Thunder
Road to
Somewhere in
to Philip Emeagwali
Biafran refugees fleeing from Owerri,
October 1968.
Memorable
Quote
"I have seen things in
At
["Nightmare
in
The
secessionist
state of
Memorable
Quote
“For record purposes, however, let me state fearlessly that I
saw hundreds of unarmed civilians being shot at sight in Benin City when
Federal troops arrived to liberate the city from rebel [Biafran]soldiers....
There
appeared to be a fleeting period of lunacy in which Midwesterners gladly
identified their Igbo compatriots to be shot down by Federal [Nigerian] troops."
[Giwa
Amu, the former Solicitor-General of Midwestern Nigeria, Sunday Observer,
LETTERS
I
was a year perhaps when my father left to fight in the war..just a baby yet I
still feel the aftermath 34 years later because my father never returned...I
class myself as a war victim and my soul is lost and will remain lost until the
wonderful reunion between my father and me happens... whether here in this life
or in heaven...Thank you for your work and pictures they were my first link to
the reality...Maybe one on the photos of those brave soldiers going to war had
my father in who knows.. god moves in mysterious ways....All i know is I am
proud of my Nigerian heritage....God bless all those who died in the war may
they rest in peace....
Yours
Sincerely,
Grace
January 9, 2000
I
am inspired by you.
I
am a Nigerian, sort of. I was a two-year-old when my parents toted our family
to the missionary field. Dad was a medical missionary, a surgeon who saved many
lives. We moved 18 different times in six years. We finally left in 1967 when
the war was in progress. I still remember that Dad had to put my play gun in
the attic because he was afraid for my life.
That
was 30 years ago. Will I ever return? Everyone tells me it is a very sad place.
Everyone is poor except for the leaders. Tell me why has nothing ever changed
there?
I
can tell you my heart is sad, too. I am a white woman that was once the
minority in my home country of
Anyway,
I salute you.
Sherie
Ellington Frederick
fredrick@CALPHA.COM
Dear Philip Emeagwali:
I
mistakenly came across your site that documents aspects of the Biafran War with
the use of photographs.
First,
I want to commend you for a job well done. I especially enjoyed going through
your remarkable photos, in spite of the fact that some of them recapture a gory
sadness that resulted from the War. However, and forgive me if I'm mistaken,
but I also noticed that you provide no meaningful reference to a notable figure
who stands as, perhaps, the hero, albeit unsung hero, of the War. As of 1959
when
I
don't believe you deliberately excluded Major-General Efiong from your site,
but I hope you can understand why I had no choice but to notice the fact of his
conspicuous absence.
Thank
you for your time and I wish you the best in your present and future
intellectual pursuits.
Philip
Effiong, Jr.
(son of General Philip Effiong)
Dear
Philip Effiong:
Within
the circles I was in, Ndi Igbo praised General Effiong for the courage he
displayed at the end of the civil war. The information posted on my
Please
visit me again.
Regards,
Philip Emeagwali
BTW,
what is the correct spelling "Effiong" or "Efiong?"
Philip:
Thank
you for your response to my mail and for your exceptional humility and
sincerity. I am inclined to believe that you deserve the praises that have been
bestowed on you. You have my permission to post my response on your page.
"Effiong"
is actually an anglicized version of the name. My father still uses
"Efiong." For the most part I use "Effiong" because most of
my certificates have the name spelt that way. It is usually
others--journalists, etc.--who spell the name with double "f."
Members of the family generally spell the name with one "f." Since
most writings, books, etc., have it spelt with double "f," you may
actually stick to this spelling as people are more used to it. Thank you for
your time and best wishes.
Philip,
Jr.
Hello Phillips,
Going
through your site and digesting all the information therein; your world had
been obviously influenced by the events of "1968
Leo
@aol.com
Dear Leo (I assume this is your name):
I
write in reference to a response you gave to my opinion on the Civil War, which
is pasted on Phillip Emeagwali's website. Although your response was written
since
I
am particularly concerned about your statement, which reads:
"I
wonder however if EffiongJr. feels unimportant in the annals of history as
written by events, not by you I might add. His Father obviously shared his
opinion I hopelessly would think, for that would be most unfortunate. One ought
to remind EffiongJr. that only true cowards make surrendering speeches. Ojukwu
could not have chosen a better person. God bless."
Although
not very clear, I tried to make sense of your statement. Be advised that my
intention is to enter into open, rational, and objective conversation, and not
to deteriorate into a petty exchange based on sentiments and, in your case,
nothing more than ethnic bias. If you must respond to me, make some effort to
rise above emotional leanings. This should help to develop your mind. Now, to
respond to more directly to your attack (because that’s what it was).
First,
I do not feel "unimportant" about anything, and my essay makes no
such indication. I am not seeking cheap attention but merely to address the
truth, and I will continue to do so, regardless of what people like you say or
think! My claim to importance is based on the things I have achieved in my life
(thank God) and not a War. If I have to list what those achievements are, ask
me. I am not ashamed to share them. I do not seek importance by way of any war,
and I would appreciate it if you do not make such baseless suggestions that
lack any substance to them.
Second,
you would do well to stop imagining things and then writing them down. My
opinions are mine, and mine alone. Your claim that my father obviously shares
them is unfounded, annoying, insulting, and absolutely false. Please don’t
accuse my father falsely. You don’t know anything about him or his opinions.
Third,
and this is the big one. You state, “only true cowards make surrendering
speeches.” This is true on some levels, but at the same time this is where you
most display your ignorance and small-mindedness. Surrendering can be an act of
cowardice, but it can also be heroic based on context. Within the context of
the Civil war, my father did what the people wanted him to do, simple! He
didn’t act in isolation. At the time, the War was virtually over but simply
needed an official stamp to confirm what was obvious. Have you ever done any
research on the War? Have you read any book about it? If you haven’t, you need
to. My dad did exactly what the people wanted and that is why in the past 33
years they (the Ibo people mainly) have honored and continue to honor him.
Locally he has been honored and internationally he has been honored. How many
cowards do you know that are honored so greatly and sincerely? I guess you
expected my dad to single-handedly pick up a gun (which was virtually
non-existent in
You
indicate, rather boldly and sarcastically, that your tribal hero, Ojukwu,
handpicked the best coward in my father. Wouldn’t it have been easier for this
hero to stay back and perform the “cowardly” act rather than run off to the
Be
aware, and this is for your own good, that my father, like some of his other
contemporaries, had been honored before the War and beyond the context of the
War. My father served in the UN Peace Keeping Force in the
Wasn’t
your father alive during the War? Wasn’t he a man? What role did he play,
especially since it was his own people who were bearing the brunt of the
Federal assault? Why didn’t he fight? Why didn’t he do the heroic things that
you claim my father didn’t do?
I
don’t blame you for insulting my father. It does say something about your
upbringing. But, trust me, you really don’t count. Yours is a lonesome,
ill-informed, nutty voice in some obscure desert where brains haven’t yet been
invented. As I’ve stated, my father has been generously honored nationally and
internationally, so you are really quite irrelevant and dispensable. Trust me.
Nonetheless, can I request from you, whoever you are, not to insult my father
again. He is almost 80 and need not be insulted by a bigot who hates to accept
or deal with the truth. He has suffered enormously in his life-I know because I
am his son-and so, if you have nothing good to say about him, as ungrateful as
you are, then please don’t say anything about him.
If
you plan to engage in meaningful, fact-based, unbiased, unsentimental, and
non-insulting conversation, by all means respond to me. If not, please don’t
respond to me. The last thing I want to do is sink down to your degenerate
level of perception and thinking.
Enough
said.
Philip
U. Effiong (
Though a dark, dreadful and eerie aspect of our history,
I could not but enjoy and appreciate looking through the pictoral presentation
of the Nigerian Civil War! When the war broke out in 1967, I was 13. I was
captivated by the vividness of trauma of war captured in those monumental
pictures. Interestingly, I was also musing over the conspicuous absence of
General Phillip Effiong's picture when I ran into the feedback provided by his
son, Dr. Phillip Effiong. I could not but agree with him that General Effiong's
role in Biafran struggle deserves a place in the annal of Nigerian history.
Please, go back to the archives. I am sure, there will be pictures of this
noble Nigerian that could best reflect his contribution to the definition of
what we call
Michael O.A.
I wish to add to what must already be a long string of commendations.
Philip. All Biafrans (and that is not just Igbo people) owe you a tremendous
debt for your personal achievements and your online archive of Biafran history.
I also endorse the views of Philip Effiong jr. His father's General Philip
Effiong's role in
Dalu.
C.I.
London
I feel greatly fulfilled reading this part of the gory history of the
Biafran state. Honestly, it is the very first time i'm doing that, and am so
happy. I have always heard the phrase, 'on aburi we stand', but have hardly
been able to make out the build up. Its also my first time visiting this site.
I'll love to say, WELLDONE.
If
i have a thing to say, it is that those principles on which Ojukwu stood in
1966, has remained the crux of todays quest for national reconstruction. What i
tend to believe is, perhaps, given the tension in the country at that time, the
military would be unable to provide a fruitful solution to the crisis. But, we should
be asking ourselves, what lessons have we learned from that whole experience?
the answer is not far-fetched; 'we have learned nothing'. The crisis that have
engulfed
It
must be placed on record that no economy or society anywhere in the world is
developed by foriegners.
