Current mood similar to events leading to Biafra war – Akintoye

 

• Never Again! Nigeria-Biafra war: 50 years after

 

BY OUR EDITOR

Memories of the Nigeria-Biafra war came alive Monday in Lagos as Nigerians from various walks of life gathered at the Agip Recital Hall, Muson, Onikan, to mark 50 years of end of the civil war.

The historic event organised by Nzuko Umunna and Ndi Igbo in Lagos, brought together the cream of Nigeria’s intellectuals who took time to assess lessons from the 30-month war which claimed millions of lives on both the Nigerian and Biafran sides.

Speakers in the event titled, Never Again Conference with the theme, “Nigerian Civil War: 50 Years After”, included professors Anya o. Anya, Wole Soyinka, Banji Akintoye and Pat Utomi, among many other distinguished Nigerians who travelled from home and abroad.

Leading the way was Prof Anya, chairman of the event, who called on Nigerians to eschew violence and work collaboratively to make the country great. According to him Nigeria’s situation is not unique as some other countries have gone through same.

“We as a country must learn from other countries that have survived from the horror of war,” Anya started.

“Germany fought a war and lost, same as Japan. But 30 years after, Germany became one of the best economies in the world, same as Japan, until the advent of China. Losing does not make you a failure.

“We as a country must eschew violence, as it will not provide the answer to our current situation. There is a saying which goes like this, those who live by the sword, die by the sword. This is a new decade, a new year and a new opportunity for Nigeria to make this right once again.”

Prof Wole Soyinka, one of the keynote speakers at the conference, said that no nation ever survived two civil wars and there was a need to embrace unity in Nigeria.

“One of the ways to say ‘Never Again’ is to enthrone the principles of democracy,” the Nobel Laureate said.

Soyinka said humanity tends to forget lessons too soon and pursue the same course of action again and again, leading to the same consequences.

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He recalled that over two million lives were lost within two years of the civil war and numerous casualties resulted from the war.

Good democracy is a key way to declare ‘never again’ to civil war in Nigeria, he said.

He added that the vital goal of humanity is not merely to survive but to live in dignity.

Prof Banji Akintoye, co-chairman of the event, a former senator and the leader of the Yoruba race, asserted that the people of Nigeria will never again manage the affairs of the country in a way that will lead to war.

“We have good reasons to fear today that the character of the affairs of our country these days, and the prevailing mood among us Nigerians, are chillingly similar to the character of the affairs of our country in the months leading to our civil war.

“The government of our country is being managed in ways that make it look like an exclusive preserve of a particular minority. The voices of the majority register protests continually and are continually disrespected and ignored,” Akintoye said.

He added that Nigeria is in crisis and if the citizens can no longer hold together as one entity, there is a need to find a rational solution so that the nation would not plunge into any form of war.

Prof Pat Utomi called for the decentralisation of the nation’s government, saying such action will make governance more effective as it would move the government closer to the people.

Utomi said if the Biafran war was fought today, Nigeria may not exist due to the recognition given by the international community to self-determination.

“We must address the issues that led to the Civil War. I can tell you that if the Biafran war is fought today, there will be no Nigeria because the international community now recognises self-determination,” he advised.