Oral History Program Olufemi Ijatula Ademola Adetula 05 August 1972 i Oral History Program Weber State University Stewart Library Ogden, Utah Olufemi Ijatula Interviewed by Ademola Adetula 05 August 1972 Copyright © 2012 by Weber State University, Stewart Library ii Mission Statement The Oral History Program of the Stewart Library was created to preserve the institutional history of Weber State University and the Davis, Ogden and Weber County communities. By conducting carefully researched, recorded, and transcribed interviews, the Oral History Program creates archival oral histories intended for the widest possible use. Interviews are conducted with the goal of eliciting from each participant a full and accurate account of events. The interviews are transcribed, edited for accuracy and clarity, and reviewed by the interviewees (as available), who are encouraged to augment or correct their spoken words. 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It is recommended that this oral history be cited as follows: Ijatula, Olufemi, an oral history by Ademola Adetula, 05 August 1972, WSU Stewart Library Oral History Program, University Archives, Stewart Library, Weber State University, Ogden, UT. iii Abstract: The following is an oral history interview with Olufemi Ijatula. The interview was conducted on August 5, 1972, by Ademola Adetula. Ijatula discusses the history and his personal opinions on the Nigerian Civil War. AA: Olufemi, what would you like to tell me about yourself? OI: I am from the Western State of Nigeria. I went to elementary and high school there. I finished high school in December of 1968. Then, in December of 1969, I came to the United States to be a student. AA: Have you visited any other parts of the United States other than Salt Lake City and Utah since you have been here? OI: Yes. I was in California, last summer. And I took a tour of New York before I came here to Salt Lake City from Nigeria. AA: How far have you gone in your education at the University of Utah? OI: I will be a senior after the summer quarter. AA: Where were you during the Nigerian Civil War? OI: I was in Nigeria, in high school. AA: Which part of Nigeria were you in before, during, and after the Civil War? OI: I was in the Western State of Nigeria very near the Midwest. I was in high school when the war started, I was in high school when it was almost over, and then I came to the United States. 1 AA: How was the war in Nigeria? OI: It was a real war. And as you know, there is no war that is a good war. It affected everybody, with few or even no exceptions. It was really terrible, and I'm very happy that the war is over now. AA: What in your view are the main causes of the Nigerian Civil War? OI: There was a coup in Nigeria, and the coup was planned so that the authorities of the last government or the Civilian Government should be killed or kidnapped in Nigeria. This was carried out in the West and in the North, but those that were chosen to carry it out in the East didn't kill the civil servants. Instead, they avoided them so they could escape through from Nigeria. So when, at last, everything was settled, so the North wanted to retaliate to the East—they killed the Easterners in the North. Ojukwu asked the Easterners to come back home so that they could be in the East and form their own government. All the Easterners in Northern Nigeria started moving back home. That's about what started the war because Ojukwu would not give up. He went to the Oweri meetings to try to settle everything, to try to settle the killing, the murdering. But it wouldn't stop because immediately after some Easterners were killed in the North, the Easterners retaliated by killing many Northerners who were in the East. Nobody was ready to give up; everybody wanted to retaliate on both sides. AA: Was this a political misunderstanding? OI: I don't really know about that because it was a coup against the politicians in Nigeria. Everybody thought that they were not doing a good thing in the government. So, the military decided to take over. They planned to kidnap some of the authorities who were 2 ruling then during the civil war. These were not really carried out because some of them were killed and none of the Easterners were killed. So, the Northerners were upset because they felt it wasn't fair that the head men from the South should be killed while the Easterners were allowed to leave and to enjoy everything after the war. AA: In your answer to my last question you mentioned that the first military coup was as a result of the incapability of the Civilian Government, to control the country, or to stamp out corruption and nepotism. After the coup was there any change under the military government? OI: Yes, there was a great change during the war, although we couldn’t really see it while the war was going on. But still there was a great change. The corruption was almost completely eliminated. I say 'almost' because Nigeria is one of those countries in which corruption can never be completely eliminated- or at least it would take a long time to eliminate it. AA: Do you have any reasons for saying it would be hard to stamp out corruption in Nigeria? OI: Yes, I do. Because in all of Africa, with the cultures, the tribalism and everything, corruption is just one of those things that is part of the culture. Everyone wants something for themselves. Even when they are in the government, they want more money even when it is not allotted to them. Because they are in a high position, no one knows about their corruption until they no longer hold that high position. It isn't like the United States’ checks and balances where they can learn about the corruption or something like that; they could cover it forever. There are many things about the corruption that is going on that you cannot do anything about because the poor people 3 can't talk about somebody being corrupt for if they took it to court the liaisons in the courts are part of the corruption too. Or at least they side with the government of the day. So, I think it would take a long time to wipe it out. And to do that, there must be a head who is not corrupt and who is ready to fight corruption in Nigeria. AA: What can you say about the Nigerian Governmental system? OI: Actually we are practicing a democratic system in Nigeria with democratic parties or have something to do with democracy. But actually, I say it is a sort of democracy or forced democracy because we are not really practicing democracy. I mean, not everyone is fee like here in America? AA: Are you trying to say that Nigeria is not a free country when you speak in terms of freedom of speech or any other important freedom? OI: Yes, I don't think there is freedom of speech in Nigeria, because even the press is not free to talk there. The press is not supposed to be owned by the government, but the government controls what the press says. There have been many people, many journalists, many officials of the press imprisoned or at least detained because of what they said about the government or because of what they have printed in the paper. So, really, I wouldn't say there is any freedom of speech. You are free to make a choice—to support the government of the day or be prepared to suffer the consequences. That's how I see it. AA: For the past five years or more, nearly all African countries have experienced overnight military takeover. Do you justify this attitude of take over? 4 OI: Well, I justify it because we don't have any other alternative when the corruption is so bad that something has got to be done and there is no one who can do something except the military power. It is because they are incapable. That's why a government should be good enough so there is no necessity for military takeover. I don't justify coups; I don't think we should need them. I think our government should be capable enough to control and do the right things as not to need military takeover. AA: What is your opinion about military coups, in general? OI: Military coups are bloody because there is no country where military coups have occurred in which at least two or more people have been killed. For example, in Nigeria during the military coup, many people were killed. The Prime Minister of Nigeria was killed. His second was killed. The rich people who ran the government were killed. The Nigerian Primier was killed. Many people were kidnapped. The Major-General, who went to the Second World War, who was ruling the military government was killed immediately after by another coup. I don't like coups because they are too bloody. AA: Earlier, you compared the Nigerian government to the American government as far as corruption is concerned. Do you feel that the American government is a perfect type? OI: There is no government that is perfect, but corruption is one of those things that makes either a good or a bad government. I wouldn't say that there is corruption in the American government. I will just say that is one of the best governments, with the exceptions of when either presidents or