₦airaland Forum

ENOUGH OF THIS ACTIVATION OF THE BIAFRAN DEBACLE

By Wantaregh Paul Unongo, OFR – DEPUTY LEADER OF NORTHERN ELDERS FORUM

Gentlemen of the Press,

In the recent past, we the citizens of the great and beautiful country of Nigeria have once again, been inundated and bombarded by hysterical shrieks of an unbridled, unparalleled, destructive nature, on our streets: leading up to even the shutting up of important public highways and bridges, such as the recent confusion on the famous Onitsha-Asaba Niger bridge which disrupted travel for over 11hours! Divisive, abusive demagogic rhetorics, similar to the incredulous and incredible irrationality that pervaded the country, just before the nation-state of Nigeria was plunged into the most devastating calamity – a most terrible, most painful, most destructive civil war, in which we killed and maimed almost 3 million men, women and children of Nigeria!

The then apostles of hate and destabilization, masquerading as proponents and exponents of the rise of “the Biafran sun,” in the heart of Africa, to lead the whole of Africa, pushed hapless, unsuspecting youth of Nigeria into that terrible mass slaughter!
In that mass hysteriasis of gargantuan proportions called the Nigerian Civil War, the Federalist Forces prevailed and the Secessionist Forces, were defeated.

However, the war time leader, General Yakubu Gowon, of the Federalist Forces would, throughout the war period, keep on insisting and repeating, times without end, that the Biafran Secessionists, were not enemy of the Federalists.

He probably understood the implications of the historic opportunity provided by the victory over the forces of disintegration and disunity that at the amnestice declared, he incorporated the concept that “there is no victor and no vanquished” in our civil war! We were all, VICTIMS!

Perhaps, this great advocate of ONE NIGERIA, - a viable, strong, but flexible, all inclusive Nigeria – a Federation, visualized a stronger Union, that could and would be versatile – hence his immediate launching of National Policies designed to unite and programmed to strengthen national cohesion and advancement of all the people of the nation-state of Nigeria, immediately after the cessation of hostilities!

These programmes were for sustainable unity to guarantee the indissolubility of the Nigerian-state, distilled from the excruciating suffering of the Nigerian Youth – in battle.

This was a war fought with the ferocity, the resilience and an inventiveness which would forever resist and discourage all future efforts at disintegration of the country.

The General’s launched programmes of unity were referred to, and called, the 3Rs: Reconstruction, Reconciliation and Rehabilitation.

This initiative, known as the 3Rs, was immediately to be followed by the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) which has remained a visible evidence of integration to promote unity, development and patriotism across the common nation-state of Nigeria.
It is equally instructive to bear witness to further unfolding issues that tended to consolidate the unity of the nation. The Second Republic that came along after the war, restored the participatory right and dignity of the Ibos, who became routinely elected and appointed into key offices, in the presidential consolidation of 1979-1983.

Also, the Architect and leader of the Biafran secessionists, late Chief Odumegwu Ojukwu, in addition to his earlier surrendering posture, openly repudiated the concept of Biafra and accepted and declared in public the supremacy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He also accepted a state pardon at the instance of President Shehu Shagari.

To confirm the terminal point of the Biafran agitation, Chief Odumegwu Ojukwu urged and led the Ibo people of the South East to return back into the mainstream of Nigeria.

He repeatedly aspired to elective offices under the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, before his demise, including even vying for the topmost position. He did not make it, but his tribesman, Goodluck Ebele Nnamdi Azikiwe Jonathan made it to the top, as the President of Nigeria and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and did run this Republic for five plus, years!

Now, with all these step by step unity, encouraging acts, what does this sudden, reinvigorated passionate renewed agitation, for the realization of the state of “Biafra” mean, and what does it portend for the future of our country? This once great country of ours, which had been almost ruined by the reckless maladministration and impunity of past leaders, who were so incredibly insensitive to the plight of the ordinary people of Nigeria?

Why particularly now, so soon after inauguration of the President Mohammadu Buhari Administration – an Administration which was so very well received, locally and internationally? Its “change mantra”, appeared to be on a steady course to arrest the institutional decays in governance and government! Why did this energetic resurgence not appear under President Jonathan Administration’s watch?

