The leader of the United States of Biafra, Simon Ekpa has addressed a letter to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu urging him to officially recognize the acclaimed sovereign state. The 3-page document was released on X on Monday by Ekpa’s second-in-command Dr. Ngozi Orabueze.
The letter stated that Biafra was redeclared a sovereign nation at a conference in Finland on the 29th of November, 2024 with over 50 million Biafrans in attendance. The population in attendance also partook in a referendum on the said date. According to Ngozi Orabueze, who is also known as the Acting Head of State and Deputy Prime Minister, USB , the letter was in line with the United Nation’s convention on the creation of state. She wrote:
“The government of the United States of Biafra is contacting the Federal Republic of Nigeria and stakeholders to notify and introduce the newly restored sovereignty of the United States of Biafra, which gained its independence on May 30, 1967, and was officially known as the Republic of Biafra.”
Orabueze noted that the acclaimed new sovereign nation has forty States. The letter, quoting the Article 1 of the 1933 convention of United Nations on the Rights and Duties of States, highlighted population, government, ability to go into foreign relations, respect for human rights, control of territory and self-determination as the criteria required of a state before it can be called sovereign. According to the letter, USB has it all, hence the reason for the redeclaration.
The letter also stated that prior “to recognition the state has the right to defend its integrity and independence.” It also has the right to “provide for its conservation and prosperity and consequently to organise itself as it sees fit.” It also notes that the States has the authority “to legislate upon its interests, to administer its services, and to define the jurisdiction and competence of its courts.” Asserting its sovereignty, Ngozi Orabueze noted that the only limitations to these rights are the International laws.
Moving on, the letter stated that in the past, their experience has shown that they have no other ways of achieving independence apart from raising their voices and being visible in their demands. And so they will continue to raise their voices, assert their rights, and mobilise collective action to bring attention to their cause to defend the sovereignty of the United States of Biafra.
Also, quoting the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, the letter highlighted that the USB is dedicated to creating diplomatic ties with other nations to further “promote collaboration.” They are also committed to fostering an environment designed to attract local and foreign investments to help in the creation of entrepreneurship and jobs.
Rounding up, Orabueze asserted that the aspiration to become a home “for trade, commerce, and industry.” It notes that this will be achieved by “leveraging USB’s strategic location, abundant resources, and skilled workforce to drive economic growth, reduce poverty, and improve our citizens’ overall quality of life.”
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