Tinubu Calls for Two-State Solution in Palestine, Amidst Irony of Nigeria's Biafra Conflict

Tinubu Calls for Two-State Solution in Palestine, Amidst Irony of Nigeria's Biafra Conflict

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu's recent call for a two-state solution in Palestine, advocating for an end to Israeli aggression in Gaza, has sparked controversy back home. The irony lies in his government's handling of the Biafra independence movement, which has been met with resistance and detention of its leaders, despite the agitation for a separate state of Biafra being a decades-long struggle .

Tinubu's speech at the Arab-Islamic Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, emphasized the need for a lasting peace in the region, citing Nigeria's own experiences in conflict resolution. However, critics argue that his support for Palestinian statehood contradicts his government's actions towards Biafra separatists. Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), remains in detention despite multiple court orders for his release.

The Biafra conflict has resulted in over 7 million deaths since 1966, surpassing the number of casualties in Palestine. This prolonged struggle for self-determination has been met with varying degrees of resistance and accommodation by the Nigerian government. The Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and other neo-Biafran groups have been advocating for a separate state, citing the failure of the Nigerian government to address the Igbo people's grievances .

In contrast, Saudi Arabia's King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman have condemned Israeli actions in Gaza and Lebanon, emphasizing the importance of preserving Lebanon's sovereignty. Saudi Arabia promotes Palestinian statehood based on 1967 borders and has established a Global Coalition with the European Union and Norway.

Tinubu's government has been accused of hypocrisy, advocating for self-determination abroad while suppressing similar movements at home. The Biafra agitation is rooted in a complex history of marginalization and exclusion, with the Igbo people seeking recognition and autonomy. As the international community seeks a resolution to the Middle East conflict, Nigeria's own internal struggles with Biafra independence highlight the complexities of self-determination and conflict resolution.