Tribute to Okotie-Eboh,Biafra is dead says obasanjo.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday led a galaxy of Nigerian leaders to pay tribute to the memory of the country’s first Finance Minister, Chief Festus Okotie-Eboh.

It was at a colloquium and book launch in Lagos to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the killing of Okotie-Eboh in the ill-fated coup of January 15, 1966.

Earlier yesterday in Abuja, the former president passed a blanket verdict of death on the renewed call for a sovereign state of Biafra which is currently being pushed by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

In his remarks at the Okotie-Eboh book launch, Obasanjo said: ''Exactly 50 years ago darkness enveloped us. Many of us who were in the military were taken by surprise. Even many of us did not know where to go or what to do. That we are able to gather here today to celebrate his life whatever their deficiencies may be, is a testimony that they gave their best. For many of us it was a monumental tragedy. It was an event that altered the course of history. I have had the opportunity to say that God is a Nigerian. Whatever way you look at it, that event shook the foundation of this country.

''I think the only event that shook the foundation of this country was the civil war. That we have those on the political side and civil service, shows how important this event is. In every event, we learn lessons, even if the lesson is don't let it happen again. And if that is the only lesson we learn as a result of the remembrance of Okotie-Eboh, may it never happen again.''

Awosika, a daughter of the deceased said: ''My father was a true Nigerian, who was connected to the Igbo, Hausa, Ijaw, Yoruba and every tribe. He was a great a man. He brought us up without fears. My father and Tafewa Balewa were murdered because of Nigeria. They knew there would be a coup, but they remained in the interest of Nigeria. We can't ask for a better today to put history right. In his time, he made every thing beautiful.''

Biafra is dead….

Earlier yesterday in Abuja, Obasanjo passed a blanket verdict of death on the renewed call for a sovereign state of Biafra.

Obasanjo said that such call for secession or severance from Nigeria by the group was a hopeless and futile exercise. He described its originators as being desperate and exploitative.

The former army general who reportedly led the Nigerian troop to victory over the Biafran secessionist army and effectively ended the 30-month old civil war in 1970 stated at a development discourse organised by the Nextier Advisory that Biafra as a secession issue was dead and the renewed agitation for it was done in error.

He spoke alongside other panelists such as a former chairman of the Police Service Commission, Chief Simon Okeke, former editor of the NEXT, Kadaria Ahmed, as well as West Africa Editor of the Africa Report, Tolu Ogunlesi and veteran journalist, Chido Onumah.

All of the panellists had their views which appeared slightly different from that of Obasanjo at the session that followed the former president’s opening remarks.

The session was moderated by the principal partner Nextier Advisory, Patrick Okigbo.

Obasanjo who insisted that his position on the issue was firm, however stated that the renewed call was from the frustration of frontline supporters of the agitation. He said that they must not be allowed to go on unchecked.

He also added that such should not be accorded any inadvertent helping hand to make it to national limelight, insisting that he would never support calls for Nigeria’s breakup.

Centering on the Biafra agitation, 46 years after the end of the Nigeria-Biafra Civil War, Obasanjo said that he considered the renewed agitation as a platform for attention, amelioration, and improvement of the socio-economic conditions of youths in the south east and Nigeria in general.

According to him, the agitation was a cry for the Igbos to be noticed and that it was not bad for the Igbos to use such to get more from the Nigerian State but without violence and disruption of public order.

Obasanjo also said that he would rather entertain requests for dialogue, debate and discussion on how the country could get it right from its bad steps in governance but not secession of an entity.

“Biafra as a secession issue is dead and nobody should follow that way. It can again only lead to disaster. But I see this resurgent Biafra agitation not for secession or creation of an independent entity from Nigeria but as a cry for attention, amelioration and improvement of socio-economic conditions and situation especially of the youth in Nigeria in general, but in the south east in particular-a call by the youth of that region for transformation. I see it as a platform rather than a cause,” he explained.

Obasanjo had irrespective of other panelists’ disagreement of his dismissal of the Biafra agitation, maintained that the exercise was a futile one in which no serious-minded persons should embark on.

“They need to be understood because lack of understanding with its appropriate remedy will drive them further into the hands of demagogues and opportunists who will thrive on their desperation and frustration, turning it into criminality and extremism against their parents, community leaders and elders, regional leaders and elders and against national unity, ethos and values,” he stated.

Obasanjo in this regard counseled President Muhammadu Buhari to maintain a statesmanship posture in his management of the country’s affairs.

“The solution is first for the leaders and elders in the south east to caution realism and sanity among the youth and for the president to prove that Nigeria is his constituency. He should act like God who gives rain to the good and bad, the just and the unjust in the world equally as the world belongs to God in totality.

“The solutions lie in education, awareness-raising, youth acquisition of skills, youth empowerment and youth employment. Above all things, good governance at all levels is the key solution.

“The welfare and wellbeing of the citizenry with equity, justice and fairness must be the main pre-occupation of government at all levels”, he said.