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REBURIAL OF BIAFRAN/ NIGERIAN CIVIL WAR VICTIMS
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"IGBO G'ADI" |
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IGBO G’ADI CAMPAIGN FOR THE RESTORATION OF THE IGBO RACE P.O.BOX 279 TEL-AVIV 61002 ISRAEL.
REBURIAL RITES/CEREMONIES OF THE VICTIMS OF THE 1966 POGROM OF THE IGBO OF NIGERIA AND BIAFRAN-NIGERIAN CIVIL WAR HEROES PLUS WORLD IGBO DAY CELEBRATIONS
Ndiigbo mma mma nu. Kwenu, Kwezue nu
As part of the activities marking the WORLD IGBO DAY, which took place world-wide on September 29th, 2000, a great number of NDI-IGBO, residents in the State of Israel, under the sponsorship of IGBO G’ADI (campaign for the restoration of the Igbo race) dutifully reflected on and participated in commemorating the re-burial rites of our brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts, cousins, nephews, nieces, toddlers, infants and even unborn fetuses and children brutally and systematically massacred during the 1966 Pogrom in Nigeria and all the victims of the Nigeria-Biafran civil war.
The activities began with a three-minute silence by standing at attention at 12 noon by NDI-IGBO here in Israel irrespective of your physical location. This brought some curious questions from some of the Jewish brothers, followed by appropriate individual explanations for such never-witnessed gesture in the Holy Land by any ‘foreign’ group. Their sympathy was enormous.
Requiem masses and memorial services were also said. In addition to the efforts and organizational inputs of IGBO G’ADI, many IGBO brothers were voluntarily supportive both in finance and other vital logistical needs. Our appreciation is duly acknowledged in the video coverage report. A symbolic mourning presence of ‘omu’ (palm frond) was in place, later I the evening that stretched for nearly seven hours.
The emotional and distressful melting was epitomized when each individual present was asked to name any relative lost during this annihilable act perpetuated against our people. Nearly 98% of the crowd recalled and recounted relatives across the towns and villages in Igboland. It created an instantaneous draught of conscience and emotion, that the Secretary General/Founder of IGBO G’ADI- Prince Okwudili Okonkwo-Uzor, could not address the crowd when called upon to welcome all as he literally shrank in size physically and spiritually. He was not alone. The mood was both latent, loose and empty. We were weak. But in that atmosphere of real and imposed weakness, our STRENGTH resonated! In that drench of wasteful and agonizing moments remembered, we, each and everyone of us, resolved, that NEVER AGAIN shall our blood be spilled, simply for whom we are, or the principles we represent. A greater accentuation was impacted especially on the spirits of those who witnessed the occasion merely as an historical event, for some present were yet unborn during the period of the planned pogrom designed to possibly wipe off the historical chapter of NDI-IGBO from the annals of human Race. We believed and felt that an appropriate assuagement has taken place in honor of our heroes. It is our unalienable right, responsibility and above all custom to the dead to be accorded proper burial rites. IGBO G’ADI will work with you to restore our lost rights and dignity and could be reached at IGBO_G’ADI@HOTMAIL.COM
We owe no thanks but are grateful to the following: OHANAEZE NDI-IGBO - NIGERIA WORLD IGBO CONGRESS - U.S.A. OTU UMU ADA ALAIGBO - NIGERIA WORLD IGBO COUNCIL - U.S.A. IGBO YOUTH MOVEMENT - NIGERIA EKWE NCHE ORGANIZATION - U.S.A. AKA IKENGA - NIGERIA IGBO EZUE CULTURAL ORGANIZATION - NIGERIA IGBO FAMILY MEETING - ISRAEL OHA KA - U.S.A. IGBO G’ADI - ISRAEL CENTER FOR IGBO ROOT & CULTURE ISRAEL & NIGERIA We owe no thanks for their efforts for we believe it is a collective responsibility of all to remember our relatives, whose noble blood was spilled, to see us live. One pertinent question is: ARE WE LIVING AS A PEOPLE? The answer shall be truthful only when idealism is transformed into realism, when the above named groups become one group - one name, one aim, one objective, when IGBO KWENU would have meant IGBO KWUENU, IGBO MEENU -the way it was before the civil war. The war, our God, the God of our Ancestors, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, has always wanted us to be.
The day is nearing, for this is our century (this age) the millennium of our children and offspring yet unborn, maka na IGBO G’ADI! emee elu, mee ala!!!
Prince Okwudili Okonkwo-Uzor (Secretary-General/Leader)
Posted on igbo--net@lists.cc.utexas.edu by ekwenche@hotmail.com 11/16/00 3:03:19 PM Eastern Standard Time
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