CREATING A PROCESS NOT A MANDATE: ONE PHILOSOPHER’S REFLECTION ON BIAFRA’S QUEST FOR SELF-DETERMINATION

Abstract

The word “Biafra” appears to be contesting for global popularity with the word “Democracy”. The ubiquitous nature of Ndigbo, a major race among the Biafrans, has ensured that the Biafran question attract global interest. This paper argues that Biafra‟s quest for self-determination, if it must have any meaning and significance at all, should not be carried out as a mandate given to a group or groups or some individuals to “go and realize”. The paper posits that Biafra‟s self-determination must involve political, legal, and diplomatic processes undertaken within the larger national and international security order. Seeking to intellectualize the Biafran struggle; and employing historical, phenomenological and critical methods, the paper argues that the emergence of a new “subject of international law” (or nation state) from an existing one, is neither a tea-party for neophytes, nor is it a “wish” that becomes “reality” via sitting at home, marching on the streets or sitting in a beer pallor with a plate of pepper soup. The paper concludes by positing that the political self determination of any people can no longer be a unilateral one; but one that must involve multilateral, pluralistic and international dimensions as well as involvements.