Then like a thunderbolt, why this sudden hostile biafranization of the Nigerian polity, soon after the departure of an Administrations which had made itself so unpopular, that it was “popularly” voted out! Are we, the ‘leaders and misleaders’ of this country seriously contemplating leading Nigeria, once again into another costly war, the kind of which was Biafra’s? REALLY!!

Before I attempt an answer to that question, Distinguished Gentlemen of the Press, permit me to take a peep into world history relevant to our case, even though I wonder if man ever learns from history!

In nineteen seventeen (1917), the World was confronted by a Germany that sought to dominate it, espousing, a very demagogic, and a very dangerous philosophy of the superiority of the Germany race over all races. The then world rejected this phenomenon.

Germany confronted the world with a war which was fought with a tenacity and ferocity that took an incredible casualty Eleven-Million Dead! The world had hitherto, not seen this kind of casualty in the whole history of mankind. Consequently, the world termed that war, the First World War!

This World War of the Germans which killed 11 million people, came to an end in 1918, when Germany became thoroughly beaten and defeated. In history, this war also became known as “the war to end all wars”.

Incredibly and amazingly, Gentlemen of the Press, Germany did not learn a lesson from the experience of this costly war!
As the world slumbered and slept, dreaming of a glorious era, free of all wars, Germany was quietly preparing for a return match, still considering themselves to be a special specie, better than, and superior to, all races! They just had to dominate everybody else.

In 1939, Germany was ready to make war.
She officially launched Germany’s blitzkrieg – a most terrific, shockingly destructive and devastating sudden war, on an unready, unprepared, un-suspecting word! This war shocked, and shook the world to its very foundations!

Gentlemen of the Press, this second horrendous adventure, of the Germans too, became contained. The world prevailed. Germany was defeated once again, in 1945!

The World however, lost 47 million men to the war! Russia alone recorded 22 million men killed!

Gentlemen of the Press, The “Biafran” Civil War of 1967-1970 killed approximately 3 million Nigerians, including those who called themselves “Biafrans”!

Can we, in the relative comfort of our places of abode, in this beautiful Nigeria, just sit tight and do nothing about what portends us, in the event of another “Biafran” experience brought about by innocent, screaming kids, who had no experience of the First Biafra – just waiting to compute statistics of the casualties of the second Biafran encounter?

Is this what we want for our dear country? Or is this what we want for our Youth? Can we the leadership of the Youth of Nigeria, Can we the Elders of the Youth of Nigeria, not even contemplate what is likely to happen, in a second biafran encounter, which is feasible and possible, the way these unemployed Youth are being energized, organized, and then sent into the streets, deliberately? The casualty was approximately 3 Million dead! What will the casualty be today – 6 – Million – or reach perhaps, 12 Million – What – Gentlemen of the Press?

If you look at Nigeria and Nigerian politics, Gentlemen of the Press, are you not perceiving some hidden agenda bursting through!

I see even though, you may not see, a strong indication that beyond this Biafran agitation is perhaps, the underline factor of resistance, by interest groups, to the emerging approach/order, which has surfaced stubbornly, and is gradually restoring order, sanity and discipline in the old system we had.

This resistance is provoked by the feelings of dissatisfaction arising from the clear policy direction of the new leadership on issues of probity, discipline and corruption.

This clear vision or direction has compelled a new order on all legitimate activities. This “change mantra” is what beneficiaries of the old system resist and oppose, and are actively organizing the unsuspecting Youth of some sections of our society, to oppose and work against it. They want to frustrate this “change mantra”!

Unfortunately, this new order, appears to be solidly anchored on the initiative of President Muhammadu Buhari who has been acknowledged with global reception, (a reception) that has restored the lost image and glory of Nigeria. I do truly believe that this is what is earnestly at stake, Gentlemen of the Press!
Otherwise, what is this imaginary marginalization the Ibos are complaining about, when all the 5 South Eastern states representing the entire Ibo race, “biafra”, are represented in the Federal Cabinet of President Muhammadu Buhari – all by only Ibo people?

Allow me to play the tribal card, just a little bit, Gentlemen of the Press.

I am a Tivman, belonging to the 4th largest ethnic group in Nigeria. I come from Benue State and form almost three-quarters of the population of Benue.

I voted APC and President Muhammadu Buhari almost, 100 percent! I returned two Senators from the two Tiv Senatorial Districts to Abuja, on the platform of APC.

