For April 24, 2009

Fellow Biafrans:

If you do not know it yet, a new Star has risen in Africa. The world used to think that, naturally, such a position was reserved for Nigeria, even as other African countries were wanting to look up to Nigeria; while on its part, Nigeria, in its self-conceit, assumed it—that Nigeria is already that star of Africa. In this mien, Nigerians deluded themselves and lived in make-believe "happy," oblivious psychological denial; and the world acquiesced to Nigeria’s pretense. Well, reality has set in. Welcome, Ghana!

Yes, Ghana. Ghana does not boast of a large population like Nigeria does. Ghana does not boast of a large territorial endowment, either. It has natural resources, but does not noisily throw its weight around the world because of such, like Nigeria does. Today, Ghana is run so well that the Western world and other developed nations have set up camp and shop therein, a stamp of approval and a vote of confidence in the progress, potential and future of Ghana. Ghanaians are not stopping to celebrate or resting on their laurels: no, they are busy working harder to continue to improve their own country and make her shine more brilliant and for the foreseeable future.

You know this about Ghana, of course. These days, aren’t Nigerians sending their children to Ghana for education, after Nigeria destroyed the Education System in Biafraland? These days, aren’t Nigerians moving their businesses to Ghana, after Nigeria destroyed all infrastructure supporting Business but especially in Biafraland, and after specifically suppressing businesses in which Biafrans are traditionally engaged? Didn’t Ghana just demonstrate to Nigeria (Africa, too, and the rest of the world) that clean democratic elections are now part of their national profile where Nigeria only proudly shows off its election rigging skills, of which they brag to the rest of Africa and the world? Ghana is star stuff, the center of Sub Saharan Africa, if not the entire Africa.

Fellow Biafrans: you must now pay attention. How did Ghana get here? Recall, in 1983, Nigeria expelled over a million Ghanaians from Nigeria, in a campaign aptly characterized by the expression, "Ghana Must Go," the visual symbol of which was the cheap bags of plastic woven into makeshift luggage that Ghanaian refugees fleeing Nigeria used; and currently popularized in Nigeria as the infamous "Ghana-Must-Go bags," the customary vehicle for looted money exchanging hands among Nigeria’s corrupt. Expelled from Nigeria, the Ghanaians never looked back: they did not beg Nigeria to allow them to remain on Nigeria’s soil; they did not disappear and go underground in Nigeria; they did not cling to Nigeria, no. They left Nigeria, period. And, most went back home to Ghana. They never looked back. There, the Ghanaians worked hard to transform and develop Ghana, their own country. In a little over 25 years, about one half of one generation, the results of their efforts have already started paying off. The future of their children and grandchildren, and that of Ghanaian youths, is bright. In the present, all Ghanaian citizenry is enjoying the fruit of their hardwork, and have opportunities for fulfillment. Compare and contrast that with the state of affairs in Nigeria which they left twenty-five years ago, a place without future and without potential, where the present is more hellish than Hell itself.

What did Ghanaians do right? They remembered their own identity: they are not Nigerians; they are Ghanaians. They remembered that they have a right to belong—not to Nigeria, not as aliens in Nigeria, but—naturally in, and to, their own country, Ghana. They remembered their unique culture: it was not Nigerian; it is uniquely Ghanaian. They were determined to work hard to rebuild, not expecting immediate results, not minding the immediate and future personal cost or sacrifice, not waiting for their neighbor to do the work, or refusing to do the work on the suspicion that their neighbor might be the beneficiary. With a single-mindedness, the Ghanaians kindled and ignited their Star: it shines today, a veritable beacon to those who are willing to follow the path of correct action.

What can we, as Biafrans, learn from Ghana? Look no further than the foregoing. What can we, in imitation of Ghanaians, do to get ourselves out of the jam, the refugee status and slavery called Nigeria? Well, look no further than the above—the same thing that Ghanaians did, as they did it, when faced with similar though not identical circumstances in Nigeria. In 1966, Nigerians expelled us Biafrans from Nigeria. Since then, Biafrans have been crawling back and clinging to one-Nigeria. This is exactly contrary to the response of Ghanaians when expelled by Nigeria, which response has led Ghana to its current Star-of-Africa status. We have to do what Ghanaians have done, how they have done it. This is how: Remember our own identity: we are not Nigerians; we are Biafrans. Remember that we have a right to belong—not to Nigeria, not as aliens in Nigeria, but—naturally in, and to, their own country, Biafra. Remember our unique culture: it was not and is not Nigerian; it is uniquely Biafran. We must be determined to work hard to rebuild, not expecting immediate results, not minding the immediate and future personal cost or sacrifice, not waiting for our neighbor to do the work, or refusing to do the work on the suspicion that our neighbor might reap the benefit thereof. With single-mindedness, we, Biafrans, can and will also kindle and ignite our own Star, shining right next to Ghana. This, we must do. A word is enough for the wise.

Whose hand is in the fact that today, brothers Uchenna Madu and all the other MASSOB members / Biafrans are still in Nigeria’s jails?. How is it that Nigeria claims it has granted some of them bail, but they still languish in these jails? How is it that Nigeria shows no interest in prosecuting them, having finally admitted, in so many words, that Nigeria has no case against them in the first place, yet a fresh batch of our people and MASSOBians was grabbed in Enugu / Awka area by the Nigeria Police and thrown in prison about one year ago? We will not relent until we get them out—all of them.

Biafra alive! Because it is God Who makes it so.

That’s the News Analysis for the week. Thank you.

__________________________________________________________________