Features

What My Father Told Me About The Biafran War – Osita Chidoka

Published

6 months ago

May 31, 2020

Victor Okoroafor

As the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB celebrates and honours its fallen heroes and heroines, many Nigerians of Igbo extraction, Saturday took to the micro-blogging sites, (twitter and Facebook) to pen down stories that touch the heart.

The 48-year-old, former Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka, was not left out, as he enlightened Nigerians with his father’s words of wisdom.

Read what Osita Chidoka wrote below: “My father is 93 years old and lived through Biafra as a middle-aged man. He suffered the loss of family members, abandoned properties as he lived in Port Harcourt.

“He never quite recovered from the War.

“Whenever he visited me in Abuja, he gave me the same advice. Always park your car facing the exit Always buy fuel at a half tank, in case you have to run back to the East.

“His friends all got stuck in Port Harcourt due to no fuel and many died from the shelling Know your route to the East avoiding possible volatile areas.

“Igbos coming from the North lost their lives at certain communities on their way home. Keep some cash at home. Banks did not work as Port Harcourt fell to the federal troops.

“His advice always struck me as the effect of trauma, untreated. Interestingly, refusal to discuss Biafra and resolve the trauma has led to a generation who did not experience the war, taking the lead on the conversation.

“This generation leading the conversation has its implications for the nation.

“Time to openly, truthfully and peacefully have the conversation is now, before those who experienced the war, all leave the stage. Please join the Centre For Memories for a discussion on Onye Aghala Nwanneya”.