Britain and France support the sanctity of Nigeria saying they will oppose Biafran secessionists

BRITAIN'S high commissioner to Nigeria has made it clear to secessionists campaigning to break the country up that his government would not support their cause as it believed in a united and indivisible nation.

 

Over recent months, secessionists agitating for the recreation of the defunct Republic of Biafra have stepped the campaign to break away from Nigeria. Led by the Indigenous People of Biafra (Ipob), they have been organising a series of rallies and meeting across southeast Nigeria, campaigning for a sovereign and independent state.

 

Last time Biafra was campaigned for, the British government stood by Nigeria, supporting a united and indivisible nation. This time around Paul Arkwright, the British high commissioner to Nigeria, has said his government will adopt the same stance, pointing out that Britain was not supporting those calling for the secession in Nigeria.

Mr Arkwright said the UK said would always support Nigeria’s unity and ensure the progress of the country as usual. Speaking in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital when he paid a courtesy visit to the Kwara State House of Assembly Mr Arkwright met with the speaker, Dr Ali Ahmed and other principal officers of the House.

“In a word, no, we don’t have anything to do with anyone agitating for the break-up of Nigeria. We’re strongly in support of the unity of Nigeria and the Federal Government of Nigeria.

 

"That’s what the British government has consistently supported and we don’t have an interest or support anyone agitating for the break- up of Nigeria. For anyone to say the British government is involved in any way in the break-up of Nigeria is completely wrong,” Mr Arkwright said.

He described Nigeria’s democratic situation as delicate but commended efforts at upholding tenets and keeping the flame of democracy alive. France, an ally of defunct Biafra in 1967, has similarly denounced any further step to actualise the secession of the southeast from Nigeria.

According to the French,  such a move had been overtaken by events and it was no longer in support of break-up of any part of Nigeria. France’s ambassador to Nigeria, Denys Gauer, said his country would not in any way work with any group agitating for the dismemberment of Nigeria.

Mr Gauer said France was working with Nigeria and supporting it as a country, pointing out that Nigeria has evolved since the civil war. He added that France has been cooperating with Nigeria to overcome its challenges, especially the fight against the Boko Haram insurgency.

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