The apex organisation for all people of Igbo descent in the diaspora, World Igbo Congress (WIC), has urged the Nigerian Supreme Court to unconditionally order the immediate release of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu on December 15. The apex court had fixed Friday, December 15, 2023, for judgment after hearing two separate appeals filed by the detained IPOB leader, Kanu, over his continued detention.
There have been lots of past and current separatist movements around the globe demanding the attention of the international communities. Most of these secessionist movements were fueled and propelled by injustice, inequality, political inequality, and lots of economic, cultural, and religious factors. You may ask, has a referendum ever been conducted somewhere in the world?…
Someone forwarded an audio recording to me few days ago which must have been preserved for more than 57 years. It was the voice of Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola (SLA), the last Premier of the Western Region and the 13th Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland The voice was unmistakable, in his distinctive Ogbomosho accent. The summary of what he said, which I have transcribed from Yoruba to English (as best as I could) was:
They can each pursue this interest in their separate countries. Cultural, linguistic and tribal homogeneity would promote institutional stability for the separate nations. There are points in life where all forms of pretenses should be jettisoned and people must be pragmatic; I believe that time is now.