presidential candidates are assassinated. I think there is no election, involving a war, that is a good or free election, or some of them bloody. I say that the American government is good. I like it. If we had that type of 5 government in Nigeria, it would be a lot easier. Maybe there wouldn't have been a civil war where so many were killed and so many lost their families. So I wouldn't say that the American government is perfect, but it is good. They have their faults, too. All governments have their faults; there is no government that is perfect. But as far as controlling or doing things for the public, being a government of the people which all governments should be, this one in America is. If the people are not satisfied with the President, they are always free to talk or accuse or at least speak their own minds. And I think that is a good government. AA: What are the feelings of the Nigerians as far as the government control is concerned? OI: It depends on which government. Some people are happy like during the Civilian Government. Those who were ruling the Nigerian Government; their families were happy; their relatives were happy because like any other African countries they are responsible for their families if they are rich enough. So if you have a big person in your family who is controlling the government, everybody in your family can get a job. AA: How did the Nigerian Civil War start? OI: The Nigerian Civil War started after Ojukwu called his men home, and there was all those people traveling across the country, all the lbos going home, when he thought they were all safe, that all the Ibos got back home, he proposed that Nigeria should let them go and declared the Republic of Biafra. Or he proposed a war; that was the alternative. The Nigerian Government wouldn’t allow a Biafra; so Ojukwu declared the Republic of Biafra in 1969 or so. The Nigerian government wanted to make it a police action to stop him or to council the Republic of Biafra, which he established. So, they 6 sent some policemen, not army, or air force, or navy, just ordinary police that rules the country without guns. But Ojukwu started attacking them with bombs, and so many things happened. For some time, Gowon, wouldn't stop it because the police were not harmed. But after many police were killed, everybody said that Gowon was bad, that he should do something about all these people being killed. So, Gowon decided to make Ojukwu see that he was wrong, and that's when the war started. AA: What is your feeling about the Nigerian Military Government at the present? OI: I have good feelings toward them, and I have some bad ones, too. for example, as soon as they took over, everybody thought they would settle everything and then return the government to the civilians, and that they would return to their barracks or camps and let the government be on its own again. They did everything alright, but I don't think they want to go back to their barracks again. I think they enjoy running the government. For example, Gowon, the head of the State, or the Military Government, announced that he wouln't leave his office until 1976, which I don't think is fair. I think there is more to it. He said that it's because of the problems still going on in Nigeria that he'll stay until he solves the problems—at least to make sure the problems are almost solved before he leaves. But don't think he should stay there that long. I think he is enjoying it and doesn't want to go back to either military life or to the barracks and just be a General while there is a President ruling Nigeria. AA: How do you feel about the foreign countries attitudes toward Nigeria during the civil war? 7 OI: There were so many misunderstandings about this problem. Personally, I feel some countries were listening to one side and not listening to the other. For example, the Nigerian Government went to get their ammunitions outside Nigeria. Most of the ammunitions were coming from outside of Nigeria, and those governments decided to support Nigeria for one reason or another. Maybe they wanted to help Nigeria remain one Nigeria or because they just felt Biafra was wrong. While, on the other hand, there were many other governments who felt that Nigeria, as a government, had been unfair to one section of Nigeria which was Biafra. And so they decided to help Biafra. And so they decided to; some foreign countries were good; some were really good. And I don't like what some of them did with the government as a whole. AA: What part did these countries play? OI: Some parts were really good; some were also bad. For example, both sides of Nigeria were getting ammunitions. But some countries decided to break Nigeria apart—no matter what the feelings were or how the war came about. They just wanted Nigeria to be apart because some of them felt that Nigeria had not been fair, or Nigeria did not allow them to come in as they wanted, or later Nigeria was not having a good trade balance, or relationships with them before the war. So these countries wanted to use the war as an advantage to break up Nigeria. Countries like Gabon and France who wanted the whole for themselves. They didn't look at both sides of the war; they just sided with Biafra and gave them things. What made me feel so terrible was all those children that were taken out of Biafra, taken out of Nigeria and taken to Gabon to starve for propaganda. That didn't really happen in Nigeria because I was there during the war. I was there when it started and while it went on, and I know everything about it. But all 8 those kids that were being showed on the televisions all over the world were not seen in Nigeria even throughout the war because they took these kids out of Biafra on purpose to starve them. It is true that the parents of most of these kids were killed, but they underwent care and were being fed by the Red Cross or the Nigerian Government, if they were captured. Now, most of them were in Ojukwu's hands, but they transferred them by plane to Gabon to starve for propaganda, so they could get help. They wanted so many ammunitions; they wanted to have their own republic so badly that they would do anything for it. I felt sorry for those kids, innocent kids, who suffered by the war. AA: Does that mean that not all the news we heard about the war actually happened? OI: Most of the things didn't happen at all. For example, America wasn't siding with Biafra. I mean they received news, too, like any other parts of the world. They sent general aids to Nigeria. Now, I'm referring to America because I was in America. I wasn't in France, Germany, or Great Britain or I would have made them an example, too. When I came over here in December of 1969. I was watching television, and I saw all those children being shown being starved, and their plea for contributions for help. What I saw is different; that's not actually what was happening in Nigeria. AA: How could Nigeria have avoided the war? OI: I don't really know how they could have avoided the war, but they could have tried. Both sides have got to agree before a war could be avoided. If Biafra was willing to agree or settle down at a peace table and come to a decision, maybe there never would have been a war. Maybe If Biafra was ready to make an agreement then Nigeria would not be ready; then maybe the Federal Government was ready and Biafra wasn't. As far as the 9 truth is concerned, there were many meetings called by neigh-boring countries or the heads of neighboring countries and the suggestions made that the head of both sides should leave the country to come to a decision instead of going to war or forming a republic. But as far as I know, the head of the Biafran Government refused to attend these meetings. I think that if they had met, they could have come to a decision instead of the Nigerian Civil War. AA: What can you say about the Nigerian head of state, Major-General Gowon? OI: He's a nice man. He's a young man. He was when he took over that position, and in Nigeria I would say that's unusual because all the heads of Nigeria are in their middle 50's or are at least married. He wasn't married. He's done an excellent job, I'd say. He is a good man as an individual. He's been doing all he can to bring peace to Nigeria, to help both sides of Nigeria, and to even help the officers who were leaders in Biafra after the war. I think few people would do that, but he's been great. AA: What can you say about Ojukwu, the head of the Biafran State? OI: Ojukwu was good. He is a very ambitious individual. He went to one of the best schools in Nigeria. His parents were rich. He's been very ambitious, and I think that is one of the things that caused the war. He was over ambitious because he wanted to be a head. He was thinking that if Gowon was a head, why shouldn't he be a head too? He thought he had a better position of taking over and winning both sides during the war, with or without war. I think that's why he refused to compromise or do anything. But, I think he's good. He's got a good family and children. He led a good life, but I think he's just too ambitious. 