Uzokwe's Searchlight


By implication, the story of the heritage and ancestry of Emeka Okafor and many other Igbos like him would never be complete without a mention of the bravery of men like the ones at the Oji River.
Monday, April 12, 2004


Alfred Obiora Uzokwe

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INJURED BIAFRAN WAR VETERANS AT OJI RIVER:
ABANDONED AND NEGLECTED



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bout 34 years ago, one of the most brutal and devastating wars in the history of Africa came to an end; it ended about three years after it began. Prior to the start of the war, 'experts' had predicted that it was going to last only a few weeks with the less favored side capitulating. That popular prognostication, which fell short in the end, was predicated on the fact that the less favored side was completely outnumbered and had little or no arms and ammunition to defend itself. Also, all the major superpowers gave their support to the expected 'victor'. The war in question was the Biafran war and it was the dogged courage of young men who stood tall and vowed not to allow their land to be trampled and desecrated without resistance that prevented the possible annihilation of a whole tribe. Hundreds of thousands of the young men paid the ultimate price in the process while some sustained physically incapacitating injuries that made it impossible for them to live independent lives thereafter.

When the war ended in 1970, many of these incapacitated Biafran war veterans were herded into an encampment at a place called Oji River, in the present day Enugu state. There were no elaborate plans by the Igbos, especially those in power then, to rehabilitate their heroes. Unwilling to roll over and capitulate in the face of overwhelming odds, the Biafran war veterans started begging for alms along Enugu - Onitsha road in Oji River. Every time one traveled the road, it was not uncommon to see the ex-soldiers sitting in their wheelchairs by the side of the road, cup in hand and with arms stretched, begging for money. From time to time, 'good natured' Igbos would stop and put some money in their cups; surprisingly, there were others that would just pass by and look the other way as though the wounded soldiers were a bunch of lepers. It is both shameful and unfortunate that 34 years after the war, the veterans are still out there doing the same thing without meaningful help from the people they suffered for.

Not too long ago, in one of my writings published on Nigeriaworld, I mentioned the fact that the Igbos seem to have quickly forgotten the sacrifices of the men who fought so that they would live. I particularly lamented the plight of the incapacitated war veterans at the Oji River and wondered why the so-called Igbo leaders have refused to intervene meaningfully. When that article was published, a reader emailed me and said that the dereliction of the soldiers at Oji River was part of the price that Igbos had to pay because "Biafra was defeated". While that statement sounds logical on face value, it is not a good excuse. There is an Igbo saying that, "onye ajuru aju, anaghi aju onwe ya"- meaning, just because people despise you does not mean that you should despise yourself also. Biafra may have been defeated but the Igbo tribe is still alive and well and making immeasurable contribution towards the advancement of the human race all over the globe, thanks to the war veterans. The least that surviving Igbos could do for these brave men is to rehabilitate them meaningfully and gainfully. It is not enough to herd them into an encampment and then look away.

It is shameful that the Igbos, including this writer, have such a problem in their backyard but have failed to address it promptly. It is usually not the Igbo way to go out begging for alms, but these men have been forced to do so for decades because of the life altering injuries they have and because their kith and kin have refused to help. Some Igbos even seem irritated by mere mention of the Oji River debacle. They avoid the topic like plague for reasons best known to them. They do not seem to realize that only a fool seeks to jettison his history and heritage and that he who does not know where he is from, will hardly be able to tell where he is going. Barnaby Philips of the BBC once wrote about this matter and lamented the fact that many years after, the heroes of the Biafran war were still out at the Oji River begging for alms. That should not be

This is a clarion call for all Igbos. The suffering of the war veterans at Oji River must be seen as the suffering of all Igbos all over the globe and must be treated as such. The first step would be for the governors of the Igbo states to band together and develop a common purse for the veterans. Use the money for job training and rehabilitation. Some of these heroes now have wives and children that live in the encampment with them. Scholarship funds for their children would go a long way in helping them. Also, the Ikemba Nnewi should lead a fund drive and bring together well-to-do Igbos to make donations towards this worthy cause. It is my understanding that Governor Achike Udenwa is taking steps geared towards helping the war heroes. That is good but more needs to be done on a larger scale. The other governors must now follow.

I was moved by the interview granted by Emeka Okafor, the Uconn basketball phenomenon. He mentioned the fact that his father's education was interrupted in Nigeria by the Biafra war. By extension, one can say without fear of contradiction that he is here today, making Nigeria and the African continent proud, because of the bravery and courage of men like the ones in Oji River encampment. Also, by implication, the story of the heritage and ancestry of Emeka Okafor and many other Igbos like him would never be complete without a mention of the bravery of men like the ones at the Oji River. Why then are the Igbos, including this writer, shirking their responsibility towards this men? Why?

HERE I STAND