Like I said in my last article, THE SUN DIES IN BIAFRA, the passion for Biafra is really dead and gone with the wind. That is what most pro-Biafra group did not want to accept. Where are you going to start the whole Biafra thing from? Who are the Ibo leaders of today? Do the Ibos trust their leaders? Do you think the Ibo elites would want to be disturbed now? Do you believe Uwazurike’s Mahatma Ghandi approach to the new Biafran succession would work? Let us face facts, and if you are pragmatic in your reasoning you would really know that the new Biafran agitation is a big joke. The stubborn juvenescence optimism held by obdurate Ibo individuals, mostly in Diaspora, that Biafra would work out one day soon is something I cannot understand. Even those who are paragon of sobriety have become casualties of casuistry propagated by profiteers. When sentiments takes over our soul, truth becomes lie and lie becomes truth, reality becomes fiction and fiction becomes reality. It is good to have dreams but it is unhealthy to have unrealistic dreams because in the end it results to self disappointment and illusion, and the line between illusion and madness is tenuous.

I have nothing against a Biafran aspiration but I have a problem with distraction. We have had so many distractions since Nigeria wrestled out of the tight grip of military jaw in 1999; from Shari a law imbroglio where thousands of innocent Nigerians were barbarically murdered in Moslem dominated Northern Nigeria, to the reprisal in the Eastern part of the country; then the Odua People Congress problem where jobless youths clashed in Yoruba land killing one another and unleashing mayhems here and there. There were other numerous ethnic and tribal scrimmages all over the place but I was not in the country so I did not get most of them. It is not my intention to insult the sensibilities of those who would not give up their Biafran aspiration, but it is my responsibility and that of all responsible Nigerians to make them see the light and to open their eyes to reality. Those Wole Soyinka would call ‘Benders of truth, fugitive from history,’ would continue to deceive the innocent who have no idea of history.

Talking of history, I have been accused by some pro- Biafran members of Nigeria Village Square of distorting history. It has become a Nigerian attitude that I often find disgusting, whether they are based in the United States, UK, and Canada or anywhere in Diaspora, to accuse a writer of being bias as long as they assume or believe the discourse is not in favour of their held sentiments. Talking of history, those agitating for Biafra have lost it in the sense that they have no sense of history. Like I wrote earlier, Major Nzeogwu Chukwuma Kaduna’s coup was with the right intentions to build a strong Nigeria, but it was later hijacked by Aguiyi Ironsi who could not handle the situation (Read the ‘FIVE MAJOR’ by Ademoyega). Ironsi was later killed in a counter coup barely six months after he took over the country’s affair by northern soldiers in retaliation of what was perceived as an Ibo coup. When Yakubu Gowon took over he could also not handle the situation, and the diplomatic gaucherie that ensued between the Gowon administration and Ojukwu led to the succession. Ojukwu had no choice than to do what he did. His people were being murdered all over Northern Nigeria and the Gowon government was apathetic about the whole situation and playing politics instead of controlling the situation. After Aburi, Ojukwu knew that there was only one way. Even at that notable Ibo leader like Nnamdi Azikiwe did not support the idea of succession. Ojukwu fought the war and even though he lost in the end he was an Ibo hero until he came back to the country in the early eighties. If he is still an Ibo hero today I can’t tell but he is highly respected and popular among all Ibos of the world. It was necessity, the sense of duty for his people, injustice against his people, and misunderstanding that prompted Ojukwu to declare Biafra. The Ibos have been victims of religious riots in Moslem dominated Northern Nigeria over the years since the civil war, but so are Christians from Middle Belt region of Nigeria, Yoruba people, and any other tribes that are not Hausa-Fulani. When there were reprisals in the Eastern parts of the country, people from Middle Belt were not left out.

