The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) must be told that it shows lack of a sound knowledge of many countries in the world for one to believe that the only way to have unity or progress or development is to have a country with people that speak same language and practice same religion. South Sudan, the newest country in the world, is still struggling for peace from 2011 to date. For IPOB to achieve Biafra, the movement should start by convincing the Igbos to relocate their businesses back home.
Majority of Igbos do not seem to want Biafra Republic even if they believe in it. Majority of them still want united Nigeria for obvious reasons.
Arguably there are more Igbos in other parts of Nigeria than in the five states of Abia, Anambra, Enugu, Imo and Ebonyi including Bendel Igbos and Ikweres, who are seen as Igbo cousins by some people. Similarly, the Igbos have more investments in other parts of Nigeria than the total number of investments in the South-east. More so, the Igbos have more landed assets in other parts of Nigeria than in Igboland.
We have Igbos in the North who are lecturers in the universities, polytechnics and colleges of education. There are Igbo professionals and students going about their businesses peacefully.
Also, majority of building materials, electronic/electrical appliances, spare parts and pharmaceutical equipment sellers, are Igbos. The major markets in the North are populated by Igbos as traders. If you go to Sabon Gari market, Kano; Monday Market, Maiduguri; Terminus Market, Jos; Sheikh Abubakar Gumi Market, Kaduna and all major markets in the north are populated by Igbos doing their business without any harassment.
Most of the people from northern extraction staying in the southern part of the country or Igbo land are artisans or those who are doing menial jobs. One must also acknowledge the few federal government civil servants there.
Some people believe that because of our “ethnic” and “religious” diversities we cannot co-exist peacefully. India has over 1,000 ethnic groups and India is the most multi-religious nation in the world but the country is progressing rapidly.
Prof. Farooq Kperogi said, “Many Nigerians think our country is unworkable because it was forced into being by the British colonialists.” This view frankly amazes me, he added, “Is there any nation in history whose formation was the consequence of a democratic consensus? Historically, most nations were formed by conquests, expansionist wars, and forceful cooperation, not by consensus.”
However, it is on record that, we witnessed centuries of civil wars among the Yorubas (Ife and Mudakeke) who share ethnic ties with dialectical differences; we are also aware of civil wars among the Hausa states in the pre-colonial era.
The case of Omulari and Ogulari struggle in the Igbo land is also not left out. Nevertheless, the pre-colonial era in the South-South witnessed a series of civil and communal wars.
All the zones of the federation have their socio-economic problems and developmental challenges. Let’s demand for social justice within the context of Nigeria. Let’s all Nigerians continue to demand for good governance.
Together we stand and divided we fall!
Nurudeen Dauda,
Kaduna
