watch the best baifra videos

In 1966, several waves of rioting in northern Nigeria culminated in the brutal massacre of thousands of easterners by their northern Nigerian counterparts. Sensing that their safety could no longer be guaranteed, the easterners fled to the eastern region and established an independent nation called Biafra.Refusing to accept her sovereignty, Nigeria waged a thirty-month war against Biafra, targeting air assaults at civilian locations, which resulted in the deaths of thousands of children, women, and the elderly. Nigeria used land   Alfred Obiora Uzokwe holds advanced degrees in architecture and civil engineering and has authored hundreds of essays about Nigeria?s socio-political and economic situation, which were published on Nigeriaworld.com and other news magazines. He is a registered professional engineer in Pennsylvania and has served as editor of several technical journals as well as act as a contributory writer.     Alfred Obiora Uzokwe's first book- Surviving in Biafra-The Story of the Nigerian Civil war, was published in 2003. The book is an account of a civil war witnessed by Alfred as a little boy growing up in Nigeria from the time he was 7years until the age of 10. It talks about relatives and classmates lost to the war through air raids, war machines, hunger and privation. The book received global interest after publication and has since been used in Colleges in the United States for courses that include genocide and ethnic cleansing. It is now found in numerous libraries of Ivy League Universities in the United States.

Alfred’s second book was published August 2015 and is called, Nigeria: Contemporary Commentaries and Essays. It is a collection of Alfred’s published and unpublished commentaries and essays about Nigeria written over a 14 year period under various headings that include, health, welfare, infrastructure, aviation, politics, insecurity and more. The book brings Alfred’s critical commentaries about Nigeria’s triumphs, travails and the way forward into one volume and will become a reference resource for those conducting research about the country. It will also serve as another tool for Nigeria’s policy makers in their everyday quest for better decision-making.

Alfred also writes commentaries about the Socio-economic situation in Nigeria on the internet news magazine - Nigeriaworld.com. Since 2001, he has written diverse articles about Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa that total more than 2000 pages of material. His commentary stems from his strong desire to see Africa, especially Nigeria, join the league of advanced and industrialized nations by making necessary changes that would create the enabling environment for progress in all facets on life. He has staunch belief in democracy and the dividends that accrue from it. He therefore shines the spotlight on issues that affect Nigeria hoping for more awareness which would culminate in true "participatory democracy" in Nigeria and Africa.

Alfred's professional sojourn includes serving his National Youth Service Corps program, in the architectural division, at the Federal Ministry of Works, Lagos Nigeria. He then worked as an Architectural Designer for many years designing, costing and supervising the construction of several buildings in the country. Those buildings still stand in various parts of Nigeria and their uniqueness attest to his design creativity. In 1987, he moved to Baltimore Maryland, United States where he became a Consultant Engineering Inspector, working on highway, bridge and culverts construction projects. He also provided quality assurance testing for construction materials including concrete, asphalt and soil.He later joined a state Agency in Pennsylvania as a Civil Engineer where he worked in various Civil Engineering capacities.

Currently, he is the Director Of Facility Design and Construction in another State Agency, overseeing the design of buildings, roadways, dams, bridges, box culverts as well as implementation of renewable energy systems like wind, solar and geothermal systems. He has particular interest in sustainable building and infrastructure designs and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Designs (LEED)

Alfred has served as Editor of several newsletters including the Construction Training News, Partnering Newsletter and The New Technology Update Newsletter. He was honored in front of 1000 employees for his work as the Editor of the New Technology Update newsletter. He has also been a contributory writer to Engineering magazines and newsletters including the Associated Pennsylvania Constructors Magazine and the American Society of Highway Engineers newsletter.

He has also made numerous presentations on Engineering training, Construction Project Partnering and New Technology in Winter Maintenance and has chaired many Committees and Taskforces dealing with engineering training, partnering and new technology. Alfred was the Chairman of Aurora Consortium-an international consortium headquartered in Minneapolis with membership of state agencies in the Snowbelt in the USA as well as Canada, Sweden and more. The consortium conducts research on Road Weather Information Systems and disseminates findings to member agencies in the United States, Canada and Sweden.

