REFERENDUM IS INEVITABLE: VERIFICATION OF CONSTITUENTS' DESIRE DOES NOT CONFLATE WITH SECESSION
Okenwa R. Nwosu, M.D.
If Nigerians are adults, we ought to begin to behave like grownups. Often, the best way to learn true history is to learn what has happened in the past through the horse's mouth. That's exactly what Barr. Chris Aniedobe did when he ran into an old audio documentary which the BBC had produced on Nigeria's early nation building by the British colonial masters who put the country together piecemeal through military conquest. As the learned brother remarked, "Nigeria was created by Britain for Britain". It can be argued that in 1914, Nigerians were regarded and treated just as children under the parental guidance of colonial Britain. As the legal expert argues, Nigerians have now come of age and thus can now decide what to do with themselves as adults.
That adult decision by Nigerians of today must start with a Referendum. Barr. Aniedobe is of the view that "after being forced into Nigeria without consent, Ndiigbo and indeed all Nigerian ethnicities are now old enough to decide, by Referendum, whether they wish to continue being in Nigeria or not. It is a mere democratic exercise and asking for Referendum should not conflate with secession. It is asking to make Nigeria a de-jure nation as opposed to a de-facto nation". But some segment of the Nigerian polity believe that the Nigeria created by the British must be looked upon as sacrosanct and thus cannot be tampered with, no matter what. Perhaps, this foolish mindset is buttressed by pervasive ignorance, particularly regarding how Nigeria was coupled together one hundred years ago, for what purpose and for whose interest.
Referendum Is Inevitable: Verification of Constituents' Desire Does Not Conflate with Secession
Hear from Lugard himself why he created Nigeria. Nigeria was created by Britain for Britain. He also created “chiefs” in Igboland to extend indirect rule just like he already did in the Northern Region.
After being forced into Nigeria without consent, Ndiigbo and indeed all Nigerian ethnicities are now old enough to decide, by Referendum, whether they wish to continue being in Nigeria or not. It is a mere democratic exercise and asking for Referendum should not conflate with secession. It is asking to make Nigeria a de-jure nation as opposed to a de-facto nation. …………….…read more
