Dare Babarinsa
THERE is a new resurgence of Biafran sentiments in the southeast especially among youths born in the post-Civil War era. The arrow heads are youths, mostly Igbo, and they are mostly based outside the shores of Nigeria. They must have found the concept of Biafra romantic for they fill the social media with bellicose messages and propaganda. Lately, they have succeeded in attracting attention in the Igbo heartland of the southeast and even in Port Harcourt, the Garden-City named after the British colonial secretary of the late 19th Century. Such is the allure of Biafra that it wafts in the air like a recalcitrant scent. Who can banish this ghost?

The late Colonel Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, who led the ill-fated Republic of Biafra for 30 gory months of war, hated being referred to as the former Biafran Warlord. “Was Gowon Nigerian Warlord,” he queried. “What of Obasanjo, Murtala, Danjuma, are they warlords? Why is it only Ojukwu that is referred to as a warlord?” He blamed it on the bias of the media.

We had many interactions with Ojukwu especially in his house in Ikoyi, the famous Villaska Lodge which he inherited from his father, the millionaire transporter, Sir. Louis Odumegwu-Ojukwu. The young Ojukwu went to Kings College, Lagos and was dispatched to Oxford University by his rich father to have the best of British education. Then he joined the army and by 1966, when he was the commanding officer of the 4th Battalion of the Nigerian Army in Jos, he found himself at the epicenter of national politics.

On January 15, 1966, Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa-Balewa, the Prime Minister, was killed by coup makers along with the premiers of the North and the West. History had reached a turning point and the devil was preparing for a rich harvest.
Balewa was succeeded by Nigeria first military ruler, Major-General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi, a bully commander who appointed four military governors for Nigerian then four regions: David Ejoor for the Mid-West, Hassan Usman Katsina for the North, Adekunle Fajuyi for the West and Ojukwu for the East. When Lt. Colonel Yakubu Gowon became Nigerian military ruler August 1966 following the assassination of Ironsi, he retained the military governors. He posted Colonel Adeyinka Adebayo to the West to succeed Fajuyi who had been killed with Ironsi during the counter coup.

The mayhem and massacres in the North in 1966 especially of people of Eastern Nigerian origin, mostly Igbo, precipitated an exodus to the East. Attempt to negotiate peace, including a retreat to Aburi in Ghana by Nigerian military rulers, failed. A Leaders of Thoughts Conference called for Lagos failed when Ojukwu suddenly withdrew his delegation, headed by the respected Professor Eni Njoku, former vice-chancellor of the University of Lagos citing security concerns. When Gowon created 12 states in 1967, Ojukwu responded by announcing that the Eastern Region would now be known as the Republic of Biafra.

War was joined. In that conflict, it is estimated that almost one million Nigerians perished. For me, the war was a personal experience at the home front. Adeyinka, my eldest brother and my father’s first son, went to war and was shot in the face during the battle of Onitsha in 1967. The bullet narrowly missed his right eye. He survived but carried the scar for the rest of his life. In 1969, Adeyinka, then a lieutenant, was company commander at the 131 Battalion, Iwo Road, Ibadan. The battalion commander was one Major Fagbure. We had two of our senior cousins who had just finished from Okemesi Grammar School. The songs of war were in the air and the siren was irresistible. What with the allure of heroism, the heady intoxication of youthful exuberance, the belief in reckless immortality and the pervasive romance with death. Despite the warning of our elder brother who had survived the horrors of war, one of our cousins fled to join the army at Mokola Barracks. They shaved his head and one day, he visited us in his private uniform. He was very happy and proud. Few days later, he was shipped along with his colleagues, to join the final onslaught on Biafra by the Third Marine Commando Division under the command of the methodical and thorough Colonel Olusegun Obasanjo. He never returned.

By the time Ojukwu returned from exile in 1981, he was a changed man. The then ruling party, the National Party of Nigeria, NPN, saw him as an instrument of offence against the Nigerian Peoples Party, NPP, that was dominating the politics of the Igbo heartland of Imo and Anambra states because of the enduring charisma of its leader, the legendary journalist and nationalist, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe. Ojukwu could not resist the temptation of partisan politics. He joined the NPN and was roundly defeated at the polls when he attempted to go to the Senate. He ended up in prison, along with many other politicians, when Major-General Muhammadu Buhari came to power December 31, 1983, and attempted to clean the Augean Stable created by the army of irascible politicians.

Ojukwu’s faith in the democratic process never left him. He contested for other elections thereafter, including for the Presidency, and lost all, except one under General Sani Abacha. For him, Biafra as a political goal, ended with the Civil War.

