posted
My People, Below is an article by former adviser to Abacha. I thought it very interesting that the North is now advocating for the adoption of 1963 Constitution as an eleventh hour scramble to save the Nigeria ship with Biafrans aboard. -------------------------------------------------------------------
VANGUARD: Across the nation — North
MONDAY, 14TH MAY, 2001
Nigeria should go back to 1963 Constitution—Yadudu
By Nathaniel Ikyur
KANO—LEGAL adviser to late Gen. Sani Abacha, Prof. Anwalu Yadudu wants Nigeria to go back to the 1963 constitution. Prof. Yadudu in a paper entitled: "Random Thoughts on Issues, Dilemmas, Process and Possibilities on Constitutional Amendment" at a public hearing organised by the National Assembly Joint Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution was of the opinion that such an arrangement "will confer greater autonomy to states and minimise areas of frictions without jeopardizing the corporate existence of the federation."
According to the law professor, if this is done more openings would be accorded to states "to amend their constitutions to corpe with their development needs and socio-cultural circumstances in such a way to minimize conduce federal inter-meddling," pointing out that for the states to have their separate constitutions "is no cosmetics."
He further observed that if this system had existed in the present constitution, the uproar that greeted the introduction of Sharia in some states would not have arisen.
Reacting to agitations for the convocation of a Sovereign National Conference (SNC), the former legal adviser argued that the position of section 9 of the 1999 constitution is clear, pointing out that the proponents of the SNC were merely being "self-centred."
The two-day joint meeting of the National Assembly Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution was attended by various interest groups and politicians.
For instance, the 44-local government councils in the state submitted a joint memoranda seeking clarification on the state of the local governments vis-a-vis their present predicament in the hands state Assembly members.
The Council of Ulama in Kano state represented by Sheik Ibrahim Kabo at the two-day event appealed to the committee to interpret clearly to position of the constitution as regards the implementation of Sharia.
My questions are: should Nigeria go back to 1963 Constitution? Is this a prelude to Biafra's complete independence/disintegration of Nigeria, as we know it? Obasanjo's recent summon to US, is it unconnected to the UN support and progress of Biafra Actualization goal? Is Biafra Actualization light becoming too glaring to the status quo groups?
posted
The ante for Biafra Actualization has gained the upper hand, internally and externally. That's a positive and commending result. Like Ndigbo say, the toad does not break into a midday run for nothing. Such is the case with Obasanjo and the the North.
Obasanjo claimed that he didn't know why Bush summoned him to the white house. Now, he knows...especially after he'd been read the riot act (behind closed doors) and presented with (temporary) antidote to calming the restive Biafran populace. That antidote is the adoption of the regional confederacy of 1963 Constitution.
That the North, thru Prof Yadudu, is calling for the adoption of the 1963 Constitution, is no accident or unpressured extension of goodwill. We all know that a thief has not been known to return stolen goods willingly and merrily.
The West is feeling sufficiently guilty about the decadent eye sore called Nigeria including the dismal under-development of Africa, in general. The international community is anxious for an emergent indigenous African country that has the proven capacity to serve as a beacon of hope for other Africans in order to lessen their guilt and liability for the hopelessness of Africa. That indigenous and ingenous messianic country is Biafra Republic.
With this clear hand-writing on the wall, the North is putting into use, their pragmatism. I commend them for being pragmatic. In order not to lose out completely on their stranglehold gains from Biafra resources, they are selling the calmative appeal of regional confederacy.
Therefore, I see the adoption of 1963 Constitution as a welcome and able tool for the independence of the Republic of Biafra. The North has seen that Biafra Actualization is inevitable, but they want it slowed down while they get used to the transition into a Nigeria/Arewa Republic without the Biafrans. The only hypocritical leechy ostrich is the Yoruba.
posted
Amanda: The short answer to your question is, NO – Biafra Actualization must not be affected by any superficial reversion to the 1963 Constitution. By merely reverting to the 1963 Constitution, Nigeria would have done nothing to persuade any reasonable thinker to abandon the Biafra actualization program. You have to understand that most of the people now fighting for Biafra have known nothing but Nigeria all their lives, or they are people, few (perhaps), who, even though they knew the first Biafra, were willing to give Nigeria every opportunity to succeed. Thirty-one years, the post Biafran war years, is more than enough time for any fair-minded Nigerian (Igbo or not) to seem and act indifferent to genocide, pogroms, sub-human treatment, and countless acts of invidious discrimination perpetrated by the Nigerian State and peoples against the Biafrans.