GOD
SAVE
Justus
Ekeigwe,
A Walking Encyclopaedia
Dear
Dr. Emeagwali,
I
went through your site and came across the webpage that carried pictures and
news articles on Biafra/Nigeria civil war. It was quite revealing as it was
educative.
I
am amazed that an individual like you could be an embodiment of a mass of
knowledge - a walking encyclopaedia. You are a blessing to the black race and a
gift to humanity. Keep up your good works and God bless you.
Chinedu
Anekwe,
I am really symphatizing with Biafran
Hello
Sir,
Happy
new year! How's everything I hope is well in Jesus name Amen.
I
am from
Finally,
I pray that nothing would happen in
Thank
you so much.
Alamba D. Dung.
NB:
My regard to all Nigerians and I'll always keep in touch. I am just 22yrs old
now.
I just read an interesting account of the Biafran struggle above your web
address.
I
worked in
it
is tragic that
Peter
D.
Stage Adaptation of the Biafran War
sir
l
have just finished an adaptation of the french revolution, and visited your
site on the biafran war. l want do a stage adaptation of the biafran civil war
which i intend to take around the Eastern part of
Charles
Ogu
ogucharles @ yahoo.com
Dear Sir
l
have written before on the above, looking for institutional link up in realizing
the Biafran experience on the stage to relive the experience for majority of
the people who didnt witness it. Dr. Stanley Macebuh of the Nigerian Presidency
delivered an alumni lecture at lbadan university in that regards. That has
actually fired my interest again. Please reply to confirm whether you got my
mail.
Charles
Ogu
[MSOffice11]
Congratulatory Message as one of the Biafran Scientist
To our Lovely Brother, Philip Emeagwali,
Congratulations
to you as one of the greatest Biafran Scientist as of today; God bless you and
your family in general AMen. Sir, since the formal president of America Bill
Clinton came to Nigeria during his time, through his speeches that he Clinton
made us to know that there is a Biafra Scientist like you, since then i have
been thinking of how to reach you. But i thank God that as of today i have
totally reach you through our e-mail address.
Please
Sir our scientist i welcomed you. First of all i will not fail to introduce my
name as Pastor Williams Okafor from
But
before April runs out my introduction must totally change as Williams from
United State of Biafra (U.S.B) I am a member of (MASSOB)and here we do hear
about our Biafran's Brother leaving Overseas; how they are supporting the
movement both financial expert of it. God bless you all Amen. Please Sir, there
is important thing i need all Biafrans Scientist to do as of now as we are
waiting to hear from U.N. for the annocement of our new birth
Sir,
there is one thing i need to share from you. I believe you can do a favour for
me. As of now i have a computer and also intercellular phone wireless phone how
can i use the intercellular phone with the computer to get connected to the
Internet without running on a Mast or via V-SAT because here in Nigeria, it is
only the rich people that set internet office with Mast or V-SAT. Why i am
asking this question is that, the company that sold the Intercelullar phone to
me told me that i can be able to have access to the Internet through the phone
using a set of computer but spending about some thousand for the phone with
hope that through it internet will be connected there. At last nobody can feed
me how to connect intercellular phone with set of computer to get internet
message.
Sir,
why i am interested in asking you these question is that you are the Father of
Internet, Bill Gate of
Sir
i lovely enjoy your interview in one of our Weekend News, I so pick interest on
you because you are one of my Biafran man. Please, Sir help me to get solution
to my problem which i complain to you, May the almighty God bless you. Amen,
Looking forward for your reply.
Thanks
from
Williams Okafor
Biafran Citizen
Long-Live Chukwura Emeagwali!
Long-Live United State of
deumudike @ yahoo.com
[MSOffice12]
Dear Mr Chukwura Emeagwali,
I
bought the week end news paper and came across a column which read ''BIAFRAN
SCIENTIST SHAKES THE WORLD'' after reading this column,I felt elated being a
Nigerian and knowing that i have a Nigerian brother that has made a land mark
achievement by designing the internet,makes me a proud Nigerian, irrespective
of what the world termed Nigeria
My
name is Momodu Oshiokpekhai Emmanuel.... [stuff deleted]
[MSOffice13]
Dear Emeagwali,
you
have tried by puting your experence of that horrible period the igbos went
through into history by recording it on your web site. Now one can go through
it all but what I regrate very much is the inability of
keep
it up
Chibuike
Agbugba
Biafran War Film Footage
Dear
Dr. Brown and/or colleagues,
I
am a film researcher working on an upcoming documentary about
Since
you were not there, I spoke with your boss, a very helpful gentleman from
I
found the website very moving and insightful. Please convey my thanks to all
involved.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth Thomas
visitliz @ hotmail.com
General Phillip Effiong and the Biafran War
This
piece is in response to the comments by Phillip Effiong, Jr. I agree with him
that his father (General Phillip Effiong) was a hero of the Biafran war.
However, I think he contradicts himself somewhat when in one breath he laments that
General Effiong "remains largely unacknowledged, even spurned", and
in another he admits that Igbos "have honored and continue to honor him.
Locally he has been honored and internationally he has been honored". If
the latter has been the case, what then is he complaining of?
I
think Phillip needs to understand that marginalization and disdain have been
the fate of all the other "Biafran" actors who distinguished
themselves in the war, including the heroic field commanders and the ingenious
inventors. The Nigerian state still habors an aversion to these people, except
for a few lucky civilians like MT Mbu who have been fully reabsorbed into
Nigeria's political economy. For obvious reasons, even Igbos despite their
admiration of the Biafran heroes have not found the political courage to honor
or immortalize them - no streets, no monuments, no institutions have been named
after any of them in any Igbo town or city. The best effort so far was the
controversial pan-Igbo honorary chieftaincy title bestowed on Emeka Odimegwu
Ojukwu on his return from exile in the early 1980s. So, if General Effiong has
been unacknowledged and spurned, he is not alone in that situation.
One
might also add that the General was a victim of unflattering circumstances that
were not his making, but which overshadowed his legitimate claim to heroism in
the war. The first was that he was effectively
By
the way, I think Philip's lengthy reaction to Leo's rash comment on General
Effiong was unnecessary, and the petty and abusive manner he chose put him in
the same category as Leo, and may have done more damage to his dad's
reputation. My impression of General Phillip Effiong is that of a fine
gentleman who would not blow his own trumpet in search of honor. Unfortunately,
the evidences Phillip chose to cite to establish his dad's heroism (service in
a UN peacekeeping force, life threatening situation in Kaduna, signing Biafra's
instrument of surrender, postwar detention by the Federal Government, and
unemployment since after the war) hardly come across as extraordinary acts of
heroism for any solder, much less for a war time General.
I
did sense some bitterness against Ojukwu and Igbos in Phillip's response to
Leo. I am not surprised because having lived in Nigeria since after the war and
studied the pattern of political alliances among its peoples, I know that the
sentiments that ran through his comments reflect the mindset of a vast majority
of the non-Igbo speaking Easterners. I am disturbed only because Phillip
sounded like he is very close to his dad, and one would naturally suspect that
his views on Ojukwu, the Biafran project and Igbos have benefited from
privileged discussions with the General. I hope this is not the case.
I
am glad to note, however, that General Effiong his still living. I think the
world would like to know his views in retrospect. So much has been written and
said about the war by people on both sides, a lot of which is either
self-serving, revisionist or full of myths and legends. Thankfully Emeagwali's
efforts, though quite limited in scope, is insightful especially because of its
verbatim transcription of the Aburi deliberations (from the very horses'
mouths) which is key to understanding the root causes of the war. General
Effiong's reticence about the war has not been helpful. I believe he and others
in the inner caucus of the Biafran side (all of whom have been much maligned)
owe it to themselves, to the entire victims of the war and to history to write
honest memoirs explaining the circumstances and facts that made the war
imperative, that sustained the war effort for three long years, and that led to
the eventual vanquish of Biafra. Ojukwu's 'Because I Am Involved' does not seem
to satisfy this need, and I hope he will fulfill his promise of a much more
detailed book. With most of the Biafran actors already over 70 years, time is
running out on them and they will have to work extra hard to discharge this
vital responsibility. I think Phillip should prevail on his dad on this issue, rather
than blame Emeagwali and other secondary sources for neglicting the good old
General in their commendable, albeit much constrained, efforts at telling the
story of the war.
I
believe it is important for us Nigerians to continue to discuss the Biafran
project and subsequent war in an objective manner. It is a major landmark of
our national history beneath which is buried much insight into and maybe
solutions to the problems that stiffle our aspiration for nationhood and
development.
Clem
Ugorji,
My views on the Emeagwali site
I
write in reference to opinions I expressed on this site regarding my father,
Obong Philip Efiong, and his role in the Nigerian-Biafran War. My initial views
were sent directly to the owner of this site, Mr. Emeagwali, who, with my
permission, decided to paste them on his site. They were not intended as an
expression of hatred or as an attack on any group of people, just as the
criticism of Nazi Germany does not necessarily imply hatred for all Germans.
They were also not intended to stir up ethnic sentiments and biases.
Subsequently,
there have been a number of responses to my views, most of which have been kind
and diplomatic, but some of which have been critically vicious,
confrontational, and ethnically charged. The results have been a series of
exchanges, a number of which I now consider unhealthy, misleading, and quite
irrelevant to intellectual or social growth. As such, I have requested that the
views I initially expressed be deleted from this site.
