09/09/2017
BIAFRA “MANIFESTO”, THE PRINCIPLES OF
BIAFRA REVOLUTION ON COURSE; AS IGBO-
BIAFRA SOLIDARITY AND NATIONHOOD COME
UNDER INVESTIGATION!”
By Nathaniel I. NDIOKWERE
Preamble
Most “BIAFRA SKEPTICS” or “CRITICS”, or
should we denote them as ‘Igbo elites’,
professors, university dons, lawyers and well-
known politicians and businessmen have come
again! Their likes today as in those days, about
50 years ago, were opposed to Biafra secession
in 1967, or actually never supported, what they
disparaged as ‘suicidal war’ and slightingly
named “Ojukwu Biafra War”, and from the
beginning to the end, leveled various blames and
accusations against Ojukwu and his supporters
on various issues or grounds. Most adamant of
all ‘Biafra Critics was UKPABIA ASIKA, who later
became the administrator of East Central State.
Among the outstanding criticisms of Ojukwu was
that the “AHIARA DECLARATION” came out too
late, in 1968, when the war was drawing to an
end! AHIARA DECLARATION was like a
MANIFESTO, namely a written statement that
describes the policies , goals, and opinions of a
people or group in relation to a movement they
sponsor. In other words, in the present
circumstances, “What is Biafra all about?” “ What
does Biafra stand for?” “How would BIAFRA
policies, goals and administration differ from
those of the decadent and crumbling Nigeria
state!” In clear terns, “What is Biafra presenting
to the world as the ‘political philosophy’ of their
movement?”
MANIFESTO is close to CHARTER, which is also
a written document from a government or ruler
that grants certain rights to an individual, group,
organization, or to people in general. In colonial
times, a charter granted land to a person or
company along with the right to found a colony
on that land. So if, for example, in the present
circumstances, Nigeria fails to settle her political
problems through Sovereign National Conference;
by an intervention of outside bodies like the
ECOWAS, AOU, or UNO, a CHARTER can be
granted by any of these bodies to BIAFRA,
ODUDUWA, and DELTA, (where DELTA refuses to
unite with their kith and kin in BIAFRA), to
establish their independent republics. The rest of
Nigeria remains ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA
or they can erase Nigeria from the world map,
and assume a name, perhaps related to their
Muslim religious leader OSMAN DAN FODIO.
BIAFRA MANIFESTO IN THE MAKING
As no Igboman or Biafran will like to be left
behind in this second “Biafra Revolution”, ours
now is a clarion call for all and sundry to unite
and contribute to this movement and its
aspirations. No Igboman, like UKPABI ASIKA, will
be satisfied, hide away under any pretext, even
become a saboteur, a traitor again, and find
reasons to discredit or blame (not OJUKWU) but
this time, the IPOD leadership under NNAMDI
KANU for any mistakes or failures. Those days,
Biafra ‘elites’ who grumbled and stayed away
from the struggles, complained that Ojukwu ‘out
of Igbo greed’ refused to hand over Biafra oil
fields or wealth to the SOVIET UNION in order to
earn their military support. But Gown and Nigeria
did! Ojukwu argued, it was not greed, but that
Biafra didn’t like to become a VASSAL of the
Soviet Union! A VASSAL is a person or group
who received protection and land from a lord in
return for loyalty and service. But YAKUBU
GOWON, standing for Nigeria wanted that hook!
There were other criticisms leveled against
Ojukwu by even prominent Igbo leaders, including
NNAMDI Azikiwe and others…….ambition,
arrogance, over-estimation of Biafra power,
underestimation of Nigeria-co-allied powers to
crush Biafra in matter of days, even in ordinary
Gowon’s ‘police action’, not even ‘military action’,
involving tanks and aircrafts! That Ojukwu was
stubborn and never accepted counsel, was the
most devastating criticism. But were those
critics honest and right or were their accusations
mere alibi to establish grounds for personal
grudges against the Biafra leader?
