PEOPLE all over the universe have great desire and expectations of one idea or another. For this fundamental fact one labours extensively for the actualisation of such laudable dream. So, the fact remains that the fulfillment of one’s aspirations is the vista to happiness which every man desire as an ultimate goal.
Ethnic or community dreams are numerous and their expectations are uncountable. It could be a wish to acquire accessible roads to evacuate farm products to the urban areas or to have good schools and teachers to educate their offspring or to improve the standard of living in their domain. Very often people put all their talents and power in the pursuit of these laudable objectives.
So, when Lt. Col. Ojukwu declared a state of Biafra in 1967 it was with undaunted optimism that one day his dreams would become a reality. Consequently his declaration of a republic inside Nigeria resulted to a war of tribal sentiments and ethnic chauvinism.
In my day as a student, I read about Benin Empire, Oyo Empire, Fulani Empire, Sokoto Caliphate and the Bight of Biafra in West African History. All these empires constitute the present day Nigeria.
The cold war between the Ibos and the Yorubas started when Nnamdi Azikiwe won the first ever election as a premier in the defunct Western House after independence. Awolowo led the majority group that cross carpeted. As a result of this Azikiwe was advised to return to his ethnic group and contest elections there.
Consequently, in 1944 the pan Ibo Federal union was formed. Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe who once protested against Yoruba domination of Lagos politics became the President of his ethnic union. Of course, he had no choice. Naturally his political opponents said he was a tribalistic politician.
Ethnic or inter-tribal feelings first came to the fore during the quarrel between Dr. Azikiwe and the other members of the Nigeria Youth Movement over the candidacy of Samuel Akinsanya for a seat in the legislative council. This led to the exit of Dr. Azikiwe from the Nigerian Youth Movement with his ethnic group and thus became an eye opener to all other tribes in Nigerian.
Some Yorubas who claimed to be descendant of Oduduwa, a cultural outfit later metamorphosed into a political party in the year 1945 in London.
The situation became aggravated when some Northern and Western leaders were Killed by military junta led by Major Nzeogu. This led to the massacre of Ibos in the Northern party of the country.
Consequently, Ojukwu who was a military Governor of the defunct Eastern Region ordered his ethnic group to return home. A state of Biafra was declared.
There was a broadcast from my daddy’s radio which said: “the pride of liberty, Biafra fight, fight, Biafra fight. This was my first experience of a civil war.
In the clash that ensured between the Nigerian Military of Gowon and Ojukwu, rebal leader. So many soldiers and civilians lost their lives due to massive annihilation of Igbo Origin in the defunct Mid-Western region by Federal troops trying to liberate the state from Biafra troops. Pigs were seen dragging corpses all over the metropolis.
A scenario that still captivate my imagination was when Mr. M. & K, a caterpillar driver for Nigeria hard Wood Obiaruku took his neighbours wife, Mrs. Adesuwa into the bath room in order to satisfy his sexual appetite. M & K had earlier reported Adesuwa to the Nigerian troops that he is a Biafra soldier. So, as the troops were questioning the suspect he perfected his crime by leading his wife into their bathroom.
Mr. Fadiyour one of the people at the scene said: Anytime there was disagreement between Adesuwa and his beautiful wife, M & K would come between his wife and hold her firm to his private part as if he was separating a fight. Even when the quarrel was over, he would hold onto the woman for another thirty minutes”. He went further to say: “This M & K is no longer separating fight, yet, he will not let go of Adesuwa’s wife”.
The war that lasted nearly four years had its attendant consequences. Some of us who were students were compelled to donate blood for the wounded Nigeria soldiers. After forcefully taking our blood, some of us fainted on our way back to the boarding house.
Major Omede rtd, one of the soldiers that liberated Mid-Western region from the clutches of Biafra soldiers said: “After capturing Aba, some Biafra soldiers who were preparing lunch took to their heels to avoid arrest.
We threw away about three drums that was boiling on fire and discovered human parts like the laps, hands, cassava tubers and leaves. This delicious human meat was nearly ready for consumption”. So, hunger was the most potent weapon of war against Biafra troops.
In a nation where elders rig elections and participate in secret cults, what moral ground have they to sanction children who joined secret cults?
The yearning and aspirations of the good people of this country for unity notwithstanding some people are still going back to their old ways. Unless concerted efforts are made by the different ethnic groups to put the nation first before their selfish personal and group interest, the much-sought-after peace and unity will eventually be thrown to the wind.
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