By: Afam
The article written by erudite professor Wole Soyinka titled “Biafra has not been defeated” captures the very essence of the spirit of Biafra that has refused to go away even after 47 years. The 1967 to 1970 civil war is actually the closest than that the Nigerian government can come to defeat the defiant Biafran activist because unlike in the sixties where bullets were the best form of protest.
Today, we’re in a jet age where technology and it’s use have become a major tool for social change. A case in point being the uprising in the Arab world and even the enthroning of Nigeria’s current but absent president, Buhari.
The current Biafran agitation would have been a piece of cake for the Nigerian government to quell has the agitators towed the path of the Niger Delta militants who waged war against the Nigerian state. Instead they chose to adopt a different approach. First they started with civil disobedience which, despite it’s largely peaceful nation gave the Nigerian military and other forces the excuse to open fire on innocent protesters. According to Amnesty International, over 150 pro Biafran agitators have been killed by the Nigerian forces.
The new tactic employed by the Indegenous People of Biafra (IPOB) led by the resolute Nnamdi Kanu has made it even more difficult for the federal government to launch an offensive on innocent protesters. The “SIT AT HOME” style of protest will make it very difficult for any government in black Africa to contend with. How exactly do you fight someone who stays inside his house eating “Ofe Nsala” as opposed to marching on the streets, especially when it is becomes largely successful.
I think at this point, the government of the day should sheath their swords and call for a round table meeting where everything will be discussed. They can call it a sovereign National conference of whatever name they choose.
But the current agitations should not be mistaken for a tea party. The awareness is growing and people who are becoming more disenchantment with the country are joining the movement to register their displeasure. The time to act is now. As they say a “A stitch in time saves nine”.
Afam writes from Onitsha
