By DAYO ADESULU
A new political fault line appears to be forming in Nigeria’s long-running debate over unity, federalism, and security, following the emergence of a formal alliance between prominent Yoruba and Igbo self-determination groups.
Operating under the banner of the Coalition to De-Amalgamate Nigeria for Security (CODES), the groups have jointly declared that Nigeria’s continued existence under its current structure has become unsustainable, citing worsening insecurity, deep-rooted mistrust among ethnic nationalities, and unresolved historical grievances.
The Yoruba Igbo separatist alliance, announced at the end of a global conference and press briefing held virtually via Zoom, marks one of the most coordinated cross-regional self-determination efforts in recent years. The coalition insists its objective is not violence, but a peaceful, lawful, and internationally recognised process to dismantle the Nigerian state as presently constituted.
Alliance Says Nigeria’s Crisis Has Become Existential
In a strongly worded communiqué released on Friday, CODES argued that Nigeria is no longer held together by justice, popular consent, or accountability, but by what it described as “systemic denial and institutionalised falsehood.”
According to the coalition, the Nigerian state has failed in its most basic duty — the protection of lives and property — while insecurity has spread across nearly all regions of the country.
“Nigeria today survives not on truth, justice, or consent, but on denial,” the communiqué stated. “Fear has replaced citizenship, and insecurity has become a permanent condition rather than an emergency.”
The group warned that what began as a security challenge has now evolved into a full-blown crisis of state legitimacy, with millions of citizens losing confidence in the federal system.
Key Yoruba and Igbo Leaders Sign Declaration
The declaration was jointly signed by influential figures from both Yoruba and Igbo self-determination movements, giving the alliance significant symbolic and political weight.
On the Yoruba side, signatories included:
- Prof. Banji Akintoye, Leader of the Oduduwa (Yoruba Nation Self-Determination Movement)
- Chief Sunday Adeyemo (Sunday Igboho), Leader of the Yoruba National Community Defence
- Architect George Akinola, Deputy Leader, Yoruba Self-Determination Movement (Homeland)
- Dr. Kayode Emola, Deputy Leader, Yoruba Self-Determination Movement (Diaspora)
Representing Igbo interests were:
- Mazi Tony Nwisi, Chairman, Igbo Global Network–IPOB
- Mazi Emmanuel Kanu
- Mazi Ositadimma Igenu
- Prof. Chinedu Agbodike
All Igbo delegates acted under the umbrella of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) within the CODES framework.
‘Not Extremism, But Exhaustion’
Addressing concerns that the alliance could heighten ethnic tensions, CODES rejected claims of extremism or militancy. Instead, it described the partnership as a response to years of insecurity, broken promises, and political exclusion.
“Our collaboration reflects not extremism, but exhaustion,” the coalition said. “It is a lawful insistence on dignity, safety, and political consent.”
The group emphasised that its proposed De-Amalgamation Congress is open to all indigenous nationalities within Nigeria and is rooted in non-violence and international legal standards.
Colonial Roots and Structural Imbalance
A significant portion of the communiqué focused on Nigeria’s historical foundations, tracing today’s instability to the 1914 colonial amalgamation and decades of excessive centralisation.
According to CODES, the amalgamation was imposed without the consent of the indigenous peoples and entrenched an unequal power structure that has fuelled corruption, marginalisation, and conflict.
“A state founded without consent cannot indefinitely survive against consent,” the coalition declared.
It argued that repeated constitutional reforms have failed to address these structural flaws, leaving many ethnic groups feeling trapped in a system that neither protects them nor reflects their aspirations.
Allegations of Selective Justice and State Complicity
The Yoruba Igbo separatist alliance also raised serious allegations regarding the handling of violence across the Middle Belt, South-East, and other flashpoints.
CODES accused successive governments of failing to prosecute perpetrators of mass killings, while displaced communities remain unable to return to their ancestral lands.
The coalition further condemned what it described as the selective application of the law, pointing to the continued detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and the pursuit of Chief Sunday Igboho, despite the activities of violent actors elsewhere.
“While violent groups roam free, peaceful advocates of self-determination are hunted with extraordinary state resources,” the communiqué stated.
Call for International Action and Referendum
Invoking international law, including the UN Charter, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, CODES insisted that peaceful self-determination is a legitimate right.
Among its demands, the coalition called for:
- International recognition of Biafra and Oduduwa nations
- Immediate release of detainees held solely for self-determination advocacy
- An end to the pursuit of Chief Sunday Igboho
- UN-supervised referendums for all indigenous nations seeking self-rule
- Independent investigations into alleged mass killings and state complicity
- International protection for vulnerable communities
The group warned that failure to address Nigeria’s crisis could trigger a humanitarian disaster with global migration consequences.
‘A Declaration of Truth, Not War’
Despite its far-reaching demands, the coalition stressed that the alliance does not amount to a declaration of war.
“This is a declaration of truth, dignity, and peaceful intent,” CODES said. “Forced unity has failed. Silence has failed. Repression has failed. Self-determination remains the only path to lasting peace, stability, and regional security.”
As Nigeria continues to grapple with insecurity and political uncertainty, the emergence of this Yoruba Igbo separatist alliance is likely to intensify national and international debate over the country’s future.
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