I
will admit that as Obong Efiong’s son my views and reactions were sometimes
laced with emotions that one should expect of a son who has witnessed his
father go through untold hardships. In other words, I have sometimes
overreacted. Overreacting in this way has resulted in my occasional use of a
rhetoric that has been impertinent and belligerent. I regret where I have used
words in this manner, especially in my communication with people like Mr.
Ugorji and Leo, and would like to express my unconditional apologies to them.
I
hold nothing against anyone or any group of people and, under the
circumstances, would express the same views if Chief Ojukwu were a Yoruba man
or a Ghanaian. I especially hold nothing against the Ibos who I have fervently
spoken for on such issues as the Abandoned Property controversy. I have also
unequivocally defended their right to peacefully settle and set up commercial
ventures in any part of the country without hindrance. Above all, I am part Ibo
and married to an Ibo woman.
Most
importantly, my father, who is almost 80, is still alive and continues to
remain healthy. He also continues to receive tremendous support from people of
all backgrounds and from various regions of the world. It would, however, be
delusional of me to expect 100% support for him. After all, even Jesus the
Christ (for Christians) was crucified by the people that one would have least
expected to carry out the act.
In
the end, I will stand by the truth and hope that the rest of us also put aside
our personal idiosyncrasies and stand by the truth too. This way, the truth
will prevail, as it certainly should.
Thank
you.
Philip
U. Effiong
[MSOffice17]
Hi Phillip [Effiong],
I
have just read the three mails you sent to me. Your third mail has overtaken
whatever comments I would have liked to make in response to the first two, and
I am glad that I read all three at the same time. Your withdrawal of the first
two letters has been noted and your apologies are accepted.
Nevertheless,
I would like to state that my comments on the subject were objective,
well-intentioned and non-insulting as a second, less impassioned reading would
reveal. I still believe that the only way we can heal the emotional and
psychological injuries inflicted by the civil war (which we tend to ignore or
deny) would be to engage in objective and tolerant discussion of the issues.
This is also necessary if we are to avoid the mistakes of the past.
I
am not an ethnic bigot; and my upbringing, education and exposure have
guaranteed that I cannot become one. Incidentally, we both share something in
common: my wife is Ibibio and I am a full-blooded Igbo. I am very attached to
my parents-in-law, and I spent the weekend before last Easter at Nnung Udoe, as
I always do when the opportunity arises. So you see, I have a vested interest
in promoting understanding and reconciliation among the different peoples of
the former South Eastern Region, who because of disunity and recriminations
arising mostly from the Biafran project have become a popular prey in
You
strike me as one from whom I can learn some things about the civil war, because
of your privileged position as the son of one of its key actors. Maybe, in
spite of everything, we can both find a basis for sustained interaction on the
issue. I would be glad if you would accept this hand of fellowship.
Thanks
and regards.
Clem
Ugorji
[MSOffice18]
Rejoinder to Philip Effiong, jr
Dear
Philip Emeagwali,
I
bomped into your web archive on the BIafran-Nigerian war today for the first
time. It is quite interesting and provides a lot information. I could not but
be caught by a sudden upsurge of emotions. The fact is that I was born during
this war and seeing those pictures (especially that of an emaciated mother with
her baby) gives me an idea of what I must have looked like during that sad
period.
I
also read with interest the observation sent in by Philip Effiong, Jr. I
totally agree with him that Major Gen Philip Effiong deserves a place in the
annals of
I
further read with a greater interest (and may be, some sense of amusement) the
exchange between Effiong Jr and Leo. I think both of them got a little bit
emotional in their exchange. But who will blame the younger Effiong for getting
emotional, after such an unwarranted attack and provocation by Leo? I would
like to remind Leo that the mark of an educated mind is the ability to face
facts and data, and to rise above personal (or tribal - clanish) sentiments.
But
at the same, I would like to make a final comment. This is with regard to a
statement by Effiong Jr. In his observation he said: "At no point, after
all, has a majority ethnic group accepted the leadership of of a minority man
or woman, except toward the end of the War when General Ojukwu took his
cowardly flight and left General Efiong to clean up his mess." Effiong Jr.
got it wrong here, because from the very inception of the Biafran as
independent nation the elder Effiong was the second in command, and that fact
is not contested, it was actually accepted and accords with the principles that
governed Ojukwu's administration of the Eastern Region, even before the
declaration of Biafra, namely participation of every ethnic group within the
region, in governance. Secondly, I would disagree with Effiong Jr that Ojukwu's
flight into exile is to be termed "cowardly". I should think the flight
a leader of warring people at time when their military strength has been
completely weakened is necessary in order that a peaceful negotiation for
surrender may take place, because as long he is there he remains a prime target
for the enemy army, and his presence symbolizes the continued struggle. I
should think the leaders and advisers on the Biafran part realized this when
advised Ojukwu to leave and then asked his secund in command to announce
surrender. Gen Effiong was very brave indeed and couragiuos. He did not fail
his people. He rose up to what was expected of him as the second in command, in
the absence of the Head of State, and he did it gallantly, just as he did had
always gallantly served both before and during the war, in his other
assignments. But Ojukwu was no less couragious. It requires a couragious leader
to realise that the "game is over". Think of ojukwu's words on
I
would once more want to thank you, Philip Effiong Jr, for raising these issues,
and I think those issues should be brought to the attention of the wider
Nigerian public. A true democracy cannot be said to exist in
Rev.
Fr. Emeka Okite,
Oriental institute,
--
Rev Fr Emeka Okite,
Oriental Institute,
(
[MSOffice19]
Thank you for the web site that presented so much information on the
Nigerian/Biafran situation. I was a teacher near
John
Sherman
shermco @ earthlink.net
Hi dr Donita.
Let
me introduce to you. My name is Mario Aydar. I am a musician. I live in
I
am not part of the scientific community, so that was the first time I've heard
about him and I got really impressed. I started reading his notes about the
civil war, saw the sad pictures and red his biography. What a nice guy. I don't
know why am I writing. Maybe because I felt so happy to know that the people
from the place that somehow in the past used to be my name where fighting and
showing us how to do it. That really moved me.
Sorry
for my bad English, say hi to Philip and THANKS.
Mario
------------------------------
I
am always very glad to visit this site. While the civil war was a tragic event
for the nation called
But
I must let you know that your site has cleverly failed to educate other
Nigerians that some Western Nigerians fought on behalf of the Biafrans.
Additionally, Lots of westerners were forced to join the federal army that
fought in the east. I personally witnessed Westerners being rounded up in
I
know for a fact that that if the Biafrans had not gotten to
Why
did you not mention the role that Banjo and other westerners played on the
Biafran side ?
Why
did not educate young Igbos and other Nigerians about what happened to people
like Soyinka during the war? I am sure that that the bitterness that some of us
westerners experienced from our fellow Eastern Nigerians in the USA who wrongly
believed that the west betrayed them will not disappear, but surely providing
some data as to the contribution of other ethnic groups within Nigeria may
assist some in understanding that the war was a tragic event in the history of
our nation I want to let you know that I supervised an Ibo man who almost cost
me my job because of his ignorance and bitterness because I am a western
Nigerian. But God is good, I also gained a good friend from the east who was
not as myopic as he was during the same period. I have been reading and
researching the war to gain better insight to his madness because of my
experience. I hope other Nigerians will never cross a bitter individual such as
this man.
It
is my hope that Nigerians at home and abroad will eventually recognize that we
are proud people with long history of peaceful co-existence. We have the facts
and history on our side. We are the chosen ones destined to lead
Finally,
you are a gem that all Nigerians should cherish. You are one of those few
Nigerians that in the
Sincerely
Tunde Agboola
tunde.agboola@verizon.net
Sir,
You
represent a large number of emotionally-scarred survivors and that is
immeasurably appreciated by we, the post-war Biafrans who long for truthful
documentation of these events. Driving by the veterans on the
As
my dad who was a surgeon throughout the war refuses to even hear mention of the
war, your poignant insight has been of great help. Simultaneously, your
accomplishments as a scientist leave me in awe and give me great hope for us
black people who in a wider perspective, have struggled so hard and so long. I
hope you can instill the same level of hope in younger, less-educated blacks to
go the way of science, and not money!
With
deep respect,
Ifeanyi
Udekwu
Klas
Ifeanyi Ikechebelu Udekwu
Department of Microbiology
Institute of Cell and Molecular Biology
Biomedical Center Box 596
Uppsala University
Uppsala
Sweden
September 20, 2003
[MSOffice23]
-----------------------
Thanks
a million for promoting the Biafran cause. We, Ndigbo, are really grateful, and
your name has been written in gold in our hearts.
George
Sokoto,
--------------------------
Hello Phillip Emeagwali,
My
good brother, the reason i am sending you this email is to let you know that
there is work for you to do, which i think you have not been doing, but before
telling you the work i will thank God for what He has been doing in your life. We
igbos in nigeria is proud of you ,many of us started to hear about you when the
former american president visited nigeria ie Clinton, he talked good of you and
say that you are the father of internet phillip i read one of the nigerians
weekly magazine which i granted an interview which you said how you and your
parent suffared during nigerian biafran war but thank God that you survived the
war but should know that over two million igbos lost their live during the war
and the injustice that coursed the war has double as of today, if you have
visited igbo land for the past fifteen years you will see what am telling you
how the nigerian government has been punishing the igbos. My brother, the work
which i said you have not been doing is to help igbos to get freedom from
I
myself that is writting to you is a member of movement for actualisation of
soverign state of biafra (masob). My name is Simeon Njoku,
Phone
234-8033059772.