10 AA: Both Major Gowon and Colonel Ojukwu had different opinions toward ruling Nigeria. What were the differences; can you talk about them? OI: Ojukwu wanted to be a head. He was ambitious and his ambition was to be a ruler and to bring his people under him. He thought he was the only one who could make the Ibos people a unity; who could unite the Ibos people. On the other side, Gowon wanted unity for the whole Nigeria. I don't think he was selfish. Although I wouldn't say Ojukwu was selfish; he is just one of those rare people in the world who is just ambitious and wants everything for himself. So, he wanted to be the General, he wanted to be the head. And since there was little probability that he'd be the head of the Federal Government, he decided to do it from his side which was the East. AA: What lessons do the Nigerians learn from the civil war? OI: We learned so many things. For one, we learned that no war is good and everybody has a shared in the losses. So, I think it was a great lesson, and I don't think there will be another civil war in Nigeria for a great many years, even though there may be discrepancies in the government. AA: Would you please tell me about the Nigerian economy before and during the war. OI: Before the war, the Nigerian economy was starting to progress. But during the war there wasn't any or little progress made. All the money of the military government was being spent on ammunition. And all the money Biafar could get was being spent on ammunition, too. So, there wasn't much gain during the war. But immediately after the war there were certain measures taken for improvement. I think they are trying their best to improve the economy of Nigeria. 11 AA: According to reliable information, the civil war cost Nigeria and Biafra over nine hundred million dollars. Considering this amount, it is more than Nigeria's and Biafra's gross national product for ten years. How did they get the money? Who helped them, and how were they helped? OI: They got their money from the money they had in Nigeria. But the military government was always announcing that they paid cash for all the ammunitions they received. They had many banks in the East and Biafra collected all the money from them. Ojukwu transferred all this money to a foreign bank, and he bought ammunitions with it. And during the war, too, any time they captured a town, they'd loot the town. They'd break into the banks and take the money until the Nigerian currency was cancelled by the military government—any currency that was in the East. And after that many countries were willing to help. Therefore, they received some free ammunition from some countries. Some of them perhaps were tight, but everybody received some ammunitions. I don't know if they printed any extra money during the war; I think it was the government bonds and the money in the banks that paid for the war. AA: When the war started in 1967, the Nigerian government sent her ambassador to Washington to ask for military help or ammunitions. But the United States government turned the Nigerian request down. What was the feeling of the people about that? What is your personal feelings toward America for taking this stand? OI: I think the Nigerian government asked any country who could volunteer, to volunteer to help. That's why they took the aid from Russia and China, any aid they could get. That was our only choice because we didn't have enough ammunitions to fight the war. We had to get some from anywhere. So when they came to America, and the United States 12 Government refused to supply ammunition, they were mad. But I think they could have got over their madness if the United States hadn't supported Biafra for some time. I was in Nigeria, and the impression the Nigerian Government gave us was that the military government was turned down because of the Biafran Government. After the military government was turned down, the Biafrans were helped by America in any way they could. I don't know if they gave them ammunitions, but I was sure they really sided with Biafra and helped with their propaganda. Personally, I don't know why the United States Government did that, but I am sure they had their reasons. AA: What was the effect of the war on Nigeria and Biafra? OI: The effect was bad on both sides. And as far as families, properties, or towns were concerned, many towns and cities were antiquated. Most of them were turned into deserts by the bombs and the attacks. The biggest market in Nigeria before the war is a desert now, I don't think there is any town left because there were many bombs dropped there. It was a battle front for many months. And mostly the East felt the worst of it because that was the primary war front. It was very affected. But on the other sides of Nigeria, like the North and the West, nothing really happened to the area or some towns. AA: According to what you said, there is much evidence that the war caused Nigeria great damage. Is there any way we can determine the specific amount that this war cost Nigeria? OI: It is very hard to estimate how many lives were lost during the Nigerian Civil War. But I assume it's over one million. I can't say specifically how many lives were lost. There 13 were many properties lost, too, because in most of the towns that were bombed, all the buildings and everything on the line were just scattered. All I can is the bombed towns were turned into deserts. I can't say how much was lost in money or in lives, but it was a lot. AA: Many foreign countries wrote much about genocide being involved in the Nigerian Civil War. Is there anything you can say about this point? OI: Mostly, as I said, they were just trying to get some money by writing books. Most of the information they have in the books is not first-hand information. Most of it is just what they heard was going on, and most of the books were based on what was shown on television overseas. And some of the books were published by Biafra and by the Biafran Government. As you can see a book like that would be one-sided. Anybody that tries the civil war and Nigeria, and who tries to say anything about genocide must have been in Nigeria and see the things that happened to know if there was genocide of no genocide. AA: According to what you said, it seems to me, that those people siding with either Nigeria or Biafra were not doing it just to favor the people they were siding with, but they were doing it to gain something out of Nigeria. Is this true? OI: Yes, I say so. Most of them thought it was a good opportunity of writing a new book for some money; so they did. Most of them thought if they did something like that, the world would think they were trying to help Biafra, or trying to help them with their propaganda, or trying to bring hate to them by writing the books. But as far as I'm concerned, most of 14 the books that were written were not to help the Biafrans or to help the poor people, those who suffered during the war. I say it's just individual selfishness that was involved. AA: How did the war end? OI: The war came to an end after the Biafran Government decided they couldn’t go any further because they ran out of food and ammunitions. And the people who were behind Ojukwu gave up because there was nothing to fight with, there was no food around. He knew they were losing. He also knew that he was losing the confidence of his people, so he decided to take off and run away from the country. He arranged for a special charter plane. He told his people that he was going for help. But most of the people who were close to him knew that he was trying to escape from the crying and complaints of his people. So, after talking to them, he made an announcement that he was going to anywhere in the world that could give help, that could supply food, and more ammunition to continue the war. But he left with the rest of his family and his close friends, since his wife and children were out of the country already. He went to the neighboring country. Immediately after he left, the man who Ojukwu chose to be in charge while he was gone, sent a message to the Federal Government that he wanted to give up. This was how it was announced over the radio that the war was over. The war actually came to an end when he and two others of his followers gave themselves up and came to the capital in Lagos. AA: Whom did Ojukwu leave his government to when he was going away? OI: He left it for Colonel Effiong to take over for as long as he was gone. Effiong took over and he was the one who gave up to the Federal Government when Ojukwu left. 15 AA: Can you say anything about Colonel Effiong? OI: It was said that he attended high school, but I don't know if he ever went to college. I heard about him for the first time when he gave himself and the Biafran Government over to the Nigeria Government. So I don't know much about him. AA: How did the rest of the Nigerians know that the war was over? OI: The rest of Nigeria knew the war was over after about two weeks that Effiong and the others gave themselves up. When