OJUKWU, NNAMDI KANU’S BIAFRA SIMILARITIES, DIFFERENCES by Amb. Nworisa Michael
Following closely the events of yesterday’s court hearing of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) I began to wonder and marvel at the height of respect he (Mazi Nnamdi Kanu) was enjoying from the government as it was obvious he’s well cared for. I wish the Nigerian Police Force and Correctional Center offers same to their victims.
My attention was however drawn to a certain video posted by some media pages of a certain lawyer stating that he was been denied entrance into the court room by officers of the Nigerian Police Force who in his words relied on using the power of the gun to do this and to him was wrong. Your right to be present in a court room for a matter as this is subjective if you’re not a counsel to the defendant or plantif especially as regards to the Covid-19 protocols. I also wondered if this lawyer ever thought that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu on his part was using the power of the media to make some unhealthy incitements and to which in itself is more deadly than the gun.
Severally, I’ve spoken against the activities of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and his Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and often times I’ve been misinterpreted by gullible youths who have fallen victim to the negative use of the “power of the media ” by Kanu however, it would be fair to note that I fault not his person as everyone has the right to believe in whatever they choose to but his strategy in pursuing this course is what I’m against as it effects is doing more harm than good to the region and by extension the entire Federation but more importantly as I too respect the United Nation’s “right of self determination”.
The Biafran war was a battle that ought not to have been fought, but it’s unfortunate that it happened. It’s one of those things that comes when military seeks to interfere in democratic governance.
As in the case of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) or any agitating group, this is not to say that there aren’t legitimate concerns. Every group has grievance but the beauty and attraction of democracy is that it allows different groups to air their grievances in the most civil manner and work out modalities for a peaceful co-existence.
Southeastern youths who consider IPOB as a solution to the regions and political challenges should do well also to seek adequate knowledge on the cause of Ojukwu’s declaration of Biafra and to compare same of what Kanu is doing. They should also know that Ojukwu was and remained a stakeholder of the one Nigerian dream. This can solidly be seen when he himself led the Federal Nigerian troops against the Niger-Delta Republic when it was declared a Sovereign state from Nigeria by Isaac Adaka Boro on February 23, 1966 a battle which lasted for twelve days and eventually he won reclaiming the region back.
I however, will fault the growing support for IPOB more on the political leaders in the affected region as it is due to their negligence over the core mandate given to them by the electorates of the region.
Truth is a true reconciliation is yet to be witnessed in Nigeria because almost every region is aggrieved. The North are in need of an apology for their traditional and political leaders killed in the coup which saw the first military interference in the Nigerian Government. In the South, Deltans too seek an apology over the Asaba massacre an event that’s barely spoken about but deep in the hearts of many is a wound yet to heal and so are many more ugly incidents that were recorded then. But going forward we need to truly forgive one another and work towards a brighter future for us and our generations to come and youths of this present generation of Nigerian should champion this cause.
I often laugh at sympathizers of Kanu when they say he “opened their eyes” towards the flaws of our politicians, though he might have but it would have been best he opened their minds to see the actual motive behind Ojukwu’s Biafra and his own Biafra. For clarity it shouldn’t be forgotten of Ojukwu’s role in the Nigerian state after the war was thus that; “shortly after his return, Odumegwu-Ojukwu joined full-blown politics. In January 1983, he linked up with the ruling National Party of Nigeria (NPN) that granted him reprieve and sought a position in the Senate on its platform to the chagrin of most of his Igbo kinsmen, who were in the late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe-led Nigerian Peoples Party (NPP). Thus, his bid for the Senate representing Onitsha Senatorial District (Anambra) was unsuccessful.
Having taken part in the ‘fouled’ politics of Second Republic, Ojukwu was among a host of politicians that Major General Muhammadu Buhari-led military government hauled into detention when the military seized power On December 31, 1983. He was detained for 10 months.
Undaunted, the Ikemba also took part in the General Ibrahim Babangida botched Third Republic transition programme. In 1993, declared his intention to run for presidency. He said the surest way to show that the civil war had ended and the Igbo fully integrated into the affairs of the nation was to allow the Igbo become president.
Aside full integration of the Igbo into the governance of the country, Ojukwu also enunciated far-reaching plans to halt the country’s slide into decay. But the Nigerian government was not yet ready for Ojukwu presidency. He was promptly disqualified from running for president along with other old breed politicians by Babangida.
As an astute politician, Ojukwu kept himself relevant in the scheme of things. He was one of those elected to the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) of 1994 to 1995.
Under General Abdusalami Abubakar, he was among Nigerian leaders the government consulted to ensure hitch-free transition programme. He was to join the All Peoples Party (APP), which emerged as the main opposition party to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 1999.
On the road to the 2003 general elections, he joined the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and was nominated as its presidential flagbearer. He fought the polls against President Olusegun Obasanjo, General Buhari and other contenders and came third. He repeated the quest in 2007 and came sixth, an indication that he might never get the plum job. Having ruled the entire Eastern region, he is arguably the highest ranking Igbo man to vie for the presidency apart from Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe.
Determined to improve governance in the country, he fraternised with civil society groups and pressure groups such as the Ethnic Nationalities Forum (ENF), urging convocation of a Sovereign National Conference (SNC) to restructure Nigeria into a true Federal State.
As his political career reached the end Ojukwu made an unusual request in February 2010. He begged the Anambra Electorate to grant him his last wish. And what was the wish? Return Governor Peter Obi to Anambra Government House. Indeed, his wish was granted as amid unassailable political arsenal amassed by the PDP in Anambra State, Governor Obi emerged victorious at the February 6, 2010 polls”.
Instead of division the Indigenous People of Biafra should act as a pressure group to demand service delivery and accountability from our leaders. If Hon. Dim Chuwkuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu was still alive, an address from him would see to the end of this agitations. Notwithstanding, I hope soon enough our youths start asking the right questions and our leaders begin to lead right and not rule us.
Amb. Nworisa Michael,
GOOD GOVERNANCE ADVOCATE,
Founder / Executive Coordinator, Stand for Peace Initiative.
nworisamichael1917@gmail.com
www.nworisamichaelblog.com.ng
