Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire
Apr 12th, 2011 by admin
Over 500 Nigerians returned to the country from Abidjan Cote d’Ivoire, after living in the country for many years. Many of them believed to be from Osun state, in the South West, Nigeria arrived in their town with no fanfare. These Nigerians had more or less made the West African country their second home. Today, the story is different as majority cannot remember their exact homes or trace their families because they have lived away for a long time. Sadly, these refugees in their country of origin are nowhoused in transit camps in the state. Two of the refugees, Wale and Idowu left Abidjan unplanned; though happy they aresafely in their country. They spoke at length on their losses, as nothing could ever be done to replace what they had lost.Faced with the unpleasant situation of not been able to locate their families and no longer able to speak their local dialect, Yoruba was sad. Communication and movement is difficult, making their homecoming a very unhappy one.One of the returnees recounted his horrible experience in the hands of Gbagbo’s supporters, who shot at them if they identified themselves as Nigerians. Cote d’Ivoire was divided into a rebel-controlled north and a loyal South by a 2002-2003, civil war. The country was officially reunited in a 2007 peace deal. The post-election violence which went on for well over four months took its toll on its citizens claiming an unspecified number of lives, all civilians. With the capture of Gbagbo yesterday, who declared himself president after his opponent Quattara, was named winner of the Presidential election last year. The mini war in Ivory Coast has come to an end. The country’s first president, the late Felix Houphouet-Boigny ruled the country for thirty three years. He reportedly claimed that African Kings die on their thrones; with this he denied his people the opportunity to elect their own President. When he died in December 1993, the country was pervaded with insecurity and instability. Then Laurent Gbagbo who challenged the old order assumed power. After controlling the reins of power for over ten years he should have bowed outbut he passed off the opportunity to bring about the much needed change his country needed. For Alassance Quattara,”it is thedawn of a new era of hope”. As the time to time to begin rebuilding is now. Though, saddled with the task of effectively charting a new political path, the focus is trying to put his country on the path of growth. The burden will no doubt be experienced by the citizens as they grapple toreunite a deeply divided country, trust and learn to love again. On the other hand, the International community has to intervene and help to put things back on track as the banks set to reopen, sanctions are lifted and the European Union allowed to resume the exportation of cocoa. The President has the main concern of alleviating the suffering of Ivorian’s, healing ethnic and religious wounds created by the war. And ensuringthose who returnare made to feel at home.