The new Biafra would not like controversies.
Biafra will like to accommodate everyone, all
Igbo and Biafran patriots and the ‘elites’ in the
present movement, who are hereby called to
contribute in the drawing of the Biafra
“Manifesto” or “Declaration” for the world to see.
It is for a COMMITTEE in-charge to collect all
pieces of drafts from anyone and groups and put
them together. There should be no plagiarism of
the AHIARA DECLARATION because
circumstances have changed a lot. Biafra does
not need a world power , America, Soviet Union,
Britain, France, Germany or China to embrace
the movement and fight our ‘war’, because there
will be none. But if there happens to be one, we
can attract their help or sympathy as friends, not
vassals. Super powers like to sell their weapons
of war to boost their economy and don’t fight
wars for rascals who provoke wars.
WHO ARE THE ‘ELITES’
“IGBOS DON’T LOVE THEMSELVES”: A
QUESTIONABLE DICTUM” PLUS THE TASK OF
‘RESTRUCTURING’ IGBOLAND AND BIAFRA
We will center our discussion on the above
headings and begin by investigating the ‘elites’. I
am a Biafran ‘elite’ (no one can contest it) and I
am already contributing a lot to the movement.
This is the right time to join write in newspapers
and on social media and give speeches in public
squares as well as in city and village halls.
Wherever crowds are summoned, speech-making
or addresses should not me limited to one man
or leader. The ‘elites’, especially the younger
generation must take their turns and no more
expect their fathers and grand fathers to appear
and address august assemblies. Symposia should
be organized and not only street or market
square rallies.
WHO ARE IN THE OPPOSITION !
And who are saying all that about the Igbos,
nationhood and all the negative thinking? Who
are expressing these doubts? Who are the
skeptics? And who are pessimistic about the
survival of the long persecuted Igbo race? And
who are advocating the downfall and total
collapse of Igbo nation and people? My friend;
and dear reader, don’t crack your head about an
answer! Don’t search your mind. Don’t allow me
embarrass you with reckless questions! Please
note it somewhere.
Not the enemies of NDIGBO are causing all the
damages and saying sickening things about Igbo
people, the Igbo, whom we should love so
passionately! Not the Hausa-Fulanis. Not the
Muslim Brotherhood and Muslim fundamentalists.
Not the Arewa Youths. Not Nigerians anywhere
who privately admire Igbo people and vow to
apply for Biafra citizenship as soon as Biafra
nationhood materialized and the Biafra flag is
hoisted at the headquarters of the United
Nations.
These other non-Igbos cherish a lot about IGBO,
but perhaps dislike or hate Igbos so much as a
result of what they describe as “Igbo excessive
love and attachment to money’ and perhaps too,
as a result of “Igbo nauseating characteristics or
features”, summarized in the acronym ‘IBO/
IGBO’, which full meanings and implications are
widely known by most Nigerians. These people
may not be entirely right anyway .
Like most other peoples of the world, ancient
and modern we, Igbos love money, too. In most
developed countries of the modern era, money is
another name for ‘god’. It is worshipped. It is on
record after extensive research by economy
experts, (1) that money is the root of all evil
(biblical dictum confirmed); (2) Money
contributes about 80% of all controversies found
in governments, public institutions, and litigations
among friends; (3) In all controversies related to
marriage , disputes over money constitute at
least 90%. (4) Amor habendi, habendo crescit!
(Love of having, increases by having); no amount
and quantity of it can satisfy anyone; the
appetite for it rather increases!) Imagine one
woman oil minister collected or stole trillions of
naira! For what! Not only the IGBOS, who defy
all these dangers associated with this ‘idol’,
money, and still chase the ‘evil!’ Nevertheless as
far as the “rest of Nigerians are concerned,
IGBOPHOBIA is not all that deep rooted, but
basically, is a result of envy.
Who are the true “enemies” of NDIGBO?
