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The bigoted voices in government have succeeded in finally causing the various ethnic groups and interests in the southern part of Nigeria to either band together or speak for the establishment of their autonomous nations. Foremost among this agitation for autonomous existence is the Independent People of Biafra (IPOB) and the Yoruba Nation/Oduduwa Republic, agitators. Also, that the fate of the leaders of these two groups are now intertwined as the government had launched several manhunts for them has become a major factor in how the various ethnic groups in the South react and are ready to join hands together to fight Northern hegemonists. A few weeks ago, Nnamdi Kanu, leader of IPOB was taken in suspicious circumstances from Kenya and tempers flared among ordinary Nigerians in the Senate. Sunday Igboho of the Yoruba Nation was also recently arrested by Interpol in Benin Republic as the Nigerian government is demanding that he be extradited back to the country. And just like that, intellectuals from the South now have reason to support the calls for either restructuring or secession since their kinsmen are being victimised with instruments of the state.
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The effect of that unexpected unity among citizens of Southern Nigeria is that as the calls for secession or self-determination increases, on one hand, foremost leaders from the major ethnic groups in the south can now boldly demand specific readjustments in the Nigerian scheme. This was what emboldened the South-West governors in their most recent meeting to make demands that were fitting to the dreams of a prosperous Yoruba nation. We should not be surprised if Southeast or South-south governors on their part equally meet and release a communique tendering their own demands. Even though the ethnic groups in the South-south geopolitical zone may not have been willing to secede with the Biafran agitators, at least indicators have now shown that their people would be willing to collaborate with the South-east and the South-west to achieve the demands that will move the Southern Nigerian bloc forward even as the North continues to alienate the South. In the end, it is no longer surprising that as more people in the President Muhammadu Buhari administration continue to tear the fabric that binds the Nigerian nation together, more alliances are being forged by some regional groups domiciled in the southern geo-political zones to advance their cause. Geographical and other socio-economic factors favour the South and for the first time in Nigeria’s history, the bloc is not shy to demand renegotiating the Nigerian project based on their collective strengths. Featured Image Source: The Guardian NG
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