Abuja, Nigeria — November 13, 2024: Barrister Aloy Ejimakor, Special Counsel for Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has highlighted what he describes as a “convergence of views” between Northern Elders Forum (NEF) convener, Professor Ango Abdullahi, and Nnamdi Kanu on the country’s constitutional longevity. This follows Abdullahi’s recent remarks suggesting that the legal basis that unified Nigeria through the 1914 amalgamation of the Northern and Southern Protectorates may have “expired” in 2014, raising questions about Nigeria’s political structure.
The dialogue took place on Monday at a National Dialogue on a Home-Grown Parliamentary System of Government in Abuja, where Abdullahi outlined that the 1914 amalgamation was never intended to bind Nigeria perpetually without renegotiation. According to him, the arrangement envisioned a 100-year timeframe for assessment, implying that this period elapsed in 2014. Abdullahi’s comments reflect a broader push among some Northern elites for a reconsideration of Nigeria’s political framework, given its persistent challenges in national cohesion and governance reform.
In his reaction on Tuesday, Ejimakor pointed out that Abdullahi’s acknowledgment aligns with what Nnamdi Kanu has long articulated. Kanu, whose pro-Biafra advocacy led to his arrest and prolonged detention, had consistently maintained that Nigeria’s foundational agreement had outlived its relevance, necessitating a re-evaluation of its political and economic systems. According to Ejimakor, Abdullahi’s recent statements vindicate Kanu’s position, which previously drew harsh responses from the government and accusations of terrorism and secessionism against the IPOB leader.
“Nnamdi Kanu was among the first to challenge the continued legal legitimacy of Nigeria’s 1914 amalgamation, and for that, he faced severe persecution,” Ejimakor stated. “Now, prominent figures from the North echoing similar sentiments demonstrate the need for reflection on how Kanu has been treated and why his assertions were so quickly dismissed.”
Abdullahi’s remarks reflect the complex and often divisive discussions around Nigeria’s unity, its colonial legacy, and regional representation in political and economic decision-making. While Northern elites have traditionally resisted calls for restructuring led by groups like IPOB, Abdullahi’s statements indicate a growing recognition of systemic imbalances. He emphasized that it is imperative to reimagine Nigeria’s structure to address ongoing conflicts, promote development, and ensure equitable governance.
Ejimakor, in his response, urged the Nigerian government and the Northern leadership to reconsider Kanu’s imprisonment and the accusations against him. “Given that the North has now voiced similar concerns for which Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has been punished, it is time for the government to offer restitution and acknowledge his legitimate concerns,” he said.
This shift in dialogue may signal a potential opening for more comprehensive conversations on restructuring Nigeria. However, the path forward remains fraught, with Kanu’s detention still a polarizing issue and tensions over separatist demands and state responses persisting.
