Biafra: Declare January 15 Day of Reconciliation
•Why Igbo emancipation projects failed –Cleric
From Ogbonnaya Ndukwe, Aba
It was indeed a solemn moment in Aba, Abia State, on Saturday, October 11, 224, as clerics from orthodox and new generation churches and choir groups in Igbo land converged on the commercial city.
The momentous occasion was the 2024 Day of Solemn Convocation (Ụbọchị Nkpokọta Nso, 2024), organised by an Igbo think tank, Igwebuike Alaigbo. The theme of the programme was: “Ito Chineke na irio ya n’ihi Alaigbo” (To praise God and pray to Him concerning Igbo land).
Ndigbo at home and in the Diaspora were tasked to return to their Maker and thank Him for not being annihilated during the gruelling civil war between Nigeria and Biafra, 1967 to 1970.
They were promptly informed that the major problem they were facing today was spiritual and a consequence of their ingratitude to Almighty God, who preserved them during the bloody war.
In a historic and reflective sermon, the pioneer Archbishop of Enugu Ecclesiastical Province of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Amos Madu, said Ndigbo owe God a debt of gratitude for saving them from the war and will have their joy complete only when the debt was paid.
The retired archbishop told the crowd that problems being faced by the Igbo since the war ended in 1970, was not from the East, West, North, South or even from abroad, but with them. He stressed that as soon as they get ready to know the truth and apply that truth to make a change and correct their ways with God, things will work differently in and for Igboland:
“The Bible says that we shall know the truth and the truth shall set us free. Whenever a man feels sick, the first thing is to go for a laboratory test at the hospital. It’s only when the problem is diagnosed that the doctor will prescribe drugs and that man will be well again.
“There’s time for everything. The time for war is gone. We now have a different time for peace. God has shown us what our problem is and we have to say it.”
Archbishop Madu reminded the assembly that in the Bible, when God saved Noah and his family from a devastating flood, he (Noah) did not start rejoicing that his enemies were all dead and that the entire earth now belonged to him and his family:
“He did not start cultivating to eat. He quickly offered sacrifices to thank and praise God who looked down, blessed him and vowed never to let flood destroy Noah’s world anymore. God blessed the generation of Noah and there was a covenant between God and Noah.”
He explained that the Israelite of old after being rescued from bondage, set up that agreement that they would continue to praise God through the Passover celebration to remember how God rescued them from Egypt, while Hannah, who was in pain of childlessness having got one, returned her son, Samuel, to the House of God to continue to serve God forever.
Regarding the Igbo Nation, the emeritus archbishop said that it was a mark of neglect and the highest level of ingratitude that the Igbo, who were very close to extinction until the bloody war that lasted for three years, suddenly came to an end on January 15, 1970, have forgotten their history with God:
“On January 15, 1970, God remembered Ndigbo, who were dying in large numbers during the war. The parents were crying for God to bring the war to an end as they were watching their children die of kwashiorkor. The children were crying, begging for God’s intervention. The cries were much.
“Nobody was thinking of how to build factories, hotels, skyscrapers etc. We were only begging God to end the war. We ate things that were not initially part of our food. After the cries, on January 15th, 1970, God ended the war.
“Take note, let nobody deceive you, it was not the Igbo that ended the war, it was equally not Nigeria that ended the war and it was not any foreign power that ended the war.
“I tell you my children today, that it was God Almighty in his infinite mercy that heard our cries and ended the war just to preserve us. I plead with you to realize that God remembered us just as he remembered Hannah, the Israelites and Noah.
“However, our problems started with our ingratitude. Igbos started chasing money and wealth to ensure they replaced what they’d lost. Desire to meet up with physical things that we could not even remember existed as the war was raging made us forget what God did for us on January 15, 1970.”
According to him, for the Igbo to stand and be counted again in Nigeria, they must do the needful, by setting out a special Day of Reconciliation and thanksgiving to God, to appreciate Him for preserving them from total annihilation during the war:
“I tell you today that Igbo owe God. Hear me, Ndigbo are seriously indebted to God and we must pay that debt or we’ll never get what we want as a people. Yes, individually, our people are getting educated, getting money and making impacts here and there because of the grace of God upon us, but collectively, we are nowhere in Nigeria.
“Go to major cities of the world, you’ll see our wealth everywhere, but look at Nigeria of today, Igbo are not counted as anything. What’s our crime? What did we do to warrant being treated like nothing today despite all our efforts to make Nigeria better? The answer is that we forgot God and we’re facing the consequences of a people who forgot God.”
He cautioned those fighting and engaging in acts of confrontation that the solution was not in fighting to be recognized by any local or foreign body rather on returning to make peace with God.
Emphasising that the battle to salvage Igbo land and its people was spiritual and not physical, the revered cleric urged them to seek spiritual solution, choosing a day to be set aside as special prayer day to thank God for what He has and continues to do for them.
At the end of the sober homily, the Archbishop of Aba Province, Isaac Nwaobia, urged Ndigbo not to henceforth toy with January 15, the day the war ended: “It’s a spiritual day that must be dedicated to praise, worship and thanksgiving to God.
“We are a great people that derailed. So, we’ll use that day to often seek God’s face to gain His love, mercies and the love and friendship of our neighbours so that we can enjoy our years on earth. Our prayers today and henceforth will equally go to our people who are held in captivity. We know God Almighty will save them all.”
Archbishop of Enugu Ecclesiastical Province, Dr Sosthenes Eze and Rev. Dr Jeff Opara, Founder of Revival Flame Ministries International, took the congregation on a series of prayers and supplications to God, seeking mercy
and touching the entire Igbo Nation, to accept and henceforth, embrace January 15, as a covenant day of praise, worship and thanksgiving in remembrance of how God delivered and saved their people from war.