RE: Ambassador Rotimi's insult to Igbos
By Ben Wuloo Ikari
It's sad and unfortunate to note that a Diplomat in the caliber of the Nigerian Ambassador to the United States of America, Brigadier-General Oluwole Rotimi, Rtd. is credited to have allegedly made this childish statement about Biafra.
The Ambassador's alleged comment: I was the Adjutant General of the Nigerian Army that thoroughly defeated your ragtag Biafra army, not only display the lack of emotional control but also shows how childish such statement sounds. This isn't a comment that should have come from the person of that high office (whether he played a role or not).
The manner in which he's forced to prepare to come home (recalled) is another concern. Has there been thorough investigation into what happened, and is Rotimi granted the opportunity to state his side of the story? Also, what did the minister said that provoked this comment, even though condemned, and is recall the only option in this matter, or this comment is only an excuse in a predetermined resolution? Can't he be cautioned and given another chance, or is the presidency trying to tell the world this high profile official wasn't doing his job?
I think if he's well qualified and was doing what he's supposed to do, government would have considered what it would cost to throw him out of job, the orientation the new person will go through and the overall transition office staff and the foreign country's contacts may experience, in juxtaposition to the comment he made. By the swift recall, the world would be left to believe Nigeria is irrational and can't handle internal matters not to mention external. If the swiftness used in this case was also applied in terms of development, stamping out corruption that the president isn't exempted, and the respect of people's rights, including Niger Delta's resources the country should by now be competing with the so-called industrialized nations.
Having said the above, the truth or fact though remains that the Biafra led by Odumegwu Ojukwu, was defeated in the Nigeria/Biafra civil war of 1967 to 1970. The statement or slogan, "No Victor, No Vanquished" was a political one aimed at reintegrating Biafrans, which weren't all Igbos and coerced minorities of the then Eastern region, because not all Igbos supported the secessionist bid of Ojukwu and his warlords.
It's a truism that Ojukwu escaped and took refuge or asylum in Ivory Coast, whereas Yakubu Gowon, the then Head of State was at home celebrating the defeat and coordinating reconciliatory efforts, etc. The former and his group were also granted amnesty subsequently but by a different administration. In war, the people or group that surrenders by pressure from sophistication of the enemy's firepower are always the losers, irrespective of the terminologies used at the war-end. This is particularly so when the faction that surrenders is the one that started the disintegration or secession campaign, as was the Biafra case.
Biafra was defeated because of Ojukwu and his team's greed for the Oloibiri and Ogoni oilfields then. He thought planning to breakaway from Nigeria because he was brutally controlling the minorities of his region, therefore believed he had oil advantage as the governor, would automatically deliver victory without the inclusion of the bona fide owners of the oil. Ken Saro-Wiwa of the most blessed memory resisted that illogical thinking and defected to the Federal Government. He led the Federal troops to Bonny, the oil terminal which was the core battlefield that was the indicator for who was in control. The Saro-Wiwa's factor and other logistical deficiencies led to the overrunning of Biafra. Ojukwu therefore failed.
This is why the Igbos (not all of them) didn't like Saro-Wiwa. He was called "a sellout" for struggling to save his people and other minorities from the jackboots of Biafra. On this note, Ojukwu didn't forgive him, even in death. Yet he couldn't win that war on the death of the former. He was used by the late Abacha to travel abroad to justify the unjust hanging of Saro-Wiwa and 8 others. And while on that inglorious mission he was rumpled with rotten eggs in Britain and America as the highest mark of disgrace. This was by Nigerians and their friends and activists. To this day, Nigeria, and its greedy and inept rulers haven't learnt any lesson from forcing the oil and gas resources of the so-called minorities. The result of the present-day greed is the dept of conflict and oil-war that envelop the nation to a crumbling point.
Although this story is a sad one because of the millions of innocent lives (including 30, 000 Ogonis) lost, the facts of it must be told as is. It should have been better told by a Human Rights, Justice and Peace Foundation that wrote the piece I'm addressing. The distortion of facts for ethnic convenience wouldn't help matters. Honesty is needed in a case such as this to help teach the young ones of the consequences of ill conceived motives and greed, that they may not follow similar path. The situation may be different if you're fighting for what rightly belong to you. Even at that, nonviolence and peaceful direct action (civil disobedience) is the popular way to agitate for rights. Fighting in self-defense for the protection of a people's dying environment, heritage and existence as in the situation in Niger Delta-after government has demonstrated its inability or disability to sum up political will to satisfactorily resolve the injustice meted on the population, yet chose further repression and lies, is a last resort.
I'm Ogoni, yet against Mr. Ledum Mitee who betrayed Saro-Wiwa and has held MOSOP sway for 13 sordid years, working as government and $hell tool. I don't respect the truth because no matter how suppressed, it remains its own protector, and must project itself. Truth is bitter, but must be told as is, that all actors especially those on the wrong side of history may learn for a better tomorrow.
Ben Wuloo Ikari,
Is the author of Ken Saro-Wiwa and MOSOP: The Story and Revelation, and Inspiration: Speak your Mind.
Bariedoora@cs.com
