A Coalition of militant groups in the Niger Delta, under the auspices of the Reformed Egbesu Assembly, have called for the immediate division of the country into five republics.
The groups named the republics as Arewa Islamic Republic, Biafra Republic, Republic of Niger Delta, Middle Belt Republic and Oduduwa Republic.
They recommended that all the republics put together shall be addressed as United Republics of Nigeria.
This is coming few hours after the Convener of Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, Chief Edwin Clark pleaded with the militants not to go ahead with the proposed declaration of Republic of Niger Delta on October 1, 2017.
The militants said the call for the division of the country has become necessary in order to avert the possibility of violent agitations.
Speaking in a statement by the General Officer Commanding, REF, Tony Alagbakereowei, who spoke on behalf of the group called on international organizations to call for referendum without further delay.
He said, “We reaffirm our collective resolve to actualise the Republic of the Niger Delta, RONDEL, which had been proclaimed in 1966 taking into cognisance the reality that there is nothing yet binding us as a people rather than the crude oil and gas in the Niger Delta.
“We call on the British Prime Minister, President Donald Trump of the United States and the United Nations, UN, to conduct a referendum for the peaceful dissolution of the Nigerian states into Arewa Islamic Republic, Biafra Republic, Oduduwa Republic, Republic of the Niger Delta,RONDEL, and the Republic of the Middle Belt to be collectively known and addressed as the United Republics of Nigeria based on the principles of non-exodus and non-violence.
“We strongly restate our commitment and dedication to this model as it is the irreducible minimum acceptable political requirement for the ethnic nationalities of the Niger Delta to remain in the Nigerian state.
“We consider this as the best option to avoid the impending humanitarian crisis of a full-blown Nigeria civil war and armed revolution which will be foisted upon the African Continent and the world at large.”
