Everything must be done to move the South – East Geo Political Zone to the next level. This is an area so blessed with human and natural resources, one of the three legs meant to balance Project Nigeria which unfortunately, continues to suffer neglect.
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu and Leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra ( IPOB ) Nnamdi Kanu share not just the same Igbo background, they are from Abia State. Only a mad man will deny his brother in times of turbulence.
I am encouraged by recent moves by Kalu to find a solution to the Kanu imbroglio. There will continue to be agitations as long as the law remains an ass. However, there is absolutely nothing wrong when politics is thrown overboard in the bid to achieve peace.
Kalu’s idea is to use Peace in the South – East Project ( PISE – P ) to do things differently. On December 28, 2023, he dragged prominent Nigerians to his Bende Federal Constituency. It was not a show of power, there is more to it than meets the eye.
Let me salute Abia State governor, Alex Otti, for being a true statesman. He belongs to the Labour Party while Kalu is a member of the All Progressives Congress. As the Deputy Speaker’s governor, his presence earned the host more respect among his colleagues.
This is the kind of leadership the South – East needs, to show the world that the Eastern Region of Michael Okpara can be relived in the present dispensation. Soon, by their actions, the real movers and shakers of the society will be known.
Kalu’s campaign headquarters is in Uzuakoli. This is remarkable because that town tells, to some extent, the story of the Igbo man. It is a shame that as I write, there is no functional refinery in Nigeria. Nearly sixty years ago, Biafra, attacked from all flanks, built refineries in less than two months. One was located in Uzuakoli.
Resilience was shown in Uzuakoli. Biafrans threw in everything to defend Umuahia, some 14 miles away, where Commander – in – Chief, Emeka Ojukwu, put up after the fall of Enugu in 1967. They defied bombs and artillery fire from the Federals.
Commander of the 8 Commando Brigade, Emeka Ananaba, who later became Deputy Governor of Abia State was involved. Tim Onwuatuegwu and Joseph Achuzia set aside their rivalry while Army Chief, Alex Madiebo, coordinated the battle.
Uzuakoli Sector was bloody. Biafra lost Oguta Boy, renamed after the Panhard armoured vehicle was captured in Oguta, from the Federals in 1968. It was emotional when a memorial service was conducted for it. The young man in command, Sylvanus Eta, from Ugep, survived with other crew members. One of them was known as Pope Pius.
The Memorial Service must have touched the spirit of Oguta Boy, for the Biafrans captured two more destroyers, a Ferret Armoured car, quickly renamed Uzuakoli Boy and an Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC), rechristened, Ndidi. (Biafra and APC know themselves).
Ibrahim Babangida, fought in Uzuakoli, commanding Nigeria’s 82 Battalion. In April 1969, he was injured. His replacement was Mamman Vatsa. The town fell in March 1969. Babangida’s wife was known as Ndidi. They had their first son, Mohammed, later, in Umuahia after the war.
I have gone down memory lane to remind Kalu of the Historical weight on his shoulders. It is symbolic that a man connected to Uzuakoli is fighting for Kanu, a man from Umuahia where Babangida, the first military president of Nigeria had his first son, whose mother was Igbo.
It is difficult to erase Biafra from Nigerian History. We have to live with it. At the same time, Nigeria cannot continue to ignore the South – East because of Biafra. On paper, the war ended in 1970. Under General Muhammadu Buhari, the war continued.
Vice President Kashim Shettima’s presence, was significant. The only GOC during the Civil War, from the far North (Murtala Mohammed was originally from Igbei near Auchi), Mohammed Shuwa was Kanuri. Unfortunately, he was killed by Boko Haram. The only way to peace, is to avoid insurgency.
Nigeria needs the South – East. Now that Shettima is Enyioma (Good friend) of Ndigbo as honoured by Abia traditional rulers, he should live up to his title. President Bola Tinubu became Omeziri Igbo (Worthy ally). Titles mean a lot.
Kalu should attract Federal presence to the South – East. IPOB will not disappear if young men are left jobless and hungry while those in Niger Republic continue to enjoy rail lines and petro facilities. With five states, Tinubu can stem the disadvantage by industrializing Aba.
The Ooni of Ife, the Emir of Bichi and other top guns were in Bende. They should find out from the Obi of Onitsha what it will take to support Kalu’s peace moves. Ndigbo, on both sides of the Niger, are not asking for too much. Give them breathing space.
Remittances from Ndigbo overseas are enough to boost the Nigerian economy. The Sam Mbakwe Airport should be upgraded to a First Class International Airport, to support the Akanu Ibiam Airport. Diversification yields bumper dividends.
To release Kanu from detention is achievable. Those who lead bandits and terrorists to plunder the country, are not in chains. Sunday Igboho is free. Dokubo Asari and Tompolo, do not have issues. Ojukwu received Presidential Pardon and even contested elections.
