I am moved this morning to react to an observation that manifests apparent MISCONCEPTION and the ploy to deceive people. Representation of a people by some in the call for self-determinism must be by COLLECTIVE CONSENT. Any group of people that claim they speak for the generality of people on the basis of preestablished roles as elders, youth leaders etc is ULTRA VIRES and null and void. Let me expatiate below.
Accord respect to a chief and elder in your social milieu, but the chief/elder should know that he overreaches himself when he operates in ways that paint the picture that he THINKS and DECIDES for you. This information is vital and necessary, considering what has become en vogue since the resurrection of a seemingly dead AGITATION. Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the Director of IPOB worldwide, has struck a cord in us, a cord that has excited the docile SUPERMAN in us. Today, the common man, once a nobody, is now the reason GOVERNORS MEET, ELDERS AND OPINION LEADERS MEET, TRADITIONAL RULERS MEET etc.
We love the pervading PANIC that has characterized the entire country, especially the East and Niger Delta. However, we must say it loud to these so-called elders, chiefs, and governors that they do not have any right whatsoever to speak for us! If they were truly useful, would we be where we are? Maybe we should ask our so-called elders, elected representatives, and traditional leaders some pertinent questions.
1) Where have they been all this while?
2) How many of them spoke up when innocent lives were being cut short by the nozzles and barrels of the khaki in 2015 and 2016?
3) If they were less concerned about the loss of lives, why can't they be less concerned about our agitation?
4) If they REPRESENT and SPEAK for us, how come their own RESOLUTION is against ours? Are they not suppose to be our VOICE? Or is there something they are not telling us?
5) Our governors should tell us why the mandate we gave to them at the POLL is the same they are exercising in contradistinction to our WILL. Why?
6) Why do governors speak only when the clamour of a people shows clear potentiality to affect the POWER and WEALTH they criminally enjoy?
7) Who exactly do these self-made and self-styled elders and the elected governors in the East and Niger Delta speak for? Is it US or their selfishness and greed?
Let me make this as clear as crystal. No governor, no elder, no chief has the RIGHT to tell any adult human how to exercise his right. Our right is our HUMANITY, for man is rights writ large. These leaders can make laws and adjudicate on civil and political matters, but they overreach themselves whenever they try to tell us what we should do with our rights. Self-determinism is not politics, since it is given birth to by a vivacious personal, not influenced, CONVICTION. Every attempt by our elders, chiefs, and governors to politicise the agitation will hit the rock because their MONUMENTAL FAILURE itself necessitated the agitation.
Our dear elders and political leaders should have the heart to see the new development as a REFLECTION of their dismal performance. The least they can do is to be CONTRITE (ask us for forgiveness). If they had protected our interests, there would be no need for us to take the bull by the horn. We have resorted to SELF-HELP because we saw no glimmer of hope in sight. We are making it clear to them that there is no turning back. We have said a resounding NO to RESTRUCTURING. We, the youths, prayed and longed for a day an energetic fellow would emerge as our PATHFINDER. Today, the Almighty God has blessed us with this timeless gift called Nnamdi Kanu. We would be damned, if we fail to make judicious use of him. We are queuing behind him. No distraction. Forward ever until the RAYS of the Sun in Biafra strikes us. There must be SUNRISE IN BIAFRA. All hail Biafra!
Let our elders , governors, and traditional rulers function within the confines of sustaining peace, mediating to broker peace between warring factions, and justly using our state and national coffers. As far as self-determination is concerned, we alone have the final say. God bless you all. You are Biafrans. Always tell yourselves that you alone know where it hurts you. Keep pushing. Keep moving. We are almost there. SECESSION IS WHAT WE ENVISION. REFERENDUM IS THE KEY. AGITATION WITHOUT VIOLENCE IS OUR RIGHT.
ALLLLLL HAILLLLL BIAFRAAAAAAA!
Russell Idatoru Bluejack is a thinker, revolutionary writer, a tutor, and a socio-economic and political analyst that writes from Port Harcourt