God bless you
-----------------------------
Hi-Nwa Chi-ukwu,
Ezinwa
nne m kedu ka i di? It has been a long time we've not heard from each other. I
mail Donita to inform you of my times in
Prof.
Philip, you'r my good brother in
As
we are in the struggle for actualisation,we are not sponsored rather we use our
purse and I'll like to be the best in my business so that I can make money to
help in financing the movement.
Remain
blessed Ezinwa nne m.
Greg.
-----------------------
Dear
Hero,
Kedu
ka imelu?
Olu
ina anu ugbua bu olu si ebe di anya ma dikwa nso wee na-abialu gi. Obukwa olu
nwa
Kamgbe
mchoputara na obu nwa-afo
Nwanne-mmadu,
onwero ka ohamu n’onu kamana nkwa mna-ekwegi bu na agam na etinyekwagi na
ijeoma nnwagi na ekpere, na etinyekwa na ekpele ka umu
Philip
nwannem, gaba n’iru na ejim gi eme onu na Naijiria
Agam
acho inu olu gi
Jisi ike.
Obu
nwa
NDUBUISI EZUGHA.
------------------------
I
got through your site and felt proud to associate with you as an IGBO man.
Please, how possible could you use this site to champion the course of the
IGBOS in general; especially the young generation children of Igbos whom mostly
have taken to artisan trades due to parental incapability financially, to fund
them through high schools.
We
can still make something good from those children that have forgotten the path
to light in education, and choose to trade especially since after the civil war
of late 60s. Which I am one of them . The phobia still trails us.
Please
can you introduce a kind of science oriented programes in the south easthern
Thanks,
Nnaji
Michael Oguejiofor.
oguejimack1968y@yahoo.com
Chika
Nwokeji
chikaforme@yahoo.com
-------------------
More
Grease to your kneels. You are almost there!
Fellow compatriots of
Good
day, nno!
I
am a delighted son of Biafra born of Imo State Origin(Ohuba, Ubomiri in mbaitoli
Local Govt Imo), I have been reading through your various publications in the
web and others means of communication, and as a man of intellectual sense of
humor and a responsible Igbo son, I am to a very high degree fascinated by
these publications, so thats why i decided to inquire.
I
have for donkey years reading and visiting our beloved web site
www.biafraland.com and most other sites and most time when I go through these
pages, i hate my self for being not able to contribute in the actualization of this
freedom, but to God be the glory that I can pray for this dream to come true,
and He gave us people like you and most other illustrious sons of Igbo.
I
wish to solicit you for your tremendous and stupendous endeavors just to make
sure that this marginalized and victimized tribe of our forefathers and our off
springs, lives in a land where they would never be judged by their tribe or
language but by their individual achievements, so with due respect and humble
pleasure, I show my Support solidly behind you..................and I say MORE
GREASE TO YOUR ELBOWS.
I
am also delighted to tell you that as my humble self is in support of you, so
is it to every thing that breathes as far as he/she is of Igbo origin...in a
nutshell, WE ARE SOLIDLY BEHIND YOU. As for me now, what ever it would take
just to see that my mother land gains absolute freedom, believe you me, i would
do it! that is why i decided to contact you and to show my enormous
appreciation and recognition to your most impact making efforts......don't
forget to extend my most humble greetings and cheers to my Rel gems like Chief
Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu and Chief Barr. Uwazuruike and any other lover of
Good things or any other person who has contributed in one way or the other in
this fight for freedom......say well done to each and every one of
them.....tell them that another lover of freedom has written you again.......we
love and pray for all you over there.
Haven
will be our limit if they and every other son of our mother land Will continue like
this.
Recently,
I met a publication that we needs about one million Biafrans to write to the
British high Commision telling them to come and disammalgamate what they
amalgamated in 1914, so i wish to know more facts and then thier Email Address
so as to forward my own request.Considering the most recent killing of MASSOB
men I hereby if you desire declare myself humbly as a member of this non
violent organization, let them continue in killing innocent and eligible
children of God, as for me I fear no evil! My advice to any body who attended
the Ist post war int'l conference at Mary land Usa to stay there for now, cos
the tenants of Aso rock are deliberating on daily bases and are plannig to
exterminate this goal of freedom actualization by pehaps killing some prominent
interlects of our motherland.
Rejoice
all ye son/daughters/mothers/fathers of
When
the lord of Host shall start to show himself in our case, I tell you, mountains
shall be shaken, heads will roll, even the captives of the almighty shall be
taken away! its our time!
Hope
to read from you soon. udo na onuu nke onye we anyi diri unu nile ndi ihe oma
na adi mma.
Best
regards,
O
bum Nwanne gi na oso ahu make inwenta n'tozuoke na ala Nna anyi bu
Ozims
Oyinatumba
-----------------------------
[MSOffice28]
Memory Lane
Fellow
Kinsman:
Thanks
for such painful but wonderful memories.
So
many precious lives were wasted---their potentials never to be realized. Such
is the fate that every war deals mankind! However, as an old philosopher once
stated, "out of chaos" always comes some order. Mindful of this fact,
I always thank God, whenever I visit home, for having blessed us with a great
nation full of rich and diverse resources. Some order will come to
I
believe that brighter days await
Chisara
Sandra Nwabara
Attorney at Law
A
Response to Clem Ugorji’s Essay:
“General Phillip Effiong and the Biafran War”
It
is extremely unfortunate that this guy, Clem Ugorji, would spew such an
unwarranted and quite an annoying attack on Philip Effiong Jr. First of all,
why does Ugorji stand up for Leo? He sounds like an aggrieved lover defending
his girlfriend. If Philip made some kind of assault on Leo (who actually cast
the first stone), then why can’t Leo defend himself? Philip made no attack
against Ugorji. However, Ugorji, who is clearly blinded by his Ibo sentiments
and chauvinism, has chosen to defend his “girlfriend” and launch such an
insulting attack against one whom he should ordinarily hold in high esteem.
To
make things even worse and shallow, Ugorji attacks Philip’s father (General
Effiong) in the process. His assumption that somehow General Effiong has fed
Philip, his son, with the views he expresses is unproven and therefore unworthy
of this type of discourse. Without any proof, he shouldn’t make such an
assumption and subsequently insult General Effiong. He also insults General
Effiong by stating that all his involvements in war situations do not add up to
heroism? Has Ugorji ever been directly involved in war? What does he know about
war? Nothing evidently, otherwise he wouldn’t make such bold and brainless
comments. I would like to know what role his father or any member of his family
played during the war. None apparently. And yet such cowards are the ones to
audaciously refer to others as cowards.
I
also don’t see anywhere in Philip’s comments where he demonstrates hatred of
any sort for Ibos. And yet, again, this Ugorji guy accuses him of holding
something against Ibos.
Whether
we Ibos like it or not, our leader, General Ojukwu, was not with us when we
most needed him. We must therefore be grateful for those who put their lives on
the line for our sake, rather than insult them like Ugorji does. We hold
certain people sacred and would not speak against them, at least not publicly.
Thus, even though general Ojukwu left with his entire family after urging the
people to fight, we don’t speak against him publicly. He had, after all,
promised us that the “grasses” would fight if all else fails. He apparently
didn’t believe in this philosophy when he saw the need to leave. We would also
not speak against Dr. Azikiwe even though he changed sides in the middle of the
war. If we, and the likes of Ugorji, would not speak against such figures, no
matter what, then why would we speak against General Effiong and put him down?
Clearly, then, Ugorji’s motivation is ethnic bias and nothing else.
Whether
anyone likes it or not, General Effiong and those that were with him before
Shame
on you, Ugorji. Your ingratitude and arrogance is, sadly, unbelievable. If you
still have any iota of dignity in you, you should remove your miserable essay
from this site. I see that Philip actually apologised to you. For what? He owes
you absolutely no apologies. You should be apologising to him and, especially,
his father. That he chose to apologise and avoid such uncouth exchanges shows
him to be a man with class and dignity, qualities that you lack woefully.
I
think it is only appropriate that I apologise to Philip for your comments. I
also want him to understand that most Ibos hold his father and family in high
esteem. In other words, the likes of Ugorji and Leo do not represent the
majority of us.
In
the end, and in a seriously failed attempt at sounding intelligent, Ugorji’s
attack is little more than a great pile of perfumed garbage. It is also a
cowardly attempt at seeking cheep attention.
I
would have sent this response to Ugorji if I had his address. However, in the
spirit of fairness I request that this rejoinder be posted on the Emeagwali
site, just like Ugorji’s.
Thank
you.
Ihuma
Nze
ihumanze @ yahoo.com
-------------------------
[MSOffice33]
-----------------------
I
have studied most of the books written about
The
affairs that led to the civil war would have happened whether Ifeajuna messed
up his aspects of that coup or not. Why? The north had wanted some opportunity
to kill Igbos no matter what. Soyinka however showed in "The Man
Died" that the killings could have been reduced drastically by the
government but they chose not to. This was because where they wanted to they
stopped the murderers. Of course since that era, Igbos have been killed in the
north for trivial reasons. An example is the Miss World palava. Not only Igbos
though. All southerners especially christians are game when the north wants.
