A self determination group under the umbrella of Igbo-Biafra nationalists, has called for the creation of additional state in the Southeast in order to address some of the injustices meted on the region.
The group in a statement by its spokesman, Mazi Uche Okafor-Mefor which a copy was obtained by News Band, also commended the Igbo leaders who recently convened at the Imo State governor’s lodge, Abuja to discuss some of the sundry issues affecting the Igbo nation in Nigeria, which security was top on the list.
News Band reports that governors and lawmakers from the Southeast as well as the apex Igbo sociocultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo held an emergency meeting on Monday evening in Abuja.
Senator Hope Uzodinma, the governor of Imo State who hosted the meeting that lasted for over four hours said insecurity remained the greatest challenge facing the region.
He was subsequently delegated to meet with president Bola Ahmed Tinubu on behalf of the region’s leaders so as to fashion out a lasting solution to the problem of insecurity in the Southeast.
Meanwhile, Igbo-Biafra Nationalists in their press release, reminded Igbo leaders that the starting point of their discussions must include what they described as questioning the obnoxious state sponsored apartheid policy of marginalization in the region.
“It is worth noting that the Southeast region is the only region in Nigeria with only five states, while other regions have six each. This apartheid policy effectively renders the South East (the Igbos) as permanent minorities within Nigeria. The implications of such a policy are numerous”, the group said in the statement.
While highlighting four key injustices against the Southeast that must be addressed urgently, the group noted that failure of the Nigerian state to rectify these injustices, the region will have no choice but to embark on what they tagged as Southeast Democratic Secession.
It however, called on all stakeholders to join hands in addressing the historical marginalization and discrimination confronting the Igbos in Nigeria
The statement reads, “The Igbo-Biafra Nationalists, advocates for Ala-Igbo self-determination on behalf of the indigenous people of the Igbo nation, would like to express our heartfelt appreciation to the political leaders, including the governors, the State Houses of Assembly members, the Federal House of Representatives members, the senators, and the Ohaneze Ndigbo, for heeding our clarion call to begin discussions on the future of the Igbos in Nigeria or the future of the Igbos without Nigeria.
“We take this opportunity to remind all stakeholders that the starting point of these discussions must include questioning the obnoxious state-sponsored apartheid policy of marginalization. It is worth noting that the Southeast region is the only region in Nigeria with only five states, while other regions have six each. This apartheid policy effectively renders the South East (the Igbos) as permanent minorities within Nigeria. The implications of such a policy are numerous:
“1. Least Number of States and Local Government Areas: The South East suffers from the lowest number of states and local government areas, which hampers effective regional governance and development.
“2. Lowest Representation in the House of Representatives and Senate: The Igbos have the lowest number of House of Representatives members and senators, meaning they merely make up the numbers in the Nigerian political landscape.
“3. Lowest Allocation of Resources: The South East receives the lowest allocation in terms of financial resources and infrastructure development. This disparity has a direct negative impact on the human and infrastructural development of the region.
“4. Underrepresentation and Political Exclusion: The Igbos are subjected to underrepresentation and political exclusion, relegating them to fifth-class citizens in Nigeria.
“We strongly believe these injustices result from human manipulation, not natural causes. In light of these challenges, we offer a practical solution to address the oppression of the Igbos by the Nigerian state. We reiterate our earlier stand on the following:
“1. The Nigerian state has not operated and treated the Igbos based on the principle of equal rights. If the Igbos are integral to the Nigerian project, why must they be shortchanged on fundamental issues such as state creation and resource allocation?
“2. The Igbos must seek justice by engaging in serious discussions with the Nigerian state through the instrumentality of Igbo political representatives, as previously mentioned (internal self-determination). We call upon the Federal House of Representatives and the senators to sponsor bills on the creation of additional states in the Southeast region, which, for evidential purposes, may be voted down.
“3. The State Houses of Assembly members in all the states within the South East region, in collaboration with their respective five state governors, should pass coordinated bills or resolutions acknowledging the imbalance in the number of states and local government areas in the South East.
“4. The state governors, through the offices of the Attorneys General of their respective states, should jointly file a lawsuit against the Nigerian state in their own courts in the first instance. The objective is to compel the Nigerian government to create an additional state in the South East region, bringing it to par with other regions in Nigeria. If this issue remains unresolved, we will escalate the matter to the African Commission and the United Nations.
“Should the Nigerian state fail to rectify these injustices, the South East will have no choice but to embark on what we describe as South East Democratic Secession. This process involves using the State Houses of Assembly to pass a bill on the autonomy of the South East, which may lead to referendum/remedial secession/external self-determination. We firmly believe in the legal-political process as a means to internal or external self-determination.
“In conclusion, the Igbo-Biafra Nationalists urge all stakeholders to join hands in addressing the historical marginalization and discrimination faced by the Igbos in Nigeria. By rectifying these injustices, we can foster a more inclusive and equitable society that upholds the principle of equal rights for all citizens.”
