January 15 of every year in the history of Nigeria means two different things to Biafrans and to Nigerians. To Nigerians, it is a day to mark the end of the civil war that started on July 16, 1967, and ended on January 15, 1970.
To Biafrans, it is a day to remember the atrocities committed against our people in that genocidal war that saw over five million Biafrans dead. It is a day to remember the ingenuity of our gallant soldiers who against all odds stood their ground to defend our land not just against the Nigerian state, but also against United Kingdom, Soviet Union, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Syria, Algeria, Bulgaria and USA who all assisted Nigeria in the genocide visited upon Biafra.
January 15 of every year leaves us with sober reflections on how we fought a war of survival. It is a day that our gallant soldiers temporarily laid down their arms. They did so with the conviction that, having resisted the Nigerian aggression for three years, the Nigerian state must have learnt enough to attend to the conditions that birthed the war. Unfortunately, that has not been the case. Instead, they have continued in the provocative path, unleashing everything evil on the peace-loving people of Biafra.
It should be recalled that Gen. Philip Effiong warned the then Nigerian Military government that if what led to the war is repeated and if the Nigerian government continues to treat unfairly the children of those Biafran soldiers who are putting down their arms, then those Biafran children will rise to fight for a separate state of Biafra. You cannot whip a child and expect him not to cry. Obviously, the Nigerian government has failed to learn from their past mistakes.
Worthy of note here is the fact that after the war many international humanitarian organizations approached the federal military government of Nigeria seeking to rebuild Biafra region. Out of sheer hatred for the Biafran, the Nigerian government turned down the offer on the pretext that Nigerian can handle it.
Well, the inhumanity against Biafra has not stopped, and as predicted by General Philip Effiong, the new generation of Biafra has risen up to demand an independent state of Biafra.
Published by:
Chibuike John Nebeokike
For: Radio Biafra Media
