|
Our Links |
|
Cyberlinks |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
A KWENU Special Report: Nigeria-Biafra War Memorial 2006 (1)
First Nigeria-Biafra War Memorial Lecture (Prologue & Epilogue)
Memorial Lecture 2004 AUstin Egwuonwu
CHINEDU MADUABUM: Towards the dedication of Biafra
====
Biafra Currency
(Dr. Ibiam's protest letter)
@@@@ @@@@
====
...Biafra still lives; it is a living testimony of political wickedness which time will not heal because it is both physical and psychological. .... And the power of Biafra remains that, as an idea against political oppression, it can never die.
~ Lewis Obi ~ "Why Biafra Lives (4)" [AFRICAN CONCORD, 7 July 1997.]
|
Land of the Rising Sun
Land of the rising sun, we love and cherish, Beloved homeland of our brave heroes; We must defend our lives or we shall perish, We shall protect our hearth from all our foes; But if the price is death for all we hold dear, Then let us die without a shred of fear.
Hail to Biafra, consecrated nation, Oh fatherland, this be our solemn pledge: Defending thee shall be a dedication, Spilling our blood we’ll count a privilege; The waving standard which emboldens the free Shall always be our flag of liberty.
We shall emerge triumphant from this ordeal, And through the crucible unscathed we’ll pass; When we are poised the wounds of battle to heal, We shall remember those who died in mass; Then shall our trumpets peal the glorious song Of victory we scored o’er might and wrong.
Oh God, protect us from the hidden pitfall, Guide all our movements lest we go astray; Give us the strength to heed the humanist call: ‘To give and not to count the cost" each day; Bless those who rule to serve with resoluteness, To make this clime a land of righteousness. ==== Adapted from a poem by Nnamdi (Zik) Azikiwe @@@@ Culled from Nwankwo, Arthur A. and Ifejika Samuel U. (1969) "BIAFRA: The Making of a Nation" @@@@
Biafran Diplomatic Successes 1. Tanzania: April 13, 1968 [Dr. (Nwalimu) Julius Nyerere] (honorably retired, died Oct. 14, 1999]
2. Gabon: May 8, 1968 [President Albert Bongo] (now Al Hajj Omar Bongo-- still in office)
3. Côte d'Ivoire: May 14, 1968 [President Felix Houphöet-Biogny] (died in office)
4. Zambia: May 20, 1968 [Dr. Kenneth Kaunda] (out of office, politically active)
5. Haiti: March 22, 1969 [Dr. Francois (Papa Doc) Duvalier] (died in office)
@@@@
BIAFRA’S PROVINCES & ADMINISTRATORS
Mr. Christian Chukwuma Onoh Nsukka Mr. Frank Onyeke Ogoja Mr. Frank Ugbut Oji River Dr. Godwin A. Odenigwe Okigwe Mr. Sam I. Mbakwe Onitsha Mr. R. I. Iweka Opobo Dr. S. J. Cookey Orlu Mr. R. I. Uzoma Owerri Mr. Duke Njiribeakor Port Harcourt Mr. Emmanuel Aguma Umuahia Mr. Simeon Ojukwu Uyo Chief J. Udo-Affiah Yenegoa Chief Frank Opigo ==== Mr. Moses Onwuma was replaced by Lt. Col. Ben Gbulie (with Dr. Emeka Oyolu as his deputy), due to some social emergency in Aba. Colonel Gbulie was the only Biafran Military Administrator. Incidentally, 30 years later, Nigerian state military governors were now known as MILADs (Military Administrators).
The Republic of Benin (ROB) had a military administrator, Major (Dr.) Albert Okonkwo, but the state was not a province of Biafra.
|
FACTS Birthday: May 30, 1967
Capital: Enugu (Umuahia from Oct. 1967)
Population: 15 million
Area: 30,000 sq. miles
Ethnic Groups: Andoni, Anang, Abanyom, Anyima, Akajuk, Agbo, Adun, Odual, Boki, Degema, Ebani, Egbema, Ejagham, Eket, Ekoi, Efik, Etche, Ibibio, Ibeno, Igbo, Izon, Ikom, Iyalla, Kana, Mbembe, Mbube, Nkum, Okobo, Oron, Qua, Ukelle, Uyanga, Yako, etc. The Igbo are the largest entity, more than all the others combined.
Resources: Palm produce, crude oil, coal, natural gas, limestone, iron ore, cocoa, timber, etc.
Human Resources: 500 doctors, 700 lawyers, 600 engineers, 300 economists, etc.
