By Peregba Jerry
A secessionist group, Izon Ibe Defence Force (IIDF) has called for a referendum to secede from Nigeria.
The group made the call yesterday, against the backdrop of the 63rd Independence Day Anniversary while passing a Vote-Of-No-Confidence on the existence of the Nigerian state.
A statement by self-styled, Gen. Duweamapere, Chief of Defence Staff IIDF, declared that “a new nation of Izon Ibe Republic which has gained her INDEPENDENCE from the British colonial contraption established by Great Britain for administration and exploitation of the Nigerian territorial wealth and people.
The statement read in parts, “On this day, being the 1st Day of the Month of October 2023, which is celebrated as Nigeria’s 63rd Independence Day, the Izon Ibe Defence Forces (IIDF) wishes to pass a Vote of NO CONFIDENCE on the miserable existence, false independence and forced union of the Nigerian State. The IIDF hereby declares on this day that the Izon Nation and People will no longer remain under the expired colonial contraption which was designed and agreed to last for a period of hundred years (1914 to 2014).
“This is coming on the backdrop of undeniable incongruities and imminent collapse of the Nigerian State owing to systematic failure arising from Islamisation, Fulanisation, Political Instability, gross insensitivity and abuse of power by the ruling political aristocrats, arm proliferation and armed agitation, daily loss of lives to unknown gunmen, herders, ritualists, organ traffickers, armed robbers, security agents and cultism without any glimpse of hope or positive change in sight. This spells doom and worst things to come given that concerned or relevant stakeholders have been handicapped by corruption, complacency, aiding and abetting, sympathizing with insurgents, killer herdsmen and so-called bandits under broad daylight. Our people of Izon land have become victims of the brutal attacks and murder for which the Nigerian State military, paramilitary or police forces are yet to unveil and punish the perpetrators.
We therefore, deem it fit, necessary and compulsory that the only way out of the senseless bloodletting, violent attacks and destruction of lives and property, genocide and ethnic cleansing, religious war and fanatism, land-grabbing and ransacking of indigenous peoples from their ancestral homelands in the face of political instability, extreme hardship and hyper inflation, currency devaluation, electoral violence and fraud, kidnapping and organ trafficking is to end the forced amalgamation and union between the various strange bedfellows. There is no other way to end the endemic suffering and miseries of Nigeria than ending the forced marriage initiated and conducted by British imperial and colonial mission.
“The general populace or citizenry and our people in the Diaspora have been deceived quite enough by the crop of senseless, self-centred, insensitive and greedily wicked politicians for quite too long. From one “white elephant” project and promise to another, their ambition is to keep us under spell and suspense while taking turns to rape us.
“The IIDF is of the resolute stance and stand that if Nigeria remains under one umbrella in this forced colonial contraption or union (amalgamation), we’ll never own and control our resources, and at the very end, we’ll become a conquered people through Fulani colony and take over of all that is ours. They’ll kill as many as possible and enslave the remaining. They’ll marry and rape our women and daughters and send many into forced labour and sell others to their Arab brothers for perpetual chattel slavery, sex slavery, domestic slavery, plantation slavery and industrial slavery. They’ll castrate the men whom they enslave so they don’t mate with their women.
This is what is coming and is already here.
Therefore, no matter the sugar-coated and fairy tale lies of political roforofo, we shouldn’t be carried away by their lies and agendas.
Where is the VISION 2020 they were preaching in the 90s? Today, we’re in 2023 and there’s no Vision 2020 anywhere!
“We should advocate for dissolution of the current unfavourable union or marriage between the ethnic nationalities that are never going to be compatible. We are living with strange bed fellows and there’s no way the marriage will be enjoyed because they have declared us a conquered people, and not even a Naira design or redesign project can save this marriage because one party is doomed to sorrow, tears and blood.
“We have many valid points and arguments to sue and fight for secession. Resource Control where we are to own and control our resources while paying tax to the government at the centre is one good reason. This in fact, is the number one reason.
Secondly, it was not in our interest or awareness or approval that Britain amalgamated Northern and Southern Protectorates to form one Nigeria in 1914. Therefore, we should seek a dissolution of the forced amalgamation or contraption,
“Thirdly, all those Izon soldiers who fought under Adaka Boro as the 3rd Marine Commandos were abandoned and denied their privileged whereas their northern counterparts were fully rewarded with full absorption into the military and granted pensions after service. 99% of the Boro Soldiers of the 3rd Marine Brigade were abandoned and left to rot. Let the Federal Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria pay due compensation and REPARATIONS for the military service rendered to the Nigerian State. Let them pay the reparations to the families of all the dead soldiers for paying the supreme price while fighting for Nigeria. Let them rehabilitate and reward the ones who are very old and disease or poverty stricken today.
Others include the signed agreement under colonial arrangements that allowed Nigeria to ONLY exist under colonial administration for a period of 100 YEARS (1914 to 2014) which means that the colonial contraption of River Niger Area (Niger Area = Nigeria) expired since 2014. Therefore, a national Referendum is to be called for all the various ethnic nationalities to come to a round table discussion to either decide to remain with Nigeria or go their separate ways.
“The labour and dream of our heroes past has ended in vanity. The Nigerian State is no longer bound in freedom, peace and unity. Therefore, she should be either restructured or her forceful marriage unions dissolved with immediate alacrity to save the people and land from witnessing unprecedented level of overwhelming violence, bloodletting and lead to a devastating CIVIL WAR which will make the first Civil War to be termed a child’s play.
“The time to take the long awaited step of freedom is now or never. Freedom is our goal. We will stand up and fight for our freedom and universal human rights. If we perish for the sake of this worthy cause, it shall be counted a blessing for generations to come. So help us God!
FOR ADVERT AND NEWS PUBLICATION, EMAIL US @ tarakirivoicenewspaper@gmail.com or call or WhatsApp us on 08160439769