Do you know those who don’t believe in IGBO
and in themselves? They are the same Igbos,
particularly most of the ‘educated’ ones, and
highly placed, in important and recognized
leadership positions, including the clergy, men of
God, and other professionals. NOT the Igbo
septuagenarians and octogenarians, (those in
their 70s and 80s), although nearing their graves,
but are still very much worried about the future
of their brothers and sisters, sons and daughters,
grand children, and great grand children. There is
no political and economic agenda , no diplomatic
and peaceful options these Igbo grand fathers
have not ventured or explored to let the Hausa-
Fulani Cabal see reason, about the future of the
“Nigerian Union”; but all in vain! Surely the signs
of Nigeria’s disintegration are there, but only the
Northern leaders are saying that ‘Nigeria unity is
not negotiable’. They are ready to enforce that
unity ‘by fire by force’. And only the ‘wise’ see
how they are getting prepared for ‘any
eventuality’, to put up the last fight not to lose
their political and economic hegemony over the
‘rest of the republics!’ Very sad and others are
quiet, watching the dangerous drama!
Who are setting the clock back?
Those that are setting the clock back for the
Igbos and Biafrans are in fact those thought to
be better educated, qualified, and knowledgeable,
who are expected to lead the beleaguered,
(suffering and being subjected to constant and
repeated harassment), Igbo people to the
“Promised Land”. They are the Igbo ‘elites’,
better placed in society, to champion justice,
peace, FairPlay, unity, civilization, progress,
development, education and all that makes a
nation tick, are the ones calling the so-called
‘agitators, ‘freedom fighters’, and ‘trouble-seeker
s’, ‘useless street Biafra mobs’ names; not even
the often-presumed enemies of Igbos race!
The Arewa Youths announced their threats on
radio and television, including other social media
and none of their people called them names.
Their ‘elites’ instead sided and defended them!
They marched along streets and sang hate songs
and made hate speeches, no one condemned
them or ridiculed them. The same can be said
about other freedom fighters from SW, SS or MB
regions. Their people don’t call them mad boys
or dreamers on su***de mission.
Most Biafra vicious critics and skeptics are
IGBOS. They are the ones that describe Igbo
youths as street mobs and crazy ‘agitators,
following a mad naked man along the streets!
They can understand and tolerate a naked man
roaming the streets. It is not an unusual sight
anywhere. But what irritates these concerned
educated Igbos is the sight of thousands and
even millions of sound, enthusiastic, jubilant
youths marching along the streets struggling to
get a glimpse of their beloved leaders! Wow! The
sight of such mammoth crowds must naturally
leave marks of deep impressions on even
passers-by, who, without further questions,
accept as real and obviously important the
‘matters’, ‘issues’ that bring about such people
together!
Often the crowds are bigger than those
experienced in Nigeria during Queen Elizabeth II
first visit to Lagos or Pope John Paul II first visit
to Onitsha. Quite amazing crowds indeed, as the
leader of IPOB, NNAMDI KANU visits parts of
Biafra Land! Should we agree with the personal
assistant to President Muhammad Buhari on
social media, Lauretta Onochie that the leader of
IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu “should be pulled back to
where he belongs …….locked up, and the keys
thrown into the Atlantic Ocean.” Or that Kanu’s
followers are “touts, hooligans, and hoodlums
who do not have formal education!”
Should Igbo critics of Biafra freedom fighters join
Lauretta Onochie in her ‘hate remarks’, not less
severe than those from Arewa Youths and others
couched in Hausa-Fulani ‘Igbo hate songs’ - in
labeling or tagging millions of Biafran youths as
touts and hoodlums with no formal education. If
youths with “no formal education” in Nigeria can
constitute nuisance to national development and
civilization, one can imagine what the North, with
millions of its ALAMAJIRIS, who have absolutely
not seen the four walls of any classroom in life,
are up to!