However, as a philosophy against injustice, it lives on. He said anywhere there are oppression, injustice, impunity and violence, it is the duty of those who believe in the philosophy of Biafra to fight those evils. He said that he would wage war again if it was necessary to fight those evils. In the twilight days of the Abacha Administration, he did not see any serious contradictions in campaigning for the military ruler who was determined to perpetuate himself in power.
Those who are hoisting the flag of Biafra now have not made their position clear. What is Biafra in their reckoning? Are they including the non-Igbo speaking states of the former Eastern Region which are now the states of Cross River, Akwa-Ibom, Rivers and Bayelsa? Unlike Ojukwu, they seem not to have faith in the democratic process and institutions. They are not in tune with what is happening in the contemporary world which is moving away from war and into an era where war would become an obsolete instrument of national and international relations. The world has seen the futility of war and most statesmen are working to create a world without war.

Not this new Biafran brigade. Apart from occasional filibustering on the social media, they have not articulated their position. What do they really want? Are they asking for a new state of Biafra? Do they want war without even giving Nigeria the benefit of a dialogue? My suspicion is that some people may have decided to turn the whole Biafran sentiment into a business. If militancy had paid off in the Niger Delta and Oodua Peoples Congress, OPC, could get oil pipeline security contracts, why not try something that bring a big harvest. When hostage taking was a form of agitation in the oil rich Delta Region, some smart Alecs in the southeast simply formed their own Kidnapping Plc. Today, it is the biggest business in the region.

It is not in the interest of Nigerians, especially the Igbo, to turn Biafran sentiment into business. Nigeria may be imperfect, but we have learnt the hard way to know that dialogue and the democratic process is better than the eloquence of violence. If they are serious, let them articulate their points and how it can be accommodated and realised within the current democratic dispensation. The people they claim to represent have the right to decide through the democratic process including elections, whether they are willing to follow them. This means they should articulate their points and let their members contest for elections on the basis of their programme. Otherwise, President Muhammadu Buhari has a duty to treat them as the southeast equivalent of Boko Haram.

However, the Biafran wind is a wakeup call for us. Our Republic is good, but not perfect. We should be ready to always discuss the state of the union. This would make the union better and stronger. It was our unwillingness to jaw-jaw that led to the Civil War in the first place. Anyone who is advocating war as the only solution to the problems of the Republic should be treated as an enemy of the state. Whatever the future holds for the Nigerian Commonwealth, we should always ensure it is a future without war.


http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/2015/11/biafra-and-the-logic-of-boko-haram/

Ok

.

Those who are hoisting the flag of Biafra now have not made their position clear. What is Biafra in their reckoning? Are they including the non-Igbo speaking states of the former Eastern Region which are now the states of Cross River, Akwa-Ibom, Rivers and Bayelsa? Unlike Ojukwu, they seem not to have faith in the democratic process and institutions. They are not in tune with what is happening in the contemporary world which is moving away from war and into an era where war would become an obsolete instrument of national and international relations. The world has seen the futility of war and most statesmen are working to create a world without war.

Illiteracy bad Philip Effiong was the last president of Biafra and the name Biafra suggested by Frank Obigo(Ijaw man). The time for propaganda has ended. Biafrans know who they are, no more divide and rule.

Abokii man cannot write on Boko Haram
When he comes to biafra he go remember his pen

Gbam!!

This means they should articulate their points and let their members contest for elections on the basis of their programme. Otherwise, President Muhammadu Buhari has a duty to treat them as the southeast equivalent of Boko Haram.

and exterminate them all like Nigeria is exterminating BH gradually.

NAIJASOM:
This writer is either ignorant or twisting the facts to suit his message. It has been made clear by IPOB and its supporters that the call for Biafra is not a call for war. All they are asking for is a simple UN supervised referendum. Even UK which created Nigeria and which has powerful military and nuclear weapons allowed scotland to have a referendum. Nigerians cannot simply wish this away or remain in denial for long.

It's either you are naive or an outright liar.
What is Nmmadi Kanu intention for asking your fools to donate money for arms and ammunition? To have a tea party?
Why has Nnmadi Kanu NEVER mention REFERENDUM anywhere in his broadcast, FB wall, tweet or his numerous overseas meeting with Igbo unions?
If you fools suffer from collective amnesia, other Nigerians don't.

The spirit of biafra leaves on, the people want their land, their freedom, their nation back. We are not nigerians. Long live biafra.

NAIJASOM:


Or you mean as boko haram is exterminating nigerian soldiers (105 soldiers kidnapped today) and police (90,000 police killed so far)?

and how many BH devils have been sent to the scorching earth shallow graves. No wahala, you eddiots will enjoy equal ratios with BH.

bolabolakemi:
Those who are hoisting the flag of Biafra now have not made their position clear. What is Biafra in their reckoning? Are they including the non-Igbo speaking states of the former Eastern Region which are now the states of Cross River, Akwa-Ibom, Rivers and Bayelsa? Unlike Ojukwu, they seem not to have faith in the democratic process and institutions. They are not in tune with what is happening in the contemporary world which is moving away from war and into an era where war would become an obsolete instrument of national and international relations. The world has seen the futility of war and most statesmen are working to create a world without war.

