Replication Data for: WILL SOCIAL JUSTICE FOR THE PEOPLE OF SOUTHEAST NIGERIA PREVENT BIAFRA’S SECESSION?

Since 2015 the Biafra Crisis has dominated Nigeria’s political space. A state-entrenched, systematic marginalisation of the Igbo ethnic group and policy failure has been attributed as the main reason for the agitation for a separate state led by the Indigenous People of Biafra. Yet, this alleged injustice in the form of marginalisation has failed to pique the interest of politicians of Igbo extraction of the southeast zone of Nigeria. The inability of the politicians from the zone, to insist on fair economic redistribution and recognition of Biafra’s distinct identity, and the central government’s failure to look into the complaints fuel the crisis. The study employs Nancy Fraser’s tripartite social justice theory model, to show that recognising Biafra’s distinct identity and the return to a true federal state that characterised the First Republic in the country could put pay to the crisis. In light of this, the Quebec sort of shared sovereignty model, and Brussel's ‘personal autonomy’ model are recommended as good examples of how states confronted by secessionist claims might solve these phenomena. In essence, a somewhat special status for Biafra should be created to solve the distinct identity claim of the people of southeast Nigeria, who are mainly Igbo.