Politics
AS Nigeria approaches another Independence Day on Thursday, October 1, the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, and the Yoruba One Voice, YOV, have called on the people of eastern and western Nigeria to observe the sit-at-home request. The groups said people from the regions should stay away from participation and involvement in any 60th independence anniversary activities.
In a joint statement signed by Sina Okanlomo, international general secretary, YOV, and Chika Edoziem, head, directorate of state, IPOB, the groups said peoples in the Diasporas should also organise flag flying carnivals and peaceful rallies on October 1 in all cities across the world. “In specific terms, we hereby call on the peoples of our territories, and indeed all peoples of Nigeria yearning to be free from internal colonization to be prepared to Stay-At-Home on October 1, 2020.
“No one among us should play along with any celebration of 60 years of an imbalanced unequal country. Staying-At-Home means keeping safe and away for the inhuman and inhumane character of the present regime of Buhari. Our peoples in the Diaspora are hereby enjoined to organize flag flying carnivals and peaceful rallies on October 1, 2020 in all cities across the world. A joint Biafra/Oduduwa event marking the beginning of our journey to freedom is to be celebrated into the following weeks.
“The whole world ought to witness a rekindling of self-awareness and our pride of place among the community of civilized peoples of the world. All our people are to be on standby in readiness for further calls for peaceful and legal demonstrations of our resolve to be free from the failed Nigerian state. These calls will continue to be made for as long as it would be needful, up until our goals for self-determination are achieved,” they said.
The groups also called on the federal government to jettison the 1999 Constitution before the 2023 general elections. The groups said the constitution was not a product of the collective will of the people of Nigeria. “The presidential constitution, which is unitary in character, has failed the Peoples of Nigeria. We, the people, did not write this constitution. It is too expensive, wasteful, and has not represented the yearnings and expectations of the oppressed peoples of the Oduduwa and Biafra nations.
“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, and repression.
“Whereas, 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.”
– Sept. 26, 2020 @ 11:37 GMT |
Tags: Nigeria @60: IPOB Yoruba Group call for sit-at-home on October 1
