The call for Niger Delta Republic

The clarion call on the Niger Delta Avengers is to sheath their swords, embrace the dialogue gesture from the federal government towards the redevelopment of the oil devastated communities within their region.
To declare a Republic on 1 October 2016, is an affront to Nigeria which could snowball into a full-blown bellicose that may consume the minority region and her kindred.
As a reminder, no nation fights two wars and remains the same afterwards; she would become dejected, rejected, debt-ridden and pauperised.  The well-chronicled bestiality of the first civil war still haunts us as a nation; therefore, let us try to forestall its recurrence.
Never Again!
If the region needs a Republic, due process, as is explained below, is the way to go.
Reacting to Memorandum condensed by Alan Lennox, Secretary of State for the Colonies (1954-59), on the 1957/58 Constitutional Conference in London, which was retrieved from the archive by a compatriot, Yinka Odumakin, published on Pg. 17, Vanguard Newspaper of Tuesday, August 16, 2016, a certified pension administrator, passionate Yoruba, incidentally my immediate biological senior, R.I. Kola Bello, after digesting the secret property of Her Britannic Majesty’s Government, asked of the proper way forward.
The answer to readily provide for this compatriot brother, is for aggrieved regions, specifically the Southern Nigerian regions, to legitimately, tirelessly, seek true federalism, and if not successful, to ultimately sue for sovereignty.
They are entitled, as they seem to meet the requirements so to be. The West would settle for her Odua Republic, the East for Biafra Republic while the South South, comprising the Ibibios, Urhobos, Isokos, Ijaws, Ikwerres etc. put together (the Itsekiris are Yoruba cousins who may not be too ready to join other clans in the region, but have the right to choose which Republic to follow, ditto the people of Edo), will have Niger Delta Republic.
Indigenes of Ilorin, Ilota, Jebba, Omuaran, Igbaja, Oro, Omupo, Edidi etc; and Lokoja, Akoko, Egbe, Owa etc of Kwara and Kogi extractions respectively, are predominantly Yoruba descendants but by accident of geographical dichotomy and decimation, find themselves in the Northern Region, so, in case of partitioning, a boundary rearrangement is a sine qua non to forestall encumbrance and hiccups.
In matter of frankness, intending republics should be civil in championing their cause; there should be no rancour, no restiveness, and no bloodshed. You are entitled to sovereignty. I reiterate. After all, the world is fraught with precedence for such bid (Ukraine, Georgia, Uzbekistan; Scotland, Ireland, Kent, Wales, Hong Kong; Pakistan, Afghanistan; and Kuwait, were formerly under the colonies of Russia, Britain, India; and Iraq respectively, before they were granted hassle-free autonomy.)
The admonishment therefore, is to make formal applications, subsequent presentations and defence to the United Nations General Assembly and its Security Council or whichever organ of the body is charged with such assignment in this circumstance.
Wait a minute, folks! There is this insinuation in some quarters that the Northern Region would be the whipping dog, should Nigeria be dismantled. These bookmakers would eventually be surprised because, the said region is well endowed with solid minerals and agriculture. The region, today, feeds the rest of the country with both food and cash crops.
Permit my interpolation that crucifixion from unsound arbiters on this statement is not necessary; it is just the basic truth for the world to know. In addition, the deluge of livestock, human and intellectual capitals in her stead cannot be overemphasized. Perhaps I should remind the bookmakers that the dictate of monetary/financial economies is “use what you have to your best advantage.”)
Be informed also, that the preliminary report on the latest oil exploration efforts of the NNPC in the Chad Basin is promising; therefore, it becomes indubitable that the North Eastern flank of the country, too, will soon be a member of the oil minerals producing areas.  I see the region becoming more successful than the others in self-government do do.
Predicating my summation on the promising report from the said exploration efforts is for Nigerians to continue to tolerate each other and share the common wealth together, let the North not enjoy the oil wealth alone; or if it becomes expedient to have autonomy, interested regions should embrace due process.
Largely, informed minds, decision-makers and leaders of these regions have the perpendicularity to decide which option to take. Oh! Did I hear you say, “To your tents O’ Israel?” Well, your choice is as good as mine is.

Bello is State Secretary, Afenifere Renewal Group (Lagos State Chapter).