Ndigbo launched a book on Nigerian-Biafran War

BY ADA DIKE
For a long time to come, the discussions at the recent gathering of the Igbo race during the launch of a book, “The Untold Story of the Nigeria-Biafran War,” would continue to be at the topic of discussion within Nigeria and beyond.

With impressive attendance of personalities from all walks of life, the event kicked off around 12 noon with opening prayer followed by National Anthem.

Powered by Ndigbo Lagos, Ohaneze Ndigbo and Aka Ikenga in collaboration with Lower Niger Congress, the event which took place at the Agip Hall, Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos, provided an opportunity for the Igbo to take stock and discuss the genesis as well as effect of the Nigeria-Biafran on the Igbo race.

In his welcome address, the President General of Ndigbo in Lagos, Prof Anya O. Anya, said the book provides one with a snapshot of Nigerian history - what led to the war, the course of the war and why the young Igbo needs to know why the Igbo went war.

Furthermore, the former Chief Executive Officer of Nigeria Economic Summit Group also states that: “The book serves as reminder about the war. We have no problem with the North and the West but we believe that there must be justice.”

According to him, the Igbo are the true Nigerians who create wealth and distribute it among other tribes.

Commenting on why Ayo Adebanjo was the chairman of the occasion, he said: “It is not by accident that he was made the chairman of the occasion. Through him and few others, some states in Nigeria including Abia State were created.”

He implored the Igbo and other Nigerians to join hands and build Nigeria and stressed that, “Our politics and press must change. The politics of bitterness and selfishness and the amplification of negative issues in the country by the press must change,” Anya advised.

Chairman of the occasion, legal practitioner, politician, leader of Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo during his brief remarks as the chairman of the occasion, said they are few Igbos he respects because they are men of their words and they played their parts in the struggle for a true Nigeria.

He also averred that the book, which reported the account of the war in a chronological order, was very intimidating and called on Nigerians to unite for the progress of the country. “The Yoruba and the Igbo have no cause to quarrel because they have done many things together in the past,” Adebanjo said.

He queried the content of Nigeria’s constitution and adds that: “The sovereignty we are talking about is the sovereignty of the people.”

During the introduction of the author of the book, the Chief Executive Officer of Egbin
Power Station, Mr. Mike Uzoigwe, recalled he was in primary school when the war broke out. “A woman who took care of us under a tree and directed us when to run to a bunker, died with a baby at her back.  She was killed by cannon during an air raid brought which out her intestine when she could not make it to the bunker.

He revealed that the writer, Dr. Luke Aneke, is a United States based surgeon and lawyer who made good marks in school during their childhood years to the extent that he received a lot of knocks on his head for not measuring up with Aneke in terms of academic performance.

At the melting point of the event, the book reviewer, Dr. Anele, a senior lecturer of the Department of Philosophy at University of Lagos, said reading through the book was a job itself.

According to him, the book was a window into the untold story of Nigeria-Biafran war. “The 771-page book, sub-divided into four was an eye witness account of the civil war which revealed the journalistic reportage of the war by foreign media including New York Times, Agence France Presse, Reuters and Associated Press, among others,” Anele said.

“Tears swelled my eyes when I read how Biafran children were killed to keep Nigeria one.”

 He recalled how John Lennon of the Beatles fame protested the crises in Biafra by returning an award given to them by the British Empire. Another foreigner, according to him, a mayor in the United States of America set himself ablaze to draw attention to the genocide in Biafra but later died in a hospital.

Anele was of the opinion that Nigeria will not make progress if justice was not served. He believes that “Nigerians have not learnt anything from the tragedy of the Biafran war.   

To Anele, the 771-page book which foreword was written by Gen. Philip Efiong (Late) is readable, straight forward and easy to understand. The philosopher advised every adult Nigeria, particularly the Igbo to buy and read the book to know how the rain started to beat the Igbo.

On the other hand, he pointed some weaknesses he noticed by saying that there should have been contributions from ordinary Biafrans like farmers, traders, tailors, teachers and so on. He also pointed out few misspellings in the book by the author and they are: Wale (correct word is Wole) and spitting (correct word is splitting), among others.

 Among those present at the event were President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Gary Nnachi, President General of the Igbo Speaking Community in Lagos, Ebere Ubani, Chief
Martin Agbaso, Prof Laz Ekwueme, Rear Admiral (retired) Ndubuisi Godwin Kanu, Chief Laz Iloka, Reagan Ufomba, Chief C. C. Ifeanyi, Prof Joe Ezeigbo, Dr. Titus Okereke, Dr. John Anele.

Others include:, Chief Executive Officer of Techno Oil Limited, Mrs. Nkechi Obi, MON, Dr. G. S. Ihetu, Barr Chike Igwe of Amokwe, Playwright and lawyer Fred Agbeyegbe, Middle Belt delegation Ijaw delegation and Yoruba delegation.