Two groups agitating for self-determination for the Yoruba and Igbo nations have forged an alliance to actualise their goals.
The group forged the alliance Friday ahead of Nigeria’s 60th Independence Anniversary on October 1.
In a joint statement to commemorate the alliance, the groups charged the Federal Government to organise a referendum before the 2023 general election for Nigerians to determine whether they still wished to be part of the federation or exercise their right to self determination.
The statement was signed by International General Secretary of Yoruba One Voice (YOV), Dr. Sina Okanlomo and Head, Directorate of State of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Chika Edoziem.
According to the groups, Nigeria’s forced almalgamation in 1914 has brought nothing but insecurity, poverty, and marginalisation.
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The statement read, “From all indications, the current leadership of Nigeria is not, and has never been committed to the fundamental objectives and directives of the principles of statehood, policies of Federalism as enshrined in Chapter II of the Constitution that it derived its powers from.
“Our peoples are tired of the terrorism, insecurity, hopelessness, injustice, killings, unemployment, inequality, corruption, scandals, violence, oppression, extortion.
“Our peoples are entitled to their inherent inalienable rights to Self-determination and dignity of their persons in accordance with Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human and Peoples Rights of 1948; Article 20 of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights, Article 1 of the International Convention Civil and Political Rights and the International Convention on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
“Our aspiration is to build a viable, democratic and stable Nation for our Peoples and in this regard, we demand that there must be a referendum, so that our peoples can freely and fairly make a democratic choice, whether they want to continue with Nigeria as presently configured or seek their right to Self-determination before the 2023 General elections.
“In order to prevent an implosion of sorts, we, on behalf of our people, therefore demand a proper referendum/plebiscite, to be conducted between now and the 1st of October,2021, in accordance with the Rights of Indigenous Peoples’ all over the world under The Law as provided in the AU and the United Nations charters, to be supervised by Both The AU and the United Nations.
“Copies of this jointly signed Release have been sent to these world bodies. If, as we believe, our people choose Self-determination, The Next Natural Step would be the immediate activation of the processes and modalities, beginning from the 2nd of October, 2021, for the creation of the Odùduwà and the Biafran Nations out of the present but otiose Nigerian experiment, which started in 1914.”