Over 3,000,000 Igbos who lost their lives during the Nigeria/Biafra civil war were today buried for their souls to rest in peace.
The burial was sequel to the Biafran Memorial ceremony organised last year by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), following the clamour for a formal burial for millions of Biafrans who lost their lives during the Biafran-Nigerian War, by the Director of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.
The Government of Anambra State today dared all consequences and performed a formal rite of passage for the fallen heroes and heroines as well as the civilian victims of the Nigerian Civil War, the World War II, the numerous pogroms and other ethnic and religious violence against Biafrans in the Nigeria.
The event took place at the Alex Ekwueme Square, Awka, attracted distinguished Biafran sons and daughters including Vice President Dr. Alex Ekwueme, Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Dr.nkemOkeke, National Chairman of APGA, Chief VicorUmeh, Speaker of Anambra State House of Assembly, Princess ChinweNwaebili, Secretary to the State Government, OselokaObaze, Civil War veterans, Col. Joe Achuzia, Col. Ben Gbulie, Col. E.M Udeaja, Col. Emma Nwobosi, the Chief of Staff to the governor of Anambra State, Prof. Joe Asike and Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Jnr, son of late Biafran Head of State, and Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu. Others include: Prince Engineer Arthur Eze, Chief Victor Umeh, APGA National Chairman and Captain Emmanuel Iheanacho, APGA gubernatorial candidate in Imo State among many others.
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| Crossection of ex Biafran Officers (L-R) at the event: Brig. General Joe Achuzia (aka air raid who commanded 11th, 14th and 15th Brigades), Prof. Pita Ejiofor, Bob (Ojukwu's personal aide during the war), Colonel Emma Nwobosi (Biafra Defence Operations), Colonel Emmanuel Udeaja (Commandant, 11th Division in the Biafran army), Captain Ben Gbulie (of Biafra 53rd Brigade Nsukka later posted to administer Abak) and Uche Nworah, M.D of Anambra Broadcasting Service |
Highlight of the event included the unveiling of the cenotaph for the fallen heroes and heroines, a parade by different socio-cultural groups who paid a condolence visit to the Governor as the Chief-Mourner and a colourful display of masquerades as is typical of the burial ceremony of a wealthy Igbo personage.
Delivering a highly emotional address under the title – Ozoemezina: Memory and the Quest for Igbo Renaissance, the governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano explained that the event aptly tagged Ozoemezina (Never Again!) was held in response to the strident calls from Ndigbo at home and in the Diaspora for a formal burial for their kit and kin who lost their lives in the Civil War and the endless cycles of violence that characterize the country.
In a voice that quavered with emotion, Governor Obiano recalled that “thousands of these people died because they believed in the ideal of a united and strong Nigeria. They died courageously because our people do not acknowledge fear.”
Describing Ndigbo as a great people whose entrepreneurial drive has taken to known and unknown places in pursuit of wealth –creating opportunities, Governor Obiano declared that Ndigbo do not have a SINGLE STORY.
“We are the owners of a proud history; paved with pain and anguish and watered by the blood of the innocent. Hardly is there a family in this gathering without a story; a story of profound loss. But beside every story of loss sits a story of success; of glory and of abundance. NdiAnambra, to the glory of God, we are not a people with a SINGLE STORY…we are a proud, intensely driven, hardworking, innovative, adventurous and forward-looking people with more gifts than the world can take!”
Situating the event within the ebb and flow of time, Governor Obiano observed that the ceremony was the beginning of a long symbolic “look backwards, beyond the immediate horizon of our national experience, to honour the memories of our loved ones who lost their lives to the various dark chapters of our national history.
“In doing this, we are guided by our belief that life itself is an unbroken stream of experiences stitched together by memory. Without memory, life assumes the attributes of a futile gaze into the void of time!”
Governor Obiano pointed out that it was an integral part of the Igbo culture to recall the events of the past as an important guide to the future, explaining that this belief was succinctly captured in the Igbo saying that Nchetaka (Recall is supreme).
Comparing the Igbo experience to the Jewish Holocaust and the Rwandan Genocide, Governor Obiano regretted that while those two extra-ordinary events in human history had been etched on global memory through a carefully directed effort, the response of Ndigbo to their own tragic history lacked boldness and organization.
Throwing more light on the reason behind the formal burial accorded the fallen heroes and heroines, Obiano explained that Igbo “culture upholds the centrality of ‘burial’ as a crucial epilogue in the narrative of life.”
He praised Ndigbo as the “inheritors of an uncommon valour” which makes it easier for them to climb over an awful experience and rebuild the broken walls of friendship that will open fresh doors of hope. “We do this with ease because we are a people of the faith. We believe in the centrality of God in the affairs of men, we are bold enough to accept the cruel verdict of fate and bury our dead with fanfare!” he reasoned.
Concluding, Governor Obiano observed that with the ceremony, “we honour our dead in words and deeds. We offer them a final resting place; a sanctuary where their memory will forever ruffle the leaves of time. Today, as we lay down their memorial stones, we bring closure to the wanderings of our brothers and sisters whose great souls have yearned for the dignity of a formal burial over the last half century.”
Delivering a Homily at the Ecumenical Service held as part of the ceremony, the Catholic Bishop of Awka, Most Rev. Paulinus Ezeokafor applauded governor Obiano for the initiative which he said had enlarged the scope of the activities marking this year’s edition of the Armed forces Remembrance Day.
According to him, the event was special because, “we are not only celebrating patriotism, the sacrifice of life and limbs made by some members of the armed Forces in the various conflicts – the World Wars, the Nigerian Civil War, the peace Missions to Congo, Darfur etc – but also commemorating the civilians, especially Ndigbo, who lost their lives and property during the Nigerian-Biafran War and the various riots and insurgencies in Nigeria.”
Observing that “what is remembered and how it is remembered is of utmost importance,” Bishop Ezeokafor argued that the identity of individuals and communities are tied up with the memories they keep alive through stories and celebrations. Bishop Ezeokafor observed that “the history of the modern Igbo nation cannot be complete without the narrative of the Nigerian-Biafran war. Besides, recent events in Nigerian history would remain incomprehensible without knowledge of that war. It is therefore my view that efforts should be made to promote greater awareness of that pivotal event in our lives as Ndigbo and as Nigerians,” he surmised.
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