The sovereignty of Biafra is Non-negotiable - Centre for the Defence of Rights of Indigenous People and Culture

The sovereignty of Biafra is Non-negotiable - Dr Nwoko

Dr Ibe Nwoko, a medical doctor and the Executive Director of Centre for the Defence of Rights of Indigenous People and Culture, is a supporter of the Biafra movement. In this chat with ANGELA NKWO-AKPOLU, he speaks on the Biafra struggle and sundry issues.

Excerpts: How would you react to some of the comments made during the recent Presidential Media Chat by President Mu­hamadu Buhari? 

President Muhamadu Bu­hari was asking Igbos what they want after appointing some Ig­bos into his cabinet, I want to categorically emphasize that with due respect to him, he is missing the point and he’s not reading the handwriting on the wall. If millions of Igbo youths are calling for a separate nation of their own with tacit support from thousands and millions of non-Igbo speaking people, and President Buhari is still asking Igbos what they want, then it means there is a problem in his understanding of events and times. 

For a people to decide to have a separate nation of theirs, it means that the milton’s law of motion is very much into play. It means that the union or mar­riage called Nigeria is unwork­able and rather than ask Igbos what they want, I will advise him and Nigerians generally to find a way of dissolving this un­workable marriage peacefully, instead of creating anarchy where there should be none. People like Buhari are implic­itly creating enmity among the diverse ethnic groups, who were forcefully joined together in this marriage and who have over the years suffered the in­human conditions associated with such unworkable exis­tence like Nigeria. However, the different components of Nigeria can still cooperate where they find fit when Biafra exists as a separate sovereign nation. 

Recently, former President Olusegun Obasanjo emphati­cally stated or pontificated that Biafra is dead. I wish to call his attention that it was during his tenure as a civilian President that Biafra House was estab­lished in Washington DC. He is very much aware that Biafra government in exile was also proclaimed in 2007 after the es­tablishment of the Biafra char­ter. Thus, it will be foolhardy on his part to claim that a project that has a government in exile representing it is a failure or dead. Biafra was recognized by some nations and those nations have not denied that recogni­tion till date. Therefore, the idea of a dead Biafra is a figment of his own imagination. 

I want to state that those who can proclaim that the Bi­afra cause is dead is the Biafra Provisional Government and Biafrans in general, whose duty it is to work for the re-establish­ment of Biafra sovereignty.

The sovereignty of Biafra is Non-negotiable - Centre for the Defence of Rights of Indigenous People and Culture

What is your take on the comments credited to Revd Fr. Ejike Mbaka and Archbishop Chukwuma, the Anglican Bish­op of Enugu Diocese on the Bi­afran agitation?

With due respect to both of them, I wish to advise them that they should limit their voice and verbal expressions to winning souls for God and not to dabble into dirty Nigerian politics. But trying to use a plat­form like Biafra to gain popu­larity in a disparaging manner shows that there is some level of immaturity in their political understanding. 

What do you think of the continued detention of Nnam­di Kanu despite meeting bail conditions? 

I want to state that the young man called Nnamdi Kanu, who is the Director of Radio Biafra London should be left alone, because he was only speak­ing the obvious. He never car­ried a gun or formed an army, didn’t destroy any public prop­erty; rather he was only trying to ginger Biafrans to continue the struggle for Biafra, using technological means. I remem­ber that during the 2015 presi­dential election, the current President Buhari formed an un­registered broadcasting outfit through which his propaganda campaign of change was aired to millions of people. His ac­tion of running a rogue broad­casting house was supposed to be treason, because he incited the people against the then rul­ing government. So is it now a case of the pot calling the kettle black. My position is that Kanu should be left alone. Is he run­ning away to become a problem to Nigeria or live peacefully somewhere. What is the fear of the Nigerian government over Kanu. See, the world is a global village and no matter where he runs to, he can easily be traced. 

What is your position on the different factions of Biafra? 

Don’t worry over that be­cause the struggle has gone be­yond factions or groups. 

What is your take on the death of some people during protests by Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB? 

I will advise that the unnec­essary killings of Igbos during protests should be stopped both by those protesting and secu­rity operatives. Those protest­ing should organize themselves well to avoid being a public nuisance while those doing the killing should remember that someday they will be called upon to give account of their actions someday.

What are the demands on Biafra? 

The government of Nigeria should stop creating unneces­sary enmity among the people when there should be none. It is very obvious to everyone that this country is unwork­able. Therefore, they should find peaceful ways and means by which dismemberment of this country can be done and those who want to continue as Nigerians can continue while those who want to go can go and live as sovereign nation. 

Let me advise the people in the geographical area called Biafra to organize themselves to make the struggle easier to accomplish. The struggle is not about arms struggle or brandishing of sophisticated weapons. It is about asking for that which is their right of heritage. See, referendums will be organized so that the people will have the opportunity to express their views and beliefs concerning the Biafra project. On the referendum, the United Nations will be part and parcel of this organization. It will be genuine and will be seen as a genuine referendum. Therefore people should jettison fears and question of whether Biafra will be or not as the nation has come to stay. 

How do you view the recent alleged sack of 4000 workers drawn from 19 parastatals in Imo State? 

It is unworkable. Whatever reasons Governor Rochas Okorocha has is best known to him. Civil Service is not a farm where you plant and cultivate. Rather, it makes the society to be in motion, and for there to be stability. Most of these ben­efits are not visible but they are felt. By the way, where did he get money for the Imo carnival and other wasteful expenses he incurred if there is no money? The Civil Service rule must be followed to the later to lay off workers, not a radio announce­ment. I call on the Nigerian La­bour Congress (NLC), to look into the matter and ensure that Okorocha does not become an Emperor in the society. 

-Eastern Radio