These killings are used as a tool for political coercion.
But
the war could have been avoided. The problem however is that Igbos lack leaders
who understand strategy. It is all about effervesence, bloated egos and empty
bigmanism (Chinamanda Adichie). From Zik to Orji Kalu it is the same. Igbos are
not hindered by unwieldly mores (except the nonsense Osu and also the male
diokpa inheritance trash), are mobile, physically and intellectually well
endowed, ambitious etc. but the weak spot is leadership, role modelling etc.
The secession should have happened five years after or not at all. But the
leaders could have negotiated all kinds of concessions that would still be
operational now. I don't want to give any examples, an observant person will
pick examples from contemporary international/Nigerian politics.
Well
done Philip Emeagwali. A nation that butchers its own people cannot become
great. A people who look the other way when a part is butchered will suffer.
People who kill others to make a point will always be dregs. So sad, so much
waste.
W.B.
-----------------------------
Dear
mr Philip emegwali
Its
really a thing of joy and creation worthy of recognition that a biafran
scientist will ever creat such an imprinting accord 2 another global history,
even at the modern edge of obsolete challenge 2 white people who are regarded
as the super creature. So it was in the commemorating landmark of a
mathematician stellar chike obi, who excelled the briafran name and marked the
feast of his time
I
am overjoyed to read about your daily growth and creativity in the field of
computer/electronics, after having read about your marvellous feast in the
vanguard of 95/96 respectively.
Well,
having built a political and skilful development in the field computer and
electronics, do not forsake your country especially the land of biafra where
your biological formation started while your assignment abroad is periodic do
not forget that biafra is a new and in advanced in the field of technological
development and therefore, your knowledge in the computer field will be of a
great yardstick to resuscitate the country of biafra.
I
am a biafran of the super heritage who wish for guidance to facilitate another
biafran feast.
Yours
Uzomah t. Peters. ----------------------
Hi
My
name is chuks .I am a medical doctor in the
chuks
----------------------
I'M
A YOUNG LADY FROM ULI IN IHIALA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF
THIS
IS THE FIRST TIME I' VE GONE THROUGH THE WEB SITE OF OUR GREAT COUNTRY "
NEW
I
KNOWN SOMETHINGS I DID KNOW ABOUT CHIEF PHILIP EMEGWALI. I HAVE ALSO SEEN
PICTURES OF HOW MY COUNTRY PEOPLE SUFFERED IN WAR THAT BROKED OUT IN THE '6Os.
I
PRAY THAT THE GOOD LORD KEEP YOU MOVING AND ONE DAY THE DREAM OF ACTUALINSING
AMAKA.
------------------------------
nwanne
mmadu ejim ezigbo oge were na asigi ma jisie ike na olugi nke ukwuu imego ka
mba
----------------------------
From:
"Gabriel Jiabana" gjiabana@hotmail.com
Thanks Philip (more grease to you)
Hi Philip,
I read the Biafran story and never thought that such
a web site do exist. Thanks for bringing to light the events that actually took
place during the civil war. I am still very proud that I am an Ibo man.
My dream is to shake Gen. Ojukwu's hand and thank
him for his love for Igbo people.
My Mother came from Mba family from
Thanks again, your website makes me proud.
Gabriel Jiabana (
From: Gregory Echewodo <gregobi2002@yahoo.com>
Subject: ezinwannem
To: emeagwali@emeagwali.com
Ezinwannem,
Happy
Xmas and New Year.
I
was more than happy to receiving your mail after a
long
peroid of time contacting you.
As
you told me to visit your web site again, I went
into
your web site and saw 22 MASSOB Activists docked,
Refused
Bail.
I
am a member of MASSOB and I escaped this narrow trap
because
I was caught the day we went to seeing the
Vectrans
of the civil war. At Orji river I was
arrested
and release when soilders of the New Biafra
came.
It
is unfortunate we do not have suponsors to helping
us
do some certain things that suppose be done to
aviod
all this arrest.
In
my ward, Nwannem, I am regrouping them to face the
challenge
by nest year. Either Onye Igbo achaa
I
do not know your say over this movement, whether you
support
it or you are against such movement.
I
will like to having any little support from you nif
you
are for anytime from this date.
I
and my ward can get these people bailed if we have
money
to have an activist lawyer.
Remain
blessed in the Lord, and remember your brothers
over
here for the freedom of our people.
Jisike
Ezinwannem
To:
donita.brown@emeagwali.com
To: donita.brown@emeagwali.com
Subject: Research project
Dear
Dr. Brown;
My
name is Donald D Black and I live in
I
have collected as much information as has been available on the internet as
well as purchased books which chronically detail the activities of these small
aircraft. I also have a neighbor friend that flew large relief aircraft
into
I
am wondering, that if by some stroke of luck, that your archives may reveal
some information useful to me, such as photographs of the aircraft, their
pilots, and particularly technical details of the aircraft that I may not
already have.
My
project is the "Biafra Baby" 905BB seen in sketches on the internet
and also in the Time-Life book "Soldiers of Fortune".
Possibly
you can refer me to someone familiar with the activities of von Rosens group.
thank
you for your valuable time,
Donald
D, Black
From: Aniekwe Maxwell
Chukwubike (Dr.)
Email aniekwem@yahoo.com
Dear Philip,
I was 3-months old when it started,& 3+ years when it ended-I mean the
WAR,that WAR.You were older,peharps luckier-I nearly died in my mother's arm
while she was fleeing from the federal troops with the rest of the
family;"see my child has turned red,he has changed colour,he is going to
die" exclaimed my dear mother-with sorrowful tears.Encouraged by an
uncle,they continued the flight.I am still alive today,but have no country of
birth-no not Nigeria,where is Biafra! dear Philip, where is our mother country.
I only heard of you sometime in the year 2004 from a not-very-llitrate
Biafran-who was only boisterously claiming that you are an Igbo man and could
not remember your name nor give further details about
you.Subsequently,searching the internet-hungry of the news about Biafra,you
were revealed to me.
I am overjoied,and thank GOD for your life,and that of many other great
individuals of Biafran origin.
In my own opinion,while we-Biafrans are still alive,the great Biafran nation
lives-on,it is only the eyes of those who are afraid of Biafra and that of
those of the international community,still refuse to see and recognise her!The
selfish voices of the powers that rule the international community continue to
claim that they do not want further conflicts in Africa.In the case of
Biafra,sitting down on issues concerning her recognition,the intl. comm. is
covering a poweful time bomb with a bare human hand.
The question I want to ask(to whoever),are Biafrans home and abroard really
making every effort to present a united front in this drive to restore their
home country.Have we learnt the international politics or are we still
displaying our bravity and inteligence in utter naivity-hoping that the
intl,comm, will come to our aid?
Max,lives in
To: philip@emeagwali.com
Igbos,
Emeagwali's tribe are in serious bondage in
Right now, Ralph Uwazuruike, who is fighting for self determination for Biafran
as a sovereign state(through peaceful means) has been kidnapped by the Nigerian
government. There are already fears that the government intends to murder him
as one of those who kidnapped him was said to have a syringe fall from his
pocket in the scuffle for his abduction.
We are calling on people of good will to step in on this to see that the
Nigerian government does not murder him.
Already we hear that the Nigerin government has contacted Emeagwali to be part
of their Space research project and we are using this medium to emplore him not
to be part of it. For there can be nothing in it for him or his people, rather,
when it becomes successful, it would be a veritable instrument of operation
against his people.
Thanks Emma Maduabuchi.
To: philip@emeagwali.com
Ironically,
it was out of chaos and war that Zik found his mission, his raison d’être. As
an Ibo who understood the basic philosophy and objective of secession, his
immediate inclination was to support the action of the head of the Eastern
Region and now leader of
Zik’s
support was manifest through an extensive but very low key tour of European and
African capitals to win recognition, support and aid for the new nation,
Zik
appealed for the intercession of the Organization of African Unity, the United
Nations and the
I
was privileged to be at Rhodes House,
The
last of
The
fighting that savaged
Best
of all, through the persistent urging and nagging of his many friends,
including me, he completed a work long in progress, his autobiography,
published in 1970 in London and New York, entitled MY ODYSSEY. Sadly, it was
never updated, so much of Zik’s later years are somewhat clouded. I do know
that he found much satisfaction in his appointment on
To: <donita@emeagwali.com>
Subject: A present - A Biafran Odyssey book
17 May 2005
Dear Philip,
I am writing from
I recently published a book tittled "A Biafran
Odyssey," which I would like you to read. I am aware of the time
restrictions a man like you must have to deal with day to day, but I was so
sure this is a book you, your wife or any other members of your family would
enjoy reading, I could not resist the urge to offer you a copy. As soon as
I get your go ahead, I'll dispatch one to you. By the way, your critique would
be highly appreciated! Meanwhile, stay blessed with your entire family.
Yours sincerely,
Chidi Giniji.
Memorable
Quote
"I want to see no Red Cross, no Caritas, no World Council
of Churches, no Pope, no missionary and no UN delegation.