 I was shocked the first time I went to Lagos at the ignorance of majority of people in the South and East that all those inhabiting the North are Hausa-Fulani or Moslems. I can see why the common Ibo people are aggrieved and at the mention of Biafra cheerfully hopeful. But today the Ibos of Nigeria would tell you they prefer hanging out with the Hausa people of the North than Yoruba people of the South, who the Ibos perceive as betrayals, while it is true that the Ibos cannot get Biafra without the Yoruba people supporting their course. I believe the Yoruba people also would tell you that they prefer doing things with Hausa than omo-Ibo. The entire people of the Niger-Delta distrust the Ibo and they prefer sticking with Hausa than Ibo. This is the dilemma that is Biafra. No one trust the Ibos. The new people agitating for Biafra have no agenda. From the beginning it was obvious that the whole thing would not go anywhere. One News watch article in 2004 described the Uwazurike declaration as ‘good for democracy’ but that it is not powerful enough to effect any change. In fact that edition classified the Uwazurike thing with the ODUA PEOPLE CONGRESS and AREWA PEOPLE CONGRESS, sometime before Ojukwu was invited by the SSS to Abuja. After that invitation the whole Biafra noise calmed down, and it is now silent with the arrest of Uwazurike. It is not an issue anymore even in the Nigerian press. So when I say Biafra is dead, I did not mean that some Ibos did not still want it to be or dream it. I am saying that the Ibos are not really ready for it. As Nigeria go from one democratic government to another and as democracy stabilizes over the coming years without any incident, Biafra would completely die down. And if the Ibos really want Biafra they would have to prepare for another war with the Federal Government of Nigeria. Now tell me the truth, can they afford it? You and I know that the Ghandi peaceful approach to independence cannot work here in Nigeria. Sorry if you feel bad, but like they say, truth is bitter.

Robot  Villager

# 1 Like I said in my last article, ...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 16.03.2007 20:25

I Love Nigeria  Villager

# 2 - Biafra is DEAD, BURIED and NO MORE! Nigeria Village Square - Nigeria's finest and most intellectual marketplace of ideas, Nigeria, Nigeria Village Square, Nigerians, Exigent circumstances have ... www.nigeriavillagesquare.com/index.php/content/view/1682/55/ - 156k - Cached - Similar pages Biafra is DEAD, BURIED and NO MORE! - Page 2 - The Nigerian ... And when Abacha was killing people, how many Igbo were killed? Written by one of ILN\'s friend. www.nigeriavillagesquare.com/board/article-comments/4868-biafra-dead-buried-no-more-2.html - 134k - Cached - Similar pages < More results from www.nigeriavillagesquare.com > http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=biafra+is+dead+and+buried&btnG=Google+Search Posted by I Love Nigeria| 16.03.2007 20:37

Auspicious  Villager

# 3 The Ibos have been victims of religious riots in Moslem dominated Northern Nigeria over the years since the civil war, but so are Christians from Middle Belt region of Nigeria, Yoruba people, and any other tribes that are not Hausa-Fulani. When there were reprisals in the Eastern parts of the country, people from Middle Belt were not left out. The thoughts expressed by the author in the words in quotes above have always been my position - ever since I started commenting on this medium. I make bold to say that, apart from the war (which is expected when one declares war on another anyways - justified or not), there is nothing the Igbos have suffered in Nigeria that the rest of us Nigerians have not suffered like them. The Niger Deltans are the ones who lay the Golden Egg from where the rest of us feed fat, yet theirs is the most impoverished strech of communities in Nigeria. When Ken Saro Wiwa stood and asked for justice on behalf of his people, he was simply hanged - along with his co-travelllers. The Yorubas had one of them contest in an election adjudged to be the freest and fairest in the annals of Nigerian history, only for that mandate to snatched away from Moshood Abiola and his co-travellers. Then they jailed him. And killed him. And each of the remaining ethnic groups and communities have similar stories to share. Saro-Wiwa was not fighting for only the Ijaws/Ogoni, he was fighting for justice, because were gold to be discovered in Igboland today, or Diamond discovered in Yorubaland tommorow, or some Uranium were discoevered in Potiskum on the day after, these people will all benefit of the justice Saro-Wiwa fought for. But today the Ibos of Nigeria would tell you they prefer hanging out with the Hausa people of the North than Yoruba people of the South, who the Ibos perceive as betrayals, while it is true that the Ibos cannot get Biafra without the Yoruba people supporting their course. I believe the Yoruba people also would tell you that they prefer doing things with Hausa than omo-Ibo. The entire people of the Niger-Delta distrust the Ibo and they prefer sticking with Hausa than Ibo. Funny. And we wonder why the Hausa always win at the end of the day? Please where is Pascal Ukpabi? It would be nice to read his thoughts again... To the Author: This essay needs editing - grammatical editing. Auspicious Posted by Auspicious| 16.03.2007 21:04

