LAGOS—

Former Abia State governor Dr.Orji Uzor Kalu, yesterday urged President Goodluck Jonathan to recognise those who fought and died on the Biafran side at this year’s Armed Forces Remembrance day.

Kalu said: ”Since we all agree it was a war of unity, I would like those who died fighting for Biafra to also be remembered.

I know of the great poet, Major Chris Ifekandu Okigbo, Lt.Tom Bigger, Chief Emeka Ojukwu’s half-brother, Col. Chude Sokei, Head of the Biafra Air Force,Major Hannibal Okpani Nkama, one of Nigeria’s best cadets, and of course, Corporal Nwafor, the gunner.“What is good for the goose is also good for the gander.

Chief Ojukwu received his pension from the Federal Government and was given a hero’s burial in death. So as we honour the dead,let recognition go to men who fought on both sides.”Okigbo, a contemporary of Prof.Wole Soyinka at the University of Ibadan died at Opi, near Nsukka, while trying to blow up an armoured car with grenade in 1967, shortly after Bigger died alongside Maj. Kaduna Nzeogwu in the same Nsukka sector.

Agitation for a Biafran sovereingty is still alive and on November 5th, 2011, The Republic of Biafra was declared anew. A Biafran group has filed request with UN requesting a probe and prosecution of Nigeria and its leaders.

Pretty soon we will hear that the coup plotters of Jan 66 should be forgiven too. So what do you think of Kalu's request here?