Is President Olusegun Obasanjo's proposed National Dialogue the way forward for Nigeria?
'Why Ndigbo Should Say No to Biafra'
By Ndubuisi Ugah, 12.12.2004
Following the anguish, pains and loss of lives experienced by Ndigbo during the 30-month civil war in Nigeria, Ndigbo have been advised to be wary of plans by some of their leaders, who because of their selfish interests are determined to allow Ndigbo experience what transpired during those dark days. Chief Chukwuemeka Egwuatuonwu, who was a commander in the Biafran army during the civil war, in a statement made avalaible to THISDAY, said Ndigbo should know that there is no other country other than Nigeria and as such should strive to ensure that the unity and progress of the country is held sacrosanct at all times. Egwuatuonwu, who was recalling with nostalgia some of the things that transpired during the 30-month civil war, said what informed the planning of the 1966 coup by Major Kaduna Nzeogwu was not borne out of the fact that he (Chukwuma) wanted to rule Nigeria because of any selfish reason whatsoever. "There was no intention on Chukwuma's part, to collude or conspire with Ibo officers in the Army and with Ibo politicians and academicians, to lead a coup for the purpose of ensuring the political leadership of Nigeria by Ibos", he said. The former Igbo Youth Congress (IYC) President General said it was regretable that some Igbo leaders in the name of leading Ndigbo were latching on the aftermath of the coup incident to misthem, when it was obvious that there was no ill-feelings on the part of the coupists at that time. "However, some sections of the Nigerian society saw the coup as a monumental and unwholesale Ibo plot to establish Ibo political ascendancy, supremacy and domination", adding that "all these sons of Igbo origin are taking these sacrifices in the interest of this country Nigeria, not as another man's country but theirs and other Nigerians in general-North and South". On the activities of the Movement for the Survival of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Egwuatuonwu said "now, I want to appeal to my brothers at the international business world like Alaba International market, ASPAMDA International trade fair complex and Ladipo together with all Igbo businessmen and women to stop throwing away their hard earned money in support of MASSOB because it is deceitful in totality. We Ndigbo share no other common boundary internationally except with our country Nigeria and we are the true Nigerians". He noted that for how long will people like Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu and MASSOB President, Chief Ralph Uwazurike continue to deceive Ndigbo, when all their actions towards the progress of Ndigbo tilted towards stalling the expected development of the South-east geo-political zone. He wondered what calibre of leaders will want to behave the way Ojukwu and Uwazurike are behaving when "he (Ojukwu) told us at the time of General Sani Abacha's regime that Abacha was the best thing happening, just because he found hinself at the corridors of power as he was sent to US for image laundering". According to him, Uwazurike in response to a question from a journalist 'that if the Igbos are given Presidency, will you okay it as you talk of marginalisation?', answered and said "what I want is Biafra". Egwuatuonwu said he was sad to learn that Uwazurike could respond that way, a situation he said baffled him since "Ndigbo have not given anyone that mandate". He, however, advised Ujukwu and Uwazurike to leave Ndigbo alone, stating that "we (Ndigbo) are finding our feet under the leadership Chief Olusegun Obasanjo".
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