May 30th, marks the anniversary of the once existence the Biafran Nation, officially known as the Republic of Biafra. Bordered by the lower part of the River-Niger on the west and the Republic of Cameron on the east, Biafra was made up of the then eastern Region of Nigeria.
The name Biafra was derived from its southern Atlantic bay- "Bright of Biafra". History has it that the Biafran secession, which lasted between 30th of May, 1967, to January 1970, came about as a result of ethnic, cultural, religious and economic tensions across Nigeria. The Biafran story is, to some extent, known by almost every Nigerian through: personal experience, handed-down tales, or from history classes.
The aim of this piece, is not to go into History, but to take a glimpse at the noble aim of the ideologists in the vanguard of the Biafran movement. They were the un-sung 'Nigerian' men and women who joined not only in the Biafran struggle, but in the struggle for Liberation, Unity and Development of the African State.
The impact of these (mostly unacknowledged) youths, who traveled the length and breadth of Africa, Asia, and the United States of America; in search of allies in the campaign for the liberation of African, can not be over-emphasized. Men and women in their prime, from all walks of life, some of whom have had the privilege of being mentored by some of Africa's finest. The likes the Kwame Nkrumah, and Kenneth Kaunda of blessed memories, to mention a few. Then were times when noble ideologies informed the struggle for emancipation.
The liberation struggle cuts across continents, and has overtime produced greatness in the persons of: Nelson Mandela, Kenneth Kaunda, Steve Biko, Julius Kambarage Nyerere, Kwame Nkrumah, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Ahmed Sekou Toure, Haile Selassie, Marcus Garvey, Malcom X, Mohammed Ali, William Edward Burghardt, Martin Luther King, to list goes on.
In Nigeria, they were the: Mary Nzimiros, and dozens of inspired young men and women, among whom was my late Uncle, Comrade Chinye Prince Ononye, a member of the Afro-Asian Movement. Young and Old, in their out-standing qualities, were all in the front-line of the Biafran-movement, through their various organizations.
The liberation struggle cuts across continents, and has overtime produced greatness in the persons of: Nelson Mandela, Kenneth Kaunda, Steve Biko, Julius Kambarage Nyerere, Kwame Nkrumah, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Ahmed Sekou Toure, Haile Selassie, Marcus Garvey, Malcom X, Mohammed Ali, William Edward Burghardt, Martin Luther King, to list goes on.
In Nigeria, they were the: Mary Nzimiros, and dozens of inspired young men and women, among whom was my late Uncle, Comrade Chinye Prince Ononye, a member of the Afro-Asian Movement. Young and Old, in their out-standing qualities, were all in the front-line of the Biafran-movement, through their various organizations.
Regrettably, along the line, this noble struggle for a holistic Pan-African economic freedom, slowly slid into the monstrous grips of anti-socialists "ti'gbuo-zo'gbuo" movement we currently witness.
A situation where guerrilla combat is employed, for a share in the natural resources, using ethic-emancipation as camouflage. Killings, kidnappings, the hustle for Oil allocations, became the order of the day. Albeit, can the nobility which informed the Biafran crusade be revived, the answer is up to us.
The actualization of a true 'Biafran State' entails that the movement be examined within the spotlight of African freedom; embodied in specific program. As Comrade Chinye Ononye, in one of his letters, during the unset of the civil war in 1968, suggested: "The (Biafran) struggle should be transformed from that of mere emotional tribal nationalism, varying on chauvinism, into a Pan- African Economic and Political Liberation struggle".
I think the above suggestion is necessary, particularly in the on-going feud across the nation. Otherwise, if left unchecked, might result in a situation where the wronged, and currently un-organised masses of the Biafran territory, may suffer yet more unnecessary hardship; because of the reactionary policy of the current propagandists.
For the progress and triumph of the much talked about Biafran Revolution, late Comrade Ononye suggested, that instead of the resources serving just a few cabals incumbent in corridors of power, the wealth should instead, serve for the economic development of the Biafran Region (as against the existing condition), the country as a whole, and possibly, seek ways of attaining a truly United, and developed Africa. The Biafran movement needs to champion an integral cause, without which the struggle is impractical. The ultimate destiny of the Biafran revolution should be philosophical consciensicm, or the blood of our heroes past, have been shed in vein.
For the progress and triumph of the much talked about Biafran Revolution, late Comrade Ononye suggested, that instead of the resources serving just a few cabals incumbent in corridors of power, the wealth should instead, serve for the economic development of the Biafran Region (as against the existing condition), the country as a whole, and possibly, seek ways of attaining a truly United, and developed Africa. The Biafran movement needs to champion an integral cause, without which the struggle is impractical. The ultimate destiny of the Biafran revolution should be philosophical consciensicm, or the blood of our heroes past, have been shed in vein.
Obianuju Mbanusi writes.