Illiteracy bad Philip Effiong was the last president of Biafra and the name Biafra suggested by Frank Obigo(Ijaw man). The time for propaganda has ended. Biafrans know who they are, no more divide and rule.

Doesn't change the fact that all opinion leaders in Cross Rivers, Rivers, Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom have unanimously rejected the current Biafra agitation.

NAIJASOM:



I hope you will be in the front lines if it comes to that because the soldiers you are depending on to fight for you are running away from rag-tag boko-Haram.

We have been hearing this your nonsensical rubbish for the past 6 months, the question is when are you starting the fight and step up from your morning jogging exercise?

NAIJASOM:
This writer is either ignorant or twisting the facts to suit his message. It has been made clear by IPOB and its supporters that the call for Biafra is not a call for war. All they are asking for is a simple UN supervised referendum. Even UK which created Nigeria and which has powerful military and nuclear weapons allowed scotland to have a referendum. Nigerians cannot simply wish this away or remain in denial for long.

[b]oh really? After you read the article, so you now can say the call for biafra is not a call for war. I fink you are the one that is ignorant and twisting fact at both ends!!
With what we have been hearing from Kanu on Radio biafra f.m, no man in his/her right sense would think that he and his Ipob members are not ready for war!! People would call on radio and he would be asking them if they can make weapons, is that a preparation for pool party? Maybe you have not been listening to that Radio biafra and what Kanu have been saying to hoodwink many shallow-minded youth.
Scotland never opened Radio station to incite violence against United kingdom. Scotland people never insulted their Prime minister, scotland never called United kingdom a ''zoo'' republic. There are lots of thing Ipob can learn from Scotland only that they have been brainwashed by one ablino!! My brother, If you have another point, you can bring it - but telling people that Kanu and his Ipob are not calling for war shows the level of your unawareness!! Tochukwuifediba can testify to it[/b]

mazeltov:

[b]oh really? After you read the article, so you now can say the call for biafra is not a call for war. I fink you are the one that is ignorant and twisting fact at both ends!!
With what we have been hearing from Kanu on Radio biafra f.m, no man in his/her right sense would think that he and his Ipob members are not ready for war!! People would call on radio and he would be asking them if they can make weapons, is that a preparation for pool party? Maybe you have not been listening to that Radio biafra and what Kanu have been saying to hoodwink many shallow-minded youth.
Scotland never opened Radio station to incite violence against United kingdom. Scotland people never insulted their Prime minister, scotland never called United kingdom a ''zoo'' republic. There are lots of thing Ipob can learn from Scotland only that they have been brainwashed by one ablino!! My brother, If you have another point, you can bring it - but telling people that Kanu and his Ipob are not calling for war shows the level of your unawareness!! Tochukwuifediba can testify to it[/b]

Right here on NL, we have so many threads with pictures showing Biafra army preparing for future war against Nigeria. It's just funny how that guy is trying to deny the war that IPOB thugs have been calling for since Buhari won the election.

I have had the pleasure of reading Dele Babarinsas many write up's over the years. Just incase he has an account here on NL, I want to tell him the following.

Biafra has never been about war. Biafra has always been a peaceful and democratic agitation. It is Nigeria that has always brought violence and war into the issue of Biafra. In 1967, it was Nigeria that brought war to the peaceful East and right now, it is Nigeria shooting unarmed peaceful Biafran protesters. But when we retaliate to defend our selves, Nigerians will say we started war.

Biafra has never been an "Igbo only" thing. Igbos just happen to be the largest ethnic group in Biafra by far. It should be noted that all the minorities of reserve the right to be or not to be part of Biafra. However, they must be given a voice to speak for their individual selves without anyone abrogating 'Nigeria' 'Biafra' or 'SS' on them.

Finally, I want to say that Biafra is the legitimate right of a people to decide their destiny same as anybody. We are all 'Nigerians' not out of free choice but by the choice of a British armed robber called Frederick Lugard. When do we indigenous Africans get to decide who we are? A 'forced union' never works out well. We Biafran agitators want a UN superviced referendum in the south of Nigeria so everyone can decide for themselves what they want.

