Mike Arnold Links Nigeria’s Crises, Biafra History, and Rising Insecurity in Congressional Presentation

A former United States mayor, Mike Arnold, has stated that the breakup of Nigeria is “likely inevitable and just.”
Arnold, who is known for expressing sympathy toward the Biafra movement, made the remarks while addressing members of the U.

S. Congress.
In his presentation titled “Nigeria at the crossroads: The case for action,” Arnold—founder and chairman of Africa Arise International (Nigeria) and Africa Arise USA—argued that Britain, as Nigeria’s colonial power, did not design the country for long-term stability or success.
He proposed what he described as a freely determined constitutional future for Nigeria, to be decided through a national referendum by its citizens, as a path toward peace and development.
According to him, “like so many other British colonial contraptions designed to fail,” Nigeria’s separation may be unavoidable and justified. He referenced historical colonial arrangements and post-independence separations such as India-Pakistan, Sudan-South Sudan, British Somaliland, and Cyprus as examples of states that either split or underwent major restructuring.
Arnold also linked his position to what he described as structural political imbalances in Nigeria, including the 1999 Constitution and long-standing regional dominance issues.
He further stated that the former Republic of Biafra was once one of the fastest-growing economic regions globally, citing historical economic data suggesting strong growth in Eastern Nigeria between 1955 and 1965 under the administration of Premier Michael Okpara.
Recalling the Nigerian Civil War, Arnold said the South declared independence in 1967, which led to a blockade by federal forces. He alleged that the war resulted in widespread starvation, claiming millions of deaths, and stated that international relief efforts were hindered during the conflict. He also asserted that British support strengthened the Federal Military Government and contributed to Biafra’s defeat.
Turning to current affairs, Arnold said violence against Christian communities in Nigeria has worsened following the United States’ designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC). He cited several recent incidents, including reported attacks in Ngoshe, Kwara State, Angwan Rukuba, and Jos, to support his claims.
He also criticized what he described as the denial of recognition and humanitarian support to internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Nigeria, alleging that this situation meets conditions that could be interpreted as genocide under international standards.
Arnold claimed that despite earlier documentation by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) of IDP camps in Abuja, the Nigerian government has denied their existence, which he said has contributed to reduced international recognition by agencies such as UNHCR and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
He further accused the administration of President Bola Tinubu of failing to adequately address allegations of targeted violence, and of denying the scale of displacement in the country.