Chief Emmanuel Iwanyanwu, the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo globally, brought attention to the historical origins of secessionist movements in Nigeria. He pointed out that the idea of secession first arose in the North even before Nigeria's independence.
Iwanyanwu mentioned a time when the merger of the Northern and Southern protectorates was being deliberated. However, the North leaned towards the notion of establishing a separate nation for themselves instead of uniting with the South. It was through the efforts of individuals like Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe and other nationalist leaders that the vision of a unified Nigeria began to gain support and recognition.
In an interview with The Sun, Iwuanyanwu said, "Let me take you down memory lane, the issue here is that Nigerians are so forgetful, but we need to make them realise the need to recall past events. I want to tell you that the call for secession began in the North pre-independence of Nigeria. At that time the call for amalgamation of the Northern and Southern protectorates was proposed, but the North opted to carve out a nation for the North. But it took Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe and other nationalists time to convince them of one indivisible Nigeria."