Forty six years ago today, in Enugu, Nigeria, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, declared the Republic of Biafra a separate and autonomous entity from the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as a result of the ethnic war being waged against the Igbo and other Eastern peoples. Biafra served as a safe haven for the over 9 million Igbo men, women and children who were threatened with genocide and violence, and for three years, it survived even though under constant international pressure from Nigeria and its allies. At the end of the war that ensued, two million Igbo men, women and children lay dead, victims of genocide in their bid for freedom. May we Nigerians today learn to never forget our past, but at the same time, strive harder for a future of peace, progress and liberty for all.

Umu Igbo taa bu ubochi eji echeta Biafra nihi na afo iri ano na isii gara aga na ubochi ta, Dim Ojukwu mehere obodo Biafra. Ana m ayo unu, na asi unu na unu biko tinye mkpuru obi ndi niile nwuru na agha Biafra na ekpere unu.

Ndeewo nu.

I'm not sure "celebrate" is the appropriate word for this context, but it does call for some sober reflection.

The issues that led to the Civil War are still very present in today's Nigeria, and are not even being discussed among our elite, much less tackled.

It's high time we asked some crucial questions: Questions like why the Aburi Accord wasn't implemented, why we have refused to reform the retrogressive patronage system that sees us sharing oil money at Abuja every month, why we still won't allow states and regions to integrate and control their resources and revenues, why we insist that states can't generate and distribute their own power, get their own police force, tax companies registered in their respective domains, exploit and derive revenue from resources contained in their own land.

We must reflect, ask questions and restructure this country. Nigeria is not working.

HNosegbe: I'm not sure "celebrate" is the appropriate word for this context, but it does call for some sober reflection.

The issues that led to the Civil War are still very present in today's Nigeria, and are not even being discussed among our elite, much less tackled.

It's high time we asked some crucial questions: Questions like why the Aburi Accord wasn't implemented, why we have refused to reform the retrogressive patronage system that sees us sharing oil money at Abuja every month, why we still won't allow states and regions to integrate and control their resources and revenues, why we insist that states can't generate and distribute their own power, get their own police force, tax companies registered in their respective domains, exploit and derive revenue from resources contained in their own land.

We must reflect, ask questions and restructure this country. Nigeria is not working.

You've spoken well and have made serious points. It's a shame that our Nigeria has, in many areas, regressed over the years. The fact that the same catalysts that resulted in the secession of the Eastern Region are still present today calls for drastic self-reflection on the part of our leaders and power holders. My prayer is that our people should make sure to well-utilize the lessons learned, so that those who sacrificed their lives in its acquisition may not have done so in vain.

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I think the most important lessons derived from the Civil War is: 'How not to prosecute a war' But given the circumstance then, declaring the Biafra as a sovereign state was the right call, and gallant were the men who sacrificed their lives that their families will have dignity, respect, and most importantly freedom.

Unfortunately, Nigeria learnt little or no lessons from the event, as evident from disinterest in having a proper dialogue, let alone addressing the issues the led to it.

Today drum beat of war sound loud in the desert and creeks, while secessionists cries grow louder by the day.
Sooner or later Nigeria will again be forced to confront these, having failed to do what is necessary to build a nation. Whether or not, Nigeria can successfully deal with ghost from it's past is yet to be seen.

This is one of those events that was the beginning of a major epoch of Nigerian history! The biafran story reveals a lot about the conspiracy theory Nigeria is still enshrouded in till date! If I am to dedicate a book to the wasted innocent lives in that unfortunate war especially in memory of the over a million defenseless Biafran children and women it would be titled; 'The Biafran Story: The Plot, Lies and Cover-ups'! Gowon and his masters really have so many questions to answer

May we never experience war in the country and may the land always thrive in peace and prosperity.
Quite unfortunate that what happened took place in the country, but the truth is that so many of our leaders, whom we could have called statesmen, are looters only concerned with their own welfare and not the welfare of the citizenry.
At this point in our nation, we need visioneers; from southeast to southwest. People that will take the course of their respective nations and charter it towards a greater height.

Igbo Kwenu!!!
God bless the Igbo nation,
God bless the Nigeria.

Eze Odumchi, ndewo! kedu ka imere?

err, will be back when other igbo men and women have spoken.

