BIAFRA: WHAT THE CHILD SAW YEARS AGO, ELDERS COULD NOT SEE EVEN TODAY
One popular adage among Igbo Biafrans says: "Ihe okenye tukwuru anafu, nwata rigoro na enu oji oghahi ahu ya, meaning that "what an elder sees while sitting down, a child cannot see even if he climbs the highest height". The philosophy behind this adage is equivalent to the value of knowledge and wisdom associated with the experience of the elderly. Most of the time, a child may be lowly esteemed as a result of his inexperience in issues of life because of age which of course, is a reality of life.
However, things greatly turned around especially on matters relating to the Biafran cause. Elders and leaders of thought (elites) across Biafraland since after the 1967 Nigeria/Biafra war which ended in 1970, have disappointedly not lived up to their billing. Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu of blessed memory, lived as a Biafran Moses. Recall that he was only thirty three (33) years old when he declared Biafra independence having known that in sovereignty, lies the only hope for the upcoming generations. He and strongly brought this to bear on his decision to fight for the total freedom of his people from the bondage/enslavement of Sokoto caliphate, Nigeria and British governments. Late Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu foresaw the evil policy of subservience lined up against his own people and initiated the liberation struggle that has continued till date.
Despite the avalanche of harassments and deaths being visited on innocent Biafran citizens especially of Igbo extraction, the so-called leaders in the land have bluntly refused to complement laudable efforts contrary to Ojukwu's decision of 1967, following the failure of the Nigerian government to honor the principles of Aburi Accord. The Igbos have since 1945, have been subjected to all manner of atrocities in the hands of those who lay claim to the ownership of Nigeria.
Late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe amongst Igbo elites, kept slowing down the restoration struggle by trading with the destiny of Biafrans for the grossly unworkable and disadvantageous unity of Nigeria. His One-Nigeria mantra left millions of Biafrans impoverished and dead. Majority of the supposed leaders in the Eastern region retreated from the struggle of defending their own people against the impending catastrophe of the Fulani caliphate.
Late Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu at his youthful age, predicted the shortsightedness and lack of capacity/capability of Nnamdi Azikiwe in fighting for his people who rather, took to wielding his influence in Nigeria politics. And even after the war, history kept vindicating Ojukwu for the actions he took. The criminal marginalisation and subjugation of Biafrans even worsened after the conflict. Situations became unbearable, throwing up unanswered questions regarding the so-called Nigerian unity. It is disappointing though, that despite indisputable historical records of events, the self-acclaimed Igbo leaders remain pretentious even in the face of suffering, marginalisation, kidnapping, nepotism, hatred, denial, enslavement, raping, victimization and killing of their people by the Nigerian government and it's agents.
These so-called leaders yet shamelessly, have the effrontery to question how an "inexperienced and unknowledgeable" youth in the mould of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu could be laying claim to be leading the Biafra restoration project when those who actually fought during the Nigeria/Biafra war, lack the clout to face an establishment like Nigeria. According to them, they cannot re-establish nor re-strategise taking up such a task even with their records of experience as war veterans. Unfortunately, what they failed to understand is that the history of today is not meant for the past but for future generations.
Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, divinely appointed, foresaw most of today's happenings in Biafraland and raised alarm about them via Radio Biafra and other IPOB media platforms. None of these elders and leaders can claim denial or ignorance about these information. They yet shamelessly stated "ignore the rantings of that small boy".
It is encouraging therefore, to have them all as living witnesses to the unfolding disastrous developments presently in Nigeria. The prophecies of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) globally, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu have remained accurately indisputable even before his detractors. Ohaneze Ndigbo alongside others, can confirm all through the antecedents of the Fulani oligarchical government of Nigeria. Who then in the light of the foregoing should be blamed? Millions of Biafran youths are increasingly getting agitated regarding the looming disaster in the land with the complicit silence of the elders. Now that the youths' concern is revealed, the question then is, where really are the elders and leaders of the land? Are they not yet seeing today, what the child foresaw years ago?
