Biafra Government in Exile: A Declaration
Posted September 3, 2007 · Ejike Okpa II
Does anyone take Biafra Foundation seriously? If the claim by Biafra Foundation that their Declaration on August 27, 2007, was carried by major media, how come no Nigeria media was present at the event?
This is a bunch of busy bodies with no apparent genuine agenda to enhance the current situation of Igbos except to drag themselves into thinking that Biafra will rise again. The Biafra ‘Sun’ was set on January 12, 1970, and it will not rise again. This group’s dangerous “romanticism” reminds me of what some did in Texas in late 1980s and early 1990s, agitating for a new Republic of Texas. They were watched and mostly ignored until they stepped out of bounds and they were dealt with. Since then, they have gone away for good. Nigeria government should deplore what resources at their disposal to deal this group a final blow. Anyone with an intellectual knowledge of civil wars for secession, will understand that one gets a shot at separating from a country. It is a fight that no one gets a second chance. Since Igbos lost the civil war [granted that General Gowon proclaimed ‘No Victor No Vanquish‘], Igbos should lick their wounds and join-in in re-asserting their presence in present day Nigeria. And all sentiments aside, Igbos have done well in the geopolitical equation of Nigeria since 1970. No matter how Igbos feel, what emanates is mostly self inflicted driven by inability to understand themselves and function collectively for the betterment of their lots. The perennial claim [never-ending] sense of marginalization and victimization, a critical review of budgets made to Igbo states since 1970, will reveal a generous attempts by the center to fully integrate Igbos into the fold.
I serious doubt coming of Biafra again will solve the problem in Igboland. In a way, the failure of Biafra is a blessing in disguise because had Biafra succeeded, the present ‘waawa‘ [present day Ebonyi and Enugu] people, would have been subjected to untold minority status by those from say now Anambra State to pitiful level. From May 1999 to May 2007, the 5 Igbo state governors collectively had more than $15b [note the “B”], in spending resources, yet for an area less than 14,000 square miles, covered by Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo states, there is nothing to show for such resources. By sheer physical size, the size of the entire 5 Igbo core states can be fitted into the land size of Katsina, Sokoto and Zamfara, and by per capita of state budget per square mile, the Igbo states had more money to spend per square mile than the states of New York, Texas, California, for the period in question.
What did the Igbos get for it? EFCC indictment of two Igbo former governors Chimaroke Nnamani and Orji Uzor Kalu. While some sympathizers may see them as victims of some political conspiracy by some forces outside of Igboland, truth be said that these two wantonly abused their offices.
Igbos since after the civil war, have produced more Central Bank Governors and Finance Ministers, Senate Presidents, than most sections of Nigeria, yet in present day Nigeria, there is no economic manifestation of Igbos having occupied such posts. Yes, Igbos have not produced a president yet. But for a people that lost in a civil war, in 1979, an Igbo was Vice President and an Igbo was Speaker of House of Representatives, and Political Adviser to then president was an Igbo; all three from the same then Senatorial District. As a matter of history, all those in the line of succession to President Shagari, were from then Eastern Nigeria; Biafraland – Vice President – Alex Ekwueme, Anambra State, Senate President – Joseph Wayas, Cross River State and Edwin Ume-Ezoke, Speaker House of Representatives, Anambra State. But today with all the timber and calibers, Anambra State is an example of what and how not to govern. And during IBB, Ebitu Ekwiwe, a Naval Admiral, was second in command.
With some of the most dismal performances exemplified by Igbo governors be they military and or civilian, how does anyone group and or organization come to the conclusion that Biafra is the solution? Of course, in any society there is always going to be those at the fringes. That said, I think this group is at the fringes and should not be accorded any audience except the audience one accords to lunatics; one hears them but no one goes to see what they are screaming about. If they are serious about rehabilitating Biafra victims, Oji River Rehab Center may not be a bad place to start to show their abilities, mercies and kindness.
Biafra may have been a great reaction to what then was untold political situation. Today, it belongs to history pages. Nigeria must move on in lock step and anyone that attempts a break must be dealt with with all the Federal Might there is.
Ejike Okpa II
Next Generation Fellow
The American Assembly
Columbia University
Editor’s Note: Mr. Okpa’s entry responds to an e-mail with the following header:
From: Biafra Foundation
To: [*** omitted ***]
Sent: Monday, September 03, 2007 1:33 AM
Subject: VOBI 08 31 07 BIAFRA GOVERNMENT IN EXILE: A DECLARATION