Oguguo Yakere  Villager

# 4 Any society that wants to survive, develop and sustain viability must create an atmosphere for at least some basic trust and mutual respect amongst its people. America spends milions of dollars to keep that balance to the extent that usurpers of the equilibrum are liable to the law. As long as we try to pull the wool over each others' eyes, we will continue to go round in circles. The choice of who becomes the next president will speak volumes again to Ndigbo. Biafra stands for more than history to Ndigbo and others who were part of it and saw it in good light. The fact that it's sun appears set does not mean that it cannot rise again. As I type this article, the sun has set for the day. Guess what, by tomorrow morning the same sun would rise again. The type of nationhood we invest in as Nigerians is what will dictate the setting or rising of the Biafran sun. What every Nigerian must remember is that Biafra was a sine qunon at the time it came into being. It can well be again. In fact the ball is in the court of Nigeria. How to achieve Biafra is another segment of the spectrum. When and if the need arises it will be addressed. Leave that to posterity and the people themselves. Igboland is an oil producing land wether their detractors like it or not. There is wisdom in not fully tapping that part of Igbo resources now. A major factor that will determine the setting or rising of the sun is the failure of Nigeria as a nation in addition to its well established hostitlity towards Ndigbo. No one needs to keep talking about Biafra to show some seriousness about it. It is of the mind and whenever it is invoked those concerned will give it its due attention. Meanwhile many Ndigbo are working hard with others for Nigeria to live so that they would't have the need to pull up the Biafra blue print once more. The most stupid thing to do at the metion of Biafra is to threaten the idea with war? What is happening with mend now? You cannot go there and mess with them. This is not the sixties. Posted by Oguguo Yakere| 17.03.2007 01:48

Auspicious  Villager

# 5 =Oguguo Yakere;161988>A major factor that will determine the setting or rising of the sun is the failure of Nigeria as a nation in addition to its well established hostitlity towards Ndigbo.. It is my belief that some Ndiigbo speak more about the "hosility" they recieve than it actually exists and, in so doing, inadvertently create and feed what they see as hostility towards them - unfortunately. The rest of us just want to be heard too. It's not just the Igbos who are 'suffering' - for lack of a better word - the rest of us are as well... Auspicious. Posted by Auspicious| 17.03.2007 02:14

akuluouno  Villager

# 6 Dear Villagers, Biafra was beyond Igbos and encompassed several non Igbos. It also had international dimensions because it had ideology that challenged both East and West at the height of the cold war. No wonder both cooperated for the first time in history to crush Biafra. Check out where the Biafra aproach has been applied in solving Nigerian problems and see the results in flying colours. :lol: :D :D Biafra is akin to the beautiful child we love to hate because it came into the world from Nazareth ( Naze is in Imo state) :lol: :lol: :D :D :D Posted by akuluouno| 17.03.2007 06:00

Oguguo Yakere  Villager

# 7 Akuluouno wrote "Biafra was beyond Igbos and encompassed several non Igbos. It also had international dimensions because it had ideology that challenged both East and West at the height of the cold war. No wonder both cooperated for the first time in history to crush Biafra". Akuluouno, Thank you for that elucidation. There are better informed people in the world who see beyond the localized implication of Biafra and they knew that aspect and witnessed what happened to the Biafran doctrine. Even recently at the 50th (not sure) anniversary of Jamaica as an independent nation, Biafra was remembered not in terms of Nigeria but in terms of the East and the West. And as you said irrespective of the cold war, both opponents joined to see to the settin of Biafra sun. Villagers, MEND is in its own "Biafra" even though such a name is not chosen. Biafra is an idea. I will advice that people stop panicking at the mention of Biafra. There is need to get used to it and accept that it was a reality and can still be a future reality not based on some lunatic Ndigbo trying to destroy Nigeria but based on how we make our national bed (so we will lie on it). It is still a Biafra of the mind. It does not have to constitute all its former territories. And all that depends on the people. if and when that will be, it will be in the likeness of the Egyptian Pharaoh and the Isrealites. The world is becoming more and more realistic about freedom even in Africa. All the countries that resulted in the breaking up of the old Soviet Union; plus East Timor, Kosovo etc are vivid examples of what happens when a nation chooses to commit suicide or loose part of itself. Bakassi is gone though to another country. Whatever we want we will get and everybody will understand how we got there. The threat of war by any of both sides or the chest beating by same duo is unnecessary. Silence is golden even in matters relating to the rising of the Biafra sun. As for Uwazurike, he will soon be out. No thanks to Obasanjo. It will always be remembered as something he did to humiliate Ndigbo as he loves to do. He tried it on Ojukwu too, but that was too much a bite for him. That is also noted on a more serious magnitude. Pretty soon he will be deactivated as he descend from the "throne". He can chairman the dying PDP all he wants, he will become sufficiently relatively irrelevant soon. There will be no more Odi or Zaki Biam for him to destroy again neither would he have another opportunity to kill innocent Igbo youths or harass or jail more Ndigbo. It is not late for a new Nigeria to emmerge. This election is another chance. Yakere Posted by Oguguo Yakere| 17.03.2007 08:52

