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Remarks of the Chairman on the Occasion of 1st Year Memorial Anniversary of Col Joseph Oseluka Governor Achuzia. “aka” Air-Raid, Hannibal, Ikemba Ahaba, Ochiagha Aboh Bishop etc. Held at Asaba on Tue 26/02/19.
Protocol,
Ordinarily I would have loved to propound on, the Myth of the ECOWAS Court Consent Judgment Ref: ECW/CCJ/JUD/14/17, of which the Federal Government is favorably disposed in favor of the 67-70 Disabled Veteran/Victims of Military Ordinance or their Next of Kins, But considering the Circumstance, of which, we are here-gathered today, I crave your indulgence to limit this Eulogy on the Title: Achuzia; The Iconic–Enigma in Emotions & Reason.
Gen Madiebo’s Tirade My Personal Encounter, Bishop Okoye; The Oil Men & End of War Fortuitism.
According to Oxford English Dictionary, an Icon is a famous person. Similarly, an Enigma is a person, thing or situation that is: mysterious, or difficult to understand. In combination therefore, beyond the cogency of : Ethical Traits, Social Character, Patriotic Nationalism or Idiosyncrasy of the Human person. The Iconic-Enigma, even in the Vanity of Emotional Turbulence or Greedy Materialism, retains the Humane Temperament of Prudent Reasoning.
Hence, the relevance of Gen Alexander Madiebo’s dyscratic account in Chapter 9, of his book: The Nigerian Revolution and The Biafran War, where-in, he noted that the fall of Awka marked the beginning of Civilian intervention in the Biafran Army Command Structure and Procedure. Hence the facilitated emergence of revered Major Achuzia, as the effective Commander of 11th Div of the Biafran Army, which objective was to checkmate the Col Mohammed led 2nd Div of the Nigerian Army that thrust into Onitsha through Awka, on 25/3/68.
Yes, according to Gen Madiebo, the Commander of the Biafran Army, Major Achuzia’s qualification, to Commandership of the 11th Div, just three months of being Commissioned into the Biafran Army, included; His participation in the Korean War, His exploits at the Nsukka Sector, and invincible performances during Mohammed’s First and Second futile attempts to take Onitsha through River Niger, since October 1967. Furthermore, what was most astonishing, according to Gen Madiebo, was the fact that Major Achuzia’s Administrative Officer was Brigadier Nwawo, who brought him into the Army. Nonetheless, describing Major Achuzia’s exploits, Gen Alexander Madiebo in page 221 of his book, wrote:
“He was an officer of Extra-ordinary Personal Courage, who was Willing to Sacrifice Anything to achieve his Objective.”
Yet, too soon, after the destruction of Mohammed’s 2nd Div by Col Achuzia’s 11th Div. at Abagana, on 24/10/68 the same Gen Alexander Madiebo had this to say of Achuzia:
“It is quite humorous to all, who knew that Achuzia, who was not even in his Div Area during the fight, took Journalists to the scene of the battle the following morning, to explain to them, how he fought the battle. He impressed them, and they Christened him Hannibal on the spot”
Such was the controversy, and prejudicial perception, that trailed the Mysticism of the inexplicable Iconic-Enigma: Major, Col, Gen, Joe Achuzie, aka “Air-Raid”. Hence the justification of the Choice Title:- Col Achuzia, The Iconic-Enigma in Emotions and Reason.
My first personal encounter with the man, I later realized was the dreaded Air Raid, was at Bodo-West, on the Bori/Eleme axis of Port-Harcourt sector of the war in April 1968. With the myth of a Red Cross Boy, trenched with conventional soldiers at the war front. It appeared more hilarious than complementary to vision, a rather smallish-man, flanked by some escorts and dressed in full Biafran Camouflage, walk egoistically, up to the front-line, the Multiple-echo, of the Enemy’s recently acquired Revolving Artillery Bombardment and occasional cross-firing, notwithstanding.
Suddenly, apparently speaking through the nose, the man in Camouflage menacingly asked: “Who is Shelling that ”. Unfortunately, with the callow arrogance of a privileged informant, my thundering answer “ Of Course, it is the Enemy “ more rude than polite, quite angered him. Luckily, before Emotions could sway the Reason of the Visitor, whose well-practiced Fist was almost home to his ever-ready Pistol Captain Ihekoronye, supported by Major George, all of Blessed Memory, had predictably, relieved their Magazine- loaded Madison Rifles of the Safety-catches. Amidst the embarrassment of a wet pant, all I could faintly re-call were: “ Do it and you are dead.” Followed Humorously by “ Boy, you won’t be as Lucky, next time “
Granted, there couldn’t have occasioned any, next time for me, but not for some others. Yes!, too soon, the pistol had gone-off. A straggler, who had shot himself on the Left hand with intent to curry un-merited sympathy was identified and shot, by The Air-Raid, whose presence at any Sector, not only re-kindled Confidence on the wavering, and rained Showers of Hope on despairing Soldiers but also charismatically, boosted the Morale-Courage of Troops in general. Hence my circumstance, not withstanding, I here-by declare my self a witness to the fact that even under provocation, Achuzia never allowed his Emotions to sway his Reason.
