My Krossroads

The Ikemba Nnewi, Chief Chukwuemeka  Odumegwu Ojukwu,  cut  an imposing figure as he sat in his living room with his close aides savouring the victory of America’s President elect Barak Obama. For a man whose place in Nigeria’s history books cannot be erased he was surprisingly unassuming. Chief Ojukwu had just celebrated his seventy fifth birthday and anyone looking at him would never guess he had come thus far.

 

He led the Biafra to war forty one years ago when he was 34 and as the then military governor of the federal republic’s Eastern Region, he proclaimed independence from Nigeria in May 1967. The move followed the region’s steadily deteriorating relations with the government of Lieutenant Colonel Yakubu Gowon, which refused to take action after northerners massacred thousands of Ibos who had settled in the Northern Region. After the failed war, he fled into exile and retured in 1980 after receiving an official pardon.

 

The war which left millions of people dead, remains indelible in the minds of many who lived through it.  Nonetheless, for many Nigerians it is a love hate relationship for the man popularly refered to as Ikemba (the strength of the nation). Though many still blame him for a major disaster in the country’s histroy, to his people he is a hero and an icon who commands tremendous respect, love and admiration

 

Meeting with him at his Enugu hiltop mansion was quite overwhelming because I  was about to set a date with history. It turned out to be quite an extremely enlightening experience because I was able to learn first hand more about a civil war I had only read of.

 

THERE HAS BEEN A LOT SAID ABOUT THE NIGERIAN CIVIL WAR, TELL US ABOUT IT?

 It was a war of emancipation, emancipation of my people, the Ibo’s from continued marginalization. The inequality existing at the time was such that the Ibo’s needed to resist and it was this, which prompted me to take up the mantle of leadership. It was to eradicate what I felt was a grossly inappropriate situation. The war which broke out in 1967 lasted for about three years. It was a struggle of independence from Nigeria. For me it was an opportunity to offer the best for the Ibo people, and allow Nigeria see the best of my people. Finally, the war was caused by certain people I have mentioned in the past, one of which is the former Nigerian Head of State General Yakubu Gowon, who used it as a weapon of rationalising the coup de’tat.  

 

WHAT LESSONS ARE THERE FOR NIGERIA?

War is never the solution to a crises, and Nigeria, today can progressively unit the existing factions and further strengthen relations through discourse which is a powerful unifying force. Nigeria can and should mend and build bridges across divides and seek to maintain peace. Personally, I have contributed in shaping the path of Nigeria through my desire to ensure equality at all levels. Nigeria must reconstruct and restructure all available avenues to assist its people in continually moving the country forward. Finally we need to look beyond tribes and people.

 

ARE YOU GROOMING A NEW LEADER TO TAKE UP THE MANTLE OF LEADERSHIP?

 Groom anyone; I don’t believe in that, No one groomed me. I saw what I felt was an unfair situation at the time. All I had was the courage to stand up and fight for a change. That was the only option at the time.

 

WILL NIGERIA STAY UNITED OR SURVIVE?

 Yes! Nigeria will stay united; it is evident in our everyday life today. I believe I helped chat this course, a process that began with the Biafran war forty one years ago. Today, Nigerians can coexist, maintain peace and justice.

 

YOUR THOUGHTS ON PRESIDENT ELECT, BARAK OBAMA?

 Ever since I heard the news this morning I have been soaring because this is a major accomplishment, for the entire black race. I am glad it happened in my lifetime, it simply says, nothing is impossible. Anyone can achieve what ever he sets his mind to. Besides, this should be an eye opener for every one, particularly Africans that the sky is the limit and there are no impossibilities. Nigerians – Africans can achieve the impossible. Nothing is impossible.

 

WHAT DOES HIS ELECTION MEAN FOR AFRICA?

It reinstates confidence in the African man, particularly so for young Africans who can set their mind to accomplishing anything and really believe that they can. There is hope for Africa.

 

HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE REMEMBERED?

Pausing for a long while, Chief Ojukwu pondered – That is a difficult question but I guess I would like to be remembered as some one who came and changed the course of history in a positive light, I want to be remembered as someone who contributed to the positive upliftment of my people.

 

LOOKING BACK, ANY REGRETS?

 I made mistakes but I don’t blame anyone for what ever happened in my life. For what ever happened, I made my choices and what I won’t do is blame anyone, I just do not believe in the blame game.

 

PRESIDENT OF NIGERIA, YAR ADUA IS ABOUT A YEAR IN OFFICE, HOW WOULD YOU RATE HIS PERFORMANCE SO FAR?

 I have not seen anything, he has done, what has he done besides appoint people to key positions, has he done anything?

 

NO.

 

WHAT ABOUT THE 2010 VISION?

I DON’T KNOW what the 2010 vision stands for, Nigerian are still expectant on having the right machinery in place to move the country forward, Do you know what it represents?

 

HOW CAN NIGERIA MOVE FORWARD?

The good news is Nigeria is moving forward and it will continue to move forward.

 

DID YOU WIN THE WAR, WOULD YOU SAY YOU SUCEECED?

 

Yes! We did, I did win the war. The war was not lost.

 

WOULD YOU SAY YOUR RELATIVELY PRIVILEGED BACKGROUND INFLUENCED THE DECISIONS YOU MADE?

I really do not know. I did what I had to do at the time for my people.

 

THERE IS A SCHOOL OF THOUGHT THAT THE IGBO LANGUAGE WILL BE EXTINT IN THE NEXT TWENTY YEARS WHATS YOUR OPINION?

 That a lie, the Ibo language will outlive everyone of us. It will stay on for generations to come.

 

HOW MUCH WILL THE NIGER DELTA SITUATION AFFECT THE UNITY OF NIGERIA?

Anything can affect the unity of Nigeria; I think we are playing with fire.

 

HOW DO YOU SPEND YOU TIME NOW?

I like to spend my time in good company, usually with friends relaxing with good bottle of wine. My children are another source of joy for me. If you had come in earlier you would have met my youngest son who is an enormous source of joy for me, I look at him and wish him to make an impression wherever he goes, and I particularly ponder on what kind of life he will have at seventy five.