The Republic of Biafra was proclaimed on 30th May, 1967 while the Biafra war started on July 6th, 1967 .Both events will be 45 this year, 2012.As a mark of honour to the late Igbo leader, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu,I proffer some insights and clarifications on both events.

The Nigeria Civil War also known as the Nigeria-Biafra War, (6 July 1967–15 January 1970), was caused by a concatenation of events which eventually culminated in the decision of the former Eastern Region to secede from Nigeriaand establish the sovereign State of The Republicof Biafra. The conflict was fueled by myriads of economic, ethnic, cultural and religious tensions among the various peoples of Nigeria. The major cause of the crisis could be traced to the fact that the entity called Nigeriawas a creation of the colonial masters for their own administrative convenience. It was a rickety and ragtag contraption which was hastily put together by the colonialists without considering such vital variables as customs, traditions, religions and geographical contiguities. The amalgamation of the various parts to form what was called Nigeria was a monumental ruse and even the colonial masters did not believe in the amalgamation; they did not know that the house of cards which they called Nigeria would still be united as one country up to this day-98 years after the deceit of 1914.

What the British did in 1914 was to use subtlety, coercion, and intrigue to carve out a large chunk of West Africa which contained disparate ethnic groups, cultures and religions into a so-called indissoluble and indivisible Nigeria. In the contraption called Nigeria, the three predominant groups were the Igbo in the southeast, the Hausa-Fulani, in the northern part of the territory and the Yoruba in the southwestern part. Unlike the North where the ruling hierarchy was composed of autocratic and despotic Emirs and the West where the ruling hierarchy was composed of the Obas, the Igbo in the Eastern part of the country already had autonomous democratically organized communities. Unlike the other two regions, decisions among the Igbo were democratically made through a general assembly that enabled men to contribute their opinions before final decision was arrived on issues that affected the various communities. As a result of her bias in favour of Northern Nigeria, the colonialists divided Nigeria in such a manner that the North had more population than the two other regions combined. As a result of this inequity, the Northern Region was allocated a majority of the seats in the then Federal Legislature There were three dominant political parties which were controlled by the three dominant tribes (i.e. Igbo, Yoruba and Hausa-Fulani).There three major political parties were massively driven by regional/ethnic loyalties and allegiance to the three major tribes..The North controlled the Nigerian People’s Congress (NPC); the West controlled the Action Group (AG) while the East controlled the National Conference of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC). These parties were often derogatorily referred to as Hausa, Yoruba, and Igbo-based; or Northern, Western and Eastern parties. Even as we speak, this primordial and irredentist proclivity in the major political parties is still very palpable and ubiquitous, hence most people still see the dominant political parties of today from the prism of their ethnic underpinnings. To most Nigerians, All Peoples Grand Alliance (APGA) is an Igbo Party which represents the N.C.N.C. of Dr.Nnamdi Azikiwe. In the same vein, All Congress of Nigeria (ACN) is seen as the new face of Obafemi Awolowo’s Action Group (AG) while All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) is regarded as a party of the Hausa-Fulani, the Boko Harams of Nigeria. As a result of this development, it is correct to state that, in spite of everything, Nigeria is not yet a nation- state; it is, at best, a nation of nationalities, a nation of strange bed fellows.

In the build-up to the struggle for independence from the colonial masters (i.e.Britain), the Igbo and Yoruba parties were in the forefront of the fight. As a result of their fear that independence would mean political and economic domination by the more Westernized elites in the South, the North preferred the continuation of British rule. In order to accept independence, the North also gave some stringent conditions which include that the country continues to be divided into three regions with the North having a clear majority. In order to appease and placate the North, Igbo and Yoruba leaders, anxious to obtain an independent country at all costs, accepted the Northern demands.

It was against the backdrop of these recriminations and internal feuding that Nigeriawitnessed her first military coup on January, 15th 1966. The coup, also referred to as “The Coup of the Five Majors”, has been described in some quarters as Nigeria’s only revolutionary coup. The chief architect of the coup was Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu. Claims of electoral fraud especially the political crises in Western Region were one of the reasons given by the coup plotters. This coup resulted in General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi, an Igbo and head of the Nigerian Army, to become the first military head of state in Nigeria.

