The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has
commenced widespread mobilisation and sensitisation for referendum ahead of the
emergence of the independent state of Biafra.
This was contained in a press statement by
the spokesman of the group, Comrade Emma Powerful.
According to him “IPOB family members
worldwide are working tirelessly to restore our long lost freedom and political
independence from the Luggardian creation called Nigeria without bloodshed.
“We invite the international community, men
and women of goodwill to come and monitor this peaceful referendum in
Biafraland”.
The statement noted that the pro-Biafran
agitators do not require the
permission of the Nigerian State or her
government officials to grant them independence, giving the indication that
they are going ahead with the referendum even without the Nigerian constitution
granting such rights for secession.
Urging Biafrans both home and in the
Diaspora to prepare for the forth coming ‘referendum on their independence’, he
said: “We as a people have the right under international law to decide our fate
through a referendum the same way Britain exercised their right to leave the
European Union without the permission of the European.
“Scotland has also exercised this right to
self-determination and so have the Quebec region in Canada.
“If these nations populated by humans like
us Biafrans can exercise this
right, so can we”.
He further stated that “the path to Biafra
independence will not pass through Abuja because it is a process that will be
considered by Biafrans only and no other people”.
According to him, the organs of the region
are the people designated to call the referendum for independence of Biafra.
He claimed that the eastern region had
partners, not the Nigerian government, but the United Nations, who would have
the mandate to monitor the referendum processes and ensure compliance with the
will so expressed.
IPOB argued further that the same path to
independence had also been implemented by South Sudan, Greenland, Kosovo,
Albania, East Timor, Bosnia Herzegovina, Montenegro among others.
“In all these newly created countries,
their citizens voted in a referendum with international monitoring bodies,
which ensured the validity of the votes cast. The same referendum can also be
conducted in Biafraland and monitored by the international observers,” the
group insisted.
Reacting to agitations for the sovereign
State of Biafra, President Muhammadu Buhari in September called on Biafran
youths to take their minds off the actualisation of Biafra and promote national
unity.
He pledged his unalloyed commitment to the
unity and prosperity of Nigeria and urged them to remain focused in life,
pursue their dreams and reject those fanning embers of discord and
disintegration of Nigeria.
Speaking
specifically to corps members from the South Eastern states in Duara in Katsina
State, the President said: “Tell your colleagues who want Biafra to forget
about it.”
No comments:
Post a Comment