Causes, Consequences, and Remedies for the Agitation of Biafra Separatism
Chapter One
Objective of the study
The objectives of the study are;
- To Ascertain the causes of IPOB Agitation Separatism
- To ascertain the consequences of IPOB agitation separatism
- To find out the remedies of IPOB agitation separatism
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
SEPARATIST AGITATION
There is no well-established theory of secessionism despite the increasing global wave of states experiencing internal insurrections for self-determinism. Much of the scholarship5 focuses on the theoretical and legal foundations of the rights of people to secede and separate but rarely considers the reasons and determinants of secessions. Reasons for secessionist agitations presumably revolve around economic, cultural, social and political factors. E. Osaghae et al6 noted that agitations linked to social movements often manifest from grievances and social discontent against dominant practices, behaviours and conducts in the political economy such as exclusion, marginality and inequality. These grievances are an age long product of sentiments and resentments conspired by one group against the other most often having different ethnic competing interests. Truly the Biafran separatism has more often been explained as emanating from political exclusion, economic marginality and frustration and ethnic division and competition. D. L. Horowitz7 contends that the occurrence of separatist agitation gives credence to the power of ideas in the political sphere. For him, agitations with separatist motives can be appropriately conceived as the playing out of the essence of “political self-expression”, usually on a territorial basis, as a necessary accompanying feature of group distinctiveness. Notably, the IPOB separatist agitation is professed in political self-determinism for the cultural distinctive and homogeneous Igbo ethnic group of the South Eastern Nigeria. Other factors that provide explanation for secessionist threats with special reference to Nigeria are: colonial legacy, lack of ethnic homogeneity, large landmass, elite fragmentation, unemployment and lack of infrastructure, constitutional controversies as well as lopsided federalism. This further explains why majority of the unemployed, low class citizens align with IPOB in their activities. Unfortunately, the flame of conspiracy is raging as every ethnic group is suspecting the other of covert motives of political dominance. The emphasis in Nigeria especially from the South East is that of political marginalization and inequality in the political affairs of the country. In shedding more light K. Boyle and P. Englebert8 asserted that separatism is mostly a response to political conditions, rather than the manifestation of cultural differences or the exploitation of economic opportunities. To them separatist agitation is more inclined to political deprivations and marginalization than to other factors such as economic and social. This is true to a very good extent with the Biafran separatism wave whose aim has political end. They often point to political reasons than economic and social injustices, for example, they review the list of appointments of President Muhammadu Buhari to show how the South East region has been obviously excluded from real political relevance.
RESTRUCTURING AND REFERENDUM
Lexically, the word “restructuring” is derived from its verb form “to restructure” which in turn is a derivative of the root word “structure”. For a clear conceptual understanding of restructure or “restructuring” it will be good to first understand structure because if there is no structure there would not be nothing to restructure. The Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English9 defined structure as “the way in which relationships between people or groups is organized in a society or in an organization” p. 1434. It also defined restructure10 as “to change the way in which something such as a government, business, or system is organized” p. 1211. In disciplines like chemistry, biology, mathematics, music, logic, computer science and sociology, the term structure has different meanings. Aligning to sociological context, structure refers to factors such as social class, religion, gender, ethnicity, customs, cultures, norms etc. that seem to limit the actualization of full human potentials.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
INTRODUCTION
In this chapter, we described the research procedure for this study. A research methodology is a research process adopted or employed to systematically and scientifically present the results of a study to the research audience viz. a vis, the study beneficiaries.
RESEARCH DESIGN
Research designs are perceived to be an overall strategy adopted by the researcher whereby different components of the study are integrated in a logical manner to effectively address a research problem. In this study, the researcher employed the survey research design. This is due to the nature of the study whereby the opinion and views of people are sampled. According to Singleton & Straits, (2009), Survey research can use quantitative research strategies (e.g., using questionnaires with numerically rated items), qualitative research strategies (e.g., using open-ended questions), or both strategies (i.e., mixed methods). As it is often used to describe and explore human behaviour, surveys are therefore frequently used in social and psychological research.
POPULATION OF THE STUDY
According to Udoyen (2019), a study population is a group of elements or individuals as the case may be, who share similar characteristics. These similar features can include location, gender, age, sex or specific interest. The emphasis on study population is that it constitutes of individuals or elements that are homogeneous in description.
