Sunset in Biafra

Biafran Flag

On the morning of November 26, 2011, Nigerians woke to the news of the demise of Ikemba Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, erstwhile leader of now-defunct Republic of Biafra.  His death was actually not news to many, as a lot of people had come to terms with the fact that the man would come back from his supposed recuperation in a British hospital, a corpse.  Life did not disappoint.  Finally the man has died, and an era comes to a end.

For those who (surprisingly) do not know, the retired General Ojukwu it was who, having witnessed the determination of the then leaders – rulers more like – of the Nigerian State to eliminate its citizens of Igbo extraction, declared the sovereign state of Biafra made up of states in the then Eastern Region of the Nigerian Republic.  Nigeria kicked, and a war ensued.  For three years, 1967-1970, millions of lives were lost in a bloody civil war that was to see secessionist Biafra subdued and brought back to the republic, with its citizens becoming, till date, second class in the country of their birth.

Forty-one years after the civil war, the political ‘marginalisation’ of the Igbos seems to have become an official Nigerian

The 'People's General' inspecting his troops.

internal policy, while the high priests of this shameful act appear to be none other than the so-called political leaders of the South-East themselves.  Prostitutes in the halls of any government in power, these pretenders to the political leadership of the Igbos have become rich by selling the destiny of their people to the highest bidder.  Therefore, while they go about in the daytime spreading the gospel of Igbo political emancipation, at night they march their people to the ‘master’s chambers’, allowing the big man to have his way with them.  It is for this particular reason that Ojukwu will be missed.

Ojukwu was not known to mince words when fighting for the rights of his people.  He was also not known to suffer the

foolishness of is people, especially when it was apparent that they were deliberately putting themselves in a position where they would not be given equal treatment by other Nigerian citizens.  Little wonder then, that he was hardly seen in the petty gatherings of so-called Igbo leaders who were known for hobnobbing with the powers-that-be, to the detriment of their people.  In fact, the story is told of how, having accepted to be an honoured guest at the commissioning of a market built by Igbo traders in Lagos State, pointedly rebuked them for their foolishness in investing in a place where their interests were not sure, rather than investing in the South-East where they would have also contributed to the economic development of the region.  Such was the passion of the man for his people.

As the legend goes home to be with is his ancestors, I have no doubt that the pages of our Newspapers will be full of paid adverts praising the courage and passion of the man who was once a thorn in the side of Nigeria.  However, I will advice that all would-be-advertisers to search themselves before wasting their hard-earned or had-stolen money to eulogise a man whose ideal they worked – and are still working – had to subvert.  Ojukwu’s memory demands more than that.

Ikemba Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, Dike di ora nma, Eze ndi Igbo gburugburu. 4th November 1933 - 26th November 2011.

As the sun sets on Biafra, I pray that someday, in the not-so-distant future, it will rise again, bearing on its wings warriors for whom the task of rebuilding a battered nation-state will be second to none.  As the sun sets at dusk today, may it rise with the first cockcrow tomorrow.  As the sun sets on Ojukwu, may it rise on you, oh sons and daughters of the East, Umu Chukwu, Umu Igbo.  Ise!