Biafra/Oduduwa joint Press statement: The Urgent Need For A Referendum Prior To The 2023 Nigerian Elections

 PRESS STATEMENT IS SUED BY THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF BIAFRA (IPOB) AND THE YORUBA ONE VOICE (YOV) ON THURSDAY 24TH SEPTEMBER 2020  The First...

 PRESS STATEMENT IS SUED BY THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF BIAFRA (IPOB) AND THE YORUBA ONE VOICE (YOV) ON THURSDAY 24TH SEPTEMBER 2020 

The First Natural Step

As Nigeria approaches another so called Independence Day on October 1st, the matter of the permanent position of the indigenous peoples of the Oduduwa people and the people of Biafra, once again comes to fore. The attention of The IPOB and YOV, to the plight of their people, the Brothers and Sisters of the Biafra and Oduduwa nations, their sufferings within the stifling, breathless, forced convergence with degenerative, limiting, confluence and influence with others, who do not share our own values, whose ways of life, mannerisms, ideology, are untoward, inimical, alien, hostile to our people, all of these have now necessitated this historic occasion to which the IPOB and YOV are now addressed. Gentlemen of The Press, The Biafra and The Oduduwa Nations jointly welcome you to a New Dawn.

NIGERIA–THE URGENT NEED FOR A REFERENDUM PRIOR TO THE 2023 ELECTIONS.

Dear countrymen and women,it is now time to boldly jettison the 1999 Constitution of the Federal (actually Unitary) Republic of Nigeria (as amended) which was not a product of the collective will of the Peoples of Nigeria. The said Constitution was decreed into existence by the General Abdulsalami Abubakar administration, after the annulment of June 12, 1993 general elections, which was won fair and square by the late Bashorun Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola and the attendant contraptions that followed suit.

The 1914 forced amalgamation of the different Nation states which made up Nigeria and the successive years of exploitation of the peoples of the Southern parts of Nigeria by firstly the British Colonialists and thereafter by a Feudal minority of the Northern part of Nigeria which has entrenched poverty, underdevelopment, mediocrity, unemployment, wanton killings, terrorism,  inequality, insecurity, injustice, ethnic Bigotry, religious fanaticism and breach of fundamental human rights. The golden years of Nigeria were when we had The three regions, viz; Northern Region, Western Region and Eastern Region, with each region having its own Constitution which recognized the diversity in the culture, religion and peoples of Nigeria.  Nigeria as a Country also had its own Constitution.

Nigeria attained her independence from the British Colonialists in 1960 and became a Republic in 1963. We practiced Parliamentary system of government. There was an unfortunate military intervention in our national politics in 1966 and this was the time that a command structure unitary system of governance was smuggled into our politics, without the express consent of all ethnic nationalities. A bitter Civil War was fought from 1967 to 1970 with millions of our people from Biafra massacred. 

Since the end of the war the old eastern region have not been fully reintegrated into Nigeria. The declaration of no Victor, no Vanquished by the General Yakubu Gowon administration, was a mere lip service proclamation.

Successive military dictators ruled Nigeria from 1970 to 1979 when Nigeria introduced a purported Presidential System of Government in name, but which is unitary in character and practice.  The 1979 Constitution which was decreed into existence by General Olusegun Obasanjo was in operation from 1979 to 31st of December 1983 when Major General Muhammadu Buhari truncated our democracy. The Major General Buhari’s regime, was also overthrown by General Ibrahim Babangida, who ruled from 27th of August 1985 until he was forced to step aside on the 26th of August 1993. 

A contraption called Interim National Government (ING) of Chief Earnest Adegunle Shonekan, was in power from 27th of August,1993 to 17th of November,1993 when General Sani Abacha seized power and ruled with an iron fist until he died on the 8th of June,1998 inside Aso Rock. General Abdulsalami Abubakar, another military dictator ruled Nigeria from the 9th of June 1998 to the 29th day of May 1999.

