ANOTHER WONDERFUL MESSAGE TO THOSE AGITATING FOR BIAFRA

"Just like my firm belief in divorce when a marriage has broken down irretrievably or when parties mutually think they cannot continue to live together( Even though this belief goes against the commandments of the Catholic faith which I belong to) so is my belief in the secession of any part of the country that has carefully thought out the implications of its actions. In the Biafra secessionist calls, I have had a mixed feeling towards it. 

First my concerns have been with the source of the secessionist agitation- the caliber, the experience and motives of the agitators. Secondly, my concerns have been that the agitation does not reflect the majority views of the entire people that would inhabit the geographical entity called Biafra. Thirdly, the process, the outcomes and the implications have not well been thought out. While it may seem that a feeling of marginalision in political appointments is the concern and the aim is to redress this wrong, there could hardly be seen any other marginalization that currently bedevils the entity. 

Granted, there could be agitations for secession even without a perceived marginalisation; but it appears here the aim is to garner appointments than to secede. On why the strong feeling that the outcomes are not thought out can be exemplified in the recent quit notice threat. With the threat there is seen an unwillingness of the ibos to move. Let’s get it right, when you secede you will necessarily move out from the entity that is not yours. If you desire to return you must get a Visa and you must now reside therein as an alien. Depending on the policy and legal framework of that country you may not be allowed to own properties  or you may own subject to very restricted legal permits.

 There is also the possibility of  a nationalization policy that may affect your businesses and properties. You cannot challenge this as you may not be subject to their judiciary any longer except as an alien considering that nations are sovereign. This illustration probably is what forms the hue and cry of the IBO’s over the quit notice. Ordinarily, a an entity with overwhelming desire to secede will jump at such a quit notice because in my thinking it quickens the process. The implications may not have been thought out or the stark reality of this movement is just dawning on the few that are discerning.

It is time therefore time for the IBO’s , the discerning minds of the region to have a conference where they can deeply reflect on their options. In doing this they may rather discover that secession may not be the aim but a systems that favours them, in what others call restructuring. I personally still have issues with the restructuring though; as I often wonder whether political, economic or geographic restructuring is the aim. Knowing that one form may necessarily affect the other.

 One thing is certain in my mind though, the Nigerian project isn’t working and there is need more than ever to thinker with the current structure. A political restructuring won’t be a bad idea."
             
              Akwagiobe, Richard Akpanke Esq.