For the sake of Nation building, I expected our Igbos compatriots to remain remorseful, with broken spirits and contrite hearts. They should emulate the Japanese and Germans, who after the 2nd World war, that they caused, have adopted pacifist Constitutions and behaviors. They have realized the folly and worthlessness of war mongering.
The activities of IPOB and MASSOB are not in the interest of the Igbos. Rather, unfortunately, old historical wounds have been ruptured. They have inadvertently resuscitated their past inglorious roles in the national disintegration. I don’t blame them, because they were not born before the war, rather I blame their parents that lived through that period. And who should have cautioned them.
I was 9 years old, when Lt Col. Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, the Governor of the then erstwhile Eastern Region of Nigeria seceded and declared the Republic of Biafra. In my youthful foolishness, I staked my life to a worthless cause and enrolled in OJUKWU VANGUARD. By the time I returned to my parents in our village which had been liberated by the Nigerian army, I lost 2 academic years, with war scars physically psychologically and mentally inflicted on me.
To start with, the agitation for Biafra is gross insults to the minorities of the then Eastern Region and worse still on the memories of those gallant men and women that paid the Supreme prices. Though Biafra was created by the Igbos, the minorities mostly from the present day Akwa Ibom and Cross River States, sustained it militarily, administratively and diplomatically.
With this, the roles of the following heros come to mind. Late General Philip Effiong,Ojukwu’s 2nd in command, sustained Biafra militarily. Late Chief Ntieyong Udo Akpan, was the Secretary of the Government of Biafra. He was the defacto Administrator of Biafra. Late Chief Okokon Ndem Okon, was the Director General of Radio Biafra, and their Chief Propagandist. Late Dr Matthew T Mbu, was their foreign Minister and their foremost diplomat. Late Major Archibong was their most brilliant war tactician that liberated Ikot Ekpene six times from the Nigerian army.
With the exception of General Ojukwu, other Igbos used that war to make money. Left for the Igbos, the war would have ended in 1967, it wouldn’t have lasted for 30 months. For instance Col Yakubu Danjuma , of the 1st Division and his Boys literally strolled into Enugu and occupied it. Ditto for most of the Igboland. But late Col Benjamin Adekunle of the 3rd Marine Commando, was frustrated in the present day Akwa Ibom state.
Wherever the battle was tough, most often a non Igbo was the Biafran Commander. The Igbos exhibited so much cowardice. They were saboteurs. It was such that General Ojukwu lost confidence in them, relied and confided only on the minorities, particularly the present day Akwa Ibomites. I am very happy that he appreciated their roles, as were conveyed in his orations at the funerals of late General Philip Effiong, Late Chief Ntieyong Udo Akpan, and late Chief Okokon Ndem Okon, my neighbor.
Again on the night of 15January 1966, 4 Igbos and I Yoruba Majors and their subalterns embarked on a killing spree. By the time it was over, they have assassinated the Prime minister, Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, the almighty Premier of Northern Region, Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Premier of Western Region, Chief Samuel Akintola, Chief Festus Okotie – Eboh. The two Igbo Premiers of Midwest region, Osadebe, and that of the Eastern Region, Chief Michael Okpara, were not touched.
The military casualties of that “coup”, were Brigadier Maimalari, Commander of the 1st Brigade and the most senior Northern military Officer, Brigadier Ademulegun, Commander of the 2nd Brigade, and the most senior Yoruba military Officer, Colonels Shodeinde, Pam and Arthur Unegbe(the only Igbo casualty). Suspiciously Major General Johnson Thomas Umunakwe Aguiyi-Ironsi, the most senior Igbo military Officer was spared.
Suspiciously an Igbo man, Senator Nwafor Orizu, the Senate President, (with President Nnamdi Azikiwe on vacation to Britain) handed over power to his Igbo brother, Major General Johnson Thomas Umunakwe Aguiyi-Ironsi. The Igbos were all over bragging about the superiority of their tribe. They waxed a record titled “EWU NEBE AKWA ” meaning the goat is weeping.. That was a mockery of the Northerners over the assassination of their Leaders . And went about provocatively, openly hawking the tearful portraits of the late Prime minister, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa.
The Northerners violently rioted against the Easterners, derogatorily called “Nyameri”. That was the remote cause of the declaration of Biafra and the bloody civil war.
If the present Igbo generation knew the past inglorious roles their fathers played in the disintegration of this Nation, they should be hiding their heads in shame. [myad]
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