Every country has a history. It could be good or bad. Something you may not be proud of, or something that gives you that Joy when you remember it, or when you share it with others. My country is not an exceptional. We do have our history. But sometimes is better no told because most of the history of this great country that is known as the gaint of Africa is not a sweet one.
WHAT IS MY COUNTRY'S PAST STORIES?
For today I will love to talk about the Biafran war. The fight that broke out between Nigeria and the Biafran people called the Igbo speaking people of the eastern part of Nigeria.
It was actually called the fight for freedom. I believe that this was what it was from the beginning but it later brought more problem on the Igbo speaking nation of the Nigerian people.
The Biafran war also known as the Nigerian civil war happened between 1967- 1970. Just like I mentioned above, it was called the fight for freedom. Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu was the man who inspired the Igbos to stand and fight for freedom and he lead them. But they never saw what was coming ahead of them. I don't really intend to go deeper into what happened that period, but just a few things I want to note. When the war became too hard on the Igbo people they were forced to take refuge in other places because most of them were displaced. No more homes for most of them and they were scattered.
Secondly, the people were been starved. No food supply anymore and hunger strike in to the land of the Igbo people forcing some of their women to get married to the uniform men so that at least they can see food to eat.
Another big problem at that time was the issue of disease and health issues. So many of the Igbo people because sick as a result of malnutrition. Hence there was no good food to eat alot of people began to fall sick and there was no medication too.
The last one I want to point to is the case of Ethnic massacres. Alot of Igbos were report to have been killed by the Nigerian soldier who over powered them.
From the little that I gathered, their leader Ojukwu had to live the country for his own safety to ivory coast on the 9th of January, 1970. He also asked the Igbo people to stop the fight because they have lost alot of the Igbo people to the Biafran war.
He stayed there until he was sure that it is save for him to come back home before he made a move to return to his father's land.
HOW HAS THIS PAST HISTORY AFFECTED THE IGBOS IN NIGERIA TODAY?
Alot happened after that and things can never be the same again. After that war, the Igbo never rested from wanting out of this country. They have always asked for it. Today as we speak they are still insisting on starting a nation of their own where people who have the same vision will be together.
Is a pity because so many lives have been lost in the past as a result of this, and lots of lives are still going to the world beyond because of this freedom fight.
MY OPINION
I totally agree with them, but I also feel pain for the lives we lose every day just because of the fight for freedom. Sometimes I ask myself if is worth it. I don't know, but one thing I am sure of it is that I can't put my life on the line because of this. Freedom is sweet. But it will be sweeter if I enjoy the freedom that I struggled to get.