Nigeria has been operating a supposed Presidential system under the 1999 Constitution with successive Government's from Chief Olusegun Obasanjo to the current President; Major General Muhammadu Buhari. The presidential constitution, which is unitary in character, has failed the Peoples of Nigeria. We, The People, did not write this constitution. It is too expensive, wasteful, and has not represented the yearnings and expectations of the oppressed peoples of the Oduduwa and Biafra nations.

From all indications, the current leadership of Nigeria is not, and has never been committed to the fundamental objectives and directives of the principles of statehood, policies of Federalism as enshrined in Chapter II of the Constitution that it derived its powers from. Our peoples are tired of the terrorism, insecurity, hopelessness, injustice, killings, unemployment, inequality, corruption, scandals, violence, oppression, extortion, and repression.

Whereas, our peoples are entitled to their inherent inalienable rights to Self-determination and dignity of their persons in accordance with Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human and Peoples Rights of 1948; Article 20 of the African Charter on Human and People's Rights, Article 1 of the International Convention Civil and Political Rights and the International Convention on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. 

Our aspiration is to build a viable, democratic and stable Nation for our Peoples and in this regard, we demand that there must be a referendum, so that our peoples can freely and fairly make a democratic choice, whether they want to continue with Nigeria as presently configured or seek their right to Self-determination before the 2023 General elections.

In order to prevent an implosion of sorts, we, on behalf of our people, therefore demand a proper referendum/plebiscite, to be conducted between now and the 1st of October,2021, in accordance with the Rights of Indigenous Peoples' all over all over the world under The Law as provided in the AU and the United Nations charters, to be supervised by Both The AU and the United Nations. Copies of this jointly signed Release have been sent to these world bodies.

If, as we believe, our people choose Self-determination, The Next Natural Step would be the immediate activation of the processes and modalities, beginning from the 2nd of October, 2021, for the creation of the Odùduwà and the Biafran Nations out of the present but otiose Nigerian experiment, which started in 1914.

We shall begin the mobilization of our respective peoples toward the actualization of the quest for freedom and life more abundant at a certain date in the future, when peaceful negotiations for applicable terms of separation would have been concluded with our respective residual ethnic nationalities and neighbors.

We wish to place on record our hope that Major General Buhari and his Fulani peoples of West Africa will heed this peaceful democratic demand in a timely manner. In the event our Forthright and Steadfast advocacy is denied, our peoples are hereby notified to commence preparations for series of passive activities that will demonstrate our resolve to be in control of our affairs. Towards this end, our peoples are hereby called upon to undertake the following:

1. Stay away from participation and involvement in any sham or nebulous October 1, 2020; 60th independence anniversary activities as may be mounted by the Unitary Government of Nigeria.

2. In specific terms, we hereby call on the peoples of our territories, and indeed all peoples of Nigeria yearning to be free from internal colonization to be prepared to Stay-At-Home on October 1, 2020. No one among us should play along with any celebration of 60 years of an imbalanced unequal country. Staying-At-Home means keeping safe and away for the inhuman and inhumane character of the present regime of Major General Buhari.

3. Our peoples in the diaspora are hereby enjoined to organize flag flying carnivals and peaceful rallies on October 1, 2020 in all cities across the world. A joint Biafra/Oduduwa event marking the beginning of our journey to freedom is to be celebrated into the following weeks. The whole world ought to witness a rekindling of self-awareness and our pride of place among the community of civilized peoples of the world.

4. All our peoples are to be on standby in readiness for further calls for peaceful and legal demonstrations of our resolve to be free from the failed Nigerian state. These calls will continue to be made for as long as it would be needful, up until our goals for self-determination are achieved.

We salute all of you our compatriots here at home and across the world. 

Signed:

Dr Sina Okanlomo

International General Secretary of Yoruba One Voice (YOV)

Mazi Chika Edoziem

Head, Directorate of State of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)