The “Unimpressed” and “Skeptics”
Unfortunately the ‘unimpressed’ and ‘skeptics’ in
Igboland are the ones who will be the most
privileged to receive recognition, to benefit from
accomplished Biafra project. They will be the
accredited political, religious, and traditional
leaders, ambassadors, diplomats, Biafra
representatives and spokes persons all over the
world. Not the way-side-auto-mechanics, taxi and
Keke na Pepe drivers, market and street traders,
job-seekers, now making all the noise and
‘looking for trouble’ with Nigerian armed police
and soldiers! Who will remember these poor
youths when the victory is won and the ‘national
cake is being shared!’ It is very sad!
Can you imagine how the so-called ‘well-
educated’, ‘well-qualified’ for various political
offices and posts in a new born republic are
telling the “less-qualified”, but more patriotic
fellow citizens, “We are not ready for leadership,
in your Biafra!” Very depressing! Who will do the
“Paper-Works” complete the ‘diplomatic
protocols’ when the battle has been won? It is
the fact, that the youths are fighting the real
battle now! Since their leaders have without
doubt ruled out completely any battle with guns
and bullets, armored tankers and shore-batteries,
air, sea and land mines, bombers and fighters,
where do the Igbo skeptics’ fears lie? Whither
Igbo people? Who are your real enemies? You
need to stop a while and think.
“IGBOS DON’T LOVE THEMSELVES !!!”
This is another ridiculous propaganda one hears
from some Igbos who still believe in Nigeria.
What a farce! Igbos, who have been known from
earliest times to excel in great human virtues
among all the ethnic groups in Nigeria, are now
said to be the evil people, known for disunity and
hate! TUFIA KWA! As far as virtues are
concerned, Igbos are: loving, friendly,
accommodating, always advocating a United-
Nigeria, progressive, philanthropic, hardworking,
enterprising, believer in justice and FairPlay,
peace, live and let live, never pay deaf ear to the
cry of a brother or sister. But Igbos, like other
human beings all over the world can never be
exonerated from other imperfections and evils as
many as one can count and identify. But that
Igbos quarrel among themselves, in families and
societies in general does not single this race out
as evil. Should Igbo armed robber or kidnaper
pick and choose when he goes on his business?
Ridiculous.
"IGBOS LOVE THEMSELVES!” This is a
noteworthy statement about Igbo people . It
expresses an important idea about the Igbos and
there are facts to prove the statement correct
and at the same time demolish the idea that
Igbos hate themselves. But all said and done
Igbos are loving and caring and more generous
than all the other ethnic groups in Nigeria. You
are free to boo or shake your head in agreement
or disbelief. Igbos are more united than any other
ethnic group in Nigeria. If there are 300 ethnic
groups in Nigeria, large and small, the Igbo is
‘number one’ as far as ‘unity’ is concerned; still
takes number one position, when the discussion
is about ‘love for community’, Igbo brother and
sister. The Hausa-Fulani unity has ideology on
religious fundamentalism only.
IGBO ‘UNIONS’ – HOME AND DIASPORA
There is no kindred, village, town, city in Igboland
that hasn’t an umbrella organization that ‘unites’
them. The basic foundation of ‘Unity’ is LOVE. In
the Diaspora, just an example, if there are 5000
cities in the United States of America and a
handful of Igbo families live in those cities, you
will record 5000 ‘Igbo Unions’, aka ‘Family
Meetings’. Please point out any race in our world
today that can boast of such amazing record of
manifestation of care ‘for their people’. A unique
and an undeniable Igbo solidarity and love is
found also in the Igbo aphorism “Ozu Onye Igbo
anaghi ato na Mba”. (An Igbo co**se; a dead
Igbo can never be buried in a foreign land). This
is a demonstration of love and fraternal care
which finds expression only among the Igbos of
Africa. All Igbos in that city, from which ever
part of Igboland he comes from, but living in the
city of LOS ANGELES, an example, participate in
all activities, ‘cash and kind’ to convey an Igbo
co**se home for a befitting burial in fatherland.
