The Biafran National Party, BNP, a group known for its strong stand in the struggle for independent Biafran country in association with the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) have released a communique with “far-reaching decisions” on the happenings in the political space in Nigeria.
The group which prides itself as “an idea which its time has come” have issued a resolution on some vital issues about politics and security, which it says arose “from a consultative meeting of the Future Council (FC) with the newly constituted Administrative Council of our organization.”
The communique, which was made available to a Clariform reporter, said that it was the product of a BNP meeting “convened to address some security and political developments in Nigeria, with regards to the presidential election coming up in the country in 2023.
Peter Obi`s presidential ambition was particularly addressed extensively in the resolution, which made it clear that the former Anambra State governor is on his own as he seeks to succeed the current President Muhammadu Buhari who leaves office on May 29, 2023.
The group declared that they do not believe that an Igbo man becoming the next president of Nigeria will in anyway provide any solution to the problems they say the people of the South East are facing in Nigeria today.
According to BNP, “Mr. Peter Obi`s presidential ambition is personal to him and not a collective Igbo aspiration, as we do not believe that Igbo presidency is the solution to the problem the Igbos are facing in Nigeria today.”
In a chart with Williams Ukonu, the group’s leader who doubles as a lawyer and rights activist, he confirmed the authenticity of the communique. However, he also clarified that the group is not against the aspiration of the two-term governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi.
He said: “Our position is very clear. We do not support his ambition as a group and we gave our reason for this – he cannot fix Nigeria even though he has the credibility to do so. Nigeria is built on a very faulty structure, which will make it impossible for him to fully deliver on his promises, no matter how well he means for the people.
“Our support for the creation of an independent Biafra is consequent upon this faulty structure, which will never be permitted to change as long as those who profit from it still retains the ability to stay in control of the system irrespective of who is in power as a figure head or perhaps puppet.
“Peter Obi`s presidency may simply be like the prophecy of the three witches in Shakespeare`s Macbeth, where it was said that even though Macbeth “shall become king but Banquo`s children will rule.”
He further said that he personally would want Peter Obi to succeed because he believes he “is a good man and the best chance for peace and stability in a truly united Nigeria built on equity and justice”. However, “the mounting to climb is too high and we are not oblivious of this”, he said.
The group has also condemned the Monday sit-at-home in the South East and those who promote it. It says that sit-at-home can only be exercised in honour of the IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
“We condemn Monday sit at home in Biafraland or any other days, except in honour and in solidarity with Mazi Nnamdi Kanu on the days he is scheduled to appear in court in defense of the phantom charges brought against him by the Nigerian government.” The communique reads.
It also condemned the insecurity in the South East generally, while noting that the lives of those lost as “heroes of the Biafran struggle” will be documented “and presented for further actions”
The group also called on the international community to “condemn the Nigerian government on the attacks and persecution of innocent Biafrans for exercising their legitimate right of self-determination protected under Nigerian and international laws.”
NOTABLE QUOTES:
The communique dated 20th June 2022, reads in part:
“Mr. Peter Obi is a worthy son of the Biafran Nation, but he is not the messiah we seek for the restoration of a sovereign Biafra state.
“Mr. Peter Obi`s presidential ambition does not represent the Biafran struggle, because he has never supported or associated with the struggle in any shape or form.
“Mr. Peter Obi`s presidential ambition is personal to him and not a collective Igbo aspiration, as we do not believe that Igbo presidency is the solution to the problem the Igbos are facing in Nigeria today.
“The reason is because, should Mr. Peter Obi succeed in his presidential ambition, we are of the opinion that he will still be limited by the existing structures in Nigeria today, which are directly and indirectly controlled by the Fulani hegemony, which make it impossible for him to deliver on his promises.
“Therefore, even as we wish Mr. Peter Obi well, we wish to state categorically that, his presidential ambition, whether successful or not has no place in our struggle for freedom and sovereign Biafra.”
“However, it was also resolved that all BNP members are at liberty to support any southern presidential candidate of their choice, but in their individual capacity (not as representatives of BNP), as long as such support does not directly or indirectly conflict with their responsibility and commitment to the Biafran struggle.”
BACKGROUND
The BNP website contains the following information of the group: “The Biafran National Party (BNP) is an idea which its time has come. It is not by accident but as a result of the struggle for freedom which the Biafran people have been waging for years. The BNP as child of necessity has come at a time when the Biafran Independent struggle must no longer be left in the hands of misguided elements in the existing political order.
The Nigerian state have ruthlessly fought to suffocate Biafra out of existence and in doing so have deployed various means, including measures and tactics anarchical to international law and practice. The existing political and legal order in Nigeria have made it difficult to register BNP as a political party with right and privileges to sponsor a candidate in any election in Nigeria.
In view of the failure of our current crop of politicians and political parties to effectively or at least commit to delivering an independent Biafra or a place for the Igbos in the Nigerian project, the need have therefore arising for credible alternative.”
Copy of BNP Communique obtained by Clariform reporter:
