Northern-Nigeria Perspective

  A Hollow Cry: The AVID Letter to Trump and the Politics of Igbo Irredentism                         By           Umar Ardo, Ph.D The recent letter by the American Veterans of Igbo Descent (AVID) addressed to U.S. President Donald J. Trump is a disheartening display of national hatred and ethnic irredentism masquerading as religious advocacy. Dated November 2, 2025, and signed by Chief Dr. Sylvester Onyia and Dr. Godson Obiagwu, the letter thanks Mr. Trump for designating Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) over alleged persecution of and genocide against Christians. Beneath its polite diplomatic tone lies a familiar pattern of behaviour - the Igbo elite’s reflexive ethnic opposition to the Nigerian state, which they do not believe in unless controlled by them. 2. AVID’s claim that there is a genocidal campaign against Christians in Nigeria is not only false but maliciously misleading. I...

These days it is commonly discussed at virtually every political forum of the need to draft former President Goodluck Jonathan to contest the 2027 presidential elections as a most viable solution to the current political imbroglio facing the country. Vanguard Newspapers carried the issue conspicuously today. Whether this move will be a solution or by itself will be introducing another problem to our transitional politics is not what I am concerned with in this article. My concern here, beyond his suitability, is President Jonathan’s eligibility. Is President Jonathan legally eligible to contest another 4-year term in office? I think before this matter is taken any further, both by its agitators and by former President Jonathan himself, the legal question must have to be conclusively resolved.  2. As it is presently, there is the Justice Oniyangi’s FCT’s High Court judgment of March 2013 that explicitly cleared former President Jonathan to contest another term. There is, however, al...