The coup d’etat itself failed, as Ironsi rallied the military against the plotters. The coup, despite its failure, was wrongly perceived as having benefited mostly the Igbo because most of the known coup plotters were Igbo. However Ironsi, himself an Igbo, was thought to have made
numerous attempts to please Northerners.

Some of those who died in the coup include the Prime Minister, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, the then Minister of Finance, Chief Festus Okotie-Eboh, and the Sardauna of Sokoto and Premier of Northern Nigeria, Sir Ahmadu Bello. After the foiled coup, General John Thomas Umunnakwe Aguiyi-Ironsi from the South of Nigeria emerged as the pioneer Military Head of State of Nigeria. . The coup, also referred to as “The Coup of the Five Majors”, has been described in some quarters as Nigeria’s only revolutionary coup. This was the first coup in the short life of Nigeria’s nascent democracy
The coup d’etat itself failed, as Ironsi rallied the military against the plotters..On July 29 1966, military officers of Northern extraction staged a countercoup which purpose was to wrest power from General Aguiyi- Ironsi, and also to inflict maximum harm on the Igbo who they felt were the architects of the January 15th 1966 coup. It was in the “counter-coup” of July 29th,1966 that a section of the Northern soldiers led by a senior Army officer,Major Theophilus Danjuma,now a retired General of the Nigerian Army, arrested the then military Head of State, General J.T.U Aguiyi-Ironsi and his host, Lt. Col. Adekunle Fajuyi, and slaughtered them like common criminals.

In a desperate bid to deceive the unwary, the Theophilus Danjuma-led murderers chose a Christian, Lt. Col. Yakubu Gowon, from PlateauStatein the North of Nigeria to be the Head of the Federal Military Government (FMG). The two coups (15TH Jan.1966 and July 29th, 1966) exacerbated ethnic misgivings and created tension inNigeria.

In the aftermath of this anarchy, the Northern Muslims developed a pathological hatred of the Igbo who were living in the nooks and crannies of the North from where they engaged in various walks of life in order to eke out an income for the sustenance of their livelihood. In September 1966, about 40,000 Igbo were massacred in cold blood in the worst form of genocide and ethnic cleansing in this part of the world. As stated above, those who were massacred were the defenceless Igbo civilians, who by internationally accepted norms should have been given State protection, even if there was a shooting war. In the worst form of bestiality, these defenceless and innocent Igbo were butchered and slaughtered. Even the pregnant women had their bowels ripped open and the unborn children were forced out from the womb and thrown to the garbage bins.



In a desperate bid to achieve reconciliation, the military leaders and senior police officers in each region met in Aburi, Ghanafor a Peace Summit. The meeting was called by Ghanaian President, Lt. General Joe Ankrah. The communiqué released after the Summitshowed that the parties unanimously agreed on a loose confederation of regions. When the delegates returned to Nigeria, the Northern delegates jettisoned the Aburi Accord and insisted on returning to the status quo. The delegates from the East who were led by Lt. Col. Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu insisted on faithful compliance with the Aburi Accord. For the East, the mantra was “On Aburi, we stand”. As a result of the irreconcilable differences between the North and the East on The Aburi Accord, the leaders of the East convoked a Summit in order to take a common stand on the festering crises. On the 26th May, 1967, these leaders voted to secede from Nigeria. On the strength of this resolution, Lt. Col. Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, the then military Governor of the Eastern Region, announced the Republic of Biafra. He cited several reasons for this decision: the reckless killing of the Igbo during the countercoup and the post-coup violence .When all efforts to bring peace failed, the Nigeria-Biafra-war eventually started on 6th July1967 and ended on the 15th January, 1970(30 months). The leader of the Nigerian government was General Yakubu Gowon who was the Head of State and Commander of the Armed Forces while the leader of the Biafran secessionist government was Lt. Col. Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, the then military governor of the Eastern Region.