I
want to prevent even one Ibo from having even one piece to eat before their
capitulation. We shoot at everything that moves and when our troops march into
the centre of Ibo territory, we shoot at everything even at things that do not
move... "
Benjamin Adekunle, a.k.a. "Black Scorpion," Commander, 3rd Marine
Commando Division, Nigerian Army.
Divine Cup of Wrath
By
OBU UDEOZO,
According to
Chinua Achebe,
“Udeozo’s poetry comes to us hot from the foundry of his restless
imagination.
He
is a natural poet ready to take on any subject that touches his people.
We
shall hear of him more and more in the years ahead.”
Divine
Cup of Wrath is excerpted from Cyclone - an anthology of poems
shortlisted for the 2005
Nigeria LNG literature prize.
a register
of
cadavers
outside the compass of trade routes:
in
yawning fabrics
or leaves
map the passage rites
of pilgrims whose luggage
eclipsed
in the fever of flight…
… roaring afternoons
snatch unwilling folks
beyond mortality’s curve
bullets pluck persons
from the
bulrushes
for
the elephants’ feast;
and our elders
bargain with death
in loud hunger-propelled night songs
Mozart and his loyal wife
dancing
away the cruel winter…
we have indeed drunk
the
Divine cup of wrath
promised our ancestors
the Jewish Holocaust
and
is
the same kolanut
offered our blindness.
and the Bible said:
“I swear by myself;
declares the LORD,
that Bozrah will become
a ruin and an
object of horror, of
reproach and of cursing;…”
Jeremiah 49:13
and Okigbo said:
“The
drowsy heads of pods in barren farm lands witness it,
The
homesteads abandoned in this century’s brush fire witness.
it:
The
myriad eyes of deserted corn cobs in burning barns witness
it:…”
- we endure
toxic echoes
of petulant babies’
veiled and expiring tones
for the sake of their community’s head.
air raids saturate us
with
fatality and fear
their electric birds
sow death
in our
farmlands and pillows
in tunnels and bunkers
we
rehearse the wisdom
of
rodents
and the comfort of ant-holes;
air raids saturate us
with
fatality and fear
and because we cannot sow tomorrow in our soil
starvation salutes us at day break.
MOUTHFULS OF
FIRE[MSOffice45]
our toothless telephones
snore before the shrines of cyberspace
is blind with Methuselah tools
after swallowing Titanics of our rank and file
after roasting our farmlands and crops
after excavating our pregnancies
with polished and perfumed axe
they are not appeased...
and before clouds of fire
we are silence,
before acid rain,
we are wailing walls
before a climate of fury
we are solemn prayers
Spread
for
Nero’s fanciful blade to roast.
our genes, genealogy
mother
tongue
and daybreak
owe their anger a quick sunset
we ripen into
flaming fangs...
the Asaba solution*
trails us from Churches to Sand
a tribe’s throat
swoons
before the insanity of cannons
Amen
was fried on our tongues...
London Observer
And Monsignor Georges
Rocheau, in an interview with Le Monde, on 5 April 1966 said, “There has been
genocide… the region between the towns of Benin and Asaba where only widows and
orphans remain, Federal troops having for unknown reasons massacred all the
men.”
Frederick Forsyth
endeavoured to chronicle this impossible statistics of atrocities in the civil
war. At one point he said: ‘At Awka, I saw the corpses of the occupants of a
refugee camp…. The men folk had had their hands tied before shooting; to judge
from appearances, the women had been subjected to appalling mutilations either
before or after death. The bullet broken bodies of the children lay scattered
like dolls in the long grass.”
oblivion is enshrined
in cruelty’s Coat of Arms
Igbo hatred is the Lingua Franca
and every fresh king
is a
shimmering apostle of exponential hate
their anger glows
their anger grows
their anger
sharpens at sunrise
because your executors
are not appeased
their revenge is aflame...
in rainfall,
a tacky dysentery afflicts our roads
and tuberculosis takes over in harmattan,
Mortuary
is the Emperor of the Eastern States
a people policed
into slavery
by
their kings
- we drink pipe-borne water in dreams alone.
and PILOTS
at the meandering course
are dribbled into dishwashing across the globe
and the golden boots
which sow Arsenal’s hat-trick in
the genius painting Pele’s miracle in
and laser guides the Pathfinder to Mars;
brains that beat Bill Gates
by lending supercomputers:
arteries,
velocity and cerebellum
are
suddenly dumb
over
roosters of Service Chiefs
and
lepers in monitoring our mutual shores
without one firm finger
on their switch of milk and honey
without one firm finger
on their switch of milk and honey:
a people who
export Bianca Onoh, Mary Onyali, Oyibo Odinamadu,
Obiageli Nnodu, Oluchi Onweagba, Chioma Ajunwa, Nikky Gilbert Onuaguluchi &
Co.; and supply Stephen Keshi, Chukwuma Igweonwu, Jay Jay Okocha, Kanu Nwankwo,
Philip Emeagwali, Bartholomew Nnaji,
Nnamdi Azikiwe, Kenneth Dike, Chike Obi, Chinua Achebe, Fabian Udekwu,
Christopher Okigbo, Ben Obumselu, Anthony lkeme, Arthur Mbanefo, Chukwuemeka
Odumegwu Ojukwu, Arthur Nwankwo, Celestine Ukwu, Osita Osadebe, Francis Ngwaba,
Ben Enweonwu, Pius Okigbo, Ralph
Uwazurike, Alex Ekwueme, Green Nwankwo, Joe Irukwu, Eddie Iroh, Dora Akunyili,
Chuks Iloegbunam, Gregory Lekwuwa, Benard Ogbonna, Charles Chukwuma Soludo,
Macauly Onuigbo, Maik Nwosu, Bona Ezeudu, Beze Adogu, Okechukwu Oko, Ike
Okonta, Chidi Umeano, Obiwu, Uche Nduka, Obi Nwakanma, Basil Okeahialam....
witness their seedlings
swallowed by gutters across the globe
forced to spit upon their gods...
Your offspring are gwonjo hawkers worldwide
delinquency devours
the
genius of your folks. . . .
“the goat
knows its fodder
the leopard on its
trail...”
we share
fatal finitude
with
Scarlet
Macaws, Dorcas Gazelles
Siberian
Tigers, Fire Finches, Tiny-
Golden
Tamarinds or the latent eclipse of Oryxes...
oblivion
awaits us
on the
obverse of the worm-hole....
our
genes, genealogy,
mother
tongue
and
daybreak
is
extinction bound
- and
they are not appeased
we
owe their anger,
BLINDNESS...
OPERATION
KPOCHAPU[MSOffice47]
with swords longer than one year
and sharper than acid
horse
whips and python clubs
they combed the teeth of every rock
armpits
of mountains
bowels of
forests
and surveilled ant-holes across the land
for Igbos to roast across the land
waves, upon waves, upon waves
trainloads, trailers, and trucks,
in wheelbarrows and body bags;
football fields and market squares
their
massacre was aflame...
Igbos blossomed in graveyards
saturating
streets
with
blood and bones
from
Kafanchan to Fadan Karshi,
from
Igbos
were cleansed
from
rooftops and market squares
until the
ocean vanished
and the
sea surrendered
her last
plea of moisture...
-and they are not appeased
their
revenge is aflame...
the universe froze
at the ferocity of mankind
darkness ruled the hearts of men
and daylight
vomited blood
and reconstructed graveyards
groaned from saturations afresh
in streetsful of dead Igbos
the climate was:
blood and bones
but these they labelled flies
void census and statistics
for their revenge is aflame...
with the pogrom’s switch
in automatic mode
and the 3-year war on song
Nweke Udeozo
my father said:
witness history’s first
colour blind marriage across the compass;
Communism and the West
in a strange and sudden tango
to pepper Igbos with
one annihilating blow...
Agrippa
and Pilate’s
romance
over
the blood of Christ
and our brothers
arrived in fractions
our brothers
arrived as spare parts
Gabriel
Okoh, Theo Okeke, ...
Chief
George Mbonu; and Mrs. Adekunle whose knife
is sacred
but her teeth craves forbidden meat:
punctiliously
signalled Nwandu to the assassins...
from
rooftops to market squares
until the ocean vanished
and the dark census awakes:
CASUALTIES
DURING THE 1966 POGROM AND 1967 TO 1970 CIVIL
WAR.*[MSOffice49]
Mr. Brown Agbogu of ATMN Bukuru
Morris Okam
Nwibe Enweani
Samuel Anudu
Mr. C.C. Nwokoye of Akwa
Mr. Nwari of Awka (All of these killed in Jos)
Mr.
