OHANAEZE YOUTH COUNCIL REPLIES NORTHERN ELDERS FORUM: YES, IGBO YOUTHS WANT BIAFRA

OHANAEZE YOUTH COUNCIL REPLIES NORTHERN ELDERS FORUM: YES, IGBO YOUTHS WANT BIAFRA

OHANAEZE YOUTH COUNCIL REPLIES NORTHERN ELDERS FORUM: YES, IGBO YOUTHS WANT BIAFRA

The Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC) the Apex sociocultural Youth organization of Igbo Race Worldwide has formally replied to the recent statement credited to the Northern Elders Forum, wherein they suggested that if Igbo youths truly desire Biafra, the Nigerian government should not stand in their way.

While we acknowledge this rare moment of honesty, the Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC) states clearly and unequivocally:-Yes — Igbo youths want Biafra. And this desire is not born out of hatred, but out of decades of injustice, political/economic exclusion and systemic oppression against Ndigbo since 1967-1970 genocide perpetuated by federal government in alliance with British Government.

The new agitation for Biafra Restoration is the direct consequence of Nigeria’s persistent failure to build an equitable and inclusive federation. We can recall immediately after the end of 1967-1970 Genocide that took the lives of 4.3 million igbos Gen Yakubu Gowon then military head of state introduced what he called “THE 3R’s” Rehabilitation, Reconstruction and Reconciliation. But deliberately by Gen Yakubu Gowon led the federal government of Nigeria none of the Policy was implemented in any part of Igboland. As if this was not enough Gen Yakubu Gowon led the federal government, introduced another unjust economic policy against Ndigbo, irrespective of billion of Pounds Igbo businessmen/traders, industrialist and Entrepreneurs had in Banks only £20 was given each individual to start life again.

Igbo youths position on requesting for an independent State of Biafra anchored on undeniable realities:-

1. Political Differences:-Nigeria’s political structure has consistently marginalized the Southeast/Ndigbo at large. Even though Ndigbo constituted 42% total population of Nigeria Southeast had only five States while other Zones have six and Seven States. Since the return to democracy in 1999, the Igbo nation has been deliberately excluded from key leadership positions, particularly the Presidency and critical security offices. In the hierarchy of security and other Uniform departments in Nigeria Igbo senior officers are delayed in promotions and many forcefully retired or discharged so they wouldn’t reach the peak of their career. Federal appointments, resource control, and political representation remain grossly imbalanced against Ndigbo. Since the so-called federal system operates more like a unitary arrangement where certain regions dominate while others are reduced to spectators.
2. Social Differences:-Social integration in Nigeria has collapsed. What we have in Nigeria is regional and tribal patriotism instead of national patriotism. Igbo citizens face profiling, harassment, and selective enforcement of laws across different parts of the country.
   Peaceful protests in Igboland are met with military brutality and killings like Operation python dance in 2017 against IPOB that took hundreds lives of Igbo Youths at Afaraukwu Umuahia, the shooting of unarmed Indigenous People Of Biafra at Aba, Onitsha, PortHarcourt, Obigbo instructed by Gov Nyesom Wike etc while violent extremism Jihadist, Fulani Herdsmen and Bandits killing Christians in the North often receive negotiation and amnesty. Mazi Nnamdi Kanu the leader of the Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB) was abducted incarcerated at DSS dungeon for four years and later convicted illegally and imprisoned by a corrupt judiciary led by Justice James Kolawole Omotosho because he simply demanded for Referendum in Nigeria. This double standard has deepened alienation among Igbo youths.
3. Cultural Differences:-Our language, traditions, and values are neither protected nor promoted within the Nigerian framework. Instead, Igbo culture is routinely undermined and treated as inferior. A nation that fails to respect the cultural identity of its people cannot claim unity.
4. Religious Differences:-Religious intolerance has become normalized. Christian communities in the Southeast and Middle Belt feel increasingly threatened in a country where religious bias influences policy, security response, and governance. The absence of genuine religious neutrality further widens the divide. Christianity is targeted, killed, arson taken Place on daily basis making Christian in North a homeless people living in various IDP’s in the North.
5. Ethnic Hate Against Ndigbo:- Anti-Igbo rhetoric has been openly displayed in national discourse. It’s on record that former president Mohammadu Buhari described the IGBOS as”Dot” From threats of expulsion to hate speeches and coordinated attacks, Ndigbo have become targets within their own country.
   Properties belonging to Igbos are often destroyed in Lagos, most often Markets with no compensation or justice.This persistent hostility against Ndigbo in the North and Southwest Nigeria is an indication that Ndigbo are not needed to be part of Nigeria. We can’t be part of a county that’s suffering from igbo-phobia
6. Systemic Infrastructural Marginalization:- From abandoned federal roads to exclusion from major infrastructure projects, from poor seaport development to economic strangulation, the Southeast remains deliberately underdeveloped. Ndigbo are the most populous tribe in Nigeria doing Business/trading, but there is no function seaport, modern railway and international airport in Igboland. Ndigbo has the most nearest potential Seaports close to Atlanta Ocean in Nigeria. Azumini(Azumiri) Blue Sea at Ukwa East Abia has 25-30 nautical miles to the Atlantic Ocean, Obeaku Ndoki River with 23-25 nautical miles to Atlantic Ocean, Ibaka river at Akwaibom has 35 nautical miles to Atlantic Ocean, Onne and Bonny are 45-50 nautical miles to Atlantic Ocean, Ozziza Beach Afikpo is 55 nautical miles, and most closeiest is Ose-Akwa/ Ose-Moto River Ihiala/Oguta is only 18 nautical miles to Atlantic Ocean.