Effiong announced over the radio that the Federal troops should stop attacking, that he was giving up—everybody was thinking that that was one of their tricks. Even when he came to the capital to the Federal Government to hand himself over for any punishment, everybody still thought it was just a trick to take over. Some people even said they had some bombs with them to destroy the capital of Nigeria. But then, he gave himself up, and he was put under detention. Most of the soldiers on the war front started sending messages to their families that they would be back. Gowon made a speech one or two days later that the war was actually over, that he would take necessary steps to return the Federal troops at the war front. Then the people were convinced that the war was over. AA: When the Nigerians were convinced about the end of the war, what was the feeling of the people? OI: Everybody was happy. But a few days later, Major-General Gowon, the head of the Federal Military, announced that the Ibos can come back to the rest of the country and resume doing what they were before the war and that steps were being taken to return their property to them if there was any. Most people were unhappy at that because most 16 of the people that were living in these houses were very reluctant to let go of them. They didn't want the Ibos to come back to stay with them because they couldn't trust them. But apart from that, everybody was happy except for those who were mourning and holding ceremonies for those who were killed during the war. AA: Do you mind commenting on the Federal Governments efforts for reconstruction and rehabilitation of Nigeria after the civil war? OI: Immediately after the war the head of the Federal State announced that the Ibos could return to where they were staying in different parts of Nigeria before the war started. At first, the Ibos were reluctant to do that, but then after a few more weeks, when there was no more food and nowhere to stay, they decided to go back. And then the government found out that there were many people who didn't have anywhere to stay. So some rehabilitation forms were organized. Some houses were built, and most houses were evacuated and rehabilitated before the people could return to where they were staying before the war started. And for some, who had the titles to their property or their homes, it was a little easier because all they had to do was go to the council and show the evidence that they had homes, and their homes would be returned to them. The tenants would be given a few days to move out so that their homes could be returned to them. But for those who didn't have any title or any proof of having homes, even though they did actually have homes, it took some time before they could get back their homes. The Nigerian Government did its best to feed people and help people who were ready to go back to their former trade. They even gave money to some people, who they knew were in good positions or good trades. And those who were Civil Servants before the war were offered back their positions and their jobs, too. 17 Immediately after the war, construction started, repairing the bridge, the towns and most of the roads that were spoiled by bombs or by movement or by shelling during the war. Many foreign construction companies were brought in to help as fast as they could so that transportation could be a lot easier again. So everything has been almost returned to normal since the war ended. AA: Before the war started in 1969, Chief Anolowo Enahora, the information minister said, "As this chain of events continues to build at length, no table talk can bring unity and peace to Nigeria, but war" Will you please comment on Chief Enahora’s ideology in bringing peace and unity to Nigeria with war. OI: I think the main reason he said that was because of the many failures to bring peace by the many different peace talks that were arranged. Before the war actually broke out or got out of hand, there were many peace talk propositions that failed. And since he was the information officer and in a position to see what was going on, he knew that Ojukwu was very reluctant to agree on any peace talks unless Nigeria was willing to declare the Republic of Biafra which Nigeria was not willing to do. So I think he knew that the only thing Ojukwu wanted was the Republic of Biafra—nothing more and nothing less. That was the only thing he would have accepted from any peace talks. But the peace talks that Nigeria was proposing was to stop the war and bring Nigeria back, and try to see who was at fault about the killings and the retaliation that happened. AA: Did Ojukwu have the support of his people before he seceded from Nigeria or did he use his power as military head to do so as a result of his ambition to become a head of state? 18 OI: As in any part of Nigeria or in any part of the world, people always try to support their relatives. So even if they did not really believe that it would work when Ojukwu decided to declare the Republic of Biafra, most of the people sided with him because they felt that he made himself clear that they had been suffering from the military government. He felt that if there was a Republic of Biafra, it would be better for the Ibos. So most people sided with him. Even the President of Nigeria, sided with him. He was the one who wrote the national anthem of Biafra for them. And the Eastern Primiere sided with him, and many other big people did also, because he was ambitious and he was able to convince them and to convince his people to come back from all over Nigeria—to leave their homes and property and there to come back—because they believed in him when he made these announcements. Even during the war when they knew there was no chance they still held on until they knew there was no chance or hope. They knew that Ojukwu was very ambitious and that's when many left his ranks and decided to come back to one Nigeria. But still there were many important personalities and big people who were Civil Servants before the war, who remained on his side until the end of the war. AA: There have been rumors that the Biafrans are trying to form a government in exile. What do you think about this? OI: Even though it might be possible, I don't think it could last long because I don't think a government in exile is possible. I think the government should be where the people are. AA: Can you think of any other country that has formed a government in exile? OI: I don't have any idea. I'm not that much of a geographer or a politician. 19 AA: Before the war started in 1967, the Nigerian and Biafran soldiers were only 11,000, but during the war the number rose to about 200,000 soldiers. May I know how the Nigerian and Biafran governments got their boys to fight the war in such great number? OI: Immediately after Ojukwu declared the war, the Ibos minds were set on fighting the war so many people volunteered to fight for what they believed was their country, which was the Republic of Biafra. That wasn't enough because after some time those who volunteered, were not enough to fight the war, at least they weren't enough to face the Federal Government. So Ojukwu started constriction. He constricted all the able boys from the universities to the elementary schools, everybody he felt could fight. All high school boys had no choice; they had to join the array. Everybody in the universities, too, except those who had a big position were made an officer and didn't have to fight. With the Federal Government, most people wanted to fight the war, to fight the Ibos, to make Nigeria one. Most people wanted Nigerian unity so they volunteered. Others, too, decided to join the army because of the money because, when there was no war, the number of people in the army was limited—not because people didn't want it, but because the Federal Government couldn't afford it. There were priority given to high school and university students. But during the war, they didn't care who you were or what you were as long as you could be trained to fight. So many of the boys who dropped out of school, who had never been to high school, who were just roaming around without food or any place to go, joined the army because they were paying even more money than the high school graduates were making on their jobs. I don't think there was any constriction on the Federal Government side, but lots of people wanted to 20 join the army because they were well paid according to the Nigerian standard of living and according to their old standards. AA: In 1966, in Ojukwu's speech to a group of reporters said that Nigeria could never be a united country because of the different cultures in the four different regions of the country. What is your comment about this statement? OI: I don't believe in what he said because I believe that there can be unity in Nigeria. There has always been one, and I think there will continue to be one. Even though Nigeria has been known for its tribalism and for its small groups of people living separately with differences in the cultures, I don't think that will have a very great effect. Just like any other country in the world, even in the United States, have similar problems. I have been here for three years and I can see that there is a difference from the people in the South, and people from the East, and people from the West. It's the same thing in Nigeria, except for the fact that it's a little more than that because of the dialects of the different groups, and the differences of understanding, and the little differences of culture and custom. But I don't think Ojukwu is right in saying there can be no unity in Nigeria because of the tribal or cultural differences. We have always been able to manage even if there was some discrimination. Some may feel that they are more educated or more religious or speak a better language than someone from another area. Like here in the United States, someone from the South says he can't understand someone from the East. I think it's just the same in Nigeria but just a little more so. AA: How about the effect of language as far as unity is concerned. Don't you think this language barriers among tribes is contributing much to the misunderstandings in Nigeria? 