The High Commission in Nigeria said today, November 3, that the British government does not support the agitation for a separate nation of Biafra.
Joe Abuku, the high commission’s press & public affairs officer, in a statement in Abuja claimed that the position of the UK Government during the Biafran War is a matter of historical record, Sahara Reporters informs.
“The UK Government’s position, which reflected the Charter of the Organization of African Unity, was to recognise the borders laid down at Independence,” he said. “The Biafran War caused great suffering and the UK supported the reconciliation work that followed the conflict. The UK supports the territorial integrity of Nigeria and President Buhari’s commitment to work for a secure and prosperous Nigeria for all Nigerians.”
Earlier, Grant Shapps, UK Minister of State, wrote a letter that was widely-circulated in the media with a similar position concerning Biafra agitation.
The letter was written in response to MP Micheal Meacher, after one of Mr. Meacher’s constituents wrote an inquiry about the detention of Nnamdi Kanu of Radio Biafra.
“We are not aware of any institutionalized persecution of any people by the Nigerian authorities,” he declared.
“The position of the British Government during the Biafran War is a matter of historical record,” he recalled. “Our position, which reflected the Charter of the Organization of African Unity, was to recognise the borders laid down at Independence.
There is no question that the Biafran War caused great suffering and the UK supported the reconciliation work that followed the conflict and continues to support efforts to reduce violence in Nigeria today.”
Shapps also said the UK fully supports the territorial integrity of Nigeria and President Buhari’s commitment to work for a secure and prosperous Nigeria for all Nigerians.
“We share the concern of President Buhari and all Nigerians about threats to Nigeria’s stability and are working with Nigeria to help tackle these threats, including Boko Haram,” he added.
Kanu, who is a dual citizen of both the UK and Nigeria, remains in detention in Abuja, following his arrest in Lagos last month. According to his attorneys, he has been unable to meet the conditions of a strident bail given by a magistrate.
According to Abuku, the UK High Commission has a standing position: the British government only provides consular assistance to dual nationals in the country of their other nationality in exceptional circumstances.
Since his arrest, Biafra activists have embarked on protests in several cities across the world. In some cases they have visited Nigeria embassies and threatened to burn down their buildings.
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