It is good. not to fotget this. day and also not to make the same mistake that was made fortysix years ago.. What we so call igbo need most now is economic development which start. with good education off the young .Today some of us talk about war. This next war will make the past war look like child play. Do you forgot about some people. droping their gun saying that. they not going to die in WAWA land.. Let think before. we jump.I know what iam talking about. I was there and i know how many members of my family that we lost .Let there be. cool head.

berem: Eze Odumchi, ndewo! kedu ka imere?

err, will be back when other igbo men and women have spoken.

O di nma. Biko, akpola m Eze nihi o bughi mu bu eze.

anwani: It is good. not to fotget this. day and also not to make the same mistake that was made fortysix years ago.. What we so call igbo need most now is economic development which start. with good education off the young .Today some of us talk about war. This next war will make the past war look like child play. Do you forgot about some people. droping their gun saying that. they not going to die in WAWA land.. Let think before. we jump.I know what iam talking about. I was there and i know how many members of my family that we lost .Let there be. cool head.

O ka o si mee.

why has dayokanu's post not been hidden? It broke at least 8 nairaland rules and didn't even address the subject. I particularly find it offensive that he gloats all over the place about his kinsman that murdered defenseless igbo civilians but when we point out his kinsman that murdered a british soldier, our posts get hidden.

Can't forget those years when worries fled to french land as refugees.

*sob*

RedReact: May we never experience war in the country and may the land always thrive in peace and prosperity.
Quite unfortunate that what happened took place in the country, but the truth is that so many of our leaders, whom we could have called statesmen, are looters only concerned with their own welfare and not the welfare of the citizenry.
At this point in our nation, we need visioneers; from southeast to southwest. People that will take the course of their respective nations and charter it towards a greater height.

Igbo Kwenu!!!
God bless the Igbo nation,
God bless the Nigeria.

The bolded is one of the mistakes anwani is talking about.

anwani: It is good. not to fotget this. day and also not to make the same mistake that was made fortysix years ago.. What we so call igbo need most now is economic development which start. with good education off the young .Today some of us talk about war. This next war will make the past war look like child play. Do you forgot about some people. droping their gun saying that. they not going to die in WAWA land.. Let think before. we jump.I know what iam talking about. I was there and i know how many members of my family that we lost .Let there be. cool head.

until the Biafra or Igboland republic becomes a reality, i don't think it's accurate to celebrate a situation that's still midway. Like Hnosegbu pointed out, the reason why Biafra was declared is still occurring in Nigeria today and infact getting worse. Ironically enough, more and more people are seeing the same thing Ojukwu saw many years ago and more community are seeking the same disintegration in today's time. In my opinion, it's not right to commemorate the republic without actually achieving what our grandfathers, great grandparents, uncles, dad, etc fought for.

BTW odumchi where have you been dude? Your input in the cultural section was highly missed. at least to me it was.

It's 46 years ago when someone went on suicide mission

*sob*

ijaw citizen: This space has been booked by Ijaw citizen, the Ogbolotebepugha 1 of Ijawland yorubaland.

fixed for ya

Alfa Seltzer:

The bolded is one of the mistakes anwani is talking about.

Please, could you throw more light to on that matter?

So many lives were put into jeopardy

Who're we gonna blame?

RIP to the dead

46 years ago is like yesterday

In biafra we stand

Who's going to lead biafrans now? T.A. Orji or Emanuel Kelechi?!

odumchi:

O di nma. Biko, akpola m Eze nihi o bughi mu bu eze.



O ka o si mee.

One_Naira:
BTW odumchi where have you been dude? Your input in the cultural section was highly missed. at least to me it was.

Nwanne m nwoke, I've been busy with school and other things, but now that we're about entering the vacation period, I will surely increase my presence. Thanks for the concern.

One would have thought by now, secessionists would have been sober. SMH

Obviously some people have not learnt any lesson. People makin noise will still run into exile with their family members while you cry of genocide.Ojukwu n achebe's children never got hungry during d foolish war.

debetmx: Obviously some people have not learnt any lesson. People makin noise will still run into exile with their family members while you cry of genocide.Ojukwu n achebe's children never got hungry during d foolish war.

That is even small, up till now they don't even know the boundary of Biafra Igboland. They still claim Ijaw communities like Bonny, Opobo and even Ndoki.

They still claim Ikwerre people who consistently make it clear that they are not Igbo people because they don't have Igbo origin. All because of Obio/Akpo and parts of Port Harcourt.

*sipping locally brewed alomo bitters to enable me spit more fire- call me a lazy fisherman, clueless, shoeless drunkard all you want, I'd still be capable of kicking as.ses really hard*

But for now,
long live the republic of Igboland 'cos evil Biafra is dead and gone along with access to the sea.