REFERENDUM NOT WAR: THE IGNORANCE OF A NATION
By Saintonyebuchi Alocha
For Family Writers Press
It is quite unfortunate that Nigeria as a country does not know the differences between 'REFERENDUM and WAR'. Personally, I have found it disturbing and shameful that Nigeria upon all the educated people that make up her population, still do not know what referendum really stand for. No wonder Nigerians stood with President Buhari when he visited death on peaceful Biafrans demonstrating and asking for referendum. President Buhari on 14th of September, 2017, sent Nigerian military to Mazi Nnamdi Kanu's Father's house in Umuahia in an operation they code named 'Operation Python Dance', killing many youths with Nnamdi Kanu missing till date. Prior to this, Nigerian military have killed many youths in Aba and Onitsha. Amnesty International had it documented. Upon all these killings, Nigerians erroneously supported the killers, saying that IPOB is calling for war.
Recall that in 1967, due to the genocide led by the government of Gowon in Northern Nigeria, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu with the support of the elders of Old Eastern Nigeria declared Republic Of Biafra. Gowon who renegade on the Aburi Accord declared war on young Biafra nation. Today, the story is different. Biafrans have decided to restore Biafra following the non- violent method. That is exactly why Nnamdi Kanu's led IPOB have decided to demand peacefully for referendum, so that Biafrans will determine their future. In case you still do not know the true meaning of the word REFERENDUM, then here is the meaning. According to Wikipedia, a "Referendum is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is invited to vote on a particular proposal. This may result in the adoption of a new law. In some countries, it is synonymous with a plebiscite or a vote on a ballot question".
On the contrary, "War is a state of armed conflict between states or societies. It is generally characterized by extreme aggression, destruction, and mortality, using regular or irregular military forces". An absence of war is usually called "peace".
Therefore, from the above definition, we can now see that referendum is not war and war is not referendum. In Referendum, the people have opportunity to peacefully determine their future. With referendum, there will be no need for President Muhammadu Buhari to tell us he met with Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu in Daura and they agreed that Nigeria MUST be ONE. With referendum, the people without rancor will vote for in unity and decide where to belong. It will not be subjected to just two men, as Buhari wants us to understand.
Nigerian people should stop shaming Biafrans caged in Nigeria presently with their misconception of the word Referendum. No matter how Nigerians chose to lie to themselves, Biafrans won't allow another genocide on her people, because Biafrans will continue to counter every lie and misinformation coming from Nigerian government. Biafrans will continue to educate ignorant Nigerians as to avoid supporting killers. Because whatever goes around comes round.
Finally, it is the joint responsibility of the state and international communities to organise referendum for the agitators to decide their fate. We the Biafrans demand for referendum and not war. It is only a referendum that will guarantee a lasting peace in the land.
It is Biafra or Biafra!
Edited by Ebere Okolie
For Family Writers Press
By Saintonyebuchi Alocha
For Family Writers Press
It is quite unfortunate that Nigeria as a country does not know the differences between 'REFERENDUM and WAR'. Personally, I have found it disturbing and shameful that Nigeria upon all the educated people that make up her population, still do not know what referendum really stand for. No wonder Nigerians stood with President Buhari when he visited death on peaceful Biafrans demonstrating and asking for referendum. President Buhari on 14th of September, 2017, sent Nigerian military to Mazi Nnamdi Kanu's Father's house in Umuahia in an operation they code named 'Operation Python Dance', killing many youths with Nnamdi Kanu missing till date. Prior to this, Nigerian military have killed many youths in Aba and Onitsha. Amnesty International had it documented. Upon all these killings, Nigerians erroneously supported the killers, saying that IPOB is calling for war.
Recall that in 1967, due to the genocide led by the government of Gowon in Northern Nigeria, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu with the support of the elders of Old Eastern Nigeria declared Republic Of Biafra. Gowon who renegade on the Aburi Accord declared war on young Biafra nation. Today, the story is different. Biafrans have decided to restore Biafra following the non- violent method. That is exactly why Nnamdi Kanu's led IPOB have decided to demand peacefully for referendum, so that Biafrans will determine their future. In case you still do not know the true meaning of the word REFERENDUM, then here is the meaning. According to Wikipedia, a "Referendum is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is invited to vote on a particular proposal. This may result in the adoption of a new law. In some countries, it is synonymous with a plebiscite or a vote on a ballot question".
On the contrary, "War is a state of armed conflict between states or societies. It is generally characterized by extreme aggression, destruction, and mortality, using regular or irregular military forces". An absence of war is usually called "peace".
Therefore, from the above definition, we can now see that referendum is not war and war is not referendum. In Referendum, the people have opportunity to peacefully determine their future. With referendum, there will be no need for President Muhammadu Buhari to tell us he met with Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu in Daura and they agreed that Nigeria MUST be ONE. With referendum, the people without rancor will vote for in unity and decide where to belong. It will not be subjected to just two men, as Buhari wants us to understand.
Nigerian people should stop shaming Biafrans caged in Nigeria presently with their misconception of the word Referendum. No matter how Nigerians chose to lie to themselves, Biafrans won't allow another genocide on her people, because Biafrans will continue to counter every lie and misinformation coming from Nigerian government. Biafrans will continue to educate ignorant Nigerians as to avoid supporting killers. Because whatever goes around comes round.
Finally, it is the joint responsibility of the state and international communities to organise referendum for the agitators to decide their fate. We the Biafrans demand for referendum and not war. It is only a referendum that will guarantee a lasting peace in the land.
It is Biafra or Biafra!
Edited by Ebere Okolie
For Family Writers Press
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