docokwy  Villager

# 8 For me, I always see feelings and perceptions as mutual. Meaning that if any one dislikes me, I give it back to them in equal measure, the opposite being also the case. Therefore, if non-Igbos distrust the Igbo, they should sit back and think how the Igbo also feel about them. Nobody has a monopoly for distrust. And, your distrust for me, so long as it does not stem from criminality on my part, means much less than a grain of sand to me. Should I run into the bush because some Ijaw, Hausa or Yoruba who have nothing to contribute to my life distrust me? Hell no! I have no doubt that Oil is the crux of all these noise-making. Happily, that resource is also found in Igboland, with several wells capped at the moment. Petroleum apart, I do not see any reason for all these senseless and unsolicited articles on Biafra. People like George should get busy and stop loafing endlessly. Non-Igbos like George should learn to mind their business and think of the myriad of problems bedevilling them. If you, George and your like do not have any ulterior motive, you should exert same energy on decrying the activities of MEND, which IMHO, they have the right to continue to conduct. I think that addressing the deathly financial and moral corruption perpetuated by Obasanjo, Atiku, Bode George, Adedibu, Peter Odili, James Ibori, Orji Kalu and others are far more salient issues than your incessant harpping on Biafra. We do not need your encouragement or discouragement. Whoever you are, warts and all, you are too insignificant to make or mar the Biafran struggle. The ealier you get this into your thick skull, the better for you. Otherwise, keep loafing. Who cares. Posted by docokwy| 17.03.2007 10:24

ithinkbetter  Villager

# 9 I do not see any reason for all these senseless and unsolicited articles on Biafra. People like George should get busy and stop loafing endlessly. nwanne, thank you very very very much...i, equally, don't see any logic why all these obsessions to write about biafra....particularly by non-biafrans! PS: mr author, abeg go learn better english..first...abi you wanna dey blow the grammar like my poor self! Posted by ithinkbetter| 17.03.2007 10:40

Tony  Villager

# 10 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- @Mr George: You are indeed very funny. How on earth could you expect those who ganged up to fight against or betray the Igbo to trust them? of course in post war Nigeria Igbophobia or the fear of the Igbo is the beginning of wisdom. Many of these groups are afraid of revenge if the Igbo rises again. Take a fresh look at your history, and you would realise that before the war Dr Azikiwe won elections in the whole East which comprise most of the Niger-Delta and even in the Western region before some Westerners crossed carpet. Now ask yourself; how come that people who trusted the Igbo to the extent of Dr Azikiwe winning elections in the Western region before the civil war, now distrust the Igbo after the civil-war? Well i have already tried to provide the answer above, but you can also make your own commonsense conclusions. Finally the whole issue of distrust is though true for obvious reasons analysed above, but is a little bit exagerrated. I say this, because i recall that in the 1979 elections just 9 years after the civil-war Dr Azikiwe won the Eastern Ibo states, and won the senatorial zones in the Ibo parts of Rivers state, and Delta state (Anioma) which are constituent parts of the Niger-Delta, plus the then Plateau state which constitutes about 3 or 4 states in present day middle belt. This indicates that some of the purported distrust by mr George is exagerrated. Moving on, a truely national, achieving leader can easily break the barriers of Igbophobia and the fear of revenge. Finally the whole of Nigeria is now Biafra.Present day Nigeria has vindicated Ojukwu. Sharia was Biafra, Odi and Zaki-Biam is Biafra,the militarisation of the Niger-Delta is Biafra, MEND is Biafra, religious riots in the North is Biafra, injustice and marginalization are Biafra. Ethnic riot is Biafra. So my dear George quit whinning about Biafra. Untill the Nigerian establishment holds a sovereign dialogue with ethnic nationalities to fashion out how to co-habit peacefully, the whole of Nigeria will continue to be Biafra. And if at all the Biafran nation itself is actualised, it is the same Nigeria that will make it happen. How and when, i do not know, but the disintergration of the almighty nuclear armed Soviet Union has taught me that in life "never say never". Besides force of arms has never stopped any nation from disintergration as we saw in East Timor, Ethiopia-Eritrea, Kosovo and very soon Southern Sudan(who would be holding a UN sponsored referendum in a few years) but it could be that when God's appointed time comes, Nigeria will break without a shot being fired as it happened in the defunct Soviet Union. My brother learn "never to say never"! Posted by Tony| 17.03.2007 13:10

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