It’s unbelievable that Ndigbo the most travelled tribe in the world doesn’t have a single international functional Airport or Seaport

7. Nigeria Fraudulent Constitution: A Decree promulgated into a constitution, with alterations and written at mid-night while the masses were asleep and it was forced on the throat of over two hundred million people in the morning.
   The Nigeria constitution doesn’t have democratic ingredients. The Nigeria Constitution is not a democratic document, but verily fraudulent. It lacks principles of democracy, therefore Nigeria is not even a democratic country. What defines a country’s democracy is the constitution. The Nigeria Constitution lacks Democratic standards in its entirety.

It’s a promulgation of military decree into the constitution, that was not written by the people, but by few military cabals. The article (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as written by Military juntas in conspiracy with her foreign allies like Britain was done with ill-intention to Victimize Ndigbo on Self Determination quest as stated “Nigeria is one indivisible and indissoluble sovereign state to be known by the name of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”
The question that arises in the minds of the new generation of Igbo extraction is, was there a sovereign National Conference or Constitutional conference to decide on the so-called “indivisible and Indissoluble” clause in the Nigeria Constitution?

The Nigeria constitution is the dirtiest document in the world, written with selfish, tribal and ill-intention minds.

The Nigeria constitution lacks the “Form and Weight” of sovereignty. Even to describe Nigeria as a sovereign state, is an abuse of the word ” SOVEREIGNTY”

Igbo youths are not asking for war.

Igbo youths are asking for dignity.

Igbo youths are asking for freedom and self-preservation.

Igbo youths are seeking self-determination.

Igbo youths are asking for Referendum/Plebiscite

It is obvious that Nigeria cannot guarantee justice, equity, and equal opportunity for Ndigbo then the call for Biafra becomes not just legitimate — but inevitable.

To the Northern Elders Forum: we appreciate your acknowledgment. Now let the Nigerian state also have the courage to respect the right of Self-determination of a people.

You cannot force unity where there is no justice.
It’s verily easy for someone to cross the Atlantic Ocean by trekking, but it’s a life threatening task to be an Igbo man in Nigeria.

An Igbo man is a potential victim in Nigeria and Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has paid the price of the victimization

Nigeria expired in 2014, that’s why Nigeria is irredeemable irreconcilable and Irreparable.

Signed
Comrade Igboayaka O Igboayaka
National President
OHANAEZE YOUTH COUNCIL(OYC)
6th February 2026