Over the past six months, another word apart from restructuring that has kept popping up in the Nigerian media, is the word 'referendum'.

About six months ago, NAIJ.com reported that the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) movement called on its members to prepare for a referendum to the freedom of Biafra.

In a statement by the spokesperson of the IPOB, Powerful Emma, the group said it is working effortlessly to restore its long lost freedom and political independence without violence.

“We Biafrans in pursuit our inalienable, irreducible and God given right to restore our stolen sovereignty do hereby state that we do not require the permission of the Nigerian State or her government officials to grant us our natural freedoms,” IPOB said.

Will the referendum affect only IPOB and others agitating for Biafra? No. It is therefore imperative, that every Nigerian knows the following facts about what calling for a referendum means:

1. What is a referendum? A referendum is a general vote where citizens of a nation are asked to make a decision on a specific question. In many countries referendums are held only to make a change to the constitution, or to an existing law. In others, any individual of voting age can initiate a popular vote. Nations, states, provinces, cities or villages all have their own referendums, and the rules vary from place to place, along with the criteria for success. In most cases, referendums ask a single yes or no question. On September 18, the Scottish referendum asked the electorate "Should Scotland be an independent country?” and all residents over the age of 16 were able to vote. READ ALSO: Biafra agitation: Nnamdi Kanu is wasting his time - Presidency

2. Biafra Going by the above definition, if the Biafra referendum is to hold, the question will be: 'Should Biafra be an independent country?' and every Nigerian of voting age will be able to vote 'Yes' or 'No'.

3. What happens if Nigerians vote yes? If a country votes yes, they’re essentially voting in support of some sort of change. If the independence vote prevailed in Scotland, complex negotiations would have taken place which could have meant changes to Scotland’s currency and economy, healthcare and pensions. However, referendum is sometimes met with opposition. If Nigerians do vote yes to letting Biafra go, it might likely lead to upheaval and unrest and in the worst case scenario, another civil war.

4. Who can initiate a referendum? In most countries a referendum can only be initiated by the parliament, but some have provisions for citizens to call a ballot, too. In Switzerland a referendum can be called by any individual who collects 50,000 signatures in support of challenging an existing law. The Swiss also have popular votes, which can be set in motion by anyone who collects 100,000 signatures to initiate constitutional change. However, the Nigerian constitution has no express provision on referendum despite series of amendments, thus until the constitution is further amended to make provision for referendum, the 1999 constitution of Nigeria being the supreme law of the land has no window or room for referendum. READ ALSO: Like Igbo, we want referendum too, Yoruba groups declare

5. Amending the constitution: Since the only possible move is amending the constitution and the National Assembly has the power to review and amend it, then those who want a referendum have to follow the process of constitutional amendment by getting senators to propose a constitution amendment bill.

Adaowerri111:
Anyhow it goes it will still be better than staying in this zoo

Sanchez01:

You might need to beg the 'Zoo' to say yes, particularly with the staggering number of the North and other Igbos that do not align with the Biafran dream.

Adaowerri111:



And you think any of these zones wants to dwell with the northerners abi? Think twice....majority will vote YES

Adaowerri111:



And you think any of these zones wants to dwell with the northerners abi? Think twice....majority will vote YES

Sanchez01:
It is no brainer that the whole country would vote should a referendum pull through. It would be no different from that of Spain vs Catalonia but the truth is that it would be quick and painless as Nigerians who have had enough would clearly vote yes. The South East would have what they want and everyone would be happy. Talk about a country surrounding another

Fratermathy
Efewestern

Adaowerri111:



And you think any of these zones wants to dwell with the northerners abi? Think twice....majority will vote YES

Eastfield1:

Imagine the Illitrate that Ishilove aways call 'her love'
The whole Nigeria will Vote indeed.
people who pick up everything that will suit them or serve their paranoid mind and swallow it as the truth without making any research.

3. What happens if Nigerians vote yes? If a country votes yes, they’re essentially voting in support of some sort of change. If the independence vote prevailed in Scotland, complex negotiations would have taken place which could have meant changes to Scotland’s currency and economy, healthcare and pensions. However, referendum is sometimes met with opposition. If Nigerians do vote yes to letting Biafra go, it might likely lead to upheaval and unrest and in the worst case scenario, another civil war.

Eligibility
The participation process does not have an official electorate. The vote has been called by the Catalan government for people who are at least 16 years of age on 9 November 2014 and who meet one of the following criteria

Spanish citizens whose national identity card states they are resident in Catalonia;
Spanish citizens who live outside of Spain and are registered as "Catalans abroad" or "Spaniards abroad" linked to a Catalan municipality;
all non-Spanish citizens who can prove they are residents in Catalonia.
Catalan people who are resident in other Spanish regions, and Spanish citizens who live in Catalonia but are not resident there, cannot vote.

Estimates of the number of people eligible to vote range between 5.4 million and 6.2 million.

Eastfield1:

Imagine the Illitrate that Ishilove always call 'her love'
The whole Nigeria will Vote indeed.
people who pick up everything that will suit them or serve their paranoid mind and swallow it as the truth without making any proper research..
Birds of same feather flock together anyway

40kobo77:
Biafra?

Will not waste my energy on Biafra matters,as i see no need trying to talk sense into the heads of a people determined to create a nation where everybody is a trader.
Can't wait for these parasites to go away since that is what they want. First,that posh area named Ozumba Mbadiwe in the Island,should be named M.K.O way.

Inshort a referendum should be held today,and we in the West are ready to vote to let you guys go.

And on behalf of everyone,i thank you guys for developing V.I,Lekki,Ajah,Festac and Magodo.

Now please go back and develop your lands.

fratermathy:


I laughed so hard that my teeth hurt.

And that is a perfect description of how their nation would look like.

Eastfield1:

lols
the Kind gbege way we give you & ur tiny inconsequential Sobo tribe still dey pain you.
Now you re running around every thread looking for some thing u will use to make urself feel happy and re-up ur downed self-esteem

40kobo77:
Biafra?

Will not waste my energy on Biafra matters,as i see no need trying to talk sense into the heads of a people determined to create a nation where everybody is a trader.

Can't wait for these parasites to go away since that is what they want. First,that posh area named Ozumba Mbadiwe in the Island,should be named M.K.O way.

Inshort a referendum should be held today,and we in the West are ready to vote to let you guys go.

And on behalf of everyone,i thank you guys for developing V.I,Lekki,Ajah,Festac and Magodo.

Now please go back and develop your lands.

40kobo77:
Biafra?

Will not waste my energy on Biafra matters,as i see no need trying to talk sense into the heads of a people determined to create a nation where everybody is a trader.

Can't wait for these parasites to go away since that is what they want. First,that posh area named Ozumba Mbadiwe in the Island,should be named M.K.O way.

Inshort a referendum should be held today,and we in the West are ready to vote to let you guys go.

And on behalf of everyone,i thank you guys for developing V.I,Lekki,Ajah,Festac and Magodo.

Now please go back and develop your lands.

Sanchez01:

You might need to beg the 'Zoo' to say yes, particularly with the staggering number of the North and other Igbos that do not align with the Biafran dream.

Sanchez01:

You might need to beg the 'Zoo' to say yes, particularly with the staggering number of the North and other Igbos that do not align with the Biafran dream.