Cheers

seunmsg:



Right here on NL, we have so many threads with pictures showing Biafra army preparing for future war against Nigeria. It's just funny how that guy is trying to deny the war that IPOB thugs have been calling for since Buhari won the election.

what do you expect when someone has lost contact with reality!! Don't mind him!!

bolabolakemi:
Those who are hoisting the flag of Biafra now have not made their position clear. What is Biafra in their reckoning? Are they including the non-Igbo speaking states of the former Eastern Region which are now the states of Cross River, Akwa-Ibom, Rivers and Bayelsa? Unlike Ojukwu, they seem not to have faith in the democratic process and institutions. They are not in tune with what is happening in the contemporary world which is moving away from war and into an era where war would become an obsolete instrument of national and international relations. The world has seen the futility of war and most statesmen are working to create a world without war.

Illiteracy bad Philip Effiong was the last president of Biafra and the name Biafra suggested by Frank Obigo(Ijaw man). The time for propaganda has ended. Biafrans know who they are, no more divide and rule.

I said I would not get drawn into this argument.

But this one, I had to answer. I am a Yoruba man married to a core Ijaw woman. From my interactions with the Ijaw people in their homeland, I do not think this region is aligning with Biafra in anyway. Infact they seem to be vehemently against Biafra. I do not know about the Efiks or the Annangs. I am fairly certain that the Ibibios would rather not be drawn into the matter. You would be extremely fortunate to escape with your life if you dare mention the word Biafra to a group of Ijaws. I do not think the region of Biafra is still as intact as many think it to be.

Even among the Ibos themselves. I served in Delta state and I found it funny when I was told there was a group of people called Delta-Ibos. I was confused and asked what is the difference between Ibos and Delta-Ibos. If they had Thor's powers they probably would have chopped off my head with that hammer for asking that question.

I think it would be extremely fool hardy to claim that there is unity of purpose in this Biafra thing. Most people who are in support of Biafra either do not have enough information about the current state of the region they refer to as Biafra, or have been hoodwinked into supporting it.

For the greater part, many have failed to isolate the past from the present and as such they fail to see the realities on ground.

simplycarro:


It's either you are naive or an outright liar.
What is Nmmadi Kanu intention for asking your fools to donate money for arms and ammunition? To have a tea party?
Why has Nnmadi Kanu NEVER mention REFERENDUM anywhere in his broadcast, FB wall, tweet or his numerous overseas meeting with Igbo unions?
If you fools suffer from collective amnesia, other Nigerians don't.

....Nnamdi Kanu only asked for arms for self-defense. The last time i check every body has right to self-defense especially against Fulani hardsmen and other evil elements that usually take pride in murdering Biafrans.

chosen04:
....Nnamdi Kanu only asked for arms for self-defense. The last time i check every body has right to self-defense especially against Fulani hardsmen and other evil elements that usually take pride in murdering Biafrans.

You hebooes are wired to lie effortless do without shame.

simplycarro:

You hebooes are wired to lie effortless do without shame.

....I will advise you to listen again to the video clip of the WIC hear when he mentioned it live and direct that the arms are for self-defense that if we are NOT prepared that we will be over ran by the fulani herdsmen and other elements that have always taken pride in killing our people. The problem you people from the South West have is your ability to twist everybody to meet your own narrative. In 1966 it was "Igbo coup" forward to 2015 its now "Those asking for Biafra are asking for war". Was Buhari asking for war when he demanded for sel-determination for his fellow Islamic brethern of Palestine? Why would Biafrans demand for same self-determination amount war?

TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU!

This writer is either ignorant or twisting the facts to suit his message. It has been made clear by IPOB and its supporters that the call for Biafra is not a call for war. All they are asking for is a simple UN supervised referendum. Even UK which created Nigeria and which has powerful military and nuclear weapons allowed scotland to have a referendum. Nigerians cannot simply wish this away or remain in denial for long.

Thank you for your insightful piece!

kingzizzy:
I have had the pleasure of reading Dele Babarinsas many write up's over the years. Just incase he has an account here on NL, I want to tell him the following.

Biafra has never been about war. Biafra has always been a peaceful and democratic agitation. It is Nigeria that has always brought violence and war into the issue of Biafra. In 1967, it was Nigeria that brought war to the peaceful East and right now, it is Nigeria shooting unarmed peaceful Biafran protesters. But when we retaliate to defend our selves, Nigerians will say we started war.

Biafra has never been an "Igbo only" thing. Igbos just happen to be the largest ethnic group in Biafra by far. It should be noted that all the minorities of reserve the right to be or not to be part of Biafra. However, they must be given a voice to speak for their individual selves without anyone abrogating 'Nigeria' 'Biafra' or 'SS' on them.

Finally, I want to say that Biafra is the legitimate right of a people to decide their destiny same as anybody. We are all 'Nigerians' not out of free choice but by the choice of a British armed robber called Frederick Lugard. When do we indigenous Africans get to decide who we are? A 'forced union' never works out well. We Biafran agitators want a UN superviced referendum in the south of Nigeria so everyone can decide for themselves what they want.

Cheers