Written by Egwuatu Chukz
Edited by Peter Oshagwu
For Family Writers Press
One popular adage among Igbo Biafrans says: "Ihe okenye tukwuru anafu, nwata rigoro na enu oji oghahi ahu ya, meaning that "what an elder sees while sitting down, a child cannot see even if he climbs the highest height". The philosophy behind this adage is equivalent to the value of knowledge and wisdom associated with the experience of the elderly. Most of the time, a child may be lowly esteemed as a result of his inexperience in issues of life because of age which of course, is a reality of life.
However, things greatly turned around especially on matters relating to the Biafran cause. Elders and leaders of thought (elites) across Biafraland since after the 1967 Nigeria/Biafra war which ended in 1970, have disappointedly not lived up to their billing. Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu of blessed memory, lived as a Biafran Moses. Recall that he was only thirty three (33) years old when he declared Biafra independence having known that in sovereignty, lies the only hope for the upcoming generations. He and strongly brought this to bear on his decision to fight for the total freedom of his people from the bondage/enslavement of Sokoto caliphate, Nigeria and British governments. Late Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu foresaw the evil policy of subservience lined up against his own people and initiated the liberation struggle that has continued till date.Despite the avalanche of harassments and deaths being visited on innocent Biafran citizens especially of Igbo extraction, the so-called leaders in the land have bluntly refused to complement laudable efforts contrary to Ojukwu's decision of 1967, following the failure of the Nigerian government to honor the principles of Aburi Accord. The Igbos have since 1945, have been subjected to all manner of atrocities in the hands of those who lay claim to the ownership of Nigeria.
Late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe amongst Igbo elites, kept slowing down the restoration struggle by trading with the destiny of Biafrans for the grossly unworkable and disadvantageous unity of Nigeria. His One-Nigeria mantra left millions of Biafrans impoverished and dead. Majority of the supposed leaders in the Eastern region retreated from the struggle of defending their own people against the impending catastrophe of the Fulani caliphate.
Late Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu at his youthful age, predicted the shortsightedness and lack of capacity/capability of Nnamdi Azikiwe in fighting for his people who rather, took to wielding his influence in Nigeria politics. And even after the war, history kept vindicating Ojukwu for the actions he took. The criminal marginalisation and subjugation of Biafrans even worsened after the conflict. Situations became unbearable, throwing up unanswered questions regarding the so-called Nigerian unity. It is disappointing though, that despite indisputable historical records of events, the self-acclaimed Igbo leaders remain pretentious even in the face of suffering, marginalisation, kidnapping, nepotism, hatred, denial, enslavement, raping, victimization and killing of their people by the Nigerian government and it's agents.
These so-called leaders yet shamelessly, have the effrontery to question how an "inexperienced and unknowledgeable" youth in the mould of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu could be laying claim to be leading the Biafra restoration project when those who actually fought during the Nigeria/Biafra war, lack the clout to face an establishment like Nigeria. According to them, they cannot re-establish nor re-strategise taking up such a task even with their records of experience as war veterans. Unfortunately, what they failed to understand is that the history of today is not meant for the past but for future generations.
Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, divinely appointed, foresaw most of today's happenings in Biafraland and raised alarm about them via Radio Biafra and other IPOB media platforms. None of these elders and leaders can claim denial or ignorance about these information. They yet shamelessly stated "ignore the rantings of that small boy".
It is encouraging therefore, to have them all as living witnesses to the unfolding disastrous developments presently in Nigeria. The prophecies of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) globally, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu have remained accurately indisputable even before his detractors. Ohaneze Ndigbo alongside others, can confirm all through the antecedents of the Fulani oligarchical government of Nigeria. Who then in the light of the foregoing should be blamed? Millions of Biafran youths are increasingly getting agitated regarding the looming disaster in the land with the complicit silence of the elders. Now that the youths' concern is revealed, the question then is, where really are the elders and leaders of the land? Are they not yet seeing today, what the child foresaw years ago?
Written by Egwuatu Chukz
Edited by Peter Oshagwu
For Family Writers Press
No comments
Post a Comment