The ostensible reason for ever suggesting the 1963 Constitution is that it grants more autonomy to the regions, and would therefore make the secession demands unnecessary. In today’s Nigeria, such a proposition is illusory. Nigeria has developed an incredible capacity to function as an oxy-moronic and misnamed state; it has learned to call itself one thing and live as another. It calls itself "federal" when it practices unitarism; it calls itself "democratic," when it is really a despotism. Much of this mischaracterization is driven by a hateful pursuit of the Biafrans or the Igbos who form the Biafran core. The delibrate mischaracterizations suggest to me that the Nigerian State is aware of its crimes and the need to disguise the crimes. Could anyone explain to me, in plain English please, why the Land Use Decree was promulgated?
Specifically, to support its anti-Igbo (anti-Biafra) discriminatory practices, the Nigerian State has enacted a series of laws, during illegal military regimes, that now form an irrevocable corpus juris of lex barbara (body of laws of the barbarians). These laws will not soon leave the Nigerian law books. Just as those laws are there today making a mockery of the laws of nations and the Nigerian Constitution itself, those laws are there to make a mockery of any new constitution that Nigeria may adopt, including the 1963 Constitution. Even under a purported “Federal - Democracy” those un-federal and undemocratic lawless military bandit enactments continue to control everything from basic human freedoms, through land ownership, to the contentious issue of resource control. The various “democratic” interruptions of the lawless military state have been unable, by design, to abolish these laws. It is therefore unimaginable, that the mere proforma reversion to the 1963 Constitution would obviate the need for Biafra actualization, or for that matter, the need to actualize an Oduduwa Republic.
What I may support is a new union, post actualization(s), and several years thence. The decision of the Biafrans or the Yoruba to join this new union would be based on how the rump of Nigeria respects the actualized Biafra and other republics devolved from what is now Nigeria, as well as on clearly specified terms to be agreed in the future among the actualized republics and the rump. The Biafrans are the corpus delicti of the crimes of the Nigerian State and peoples. It is therefore the Biafrans, and not Nigeria or Nigerians that should say whether the conditions are present in BiafraNigeria to justify the cessation of the actualization campaign.
All: I am glad that this forum is now coming into its own, and it has moved away from the residual issues that many of us brought from our sister forum. Keep up the good work. I will continue to lend my support to this forum in its effort to become an important instrument in the dialogue for the future of BiafraNigeria.
_________________ No Nonsense
[ May 14, 2001: Message edited by: Tunde Onabanjo ]
posted
Tunde O: Your piece was very eloquent as usual. I must say that I have been surprized by your support of Biafra considering your pro-Nigeria views at Nigeriaworld. By any chance, is your support for Biafra an indirect way of fighting to actualize an Oduduwa Republic? Why must Oduduwa Republic actualization piggy-back on Biafra Actualization? No offense intended.
___________________ Long live Arewa Posts: 32 | Registered: Mar 2001
| IP: Logged
posted
Ahmed: No offense taken. Without prejudice to your comprehension of my views at our sister forum, it is difficult to decipher the source of your surprise. Perhaps, you might want to refresh your memory and illustrate your point with a few examples of my posts at our sister forum. Your last question is based on the false premise that there exists an on-going “Oduduwa Republic actualization” campaign that is being linked to the “Biafra Actualization” campaign. I am sure you would agree that it serves no useful purpose at this time for me to answer a fallacious question, as my answer could detract from the subject matter of this thread.
posted
Tunde O, You pre-empted my response to Amanda's question. You are absolutely right, the Hausa/Fulani in their political shrewedness is attempting to come up with yet another ploy. I personally think that Confederacy is no longer an option, it was offered in 1967 as a way out, was rejected by the Nigerian government at the time, forced the Biafrans into a war which they had no chioce but to defend themselves. Besides given the experience of the ethno-dictators, there's no guarantee that in desperation another despot will not suspend the future constitution that spells out the confederate arrangement.
Ahmed, Biafra and Oduduwa would've been realized back in 1967, if the Oduduwa nation at that time had their equivalent of Biafra's Ojukwu as their leader instead of the late Awo. So it is thirty years late in actualizing these nations.
Self-determinatiion is not negotiable Ndi-igbo ga di
posted
In all of these debates, the people that are dumber than the sharia nut-cases, or dumber than even the stooge, Obasanjo himself, are all those one-Nigerianist Igbos and Eastern Minorities (especially the Niger Deltans) who fail to understand the amount of damage done to them by these crooked and discriminatory laws that Tunde Onabanjo has aptly referred to as "corpus juris of lex barbara." None of the Igbo one-Nigerianists or there minority counterparts have displayed any understanding of the impact of the body of truly hideous lex barbara that have been enacted to keep Biafrans under servitude, chief among these laws being the criminal Land Use Decree decreed during Obasanjo’s first coming. It is no coincidence that the choice stooge, Obasanjo, under whose watch many of these hideous laws were passed remains the first choice, from the Yoruba ethnic group, of our Hausa-Fulani primal enemies in their indirect rule of Ndi Igbo and Ndi Biafra.
