Yesterday, the catalan people defiled the spanish state and its judiacial system in their quest to gain independence from the Spanish federation. Although the referendum was not recognised by the Spanish government in Madrid, it was symbolic in so many ways. As at the time of report, more than 80% of the over 2million people who participated in the referendum voted for an independent Catalonia. Another important point to note was that Spain did not send its military or police to disrupt the event, despite the fact that the spanish constitutional court had ruled for the suspension of the referendum.
This is very pertinent in the Biafra-Nigeria case. Biafrans have been asking for their freedom from the shackles of Nigeria. The Nigerian governmentbhas however persistently crushed any quest for the restoration of Biafra. To mention Biafra or even were a Tshirt with Biafran inscription could earn one many years in detention without trial. Many Biafran youths are languishing in various detention centres for the mere fact the dared mar hed on the streets to protest against the Nigerian oppression and ask for Biafra freedom.
If the event that occurred in Catalonia yesterday happened in Nigeria, many deaths would have been recorded.
There have been several cases of extrajudicial killings of Biafrans at the hands of Nigerian army and police. The latest is the Ezu River boys, where the police extrajudiciously killed not less than 70 Biafrans and dumped their corpses in the Ezu River. Till date the governemnt is yet to investigate and bring the cilprits to justice. This confirms that the Nigerian government ordered the killing. the Amnesty international and other international human rights organsiting have been resoundingly silent on the matter.
The Catolonia Referendum as well as the earlier referendum in Scotland is a great lessons to Biafrans. Despite all odds, Biafrans should stop being scared of asking for their rights. There was no time in history that Biafrans requested to be lumped into a country with people of diverse opinion, religion, culture and value system. The British forced Biafrans into the Nigeria mess and we are tired of the arrangement. To be free is a fundamental human right.
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