Nigerians on Tuesday shunned the 59th Independence Anniversary in Cross River State

October 4, 2019 | The Biafra Times

By Edem Edem

• Nigerians in Cross River State on Tuesday shunned the 59th Independence Anniversary.

DAILY POST correspondent, who was at the U. J. Esuene Stadium, venue for the celebration, observed that the greater part of the stadium was empty.

However, the Nigeria Police, primary and secondary schools as well as some private organization including the red cross, boys brigades, girls guides, and others participated in the event.

Also present were the Deputy Governor, Prof Ivara Esu, Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Eteng Jonah Williams, Chief Judge of Cross River State, Justice Michael Edem, Chief of Staff to Governor Ayade Martins Orim and Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Barr Tina Banku Agbor.

Speaking, the State Governor, Prof Ben Ayade who was represented by his deputy, Prof Ivara Ejemot Esu said, “Instructively, as we celebrate today, we cannot say with absolute conviction that, 59 years down the line, it has been a bed of roses.

“At best, it has been a potpourri, at times chequered, disappointing, hard and fraught with challenges that so often dulled our spirits. In spite of those dispirited moments though, there have been sparkling times that we have radiated so much national pride as a people, following our chain of accomplishments as a nation.

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“And against all odds, we have continued to bounce back, to rediscover ourselves by staying focused, steadfast and optimistic. Conscious of the fact that no nation has ever berthed on a roller coaster or fulfilled its destiny without sweat, we cannot, therefore, as a country, afford to take our eyes off the ball.”

Prof Ayade pointed out that “today’s anniversary marks another turning point as we continue to soldier on with audacity of hope, a refreshing optimism and the spirit of enterprise.

“And with our minds firmly fixed on the ever-glittering skyline, we shall sure chart a pathway to our destination. More poignantly, today’s celebration should no doubt serve as reawakening and an enticing platform to reflect on our past in order to recalibrate our future.

“As we ruminate on our nation’s socio-political trajectory-the tall mountains we have had to climb, the steep slopes we have to descend, I want to enjoin you to remain resolute by re-committing and re-dedicating ourselves to the enduring values and vision that distinguish us as truly Cross Riverians.

“For it is only by such distinguishing attributes that we can achieve true independence as a people, one that will guarantee true freedom, good governance and total emancipation in the real sense of it.

“There is no doubt that while our today is steadily finding perfect harmony with our great expectations as a people, with our rapid industrialization policy, we remain highly optimistic that given our great energy and potentials to flourish, we will and surely weave our determination to precision and berth a better tomorrow.”

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Prof Ayade further said that “As we advance closer and closer to attaining that tomorrow of our dreams, we need not only align, but must pull together, to shrug off tendencies and avoid structures that accentuate our fault lines.

“As an administration, we came with a clear focus to restructure and recalibrate the economy of our state. In line with that emphasis, we have been able to create a new economy that is anchored on industrialization and agricultural development with a huge potential to create jobs and lift our people out of excruciating poverty.

“For us as an administration, we shall not relent until we ensure that every Cross Riverinas is indeed rescued and clawed back from the socio-economic quagmire that has held us captive to hunger and lack.”

The Biafra Times

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Publisher: Charles Opanwa

Editorial: Nigeria’s Paper Independence: The Shattered Dreams Of Its Founding Fathers And The Way Forward

•With an approach to the Biafran conundrum

By Chukwuemeka Chimerue, Chief Editor | The Biafra Times

October 7, 2018


The expectations of Nigerians were high when the British Union Jack was lowered and the ‘green-white-green’ flag was hoisted on the 1st of October 1960, to mark the end of British colonial rule, which the country’s nationalists finally won in the struggle for independence, and the readiness to build dreams.

The expectations the founding fathers of Nigeria had were undoubtedly high. The likes of Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Dr. Alvan Ikoku and many others hoped to forge a country that would be truly one in name and attitude.

A country where citizens, irrespective of tribe or religion, would be free to pursue their dreams in any part of the country, where there would be justice, equity and fairness; a country where the law protects the poor and rich equally and is regarded as supreme;

A country where the citizens would be free to choose their leaders and where leadership is seen as an opportunity to render selfless service to the nation; A country where the wealth of the nation is used for its development and not squandered by the privileged few; and so on.

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The past heroes of Nigeria did not fail in their assignment, in fact they displayed utmost commitment, selflessness, dedication and integrity in the service to their fatherland.

They utilised the provisions of the first post-independence constitution of 1963 to construct a workable structure that would accommodate the interest of more than 250 ethnic groups which formed part of the federation and make Nigeria ‘one nation bound in freedom, peace and unity’.

They pursued their dreams with ‘heart and might,’ and one of the expectations of these founding fathers was to ensure the wealth of the nation is used for its development and not squandered.