[ May 14, 2001: Message edited by: Adaeze ]
___________________ Tụfue nu nwa melụ alụ, olue echi amụta ọzọ
Me too I am enjoying this, Tunde O is always masterful in all his piece. Like Brother chudi said we have passed the stage where the 1963 could have saved Nigeria. I even doubt whether if we dust off Aburi accord today whether it will save Nigeria today. As much as I believed on Aburi accord, too much water have passed through the pipe since that accord. Which have rendered that accord irrelvant in today's Nigeria.
The North is only using the 1963 constitution as a ploy to continue to practice one Nigeria. Like Tunde O stated the 1963 constitution will give them more power to practice their sharia and still share the Oil booty. Whereas an Outright Biafra actualization will robb them of their meal ticket.
posted
Chudi Skie: You are damn right. Besides, whoever is concerned about the 1963 constitution and demanding its effectiveness to today's Nigeria should dust off the Aburi Accord and take a look at it.
___________________ Nwa Amucha Posts: 369 | From: Little Rock, Arkansas | Registered: May 2001
| IP: Logged
posted
All, I have enjoyed your sweet insights. Keep it up!
Tunde Onabanjo, Thanks for that wonderful analysis. You cut it clean, fair and square.
I believe that the conditioned situation of hateful, genocidal, and suppressive injustice visited upon the Biafrans by the Nigerian govts and people is unprecedented in the modern history of mankind. Worse yet, is Nigeria's willful failure to arrest and address it. That not withstanding, we have been able to keep the hope of consolative Biafra Nation alife. Even in such conviction and faith, we are devoid of malicious revenge against Nigeria (though we are justified). Rather, Biafra will embark on a different but best kind of revenge called success.
Like you, I see three nations emerging from the present Nigeria. The Biafra, Oduduwa, and Arewa republics. The UN anticipated referendum will confirm the above nations in the making. However, I disagree with you on the possible future merging of these republics. Considering our (Biafra) terribly offensive history with the North and West of Nigeria, I doubt that an independent Biafra would entertain the thought of merging with the Arewa and/or Oduduwa republics, in any foreseeeably given future.
Biafrans have no modus operandus of expansionism, naturally. They are staunch believer of "let the eagle perch and let the egret perch, also". Their individual republicanism is their unique mark of distiction. Relentless quest for achievement thru hard work is their motto. Now these qualities run contra to the Islamic shariarist dogma of Arewa republic and the Islamic section of Oduduwa republic. The Biafrans, as we all know, have absolutely nothing in common with the Arewa people. It will indeed be a great oxymoron for Biafra to want to merge with the rest of Nigeria...after extricating herself from the Nigeria's jaw of extinction.
Sooner than we think, the North will acknowledge the futility of invoking the 1963 constitution. The dawn of Biafra is here, so the North has no viable choice but to come to the negotiating table for the peaceful departure of Biafra. They'd finally realize that the time has come to show practical concern for the collective upliftment of progressive Africa. The reality has to set in....that like all things, despotic exploits of a people has come to an end, its consequences embraced. They'll come to realize also, that the supremacy of hard work is uncompromisable.
posted
Bature, Biafrans are way past regionalism. The invocation of 1963 constitution at this hour is too little too late and is not to the best interest of the Biafrans. For the Biafrans, its a question of "why settle for second when you can be first".
For clarification, please read Tunde Onabanjo's wonderful write up.
posted
Amanda: I read the eloquent Tunde Onabanjo's piece which was entirely of a separatist movement to which its account if achieved would, in my own opinion, would give the Biafrans an upper hand over other ethnic minorities in their region. But a point in question is, couldn't a compromise be reached in making the nation one?
___________________ Yara Wasa Bature Posts: 502 | From: Owasso, Oklahoma USA | Registered: Mar 2001
| IP: Logged
posted
Bature, Nigeria has never been one in practice....from its amalgamation to independence to this present day. The Biafrans know this reality and have opted out where they will be at the helms of their own affairs and destiny.
There is no compromise for Biafra self determination aka independence.
posted
Bature, You expressed some concern about other ethnic minorities that will be part of Biafra and you wondered if there could be no compromise to retain one Nigeria.
