Why Europe refused to support Biafra - Justice Nwokedi

Why Europe refused to support Biafra - Justice Nwokedi

Justice Paul Nwokedi, pioneer Chairman, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and retired judge of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, in an interview with the Vanguard newspaper (7th December, 2011) recalls his experience in Europe as they want to solicit support for Biafra. Bashir Adefaka of the Vanguard has asked the following question: What exactly was this issue of one Japan too much for Europe when talking about Biafra?

His response:

I can't remember that much but I can only remember that we were sent on a mission abroad and when we got to Bulgaria or somewhere in Europe, we had a meeting to solicit support for Biafra. At the meeting they said if they support Biafra, it would mean the emergence of another Japan and that one Japan was already too much for Europe and so, that they could not afford to support Biafra and that they would rather support Nigeria.

As Nwokedi has also noted, Biafra was being equated to Japan because people, especially those in government already saw the potentials for Biafra to emerge as big as Japan if they succeeded in seceding out of Nigeria. Why would Europe prefer to support an African pariah rather than African hope? In their conception, one Japan in Asia was a problem for Europe and another 'Japan' in African, if allowed to emerge, would be too much for Europe. Would not are world be richer if we have many Japans on earth?

It was the unnecessary fear that a STAR might arise from Africa that underlined the British government policy on the Nigeria-Biafra war. The then British high commissioner in Lagos, David Hunt (1969-1971) has noted in his confidential report on Nigeria, " I have already said, and the IBO's (sic) in particular are too intelligent... " ( The British National Achieves (NA), POWE 63/238, Note for the records: Nigeria 1967, Nigeria: prospects for a Negotiated peace, :2.). In the house of commons on Tuesday, 24 October 1967, Mr. Thomson asserted: "We recognise the Federal military government of Nigeria and we have operated on that basis (See appendix 4 - House of commons). But why would some people fail to see that if every continent, including Africa, is economically and politically progressive the entire humanity is enriched? What would the world have been today if only, say, British and America were the only economically and politically developed countries in the world? Have the Japanese and Chinese economic progress not added to the world wealth and progress? It seems that common sense would make humans realise that I am enriched by your richness and impoverished by your poverty, a piece of wisdom beautifully articulated in John Donne' poem many years ago.

This is a story of Africa. Yes, a story of Africa, for the story Biafra is a story of Africa. Indeed, it is a story of our humanity. Both external and non- partisan sources acclaimed BIAFRA as a rising SUN in the African soil. A number of commentators believe it was forced to set before the dawn by international conspiracy. They used Gowon and Awolowo to achieve their aim. Why?

But today the SUN has risen again and can never be forced down by even Satan himself. So why don't you as an African be part of this divine crusade.

-Dadi Monso