Alfred has delivered keynote speeches at various events. He was the keynote speaker at the 48th Nigerian Independence anniversary celebration organized by the Nigerian Association of Reading and Berks County with the topic, "Redefining Success for Nigerians in the Diaspora". He was also the keynote speaker at the Mbaise Education and Cultural Night organized by Mbaise Association of Maryland (MAM). The topic of the keynote address was, "Improving the quality of education in Nigerian schools through infrastructure maintenance and upgrade: A case for active participation by Diaspora Nigerians". Recently, during Nigeria's Independence anniversary gala by the Nigerian Association of South Central Pennsylvania, he delivered the keynote speech with the caption, "To make Nigeria better, be the change you desire for her"

Alfred holds a Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of Nigeria, a Master of Architecture degree from Morgan State University Baltimore, Maryland and a Master of Science in Civil Engineering from University of Maryland College Park, Maryland, USA. Alfred is an Engineer registered to practice in the states of Pennsylvania, Maryland and Washington DC. He is also member of American Society of Civil Engineers and at his leisure designs residential buildings which are constructed in Africa. He loves to play guitar and write songs as a hobby and pump iron for fitness. He is married with children

Shadow of Nigeria’s Biafra war still looms large, 50 years on 

Nigeria and Biafra (1968)

Biafra was not defeated, Igbo groups disagree with Nwodo

Nwodo was said to have stated at the just concluded Dr Michael Okpara leadership and Good Governance lecture at Umuahia in Abia state that Biafra was defeated at the civil war.

Two pan Igbo groups have disagreed with the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Chief Nnia Nwodo that the stillborn Republic of Biafra was defeated.

The disagreeing groups, Igbo Peoples Congress and Igbo Aborigenes, however, argued that the war ended on a “no victor, no vanquished” note.

Spokesmen for the groups Obisiike Chidi and Okey Colbert noted that both sides of the war got tired and weak of the battle and itched for its end

“Though Biafra was in bad shape then due to immense food shortages and ammunition, the spirit to fight on was in the Biafran troops. Infact several Biafran troops in the trenches were shocked to hear that the war had ended when they were ready to launch attacks on the enemy then. But they had to lay down their arms on hearing the message on Biafra radio from Gen Philip Effiong. Ojukwu’s deputy. Even though Uli Airport had fallen into the hands of federal troops then, Biafra’s other airports in the bushes were still functional then and they were ready to go into guerilla warfare.

“In fact some Biafran guerillas in Gabon and SaoTome and the Biafran Rangers that later turned into Rangers international football club at the end of the war were ready to recover all lost Biafran territory when the war ended. So Nwodo was wrong in his comment,” the groups asserted.

But in a sharp reaction, the deputy spokesman of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chuks Ibegbu noted that Chief Nwodo was misquoted.

“Nwodo did not say that Biafra was defeated. He could not have said so. He was misquoted. What he said was that Igbo Youths and Easterners should emulate the virtues of Dr Michael Okpara who made the old Eastern region the fastest growing economy in the developing world in the 60s and avoid anything that would lead into another civil war in Nigeria.

“He did not say that Biafra was defeated. Don’t forget that Nwodo fought as a lieutenant in that war and saw the bravery of Biafran troops despite all odds.
I know also that the war ended in a stalemate. Nobody defeated anybody as both sides got tired and simply ended hostilities. The activities of Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, the then Ivorian President Houphet Boigny, France and USA led to Ojukwu’s journey to the then Ivory Coast in search of Peace and his second in command Gen Philip
Effiong simply halted hostility and announced the end of the war to Biafrans.
You Know some Biafran units had not tested battle then and were itching to be engaged when the war ended so Nwodo was misquoted,” Ibegbu defended.

BIAFRA : Nnamdi Kanu Releases Emergency Broadcast Revealing When Biafra Republic Will Be Actualised – The Trent

 

Kanu made this comment during an “emergency broadcast” on Radio Biafra on Thursday, October 3, 2019       Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, says the Republic of Biafra will come in ‘his time’.

BIAFRA : Igbo presidency will not end the agitation for Biafra

The Igbo Presidency conversation will never end until someone from the southeast becomes the president. Even if the Igbo are not allowed to produce the next president in 2023, the conversation will continue. Perhaps, the conversation will only end when the peoples that makeup Nigeria go their separate ways and I don’t think that is going to happen in the next 50 years regardless of the predictions that have gone ahead.