University: University of Biafra, Nsukka [projected University of Port Harcourt]
Head of State: General Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, jssc.
Chief of General Staff: Major-General Philip Effiong
Chief Secretary: Mr. N. U. Akpan
GOC Biafran Army: Major-General Alexander Madiebo [replaced Brigadier Hilary Njoku]
Commander, Biafran Air Force: Wing Commander G. I. Ezeilo
Commander, Biafran Navy: Captain. W. A. Anuku
Director of Military Intelligence: Mr. Bernard Odogwu
Military Assistant to the C-in-C: Colonel David Ogunewe
Principal Officer to the C-in-C: Colonel Patrick Anwuna
Prominent Division GOCs: Brigadier Tony Eze, Brigadier Pat Amadi, Colonel Joe ('Air Raid') Achuzie, Colonel Nsudo, Colonel Iheanacho, Colonel Archibong, etc.
GOC, 101 (ROB Liberation Army): Brigadier Victor Banjo [later executed for sabotage]
Inspector-General of Police: Mr. P. I. Okeke
Chief Medical Director Dr. Simon E. Onwu
Chief Justice: Sir Louis Mbanefo
Attorney-General & Commissioner for Justice: Mr. J. I. Emembolu
Special Advisers to the Head of State: Dr. Akanu Ibiam & Dr. M. I. Okpara [respectively former Governor and Premier of defunct Eastern Nigeria]
Biafra’s Roving Ambassadors: Dr. Nnamdi (Zik) Azikiwe (ex-President of Nigeria, later left the breakaway republic); Dr. Kingsley Ozumba (K. O.) Mbadiwe, Dr. Okechukwu. Ikejiani, Professor Kenneth Onwuka Dike, Mr. Chukwuma Azikiwe, etc.
Chairman , Consultative Assembly: Dr. Alvan Ikoku
Chairman, Atrocities Commission: Mr. G. C. M. Onyiuke
Chairman, Rehabilitation Commission: Dr. S. E. Imoke
Chairman, Development Commission: Professor A. Modebe
Chairman, Marketing Board: Mr. C. C. Mordi
Relief Coordinator: Dr. S. E. Cookey
Chairman, Food Directorate: Mr. Bob Ogbuagu
Chairman, Housing Directorate: Mr. P. O. Nwakoby
Commissioner of Home Affairs: Mr. C. C. Mojekwu
Commissioner for Information: Dr. Ifeagwu Eke
Commissioner for Health: Mr. James Udo-Affiah
Commissioner for Transport & Communication: Mr. Felix Iheanacho
Commissioner for Education: Mr. M. T. Mbu.
Commissioner for Labor: Mr. Emmanuel Aguma
Commissioner for Rural Development: Chief Frank Opigo
Commissioner for Agriculture: Professor Eyo Bassey Ndem
Commissioner for Forestry & Animal Husbandry: Mr. U. O. Imo
Biafra Representative in London: Mr. I. S. Kogbara
Biafra Representative in France: Mr. Ralph Uwechue
Vice-Chancellor, University of Biafra: Professor Eni Njoku [ex-VC, University of Lagos]
Director, War Information Bureau Dr. Michael C. J. Echeruo
Direct Military Aid: Count Carl Gustav von Rosen (a Swede) of the "Biafran Babies" [Minicon fighter planes] fame.
Relief Organizations: Caritas International World Council of Churches (WCC), International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
Nigeria Declaration of War: July 6, 1967
Military Administrator of Republic of Benin (ROB): Major (Dr.) Albert Okonkwo
Execution of coup plotters in Enugu: September 25, 1967 [Brigadier Victor Banjo, Lt. Colonel Emmanuel Ifeajuna, Major Alale, and Mr. Sam Agbam]
End of War: January 12, 1970
Official Date of Cessation of Hostilities: January 15, 1970 |
I believe that it is better even from the point of survival to fight and be conquered than to surrender without fighting. ~ George Orwell
Biafra was a bad dream. The spiked suffering and heavy heartache of the touched me deeply. The wanton suffering was unnecessary. There was no way anyone could have foreseen the tragedy, but the elite did not have to go through it like blood-hounds. They must have known no winner would emerge in the long run; that when two elephants lock tusks, the grass suffers; and that the personal pride and momentary material gains would achieve little, if anything, for future generations. On the contrary, the sown seeds of deep discord sprout distrust and disaster. Those who now share the fear for continued unity of this complex country must hurry and help to steer the fast-sinking ship before we all travel that dark path again. We do not want to walk through the lonely, dark tunnel ever. Never again. Ozo emene
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Biafra
@ a glance
