The National President of the Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC), Comrade Igboayaka O. Igboayaka, has described the “indivisible and indissoluble” clause in Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution as a “constitutional fraud” that undermines the rights of Ndigbo and other ethnic groups to self-determination.
Speaking in a statement released on Sunday, Igboayaka called for a national dialogue to review Section 2 of the Constitution and introduce the right to referenda or plebiscites as a mechanism to determine the political future of Nigeria’s diverse communities.
According to Igboayaka, self-determination is a fundamental principle of international law, enshrined in instruments such as the United Nations Charter and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. “Self-determination is the inherent right of all peoples to decide their own political and economic destiny,” he said.
“It is protected internationally and cannot be legitimately denied by a constitution drafted under military influence and foreign interests," he further stated.
Igboayaka criticized the 1999 Constitution, which he says was hurriedly prepared by military juntas and political elites, as serving the interests of certain tribes while marginalizing others, particularly the Igbo. He argued that the amendment processes were manipulated to consolidate political advantage rather than reflect the will of Nigerians.
“The so-called clause declaring Nigeria as an ‘indivisible and indissoluble sovereign state’ lacks democratic legitimacy and was imposed without any sovereign national conference or broad-based consultation,” Igboayaka said.
“It has become a tool for political and economic oppression, perpetuating inequality, marginalization, and a skewed distribution of resources," he added.
Highlighting Nigeria’s ongoing ethnic and regional tensions, the OYC leader linked the clause to historical and contemporary injustices, noting that Nigeria’s economic dependence on oil-rich Igbo land has fostered inter-ethnic grievances.
He warned that the failure to recognize the right to self-determination could escalate conflicts and lead to political instability.
Igboayaka also drew attention to global examples of economically and politically viable states without oil reserves, including Luxembourg and Hong Kong, arguing that the political and economic survival of Nigeria’s other ethnic groups does not depend on Igbo resources.
He called on all reasonable and progressive Nigerians to demand constitutional reform that would allow for referenda or plebiscites, enabling communities to exercise their internationally recognized right to self-determination.
“Until Section 2 is reviewed and amended, the clause will continue to act as a de facto death penalty against Nigerians, especially Ndigbo, and will perpetuate systemic oppression,” he said.
The statement represents one of the most forceful critiques of Nigeria’s constitutional framework in recent years, echoing long-standing calls from various groups advocating for regional autonomy and political restructuring.
