Self-determination proponents under the aegis of the Nigerian Indigenous Nationalities Alliance for Self-Determination (NINAS) on Tuesday vowed to do everything possible to achieve their goal of secession.
They also threatened to frustrate the 2023 general elections unless the Federal Government commits to hold a referendum for the aggrieved indigenous nationalities to know whether they want to remain in Nigeria.
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NINAS is the umbrella body of self-determination Groups in the South West, South South, South East and Middle Belt.
Ilana Omo Oodua led by a Second Republic Senator, Professor Banji Akintoye represents the South West and Yoruba Land; Lower Niger Congress led by Barr. Tony Nnadi is representing the South South and South East while Middle-Belt Renaissance Movement under the leadership of Prof. Yusufu Turaki represents the Middle Belt.
At a world press conference held in Lagos, the groups called on political parties not to field candidates for the 2023 election.
A South-South leader of thought, Dr. Don Pedro Obaseki who addressed the press conference held both physically and virtually on behalf of Akintoye, insisted that the 1999 constitution was a fraud.
He said, “It is no longer a matter for Debate that the 1999 Constitution is a fraud and a forgery that is directly responsible for practically all the miseries tormenting Nigerians including the killings, mass poverty, gross insecurity and general hopelessness, now leading to the demise of the Nigerian Union itself.
“It does not matter therefore which Political Party or which individual wins Power, that constitution guarantees the evils we lament day in, day out.”
The groups stated that the 1999 constitution had been “repudiated” worldwide.
They said arrangement had been concluded for a one Million March to be held in front of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) commencing from September 14th to 24th, 2021 in New York, United States.
It would be recalled that NINAS had on the April 17 begun a 120-day consultation to implement the constitutional Force Majeure.
The indigenous nationalities said from that time a tremendous progress has been made in giving effect to the will of the people of Nigeria which “had for so long been suppressed by the Forces of Oppression and Retrogression.”
They said after the desired referendum, the people can now decide on the constitution they want for themselves in their separate Nations or within the Nigerian Federation.
Obaseki said, “We are glad to report to you, our people and the International Community today, August 17, 2021, the spectacular success of the Joint Multi-Regional Constitutional Force Majeure in its main objective of defeating and peacefully easing out the imposed, toxic and fraudulent 1999 Constitution upon which the distressed Federation of Nigeria is presently constructed.
“This victory over the fraud of 1999 is the first major step towards the recovery and reinstatement of the Sovereignty of the constituent components of the defunct federation of Nigeria trapped in the unitary Union of Death Nigeria has become for all under that defeated 1999 Unitary Constitution.”
They urged all the people of the South and Middle Belt of Nigeria living in the United States of America and Canada to troop out in Solidarity to participate in the One Million March.
“It is going to be an epoch-making event which we hope to use to draw the attention of the world and global leaders to all that we have highlighted above,” Pedro said.
