A Global Igbo Alliance (GIA) – a conglomerate of Igbo associations around the world once again presents the results of Opinion Poll conducted in 2017 to ascertain what the Igbo people want in connection with the spate of agitations from various quarters for restructuring Nigeria through ‘self-determination’ or by ‘regional autonomous government’.
In an opinion poll/survey organized by an Australian based firm – Bizopt Solutions on behalf of Global Igbo Alliance, participants in the poll were asked three questions: if they want a republic of Biafra? ; a regional autonomous government – modelled on the 1963 constitution?, or if they want to remain in one Nigeria as it is today?.
The participants opinions were sampled from 34 states of Nigeria including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and are summarized as follows:
Abia state – 8%
Adamawa state – 0.08 %
Akwa Ibom state – 2.97%
Anambra state – 11.72%
Bauchi state – 0.25%
Bayelsa state- – 3.05%
Benue state – 6.68%
Borno state – 0.08 %
Cross River state – 3.63%
Delta state – 5.61%
Ebonyi state – 7,51%
Edo state – 1.40%
Ekiti state – 0.083%
Enugu state – 10.40%
FCT Abuja – 4.79%
Gombe – 1.16%
Imo state – 18.23%
Jigawa state – 0.33%
Kaduna State – 0.41%
Kano state – 0.74
Kwara state – 0.41%
Kebbi state – 0.30%
Lagos state – 3.80%
Nasarawa state – 0.15%
Ogun state – 0.33%
Ondo state – 0.33%
Plateau state – 0.33%
Rivers state – 4.87%
Sokoto state – 0.15%
Taraba state – 0.15%
Yobe state – 0.25%
Zamfara state – 0.15%
https://login.surveytown.com/surveys/ViewAggregateReport.php?iSurveyID=1
The main findings of the opinion poll/ survey are summarized as follows:
1. Over 80.45 % of Igbos indicated that they want Biafra.
2. 17.99 % of Igbos indicated they want regional autonomous government modelled on 1963 constitution.
3. 1.57% wants to remain in Nigeria as it is today.
4. Although the Opinion Poll was mainly for the Igbos, 1.95% non-Igbos participated in the poll.
5. 94.22% of people who responded are 18 years and above.
6. The survey /opinion poll result gave a conclusive YES for Biafra as the first choice for the Igbo people. It clarifies what Ndi Igbo want. This is the first time a statistical evidence is presented indicating that a wide majority of Igbo people want Biafra.
7. The survey /opinion poll result shows that the number of Igbo people that favoured regional autonomous government as modelled on 1963 constitution came a distant second with 17.99%.
8. The people who want Nigeria as it is today came a distant last with a skimpy score of 1.57%. This implies that almost nobody wants to remain in Nigeria as it is today.
9. There is a very strong support for Biafra identified mainly in the southern states. However, sample opinion for Regional Autonomous Government modelled on 1963 constitution came a distant second. The choice for regional autonomous government is also commonly identified across both southern and northern Nigerian states. While a regional autonomous government – modelled on 1963 constitution appears to be a second option choice for Ndi Igbo. This opinion poll/survey, however, indicates that almost nobody wants to be with Nigeria the way Nigeria is currently constituted and being governed. The call for restructuring is now everywhere across the nation, the North has just joined late in the call to restructure Nigeria.
GIA advises the current Nigerian government and its relevant agencies and stake holders to listen to the voice of the people. If after 100 years of coexistence, the various ethnic nations that were forced to make up one Nigeria still find it impossible to co-exist without violence and perceived cheating then the situation calls for a immediate review. The religious intolerance, unwarranted killings of innocent citizens by the Nigerian military and Fulani herdsmen, the in-depth corruption in Nigeria particularly amongst government officials and the marginalization of Igbo in Nigeria have given rise to the fear, faithlessness, anger and agitations in the land which necessitated the calls for restructuring via regional government modelled on 1963 constitution or via self-determination for respective ethnic nations that are requesting same.
The clause in Article 2 of the constitution which states that “Nigeria is one indivisible and indissoluble sovereign state” is a political self-deceitful ambitious statement. There are lots of countries with same statement of ambition to remain one country, but the still split. There is no state in the world that is indissoluble. You do not force two people to get married not to talk of more than two people of distinctive nature and idiosyncrasies
Something needs to be done now and urgently.
The present Nigerian government should do the needful suspend the election, appoint a transitional government that would consult various tribes/parts of Nigeria to discuss how they wish to continue in the Nigerian project. There is no gain saying, Nigeria is in crisis and has hopelessly remained unworkable for so long. The earlier we accept these facts and move for a change of the current structure through self-determination or regional autonomy for the component parts, the better for all and sundry. The current government knows that to continue to live in denial about Nigeria is not only counter-productive but dangerous.
A responsible and ingenious government does not ignore the will of her people. Any leader be it in government or any human endeavour that altruistically claims a role in empowering and emancipation of mankind cannot afford to ignore the will of the same people.
Global Igbo Alliance Inc. (GIA)
Australasia, Canada, United States, United Kingdom, Europe, Asia, Africa
Website: www.globaligboalliance.com
Facebook: Global Igbo Alliance
