ABSTRACT
Biafra was the ill-fated republic whose attempt at secession led to a bitter three-year war between 1967 and 1970 in Nigeria. In recent years, there has been a groundswell of agitations in the Southeast of Nigeria for the realization of Biafra. These agitations are championed by militant ethno-national groups in the zone and have been driven by perceived marginalization from the political and power spheres of Nigeria since the end of the war. Such things as the fact that, since the end of the war, the zone has yet to produce a president in Nigeria and its having the least number of states amongst the six geopolitical zones, are pointed out as emblematic of systematic marginalization of the area. While Biafran resurgence enjoys significant support from ordinary Southeast citizens, the political elites from the zone prefer a political solution in the form of the restructuring of Nigeria. The resurgence of Biafra calls attention to the inability of Nigeria to deal with memories of the war and to foster a development framework built on equity and social justice.
