved parliament in the world after those of Canadian provinces and Swiss cantons.

The suicide-prone Nigeria state is hardly that creative in tackling issues that go into the very foundation of its

nationhood. Rather than engaging issues, it runs away from it usually engaging cheap subterfuges and muscle-flexing. It behaves worse than a colonial state by issuing “warnings” to citizens whose grievances it should address. If this bound to die state understood self-preservation, it should have engaged the “original ” Boko Haram after the murder of Yusuf in 2009. That movement would probably not have metamorphosed into the brutal killing machine that we have today or provided the atmosphere for whatever is using its cover.

If Ken-Saro Wiwa had been engaged when he was mobilizing leaving-waving crowds in Ogoniland, a sick Yar’ Adua would not have had to drag himself into the creeks to negotiate with Tompolo and several billions of Naira being expended on Amnesty Programme. I am amazed how any thinking person would not be able to see that Nigeria that spent three years to put Biafra in the cooler when it had something to offer cannot contain an encore at a stage it holds not much promise except to those who feel that they can only be prisoner within the “command and control” centre.

Methinks that it is Nigeria that is dead, and that the quest for self-determination is very much alive and no ROE can defeat a popular idea. The earlier we come to terms with that reality and begin to re-arrange Nigeria in an inclusive manner that allows the federating units to live their civilizations and be proud members of a Union of equal, the

better for the life span of Nigeria. If Nigeria remains stubborn as ever and continues to read “riot acts”, it may just be digging its own grave. And that would be “a story that touch”.

-Yinka Odumakin