BIAFRAN WAR VETERAN- LATE GEN. JOE ACHUZIA.
Following continuous demonstration by Pro. Briafra agitators and the subsequent killings of their members by security operative,Pillars News magazine sought the views of a former Biafran warlord,General Joe Achuzia shortly before his demise few years ago. Otherwise known as Hannibal or Air Raid. The Asaba born General a former secretary-General of Oha na Eze Ndigbo and chairman board of Justice Igbozulume before his demise – a creation of Pan Igbo Nation bares his mind on various burning issues on the continuous demonstration by Pro-Biafran agitators.Pillars News Magazine decided to republish the intervie.
Quest: Numerous killings were reported in various places in the South East as they were protesting the continuous detention of their leader Mazi Nnamdi Kalu sometime ago and more recently is theOnitsha massacre by pro Biafran agitators.What is your take on this?
Ans: I am not in agreement either with the people demonstrating or the people that are killing. I don’t see reason why they should demonstrate. You can see the young men don’t understand the issue. Their leader Nnamdi was arrested sometime ago with two different passports, Nigeria and Britain. That alone
makes him a suspect. The judge however considered his stand and granted him bail. The Federal government was not happy and rearrested him within the court premises. I gathered he was asked to recant his “hate statement” but he refused. He refused to own up and recant freedom. I do not know why they were demonstrating about Kanu who refuses to accommodate within the law and charged with treasonable felony. My thought was that Kanu should let go. The Federal government should release him unconditionally to us; let us know to handle the matter with the leaders within majority of Igbo nation. Holding him much longer is making us captive, the government should now take this wise decision. We condemn the hate campaign, we don’t like it.That doesn’t mean that when your son makes mistake you forsake him. We don’t want to be involved. Those demonstrating are another bride born during or after the war. Wole Soyinka stated thus “A seed is sown, germinates and grows. The question is how the farmer is going to handle the growth. It is either he weeds the unwanted or makes other alternative to make it yield good harvest”. I don’t know how to explain this but the elders should be counted out .During the war we sent the little children dying of Kwashiorkor to Gabon, Britain, America and other countries because we were afraid of extermination. In Britain they formed Biafra- friendship society. Such society was also formed in America. These children are now around and they want to be identified with the name Biafra. Most of them are only asking for an identity for which they were known.How can they succeed when their fathers have made tremendous investments all over Nigeria? Who are they leaving those investments for? They only want to answer Biafra. To me if they are called Biafrans it has not changed anything.I think those who are not happy the way the war ended peacefully are causing problems and making people killed.
Ques. President Buhari has been tackling corruption, what is your candid assessment of his administration so far?
Ans: Evil that men do lives after them. I remember that when President
Yaradua died a young South South gentleman ascended the office. He was considered too young to handle a big country like Nigeria, Goodluck came from the former Eastern Nigeria predominantly the largest Christian community in Africa. But some people say he should not rule and if he rules
they will make the country ungovernable for him through creating rooms for
corruption and other vices.In such a situation people won’t obey the law, which is the citadel of
corruption- the evil that men do lives after them. Providence has a way of
doing his things. The same groups of people that said that will make Nigeria ungovernable are
now around the corner.The present administration needs to flush them out and clean the
table. I admire the stance of Buhari, he started with the issue of tackling
corruption he has the courage and believe he can show corruption out of the
system. It took him time to assemble his men and appoint ministers. He made good
appointment, he did not pick from the crucible vice.
Ques:Okowa is about ending hi first term in office as the Governor of Delta State ? Is he carrying the entire
states along in his smart Agenda?
Ans: This is the first time a majority ethnic group is producing a governor for the state. There are three geopolitical zones, south, central and North. The North from where Okowa came is more populous yet the previous governors came from South and Central. The late Felix Ibru came from central; Ibori came from South and Uduaghan South. There were issues raised concerning State capital Asaba. Some people said “let Asaba be the Capital but only in name. For the first time the North is producing a governor. As a state Governor he has done fairly well.I think he can do more.I believe there will be a tremendous change in governance but I have not seen a thing that pin points change yet as a country.The economy is getting hard.The price of things are doubling almost a 100%.The media should be properly positioned to take the seeds out of the chaff. They should not look for issue that does not exist but should assist to enhance the smooth running of governance. Okowa is a gentle man, great politician who has passed through many hurdles to be where he is today. I knew him even when he was local government chairman.I believe by the time he will be rounding his second term in office. He would have a lot more than what he has now.