21 OI: Not at all. In fact I don't see any relation. There has always been a difference in dialects or language in Nigeria since it has been Nigeria and we've always been able to manage it like that. I don't think that is what is causing war, and I don't think that is what caused the civil war. Language, even in Nigeria, is a, problem even to people from the same group, but there has never been a war about that. The only thing people can say is that they can't understand and perhaps they should change the language or dialects, but I don't think it is a problem. We have so many dialects in Nigeria and we have maybe three or four languages, but English has always been the official language. Even those who have never been to school, they cannot understand themselves and when they travel they do try to understand and can't. I don't think these little meetings can cause a whole war. I think we are improving. I can remember my parents telling me that they couldn't even understand people living just five miles away. Now it’s different. The more you travel in Nigeria the better. The more the people go to school, they can speak the languages. Even if they can't, they can speak in English. In fact, today, we start to learn English from about' the fourth grade. Students who meet who can’t speak the same language can speak in loruba—which is from the West, or in Ibos—which is from the East, or in Aosa—which is from the North and the Mid-West. Usually when they say there are many dialects, most everyone can speak the main languages which means that most people in Nigeria can speak at least two dialects. So I don't think that's much of a big problem. AA: What effect does religion have on the Nigerian Civil War? OI: Even before the civil war, religion has been a problem in Nigeria. Most all of the people in the South are Christians, and the people in the North are Muslims. The only reason 22 for that is because the people in the North are nearer to the Arabs, and the people in the South are in close contact with the British colonies. These colonists don't want to settle in the interior so they colonize in the South and spread their Christianity, build churches. So I think the separation of religion is understandable. But I don't think it had a bad effect on the war because what remained to be the Federal Government after the declaration of Biafra was still a mixture of both religions—the Muslims from the North and the Christians from the West and Mid-West. All of the Ibos are Christians or some other religion, but they were not Moslem. So I don't think religion played any part at all during the civil war. You see, the Biafrans were praying, and at the same time, the Nigerians were doing the same. AA: Who are the civilians who played important roles for the Nigerians and Biafrans during the war? What part did these people play? OI: I know of some civilians who took part, but I'm not sure I know all of the parts that all of them played. People like Ezukui, the President of Nigeria before the war, decided to side with the Biafrans because he is from Eastern Nigeria. He played a big part because he was one of the advisors for Ojukwu, and he was one who formed the national anthem for the Republic of Biafra. Obaratu, the Primiere of Eastern Nigeria before the war and Mbanefo, a judge before the war, were both on the side of the Biafrans. They all moved to the East to take a very great and important part during the war. They were the major representatives of Biafra in foreign countries like Great Britain, the United States of America, and many other countries. They were always sent to represent Biafra. And until Dr. Ezukui decided to come back to the Federal Government, he was a representative in London and the United States. On the Federal side, there were 23 many Ibos who decided to hang on like Okuri Aribu, who is from the East. But he decided that what Ojukwu was doing was not good so he stayed with the government. And Chief Abafeme Awolowa, who was the Primiere of the Western State of Nigeria during the last civilian government, also played a very important part. He was the advisor to the head of the Federal Government, and he was made a commissioner, also he was put in charge of finance during the war and after until he retired. There are many others like him, too, who played some important roles to help Gowon. AA: What role did women play during the war? OI: Not much. I don't think any war is for women. I don't think they took any part except that the women went to the front treating the soldiers, but I don't believe they were fighting. I believe they were just nurses or medical assistants. The same on Ojukwu' side because I never heard of any women being constricted to the array. Maybe women were given ammunitions and guns to protect the older ones in the villages or to protect themselves, but I don't believe they went to the front to fight. AA: May I know your opinion about the twelve state structure in Nigeria? Do you feel this is a good proposal for a country like Nigeria both at present and in the future? OI: I think states are good all over the world, but I don't like than in Nigeria. The big difference in the equal division of the States since the Federal funds are allocated to every state makes it unfair. Because when there were four regions, the North, the East, the West, and the Mid-West, the Federal funds were allocated to them according to population and land. But, now with the twelve States, there is only one state in the West while there are three or four in the East and seven in the North, and only one in the Mid- 24 West, the Federal funds are allocated mostly in the North because of the larger number of States. The Mid-West is small and as far as I can see, the North and East are about the same size with different numbers of states, so the allocations appear unequal. The West hardly gets anything because it is just one state. There are many things in Nigeria that are divided equally to the states. So when everything is divided into twelve, only one comes to the West, while three go to the East and seven go to the North, and only one to the Mid-West. Perhaps if there were more states in the West it may be fairer. AA: What do you think is the feeling of the people about this twelve state structure? OI: I think everybody is happy except some in the West. Most people in the West do feel they are closer together than in other parts of Nigeria. And they believe that the establishment of more states in the West would scatter them. I think it was the authorities in the West who prevented Yokubu Gowon, or whoever divided the states, from giving the West more than one state. However, I still don't think that it's fair, they should look at many other things instead of just the separation of the people. AA: Out of the twelve states of Nigeria, only the East Central State doesn't have a military governor, but the rest of them do. May I know why this is so? OI: The East Central State is the only gain of the war of the Biafran Republic. During the war everybody from the East Central State moved away from the other parts of Nigeria. Even the police or those who were in the army went to join Ojukwu. And so after the war, the Federal Government was not ready to choose anybody that had been a leader in the war to head any state at all. The Federal Government didn't trust anybody to take that position that may bring about any coup or any trouble to the Federal Government. 