South-East wants referendum, not additional states – IPOB

DDM News

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) have opposed the proposed creation of additional states, emphasizing that the South-East seeks a referendum rather than more states.

In a press statement released on Monday, IPOB spokesperson Emma Powerful stated that the group rejects the creation of new states, arguing that existing states are already economically bankrupt and dysfunctional.

Diaspora digital media (DDM) revealed that Powerful reiterated that Ndigbo desire a peaceful and democratic exit from Nigeria.

He urged the Federal Government to set a date for a referendum so that Biafrans can decide whether to remain in Nigeria or establish an independent Biafran state.

The statement read in part: “Following rumors that the Federal Government and the National Assembly propose to create 31 additional states in Nigeria, we, the global family and movement of IPOB, categorically state that Biafrans do not want new states.

“Instead of increasing the number of economically unviable states, the unsustainable Nigerian unity should be dissolved.

“IPOB opposes new states because the current ones are financially insolvent and non-functional.

“Creating more states will only lead to additional confusion, disunity, and insecurity.

“Nigerians suffer due to the flawed foundation of Nigeria and the rampant corruption within its government.

“Nigerian politicians are deeply entrenched in corruption.

“Nigeria is a country built on fraud, sustained by fraud, and incapable of fostering human and capital development.

“Any society founded on fraud cannot endure.

“That is why IPOB and other rational indigenous groups in Nigeria advocate for the dissolution of Nigeria.

“At the time of independence in 1960, Nigeria had three major regions.

“Later, the Mid-Western Region was created through a referendum, making it the fourth region.

“These regions thrived because they enjoyed constitutional autonomy.”

The group asserted that Nigeria’s challenges began with the creation of 12 states, which it claims was a strategy to divide Biafrans and prevent them from fighting the 1967-1970 civil war in unity.

IPOB insisted that carving out ethnic groups from their original regions contributed to Nigeria’s ongoing ethnic tensions.

“Today, the incessant creation of states has dismantled progressive regions, replacing them with ineffective states that rely on federal allocations for survival.

“Even if President Bola Tinubu’s government establishes 100 additional states, the political balance among the North, West, and East (formerly regions) will remain skewed.

Past ethnic biases from Northern military leaders have already created an unfavorable political structure that undermines Nigerian unity.

“Postponing Nigeria’s eventual disintegration only worsens the crisis we face today.

“IPOB categorically rejects the proposal to create new states in the Biafra region.

“Our position remains clear: We do not want our region further fragmented.

“Instead, we demand the return of our Igbo brothers and sisters, as well as villages and clans currently situated in Kogi, Benue, and Edo states, back into Alaigbo.

“That is why IPOB calls for an immediate referendum so that Biafrans can determine their fate—whether to remain in a Nigeria plagued by illusions of unity or to establish an independent Biafran state.”

The debate over state creation has sparked varying opinions across the country.

Meanwhile, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Benjamin Kalu recently disclosed that none of the 31 requests for new states met constitutional requirements.

A referendum is a direct vote where the entire population decides on a specific proposal, which could include constitutional amendments, independence, governance, or other significant political matters.

“The Federal Government is free to create more states within their Nigeria, but Ndigbo are focused on establishing an independent Biafra state.

What Ndigbo seek is a peaceful and democratic exit from Nigeria.”

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