Secessionists Should Seek Sympathetic Allies Not Arrogance- Tam Oburumu's View
Days back I tried to hold back a tear from a sympathetic eye , soaked in watery glands about the show of arrogance and ignorance by Nnamdi Kanu ,the self styled leader of Indigenous People's Of Biafra ( IPOB).
Nnamdi Kanu on socia media, mocked the usage of the acronym, "Niger Delta region" and went ahead referring to everyone with that concept as ignorants, fools,slaves, animals ..
He made silly references of other deltas around the world as just places of tributaries and not political regions, for instance the Nile Delta in North Africa etc..
He arrogantly, maybe not delibrately, undermined the struggle of the our Niger Delta hero , Major Adaka Issac Boro who sacrificed everything to give us a conscience of self determination and freedom..
This infantile recklessness from a supposed leader of a skeletal group, seeking relevance is totally condemnable and belittling.
More significantly, The young man , made this careless utterances at a time the Niger Deltans were celebrating Boro Day , a sacred day set aside to commemorate his, selfless and heroic struggles to bringing political salvation to us all .
As an activist, I have always supported those who seek any kind of freedom, be it political, religious, socialistic , domestic etc .. Freedom from oppression and good governance are what the Tam Oburumu brand stands for, irrespective of religion, tribe or politics .
These are the reasons I support the Biafra's struggle for self determination and the Niger Delta quest for resource control.
I have been sympathetic to every genuine freedom fighter or activist who is unjustifiably incarcerated in various prisons around the world particularly Africa.Reasons , I fought in my own little capacity through my official social media platforms , always unsung , for Nnamdi Kanu when he was illegally jailed by the Nigerian government for demanding a referendum.
I support the idea behind Biafra ,and not some people who see themselves as Messiahs with tyrannic clothing, selfish wolves with suspicious sheep's masks , pretending to preach Messianic messages of hope from empty baskets .
Nnamdi Kanu , may be made these unwarranted utterances on the Niger Delta region delibrately or out of ignorance, however it's important, I make some candid corrections.
First, the Biafra's struggle, call for secession was not completely an Igbo agendum even though they were majority , it was a revolt by people, also made up of smaller tribes across the region, tired of the Nigerian State , controlled by the Fulani premeditated homogenous occupancy .
Most minority ethnic affiliations left the struggle when they noticed that , Gen. Udumegwu Ujukwu , the leader of the declared Biafran Republic and his fellow Igbos made it look as if it was an Igbo Struggle.
Unfortunately, the young man Nnamdi Kanu , wants to repeat same heinous mistake, same historical blunder that crumbled the dreams of Biafra in 1970.
General Gowon , the leader of the Nigerian side played witty draft on Isaac Boro by giving him state pardon , who obviously was not happy with Gen.Aguiyi Ironsi for condemning him ( Isaac Boro) to death because he declared the Niger Delta Republic, the first call for secession in the history of Nigeria in February 23rd, 1966.
Nnamdi Kanu should know the difference between political and geographical regions, the difference is completely void of academic. dispute .
The Niger Delta is a geographical region, the people have decided to adopt as an identity, that shouldn't be a problem to any sane human being.
The change of such geopolitical acronym should be the decision of her people just like the people of Ghana who changed it from Gold Coast .
I expected Nnamdi to make this as a suggestion based on the fact ,we should be more African in our identities rather than continuing with the so called colonial or imperial appellations. People would have seen some sense in it but when you say people who are seeking for a Niger Delta Republic are ignorant and foolish , you're directly attacking Isaac Boro , who gave you the conscience of self determination. This, I won't take from anyone.
I am not tribalistic, I don't believe in tribes, I believe in freedom in its true concept and not influenced by dogmatic instincts of tribalism and religion.
I am in support of the Ijaws , the Niger Deltans, the Biafrans not because I am an indigene but because they are truly oppressed and need freedom.
We need ourselves in this struggle for complete emancipation, every tribe and region is important in this struggle for freedom if truly we are up to our demands .
Nigeria as a nation truly needs a referendum or a sovereign national conference. We cannot continue to live in this British illusion, it's not working.it will never work until we come together to make that bold decision to continue as one or go our separate ways.
Monopolizing the Biafran ideology as an Igbo thing is only retrogressive hence people like Kanu shouldn't take unnecessary pride out the context and see every minority ethic affiliation tied down by the oppressors' chain as potential ally for freedom.
You don't force people to join your struggle, you earn them by putting on the table what they will gain .
Nnamdi Kanu should also know, the name Biafra just like Niger Delta is a geopolitical acronym, it is an Ijaw name of an estuary!
When Ujukwu declared the new republic in 1967, a call for a unifying name came up , subsequently Biafra was coined out from the word, Biafulo, by an Ijaw man Mr. Frank Opigo.
The estuary in Kalabari , Santa Barbara, that the Portuguese named was actually known as Biafulo , a Kalabari -Ijaw word for uncooked, turbulence.
They named the estuary Biafulo because of the frequent rough tides in the river . These are undisputed historical facts. You can try to change it to suit your mischievous intents but history cannot be just disposed .
That was how Biafra got its name and everyone was ready for the struggle.
Rex Lawson, the Ijaw finest highlife musician was first to compose the Biafran national anthem on the 30th of May 1967, when Ojukwu proclaimed the Biafran Independence.
The lack of interest of the struggle swept across the minorities came due to fear of tribal imperialism and political doubtfulness in the new country, this made many to continue with the devil they know than the angel in disguise.
For me,we need ourselves in this struggle, we must start this by building strong allies within ourselves, the Igbos , like any other ethnic group, may have their bad sides , but they are good, industrious, determined to be freed .
The Niger Deltans, with Ijaws as majority should unanimously walk towards the path of a genuine crusade for freedom...They must make allies with the Igbos , treaties are needed, a people's constitution must be drafted as sovereign guide if the new country will ever emerge...
Selfless, dogged, vibrant , diplomatic competent, detribalised leaders will have to emerge through the agreed constitution and not the Nnamdis or any of those jumping around with the flags of secession or Niger Delta resource control freedom fighters.. They are already showing signs of tyranny...They will be national heroes not leaders. Leading a country in the 21st century is much more than that.
Let me pause , by quoting myself.. "Most revolutionaries end up being tyrannical after successful revolts, only a few can forsake the obesity of power, I want to be that few."
Tam oburumu
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