I BEG TO DIFFER!
Nigeria is celebrating Biafra at 50 and simultaneously discriminating, imprisoning, killing, and maiming “Biafrans”. What a farce! Is the Nigerian Government celebrating its successes in mowing down peaceful members of Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), demanding an equitable portion of the National cake? A cake that is mostly baked in Biafra. Yet “Biafrans” are denied crumbs of this cake.
Africastallestman holds Chief John Nnia Nwodo, the President of Ohaneze Ndi Igbo, in high regard and appreciates his efforts towards reviving the moribund and toothless Ohaneze. However, he could have used his invitation to participate in the “Biafra at 50” event to demand some concessions from the Nigerian Government. Apparently, Nnamdi Kanu’s release was to douse tensions in anticipation of the celebration by IPOB and its supporters. A Biafran event without Nnamdi Kanu is a sham. Ohaneze cannot grace a Biafran event when Nnamdi Kanu’s co-defendants, Chidiebere Onwudiwe, Benjamin Madubugwu, and David Nwawuisi, are still languishing in Nigeria’s Gulag – Kuje Prisons.
Ohaneze should have demanded their release as well as including “Biafra” in the proposed standard gauge rail lines to be financed by China’s EXIM Bank. And we are talking about upgrading the existing narrow gauge line that runs through “Biafra.” It is hypocritical for Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, who signed off on this injustice with the ailing President Muhammadu Buhari, to grace a “Biafran” event. Professor Osinbajo also appreciates and sings Igbo gospel music but discriminates against the Igbos, the largest entity in “Biafra.”
Talk is cheap. Speeches do not get you anywhere. It was the bloody protests that brought civil right changes in America, not the speechifying. Nnamdi Kanu has singlehandedly brought the Biafran situation into world prominence. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel will not be referencing Biafra in his Holocaust Remembrance Event without the toils and tribulations of Nnamdi Kanu. Some Igbos dismiss Nnamdi Kanu because he never experienced the suffering in Biafra; his methods are too confrontational, or he lacks charisma. To them, I say hogwash. Did the Jews condemning the Holocaust today experience the Holocaust?
Igbo are poor strategists. They are easily bought, especially the contractors. They are now flocking to the All Progressives Congress or Alliance for Phony Change (APC) begging for crumbs.
Nwodo’s speech is beautiful, but he should have boycotted the bogus event and distributed his speech through the Internet and mass media. Boycott of such an event generates more publicity. Ask Mazi Mbonu Ojike of “Boycott the Boycottables” fame. This mistake must not be repeated. The “Biafrans” should provide intellectual support to Nnamdi Kanu and IPOB. Ohaneze must organize a fund for the murdered IPOB supporters’ family and dependents. They have made the ultimate sacrifice. Without their sacrifice, there would be no “Biafra at 50” event in Abuja. Anyone denigrating Nnamdi Kanu should rethink. The way to make IPOB irrelevant is to restructure Nigeria.
“A word is not enough for the fool” – Chidiogo.
You have said it all. A summary of Ndigbo’s sojourn in their present contraption. Kudos to you, one-day all the freedom fighters will know that no effort is in vain no matter how small.
It is better to take an inch forward than to take same backward. it is forward forever and surely Ndigbo will get their rightful place. I pray.
Thank you so much Africastallestman for this wonderful write-ups, I wish our so called representatives (Politicians) will join the race but it’s a pity that they have sold their birth right like our nwoke mkpumkpu aziza because of the crumbs from the political table. Igbo adiro ayo iberibe nri.
Thank you so much, as usual, you hit the nail right on the head. I was contemplating this morning about American Memorial Day and remembered that tomorrow is our Biafran Memorial Day, May 30, 1967. The similarities are strikingly understandable, including the attitudes of the British citizens to King George 111, and American colonists to George Washington’s moves and strategies towards the quest for independence. These situations, and circumstances, I compared in my mind with the Nigerians and Biafran’s reactions to Ojukwu and Gowon respectively. It occurred to me that the core of the America’s revolt was the so-called:”Taxation without Representation” while the revolt of Biafrans was total exploitation of the Igbo resources by the North. As you rightly pointed out, Nwodo’s absence would have spoken rather, if any, louder. I wonder what he is currently doing about the participation of igbo speaking southern Nigerians in the seeming Ohaneze’s support of the Biafran cause? I fought The 1967-1970’s war at several towns along both sides of the Niger:Abaragada, Akara Obodo, Ofonibanga, Utuoku, Ewuruobia, Ndoni, Umuoru, Utu. Emagwe, ETC., blowing ogbunigwe, “buckets”as the were called, products of the R, and P. And, I guess Ohaneze could endeavor to bring them back to the fold somehow, one way or the other, to fully buttress the cause. Again’ that you for you usual scatting insight and criticism.
You are welcome, the erudite one.