Reported By Mary Udezue | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Abuja, Nigeria — Minister of Works David Umahi has declared that renewed calls for a separate Biafran nation are no longer justified, saying that the South‑East region is now firmly integrated into the Nigerian federation through sustained federal inclusion and development under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration. His remarks were made amid heightened national debate over secessionist sentiments and long‑standing demands for restructuring in the region.
Speaking during an inspection tour of major federal infrastructure projects across the South‑East, Umahi said the era in which feelings of marginalisation drove separatist agitations has given way to a sense of belonging and national partnership. “There will be no need for Biafra again,” the minister said, emphasising that historical grievances that fuelled secessionist movements have been addressed through direct federal engagement, investment and representation.
Umahi specifically pointed to the visible presence of federal infrastructure work — including new expressways and rehabilitated corridors linking key states across the South‑East — as tangible evidence of the region’s integration. He noted that many of these projects, long abandoned or stalled under previous administrations, are now being completed with renewed momentum and significant federal funding, reshaping public perception of the region’s place within the broader Nigerian state.
“We are well integrated into the mainstream of the nation, Nigeria,” Umahi said, adding that the region’s people are now “comfortable and happy” with the level of inclusion they are experiencing. His comments reflect a broader narrative promoted by the federal government that economic and political inclusion can address fundamental issues once cited as causes of separatist rhetoric.
The minister’s declaration comes at a moment when residual agitation — driven by perceptions of neglect and historical marginalisation — still resonates among some groups within and outside Nigeria. For decades, calls for Biafra’s restoration emerged from factions in the South‑East, spearheaded by organisations advocating secession based on historical experiences and claims of political and economic exclusion. However, Umahi insisted that such movements have lost their foundational justification as federal attention and investment in the South‑East increase.
Analysts say Umahi’s remarks are both political and symbolic, aligning with the Tinubu administration’s broader effort to project inclusive governance and national unity. By foregrounding federal projects and high‑profile appointments of individuals from the South‑East in key portfolios, including Umahi’s own position as Works Minister, the government aims to signal that the region’s interests are now central to national development planning.
Critics of the agitations argue that years of conflict, economic hardship and uneven development contributed to distrust and secessionist thinking. Supporters of federal inclusion counter that engagement within the constitutional framework and equitable development are better tools for advancing regional interests than separatist strategies. Umahi’s remarks echo this consensus by framing the region’s progress within the unity of the Nigerian state.
Despite Umahi’s confidence, some observers note that lingering calls for restructuring and greater regional autonomy persist in sections of civil society and political discourse. They argue that while infrastructure and inclusion can mitigate sentiments of alienation, addressing deeper structural concerns — including resource control, political participation and cultural recognition — remains critical for lasting harmony.
Umahi urged Igbo leaders at home and in the diaspora to abandon calls for secession and instead pursue influence through engagement, political strategy and cooperation with federal institutions. He framed this as a mature path for achieving long‑term stability and prosperity for the South‑East and its people.
The minister’s statements are likely to reignite discussions across political, academic and civil society platforms about the future direction of South‑East demands and their compatibility with Nigeria’s constitutional framework. As the government and stakeholders continue to navigate these sensitive issues, proponents of inclusion and critics of secession will remain central figures in shaping how the nation reconciles its complex history with a unified future.
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