25 And since Aribu had been a good man, he was the only man who remained at his position with the Federal Government during the war. He has done a good job for Nigeria. AA: Has he got the same principles with the rest of the military governments? OI: I think he is following the same principles because most of the military governors have chosen some advisors like the commissioners from the Civil Servants because they have to choose advisors. They cannot just rule the state alone. I don't think Aribu is any different from any of these people because like any other of the military governors, majority would always carry the vote and that majority would lie in his advisors. I think he knows so much about what is going on as any of the military governors because he has been a Civil Servant for a long time. I think he knew more about ruling than any of the military governors. AA: What would happen if Nigeria had lost the war to Biafra? OI: Like any other war, one party is bound to lose, but I doubt very much if Nigeria would have lost the war, unless some big foreign power took sides with Biafra and decided to move their troops to Biafra to join them against the Federal troops. I don't think their supply of ammunitions could defeat the Federal Government troops. But if it had happened the other way around, then I imagine Ojukwu would declare a Republic of Biafra. I think then he would chose his officers to be the rulers. But I don't think if Ojukwu had defeated the rest of Nigeria, that Nigeria would ever go back to civilian rule, because Ojukwu would have always wanted to be the head until he died. AA: Who can be blamed for the cause of this war? 26 OI: I don't know; I wouldn't blame anybody for the cause of the war because anything can cause a war, a simple disagreement and I think this is what happened between Nigeria and Biafra. The only thing I can say is one was maybe more reluctant than the other to start a war. I say that Ojukwu was more reluctant to come to a decision for avoiding the war because after the proposition for the Republic of Biafra, he was so set on having either the war or Biafra, that they didn't give the Federal Government much choice about the war. AA: What can you say in general about the present and the future of Nigeria? OI: Like any other developing country, we are one of than in Africa. We are trying their best to develop especially after the terrible war that ended in 1969. The Nigerian economy has been increasing since then; the amount of oil production has been increasing since then, and many other improvements have been going on because there were many things that went on during the war that made common man know how to do these. Even in the area of education, immediately after the war they sent out representatives to most places all about the world, even to the United States. Even about four of them came here to Utah to see how they could improve the Nigerian education. They sent these representatives all over the world to get the best examples for the improvement of the educational system. I am sure they are doing this in all the aspects of the economy of Nigeria. I think in the future that Nigeria is going to be one of the leading African countries in economy and in education. And where the area of education is concerned in Nigeria, I think one hundred percent of the children are going to school now, whereas about twenty years ago there were areas in Nigeria where very few went to school. Now everybody goes to school because they believe in it; they believe the children have to 27 go to school to enjoy this world and to avoid suffering, to be able to feed themselves and their families. So, I think education is one of the most aspects of development. Perhaps through education we can learn about countries abroad and introduce it to our country, and we can try to become the best of those countries. I have been in the United States for three years and I have seen their system of education, and I have seen how it helps than. When I go back to Nigeria I hope to be able to take this to them. In the future I don't think there will be any problem at all. I feel it took such a long time to develop simply because Nigeria is an African country. If we were British or any other country, perhaps it wouldn't have taken so long. The Nigerians want to go forward so much, and they want to improve themselves so much, they are always working for that end. They try to encourage youngsters to learn how to improve their country and make it one of the best countries. AA: What changes would you like to see in the Nigerian educational system? OI: One of the things I would very much like changed is the university in Nigeria. The students who can attend the universities is very limited, and I wish we could have more universities. Also I wish it could be made possible for the poor people to go to the universities, than it is at present, because I have known many intelligent people from poor families, but they can't go to the universities because they can't afford it. While there are others from rich parents who aren't that intelligent who do attend and do graduate. I think it is those people who are so intelligent that we need in Nigeria. So, I would like to see more universities built, though not free universities, perhaps they could introduce loans or contracts or funds, because many students would be willing to sign contracts and then work after graduation to pay for them. I think we have enough 28 elementary schools, but I don't think we have enough universities to cope with the rising size of education in Nigeria at present. AA: Do you support each university for each state? OI: Yes, if it would help, I think I would support it, because if we had one university for each state, then we would have twelve universities. I don't care where the universities are as long as we had more of them or more colleges in Nigeria, where people can further their education. Colleges may be easier for people to support themselves in furthering their education. AA: Would the government in each state be able to support a university in its state? OI: I think that is the problem now in Nigeria. I don't think the government is rich enough. However, I think the government could do something because they can do something about raising money for this cause, for the young people, the people who will be ruling Nigeria in the coming generations. About each state sponsoring their own university, I think they can do something because there are many schools in Nigeria that cost lots of money to run, and states and regions are sponsoring them. For the universities perhaps there could be funds, or maybe some people can be invited in from other countries to build the universities where the people can attend and gain. AA: Is there any way to improve the scholarship system in Nigeria? OI: Yes, I don't think we have enough scholarships available in Nigeria even from the government and most of the scholarships we've got are dominated by the rich people. The rich people are getting the scholarships while the poor people who are brilliant don't get the scholarships. I think we could do something about it. Even if we can't improve 29 the amounts of scholarships, I think we could give the scholarships to the right people and leave the rich people to use their money for school. It would make a lot of difference and adding to the scholarships available. For if we add to the scholarships available and don't use them in the right way, it wouldn't do much good. AA: What changes would you like to see in the agricultural system? OI: I want lots of changes. For example, we don't have fresh milk in Nigeria and I think it may because of the diseases or the inability of the doctors to fight them. But I think Nigeria is a big enough country to have its own dairy farming where we can have fresh milk, fresh cheese, and enjoy most of those things. Perhaps we could if the government could help because this costs money and most of the farmers in Nigeria are not very rich. In fact, they can only raise enough for their own families and perhaps one or two more except for some real wealthy ones who can afford to buy tractors from overseas. So, I really wish there were a lot of changes and the only way to do it is make the money available to the farmers and show them how to improve their farms. They have their lands, but the lands are not fertilized enough to grow much. My dad has a big farm but all he can produce is enough for the family and just enough extra to bring money in to send us to school. I don't think that is enough. I wish the government would do something about that. AA: What would be better for Nigeria to get foreign technical assistance in order to increase their farm products? OI: I feel there are many ways the government can help the farmers there could be loans made available to them, and by trying to bring tractors in custom free or for less money 30 or by paying some percentage of the money. Then after the tractors are in Nigeria, farmers should be trained to use them in the right way. Also there are many places in the world that could be invited in to help in the economy—not to do it like a charity as the I.M.C.A. or the I.W.C.A. or whatever. I think there are a lot of ways Nigeria could do it be-cause we get aid from other countries and perhaps we could trade for their assistance so we could produce more food and at less cost so we can get more fresh foods to eat. AA: How can Nigeria control the high rate of unemployment? OI: We still have a long way to go there because there are so many people leaving .high school and leaving colleges and there are no jobs available. The only reason given is because the government can't afford it or there are no openings; we don't have enough factories. These people have no place to work after leaving school except in a few government jobs or in the few banks or few companies we have in Nigeria. I think one of the things that could help would be to have factories or co-operations, different from simple clerk jobs or teaching jobs, so people can go to these different areas to work. AA: What would you say about the standard of living in Nigeria? OI: In Nigeria, the standard of living is very, very low compared to the United States. This is because most of the people are not rich; most of them are farmers and they cannot grow enough crops. The crops they do grow are mostly starch and very little fruit. We don't have any dairy products in Nigeria, we don't even have cheese available. We have to eat nourishing foods and a balanced diet before we can achieve a higher standard of living. 