FEDERALISM AND SECESSION IN CANADA: LESSONS FOR THE NIGERIAN BIAFRA QUESTION

Secessionism has become a prominent issue in modern political discourse, particularly following the end of the Cold War, which triggered renewed separatist aspirations and the reawakening of dormant self-determination movements. Influential frameworks, such as Woodrow Wilson’s Fourteen Points advocating for the self-determination of peoples, further reinforced these movements. Across both developed and developing nations, groups experiencing economic, cultural, or political marginalization have pursued secessionist agendas. Quebec, Canada, exemplifies such a case, having attempted to secede in 1980 and 1995. This paper investigates the rationale behind Quebec’s secessionist moves and examines the strategies employed by the Canadian government to manage these challenges peacefully, thereby preventing escalation into violent conflict—unlike the secession struggle witnessed in Nigeria during the Biafra War (1967–1970). Using comparative analysis, the study highlights the effectiveness of executive federalism in mitigating separatist tensions and maintaining national cohesion. The paper concludes by advocating for the adaptation of the Canadian model by Nigeria and other nations seeking to address secessionist pressures through institutional mechanisms and dialogue rather than military confrontation.