December 21st, 2020
By Eluwa Chidiebere Chinazu | Biafra Writers
The constitution of Nigeria is supreme. It is mandatory that any action or assertion made by her citizens should be in line with the constitution.
The newly unveiled Eastern Security Network by the leader of Biafra, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has roused many divergent reactions from the northern part of the country. One begins to wonder therefore why the north is repulsive to this security outfit.
Factoring in the verity that the north has its own security outfits like Northern Nigeria Security Initiative (NNSI) code-named "Shege-Ka-Fasa,” the Fulani Security Network (FSN) popularly known as Miyetti Allah, etc, and the west also has its own, the Western Nigeria Security Network (WNSN) codenamed Operation Amotekun (Leopard), one becomes lost in the wilderness of imagination.
On the issue of Eastern Security Network launched by the Biafran leader, those opposed to it are of the opinion that the leader has no right or legal backing to float a security outfit in Nigeria without the support of the Eastern governors as it is with the NNSI, FSN from North and WNSN from Southwest. It thus becomes imperative to examine the constitution of the country and on this note I advise all legal practitioners in the Eastern region of Nigeria to come out open and back up the establishment of this outfit just as Chief Femi Falana (SAN) did for the Southwest.
Chapter two, section 21 under article (a) of the Nigerian constitution says, "the state shall protect, preserve and promote the Nigerian cultures which enhance human dignity and are consistent with the fundamental objectives as provided in this chapter."
Many don't know the Biafran cultures but in accordance with this part of the Nigerian constitution, the Biafran leader has the cultural and constitutional back up to establish a security outfit. Biafrans don't practice the European style of leadership. The Biafran style of leadership is totally democratic and republican which has been there for ages.
Nobody is disputing the fact that the governors, Ohanaeze, and other political organizations are also leaders in Biafra land. But these leaders are not cultural to the Biafran people. They came as a result of the coming of the Europeans through which western culture was introduced to sniff out the cultures of the land.
In Biafra land, there are two groups of leaders – the Tangible and the Intangible leaders. The Tangible ones are those who are culturally nominated by the people while the Intangible ones are those that came as a result of their contact with the western culture like the governors, Ohanaeze and other political organizations in the land.
The Tangible leaders are the Council of Elders, Council of Daughters (Umu Ada), Family, Chief-priests, Traditional Herbal Doctors, and Age-grades.
In the Council of Elders, the basic qualifications to be chosen by the people are age, good knowledge of community traditions, and honesty which is a prerequisite virtue for title-taking, making the position sacred. I said chosen by the people because Biafrans unlike the other ethnic nationalities in Nigeria, practice a participative-style of government where people in all level of organisation partake in decision-making because decisions are drawn from general consensus. This is the Biafran culture and heritage which shouldn't be undermined by anybody.
As it stands, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has all the qualities to belong to the Council of Elders since. His leadership is part of Biafra cultural heritage and according to the constitution, is accepted.
The Biafra Times
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Edited By Nelson Ofokar Yagazie
Publisher: Eluwa Chidiebere Chinazu
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