The motar bombs and air raids in Biafra may have killed many during the ear, but their harm to Biafra were less than the success of the Federal Government in deceiving the whole world and Nigerians themselves about the cause of and the crimes they were committing against humanity in Biafra. This time it will not work because the World is more accessible to us and many Nigerians have come to realise how much deceit they have been living in. I have said all these to bring out one point; and that is that Ndigbo who certainly will be the majority in Biafra have a national policy expressed in their most revered proverb which I believe brother Biafra quoted earlier. It says "EGBE BERE UGO BERE NKE SI IBE YA EBELA NKU KWA KWA YA " Followed by this is the next one which says "AKA NRI KWUO AKA IKPA(EKPE) AKA IKPA A KWUO AKA NRI KA HA ABUO DI OCHA" Both of these idioms are the pedestal of Igbo social structure of fairness and team spirit. Our detractors should stop their falls alarms on our neighbors who as a matter of fact are people of common stock with us. See how they look, see what they eat, hear their music, see how they dance, look at their villages, farms, vegetations or even carefully listen to their languages and you will see how closely knitted we are. We have a lot more in common that those of you out there know. As a matter of fact may be I should not have made that assumption because when it is time to kill as asual you do not spare them anyway unless the lucky ones who have time and opportunity yo explain. The Yorubas put it bluntly with a question "Se O koja Ore " which means does it cross Ore the last Yoruba town going towards Biafra. Which for them implies that if it crosses Ore they are the same people. As for the Northerners Danladi has done the beautiful job which Biafrans must hold strongly as a tool for both home and abroad propaganda on how different they see us from them and so how there is no basis for any union. What I am saying is that Nigerians should stop pitching us against our brotherly neighbor fellow Biafrans, Nigeriand sowed the seed of discord between us with their politics of hatrewd against Ibos. There is no difference we cannot fix between us. So le Bature stop his alarm about other ethnic minorities in Biafra. It has been proven beyond all doubts that Nigerians do not and will never favor them more than other fellow Biafrans when Biafra is actuallized. Biafra will be a land of freedom where justice and fairness will thrive unlike in Nigeria. If Saro-Wiwa had carried the rest of Biafra in his struggle not even Abacha would have succeeded in kiliing him. His people would have lived. If Odi had invoked the spirit if Biafra in its struggle it would have been difficult for OO to have taken the decision he took against them. And if he had gone ahead irrespective of that the outcry and move Biafra would have made would have put him in a very bad irretreivable dent in the world. Igbos are hard workers and not oppressors. They believe in mutual beneficial interactions with their neighbors. Go to Uyo and Ikot Ekpene and see the influence of Eyimba city of Aba there. If not for the detractive negative influence of Nigeria in this region of Biafra Potharcourt would probably have been douled if not trippled in development and growth with the indegines owning houses and businesses and shares in the oil companies. But Nigeria prefered to rub Peter to pay Paul there and thereby plant the ssed of discord with the abandoned property saga. The leaders of the various ethnic groups that Bature is treacherously refering to as if he is more concerned about them than Biafrans are, have today seen the light. Nobody including their fellow Bifrans can pull the woool over their face. They now know their rights and how life should be for their people. They will be part of every decision that will be made in Biafra. As a matter of fact the actualization of Biafra has them in mind to produce the President and many Biafrans of Ibgo extraction will campaign and vote for them to be the president. So Bature let Nigeria leave us alone, to fix our differences. Biafra willbe a betrer place for all Biafrans.
Egbe ge bere, ugo ga ebere o dighi nke ga asi ibe ya e bela. Aka nri ga kwuo aka ikpa , aka ikpa ga kwuo aka nri nri ka ha abuo di ocha na ala Biafra. Biafra kwe nu! Kwezue nu ! Unu ga di ooooooo !
posted
Emela, That was a beautiful rendition about Ndigbo and their relations with their Eastern siblings. You rightly pointed out that once Biafra is actualized, our Siblings will produce the first Biafran president. Biafra will be the symbol of equity, fairness and justice...a beacon for other African countries to emulate.
Bature knows our strength and capabilities. He also knows that his people are responsible for what Nigeria is today. Its sheer fright about Biafra's departure and Nigeria's gloomy future that's causing him to feign ignorance by playing the devil's advocate. In any case, he has to get over his fears and start adjusting to living in a Nigeria without the Biafrans.
posted
Emela That was a masterful and well articulated response to Bature's question. You did justice to that Question. Nna gi muru gi Nwanem Nwoko. You are the son of the soil. the son sun of the land of rising sun.
posted
I thought this forum would be dead by now. So, even the 1963 Constitution will not make you happy? eh! Oya, when will the war start?
Posts: 213 | Registered: May 2001
| IP: Logged
posted
Nothing that Nigeria does now should be permitted to have any impact on the Biafra actualization agenda. Indeed, anything that Nigeria does, including returning to the 1963 Constitution, must be viewed as stronger sign that Nigeria has become dangerously desperate and therefore must be dumped.
Posts: 162 | Registered: Mar 2001
| IP: Logged
posted
Bamidele, The war has already started in your Yoruba enclave with the sharia-lization of all the children of Oduduwa.
Obviously, you are too blind to notice it. Afterward, you'll remain chained and enslaved to the Fulani jihadists forever. Ask the Hausas, Tivs, Bornos, and all the indigenous peoples of northern Nigeria.
You are truely your father's son...ignorant and backward as ever.
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
Printer-friendly view of this topic
