There is something I have heard you (and many commentators) say a number of times that I need you to think of critically.
About 2 years ago, I wrote an article entitled: The Harm MASSOB Causes Ndigbo. I believe that Igbos will fare better in Nigeria, but that must be a Nigeria that is working, a Nigeria that is competitive, a Nigeria that believes in hard work, merit and creativity, not the current Nigeria that is fixated on sharing of federal allocation, friction and bloodshed. I have not cared to listen to Radio Biafra but I have heard reports of the caustic and offensive language Nnamdi Kanu employs – I don’t fancy the guy.
While speaking about the agitations about Biafra on radio, you have said on a number of times that Igbos want to face their successful ventures in different parts of the nation and will not want to leave all that they have in Nigeria for Biafra. Good point. But the loophole in this line of argument is that it assumes that if Biafra succeeds and becomes an independent state, all Biafrans must leave Nigeria. No. It does not follow.
Even though the State of Israel was created in 1948, there are still more Israelis outside Israel than within Israel. When South Sudan parted ways with Sudan in 2011, not every South Sudanese left Sudan.
Nigeria and Britain, US, Ghana,etc, are not the same country, but Nigerians in these countries have not returned just because they are not citizens of those countries. The laws that apply to non-citizens apply to them and their investments.
In West Africa, members of the region don’t even need a visa to move around.
My point is that if for any reason in the future, Biafra or even Oduduwa or any group breaks away, citizens of the breakaway state don’t necessarily need to immediately leave their place of abode, as long as it is a peaceful separation like in Sudan (2011), Czechoslovakia(1993), India/Pakistan (1947), or like Scotland and Catalonia are pursuing. People may leave their places of residence immediately after the separation to help build their new country, but no law forbids them from remaining in their country of abode or settling in any country of their choice, as long as they meet the conditions of that country. So when a people have their own country, it does not mean that they will be expelled from other countries of the world or that they are meant to be marooned in their new country and prevented from going into any other country or settling there.
Igbos have more to gain in Nigeria than in Biafra if only Nigeria can work and stop frustrating the aspirations of its citizens. They have more investments outside their zone than any other group. Nigeria has more space and people than Igboland which is to the advantage of the Igbos who like to fan out and move around. They stand a chance of losing more if there is trouble in Nigeria. They have been told that Igboland is landlocked. They have been told that the new Biafra will erupt in crisis if it ever becomes independent. Despite all these factors, why do many Igbos still continue to agitate to leave Nigeria? I would like you to dig into the reason why many Igbos continue to agitate about having their country in spite of all these “factors” that are thrown at them. Other Nigerians should be asking that question too so that it can aid our understanding of one another.
Thank you, sir. And have a great day.
Azuka Onwuka
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