Professor Ukwu .I. Ukwu is a Biafra-Nigeria war veteran. He left as a Lieutenant-Colonel in the Biafran army. Also, he served during the post- war government of Ukpabi Asika, the late Administrator of the old Eastern region. And between 1970 and 1975, he served as the Com­missioner for Trade and Industry, and Finance. In his view, ongoing calls and agitations by the Indig­enous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) is uncalled for and would do no one es­pecially South-Easterners any good. He spoke with HENRY OKONKWO. Excerpt…
I’m sure you are aware of the prevalent agi­tation by Pro-Biafra groups in many parts of South-East and South-South. As a war vet­eran, what’s your view on this development?
Why are they calling for Biafra? It is because they are expecting their circumstance to change but they are not seeing any prospect of immediate change. So, they are protesting going back to a period they know nothing about. Most of these protesters have no knowledge about the civil war, all they have are stories from those there during the Biafra time, and those who have different views for or against the ideals Biafra stood for. So, my advice for those protesters is that they should realise that we live here and now. And if they are to call for Biafra, they should take time to understand it by going back to do a thorough study of history about Biafra, how it came about and how it was run.
However, we must take time to listen to them and find out their problem, and why they are calling back for Bi­afra.
Pan-Igbo group, Ohaneze Ndigbo, South- East governors, and community leaders have all distanced themselves for the calls for secession. How relevant then should these pro-Biafra groups be viewed?
You are trying to simplify complex issues. There has never been a time where there was a general agreement on anything. So, when a situation arises, people take di­vergent positions. When people are taking position, you investigate to find out why they taking such position, and what they really want.