A group known as Igbo National Union–Worldwide (INU-W) has called on the United Nations (UN) not to give Africa, particularly Nigeria, a permanent seat on its Security Council.
At the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 80) held in New York, USA recently, President Bola Tinubu, through the Vice President, Mr Kashim Shettima, re-echoed the inclusion of Nigeria into the council, saying the country deserves to be there because of its role in Africa.
The Nigerian government also called for the recognition of an independent State of Palestine, criticising the attack of Israel on Gaza.
Reacting to these issues in a statement signed by its Administrative Secretary, Austin-Mary Ndukwu, the organisation slammed the Nigerian authorities for supporting the sovereignty of Palestine while suppressing the agitation for Biafra’s sovereignty in Nigeria.
It described this as a height of hypocrisy, saying Nigeria had no moral right to champion the freedom of indigenous peoples elsewhere while “hundreds of pro-Biafra agitators” were still allegedly detained in correctional centres and police cells across the country, especially with the continued detention of IPOB leader, Mr Nnamdi Kanu.
“The most significant and symbolic item presented by Nigeria at the meeting was her tacit recognition of a Palestinian State.
“Therefore, the question being asked by the Igbo National Union–Worldwide is this: did Nigeria act because other nations did so, or did she suddenly recognize the importance of freedom for indigenous peoples? Or was it simply an individual decision by the Vice President in solidarity with his Muslim brothers?” a part of the statement read.
“Nigeria must purge herself of such hypocrisy by releasing all prisoners of conscience—epitomized by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu—and save herself from international embarrassment. That is the irony of recognizing a Palestinian State while denying Biafra’s right to self-determination,” INU-W added, warning against giving Africa, particularly Nigeria, a permanent seat on the UN Security Council, citing the high level of insecurity and corruption in the region.
“Nigeria, with the highest rate of insecurity, criminality, and corruption in almost all the 36 states and the FCT, lacks the moral justification and capacity to be admitted into the Security Council as a permanent member.
“Charity, they say, begins at home. Nigeria must first fix the insecurity ravaging her land, which has claimed countless lives and destroyed infrastructure, before seeking to play a global leadership role,” the group added.