THE UNENDING SUFFERINGS OF BIAFRANS IN THE HANDS OF NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT, AND THE URGENT NEED TO LEAVE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

Permit me to kick off this piece by quoting one of the most popular African proverbs which says "Any man who doesn't know where the rain started beating him up will never know where it will stop beating him also". Moreso, another proverb, "A man that was absent during a burial, when it's time to dig up the dead body, he will start from the leg.

For the past decades, the world has stood still and watched Biafrans pass through many unfathomable, inhumane treatments from the hands of feudal and oppressive government of Nigeria which includes, Marginalization, subjugation, deaths and worst still, denial of justice. The British government sits with their legs crossed sipping bottles of champagne as they watch the people they forcefully joined together against their will, engage in battles of supremacy over matters that involve a round table meeting. They are the ones who sabotage self-determination.

Now, why would people with different religion, and views be forced to live together? Would there be any peace? Your answers are as good as mine.

Let us delve properly into the topic of today which says "The Unending Sufferings Of Biafrans In The Hands Of Nigerian Government, And The Urgent Need To Leave".

One would want to ask "What actually led to the war between Biafra and Nigeria which saw millions of innocent Biafrans especially women and children dead? Who's to be blamed?

Now, here's a little lecture about what actually happened.

Historically there have been issues with perceived disparities between the North and the South. First, most of the country's oil reserves are in the South. Another issue is that a good part of the North, where the capital is located, is Islam, while the South is predominantly Christianity.

For a long time, the Southerners have felt the Northerners have not distributed a fair share of the oil revenues. Then on top of that throw in tribal rivalries.

In 1960, Nigeria became independent from the United Kingdom. As with many other new African states, the borders of the country did not reflect earlier ethnic boundaries. Thus, the northern Sudan and Sahelian Savannah region of the country is made up of Muslim majority, while the southern population is predominantly Christians.

Furthermore, Nigeria's oil, which is her primary source of income, has its oil wells located in the southern part of the country. After independence, Nigeria was divided primarily along ethnic lines with Hausa and Fulani in the north, Yoruba in the west, and Igbo, Ogoni, Ijaw, Urhobo etc in the east.

In January 1966, a military coup occurred during which 30 political leaders including Nigeria's Prime Minister, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, and the Northern premier, Sir Ahmadu Bello, were killed. It was alleged to be an Igbo coup because Nnamdi Azikiwe, the President, of Igbo extraction, and the premier of the eastern part of the country were not killed. Many others who held the 1966 coup in mind as being master-minded by the "Igbo" ethnic group of Nigeria did so because Major Kaduna Nzeogwu being an "Igbo soldier", led the coup.

In July 1966 northern officers and army units staged a counter-coup. Muslim officers named a General from a small ethnic group (the Angas) in central Nigeria, General Yakubu "Jack" Gowon, as the head of the Federal Military Government (FMG). The two coups deepened Nigeria's ethnic tensions. In September 1966, approximately 30,000 Igbo were killed in the north, and some Northerners were killed in backlashes in eastern cities

Biafra, officially the Republic of Biafra, was a secessionist state in eastern Nigeria that existed from 30 May 1967 to January 1970. She took her name from the Bight of Biafra, the Atlantic bay to its south. The inhabitants were mostly the Igbo people who led the secession due to economic, ethnic, cultural and religious tensions among the various peoples of Nigeria. Other ethnic groups that constituted the republic were the Efik, Ibibio, Annang, Ejagham, Eket, Ibeno and the Ijaw among others.

The secession of the Biafran region was the primary cause of the Nigerian Civil War, also known as the Biafran War. The state was formally recognised by Gabon, Haiti, Ivory Coast, Tanzania and Zambia. Other nations which did not give official recognition, but provided support and assistance to Biafra included Israel, France, Spain, Portugal, Norway, Rhodesia, South Africa and the Vatican City.

Biafra also received aid from non-state actors, including Joint Church Aid, Holy Ghost Fathers of Ireland, Caritas International, MarkPress and U.S. Catholic Relief Services.

After two-and-a-half years of war, during which over three million Biafran civilians died from starvation caused by the total blockade of the region by the Nigerian government, Biafran forces under the motto of "No-victor, No-vanquished" surrendered to the Nigerian Federal Military Government (FMG), and Biafra was reintegrated into Nigeria.

Now, one would have thought that after the declaration of No-victor, No-vanquished, and the forceful liquidation of all assets and properties belonging to the Biafrans, peace would have returned and Biafrans would have been treated fairly, No, that was actually the beginning of our sufferings and deaths. All over the country, Biafrans were being intimidated and killed on daily bases.

The emergence of Muhammadu Buhari as the president of Nigeria has as a matter of fact, accelerated the hate, marginalization, subjugation, intimidation, witch hunting and deaths of many Biafrans all over the country. Take for instance, the killings of innocent Biafrans in Aba, the innocent protesters in Igweocha, Rivers State and the cases of Ibeto, Innoson, Emzor and Ike Ekweremadu.

All these sufferings are the reasons why Biafrans are heaven bent on evicting this forced Union by the British government. We have dwelt long enough in this wilderness, our children have suffered enough damages and as such, we must leave. All thanks to Mazi Nnamdi Kanu for rekindling our slumbering spirits.

Finally, my only advice to all Biafrans both home and in diaspora is to please never allow any one cajole you into believing that Nigeria is a safe haven for you and generations to come, it will never favour you. You and I and even our generations to come don't belong here. The injustices meted on us is too much for us to bear. They labelled us terrorists for demanding for our rights that is recognized by every known law.

Don't ever believe that with your PVC, you're in better hands, In fact it's a boobytrap. Boycott every election in Biafraland. Support the forthcoming Biafra referendum. Help yourself and your future generation by ending these unnecessary sufferings. Don't forget to always pray for the safe return of our leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and his parents.

Come quickly Oh Biafra! All hail Biafra!

#EndNigeriaNow

#BoycottEveryElectionsInBiafraLand

#SupportBiafraReferendum

#YourPVCIsUseless

Written by:

Victor Obinnar Uzoaga

(TBRV Writer)

For: The Biafra Restoration Voice -TBRV

Edited by:

Mazi Alex Nwagbo

For: The Biafra Restoration Voice - TBRV

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