Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, presented his strategy on Sunday to deal with separatist agitations, including those of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), if elected in the 2023 elections.
Atiku said that the demands of pro-Biafra agitators were not beyond negotiation when he spoke at The People’s Townhall in Abuja, a live event that was put on by Channels Television and its partners.
According to my understanding, the IPOB issue in the Southeast primarily concerns the realization of Biafra. Is it possible for Biafra to become a reality right now? How? either through negotiations or another civil war, which we cannot afford,?
“In terms of the Biafra issue, I believe we ought to be able to negotiate with the agitators from the Southeast. We believe that more autonomy for their subregion is what they require.
“For this reason, we proposed restructuring the nation, which entails devolution of additional powers and resources. After all, Eastern Nigeria existed during the First Republic, and they developed independently and with their own resources,” he stated.
The former Vice President stated that he saw no reason why restructuring and devolving more powers and resources could not quell the various agitations of the separatist groups, describing them as middle-of-the-road solutions.
According to him, “the agitations are in different perspectives.” Political refers to the question, “How does the South-East participate in power sharing in the country,” and one of them is political. Additionally, our society is democratic.
“This country does not have a single geopolitical zone that, on its own, is capable of achieving political power without crossing the Niger or forming alliances with other geopolitical zones,” the statement reads.
“I believe that this is the way they ought to begin to think: How do they collaborate with other regions of the country to secure political power or safeguard their own interests? Regarding IPOB’s agitations, I believe these are the best options.
Ifeanyi Okowa, Atiku’s running mate, said in his remarks that strategic engagement was important and that inclusive governance was a possibility.
I am aware that the South-East has maintained their agitation because they do not feel included. They don’t appear to play a major role in the current government’s security architecture, as you can see. As a result, they consider themselves to be “excluded,” as though they are not a part of this nation.
Atiku Abubakar does not want to lead that kind of government. He will run a government that includes everyone, so everyone in this country will feel like they are a part of the government and the country.
He stated, “I think that obviously will, to a very large extent, add to the other steps that will be taken by our presidential candidate by the time he assumes office on May 29, 2023.”