VARIANCE OF THE CIVIL WAR SLOGANS

I have been studying the two slogans of the civil war for quite a long time to vary the two but honestly, I couldn't. These were the two slogans of the civil war (TO KEEP NIGERIA ONE IS A TASK THAT MUST BE DONE AND ON ABURI WE STAND). I have given so much stress to my sensibility to find out the difference between the two above slogans but to the best of my knowledge there is no difference whatsoever.

Perhaps I need help from the best brain to help me here but before then permit me to state without apology that whichever way you view it doesn't change my position.

We all know the story about the civil war and the disposition of the two leaders of the civil war. I don't want to go deep into what caused the war but as we all know that there was a coup and counter coup and subsequent killings of easterners living in the northern part of the Nigeria.

Col. Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu as the governor of eastern region was compelled by the elders of the eastern region to declare east as a sovereign state if the federal government of Nigeria could not find lasting solution for the state sponsored killings of easterners in the northern part of the country. It is based on this fact that the easterners opted for a separate government since it has become obvious that government of Nigeria can no longer protect them and their properties.

Col. Ojukwu gave federal government enough time to find lasting solution for the impending danger but to no avail. It was in the light of this that Gen. Ankra of Ghana sue for peace by inviting the two leaders, Col. Gowon who was the head of state and Col. Ojukwu who was the governor of eastern region for peace talk in Aburi. It was here in Aburi that both men reached an agreement which is known today as Aburi Accord which could have saved Nigeria from the impending doom and save millions of Biafrans who were the victims of the civil war.

People of the eastern region were very happy that the solution to the problem was found at last but unfortunately their happiness was cut short when Col. Gowon and his federal government reneged on the agreement and opted for war. Col. Ojukwu has no other option than to defend his people from extermination, the war finally broke out and the people of the eastern region were forced to go into war without adequate preparation.

While the war was going on, the former was saying TO KEEP NIGERIA ONE IS A TASK THAT MUST BE DONE then the later responded by saying ON ABURI WE STAND. These slogans continued as long as the war lasted. When I was given thought to the two slogans I found out that the two slogans were pointing to the same meaning.

The great question here is this, if the two slogans were pointing to the same meaning then why was the war carried out? The former says to keep Nigeria one is a task that must be done, looking at this statement it seems that Gowon was making a point but the question is how do you keep it one? Could a sitting president kill one part of his country to keep it one? The answer is capital NO. Then, if the answer provided here is correct, why did Gowon and his federal government opt for war?

Ojukwu at the other end responded by saying ON ABURI WE STAND. You may get it wrong if you go by dictionary meaning of Aburi. My dictionary says that Aburi is a particular place in Ghana but contrary to dictionary explanation Aburi here means (AGREEMENT).

Ojukwu says ABURI WE STAND pointing at the compromise, the agreement reached at ABURI. Before we jump into blaming games which we know best in Nigeria it is important we understand the terms of agreement these two great leaders reached in Aburi.

Based on the problem the country found themselves at the time, coup and the counter coup, the parliamentary system of government Nigeria was born into was jettisoned and unitary government was adopted. These two great men reached compromise, agreement to return the government to regional system of government where each region will be allowed to grow at its pace which is today known as restructuring.

Going by the above explanation one will understand that Col. Ojukwu has never for any reason opted for war or secession as many alleged rather declaration of Biafra as a sovereign state came as second choice after the first agreement was broken by Gowon. This is why I said earlier that the two slogans are pointing to the same meaning. Had the terms of the agreement followed, Ojukwu wouldn't have declared Biafra as a sovereign State.

If today the clamour for restructuring is still prevalent in so many parts of the country even among corridors of power then Ojukwu is vindicated. Then Gowon should be made to give account on why he invaded the East and killed over 6 million Biafrans. He should be made to give account of the war crimes he committed against Biafrans. He should be made to give account of the abandoned properties of Biafrans. Gowon should be made to explain the reason behind 20 pounds given to Biafrans after the war despite their billions of pounds in Nigerian banks before the war and he should be made to explain the reason behind indigenization policy he introduced after the civil war.

It is well understood that Biafrans were killed for clamouring for restructuring, the disposition of federal government towards the call for restructuring since 1967 should be a great lesson to people like Nnia Nwodo led Ohaneze and all the South eastern politicians who are clamouring for restructuring. They should understand that Biafrans were starved and killed because of the same clamour for restructuring in 1967 - 1970.

I, personally is not against Nnia Nwodo's restructuring philosophy but he should give us a blueprint on what type of restructuring he is clamouring for. Biafrans will not be part of any restructuring that will not bring back to life those our people who were killed during the war. We will not be part of any restructuring that cannot give Biafrans their billions of pounds they left in Nigerian banks before the war. Biafrans will not be part of any restructuring that cannot bring back our children that were taken to Gabon, Ivory coast, Tanzania and other parts of the world during the war. The crime is endless. So, any restructuring that cannot reverse all these crimes against Biafrans is a big joke.

In conclusion Nigeria have rejected Eastern Region from the inception for a sheer hatred and greed which was the reason why Gowon and his federal government visited Biafrans with war of aggression with their hypocritical slogan of keeping Nigeria one even when it was loud and clear that it was Ojukwu and the good people of the eastern region that really wanted to keep Nigeria one through the implementation of Aburi Agreement. Just as our people says ("onye ajulu anaghi aju onwe ya") meaning that "He that is rejected by people cannot reject himself".

Nigerian government have rejected Biafrans through the serial killings that has been going on since 1945 till date and we have decided to secure our future through self-determination struggle. We have been pushed to the wall so hard that there is no amount of pressure that can scuttle our resolve for freedom. Self-determination is our right hence referendum is our next target. We will do everything humanly possible to defend our right and get ourselves free from this damnable entity called Nigeria.

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Written by:

Eze Joe

(TBRV Writer)

For: The Biafra Restoration Voice - TBRV

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