Nnamdi Kanu agrees to abandon secessionist campaign for Biafra in exchange for restructuring

INDIGENOUS People of Biafra (Ipob) leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has agreed to suspend his agitation for the creation of an independent republic of Biafra if Nigeria is restructured providing for a more equitable and fairer federation.

Over the last two years, Ipob and other secessionist groups have been campaigning for the recreation of the defunct republic of Biafra that briefly existed between July 1967 and January 1970. In response to the agitation, a coalition of Arewa youth groups gave all Igbos leaving in northern Nigeria an ultimatum to leave the region by October 1.

In the midst of the heated political atmosphere, talks have been ongoing behind the scene to diffuse the tension and yesterday, the Arewa youth groups withdrew their ultimatum. In response,  Mazi Kanu has agreed to drop calls for the dismemberment of Nigeria once talks about restructuring the federation get underway and they show signs of achieving results.

Professor Ben Nwabueze, the chairman of the pressure group Southern Leaders of Thought, said that Mazi Kanu has agreed to suspend the agitation for the secession, insofar as the campaign for restructuring was progressive. He also rejected the declaration by President Muhammadu Buhari, in his nationwide broadcast on Monday, that the National Assembly and the National Council of State were the legitimate bodies to determine the nation’s restructuring.

Yesterday, Professor Nwabueze, who presented the position of the Southern Leaders of Thought on Nigeria’s restructuring, warned against an imminent crisis if President Buhari failed to heed the yearnings of the people that Nigeria should be restructured in a manner that guarantees equity and fairness. He spoke at a gathering that included several high profile statesmen, including former Commonwealth secretary Chief Emeka Anyaoku.

Professor Nwabueze said: “Let me announce to you that Nnamdi Kanu has authorised me to tell Nigerians that if restructuring is progressive, he will persuade his group to suspend the demand for the Republic of Biafra and the plan to disrupt the 2019 general election. However, if the federal government refuses to fairly restructure in line with the people’s aspirations and yearnings, there will be trouble.

"Nnamdi Kanu will not be the one to cause the trouble. The trouble will be caused by those who are opposing the will of the sovereign people."

On this basis, Professor Nwabueze called for negotiated restructuring to be implemented through a new constitution which, according to him, was the best assurance for the realisation of the collective desire for one Nigeria.  He added that Nigerians are a sovereign people who have the right to govern themselves.