Hon Dr Emeka Sam Ukaegbu (Phd Critical & Creative Thinking)
Office of The Chairman; Veterans-Victims / Next of Kins WeLfare Committee:
34, Item St. (Opp Diamond Bank) Ikenegbu Ow. E-mail [email protected] . (08033247285)
•Contd on www.sunnewsonline.com
Further evidence of Col Achuzia’s Humane Temperament and Conservation of Prudent Reasoning, even under siege, is readily available. It will be re-called that, with the exit of the Biafran Leader, Emeka Ojukwu, out of the Country in search of Peace and the Resistance-will of the People almost completely eroded. Some eminent Biafran Leaders went to Col Achuzia at Ihioma, Orlu, by 4.00 am on 11th January 1970 and requested him to: Bring the War to an End. The embattled Commander, somewhat worried asked them, “ Why me?, There is a more Senior Officer, in the Person of Gen Philip Effiong. “Before, he was completely done, Bishop Okoye, leader of the team, continued:
“ My son. I have never made any request which you turned down. I am requesting that, it is the wish of the people who sent us here to ask you to bring this war to an end. We have sentout fellers to all the fronts and we have been informed that, you are the only person who will give the Order and the Soldiers will obey.”
Hardly, was Col Achuzia done with the interjection: “ But in the Army, things are not done that way”. His English wife, Mrs Jesophine Ethel Achuzia, excused him, on inquest of what the matter was, to which he answered:
“ They want me to bring the war to an end.”And what did you tell them she demanded? Obviously that I am not the most Senior Officer to do that ”
The English woman, having observed with absolute sympathy, the hardship of the people, did not need any prevarication on the matter. Hence her instant admonition.
“ Look, it is their War. If they want you to end it. Don’t stand on their way.”
This corroborating evidence was too much for Col Achuzia to ignore. Hence the brightening of Faith on the Answer. “ I wilI help where I can “ Yes, true to his Humane Temperament, Virtuous Contentment and Prudent Reasoning, made more Cogent by the Urgency of the prevailing Circumstance and Anxiety of the People for a follow-up Meeting.
Paradoxically, Col Achuzia did not see the men before, he made the Radio Announcement, calling for a Cease-fire & End of the War. Because, Col Achuzia’s announcement was : Bold, Un-ambiguous, and pungent. It formed the Basics of the ratified Statement made by General Philip Effiong in Lagos on 15th January 1970.
In retrospect to Bishop Okoye’s appeal; where-in he said: “My son, I have never made any request which you turned down “, it will be recalled that soon after the Col Achuzia led capture of the 18, Oil men, towards the later part of 1969, at Ukpai in the Mid-West . The consequential Grave Anxiety of the International Community, particularly those of Italian Government raised Diplomatic Crisis. Hence the compulsion of His Lordship G M P Okoye, as Chairman of CARITAS Relief Organization to Navigate the Location of their Abductors, and Champion their Release.It was in the course of this assignment, that Bishop Okoye and Col Achuzia became intimate.
Yes!, as a leeway towards ascertaining the status of the Hostages, Bishop Okoye requested and gained Col Achuzia’s permission to celebrate Mass for them. En-route for the Mass, the next day. Bishop ;Okoye., accompanied by His Grace Arch-Bishop Arinze, went with several Lorry loads of ; Food, Medicine and Clothing.
Lamentably, for the Biafran Soldiers, the sight of that kind of Food, items brought at that time of the War, was very temping. Hence, their loss of Self Control and pouncing on them. The disappointed Bishops sent words to Col Achuzia to protest against the development. The Field Commander, true to the Characteristic Enigma of his Endowment, exhibited neither Remorse. nor Emotions as he menacingly quarried :
:” What do you expect? , Just because of Eighteen Men, you, brought lorries, load of Food.”
What an Iconic-Enigma, in Emotions & Reason. Soldier-on, Distinguished Advocate of the Just.
The Legacy of your Indomitable-will, we plead for Posterity.
Hon Dr Emeka Sam Ukaegbu (Phd Critical & Creative Thinking)
Office of The Chairman; Veterans-Victims / Next of Kins WeLfare Committee:
34, Item St. (Opp Diamond Bank) Ikenegbu Ow. E-mail [email protected] . (08033247285)
