Mediating Between Nigeria and 'Biafra'

MEDIATING BETWEEN NIGERIA AND ‘BIAFRA’

     The last time I painstakingly checked, the ongoing struggle for a sovereign state of Biafra by most aggrieved personalities in the Southern part of Nigeria, particularly the Igbos, remained a cause that required the attention of anyone who truly means well for this country. Suffice it to say that it isn’t something to be played with or laughed over, considering its socio-economic cum political implications.

     Biafra was a secessionist state in Eastern part of Nigeria that existed from the 30^th of May, 1967 to 8^th of January 1970. The name was extracted from the Bight of Biafra otherwise known as ‘Bight of Bonny’, the Atlantic bay situated at the Southern pole of the region. The inhabitants were mostly the Igbo people who led the secession due to economic, cultural, ethnic as well as religious tensions among the various peoples of Nigeria. Other ethnic groups that constituted the republic were the Ijaw, Ibibio, Efik, Ibeno, Eket, Annang, and the Ejagham, among others.

     It would be recalled that the emergence of the Nigerian Civil War popularly recognized as the ‘Biafran War’ in 1967 was occasioned by the secession of the Biafra region by its major leaders, especially the Late Lt Col Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu who was then the Governor General of the Nigeria’s Eastern Protectorate. After the said war that lasted for almost three years, Biafran forces under the slogan ‘No victor, No vanquished’ surrendered to the Nigerian federal military government and therein Biafra was reintegrated into Nigeria, which was its original territory.

     Thereafter, peace was duly restored in every nook and cranny across the federation, thus Nigerians in their entirety became ostensibly united again. Though the colossal injury incurred during the duel remains an indelible experience, the Igbos, et al, who were the prime Biafran agitators had over the years been strongly mingling with people from the other part of the country, just as in the case of the ever famous Alaba and Ladipo markets as well as the International Trade Fair, all in Lagos State..

     Owing to their enterprising and promising nature, the Igbos can make anywhere look like paradise overnight, provided the place is business-oriented. This is one quality that makes the world attracted to them, thereby making them gain a renowned respect from all and sundry across the global community. The Igbos, to say the least, have really carved a niche for themselves and their generations yet unborn when it calls for commerce and industry.

     In spite of this overwhelming feature, one may boldly assert that, in the socio-political terrain, they have not really gotten a fair share of the ‘national cake’, mostly in the area of appointments or recognitions. For instance, since the emergence of the ongoing democratic era which kicked off in 1999, no Igbo man had been in Aso Rock as the President of Nigeria, neither had any individual of Igbo extraction emerged as the substantive National Chairman of any of the domineering political parties, if not Prince Vincent Ogbulafor of the PDP whose tenure was yet truncated. That of the Vice-Presidency isn’t left out.

     In most cases, they end up receiving mere pledges whose fulfillment often eventually become far-fetched, as if they were destined to blow the air while others do the dancing. This pitiable physiognomy of the Igbo nation that has been a thing of tremendous concern to many genuine stakeholders could be one of the reasons that reignited the renewed vehement agitation for a sovereign state of Biafra, which was seemingly forgotten over the past decades.

     This very uncontrollable agitation has claimed several lives, maimed many, as well as rendered hundreds of persons homeless mainly occasioned by physical combats between security agents and the agitators during series of riots staged by the latter. This, coupled with the ongoing security threats from other groups including the Fulani Herdsmen, Boko Haram sect, and the reemerged Niger-Delta militants, has contributed enormously in overheating the polity.

     At this point, the government alongside other concerned groups is expected to be deeply concerned about how to tackle these unbearable issues once and for all, taking into cognizance that no existing society can strive effectively and efficiently if its security is threatened. I’m of the view that the best way to holistically confront any anomaly is by ascertaining its prime origin, and the Biafran agitation isn’t an exception.

     I have often times categorically stated that the Boko Haram is a terrorist sect having understood its origin, thus have instructed Nigerians and the security agencies to always go by the name ‘terrorism’ whenever they are addressing or referring to the group; such approach alone would enable us to get the ongoing fight right. On the contrary, the Biafran agitation likewise the Niger-Delta militancy is an insurgent group, thus ought to be treated as such. Insurgency has to do with when one or a group is fighting a just cause, contrary to terrorism that’s about an uncalled inconsequential and irrational violent rebellious act.

     Unlike a terrorist group, an insurgent set that’s crying foul over a sensed maltreatment deserves a dialogue. The United Nations’ (UN) law likewise that of Nigeria painstakingly highlights the fundamental human rights which include the right to fairness and the right to freedom, hence the Biafran agitators deserve a fair hearing since their fight was apparently informed by grievance. In other words, the government is required to have a rethink towards creating harmony which is the most required factor in this aspect.

     What the Igbos need is just a sense of belonging. The South-East zone, currently, can only boast of five states whilst each of the other zones can boast of at least six states. They ought to be brought closer to the helm of affairs. An average Igbo man wants to participate actively in anything he/she is part of, and they are naturally endowed to do wonders. I bet you; give an Igbo man a little space, he would make heavens before you realize what’s happening. Unequivocally, the Igbos, particularly those from the South-East, have over the decades been relegated to the background and this is the apt time for redress.

     On their part, I enjoin the Biafran agitators to be more logical; they must employ logic as they agitate. More so, they must redeem their oneness, which obviously has been lost; such can only be actualized if they desist from attaching politics to socio-cultural affairs. Only Ohanaeze Ndigbo is enough to bring formidable unity among the Igbos if its members concentrate only on the needful. The Ohanaeze Ndigbo, to say the least, isn’t supposed to take orders from the elected governors in the zone as it’s presently witnessed; rather, the reverse is meant to be the case.

     This piece however, as the title implies, is targeted at settling a lingering dispute, thus I’m more interested in harmonization in regard to the conflict in question. Hence, the Nnamdi Kanu’s case ought to be revisited or reviewed with a view to making a consequential adjustment. Leniency is invariably a welcome approach if necessary; in some cases, neither prosecution nor persecution is consequential. We are not unaware that no one or group is indispensable, but we must as well note that the Igbos, likewise others, aren’t expendable. Think about it!

Comr Fred Doc Nwaozor

(TheMediaAmbassador)

-Public Affairs analyst & Civil Rights activist-

Chief Executive Director, Centre for Counselling, Research

& Career Development - Owerri

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frednwaozor@gmail.com

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