May 20, 2017
Press Release
THE FOLLY OF DABBLING INTO NIGERIAN POLITICS WITH A VIEW TO ACHIEVING BIAFRA SOVEREIGNTY THEREFROM
The Directorate of State (DOS) of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) is appalled at the display of crass ignorance and deception by certain groups who plan to dabble into Nigerian politics and hope to use same to achieve Biafra’s sovereignty. The DOS is further disturbed at the display of lack of knowledge of constitutional provisions with regards to amendments to the corporate and geopolitical structure of the British-created contraption called Nigeria. We will like to use this opportunity to, once more, educate these groups on the futility of their plans.
The fraudulently-written and lopsided Nigerian Constitution does not have any provision for internally-organized Referendum that could alter the corporate existence of the country. On the contrary, Sections 2 & 3 emphatically stipulated the entity called Nigeria, the footprints, and its indivisibility and indissolubility. The implication of these two sections is that no part of Nigeria can be excised from it via any internal process. The only way that the corporate existence of Nigeria can be altered is by external influence/process. The ceding of Bakassi to Cameroun through the judgment of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) is a perfect example. Keep in mind that this was a case between Nigeria and an external entity/country.
We would like to bring to the attention of these groups that the only way to change the Nigerian Constitution, and by extension its corporate structure, is through the conditions prescribed in Section-9 of that Constitution. Considering that Biafra is the proverbial goose that lays the golden eggs in terms of generating more than 90% of the income coming into Nigeria, how do these groups expect to succeed in getting Biafra out of Nigeria based on the conditions stipulated in Section-9 of that Constitution? Do these groups, who are mainly from the Southeast, realize that even if the entire Southwest and South-South agree to join them, they can only have 17 states as against the minimum requirement of 24 states to effect any constitutional amendment?
It is very important for these groups to understand that every political office holder in Nigeria must subscribe to Schedule-7 of the Nigerian Constitution. This Seventh Schedule consists of Oath of Allegiance and Oath of Office. Violation of these Oaths is an indefensible and irreversible route to impeachment or dismissal in addition to prosecution for Treason or Treasonable Felony. Therefore, we ask these groups to explain to Biafrans how they will subscribe to Schedule-7 on the one hand, and on the other hand be involved in activities that contradict the Oaths as well as contradict Section-2 and Section-3 of the Constitution.
We caution those groups associating with any political party who’s manifesto and constitution are not in sync with Nigeria’s Constitutional provisions to be mindful of Section-222(e) of the Constitution and Section-78(7i) of INEC Electoral Act of 2010. The DOS admonishes these organizations to beat a retreat because they can never achieve Biafra sovereignty by getting enmeshed in Nigerian politics.
The Nigerian Constitution and the various Acts of Parliaments (Laws of the Federation of Nigeria – LFN) do not support any internal process that could lead to the exit of Biafra from Nigeria. The only feasible option for achieving the sovereignty of Biafra is through a United Nations-mandated and supervised Referendum. The various pro-Biafra groups must now form a coalition of equal partners. This coalition will approach the United Nations (U.N.) to conduct a Referendum on Biafra sovereignty.
Identifying with and getting enmeshed in Nigerian political process is antithetical to achieving Biafra sovereignty because of the booby traps inherent in the fraudulent Constitution and the associated Acts of Parliament. The time for all Biafrans and pro-Biafra groups to dissociate and disentangle themselves from Nigeria’s politics and political process is now. We should all coalesce and work together to engender a U.N.-mandated Referendum on Biafra.
Long live Biafrans and long live the blessed land of Biafra!!!
Signed:
Barrister Emma Nmezu
Dr. Clifford Chukwuemeka Iroanya
Spokespersons for IPOB