Leader of Re-IPOB, Jonathan Kurubo, in a statement, said if the Nigerian state can be restructured to give its component units more freedom to determine their fate, then it can be given a chance, saying, “It is believed that Nigeria can never work because of its present circumstances and background.
We do not doubt that, hence the need to restructure it and make the centre weak. Those who want the status quo to remain want a stronger centre where they will continue to hold Biafrans to ransom.
We cannot accept then, hence our call of this restructuring.” The statement read: “Fellow Biafrans, You are aware that the civil war foisted on us by the Nigerian government and its foreign collaborators ended on January, 15th, 1970 on a supposed note of ‘no victor, no vanquish’.
“In reality, Biafrans have been treated as vanquished people since the end of that brutal war. The people of Biafra have been treated like second class citizens in Nigeria contrary to the ‘no victor , no vanquish’ mantra.
“You will recall that if we had wanted to continue the war that time, we could have done so despite the challenges we faced then. We could have gone into guerrilla warfare but our leader late Gen Odumegwu Ojukwu instructed us to lay down our arms when he went in search of peace. But till date the Nigerian side have not done enough to show that the war has ended.
Literally, the war is still on though the battle has changed “Today, my Nigerian created state Bayelsa, has only eight local governments. The entire South East has 95 local governments whereas Kano state alone has 44 local governments. The South East has five states whereas the North west has seven.
In the 1952 census, the East was more populated than the North and West but in subsequent post war census excercises, the East and South East in particular have been reduced to the minority of minorities. Incidentally local governments, states and census figures are used to share our common patrimony.
“Beside the structural imbalance in Nigeria, there are other inbuilt policies that are skewed against Biafrans in Nigeria. Look at the quota system in Universities, recruitment in military and paramilitary forces, employment in the federal public service etc. The present President of Nigeria in reality is the President of Northern Nigeria in his speech, conduct and appointments. Who owns ninety percent of the oil blocs in the Niger Delta and how did it happen.
“The Nigerian state is a criminal state that has no respect for its citizens , especially for Biafrans. Its a state that does not care about the welfare of its people. Its a state engrossed in perpetual looting by its elites and wicked rulers. It has nothing to offer Biafrans unless its restructured.
“Fellow Biafrans, you will recall that one of us, Raph Uwazuruike started the MASSOB movement in the year 2000 to actualise the dream but he later derailed. Also the Billie Human right initiative is following a legal means to actualise the struggle but we doubt if the Nigerian legal system will accede to that. Then IPOB came on board but its leadership derailed and started seeking fame and fortune. This was the circumstance that led to the emergence of RE-IPOB.”
It added: “For us in RE-IPOB, a working Biafra is far better than an unworking Nigeria. But if Nigeria can be restructured to give its component units more freedom to determine their fate, then it can be given a chance. It is believed that Nigeria can never work because of its present circumstances and background. We do not doubt that, hence the need to restructure it and make the centre weak. Those who want the status quo to remain want a stronger centre where they will continue to hold Biafrans to ransom. We cannot accept then, hence our call of this restructuring.
“Nigeria must be renogotiated, else Biafra must exist. We are therefore offering an olive branch to the Nigerian state to commence immediately without waste of time the Dialogue with our representatives to avoid the consequences of not doing so. Self determination is a universal inalienable right and nobody, I repeat, nobody can stop the wind of change blowing all over the world.
“We have listed the names of our negotiators. The government should reach them and commence the process immediately. I warn Nigerian security agents to stop molesting all pro-Biafran agitators in their own interest as we are poised to commit a biltzkrieg against the Nigeria state through our Ogbunigwe protective arm.
“We had also ealier stated the issues that should form the focal point of the Dialogue. The Nigerian side is also free to include its on points but not to exclude any of our points.
“Finally, I warn that the world is now a global village and cataclysm in one place will have a cyclic effect in the entire world. Nobody should test our will this time as what happened between 1967 to 1970 will be a child’s play if anybody tries our will.
“We call for the immediate release of Nnamdi Kanu, though he should keep quiet once he is released and can join RE-IPOB if he wishes. Fellow Biafrans, we shall triumph.”
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