31 AA: Before the war, there were many cries that the rate of population growth was too high. After the war, there were still cries about the same thing. May I know your opinion about this? OI: I think that's true compared to the agricultural development in Nigeria. There are too many people and not enough food. I think the population of Nigeria should be put under control before it is too late. I just don't think we are getting enough food in Nigeria. There are families where the head of the family is a farmer and their wife doesn't work. They have just a small farm and they can eat only once or twice a day because there isn't enough food. So I think, even after the war, the Nigerian population should be brought under control. There are too many big families in Nigeria. AA: Do you justify the idea of controlling foreigner’s entry into Nigeria as they used to do? OI: Well, in the past, I don't really justify it except for one reason—if someone is coming to Nigeria to take a job or a position where someone in Nigeria could as well hold that position, I suggest that the foreigner should not be allowed in. Nigeria is not developed enough to let everybody come in as free as they want. As far as coming in to start a business, or bring trade in or bring in their money to do something—which is a limited gesture because of the high rate of tax—it's stupidity to not let them in. I think trade should be free and be allowed to flow free, and then the economy of the country would rise. I also think that if people are bringing in trade and their money, they should be allowed into Nigeria. It would have a great impact on the economy of any government. AA: What changes would you like to see in the governmental system in Nigeria? 32 OI: I would like many things to be cancelled or erased, like corruption. Corruption is too wide in Nigeria. And I just wish there was a way that could be overcome, but I doubt it very much. I think it’s going to be a long time before Nigeria can do anything about it. Mostly in Nigeria the trouble is corruption when it comes to the government or any ruling power in Nigeria. I think that is the most important problem facing Nigeria today. AA: How long do you hope for the present Nigerian Military Government to stay in power? OI: I don't want them to stay in power forever, but as General Gowon said that he would not leave the government or return it to the civilians before 1976. He didn't even assure the public that he would return it to the civilian government or the civilian rulers by 1976. So, I don't really have any idea, I just hope there aren't any coups or anything before then. But I think as time goes on, there are many people who will protest and ask General Gowon and his co-rulers to hand over the government to the civilians. But I don't think he will do it, and maybe that is one of the things that is going to bring some argument or discrepancies to the Nigerian government before he turns it over to the civilians. AA: What is your advice to make Nigeria a better place to live? OI: Nigeria still needs many things to be done, as I said earlier. There are still lots of things that need to be done that hasn't come to the minds of the people or the rulers of Nigeria at present. We need more means of transportation and communication in Nigeria. That we are lacking very much and should be improved. Mass communication is very important because during the war most of the stories of what was happening at the front lines had to come from people who came from the front. So, I say, communication should be increased by the help of the government because a country like that who is 33 still developing and has many poor people, who cannot afford to buy radios or televisions since television can only be seen in the capital or one or two other cities; there' can't be stations in the other towns because of building costs or lack of funds. I think Nigeria is trying to do its best to work toward development and I think this development will cover these major aspects. AA: I would like to thank you very much for your help with my interview. Thank you very much. OI: You are welcome, I was happy to say my view and say what I have about the Nigerian Civil War. I only wish that people in foreign countries could understand the war and know what really happened in Nigeria, because there are many people who felt that what Nigeria did to Biafra was unfair, and they felt sorry for the Biafrans. So I'm happy to say my view, and I'm happy to have the chance to say what I know about the civil war, and give my own opinion about what I want and what I don't want for Nigeria. 34 SUMMARY AND ABSTRACT: Our underdeveloped nations are in a race with time. While they struggle to catch up with northern progress, mankind's oldest enemies do their damage now. Hunger and malnutrition kill 10,000 persons a day—mainly children—for life stunt their bodies and deaden their minds. This happens as a result of misunderstanding and the outbreak of wars. Needless diseases cripple and weaken many more as a result of poor nourishment and medical care. Skyrocketing of bribery, tribalism, nepotism and injustices doom young people and adults to a hopeless cycle of poverty. Suffering mounts. Unrest from power— hungry people spread, and the dream of peace explodes in war and turmoil. INTRODUCTION: All people in the world undoubtedly heard about the terrible Nigerian Civil War, but only the "few" people who were in Nigeria during the war can say what was truth concerning the war. But yet, thousands of different news stories were published in the war newspapers. News articles were contradicting one another. It came to a point that the pro-Biafran factions were giving the news to favor Biafra while the pro-Nigerians were showing the world their angle—Nigeria was fighting the most honest war. Cries of genocide were ramparting all streets all over the world! I am like any other person who never had the opportunity to witness the war, but I depend on newspapers and "from mouth to mouth" news. 1 I left my country, Nigeria, over ten years ago; and I have never been there since. I have to thank Weber State College for introducing this Oral History program in the college, and I will be failing in my duty if I do not express my gratitude to Dr. Richard Sadler, the director of the Oral History program. He has been taking much of his time to direct individual students. I know and realize that he has taken much of his personal time to attend to my call, both in his office and at home in order to guide me in my interview. This program is very advantageous to me in many ways. A few of them are as follows: 1. Academic improvement in general, for example. I have never conducted an interview with anyone before. 