When the war eventually broke out, the Federal Military Government of Nigeria thought it was a mere storm in a teacup which would soon fizzle out. Since they felt that the insurrection would be crushed presently, the Nigerian government declared what it called a ‘Police Action’. However, when it dawned on the Nigerian government that the insurrection was not a hoax, the Nigerian government declared a fully – fledged war onBiafraand deployed thousands of soldiers to crush the rebellion. Furthermore, the FMG appealed to the international community to intervene on her side in order to beef up the war efforts and achieve victory within a short period. Some of the countries that rallied roundNigeriaincludeBritain,United States, and evenRussia. The decision ofNigeriato declare a fully- fledged war was caused by the speed with which the Biafran troops overran certain vital areas of the Nigerian territory. Shortly after declaring the war, the Biafran troops overran the then Mid-Western Nigeria. They also made dangerous incursions into some sections of the Yoruba nation.



In a desperate bid to crush the rebellion, the Nigerian government attacked Biafraby land, air and sea. This economic blockade culminated in intense and horrendous anarchy, trauma and strife on the defenceless civilian population. Contrary to the international conventions on wars, the FMG had a policy that “hunger is a legitimate weapon of war”. As a result of this heartless policy, the non-fighting population in the secessionist Biafra was denied access to the bare necessities of life including food and medical supplies. The entire Biafran nation became one large morgue (mortuary) as people were dying in their rooms, in church sessions, in market squares and cadavers (dead bodies) became a common sight in the streets as a result of deaths caused by indiscriminate bombing of areas that had huge civilian concentrations. In its heartlessness and rabid obsession to overwhelm Biafra, the Nigerian government banned all Red Cross Aid to Biafra. The Biafran leader made a distress call to the United Nations to mediate a ceasefire. When it became clear that the war was virtually lost, the Head of Biafra, Lt Col. Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, fled to Ivory Coast “in search of peace”. The task of administering the Biafran government was thrust on Phillip Effiong, the Chief of Staff to Lt Col. Ojukwu. On 12th January, 1970, Phillip Effiong called for a ceasefire. He handed over the instrument of surrender to the then Lt Col. Olusegun Obasanjo-the selfsame Obasanjo who later ruled Nigeria both as a military Head of State and as a civilian President in the period 1999 to 2007. The war officially ended on 15th January, 1970- after 30 months of resistance by the Biafran Army.



It is pertinent to emphasize thatBiafrareceived assistance in sundry ways from some countries although they did not grant political recognition. The countries includedIsrael,France,Portugal,South Africaand theVatican City. Other organizations that provided aid include Joint Church Aid, Holy Ghost Fathers of Ireland, Caritas International and U.S Catholic Relief Services. The Catholic Church was a very strong bulwark and tower of strength to the Biafran course hence the federal government extradited all the foreign Reverend fathers at the end of the war in 1970. One feels reluctant to discuss the Nigerian civil war in its graphic detail because it’s a fratricidal and internecine war which blows no one any good.

However, this viewpoint does not encourage a culture of conspiracy of silence or docility by the Fourth Estate of the Realm. It is pertinent to state that by the time the war ended on 15 January, 1970, over one million Biafrans had died in that war. May the souls of the departed Biafrans find eternal bliss.

THE AHIARA DECLARATION

This document which espouses the proclamation of the principles of the Biafran Revolution by theBiafraleader, Dim Chukwuemeka. Odumegwu Ojukwu, was broadcast to Biafrans on June 1, 1969. The document reflects the vision and mission of the proposedRepublicofBiafra. The objective of this document was to act as a morale booster to the Biafrans to pursue the task of actualizing the Biafran project with undiminished intensity.

On Sunday, 30th June, 2010, the 43rd anniversary of the Civil War was celebrated with pomp and ceremony at Ahiara in Ahiazu Mbaise local government area of Imo State of Nigeria. It was in this community, Ahiara, that the Head of State of the Biafran Republic(now defunct).the then Lt Colonel Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, proclaimed the famous “AHIARA DECLARATION”, on June 1,1969. Forty one years after that event, a large multitude of Ndigbo, especially the Massobians, gathered at Ahiara with fond and intimate memories of the Civil War years. The Ikemba of Nnewi, Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu(may his departed soul rest in peace), was accompanied to the historic Ahiara venue by a large multitude of Ndigbo.It had the trappings and accoutrements of a big carnival.