But let’s ask ourselves these questions: Are the present leaders really making good use of the nation’s wealth? Are they really doing justice to issues of utmost concern in the country with less emphasis or too much importance attached to religion, culture, ethnicity, political affiliation and what have you?

It is no news that Nigerian leaders no longer rule with commitment, dedication, selflessness and integrity; they no longer rule with their heart and might; they no longer have the people’s interest at heart. Instead, they now use the nation’s wealth to enrich themselves through embezzlement.

People are suffering! people are dying in the riverine areas and other parts of the country because there is no good water to drink; accidents here and there due to the deplorable state of our roads.

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You see massive queues at fuel stations with their gallons to purchase petrol because there is no power supply. Hence, they have to power their generators which causes noise and environmental pollution that affects the people’s health.

Worst of it all, in government(of all levels), political office holders and their counterparts in other arms of government attach too much importance on regional, political and ethnic diversity in employment, political appointments, citing of infrastructural developmental projects and even in dishing out judgements to the average man on the street. Was this really the country the past heroes dreamt of?

As Nigeria recently marked its 58 years anniversary, many believe that all hope is not lost as the country can still come out of the woods and make urgent amends where it has completely lost its direction but this can only be feasible if and when the current leaders are willing to uphold the tenets of justice and equity. They need to totally and unconditionally embrace the acts of commitment, selflessness, dedication and integrity as emulated by the founding fathers in service to their fatherland. They need to render accountability for their past and present misdeeds and bring forward with genuine concerns to the table, the pressing issues that has brought the Nigerian state to its conundrum as many believed that it is their total failure and inability to tow the path of the founding fathers contributed to Nigeria’s present mess.

Today, they are singing a different tune, grandstanding as the prime apostles of Nigerian unity but if those issues perceived to be the harbingers of Nigeria’s disunity and separation is not addressed, if referendum, resource control, restructuring and other burning political issues is not wholly addressed, the Nigerian state shall continue to slid down to the abyss without the political game players realising this until it has became too late for any possible remediation.

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Those politicians and unconscionable leaders who has made themselves an arrow-head of the Biafran opposition which is at the spur of the moment should better realise that they cannot even make any meaningful progress in the country if the issue is not brought up for possible address. They also need to realize that indeed, they are the real elements of disunity and dismemberment of Nigeria. They are simply using a fleeting prank for the unity of the same country they are helping to set on fire. They so-called “unity” campaigns, however, unknown to them, is fanning the embers of disunity and division in Nigeria.

It was none other than the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III during the one-time visit of the incumbent governor of Rivers state, Chief Ezenwo Nyesom Nwike that pointed out that the secessionist movements did not come out of the blues. In Abubakar’s words, “A lot of things were done in the past by some people with impunity and nothing was done.” The Sultan appealed that statesmen across Nigeria “should help the country by championing a dialogue.” Though the unflappable Sultan apparently is yet to make any move to mobilize Nigerian leaders in the direction he has stated nevertheless, his comments goes a long way to show that most acclaimed leaders in the country are aware of the root causes of the situation and challenges that has bedevilled the Nigerian state, yet remained adamant and/or feigned ignorance of what exactly should be done to ameliorate the situation. Every one of them appears to be mostly concerned about his benefits while relegating the national interest of masses to the background.

Be that as it may, the solution to the Biafran crisis does not have to be complicated. It is all about being able to face the truth. As Sultan Abubakar hinted, it lies in broad dialogue to correct past atrocities. Apart from the obvious imbalance in the current government, a starting point is to quickly uproot the poisonous seeds that were sown by the state during and after the Biafran war that have grown and are today swirling wildly, engulfing the entire nation. It ought to table why and how there is lack of general development in the densely populated South-East and South-South zones, for example, lack of reliable seaports and international airports despite the region’s overflowing resources. There is also the need to revisit whatever policy—the lingering war scar—that denatured the Igbo heartland into what is now being ridiculed as the “landlocked” South-East. More essentially, such dialogue must not fail to look within: Now is the time to bring to book the local politicians who connived with contractors to loot development projects in the region, particularly during the regime of Goodluck Jonathan, where the Igbos and their South-South kith and kin held sway.

This bare exposé should be done with all honesty and open-mindedness and not be misconstrued as a veiled sentiment to favour a particular region. Nigeria cannot continue to hope to solve a problem by creating bigger problems. Thus, the prevailing pattern where the state attempts to deflate the Biafran agitation by nurturing seeds of discord within the Igbo or balkanizing South-East and South-South into hostile units, or rolling out military armored tanks and all kinds of ammunition against agitators is not only profoundly corrupt but also does more harm than good. Needless, therefore, to mention that any attempt to embrace corrupt politicians and unrepentant ethnic irredentists in addressing the Biafran agitation is tantamount to a pyrrhic victory. It is a hallowed equivalence of embracing a Judas as a Muhammad or Jesus Christ as the case may be.

The Biafra Times
Publisher: Chijindu Benjamin Ukah
Contact us: [email protected]