This study was carried to examine Causes, Consequences and remedies for the agitation of Biafra Separatism. Selected residents in Enugu state form the population of the study.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
INTRODUCTION
This chapter presents the analysis of data derived through the questionnaire and key informant interview administered on the respondents in the study area. The analysis and interpretation were derived from the findings of the study. The data analysis depicts the simple frequency and percentage of the respondents as well as interpretation of the information gathered. A total of eighty (80) questionnaires were administered to respondents of which only seventy-seven (77) were returned and validated. This was due to irregular, incomplete and inappropriate responses to some questionnaire. For this study a total of 77 was validated for the analysis.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Introduction
It is important to ascertain that the objective of this study was to ascertain Causes, Consequences and remedies for the agitation of Biafra Separatism. In the preceding chapter, the relevant data collected for this study were presented, critically analyzed and appropriate interpretation given. In this chapter, certain recommendations made which in the opinion of the researcher will be of benefits in addressing the challenges of Causes, Consequences and remedies for the agitation of Biafra Separatism
Summary
This study was on a Causes, Consequences and remedies for the agitation of Biafra Separatism. Three objectives were raised which included: To Ascertain the causes of IPOB Agitation Separatism, to ascertain the consequences of IPOB agitation separatism and to find out the remedies of IPOB agitation separatism. A total of 77 responses were received and validated from the enrolled participants where all respondents were drawn from selected residents in Enugu state. Hypothesis was tested using Chi-Square statistical tool (SPSS).
Conclusion
The old truth is that Nigeria as a multi-ethnic country for more than five and half decades after independence has not been able to develop a common sense of nationhood and unity among its diverse peoples. She has suffered several injuries that inhibit unity and alas, while one injury is being healed another is being sustained. Plagued with a civil war just within seven years of her independence, the spirit of the grievances and acrimonies that generated the bloodletting is still hunting the country. The Biafra revolt was suppressed in 1970 but the Biafra spirit and ideology have remained so much alive. This is evident in the number of different separatist groups that have sprung up at one time or the other calling for the restoration of the Republic of Biafra. Presently the IPOB group has given the Biafra resurgence a lift by exporting it into the international scene. The extremist elements among the IPOB group believe that nothing less than secession will end the agitation while the moderates believe that well fine-tuned restructuring can assuage the yearning and reduce the agitation in order for Nigeria to remain as one. The call of the IPOB group for a referendum and secession has generated much controversy over its legality within the laws of Nigeria. However, many of the issues concerning the restructuring of Nigeria need to be sensitively handled in order to transform Nigeria into a true federal state. This present study believes that Nigeria can remain as indivisible entity but has enumerated other options that the Biafra agitators can undertake besides secession and referendum
Recommendation
The Nigerian government should prosecute without delay and in accordance with international fair trial standards all those implicated in the killing and abuse of Biafra supporters. The Nigerian government should conduct quick, open and fair trial of Biafra agitators in detention.
References
- Achebe, Chinua The Trouble with Nigeria, Enugu: Fourth Dimension, 1983.
- Aneke, L.N. The Untold Story of the Nigeria-Biafra War, New York: Triumph Publishing, 2007.
- Ayida, Allison A. Reflections on Nigerian Development, Lagos: Malthouse, 1987. Azikiwe, Nnamdi Origins of the Nigerian Civil War, Lagos: Nigerian National Press, 1969.
- Azikiwe, Nnamdi Peace Proposals for Ending the Nigerian Civil War, London: Colusco, 1969.
- Azikiwe, Nnamdi ZIK: Selected Speeches of Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1961.
- Coleman, James S. Nigeria: Background to Nationalism, Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 1958. Cronje, Suzanne The world and Nigeria: The Diplomatic History of the Biafran War 1967- 1970, London: Sidgwick and Jackson, 1972. Dudley, Billy Instability and Political Order: Politics and Crisis in Nigeria, Ibadan: Ibadan University Press, 1973.
- Ellah, F.J.The Unfinished Motion on Creation of States in Nigeria, Port Harcourt: Chief J.W. Ellah Sons & Co., 1982.
- Ezera, Kalu Constitutional Developments in Nigeria, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1960. Federal Ministry of Information The Collapse of a Rebellion and Prospects of Lasting Peace, Lagos:
- Federal Ministry of Information, (no date). Federal Ministry of Information Building the New Nigeria: National Development Plan, 1970-74, Lagos: The Ideal Printing Works, (no date). Forrest, Tom Makers and the Making of Nigerian Private Enterprise, Ibadan: Spectrum, 1995.