2. This interview gave me the opportunity of knowing the facts about the Nigerian Civil War. 3. It gave me the opportunity to know more about my country. Although the interview cost me almost a fortune, (since I had to make my way long distances to meet with those who actually got involved with the war,) I was happy to meet with people like Mr. Nzema Okeke from Eastern Nigeria. He used his talent as a political scientist to answer all my questions beyond my expectations. Baba Baro, from Northern Nigeria, did a wonderful job in my interview with him. And Yara Baba had done his best and as a non-citizen of Nigeria, but a Nigerian resident up until the end of the war, he had done a great job. I would like to thank Livy Owok, as a student at the University of Utah, for his help and co-operation in this interview; I was interested in his views. Now, I would like to extend ray special 2 appreciation to Olufemi Ijatula. Being the only female interviewee, I especially appreciated hearing the feminine side of the story. Her views and opinions were extremely helpful. My thanks to them all. I am happy that people like these were present in Nigeria before, during, and after the war. I am proud and happy to say that this interview had been carefully carried out in a very fair manner without prejudiced mannerisms. I did encourage the participants to feel free to say anything in their mind about what they witnessed. I assured them that whatever they did relate would not be counted against them in any court of law. Once more, I am happy to see that the interview came to a successful end. The included pictures will also speak of themselves: "War is no good" CONCLUSION Where does Nigeria go from here? Any Nigerian and Nigerian friends should be happy to see the end of the terrible Civil War fought in Nigeria in 1967-1970. Through my interview, anyone can realize that the war left behind remarkable and unforgettable events. It became a great concern to human kindness. The war left behind a wound that will take another generation to heal. Those who never lost their lives in Nigeria during the war blamed their creator for making them witness such fearful events. Heaven looked like Golden City to them. No one knew what the next hour had in stock for him, but always they anticipated when the world or the war would end. 3 The war tore down not only Unity and valuable properties, but also valuable lives. All my three interviewees confirmed, emphatically, that the war claimed about two million lives. This figure is more than the first and the second world wars claimed together. The break-up of Nigeria had been a terrible thing. But it is less than that cruel war. Thousands of innocent people were shot, bombed, or seeing their homes and livelihoods destroyed. Millions, including the children of Africa, were starving to death. Through my interview I could realize that nothing could be done about the suffering innocents since starvation was considered a legitimate war weapon against an enemy, and so Nigerians and Biafrans became another Britons and Germans in Hitler's war. All Nigerians should be happy after the war because Nigeria will now have the opportunity to build a strong nation of which every Nigerian- indeed, every African—can be proud. The Nigerian Civil War has much effect on the important progressive events of Nigeria. It has bad effects on: 1. Education and Skill. 2. Investment in Industry. 3. Industries 4. Medical Duty. 5. Agriculture 6. Unity and Friendship 7. Social Life. 4 All of the above effects have, one way or the other, affected the progress of economic stability in Nigeria. To point out how the war affected the above things, let us start from the beginning. 1. Effect on Education and Skill. During the war, many schools and colleges were bombed and broken down. As schools and colleges became the target for bombs and cannons, parents were afraid of allowing their children to go to school. Students who lost their buildings had no other schools to go to. And throughout the wars two years, no school functioned well. That gave Nigerian educational progress a setback. 2. Effect on Investment: Because no one knew how the war would end, the well-todo people refused to invest. So the Nigerian investment ended there. 3. Effect on Industries: Without any doubt, the important industries stopped production as the bombing started. Since management was not sure what the next minute would bring, a bullet or bomb, production was interrupted. Those who could have been working were either in the war front or hiding somewhere in the bush to save their lives. This poor condition forced the industries to close their doors. 4. Effect on Medical Duty: This particular effect extended throughout the country, mostly in the war zone. As bombs shattered the hospitals, doctors and nurses fled for their lives leaving the poor patients who could not get out of their beds. In the hospitals where bombs never dropped, the doctors were assigned to go and help the wounded soldiers in the war front, thereby, leaving the incapable nurses alone in the hospitals. 5 5. Effect on Agricultural Products: This effect was by far the worst. The bombs that rained on the fertile land did a lot of damage to the land and the crops. Food production became short and thousands of people during the war lost their lives as a result of hunger. 6. Effect on Unity and Friendship: Without a doubt, as many people got hurt during the war, so it will take a long time to heal the wound of unity and friendship because the war left behind much mistrust among the people. 7. Effect on Social Life: This effect was remarkable. The evidence of this effect will mainly be on intermarriages among different tribes. I could recollect in 1967 when the war first broke out, some newsmen wrote that the Ibos, who were married to the Northerners, killed their wives and children; while the Hausas married to the Ibos also killed their families. Without any doubt, that event is enough to discourage - intermarriage and other social life. POLITICS AND POOR LEADERSHIP: Now let us talk about politics and the poor management by the leaders. Up until the moment, Nigeria and other African countries still engage in what I can term to be "jungle politics." Any member of the opposition is an enemy of the reigning party. There is always outbreak of fighting during elections. "Turgs" are engaged to fight any opposing members. Freedom of speech is taken from minority. This type of ugly scene happens all the time. 6 For example, over a thousand lives and millions of dollars’ worth of property were lost in the 1963 election in Nigeria. And the same thing happened again in the 1965-66 election before the coup. Now the new style in Africa is the military over-throwing governments. This happens because every man is fighting for power rather than contributing to the progress of the nations in more honorable and honest ways. Stories of molestation of civilians by soldiers fly around every day. Armed robbery by men in uniforms of the Army is always reported. Tea-cup mutinies have been reported in convalescence centers, hospitals and pay offices. For example, Mushin in Lagos in Nigeria was the scene of a real-life tragedy of arson, rape and murder in an incident that featured men in army uniforms. After overthrowing the civilian government, many members of the Nigerian army went on a rampage of looting and rape. There has been continual political interference in the operation of government corporations on the personal level, with "jobs for the boys' playing a dominant role. But at the point where ministerial control should be most important—the point of financial accountability- it has been the most weak. The criminal action against fraudulent public officers in Nigeria is an equally weak reed. In Nigeria and any other parts of Africa, the opposition parties are either weak or non-existent; and it is plainly senseless to think that the ruling parties will expose their own corruption. For example, in 1960, in a very rare demonstration of independence, 7 Nigerian newspapers attacked the Minister of Aviation, Mbadiwe, for a particularly corrupt transaction. He was never prosecuted. Instead, the then Prime Minister Balewa permitted him to retain his ministerial posset, but made him return the plot to the land issue to the government. In the same government, when the Commission of Enquiry into trade malpractices reported fraud and profiteering by high government officials, the report was rewritten by a cabinet committee before it was released to the public. All these types of misuse of government power have done a great damage to our nation. We need better law to protect the innocent people from these greedy political leaders so that there will be no internal war. We still have a long way to go unless there is a stop to all these ugly circumstances. To come to the last section of my conclusion, may I suggest that to succeed in reaching the mountain top of our national goal, Nigeria and even other parts of Africa must do the following things: 1. Search and empower the dedicated, modest, honest, and devoted leaders who submerge themselves in service to their nation and mankind. Leaders who abhor greed and detest vanity with great and outstanding integrity. 2. Learn, study, and understand the causes of our civil war. 3. Draw lessons from our difficulties. 4. Set on the task of solution to the problems. 5. Our political parties must adhere to truly national aspiration. 6. There must be substantial constitution to guard the innocents from the greedy and army officers. 8 More money must be spent on education and the system must be changed and great emphasis must be laid on vocational and technical aspects. 1. Foreign investors must be encouraged and exploitation must be discouraged. 2. Our agricultural policy should aim at self-sufficiency, thus giving our people an independent livelihood. And to achieve this we must have agriculture in our school and university curricula. Agricultural engineering should be introduced and strengthen our co-operative farming system. 3. More hospitals should be built and government provision for more doctors for the needed hospitals. All the hospitals should be fully equipped. 4. The government should pass laws prohibiting army takeover. 9