I threw out the PDP Governor that was Governor of Benue, and voted in, a new Governor, on the platform of APC. Yet, I am not represented in the APC Federal Cabinet of President Muhammadu Buhari, despite voting massively all the way for the APC Government!

And, I am not agitating, blocking roads and the Makurdi Bridge, which is the link between the NORTH and the SOUTH, more especially, the South East!

I also have kids and children called Youth. But I have NOT sent these kids to prevent traffic plying nor entering, neither the Railway Makurdi Benue Bridge, nor Motor Vehicles Makurdi Benue Bridge! And, I am CERTAINLY NOT sending, and WILL NOT send, these young people – mere kids, into the streets, in harm’s way, to protest “marginalization” of my Tiv people!
Now, contrast this with the situation in the 5 South Eastern states – the Ibo states.

Not a single State in the Ibo South East, voted for President Muhammadu Buhari, nor gave APC majority votes!
Yet in distributing political patronage by Mr. President and the APC, the President and APC gave the Ibo South East, a minimum of 5 Cabinet Ministerial slots, in addition to other critical appointments in public Parastatals, Boards and even in Federal Ministries, as Permanent Secretaries, etc!

What should Nigeria, APC and Mr. President do again, to appease the leadership and followership of the Ibo race, so as to avoid been charged with marginalizing the Ibo race of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, so that their Youth will not confront us, with violent, threats, of another Biafran bout?

Perhaps, the Ibo people of the South East, and the PDP, are simply insisting on the Buhari Administration continuing with what their kith and kin, Pius Anyim and President Jonathan, were doing during their tenure!

Let us just take a peep at how Goodluck Ebele Nnamdi Azikiwe Jonathan, got the correct combination, for the Youth of Ibo race, to avoid demonstration and charges of marginalization of the Ibo race, in the multiethnic Federal Republic of Nigeria: Senator Anyim Pius Anyim – Secretary to the Government of the Federation; Ngozi Okonjo Iweala – Coordinating Minister of the Economy & Minister of Finance; Chief Ojo Maduekwe – Minister of Foreign Affairs; Stella Oduah – Minister of Aviation; Deziani Alison Madueke – Minister of Petroleum Resources; Mr. Edem Duke – Culture and Tourism; Mr Osita Chidoka – In charge of Road Safety; Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu Minister of Health; Hon. Chukwuemeka Wogu – Minister of Labour; Dr. Stephen Orinse Oru – Minister of Niger Delta; Dr. Tamuno Danagogo – Minister of Sports; Professor Chinedu Nebo – Minister of Power!
Should I also give you the appointments in Boards, Parastatals, Ministries and Permanent Secretaries, Directors of Ministries, etc. so we can establish the obscene skewed numerosity and preponderance of members of the Ibo race of Nigeria? Is this what is missed, and yearned for, with the demise of the Jonathan Administration?

Gentlemen of the Press, Perhaps it is indeed these unwholesome, discriminatory, divisive, unconstitutional, unfair, unhelpful, sectional biased practices and acts, which were meticulously supervised and implemented with impunity, under President Jonathan’s watch, that appeased the great Youth of Ibo race of the multiethnic Federal Republic of Nigeria, to refuse being sponsored for agitations, for the realization of the “Sovereign State of Biafra” under the Administration of President Goodluck Jonathan!

Fourty Five years ago, with a horrendous casualty tag of over 3,000,000 DEAD, in Nigeria’s brutal war of Unity and Federalism as opposed to Confederalism, Secessionism and Immediate Breakup of our Federal Union, the fate of Biafra was sealed in that most painful war of attrition, successfully fought and waged to a finish! The FEDERALISTS prevailed. The charlatans threatening war now, do NOT KNOW what war is. We do!
We fought a most horrid, most terrible, three-year-brutal-painful war against ourselves! We do not want, EVER, to be made to fight again!

Nigeria fought to actualize and consolidate the Indissolubility of our Federal Union, 45 years ago, just like the USA fought, in a similar manner, to found the United States of America. They too paid that price, approximately 200 years ago to consolidate their kind (type) of Federalism in the United States of America, and I am sure, they too WILL NOT WANT TO HAVE another go, at a new Civil War!

What our country needs, we submit humbly, Gentlemen of the Press, is fairness, justice and equity. We need these attributes firmly (to be entrenched) in our practice and statutes.
We need a good social order, and an acceptance that penchant chronism and sectionalism, which gives unfair advantage and confer huge unearned financial and economic dividends to, “my people”, as was done with impunity, under Jonathan’s Administration, with no regards to the feelings and sensibilities of others, is not right and thoroughly condemnable!

