In a powerful address delivered on Biafra Heroes Remembrance Day, former U.S. mayor Mike Arnold asserted that the pursuit of self-determination by any ethnic group in Nigeria should never be criminalized. Speaking from Blanco, Texas, via Biafra Radio, Arnold released what he termed the ‘Sokoto Declaration: Principles for the Deliverance of the People,’ a 15-point manifesto urging unity and liberation.
Arnold, who leads the Africa Arise organizations, emphasized that the right to choose one’s own political future is fundamental. He specifically mentioned that self-determination is not a crime for Biafrans, the Yoruba, the Middle Belt, or minorities in the North. He argued that no people should be forced into allegiance against their will.
Referencing the imprisonment of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader Nnamdi Kanu, Arnold declared that speaking the truth is not an act of terrorism. He further stated that external rescue is unlikely; power, he said, is never granted but must be seized through collective action.
The declaration included a series of bold statements: every individual has the God-given right to life, liberty, and a self-determined future. Arnold called for the return of exiles and condemned any regime that loses legitimacy by oppressing its people. He argued that unity must be achieved through coordinated, disciplined resistance that includes peaceful protests, electoral participation, and legal challenges.
Arnold also stressed that the wealth of the land belongs to its people, and any extraction under violent circumstances is theft. He warned against internal divisions, stating that factions only serve the interests of oppression. The declaration concluded with a call for an internationally supervised referendum to draft a new constitution and achieve true self-determination.
Invoking a powerful metaphor, Arnold likened the struggle to the biblical exodus, hoping that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob would grant wisdom and courage to deliver the people once again. He ended with the assertion that the long night of oppression is ending, encouraging all to stand together.