Being a British born woman and by the grace of God a
representative for the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), my
memories/experiences of May 30th are somewhat unique.
Prior to 2012 I had little knowledge of the Biafran war
despite been born in the late sixties, certainly I had no idea then, that
Britain in 1969 was suppling 99.2% of all the weapons used by Nigeria to
massacre over 3.5 million people.
SHOCKING? Yes. I even doubt now many British people or
even their MP’s today understand Britain’s creation called Nigeria and
Britain’s role in ongoing slavery and genocide. Even during the Biafran war
1967 to 1970 the parliamentary members weren’t aware of the extreme amount of
arms been sent to Nigeria it was at the time classified information. Even today
many citizens and parliamentary members have very little knowledge of the
amount of arms being supplied to foreign countries especially in Africa and the
Middle East.
For me as a child our household having a television of
which only then had two channels BBC1 and BBC2 our family saw the regulated
news coverage of the genocide, to this day like many adults in their fifties
can still remember their parents saying those poor children in Africa are
starving make sure you eat all your dinner. I’m sure we had no idea then they
weren’t starving because of crop failure or natural disaster but because
Britain and Nigeria were purposefully penning millions of people into an area
of Biafra to starve them as a war tactic even aid was blocked, shockingly even
after the war the aid which was by a few right minded people reaching Biafrans
at great risk was redirected to outside of Biafra to Lagos by the Nigerian
General Gowon so he could clearly raise the Biafran death count despite the war
being over.
BLUE PETER... we all remember these fabulous children
programme on BBC1, in fact my mum was a great fan of Valerie Singleton (one of
the presenters) whom she’d once met in Farnham Surrey and admired, so defiantly
my family would have been switched on to Blue Peter and all their appeals. In
1968 Blue Peter held an appeal for Biafra involving schools, banks etc. and
most families sent money to fund hospitals, trucks, aid etc. or recyclable
goods. (We still have a pot of used stamps collection). In fact, at the time
there were many British charities raising money for Biafra and of course Biafra
appeal with thanks to Bob Geldof morphed into ‘Feed The World’, ‘Band Aid’ and ‘Children
In Need’.
What you may NOT KNOW is the money raised by Blue Peter etc.
was at the time confiscated by the British Government, they felt they couldn’t
have money sent to a country they were technically at war with. This was of
course covered up, I also read that even the original tapes of those Blue Peter
shows have been wiped. I could just imagine the British people’s outrage if
they knew how their charitable funds were being spent (or not). I only learnt
this fact a year or so ago from the daughter of a senior member of foreign
affairs at the time of the Biafran war and frankly I still can’t swallow it, as
for my mum she must be turning in her grave she like many other Brits without
fail every year of her life gave 15% of her earnings (before tax) to charities
like the Biafra Appeal.
Ahead a few years in late 2012 early 2013 I met Mazi Nnamdi
Kanu, Mazi Uche Mefor and others who were running Radio Biafra London and
campaigning for the IPOB. My first personal remembrance of the 30th May was
2013 Nnamdi Kanu held a broadcast and a prayer vigil and I heard for the first
time a very moving version of Biafran National Anthem not the one I often hear
sung now but a melodic sorrowful version which if I heard this moment would
have me in tears. I spoke to many Biafrans about their experiences how a young
boy was spared his life by a Northern Governor/Emir who spilt cows’ blood onto
the land to make out to the Nigerian Army that he had killed Biafrans in his
Northern Nigerian town as ordered in 1966. The stories I have heard to date are
keeping my hair grey and my soul weighted.
In the following years on the 30th May with Biafrans I
have held that vigil and have been a part of the IPOB’s Worldwide Remembrance
which is held in every country of the world for me it is most years in
Trafalgar Square London. Biafrans in Biafra land were massacred for many years
for holding a remembrance day in their home land, one young girl in 2015 went
with her two older brothers to a remembrance parade in Abia with her fellow
brothers, they were together arrested but separated and taken away in different
vehicles, the young girl was later released without charge but till today the
same young girl has not found her brothers of which she has searched police
stations, jails and morgues for like many Biafrans that have disappeared after
arrest are most likely in an unmarked grave and a young girl now the only child
left is struggling to support her ailing parents. Given the enormity of
kidnappings and killings on the 30th May Biafrans in Biafra land now respect
their lost ones by sitting at home that day (whilst those in diaspora still
vigil together), although Biafrans encourage others to mourn with them
especially those that have lost kinsmen by war or terrorism this doesn’t always
deter Nigeria which refuses to recognize the day of mourning and continue to
threaten and intimate Biafrans last year a young boy was dragged of his front
porch and killed all for being a Biafran and remembering he lost a father, a
mother, an uncle, an aunt, a cousin to a pointless war.
For me and my children we will now always remember the
30th May regardless.
#WeRemember #30thMay
Written by:
Lolo Carol Chidinma Munday
For: Biafra State Media
Published by:
Chibuike John Nebeokike
For: Biafra State Media
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