Buhari is an illiterate on referendum, IPOB says

Separatist group, Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has faulted comments by President Muhammadu Buhari who remarked during a recent media event in New York, USA that the igbos have no right to a referendum.

Reacting to the comments by President Buhari in a statement jointly signed by IPOB’s spokespersons Emma Nmezu and Clifford Chukwuemeka Iroanya; the group said if the various media reports on Buhari’s assertion were true “then there is no better way to exhibit ignorance on the typology and application of the concept of referendum.”

The IPOB boasted that if all Biafrans decided to choose referendum as an option to secede from Nigeria, Buhari, as President, cannot stop them from achieving their goal.

Read also: Ambode’s wife leads officials’ wives to rescue ENT centre

“In Africa, examples abound where several countries conducted referendum through the instrumentality of the Legislative Arm of Government or at the behest of the citizenry. Eritrea in April 1993, Egypt on March 19, 2011, and Morocco on June 1, 2011 are few examples.

“With all these historical backgrounds and lucid examples of the concept, ownership, and application of referendum, it is very clear to everyone that Buhari does not know or understand what it is all about.

“Even the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People (UNDRIP) is unequivocal on the inalienable rights of indigenous people to decide on how they want to govern themselves. Nigeria as a member of the African Union has domesticated the UNDRIP,” the statement read in part.

IPOB said Buhari should have consulted with his aides who are educated enough to enlighten him on referendum “to make him understand that the presidency cannot make any sweeping statement on referendum because it lies within the domains of the legislature or at the behest of the citizenry.”

RipplesNigeria …without borders, without fears

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now