As we bid fare well to the leader of Ndigbo,Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, there is a need for everything Ndi do in this season of lamentation and national mourning to be flown at half mast. Yes, the flag of Igbo nation must fly at half mast in honour of the inimitable,irrepressible and indomitable leader, DIM Chukwemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu. It is against this background that most of us are saddened that even at a time when the body of the late Ikemba lay in the mortuary; some misguided elements were making frantic efforts to ambuscade his title of Ikemba /leader of Ndigbo. This scramble to step into the shoes left behind by the Ikemba is as deplorable as it is debilitating and must be condemned by all responsible sons/daughters of Igbo land. It is even more worrisome that some people who are said to belong to the traditional institution used their positions to engage in this act of infamy and backstabbing. Since Igbo nation is not a mob(a group without a leader),there is a dire need for Ohanaeze Group to wade into this issue in order to ferret out the culprits for appropriate sanctions. We also want the South-East Traditional Rulers’ Council to explain why a section of the traditional rulers were more interested in imposing a leader on NDIGBO even while our fallen leader, Dim ‘Emeka Odimegwu, was yet to be given a befitting burial. Why was the Governor of Anambra, Mr Peter.Obi, unable to checkmate the overzealousness and impunity of some traditional rulers in his State who were more interested in imposing Ojukwu’s successor on the Igbo nation rather than concentrating on giving the fallen Igbo leader befitting final rites of passage? Who were behind this show of shame? Do traditional rulers have such untrammeled freedom to make such high profile coronations without any clearance from their governors? In my beloved State,IMOState,our Governor,Owelle Rochas Okorocha,has since put an embargo on indiscriminate award of chieftaincy titles by traditional rulers. This is to checkmate the impunity of a section of our traditional rulers who award such titles on known criminals, 419ners, and economic scammers. Let the traditional rulers in Igbo nation borrow a leaf from Owelle Rochas Okorocha in order to bring sanity in the traditional system of government.

In conclusion, I wish to ask some questions which most people prefer to sweep under the carpet. Why were the plotters of the January 15, 1966 military coup not tried by a military tribunal (i.e. court marshal)? Was military coup legitimate at the time? After a military coup that consumed some very important personalities in the country, why did the wheels of government continue to run as if nothing happened? Could this indifference by the rulers at the time be a factor that contributed to the “counter-coup” of July 29, 1966? It is pertinent to re-emphasize once more that the January 15, 1966 coup was conceived and planned by Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu and some other majors. It was usually called the coup of the 5 Majors. It was the coup that led to the “counter-coup” of July 29, 1966 and the civil war which commenced on May 6th, 1967. In fact, on one occasion, General Ibrahim Babangida said: “the collapse of the first republic, as you all know, led to the military intervention of 1966“.

As a result of the reasons stated above, many people had different opinions about Dim Chukwuemeka Odimegwu-Ojukwu. But to me, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu was an Icon or an Iconoclast. He was not only an Avatar as rightly stated by the Deputy Speaker of Federal House of Representatives, Chief Emeka Ihedioha; he was a comet which appears once in about 75 years. He was the modern Nostradamus, the man who saw tomorrow. He was the suffering Jesus Christ who died that others may live. Dim Ojukwu left a yawning chasm in Igbo nation- a chasm which will be very difficult to fill. ln order to secure the tomorrow of Ndi-igbo, Dim Ojukwu gave his today. Adieu Dim Chukwuemeka Odimegwu-Ojukwu. Adieu Dikedioramma of Igbo nation. Rest in peace till we meet to part no more. May he find eternal bliss in the Lord. AMEN

I love you my darling Country Biafra.The land of rising sun. soon i mean soon you will be a reality.