Thread by @OguneweLkj

BIAFRA REMEMBRANCE DAY MESSAGE

I spent a good part of my time yesterday, May 30, remembering our fallen heroes and the journey we have embarked on from the Civil War till this very day.
Ndi Igbo ni le, Ala Imo nwem, bikonu, #Ozoemena

The impact of the war still ravages us as a people, mentally and psychologically. I was a little boy during the war and lived through the horrific experiences until its end at the age of 7.

My father, Col. David Sunday Ogunewe (N/34) fought gallantly for Biafra and was the Military Adviser to the then Head of State of Biafra Gen Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu.

These memories come with pride reminiscing the courage that is innate in Ndi Igbo.

It comes with honour seeing how we have rebuilt our economy from the paltry sum of £20 we received from the Nigerian government. It also comes with deep pain seeing what we lost. Again #Ozoemena.

Arguably, over 2 million Biafran souls perished in that war. What have Ndi Igbo gained since then, pursuing this same cause? Nothing but loss of more lives and more sorrow.
In Rwanda, people don't talk about the experiences of their Civil War.

It is very sad that in Nigeria, the horrors of the civil war continue to receive very poor attention, and it is constantly being pushed to the back burner.

I want to use this opportunity to call on the rest of the country, to accord some respect to such an experience, to provide some soft landing for the continuous process of healing to be quickened.

This would foster unity among all the tribes and strengthen the agitators to surmount their emotions, doubts and fury and embrace the future.

I also want to seize this opportunity to call on Ndi Igbo in Imo state and all over the world, to come together as one and embrace unity

and peace as it is the only way to development and an economic revolution.

We must soar above anger, depression, pain, and emotions and look towards a bright future that is ours to take.
We must look backwards to the glory days of the Eastern Region and soar above the present

obstacles to seek its rebuild.

We must remember the dreams and visions of our great fathers like Nnamdi Azikiwe, Michael Opara and our own Sam Mbakwe to receive the strength to make their dreams our own realities.
We must avoid the single story of the Civil War.

Before the Civil War, there was the great and economically thriving Eastern Region. It had leaders of high repute and standards. That was our story before the War. We must not continue to dwell on the single story of the War. That story blinds us to the greatness of the Igbo

spirit and our innate abilities to build thriving industries.

The industrious spirit of the agile and creative youths of Ndi Igbo should not perish in bushes. Why handle guns and bullets when those same hands can create food, tech solutions and gadgets?
Ala Igbo, let us arise

and look forward to the great future that lies ahead of us. Indeed, this is a new dawn.

Indeed, the world awaits us.
Indeed, we have the challenge of creating the biggest economy in Africa.

Why languish in a quest to reborn our painful past?

Our fathers paid the price for freedom with their lives. We must accept their sacrifices as wholesome. No Igbo man needs to die again for that cause. Let us sheath our swords and accept the sacrifices of our fathers. Yes, we are now free.

They did not die in vain. So, we must stop dying for the cause of freedom.

I make bold to say that we are free in Ala Igbo. We have governors who are answerable to us. We have other traditional and political leaders in all the tiers of government who we can hold accountable.

We must hold them accountable now. It is time to begin to see ourselves as free people who have something to prove. If Biafra would have been better for us, we have a chance to prove it now.

Not by dying, but by building. Not by fighting, but by innovating. Not by secession, but by meaningful collaboration.

We have various industries to develop and protect. The world is now a global market. We have a global stage to prove ourselves.

Why continue to lament about the existence or non-existence of marginalisation on a small national stage, when we have the continent and the globe to contend for unhindered? Insecurity steals from us all.

We have a beautiful cultural heritage to be explored for tourism. I have been following updates on Twitter from one of our industrious sons, @Jack_ng01, and I share his sentiments. We have fertile lands to be explored for Agriculture.

We have bright minds that can build a global tech industry.
All these opportunities would remain challenged if we continue to agitate for Biafra and breed insecurity in Ala Igbo.

My government would engage all the agitators and stakeholders, meaningfully, towards a peaceful eradication of insecurity in Ala Igbo. Also, we would continue to reiterate that the Federal Government put measures in place to accord the sacrifices, courage and pains of our

fathers and all Ndi Igbo every respect, honour, and pride it deserves to quicken the healing process.

This is a clarion call, umunnem.
Sheath your swords. We had a glory, even in Nigeria, before the war. Let us begin this journey to restore our past glory.

The war has come and gone. We have a destiny of greatness to fulfil.
Our fathers await that glory.

#Ozoemena.

Humbly at your service - LKJ