Pro-Biafra agitator, Simon Ekpa, has urged the United Kingdom’s monarchy, under King Charles III, to support the demand of the indigenous people of Biafra for a referendum. Ekpa, who is the Finland-based lawyer and self-styled prime minister of the Biafra Republic Government in Exile (BRGIE), stated that the Igbos do not want compensation but want the freedom to exit Nigeria.
He reminded the UK monarchy that the bond that bound Nigeria together, which was established 100 years ago through the amalgamation of the Southern and Northern protectorates by Fedrick Lord Lugard, had expired.
Ekpa, therefore, asked that the UK monarchy should honour the demand of Igbos to have Biafra. The agitator is requesting that the amalgamation agreement, which made Nigeria one country and was in the sole interest of the British Crown, be renegotiated.
The statement by Ekpa also claims that Nigeria has not progressed as there is no unity among the different groups that were forced into the amalgamation.
See full statement:
Indigenous people of different parts of the world whom the British Crown colonised, exploited, enslaved, killed and stole their resources to develop the British Empire, have been writing to you, justifiably seeking monetary compensation and/or an apology. On the contrary, We, the Indigenous People of Biafra, are neither seeking monetary compensation nor an apology from your empire. Rather, we ask that you use your exalted office to support the peaceful exit of Biafra from Nigeria and restore the sovereign state of Biafra.
We wish to remind you that Fedrick Lugard’s Amalgamation of the Southern and Northern protectorate of present-day Nigeria was established in 1914 to last only 100 years. One Hundred (100) years have expired. Moreover, the Amalgamation Agreement, which made Nigeria one country, and was in the sole interest of the British Crown. The Amalgamation Agreement of 1914 stated that after 100 years, any tribe, group or region that does not want to continue in the Union will be free to exit the Union called Nigeria. The year 2023 makes that agreement 109 years. Therefore, in fact, and by implication, the agreement has expired. The Amalgamation agreement is binding, and Nigeria should and must be renegotiated. Freedom must be granted to all groups that wish to exit the Nigerian Union, especially the Biafran people.
Apply your good judgment and exalted office to review the Amalgamation Agreement and support the demand for Biafra’s exit from Nigeria.
Nigeria is made up of several nation-states, distinct and parallel with dangerous diversity. There is no commonality between the people of the Southern and Northern protectorates. Hence, the Amalgamation was very selfishly and wickedly conceived and implemented without due consideration given to the distinct cultures of each group. This explains why it was hurriedly signed into law without consulting the indigenous people.
Since the British imposed Amalgamation, there has been a constant rift between the tribes. Each tribe is suspicious of the others, and each fighting to dominate the others. There is no unity among the different groups who were forced into this unholy Union.
Nigeria has not progressed because the relationships between the tribes have remained cantankerous and pugnacious. The Amalgamation of Nigeria was more of a business venture for Britain, without regard for the people. However, the good news is that the Amalgamation agreement has expired!
We wish to remind you that Biafrans occupy the territories of the Old Eastern Region of Nigeria and are estimated at over 75 million people, some living in Nigeria and others dispersed worldwide. Biafra existed as an independent nation from 1966 to 1970, when Nigeria, Britain and their allies fought Biafra and annexed Biafra into Nigeria in 1970.
As you know, Biafraland is very richly blessed with human and material resources. Ninety-five per cent (95%) of the oil and other mineral resources that fuel Nigeria’s economy come from Biafraland. Yet, we continue to suffer extreme inequity.
We are not interested in oil, but we are more concerned about the repeat of Afghanistan in Nigeria, as every indication is that the Islamisation of Nigeria is now in the compilation stage; this could lead to a very bloody war if nothing is done to solve the problem.
The Indigenous People of Biafra insist that because of the gross injustice, human rights abuses, tribal supremacy, fanaticism, ethnocentrism and class bigotry, we are determined to exit Nigeria.
The Indigenous People of Biafra are demanding from the Nigerian government (in which Britain has excellent influence) a referendum in the exercise of our right to self-determination as prescribed by international law. We want to exit from Nigeria and restore the sovereign state of Biafra through peaceful means.
Biafrans have been killed willfully and with reckless abandon in Nigeria for decades. Continuous stay in Nigeria is an existential threat to Biafrans.
In 2016, more than one hundred and sixty (160) Biafran youths were shot down in cold blood at Ngwa High School, Aba. The Army declared Operation Python Dance 1&2, in which they stormed the home of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu (Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra), killing over fifty (50) Biafran youths. Mazi Nnamdi Kanu escaped assassination by the whiskers. The Army went to Uzouwani in Enugu State and massacred over one hundred (100) Biafran youths. They did the same at Eheamufu, Izombe and Aguleri.
Just after the general elections in Nigeria, about forty (40) people were shot in cold blood in Aba – Abia State when some unarmed youths marched to the street to demand the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, who was extraordinarily renditioned to Nigeria and still being held captive by the Nigerian government, even after the courts discharged him of any wrongdoing. The soldiers also wounded hundreds of other innocent people. On the 1st of January 2023, the military-led siege on the town of Ihube – Okigwe in Imo State burnt the town down. After the presidential election in March of 2023, the military and political thugs burnt down the businesses of Biafrans in Lagos, Maiduguri, Abuja, Kaduna and Kano.
To ease off these hostilities before it degenerates into another full-blown war, we call on Your Majesty King Charles of Great Britain to revisit the Amalgamation Agreement and enforce its cessation, encourage the renegotiation of Nigeria and grant all indigenous people who wish to exit Nigeria have the freedom to exit peacefully.
Although we demand a referendum and a peaceful exit from Nigeria, we, the Biafran people, through the Biafra Republic Government, in Exile, stand in solidarity with others who demand an apology from you. We ask that you stand on the right side of history and correct the wrongs of the past.
