The call made by the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) January 26 on Goodluck Jonathan “and his governmental team... to embrace the idea [of a Sovereign National Conference (SNC)] as a matter of urgency” as timely and rational as it is, may have come a little too late for some committed men and women especially from some of the nationalities that inhabit parts of the lower southeast Niger basin.
The call made by the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) January 26 on Goodluck Jonathan “and his governmental team... to embrace the idea [of a Sovereign National Conference (SNC)] as a matter of urgency” as timely and rational as it is, may have come a little too late for some committed men and women especially from some of the nationalities that inhabit parts of the lower southeast Niger basin.
googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('content1'); });
Even the NADECO seem to have alluded to that fact when it pointed out in the full text of its press statement that reads inter alia: “...a group known as South-East/South-South Professionals in a statement dated 20/01/12 warned that if by the end of 2012 the SNC is not convoked, the dialogue option of resolving (sic) the fundamental issues would be in their words, be (sic) off the table, encouraging disenchanted ethnic nationalities to attempt to take their destinies in their hands.”
I don’t intend to sound alarmist here. A little before Christmas last year, I received an unsolicited Express Mail package from the Biafra Government In Exile (BGIE). I don’t know how they got hold of my forwarding address—not that it matters. What matters is that they were able to remark me as one of the several people who haven’t been economical in proclaiming our informed conviction that the Nigeria project is a burnt out case that exists solely to dysfunction and rubbish the commonwealth destiny of each of the seriously inclined nationalities—especially the Igbo—that were carved into it by the British, and held down so far by the parasitic Hausa-Fulani.
Inside, when I opened the package, I beheld a pleasant surprise: five copies of the Biafra Charter, packaged in a well-produced cute purple-colored booklet, five copies in all. I wasted no time to devour and digest the well-crafted and coherent document contained in the booklet. When I put on my journalist’s cap, what came to me was to share the document with the rest of the world. Thus, I begin today, to serialize the Biafra Charter. When it concludes, I’ll also reproduce and share the photo image of all thirty-seven pages, a Glossary page, and the two pages of Notes in the booklet to serve as the iron-clad proof that I did not invent it. I now invite you to read the first instalment of the serialization of the Biafra Charter.
Biafra Charter
The Charter Constituting the Government of the Federation of Biafra
I DEFINITION of Charter:
This document, the Biafra Charter (“the Charter”), is the organic and foundational agreement for the establishment of a National Structure, Governance Structure, Governing Authority and a Basic Code of Conduct for the functionaries and peoples of Biafra.
googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('content2'); });
The Biafra Charter is a formal instrument which at once constitutes:
1) Authority
2) Mandate
3) Contact
4) Memorandum
5) Terms of Reference
6) Reference
For the matters which are addressed or referenced by the Charter, and according as such matters are addressed or referenced therein, granted by the Nation of Biafra, through the collectivity of the representatives of the communities and people of Biafra, to the functionaries and for the functions stated in the Charter.
II PURPOSE of Charter:
1. The primary purpose of the Charter is to establish an enduring National Structure, Governance structure and Basic Code of Conduct for the people and the functionaries, as directed by the peoples of Biafra; which contribute to and inform a future National Constitution.
2. In addition, the Charter mandates the immediate formation of a Provisional Government of Biafra (BPG) to serve the Nation and people of Biafra during the period that Biafra is under the occupation of Nigeria.
III ORGANIZATION of Charter:
This document is sectionalized into:
A. Biafra Charter Authorization
B. The Federal Structure of Biafra
C. The Charter Constituting the Government of the Federation of Biafra
D. The Declaration of Nine Basic Laws
E. Amendments
A. Biafra Charter Authorization
Whereas the Peoples and Nation of Biafra and their land and property find themselves under physical, sociologic, political, economic and psychological subjugation by the State of Nigeria since 1967, a “state of occupation,” by Nigeria, of Biafra, has existed and continues to exist.
Unwilling to continue to live under such stifling servitude while suffering such indignities as are inappropriate for human beings, determined to exercise the natural and legal rights to Freedom and Liberty, NOW, therefore, We,
• The people of the Federation of Biafra have RESOLVED to actualize, renew, reaffirm and continue with the Declaration of Biafra Independence of May 30 1967, with all the implications thereof.
• In re-affirming the independence of Biafra, the Peoples and Nation of Biafra make neither war, nor peace, with the State or peoples of Nigeria; rather, we exercise a Natural right, a Popular right, a Political right, and a right supported by United Nations Organization Charter and international laws—the right of Self Determination;
• in the certain realization that only the effective exercise of Self Determination by the Peoples and Nation of Biafra will end the state of occupation and subjugation by Nigeria of Biafra.
In furtherance of this exercise, the Biafra Charter, a formal organ of the People and Nation of Biafra, lends authority to, and issues a mandate for, the creation and formation of a Biafra Provisional Government (BPG).
1. BIAFRA PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT (BPG)
I. MANDATE of BPG:
1. To create, form, operate and manage a Provisional Government for and by the Peoples and Nation of Biafra; such government:
2. to function, in the meantime, as a bona fide government of Biafra in the manner of legal, customary and decent governments;
3. to secure the Freedom and Liberty of Biafra and its peoples from occupation by Nigeria, based on Self Determination paradigm and principles, with all haste and by all means necessary;
4. to represent the Sovereignty and Interests of Biafra and its people in the Region and in the World at large;
5. to project the Sovereignty, Independence and Humanity of Biafra and its people at all times;
6. to constitute a Transitional Governance of Biafra (TGB) immediately after liberation of Biafra from Nigeria for a specified and finite duration not to exceed four years, pending the formalization of Biafra State structures post-occupation and post liberation.
googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('comments'); });