Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, Peter Obi, What Next? -By Ajiboye Amos Olakunle

Biafra was a partially recognised secessionist state in West Africa that declared emancipation from Nigeria within 1967 to 1970. Its territory includes the Igbo-populated Eastern Region of Nigeria(South East). Biafra struggle started on 30 May 1967 by Igbo military officer Odumegwu Ojukwu, following a series of ethnic tensions and military coups after Nigerian independence in 1960 that contributed to the 1966 massacres of Igbo people and other southeastern ethnic groups settled in northern Nigeria. The Nigerian military invaded Biafra shortly after its secession, resulting in the start of the Nigerian Civil War otherwise known as the Nigerian-Biafran War. The Nigerian government proscribed IPOB as a terrorist group in 2017.

Nnamdi Kanu continued the struggle of Biafra in 2014 after modernizing the name to; Indigenous People of Biafra(IPOB). He was first arrested in 2015 and later granted bail in 2017 on medical ground. Although, he fled the country when he perceived some threat to his life. Nnamdi Kanu was later captured in Kenya and brought to Nigeria, even though it was an illegal arrest.

Ever since the independence of Nigeria, the dominants of south eastern(Igbos) Nigeria have never emerged as the president of the republic. This is a major cause of their struggle to secede.

Peter Obi is a native of Anambra state, a part of the south eastern Nigeria, he emerged as the presidential candidate of Labour Party. A lot of his supporters are persons who believe the Igbos too should have the real taste of power.

Prior to the emergence of Peter Obi as a Presidential candidate, the major south eastern Nigeria was been rampaged by the IPOB struggle, it’s been a bloody battle where so many lives were lost due to the struggle and resistance to the Nigerian military. Sometimes, the residents are often advised not to come outside of their homes. The IPOB has always threatened that no election would hold in the south eastern Nigeria due to the unjust imprisonment of Nnamdi Kanu and the refusal to ‘liberate’ their territory. In contrast to the Nigerian government, Peter Obi had declared IPOB as a peaceful organization striving to achieve their common goals.

Miraculously, the IPOB have now declared that a peaceful elections would hold in the south east, contrary to their threats a while before Peter Obi’s emergence.

A good percentage of the dominants in the south eastern Nigeria were in support of Biafra’s secession from Nigeria, miraculously, they all seem to have transferred their supports to Peter Obi’s presidency, forgetting the struggles and imprisonment of Nnamdi Kanu.

‘Fortunately’, Nnamdi Kanu was discharged by the apex court on the 13th of October and his abduction/arrest from Kenya was declared as illegal.

As seen from statistics and reality, the major backbone of Peter Obi is from the south east. The question is, would they return to Biafra struggle or continue with Peter Obi’s presidency support?

However, the Nigerian government is the major character in this play, they’ll decided if to release Nnamdi Kanu to distract OBIDIENTS or hold unto him to allow OBIDIENTS enjoy the Obidiency.