Igbos all over the world, in the Diaspora, Europe,
America and Asia, through Igbo unions have
continued the old ‘financial and economic
schemes’ and engage in development projects in
Igbo land and communities. These include
scholarship schemes for both indigent and very
bright students, sinking of water bore-holes,
repairs of debilitated school buildings, maternity
homes in Igbo towns and villages. Most recently
many Igbo Town Unions in Europe and America
engage in annual MEDICAL MISSIONS, geared
towards providing free medical services to
brothers and sisters in need. These and many
others are only few examples of Igbos promoting
unity and love.
But should a point that all Igbos don’t embrace
one another in public be enough ground to stop
the call for self-determination for BIAFRA in the
absence of any other political arrangement for
Nigerian federation? If Nigeria and Biafra are two
evils truly, which one should we choose?
"IGBOS ARE BAD”
As a statement that should be applicable to
entire Igbo race as a ‘stigma’ is arrant nonsense!
Often among all tribes of Nigeria a set of
negative and unfair beliefs that a particular tribe
or group of people are known for particular vices
and crimes are taken for granted. This too is
ridiculous. That a notorious armed robber,
kidnapper, drug dealer, a con man, corrupt
politician and businessman, a dishonest
contractor, a fake priest or medical doctor, is
identified as ‘Igbo’, should NOT become a mark
of shame to discredit the entire Igbo race or any
race in the world. The obverse (opposite reality)
is often ignored, never orchestrated, the so many
good and heroic acts Igbos, single individuals or
communities accomplish. This is equally true
about other peoples and communities!
"LAND-LOCKED BIAFRA” – Meaningless
Propaganda!
This is another ridiculous propaganda, which
even the so called Igbo ‘elites’ carry out to
ridicule and dissuade Biafra agitators. Who says
that Igbo business men, importers and exporters
of merchandize will not be able to use the Port
Harcourt and Calabar ports to transact
businesses, (if our brothers in Rivers, Cross
Rivers, Balyesa and Akwa Ibom states eventually
decide not to join the Biafra nation? Surely these
erstwhile South-Easterners will gain and enjoy
doing business with Igbo counterparts! Biafra is
not land-locked. What is decisive in the success
of Igbo bounce back must include the amount of
opportunities open for job creation and
development that will absolve the returning
EXILES! The physical position of a nation on the
world map, on the earth- planet is not a measure
for its survival as a nation or state in the modern
world. Outside physical land, sea and air, modern
technology has created many other unbelievable
ways and methods of transacting businesses and
as well communicating.
RESTRUCTURING IGBO LAND & BIAFRA
"IGBO LAND” comprises the 5 Igbo states, in
alphabetical order; ABIA, ANAMBRA, EBONYI,
ENUGU and IMO. “BIAFRA” is simply the OLD
EASTERN REGION. The only meaningful
restructuring project, is that, which has to do
with Igboland and Biafra. That is what ‘Charity
begins at home’ means. I can remember the
number of times Biafra guys have shared on the
social media the two most valued and popular
“ROADS” to self determination; namely the
CATALONIAN(SPAIN-BARCELONA) ‘agenda’ and
COL JOSEPH ACHUZIE ‘option’. Both options for
Biafra are virtually the same. If you are a
committed patriotic Biafran, go and re-revisit
those “write ups” on the social media. Those
presenters are not advocating a “Ready-Made”
Nation! Here I wish to highlight few key areas as
we pursue our self-determination, the Igbo and
Biafra restructuring agenda.
THE BIAFRA MANIFESTO AND NEW “AHIARA
DECLARATION”
The NEW GENERATION of Biafran leadership
must endeavor to develop and industrialize our
lands; ABIA, ANAMBRA, EBONYI, ENUGU and
IMO as well as SS STATES, so that the hunger
to return from anywhere, including Hausa Land
to join the exercise will be rekindled. And
BIAFRA solidarity and patriotism will no more be
“under investigation”, or doubt! Lack of
motivation for education, lack of job
opportunities, lack of care from elders and our
leaders has made our youths flee our motherland
and get involved in dirty businesses. Today, it is
no more well with the Igbo young men and
women as they join others in search of the
prohibited fruits! Who are to blame?