This is what we must tackle seriously in this plural Nigeria, of multiple ethnicities, multiple religions. A leader should not flaunt such prodigious propensity for favouring only his ethnic people!
One more example, then I am done, distinguished Gentlemen of the Press, let me give you the differential discriminatory and unfair treatment of the Tiv by the Federal Government, in sorting out the gruesome military invasions in two separate host communities:

i. ODI – a little place in Bayelsa – the home state of President Goodluck Ebele Nnamdi Azikiwe Jonathan.
ii. ZAKI-BIAM – located in Benue – the home State of the TIV citizens of Nigeria
The unlawful, unwarranted, unconstitutional killings resulting from the military invasions of ODI, in Bayelsa State and Zaki-Biam, Gbeji, Katsina-Ala and other villages in Benue State, became subject of litigation.
Solicitors representing individuals and interests-groups, of the two host communities, took the Federal Government to Court for unlawful military invasion and killings of people from the two host communities.

Eventually, under President Jonathan’s watch, judgment was entered against the Federal Government that:

(i) The people of ODI, from President Jonathan’s home State, BAYELSA, be paid a compensation of N37.6 billion.
(ii) The Tiv people of Zaki-Biam, Gbeji, Katsina-Ala and four other villages, from Benue State, be paid a compensation of 41.8 Billion Naira – because more killings and more extensive destructions were inflicted upon them!

There ensued serious negotiations to settle out of court.
President Jonathan’s Administration ordered that the people of ODI from Bayelsa, President Jonathan’s home state, be paid an out-of-Court settlement sum of 15 billion.

The same Administration of President Jonathan, ordered that the Tiv people of Zaki-Biam, Gbeji, etc., from Benue State, be paid 8 Billion, as out-of-Court-settlement sum. Why?

The people of Odi suffered less casualty, less and limited structural damage and destruction, as compared to the Tiv people of Zaki-Biam, Gbeji, etc, who took horrendous casualties and very expansive destruction spread over two Local Government Areas! They who suffered much-much more, were awarded a mere 8 Billion. ODI, who suffered far far less, were awarded a whopping 15 Billion! Why?

Subsequently, President Jonathan still doing nothing about the Tiv, ordered that ODI be paid, the full sum of 15 Billion immediately! This sum was so obediently released – and released intoto - COMPLETELY, since November 2014 by President Jonathan’s ethnically biased Administration!

Is this not what the whole misconstrued and distorted clamour for “Biafra” is all about, Gentlemen of the Press?

What about the Tiv, who had far more killings and sufferings inflicted upon them, now suffering discrimination and unfair treatment, again, at the hands of the tribally jaundiced Administration of President Jonathan, he who swore to do justice to all manner of people not minding tribe?

Gentlemen of the Press, guess what: As I address you here-in Makurdi – today, the Zaki-Biam, Gbeji, etc, Tiv people of Benue State, have NOT yet been paid a single DIME – today-at the tail end of 2015! NOT EVEN ONE KOBO!

For more of the Press statement, visit the link below...

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1090673644310598&id=100001039186543

**grins** Noise from a fulani puppet from the middle belt. This is why we in the east do not even empathize with you when the fulani slaughter you and bury you middlebeltans in mass graves. We will always look the other way from now. Keep urging on your fulani masters, but don't deny it in future because, the information age keeps record forever. **grins**

I am a Tivman, belonging to the 4th largest ethnic group in Nigeria. I come from Benue State and form almost three-quarters of the population of Benue.

Thot Ijaw was the 4th largest ethnic group, found in many states or is mr unongo hallucinating?

.

Let me correct something here, Jonathan Ebele is NOT and can NEVER be Igbo, he is Ijaw. Nobody should try to paint Jonathan as Igbo because we know his family house at Otuoke in Ijaw land of Bayelsa.



Secondly, there is nothing to point at in the east to show the 3Rs. Maybe it was declared for Lagos.

Would have loved it if the Tiv man explained to us how the 3Rs were actually implemented. Is it the reconstruction and rehabilitation (ofcourse there was no reconciliation) that was enforced every other place except the devastated East where the war was actually fought?

Maybe he was refering to another '3Rs'.