Exclusively @Kwenu, June 7, 2005,
courtesy of Sungai Corporation
****
AN ADDRESS DELIVERED BY
AT THE PRESENTATION OF
WRITTEN BY
ON
AT
The Chairmen, Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe,
GCON
Chief
Launchers,
Book
Reviewer, Chief Pini Jason
The Chief Hostess, Mrs. Josephine
Effiong
The Publisher of the book, Dr. Ugorji O.
Ugorji
I
am most delighted to be in the midst of all of you distinguished Nigerians at
this history-making event that would further re-enforce our unity and cement our
sense of brotherhood. We are here to pay homage to the memory of one of our
compatriots, Obong Philip Effiong, a statesman who today is alive with us in the
spirit.
My presence here is to
further strengthen my belief in Nigerian’s indivisibility and viability of
Peace, Unity and Faith of its people.
Today’s public presentation
of a historical (cum biographical) account of the life and experiences of Obong
Philip Effiong titled: “NIGERIA AND BIAFRA: MY STORY,” for which I had the
honour of writing its foreword, is a realization of our unity in diversity. When
I was approached to write the foreword, I was not only thrilled, but I accepted
the honour with appreciation. I was delighted to be given the opportunity to
participate in one of the most important documentation of this aspect of our
country’s history.
An account of this magnitude
often captures the essence of our collective responsibility and existence as
humans. The contributions of the late Obong Effiong are thus very relevant to
our national education, and would serve as a necessary ingredient for our
historical lessons.
It would be recalled that the
late Effiong was my senior in the Army. He was a disciplinarian and astute
soldier - a man of words and honour. His story would no doubt be a part of our
developmental activity as a nation.
Let us pray that there will
be no veterans of any further wars - not because all shall have perished, but
because all shall have learned to live together in peace.
The man we are honoring today
was a veteran who lived and died for peace. Indeed Obong Efiong was an
embodiment and symbol of peace, for bringing to an end the 30 months of Nigerian
civil war, a feat which garlanded him with National adulation.
The book put together by the
late Obong Philip Efiong of the events, in which he was a principal actor, is a
welcome development to every Nigerian. Some of us who were participants in some,
if not all of the events, found the book to be excellent account devoid of
intellectual lies.
As a student of history, I
know the Nigerian civil war and the events that led to it. The consequences that
have emanated will continue to occupy a prominent place in the history of our
great country. No doubt, the chapters in this book have tremendous value for all
of us, particularly with respect to the lessons we learn from them.
Like the anthill in Chinua
Achebe’s “Anthills of the
The voice of the late Effiong
is consequential in more ways than one. At one level it is the voice of an
insider who, according to Professor Toyin Falola in his introduction to the
book, “saw it all.” Effiong’s, therefore, is the voice of a witness, whose own
roles in the events could easily have clouded his perception of the same events.
Yet, to his credit, we see in the book an even-handled treatment of events and
personalities, laden with perhaps an unusually high degree of generosity towards
many.
Among the things we learn
from this story is that as the first Principal Staff Officer of the first
Nigerian Military Administration under General Aguiyi-Ironsi, the then
Lieutenant Colonel Philip Efiong helped conceive, actualize and run what became
the Supreme Command’s most powerful administrative machine for the next
twenty-five years – the office of the Chief of General Staff at the Supreme
Headquarters. Several institutions that have since become part of the structure
of government in Nigeria, such as the Public Complaints Commission, the
Directorate of Defence Intelligence, etc, had their origins in Efiong’s
experience and tenure in this office.
In respect of this, let me
appreciate the great determination and dedication of the publisher of the book,
Dr. Ugorji O. Ugorji, and the Sungai Corporation, for bringing alive the
memories of this great man, an achiever of tremendous impact. The Publisher did
very well to publish this book, because it will certainly better explain
situations from sides of the divide, so as to amalgamate opinion and forge ahead
as one nation, benefiting from diversity of interests and resources.
Without sounding pre-emptive
I can assure you that this piece of history and academic exercise, to which I
have contributed my little quota, would make a good reading. It would further
enlighten our collective education as a nation undergoing reformation with a
vision of greatness.
I, therefore, implore
everyone present and others who would get to know about this Memoir of Obong
Philip Efiong, to please add “NIGERIA AND BIAFRA: MY STORY” to their A-List of
books in their libraries.
I say with the highest degree
of responsibility and without any fear of contradiction that the late Obong
Philip Efiong strove valiantly while he wore the uniform of the Nigeria Army and
knew the enthusiasm and devotion of pursuing a cause in which he believed.
Efiong’s voice is also that
of an important representative of a minority ethnic group in
Obong Efiong challenges us in
the book to not just remember, but also to move forward in a nation united with
purpose, a nation that is to be the beacon of hope for the Black Race globally.
In the Preface to the book, the author writes:
“Lest
we forget that the great powers (which see us as a part of their Black Africa
puppet show) sided with or against us, or played whatever role they chose during
that war purely on the basis of their own national interest” (Page 2).
He goes on to say on the same page that
“By all means let us
forgive and forget the past. But let us live with the lessons taught us by these
past tragic events.”
I submit to you,
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, that the only way to predict our future as a
nation with any degree of accuracy is to commit ourselves with a sense of
patriotism, sincerity and respect for human rights so as to conquer greed,
ensure justice, fairness and equity for all and build bridges of hope, peace and
togetherness. In attempting to create this future we must educate our children
to self-control, to the habit of holding passion and prejudice and evil
tendencies subject to an upright and reasoning will.
The late erstwhile
Lieutenant-Colonel Efiong of the Nigerian Army, Major General of the Biafra
Army, and ultimately Obong of the Ibibio people and statesman extraordinaire of
I therefore commend this book
to the military, both serving and retired. Likewise, politicians of different
complexions, lecturers and students as well as general readers will find the
book worthy. May the Almighty God bless Obong Philip Efiong. Thank you and God
Bless.
Ibrahim B Babangida, GCFR
Former President,
Commander-in-Chief of
The Armed Forces of the
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See also: PINI JASON: Nigeria and Biafra: My story by Philip Efiong