The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the Yoruba One Voice (YOV) have reiterated their resolve to achieve Biafra and Oduduwa Nations.
Warning of an implosion in Nigeria, they told the federal government to between now and October 1, 2021, conduct a referendum to allow citizens choose whether to leave or remain in the country.
This was contained in a joint release made available to DAILY POST on Friday.
It was signed by Sina Okanlomo, YOV General Secretary and Chika Edoziem, Head, IPOB Directorate of State.
The statement said Southern people were enduring life “with others, who do not share our own values, whose ways of life, mannerisms, ideology, are untoward, inimical, alien, hostile to our people.”
The bodies noted that it is time to boldly jettison the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), “which was not a product of the collective will of the people.”
They said the constitution was decreed into existence by the General Abdulsalami Abubakar administration, after the annulment of June 12, 1993 general elections, “won fair and square by the late Bashorun Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola.”
The signatories noted that the 1914 “forced amalgamation” has entrenched poverty, underdevelopment, mediocrity, unemployment, wanton killings, terrorism, inequality, insecurity, injustice, ethnic bigotry, religious fanaticism and breach of human rights.
IPOB and YOV said from all indications, the current leadership of Nigeria 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.
They stated that people of the South are tired of the terrorism, insecurity, hopelessness, injustice, killings, unemployment, inequality, corruption, scandals, violence, oppression, extortion, and repression.
“Our aspiration is to build a 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 African Union (AU) and the United Nations (UN) charters.”
The groups said if the people choose self-determination, there would be an immediate activation for the creation of Oduduwa and Biafran Nations out of Nigeria from October 2, 2021.
IPOB and YOV told Southern people to stay away from Nigeria’s 60th Independence Anniversary activities.
They told them to be free from “internal colonization” and to stay at home on October 1, 2020.
The statement told agitators to be ready for further calls for peaceful and legal demonstrations.