“THE PROMISED LAND” : DREAMS AND
NIGHTMARES!
Where do we begin? If education is abandoned
and the youths focus on big money and wealth;
then the whole Biafra idea will be an unrealizable
dream, a nightmare! If the old generation of
corrupt politicians and leaders are allowed to
take up their old jobs in BIAFRA, then the young
nation will be doomed. Only true Biafran patriots,
emancipated younger generation of leaders, who
were NOT born in Egypt, will be allowed to
handle the steering wheel of the nation’s
leadership! Not those leaders who had tasted
that nation’s ‘delicious’ Porridge and Cucumba
and Egyptian Melon dishes, not those who
complained against Moses at Massah and
Meribah and desired to get back to Egypt, not
those who were scared of possible agonies and
realities of the “Promised Land”, its occupation,
development, its security and defense as it is
surrounded by vicious enemies!
All the unpatriotic and corrupt “Nigerian-Biafra”
politicians and leaders who have participated in
the looting of that nation’s wealth and have been
involved in other known corrupt practices, will be
compulsorily retired and so, barred from any
public office in the young nation. There will be
absolute zero tolerance for corrupt practices in
Biafra, otherwise the new nation most of us are
clamoring for, will have nothing to celebrate , to
prove to other nations and neighbors that
freedom can bear enviable fruits, the types that
are rare and hard to find in the entire African
continent and in most developed and developing
countries. Anti-corruption campaigns must
feature strongly and pervade the entire political
and economic spectrum and climate of the
young nation, bearing enviable fruits of
development, job creation and satisfaction,
dedication to duty, service of fatherland, security,
justice and fair-play. All the evils that led to
protests and mass uprising in the erstwhile
republic can never be allowed to sprout in the
new Biafra state.
The Tragic Situation of Igbo Youths in Diaspora
How can Igbo entrepreneurs and politicians
watch igbo youths waste away overseas in
search of non-existent Greener Pastures, while in
Igboland and Biafra, luxuriant pastures waste
away! The youths are found in most tiny West
African countries, including countries we fed and
nurtured in their hours of darkness – Ghana,
Sierra Leone, Liberia, Cotonou, Equatorial Guinea,
Canary Islands, Cape Verde and other tiny
islands off the coasts of West Africa. Is there
any need mentioning the known cities of South
Africa, Europe, North and South America, Asia
and tiny islands of the Caribbeans. In most of
these places Biafran sons and daughters are
languishing in jail; most convicted criminal
activities.
CONCLUSION – Boycott of Elections
The idea of “Boycotting any elections in Biafra or
Nigeria” only serves as ‘threat’ for Nigerian
authorities to take Biafra freedom fighters
serious. And they have read the signs of the
times and are expected accordingly to re-adjust.
But in reality Biafrans should participate in all
elections until Biafra agenda is consummated.
There is no doubt that the Igbo politicians at all
levels have woefully failed NDIGBO. Not only
they have not creditably performed well as
leaders; total political isolation of Igbo race in
Nigeria’s, political agenda, attributable to lack of
unity among Igbo politicians, is no doubt, their
worst crime. Nevertheless there is hope that
credible Igbo-BIAFRA leaders and politicians will
emerge in the present circumstances. This is
why the ‘elites’ as well as ‘skeptics’ must show
up now and identify with the Biafra-Freedom
Movement. I have shown appearance and call on
my fellow BIAFRA ELITES to show up and make
their contributions. THERE IS A LOT OF
INTELLECTUAL WORK AHEAD! There is no other
option. Martin Luther King(Jr), made it clear
when he declared that “Freedom is never
voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be
demanded by the oppressed”. THANK YOU FOR
READING AND EQUALLY SHARING, IF YOU
WISH.
By Very Rev Fr Nathaniel N.
