THE SOUTH EAST TRAGIC STORY FROM 1970- 2025

 

One Dr Enejere of the University of Nigeria told the world that consensus was not reached by Igbo leaders of thought before the declaration of the Nigeria/ Biafra Civil War from 1967 to 1970. Enejere said majority did not support the war. Majority of our Elders did not support the military option but our young officers did not listen to them. 

The war ended with damning consequences. We lost everything. We lost thousands of soldiers and civilians, we lost our homes and investments across Nigeria especially in Rivers State. 

We lost hundreds of our Children to strange diseases. I was a witness as a small boy. We could not go to school for 3 years. In Rivers State our property became abandoned property till date. We picked from the pieces, from nothing, from pains, agonies and sorrows our moved on. 50 years after ( 1970- 2020) we went back to 1967.

We started the struggle for Biafra again and soon some criminals entered the stage . In the name fighting for Biafra they started getting hard currencies from Abroad and billions of Naira from home. It became a huge enterprise and every Tom , Dick and Harry joined in droves. 

First was Ralph Uwazurike’s MASSOB. Initially they were peaceful and minding their own business without disturbing public peace. Soon some of his men started getting nasty, disturbing public peace. I witnessed their activities in Lagos but the owners of Lagos asked them to relocate to SE. They did. Suddenly there was division in the camp. 

Nnamdi Kanu who was leading the UK MASSOD left the group and formed IPOB. It became a complete business venture. Millions of Pounds and Dollars started coming in. The center could not hold anymore. Mere anarchy was let loose. 

IPOB( Indigenous People of Biafra)took the center stage. Then came UGM( Unknown Gun Men) , ESN( Eastern Security Network) and recently BDF( Biafra Defense Force). All these criminal organizations have no modicum of interest in Biafra project but just to make money. 

Soon other criminals joined, jobless people joined, every Tom , Dick and Harry in the criminal world returned to South East and joined . Silently they killed our people in hundreds since 2020 and raised homes of our prominent people down for speaking out what we are seeing is not Biafra agitation but pure criminality. 

Governor Soludo of Anambra State set up a 25 man committee to investigate what happened in Anambra State between 2020- 2024 and the report was damning. 

Hundreds of Anambrans especially the bread winners were slaughtered, Trillions of Naira was extorted from our people. The Committee was headed by Professor Odinkalu as Chairman and Chief Mrs Bianca Ojukwu as Secretary. 

The greatest tragedy in the face of the horrible situation is the culture of Silence among those who should know better. A school of thought says evil triumph in any society when good men doing nothing. Dante Algheri says the hottest part of hail are reserved for those who maintain their neutrality in times of great moral crisis. 

Those of us who managed to speak out were threatened and attacked one way or the other. I lost my home in Nnewi. 150m cannot replace what was destroyed especially my study in the picture above. 

The governor of Imo State home was attacked. The late President General Ohaneze Ndigbo Professor George Obiozor’s home was burnt to ashes and the man could not survive it. Former Minister of Budget & Planning Dr Chu Okongwu country home was burnt down and the erudite scholar could not bear it and he died too. Professor Akunyili was gunned down in Onitsha. The late Senator Ifeanyi Ubah was attacked in Enugwu Ukwu and 9 policemen were gunned down. A friend of mine from Ihiala, a very successful Chartered Accountant home was burnt down . Six Traditional Rulers holding a meeting in Imo State was gunned down and the venue of the meeting was set ablaze. 

Governor Soludo can make available the findings of the 25 man Committee set up last year to investigate the killings in Anambra headed by Prof Odinkalu and Barr Bianca Onoh. The findings choked the people of Anambra Anambra. I can go on and on .

The devastations, brutal killings, extortions, kidnappings, destruction of homes including my home in Nnewi will take years for us to come to terms with it. 

Today the economy of South East is at lowest ebb. South East is the lowest in VATs collections in Nigeria. No sensible business man will invest in the SE as it is now. Igbo businessmen are moving their business out of SE as insecurity, kidnapping, killings, extortions, lawlessness, hate , bigotry, witchcraft etc have become the other of the day.

What is the way forward? South East Governors, Deputy Governors, Traditional Rulers, Senators, House of Representatives members, State Assembly members, leaders of thought, high ranking personnels from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Police, Professors from the South East, Chieftains of Industries, our professionals in diaspora etc should seek audience with the PBAT to provide the final solution to the tragedy in the South East. Until we have the courage, hide our pride, stop the hide and seek game, call a spade a spade etc this tragedy may completely destroy the SE.  

There is no agitation for anything in the SE . It is what it is. Just pure criminality and nothing more.

No be write this ooo.

Mr Pedestrian!