Biafra and Multitude of Secessionist Movements in Nigeria

Abstract

The essence of this paper is to interrogate Biafra and secessionist movements in the Nigerian State. It examines reasons for the eruption of secessionist groups and its implications to the survival of the Nigerian State under democratic dispensation. To achieve these objectives, the study adopts case study methodology for data analysis. It relies on both primary sources such as archival materials and newspapers, and secondary sources such as books, journal articles and internet sources for data collection. The study indicates that, Biafra’s secessionist movements has reignited debates on the viability of Nigeria’s statehood or sovereignty giving its persistent encroachment by non-state actors. It argues that, secessionism ought not to have rising in Nigeria if there was equity and fairness in the distribution of national wealth and regular restructuring of the country. Adoption of defiance approach instead of soft or tolerance approach have turned once a peaceful movement into a chaotic gathering metamorphosing into an infringement of fundamental human rights and endangerment of the nation’s democracy and national security. It concludes that, while the government has taken steps to quell the rising secessionist agitations in the country, efforts have not been made to initiate strong dialogue that would ensure that the movement never resurfaced again. Rather, a forceful approach is being adopted to address the menace.
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