SHOCKING! US Policy Official Labels Nigeria An “Occupier” Of Biafra, Tells U. S To Take Brutal Action Against Tinubu’s Govt
A senior official at the American Enterprise Institute, Dr. Michael Rubin, has stirred international debate by accusing Nigeria of being an ” occupier” of Biafra and urging the United States to reconsider its approach toward the West African nation.
In a sharply worded op- ed, Rubin supported Biafra’ s renewed declaration of independence on November 29, 2024, describing it as a legitimate response to decades of persecution.
Rubin emphasized Biafra’ s historical identity, highlighting its roots as an ancient kingdom recognized by travelers and cartographers long before Nigeria’ s formation under British colonial rule. He argued that Nigeria’ s ongoing political structure is itself a colonial project, forcibly subjugating the Igbo people and suppressing their aspirations for self- determination.
In his critique, Rubin noted that Nigeria’ s reaction to Biafra’ s recent declaration was predictably harsh. Efforts to undermine the movement included lobbying Finland for the arrest of Simon Ekpa, a prominent Biafran activist. Rubin criticized Nigeria for leveraging its limited media freedom to delegitimize pro- Biafran voices while ignoring calls for a United Nations- backed referendum.
The think- tank expert also drew parallels between Nigeria’ s recognition of Palestine and its rejection of Biafra. On May 10, 2024, Nigeria voted at the United Nations to recognize Palestine, despite ongoing territorial disputes. Rubin argued that Nigeria’ s stance on Biafra starkly contradicts its advocacy for Palestinian independence, exposing a hypocrisy in its foreign policy.
The renewed push for Biafran independence comes amid escalating tensions in Nigeria’ s southeast, where clashes between security forces and separatist groups have caused significant disruptions. Simon Ekpa’ s arrest in Finland, following accusations of incitement and promoting violence, drew condemnation from Rubin, who called the arrest an overreach influenced by Nigerian diplomacy.
Rubin’ s stance has sparked diverse reactions. Supporters of Biafran independence praised his acknowledgment of their plight, while critics argued that his views fail to consider the complexities of Nigeria’ s unity and the regional consequences of secession. Nigerian officials have continued to defend their actions, citing national security concerns and the economic toll of separatist movements, including billions lost due to IPOB- led disruptions.
As debates on Biafran independence persist, Rubin’ s commentary challenges the United States to align its foreign policy with its democratic values, urging greater scrutiny of Nigeria’ s internal and international practices. His statements have reignited global discourse on self- determination, sovereignty, and the role of major powers in supporting oppressed groups.
