IPOB FACTIONALIZATION; BIAFRA DREAM FADING?

Nigeria has always had issues with unity, even before independence.
However, the quest for secession came to a head with the declaration of the sovereign state of Biafra by the then governor of the Eastern region, Col. Odumegwu Ojukwu in 1967 and the subsequent civil war as a result that same year. After the war spanned 30 months, it ended with the renunciation of the state of Biafra and Nigeria remained one. However, the Biafra dream was kept alive, albeit silently, through the creation of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State Of Biafra (MASSOB).
Only last year, Nigeria began to witness yet another agitation for the same cause by a different group- the Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB), on the grounds of marginalization of the Igbos. The IPOB is led by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, a British citizen who was subsequently arrested for his inciting comments on Radio Biafra, a station he set up which was shut down.
While many were in support of the IPOB agitation, others argue that it is a cause that died a long time ago. The fact is that there are so many unanswered questions on the existence of Biafra. Is Biafra only for Igbos? How many states will go with it? Will they also take the all the oil producing states? What about intermarriages between 'Biafrans' and people from other tribes? What about the so many business establishments of 'Biafrans' in other parts of the country? Although these issues can be addressed, considering the hasty manner in which we do our things, one has to wonder if they will be addressed. Besides, it will be a tall order to achieve.

While the struggle for Biafra by the IPOB is still on and Mazi Kanu's determination unwavering despite being in prison for several months, there seems to be yet another setback for the group. On Monday, August 22, 2016, a faction emerged from the IPOB, calling itself The Rebranded Indigenous People Of Biafra (TRIPOB). This faction emerged because of the alleged victim position which the Kanu-led IPOB is accepting. It says it is no longer concerned about secession, but about the development of Igbos in a united Nigeria. According to the group, "Biafra will now become to us a powerful metaphor for change, development and greatness of the Igbos inside a united Nigeria". We don't know if this group has gotten some incentive from somewhere, but they actually made a point. Rather than breaking  away from Nigeria, it would be better for the struggle to be about bettering the lot of Igbos in the country. If that is achieved, there would be no need for succession as there would be satisfaction with Nigeria. In any case, does succession solve a problem? South Sudan can answer that. Eventually, each town among Biafrans will begin to clamour for their own autonomy because the issue of marginalization would still linger since, rather than fighting for inclusion and equality while in Nigeria, they fought for succession. So the spirit of inclusion is not there. Even among the Igbos, there are still classifications. The fact that the IPOB is even in conflict with MASSOB and now with itself shows that it is not even all 'Biafrans' who buy the secession idea.

I would conclude by stating that secession should no longer be considered. Apart from the fact of national integration that has taken place over the years, there may end up being subgroups within Biafra because it still has some ethnic groups within it. The Biafran dream should be changed from that of breaking away to that of ensuring participation and equality of 'Biafrans' in the Nigerian state.