If we have the slot of being the president of Nigeria, that will go a long way. If you can give us the presidency of Nigeria, it will address this problem of people clamouring for Biafra       

Nevertheless, as the excerpt in the first paragraph has revealed, Bede Eke, a member of the House of Representatives for Mbaise/Ngor-Okpalla constituency of Imo state has insinuated that the emergence of an Igbo president will end the agitation for Biafra when he spoke to newsmen in Abuja over the weekend.

While it is true that the Igbo deserve to produce the next executive president of Nigeria being the only major ethnic group since independence that has not produced someone in that capacity, it is not true that if a person of Igbo extraction becomes the president in 2023 or beyond, the agitation for Biafra will cease. No doubt, Bede Eke is entitled to his opinion but to reduce the agitation for Biafra to mere presidency clamour is unacceptable and it is an insult to those who have died for the course.

May I quickly remind Bede Eke that the agitation for Biafra did not begin with Ralph Uwazurike neither did it begin with Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). To set the record straight, it began shortly after the anti-Igbo pogrom of 1966. Which means, the underlying issue (s) that triggered the call for Biafra was not presidency related but the survival of the Igbo in Nigeria. Put differently, Ojukwu and the other secessionists attempted to carve out Biafra from Nigeria between 1967 and 1970 in order to create an independent country where the Igbo would be free from those who persecute them and would not allow them to achieve their preordained destiny of greatness. Had Ojukwu and his comrades succeeded, the Igbo would have gone far by now, perhaps be in the league of the First World –the east would not have been plagued by underdevelopment considering the fact that it is home to some of the most gifted, creative and intelligent people in the world.

To say it in a simple way, the pro-Biafra group (IPOB) wants a sovereign nation where the Igbo can better express themselves. Those clamouring for Biafra want to be free from the current contraption. They don’t believe in Nigeria as they have called it demeaning names like zoo, evil forest to mention but a few on different occasions, neither do they want the presidency. What they want is self-determination. In other words, even if the Igbo produce the next president, vice president and senate president in 2023, it will still not quench their thirst for Biafra. The following excerpt from Nnamdi Kanu’s speech, presented on the floor of the European Union (EU) Parliament on September 10, 2019, supports this position.

“International law is clear in relation to self-determination. Where there is a credible claim for self-determination the only way to resolve the issue is by holding a referendum which complies with international standards. IPOB is calling for a referendum. It is for that reason the Nigerian authorities have sought to brand IPOB as a terrorist organisation.”

Based on the position of IPOB as clearly stated in the speech of Nnamdi Kanu, Bede Eke will be making a terrible mistake to think that Igbo presidency will end the quest for Biafra.

IPOB 2023 : lets Abandon Biafra agitation and let’s push for Igbo presidency, Ohanaeze tells IPOB

The group further advised IPOB to support the cause for an Igbo presidency in 2023 which it said was easier and nearer to achieving than the Biafra realization.

Ohanaeze Youth Council Worldwide has advised the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to jettison their quest for the realisation of Biafra independence.

In a statement signed by both the President and Secretary General, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro and Mazi Okwu Nnabuike respectively, Ohanaeze said Igbos should be supported to take a shot at the presidency in 2023 for unity, justice, fairness and equity to reign.

The group said it would inaugurate a new 2023 National Committee on Igbo presidency project, with a clear mandate to reach out to all the youth leaders, opinion leaders, respected statesmen, Traditional Rulers, religious leaders, women leaders and students in all the zones.

Also, Ohanaeze stated that it would lobby stakeholders in the two major political parties, through strong persuasion to break new barriers and build bridges across the Six Geo political Zones. It added that it would appeal to the conscience of the political actors to concede 2023 presidential tickets to Igbo-speaking states, Rivers and Delta states inclusive.

The statement read: “Southeast remains an integral part of Nigeria, and in other to address all manner of ill feelings like perceived marginalisation and Biafra agitation, Nigerians irrespective of tribe and religion know that for unity, justice, fairness and equity to reign, Igbo should be supported to take a shot at the presidency in 2023.

“It’s glaring to all Igbo that Igbo presidency project is closer to achieve than Biafra realisation. The process of achieving Biafra independence is more cumbersome and complicated compared to Igbo presidency project which is closer and easier.”

The group said irrespective of the fact that Igbos and IPOB believe in Biafra independence, it was aware of the limitations of Biafra agitation.