Forty five years after the end of the civil war, some Southeast elements are invoking the spirit of the ill-fated Biafra Republic as they threaten succession, thereby undermining national sovereignty and unity. Group Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU examines the implications for national cohesion and what government can do to foster a sense of belonging by the six geo-political zones.
For two months, pro-Biafra protesters have been on the prowl in the Southeast and Southsouth. They chant war slogans as they agitate for the Biafra Republic, which was dead and buried in 1970. These protests, according to government, were inspired by a self-acclaimed activist, Nnamidi Kanu, who was standing trial for terrorism. His followers are agitating under the banner of a new group, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). Thus, government is facing heat on two fronts-Biafra and Boko Haram.
Forty five years after, new radicals bubbling with idealist yearnings are venturing into a terrain where Col. Emeka Odimegwu-Ojukwu (rtd), the secessionist leader, failed. In their view, history should repeat itself. But, to analysts, the new rebellion underscores the fragility of federalism. They argue that threats of secession may not be the appropriate answer to the non-resolution of the national question.
According to the protesters, the demonstrations are legitimate. They believe that the Southeast region has not fared better in a united Nigeria since Ojukwu’s rebellion was crushed. Although many stakeholders have decried the protests, the demonstrators have not relented in disrupting commercial and social activities in some cities in the Southeast and Southsouth. However, the protests have been peaceful.
Since the protesters are predominantly Igbo, many observers have described it as the carry-over of the region’s hostility to President Muhammadu Buhari’s bid for the Presidency. But, prominent Igbo leaders, who had witnessed the horror of civil war, have disowned the adventurists, stressing that their tirades were not products of widespread consultations and collective agreement. In their opinion, the protests are defeatist and product of blood cuddling political scam ever visited on Ndigbo. Yet, others are of the view that the President should listen to their complaints. Former Education Minister Prof. Tunde Adeniran urged President Buhari to implement the report of the last National Conference, adding its implementation will assuage the feelings of the protesters. He, however, did not elaborate further.”The Federal Government should implemet the report,” he said.
Memory of civil war:
Igbo leaders, who have decried the protest, said it was motivated by selfish interest. “It is about bread and butter,” said Monday Ubani, a lawyer. “The demonstration is being sponsored by bad losers of election. What is peculiar about the demonstrators is that majority of them neither saw nor experienced the 1967-70 civil war. The intrigues, mistakes, connivance, betrayals, wisdom and foolishness of that war cannot be as real to them as to those who witnessed it. The young men and women are trained to sing “let my people go” because they are told that the economic survival, safety and prosperity of Igbo cannot be guaranteed in Nigeria. This is as hallow as it is defeatist and is borne out of the most blood scam cuddling political scam ever visited on Ndigbo,” he added.
Handshake across Niger:
Many believe that the youths have not learned from the lessons of history. The civil war period was the worst period in national history.
The cost to the nation was huge. The eyes of the world was on Nigeria for 30 months for the wrong reason. Fears were rife that the most populous African country was about to disintegrate. Neighbouring West African countries were livid because they would not be able to cope with mass exodus from Nigeria. After the war, it was difficult to rebuild Igboland. Many people were missing. The rehabilitation of displaced people was cumbersome. The military regime also had to grapple with the problem of abandoned property.
The entire Southeast was bereaved. But, it was a collective tragedy. Prominent Army officers ended their careers and life in the avoidable war, leaving behind young families to mourn their demise. Later, the government started the programmes of reconstruction, rehabilitation and reconciliation. Although the Biafran rebellion may have been forced on Ojukwu, he nevertheless, retraced his steps in the post-war period. Many Igbo perished in the war, but Ojukwu and his family survived. After his 13-year exile in Cote d’Ivoire, he reintegrated himself into the political system. He joined the defunct National Party of Nigeria (NPN), became its national deputy chairman and contested for the Senate. When he later joined the presidential race, he said his mission was to “complete the process of reintegrating the Igbo into the mainstream of Nigerian politics. His party, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), was registered. Ojukwu canvassed a handshake across the Niger, stressing that ethnic groups should evolve a basis for peaceful coexistence. Later, his military rank of colonel was restored by the Federal Government. Instead of championing fresh hostilities, Ojukwu lent his voice to the convocation of the National Conference. In fact, when it was convoked in 1994, he was a delegate. Chiding the agitators for twisting facts, Ubani said: “It is tragic that Nnamidi Kanu and his followers to describe Ojukwu as their inspirational figure and to consequently portray him as an Igbo irredentist.”