Nweke Ufele
Godwin
Okeke of Nguru fame
Clement
Nwankwo of ACB Nguru
Eric
Okonkwo of Gusau
Iliemene
Nweke Mene
Louis Nwoyeocha
Reuben Nwandu
Oji Okoye Okwubunne
Emmanuel L. Nkwocha
Nwankwo Okika
a grim chronicle from Enugwu—Agidi, a mere single
town,
out of the several hundreds of towns and cities in
Nwamadi
Ifitezue
Uyanwune
Ifitezue
Ernest
Onyejeli
Anthony Ofoedu
Simon
Onwuemene
Bernard
Okoye Nwune
Benson Ogu
Okeke Okwubunne
Nweke Nwine
Okonkwo Nwine (genealogy wiped)
Mgbeke Nwine
Kutanya Okoye Igwikolo
Moses
Okoye Nkili
Nwafor
Okongwu
Nweke
Ivenso
Okoye
Nmoh
Okonkwo
Ego
Ementa
llodigwe
Okeke Odigili Ama
Ofoedu Ivenso
Okoye Enweana
Okeke Ibeki
Nwokike Ibeki
Aghaegbune Okoye Akuakor
Nwafor
Anagor
Oranu
Okolobu
Nwamadu
Idegwu
Hyacinth
Ibeki
Nweke
Okonkwo Ego
Nwanne
Okoye Anagbogu
Reginald Okeke
Odii Nwaku
Andrew Anikpe
Okeke Arize
Okoyenta Onuorah
Joseph Ifitezue
Felix
Ifitezue
Nwanebe
Ifitezue
Okoye
Ifitezue
Mgboye
Ifitezue (nee Igboanugo)
Nwokeke
Kameme
Mgbafor
Enemmor
Nwamgboye Nwolisekwe
Mankwocha Nwokoye
Okekenta Okoye
Okafor Ndife
Nwankwo Igboanusi
Nwankwo Eligwo
Okeke
Anaduaka
Nweke
Chilete
Okeke
Akamala
Christopher
Okafor
Chidebe
Ogadi
Afocha
Nwankwo Adunma
Eric Obunabo
Chukwuma Okafor Akuafor
Onyeibo Ani Modozie
Agwuncha Nwokafor
Nwanmadi Mgbajiaka
Anene Uluekwu
Nwanyaegbo
Nwankwo
Okafor Patego
Tabansi
Anaoji
Mgbekeocha
Ogadi
Mgba
Nwodu Anareñe
Nwije
Ilozor
Mankwocha Udeozo*
Peter Ilozor
Mgbeke Okoye
Eric Anenwe
Nweke Nwego (and his wife)
Anaso Igboanugo
Ojukwu Añuta
Thomas
Anenye
Anakpu
Okonkwo
Nwufo Mokwuo
Nwaku
Nwufo
Patrick
Nweke
Cordelia
Ilozor
Ejiofor Chinyelu
Ilojianya Chinyelu
Nwaomunu Chinyelu
Mgbeke Chinyelu
Josiah Nwandu
My Paternal Grandmother
died
Sunday
Josiah Nwandu
Chukwuma
Okonkwo Uchendu
Mgbeke
Uchendu
lwuchukwu
Okonkwo
Nwandu
Okonkwo
Okafor
Obuah (and his wife)
Okoye Onwurah
Okoloudo Nkeakwa
Nwafor Ifenacho
Okafor Ejinaka
Nkwocha Nwokoye
Nwaku Nkwocha
Cecilia
Nkwocha Nwokoye
Nechi
Nkwocha Nwokoye
Mr.
Iwotor of the
Mr.
Onyali of the
Meniru
Ikpeamana
Amechi
Okoye
Peter Nwaneki
Peter Nogeli
Samuel Okoli
Okafor Chilete
Patrick Onuorah
Onuorah Okeke Nwanma
Bernard
Okeke Nwanma
Christian
Nwaneki
Nweke
Obiorah
Nathaniel
Nmoh
Eduzor
Nkwonta
Abalaora
Chieme
Okoye Menu
Nwobu Egwuekwe
Christopher Egwuekwe
Nwakuabia Obiorah
Akueke Mbonu
Mgboye Isidaenu
Chieme
Akunkwo
Uchenu
Okeke
Nwezele
Igboekwe
Mgbeke
Anaeme
Okoye
Nwanyaka
Ekenma
Dozie
Okafor Duaka
Unoaku Morah
Jeremiah Nwankwo
Nwamgboye Egwuekwe
Ekpe Nwaogalanya
Caroline Ikeanyi
Akuekwu
Nwoyeocha
Albert
Igboanugo (and his wife)
Okoye
Mgbeke
Nwoduijele
Nwanisobi
Nwambu
Ogadi
Nwude
Nwokeke
Paul
Okafor
Onuekwusi
Enumele
Nwanna
Enemmor
Okoye
Enemmor
Nmonwuba
Okoye Enemmor
Chigbata
Okoye Enemmor
Okoye
Anawana
Anyaora
Uregwu
Daniel
Ayeke
Okeke Ofiaeli
Chinwude
Okoye Ezeudu
Simeon
Ezete
Anaesolu Ezete
Jonathan Nwankwo
Silvanus Okonkwo
Joseph Omaefi
George Okam
Innocent Omaefi
Nwafor
Obike
Ekemezie
Enunwoke
Innocent
Okwubunne
Mgboye
Mpuatu
Ojukwu
Duaka
Nwoye’gbune Okeke
Mgbogafor Modozie
Ebenezer Omaefi
Okoye Nwanyakonwu
Okeke Nwanyakonwu
Tabugbo Duaka
Chianumba
Okeke
Ibeki
Obuorah
Obed
Oraegbune
Nweke
Nga
Onwumelu
Nnangwu
Moses
Okoye Nmoh
Patrick Onyekwelu
Solomon Okeke
David Amanambu
Chidume Okonkwo Ego
Eric Obunabo
Onuorah Okeke Egwuekwe
Onuorah
Amazigwom Enweani
Nwankwo
Udozo Nebeolisa
Nwamadu
Ojukwu Nweneteanya
Chinwuba
Okonkwo Igweonwu
Benedict
Ekesi
Ogbonnia
Richard Okonkwo
Nwankwo Ifenacho
Cecillia Ifenacho
Ugoye Ifenacho
Nwankwo Nwegbo
Nwora Okafor Onwanuo
Anyaegbune Anameze
Felix
Anameze
Biamali
Anameze
Margaret
Anameze
Mankwocha
Anameze (nee Nechi)
Nduba
Onwudi
Nworamali
Anagbo
Okoye Anaefune
Mankwo Anafune
Okoye Ogalanya
Ifeanyi Okolobu
Benson Akabueze (and his wife)
Ifeanyi Akabueze
Chidebe
Okeke
Nwamadu
Anaduaka
Okoye
Nwogo
Nwankwo
Okafor Obodoaku
Jonathan
Aguolu
Josiah
Aguolu
Emmanuel Okeke
Anene Chedom
Okoye Aguigwo
Okoye Ibeilo
Ibeilo Chukwura
Okoye Emekwisie
Ojukwu
Mgbajiaka
Umeadu
Ilora
Lewis
Ekwealor
Nwankwo
Akunkwo
Okonkwo
Ilora
Nwoye
Nñuli
Jonathan Duaka
Hyacinth Mpuatu
Nwanyaerie Chukwura
Okonkwo Ekesi
Nwonwu Ayaebu
Nwilo Aguolu
Okonkwo
Nwanyako
Ibegbune
Emekwisie
Mankwo
Nnanyelu
Nwankwo
Nmo Aghogbune
(and
his two wives)
Okolo
Duaka
Victor
Okoye Akuakor
Mgboyeocha Okoye Akuakor
Theophilus Okafor
Nwafor Obike
Nweke Chedom
Okafor Obidike
Nwankwo Onwuakpa
Philip Ezendu
Okonkwo
Uregwu
Okafor
Nkilo
Nathaniel
Uzoka
Nwanaebene
Obuogu
Nwobu
Igbo
Nwokonkwo Nwadogbu
Nwudu Nkilo
John Aghuche
Paul Okonkwo Nonyelu
Agbonma Nweke Mkpaja
Obed Agwuncha Okafor
Augustine
Nwandu
Nwanjo
Okeke
Chinwoke
Ibenegbu
Chiedozie
Egwuonwu
Sunday
Okonkwo
Nkwo
Anyaorah
Sussana Anyaorah
Obeleokoye Ekeokwu
Nwankwo Ubosi
Isaac Nwobu
Ozo Nwobu Maneke
Nwanna Okafor Duaka
Ugonwa
Nwokoye Chinweaku
Akuekwu
Nwokoye Chinweaku
Nwunye
Joel Udeze
Adolphus
Ndulue
Anakwuba
Okeke Ama
Nwoye
Okeke Ama
Mgbafor Udeji
Nweke Nwanadile
Michael Okafor Aru
Alice Okafor Aru
Igwevi Ogadi
Nwanaigwe Okafor
Okeke
Onunkwo
Uchendu
Ovulunne
Nwaku
Anyaorah
Alexander
Ezue
Amoge
Ezue
Ogechukwu
Igweonwu
Anyanechi Nwalado
Jacob Nwabuji
Mgbeke Nwabuji
Anyankwo Nebechi
Onuorah Obunwa
Emerenti Obunwa
Obiageli
Onuorah (nee Obunwa)
Tagbo
Obunwa
Ilonwa
Onyeocha
Nwoye
Onyeocha
Njideka
Okeke Odogwu
Anene
Okonkwo Anawana
Nwafor Okonkwo Anawana
Jerome Okoye (Captain Lee)...
The Late Children of
Sampson C. Okoye
of
Chika
Okoye
Ngozi
Okoye
Nkemdilim
Okoye
Josephine
Okoye
Nwakego
Okoye
Osita
Okoye*
*First cousins of the
poet who perished in the Biafran War.
This list however, does
not include children and adolescents,
whose memories have
curiously been swallowed by Time.
