The Action Alliance (AA) flag bearer for the November 11 governorship election in Imo state, Gen Lyncon Jack Ogunewe (retd), has advised Igbo youth to sheath their sword and avoid remembering the bad experiences or trauma associated with the 1967-70 Nigerian civil war.
He instead urged them to focus on the new Nigeria that holds great future for them.
Ogunewe said even though these memories come with pride reminiscing the courage that is innate in Ndi Igbo and with honour seeing how they rebuilt the economy from the paltry sum of £20 received from the Nigerian government, it also comes with deep pain to see what they lost during that war, especially as over two million Biafran souls perished. It means that they gained nothing other than loss of more lives.
He said in Rwanda, people don’t talk about the experiences of their Civil War, but in Nigeria, the horrors of the Civil War continues to receive very poor attention, and it is constantly being pushed to the back burner.
He seized the opportunity to call on the country to accord some respect to such experience in order to provide some soft landing for the continuous process of healing to be quickened.
He added that it would foster unity among all the tribes and strength the agitators to surmount their emotions, doubts and fury and embrace the future.
General Ogunewe also called 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 an economic revolution.
He said, “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 rebuild it. 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 single out 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 youth of Nd’Igbo should not perish in bushes. Why handle guns and bullets when those same hands can create food, teach solutions and gadgets?”
