HAS THE AGITATION FOR BIAFRA REPUBLIC AND YORUBA NATION ENDED WITH ASIWAJU TINUBU PRESIDENCY OR ONLY A POLITICAL MOVEMENT FOR THE NEGOTIATION OF POWER TO THE SOUTH?

Since the end of Biafra war in 1970, the effects of the war has been lingering in the country, with the igbo's nursing the memories of the bloodshed that claimed the lives of over 2million people.

The ugly experience and memories is been passed down among the new generation, couple with the perceived injustice in the administration of Nigeria in the time past, marginalization in government appointments and other reasons have reignited the need for self determination among ethnic nationalities of Nigeria, especially the Igbo's of the South East, Yoruba's of the Southwest and some tribes in the Middle belt region of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The rise of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu from the South East gave fuel to the burning issue of Biafra in the mind of an average Igbo person, with supporters in diaspora justifying the need for a separate Biafra county, a land of the rising Sun.

The advent of insecurity and campaign of bloodshed by Fulani jihadists encroaching from the North to the South was used as justification for their demands and woke the activism in other sleeping citizens of Nigeria. The arrest of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu furthered strengthened the agitation, an action that gave birth to Simon Ekpo, Eastern Security Network and Monday sit at home in the South East States.

In Yorubaland, the spread of insecurity prompted intellectuals, activists, professionals and politicians to rally together under the banner of "Yoruba One Voice" championed by Professor Emeritus Banji Akintoye, a renowned historian that opened the minds of Yoruba people to the United Nations charters empowering tribes for self identity, self determination and self preservation.

Activists, Lawyers and Chiefs such as Aare Gani Adams, Late Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN, Sunday Igboho and many others rose to the occasion to speak for the interest of the Yoruba's and protection of Yorubaland from the insecurity challenges migrating from the North East, North West and Middle belt Nigeria.

In the struggle for preservation of Yoruba group as a tribe from the ethnic cleansing and land grabbing activities Fulani militias were carrying out in other parts of the country, Sunday Adeyemo Igboho became a paramount voice against oppression of rural farmers and led to demand for a separate Yoruba country under the cover of "Yoruba Nation".

Since the coming to power of President Bola Tinubu in 2023, the demand of separatist groups have reduced in volume, with some leaders of these groups sheathing their swords and pledging their loyalty to the Nigerian state under the new President.

The appointment of many Igbo professionals, technocrats and politicians into the administration of the President have doused the tension and agitation for Biafra.

The appointment of the wife of the Biafra leader, Mrs Bianca Odumegwu Ojukwu as the Minister for Foreign Affairs, have earned the government support from the South Eastern people, aside other infrastructural projects implemented in the region, also the commencement of operation of the newly established South East Development Commission (SEDC) to fastrack development in the region and other age-long challenges of the Southeast States.

On the Yoruba side, the public endorsement of Bola Tinubu by Sunday Igboho after his returned from exile shocked many of his followers and other towncriers in the Yoruba nation crew. Sunday Igboho justified his support by explaining to his followers and other Yoruba nation support groups that " He believes in the personality and track record of President Bola Tinubu to have the political will, sagacity, experiences and knowledge to solve the problems of Yoruba land", ultimately ending his need for further agitation for separate Yoruba country from Nigeria, a reason some Yoruba people received with mixed feelings that Yoruba as an independent country will thrive better but giving benefits of doubt to the promise of restructuring and reforms of President Tinubu, widely regarded as the builder of Modern Lagos and Progressive Democrat's.

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