According to Obasanjo " I dont Talk about Biafra. Philip Efiong came and said Biafra ceased to exist and since that day Biafra have ceased to exist".
The above comment clearly shows that Obasanjo never understood what it mean to end a war neither do he understand the academic meaning of armistice.
Armistice The Nigeria Biafra War Have Not Ended According To International Law
As student of political science from the prestigious Anambra state University i have taken my time to study the nature of the agreement that ended the Nigeria civil war and its very clear that Biafra was not totally defeated into total surrender even the speech of General Yakubu Gowon of No Victor No Vanquished is also a clear indication that the war ended through an armistice and not total surrender , peace treaty or capitulation agreement which would have bring the Biafra Republic to an end and makes it impossible and illegal under international law to rise up its military again .
Let us look briefly into the meaning of military surrender and armistice and its implication to Nigeria in this 21st century
Surrender in military terms is the relinquishment of control over territory, combatants, fortifications, ships, or armament to another power. A surrender may be accomplished peacefully, without fighting; or it may be the result of defeat in battle. A sovereign state may surrender following defeat in a war, usually by signing a peace treaty or capitulation agreement. A battlefield surrender, either by individuals or when ordered by officers, will normally result in those surrendering becoming prisoners of war..
whereas , An armistice is a formal agreement of warring parties to stop fighting. It is not necessarily the end of a war, since it might be just acessation of hostilities while an attempt is made to negotiate a lasting peace. It is derived from the Latin arma, meaning weapons andstatium, meaning a stopping. The key aspect in an armistice is the end of fighting without the surrender of any party to the conflict.
The United Nations Security Council often
imposes, or tries to impose, cease-fire resolutions on parties in
modern conflicts. Armistices are always negotiated between the parties
themselves and are thus generally seen as more binding than
non-mandatory UN cease-fire resolutions in modern international law.
An armistice is a modus vivendi and is not the same as a peace treaty, which may take months or even years to agree on. The 1953Korean War Armistice Agreement is a major example of an armistice which has not been followed by a peace treaty. Armistice is also different from a truce or ceasefire,
which refer to a temporary cessation of hostilities for an agreed
limited time or within a limited area. A truce may be needed in order to
negotiate an armistice.
Under International Law an
armistice is a legal agreement (often in a document) which ends
fighting between the "belligerent parties" of a war or conflict.The Hague II (1899)Treaty,
says "If [the armistice's] duration is not fixed," the parties can
resume fighting (Article 36) as they choose, but with proper
notifications.
The
Civil War is Over. Broadcast by (Biafran) Major-General Phillip Effiong on Monday, January 12, 1970"Fellow Countrymen,As you know, I was asked to be the officer administering the government of this Republic on the 10th of January, 1970. Since then, I know that some of you have been waiting to hear a statement from me. I have had extensive consultations with the leaders of the community, both military and civil, and I am now encouraged and hasten to make this statement to you by the mandate of the armed forces and the people of this coun
Throughout history, injured people have had to resort to arms in their self-defense where peaceful negotiations fail. We are no exception. We took up arms because of the sense of insecurity generated in our people by the events of 1966. We have fought in defense of that cause. I take this opportunity to congratulate officers and men of our armed forces for their gallantry and bravery which had for them the admiration of the whole world. I thank the civil population for their steadfastness and courage in the face of overwhelming odds and starvation. I am convinced now that a stop must be put to the bloodshed which is going on as a result of war. I am also convinced that the suffering of our people must be brought to an immediate end. Our people are now disillusioned and those elements of the old government regime who have made negotiations and reconciliation impossible have voluntarily removed themselves from our midst.
I have therefore instructed an orderly disengagement of troops. I am dispatching emissaries to make contact with Nigeria’s field commanders in places like Onitsha, Owerri, Awka, Enugu and Calabar with a view to arranging armistice. I urge General Gowon, in the name of humanity, to order his troops to pause while an armistice is negotiated in order to avoid the mass suffering caused by the movement of population. We have always believed that our differences with Nigeria should be settled by peaceful negotiations. A delegation of our people is therefore ready to meet representatives of Nigeria federal government anywhere to negotiate a peaceful settlement on the basis of OAU resolutions.
The delegation will consist of the Chief Justice, Sir Louis Mbanefo as leader, Professor Eni Njoku, Mr. J. I. Emembolu, Chief A. E. Bassey and Mr. E. Aguma. The delegation will have full authority to negotiate on our behalf.I have appointed a council to advise me on the government of the country. It consists of the Chief Justice, Sir Louis Mbanefo, Brigadier P. C. Amadi (Army), Brigadier C. A. Nwawo (Army), Captain W. A. Anuku (Navy), Wing Commander J. I. Ezeilo (Air Force), Inspector-General of Police, Chief P. I. Okeke, Mr. J. I Emembolu (Attorney-General), Professor Eni Njoku, Dr. I. Eke, Chief A. E. Udofia, Chief Frank Opigo and Chief J. M. Echeruo. Any question of government in exile is repudiated by our people.
Civilian population are hereby advised to remain calm and cooperate with the armed forces and the police in the maintenance of law and order. They should remain in their homes and stop mass movements which have increased suffering and loss of lives.
On behalf of our people, I thank those foreign governments and friends who have steadfastly given us support in our cause. We shall continue to count on their continued help and counsel. I also thank His Holiness the Pope, the Joint Church Aid and other relief organizations, for the help they have given for the relief of suffering and starvation. I appeal to all governments to give urgent help for relief and to prevail on the Federal Military Government to order their troops to stop all military operations.
May God help us all.!!!
I don’t talk about Biafra. (Philip) Effiong came and said Biafra ceased
to exist and since that day, Biafra has ceased to exist. We absorbed
those we should absorb both into the civil service and into the
military. - See more at:
http://www.naijaloaded.com.ng/2015/10/30/those-agitating-for-creation-of-biafra-nation-are-miscreants-should-be-ignored-obasanjo/#sthash.vVvKM8QJ.dpuf
I don’t talk about Biafra. (Philip) Effiong came and said Biafra ceased
to exist and since that day, Biafra has ceased to exist. We absorbed
those we should absorb both into the civil service and into the
military. - See more at:
http://www.naijaloaded.com.ng/2015/10/30/those-agitating-for-creation-of-biafra-nation-are-miscreants-should-be-ignored-obasanjo/#sthash.vVvKM8QJ.dpuf
I don’t talk about Biafra. (Philip) Effiong came and said Biafra ceased
to exist and since that day, Biafra has ceased to exist. We absorbed
those we should absorb both into the civil service and into the
military. - See more at:
http://www.naijaloaded.com.ng/2015/10/30/those-agitating-for-creation-of-biafra-nation-are-miscreants-should-be-ignored-obasanjo/#sthash.vVvKM8QJ.dpuf
I don’t talk about Biafra. (Philip) Effiong came and said Biafra ceased
to exist and since that day, Biafra has ceased to exist. We absorbed
those we should absorb both into the civil service and into the
military. - See more at:
http://www.naijaloaded.com.ng/2015/10/30/those-agitating-for-creation-of-biafra-nation-are-miscreants-should-be-ignored-obasanjo/#sthash.vVvKM8QJ.dpuf
I don’t talk about Biafra. (Philip) Effiong came and said Biafra ceased
to exist and since that day, Biafra has ceased to exist. We absorbed
those we should absorb both into the civil service and into the
military. - See more at:
http://www.naijaloaded.com.ng/2015/10/30/those-agitating-for-creation-of-biafra-nation-are-miscreants-should-be-ignored-obasanjo/#sthash.vVvKM8QJ.dpuf
