The self-determination struggle for Biafra by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) through legal and diplomatic means has continued to gather momentum from various fronts with the involvement of elders and statesmen from the enclave. IPOB in Anambra state is led by a retired State Chief Judge while several elders now populate it, and the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra is led by Chief Ralph Uwazuruike.
Ironically, these pro-Biafra groups have one target: To achieve an independent Biafran nation, though with different philosophies, approaches and methodologies.
Recently, elder statesman and Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Council of Elders of the Indigenous People of Biafra (SCEIPOB), Dr Dozie Ikedife threw more light on the modus operandi of his group which has been able to gain recognition by the United Nations and African Union since the pro-Biafra group, according to him, has been attending meetings of those international bodies.
“We know that under the Nigerian Constitution, African Union and the United Nations Acts, quest for self-determination is legal, legitimate and proper. I’m sure also that the United Nations or any other body will not support militancy, killings, abusing constituted authorities or preaching hatred. And quest for self-determination is a fundamental right so long as it is done within the law,” Dr Ikedife said.
He maintained that his organization, because of its beliefs, principles and methodology is using every legal means to achieve its goal by going to court for the interpretation of some of the clauses of various Acts regarding self-determination under the United Nations Act 2007 and 2008 African Union Act as well as the Nigerian Constitution. He maintained that his organization firmly believes that Biafra would be achieved through legal and diplomatic approach.
To buttress his assertion, Dr Ikedife said that the SCEIPOB has been in court with the Federal Government at the Owerri Federal High Court through Bilie Human Rights Initiative, an arm of the SCEIPOB over the interpretation of the self-determination clause. He said the matter was to be heard on September 22, 2015, but the presiding judge was indisposed on that date which made the process to suffer a setback. A new date is December 15, 2015. The suit was instituted in 2012, according to him.
“The court did not sit because it was reported that the hearing judge was indisposed. But after that, all the people who went on behalf of Biafra, on behalf of the Indigenous People of Biafra met outside the court premises, had long discussions on the issue that brought them to court.
“Nobody harassed them, nobody disturbed them. If you go on to disobey the law, or do things illegally, then you are asking for trouble,” Dr Ikedife submitted.
He said it is clear there are certain things the law does not permit, adding that you dare not do them. He noted that his organization had been singing those things as a song.
“Wherever you are as a group or as an individual, you should try as much as possible to obey the law of the land and obey the law of any group you belong to. People seeking self-determination under the remnants of Biafra do not believe in violence, do not believe in abusive language, do not believe in preaching hate, ethnic hatred, do not believe in waging war and do not believe in disobedience to constituted authorities. Therein lies the difference,” the medical doctor said.
He called on those he said were bamboozled to believe that they should get up with arms against Nigeria to know that there is no road along that path. Ikedife noted that they were wasting their time and their talent as well as exposing themselves to danger. He explained that those talking about fighting, are probably youths who had never seen any war. He said those people were not born when Biafra fought the war of survival as a nation.
On whether the Federal Government could stop the struggle for Biafra self-determination, he said government could do something, but not anything illegal.
According to him, the Federal Government should have stopped the legal process between it and the Indigenous People of Biafra IPOB, adding that the Federal Government knew it would be illegal and unconstitutional to stop the court process since it always sent its representatives to court since the case started.
“It is easy for them not to respond at all, if they will go that way. But don’t forget this is democracy and the world is watching. I believe that so long as you are pursuing whatever you are doing through legal means, diplomatic process, and personal contacts, nobody should harass you or say that you cannot have your free movement. It is the fundamental right of every individual to actualize whatsoever potentials he has without let or hindrances,” the pro-Biafra leader further submitted. He is of the view that whether it takes 10, 20, and 30 years or more to achieve Biafra, it must be achieved.
He explained that his group has continued to dissociate itself from the architects of the controversial Radio Biafra and have nothing to do with their mode of operation. Ikedife said his group never believed in insulting elders or inciting people against constituted authorities, regretting that the name of his organization, Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) had been high jacked by the architects of the Radio Biafra, though information dissemination remains a fragment of the original IPOB.
He lauded the leader of MASSOB, Chief Uwazuruike for choosing non violent stance “maybe because he studied in India and shares Ghandi’s philosophy of non-violence and peaceful demonstration.
-Emmanuel Ikechukwu