- dead
Igbos
were dumped in decimals:
left femurs, three-quarter trunks, cracked
clavicles,
crushed girdles, limping ears, yanked genitals,
flying heads,
precursors of the Gideon Akaluka arrogant show
unscratched cadavers
putrid
and wet
mutilated bodies, babies, foetuses
which
fanatical axes split
waves, upon waves, upon waves
of dead
Igbos
saturated a season
and
but these they labelled flies
void
census and statistics
for
their revenge is aflame...
their revenge is aflame
and foists slavery upon us
their revenge is aflame
Ironsi, their revenge is aflame
and fake lions flee
your memorials in
but garnish the anniversary of Butchers
with Harvard tinted grammar and champagne
Igbos flee
from your memorials across the land
for their revenge is aflame...
every
blade of grass
fed
the massacre
every
tributary
fuelled
the graveyard
every
face of earth
pumped
profits of Igbo blood
every
village
boasted
kilometres of martyrs
every
cycle of slaughter
amplified
their outrage
we fell
in swoops and squadrons
in
trucksful and trainloads
an
African
with
an
African Gallipoli
with
“fanning the embers...”
-
prognosis of the debacle in Hamman Gog.
Igbos
perished like locusts
some
buried alive
but at
last
spread
for
Nero’s fanciful blade to roast.
their
swords, guns, pickaxes, and python clubs
drank the
blood of kings and merchandise
but they
are not appeased
-
their anger is aflame...
so they chase us
beyond the jugular
profaning our Ikenga and Cross
uprooting our teeth alive:
pixilated, our nativity’s Ogbu Chi
battles the pityriasis of hatred
for their revenge is aflame...
they chase us
into twilight
with castration as their Coat of Arms
our regression as Constitution
subliminal slaughter punctuates our footsteps
a dirge escorts our toil in every sphere
and now that the first pilots
are dishwashers across the globe
and without one firm finger
on their switch of milk and honey
this bearded cruelty blossoms
because they are not appeased...
our oblivion is their goal
their
anger glows
their anger grows
their
anger
sharpens
at sunrise
Major General J. T. U. Aguiyi Ironsi
their revenge is aflame....
- by Obu
Udeozo.
[MSOffice1]Military Atrocities 30th October 1968 Major General Henry T Alexander of Great Britain talking to a Nigerian soldier during the observers investigations in Nigeria into the Biafran charges of genocide during the war.
[MSOffice2]Philip
Emeagwali,
[MSOffice3]Biafran soldiers at river bank.
[MSOffice4]A Biafran child at a Catholic feeding center, east of Oguta.
[MSOffice5]A Biafran child at a Catholic feeding center, east of Oguta.
[MSOffice6]A Biafran refugee at a Catholic feeding center, east of Oguta.
[MSOffice7]Umuahia,
[MSOffice8]The Biafran Flag
[MSOffice9]Emeagwali was 12 years old
when the 30-month Nigerian-Biafran war started in June 1967. Because 50,000
Igbo civilians were killed, his parents withdrew him from
Photo:
Emeagwali (far left, sitting in front row) at
[MSOffice10]Bianca Odumegwu Ojukwu, Philip Emeagwali and Dale Emeagwali
[MSOffice11]Joan Baez And Jimi Hendrix Chatting
Folk singer Joan Baez and rock singer Jimi Hendrix chat between acts at a
Biafran Relief Benefit show at a place in Manhattan called Steve Paul's Scene.
Both Miss Baez and Hendrix performed free of charge and Hendrix contributed
$500 cash to the fund. The benefit was to raise food and money for refugees of
the Biafra-Nigeria Civil War. © Bettmann/CORBIS Date Photographed:
[MSOffice12]An artist's rendition of the genocidal killings of civilians in African wars
[MSOffice13]Nigerian Boy Squats; Crowd @ Unicef Truck
Original Caption:
[MSOffice14]Women & Children Get Food At Refugee
EMEAGWALI's NOTE: While living at
[MSOffice15]Soldiers Standing
Original Caption:
[MSOffice16]Biafrans Running For Military Training
Original Caption:
[MSOffice17]Ibo Tribesman Inspecting Rifle
Original Caption: An Ibo tribesman inspects a rifle during young soldiers'
training at the camp at Owerri. After their initial training, the soldiers go
to join the front line forces in
[MSOffice18]Biafran Soldier with Rifle
Original Caption: The gun the soldier is holding is described as as Communist
AK-47 rifle. Sources at the
[MSOffice19]Starving Biafran Woman Lying On Mat
Original caption:
EMEAGWALI's PERSONAL NOTE: My father was the refugee camp nurse at
Many refugees died from Kwashiorkor and were
unceremoniously buried at the camp backyard. The refugees in our camp were
those that fled the Asaba massacres.
[MSOffice20]Editorial Reviews
Book Description
War Stories: A Memoir of Nigeria and
The memoir
began as a diary kept by John Sherman when he lived in
The book
shows Sherman's evolution from being pro-Biafran (he had attempted to return to
Biafra, but was unable to get there, so he joined the Red Cross on the Nigerian
side of the civil war) to someone who saw the good and evil on both sides and
who quickly understood the futility of all war, particularly the one he became
so personally involved in.
From the Author
This is, unfortunately, a timely book. Sadly, a book about war and the futility
of war is always a timely topic. Although the story I tell took place 35 and
more years ago, I am confident that readers too young to remember the events
will, nonetheless, benefit from the story and learn a piece of history that, at
the time, held the world's attention. Those who do remember can relate to the
tragedy described in the book. Being a memoir, it is a highly personal view of
a broader situation, but readers of the book who were not aware of the events
described have found it compelling.
[MSOffice21]Colonel Ojukwu,
[MSOffice22]Wole Soyinka was imprisoned during the Nigerian-Biafran Civil War.
RECOMMENDED
The man died: prison notes of Wole Soyinka by Wole
Soyinka
Reviewer: |
David Jackson ( |
This is the story of Soyinka's 27 month period of imprisonment at the hands of the Nigerian government. Unlike, say, Nelson Mandela's autobiography, which generally casts a similar subject in its wider political and social contexts, this is fundamentally a personal account, painfully private at times. Essentially, Soyinka found refuge from the brutality inflicted upon him by retreating into and living within his own mind. At times he drifted about the frontiers of madness, hanging on to his self by a thread. At others he pondered, listened, watched, like only the truly otherwise unoccupied can. And, importantly, he also managed to scrounge paper and a pencil from time to time and record his journey of motionlessness. For those interested in the human mind, this is a rewarding book, and I highly recommend it.
[MSOffice23]Federal Troops Watched By Biafrans
Villagers watch a group of Nigerian federal troops in a Biafran town.
[MSOffice24]Malnourished Nigerian Child
Original Caption:
[MSOffice25]Mother with Starved Child
Original Caption: Nigerian mother and child with their empty food bowl. © Hulton-Deutsch
Collection/CORBIS Photographer: Dempster Date Photographed
[MSOffice26]Refugee Child W/Bowl At Food Dist. Ctr.
Original caption:
EMEAGWALI'S PERSONAL NOTE: On about this day
(
[MSOffice27]Yakubu Gowon Holding Press Conference
Original caption: Nigerian Federal Leader Major General Yakubu Gowon (wearing
peak cap with red band) addresses a press conference in
[MSOffice28]Customers Observing Yams at
Original Caption:
[MSOffice29]Village 5-8 km north of Umuahia. The village was bombed in October 1968 by the Nigerian airforce-2
[MSOffice30]Children
in a village 5-8 km north of Umuahia. The village was bombed in October 1968 by
the Nigerian airforce
[MSOffice31]Medical
clinic in Mabaitoti - Owerri.jpg
[MSOffice32]Medical
clinic in Mabaitoti - Owerri-2
[MSOffice33]Emeagwali and his family were part of this crowd
that fled from heavy artillery attacks and a few hours before the Nigerian army
captured Awka. [Photo: The Fall of Awka,
Life Magazine,
[MSOffice34]Medical
clinic in Mabaitoti - Owerri-3.jpg
[MSOffice35]Police
officer at Ubulu near Uli airport.jpg
[MSOffice36]Soldiers-during-training-near-Umuahia.jpg
[MSOffice37]soldiers-on-the-umuahia-aba-highway.jpg
[MSOffice39]Soldiers-on-the-Umuahia-Aba-Highway-2
[MSOffice40]Village
5-8 km north of Umuahia. The village was bombed in October 1968 by the Nigerian
airforce.jpg
[MSOffice41]Benjamin
Adekunle shooting “at everyting that
moves” in
[MSOffice42]Benjamin Adekunle, a.k.a. "Black Scorpion," addressing his 3rd Marine Commando Division
[MSOffice43]Politics Civil War
[MSOffice44]Undernourished-chlid-at-Queen-Elisabeth-hospital-in-Umuahia.jpg
[MSOffice45]By Obu Udeozo
[MSOffice46]Village
5-8 km north of Umuahia. The village was bombed in October 1968 by the Nigerian
airforce-2.jpg
[MSOffice47]By Obu Udeozo
[MSOffice48]Egyptian pilots flew Soviet Jets that blasted
several homes in Emeagwali’s neighborhood. [Photo: Nigerian bombing raid,
[MSOffice49]By Obu Udeozo
[MSOffice50]Egyptian pilots flew Soviet Jets that blasted
several homes in Emeagwali’s neighborhood. [Photo: A searching for her daughter after a Nigerian
bombing raid, Life Magazine,