Igbo in a united Nigeria:
Also, a group, Igbo Conscience, has warned of the consequence of demonstration by pro-Biafra agitators, saying that they are exposing the lives and business interests of Ndigbo to danger in other parts of the country. The group lamented that the “rootless and uncoordinated agitation” has renewed anti-Igbo sentiments in the Southsouth and rekindled the old rivalry capable of affecting Igbo interests in the foreseeable future.
The leaders of the group said prominent Igbo believe that the race is better off in a united Nigeria, contrary to the drum of war being beaten by the unscrupulous elements. They, however, called for the restructuring of the country by President Muhammadu Buhari to redress the long years of injustice and give every region a fuller sense of belonging.
“We unequivocally distance the generality of Ndigbo from the present politically orchestrated clamour for secession from Nigeria. It is dubious. It is fraudulent. It is selfish and does not command the support of most Igbo. It is a non-event, inconsequential, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing. Ndigbo are better off and will do better in a united and prosperous Nigeria,“ they added.
Danger of rebellion
To Comrade Joe Igbokwe, the Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) Publicity Secretary, those chanting war slogans may put the Ndigbo in danger, if the peaceful demonstrations are hijacked and it turns violent, adding that the outcome may be perceived negatively by other zones.
He said: “It is beyond doubt that a bulk of Igbo investment is domiciled outside the so-called Biafra. It is certain that more Igbo live outside the so-called Biafra and it is beyond doubt that these ssenseless agitators and their sponsors are exposing both the massive Igbo properties, wealth and majority of Igbo people to danger by the present politically-induced and needless agitation. We believe that Nigeria provides a big space for Igbo to thrive. When you have an Atlantic Ocean to swim in, you do not need a pond in Okigwe to do the same.”
Ubani, a lawyer, agreed with his submission. He doubted the sincerity of the agitators, who he said are fired by selfish and personal interest, adding that they are bread and butter agitators. Describing the demonstrations as worrisome and confounding, he pointed out that the demonstrators neither saw nor experienced the 1967-70 civil war. He said the reluctance of prominent Igbo leaders to decried the protests have fuelled the wrong impression that the Ndigbo is in solidarity with them
Flaying the leader of the protest, Mr. Kanu, for the misadventure, he said the London-based agitator lacked the mandate of the Ndigbo because the stakeholders were not consulted and carried along before launching the war. Ubani said while the godfathers behind the demonstrations are targeting concessions by the Federal Government, they have carefully ensured that none of their relatives or family members participate in the protests.
Distorting history
Igbokwe decried an attempt to distort history by casting the late Chief Emeka Odimegwu-Ojukwu in the image of a poster child for Nigeria’s unity, recalling that the ex-Biafra warlord had proposed a handshake across the Niger. Ubani also berated prominent Igbo, who have participated in governance in the last 16 years for the backward position of the region, stressing that, while any Southwesterner can serve in any capacity in Lagos, former governors of Abia and Enugu have sacked Igbo who are not from the state from their civil service.
Igbokwe said the agitation was misguided, saying it is curious that some Igbo are not protesting marginalisation, despite the fact that prominent Igbo occupied prime positions in the Jonathan Administration in the last six years. Urging President Buhari to restructure the country, he added: “Those arrested and detained on connection with the protest should either be charged to court or released unconditionally.”
Conference report:
Foremost political scientist Prof. Adeniran observed that the protesters may have grievances and needs, which government should meet. He canvassed dialogue, streiing that violence is not the answer. The former Education Minister urged President Buhari to study the report of the last constitional conference, adding that, if the recommendations are implemented, it will reduce the cries of despondency.
Echoing him, the Chairman of the Conference Consultative Committee, Senator Femi Okunrounmu, said the report has solutions to some of the problems confronting the country, particularly the fear of domination and marginalisation.
This piece was originally published in The Nation as What are Pro-Biafra agitators up to?
