ENUGU — IKEMBA Nnewi, Chief Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, yesterday gave his backing to the proposed national dialogue, expressing the hope that its outcome would ensure the restructuring of the polity.
He spoke at the launch of a book: "The Nigerian-Biafran bureaucrat" written by Professor Godwin Onyegbula in Enugu where he also described Nigeria as a "pregnant nation. He was, however, hopeful that Nigeria’s current travails would give birth to a new generation that would move the nation forward.
But he did not share the view of Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, that the present generation was a "wasted" one, saying for the first time in his life he had to disagree with Prof. Soyinka. "The present generation is not a wasted generation," he said, adding: "Nigeria is pregnant. The whole country is still anxiously awaiting the delivery. I will take this opportunity to tell you that when all is said and done, we are in the process of giving birth to a new Nigeria and this is the generation that will give its birth.
"We are the one finally who have loved and hated Nigeria. We are not ashamed and we will move forward as our hearts and minds dictate. We have done what we felt had to be done necessarily. We didn’t do anything for any ulterior motive. No. We put in the best service for our people and the happiest thing in my life is that I have lived to the vindication of all we did. We did what we did for a happier and a better Nigeria and that is still where we are. We will continue, we are committed and we will do it to the end."
He said the proposed national dialogue was a product of that struggle for a better Nigeria and that even though Nigerians are wondering about its outcome, "there was need to thank God that we have reached where we agreed that there is going to be a national dialogue."
He vowed that the struggle would continue and prayed that God should give the organisers of the dialogue the wisdom to choose the right people who would preserve the right of Nigerians. "I believe the dialogue will make suggestions for the restructuring of Nigeria. It is not to restructure any other place but Nigeria. So, no matter whatever is said at that conference, the aim will remain to make Nigeria a better place for all of us," he said.
Ojukwu who praised the author of the book who was a Biafran and later Nigerian diplomat, said he had no regrets for his role in the civil war and how he prosecuted it.
