Tinubu's Call for Peace in Palestine and the Biafran Question: An Analysis of Justice Without Boundaries

 Tinubu's Call for Peace in Palestine and the Biafran Question: An Analysis of Justice Without Boundaries President Bola Ahmed Tinubu re...

 Tinubu's Call for Peace in Palestine and the Biafran Question: An Analysis of Justice Without Boundaries

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu recently stood at a meeting of world leaders in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and proclaimed Nigeria's longstanding support for a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict. A vision in which Israelis and Palestinians may live side by side with equality and dignity was presented in this powerful plea for peace, justice, and mutual recognition. Those who paid close attention, however, could not help but see the irony. 

Tinubu was promoting peace and self-determination on a global scale, but in Nigeria, similar calls for justice are frequently met with a locked door, backward turn, extrajudicial killings and incarceration.

"A man who lives in a glass house should not throw stones," so says an old proverb. 

However, it is impossible to avoid wondering if Tinubu overlooked his own glass walls—the Biafran issue, which has not been addressed or resolved—in his plea for Palestinian rights. The Igbo people are still marginalized sidelined in Nigerian politics, despite the fact that their history and identity are closely linked to their demand for autonomy. 

They want respect, recognition, and a say in how their future is shaped, just like the Palestinians do. They are also frequently attacked, man haunted each time they raise their heads to say or make demands about this. Tinubu's remarks in Riyadh appeared admirable, but when they aren't supported by deeds at home, admirable words have a way of sounding hollow and ridiculous. 

In his speech, Tinubu passionately invoked the principle of self-defense and the need for proportionality. He called for the world to work together in pursuit of peace. “In a rules-based international order,” he said, “States have the right of self-defense. But self-defense must take proportionality into account, in line with global legal, diplomatic—and moral frameworks.” The words are hard to argue with—who does not support proportionality and restraint? But beneath the surface, there’s a question that begs for answers. 

If the Palestinian struggle for statehood deserves support, why is the Biafran struggle viewed differently? 

Nigeria, like many countries, claims to champion human rights and self-determination—when it’s convenient. The idea of a “rules-based international order” sounds admirable, but in practice, it often comes with strings attached. In the case of Israel and Palestine, some nations have supported the Palestinian cause, while others hesitate. 

Russia openly backs a two-state solution, while the United States, with its deep alliance with Israel, tends to shy away. Nigeria, too, has backed Palestinian independence for decades. But when it comes to Biafra, suddenly, those position turns the opposite automatically.

As another saying goes, “A goat cannot smell of pepper and deny it.” Nigeria cannot preach justice abroad while denying it at home without others noticing the stark hypocrisy. Justice, if it is to mean anything, cannot be selectively applied. If Nigeria truly believes in justice and self-determination, it must apply these values consistently in all cases. 

Tinubu’s address to world leaders included a pointed observation: “Identity politics are no substitute for respecting the nuances of diversity.” This remark, while directed at the Israel-Palestine conflict, could very well apply to Nigeria itself. Nigeria is a complex nation with over 250 ethnic groups, each with its own language, culture, and history. Diversity is our strength, or so we claim. But unity can only thrive when diversity is respected, not suppressed. 

The Nigerian Civil War is a painful memory, a chapter that lingers in the nation’s consciousness. The war of aggression by Nigeria against Biafra, claimed millions of lives, mostly Biafran Children and left scars that still haven’t healed in the minds of Biafrans people. Since then, Nigeria has insisted on a united nation, but unity cannot come at the expense of identity. As the Igbo proverb says, “A person who does not know where the rain began to beat him will not know where it stopped.” 

When Tinubu advocates for peace in Palestine, he calls on Israel and Palestine to recognize each other’s right to exist, to respect each other’s identities, and to coexist peacefully. It’s a noble goal. But if we are to preach mutual respect abroad, shouldn’t we start by practicing it at home?

Let us not forget that global politics often runs on double standards. The Palestinian people are agitating for total sovereignty, yet, some nations remain reluctant to support their call for statehood, preferring to prioritize strategic alliances and regional stability. Nigeria’s position aligns with Palestine’s quest for independence, but only from a safe distance. The same Nigerian leaders who endorse justice for Palestine seem all too willing to forget the voices of the Biafran people back home who are facing police and military brutality for asking for Biafra freedom.

In Nigeria, there is another saying: “The leopard cannot change its spots.” If Nigeria is truly committed to justice, it must apply that commitment evenly, both in its support for Palestine and in its approach to Biafra. True justice is universal; it does not pick and choose. 

The call for peace in Palestine is a reminder of the work that needs to be done to address the grievances of those who feel unheard and unseen. In Palestine, as in Biafra, people are asking for recognition and the right to shape their own future. If Nigeria truly believes in the principles it preaches, it must apply them at home as well as abroad. 

Tinubu’s appeal for peace and two-state solution in Riyadh was a commendable gesture towards peace. But gestures are not enough. If Nigeria wishes to stand as a beacon of justice, it must lead by example. Supporting Palestine’s right to exist and calling for a two-state solution means embracing a vision of peace that values autonomy, self-governance, and mutual recognition. 

These values cannot only apply to the Middle East; they must also inform Nigeria’s approach to regions within its own borders.

In Riyadh, President Tinubu called for new thinking and new paths to peace, urging world leaders to embrace justice, dignity, and mutual respect. His words struck a chord, but they must be more than words. There is a moral imperative to apply these values consistently, whether the issue is the Israel-Palestine conflict or Nigeria’s own Biafran question. 

In Nigeria, we have a saying that goes, “A child who washes his hands can eat with elders.” If Nigeria truly wants to be taken seriously as a voice for justice on the world stage, it must first ensure that its hands are clean. It cannot advocate for Palestinian freedom while ignoring similar for the Biafran people. Justice cannot be boxed into convenient compartments. If Nigeria is to champion a world where dignity, respect, and autonomy are upheld, it must ensure that these values extend to all who call for them including those within Nigeria’s own borders. 

As Nigeria stands with Palestine, let us remember the cries for justice and autonomy in Biafra. Let us recognize that justice is indivisible; it knows no borders and no selective memory. It is only through consistency and integrity that Nigeria can truly uphold its call for a just and peaceful world both abroad and at home.

Written by Family Writers Press International.