In the recent press release by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), amongst other things, one of the highlights is the outright ban of the Nigerian National anthem in schools and public gatherings in the region and ban of cows which are said to be Fulani cows in the region. In a press statement made by Mr. Chika Edoziem, The Head of Ipob Directorate of State he succinctly stated; “Beginning from Monday, January 3, 2022, no more Nigerian national anthem in all schools in Biafraland. Our children must no longer be reminded daily that they are under oppression by singing the national anthem of the oppressor”.
This press release which said to be long overdue by the supporters of the movement, others who are against the modus operandi of how the members of the IPOB are going about the struggle for self determination stated that the above press release is tantamount to an act of treasonable felony. Treasonable felony is a capital offense in most nations of the world including our country Nigeria and some are worried that the top leaders of the movement may attract the wrath of the government again.
Treason is an act to depose or levy war against the sovereign nation and to forcefully compel changes of policy in government, forcefully take over government or to intimidate or overrun the parliament and it is usually punished with life imprisonment or death sentence.
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The antagonist of the IPOB modus operandi chastised the leaders of the movement saying that the Nigerian National anthem is a symbol of unity, a national heritage and an identity, a code of conduct that every Nigerian should abide by and live by. The Nigerian National anthem is said to serve as an eternal representation of the core values and spirit of our Founding Fathers (the heroes’ pasts) and everyone who calls our country home thereafter. It has the same significance with the Nigerian flag, Nigerian currency, the coat of arms and every other national symbol of unity. Every one, who calls Nigeria home and is living within the geographical demography mapped out as Nigeria is to abide by these symbols of national unity and respect these symbols of identity; save and except that region have officially and legally broken away from the country Nigeria, if not every act which undermines the national symbols of unity of Nigeria is tantamount to treasonable felony (so they said).
Be it as it may, this piece by reporting this news is not in by any means advocating against agitation for independence and self governance, the reporter is fully in support of every region of Nigeria who yearns for independence to achieve freedom, an average human believes that people have the right to self determination, to determine if they still want to be part of a union or they want to go their way. We can’t keep lying for ourselves with the narratives of “one Nigeria” when the one Nigeria union is clearly not working out.
Although, the antagonist of the IPOB modus operandi claims that the outright ban of the national anthem by the member of the indigenous people of Biafra is an act of treason and it attracts a heavy punishment in Nigeria, it is for our readers and an average Nigerian to form their opinion about how the whole situation is turning out.
