50 years after the civil war: Need for true reconciliation - Catholic Herald
Catholic Herald
  • Home
  • Cover Story
  • Editorial
  • Archbishopric
  • News
    • Vatican News
  • Homily
  • Kids &Teens
  • Gallery
    • Gallery
No Result
View All Result
Catholic Herald
No Result
View All Result
Home Editorial

50 years after the civil war: Need for true reconciliation

by admin
January 26, 2020
in Editorial
0
498
SHARES
1.4k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

J
anuary 15, 2020 marked 50
years since the Nigerian/
Biafran civil war came to an
abrupt end. The then General
Yakubu Gowon government, in
order to assuage nerves, announced
that the no victor, no vanquish
slogan. He also announced the three
Rs: Reconstruction, Rehabilitation
and Reconciliation meant to help

heal the wounds of all parties, par-
ticularly those of the Biafrans who

lost millions, mostly children and
women. Unfortunately, many years
after the war, little has been done
by successive government to truly
reconcile, reconstruct and rehabilitate

victims of the war. There is undeni-
able evidence that the contrary has

been the case with the Igbo and other
tribes suspected to have been part of
the botched Biafra Republic being
denied access to effective political
participation.
The Igbo in particular have been
clamouring for equity and fair play in
resource allocation and appointment
into what is seen as juicy positions in
the Nigerian political space. Severally
they are denied and simply have to
settle for the crumps that falls from
the proverbial master’s table. Often
times our brothers who act and play

the victor shout them down for dar-
ing to speak out the injustice meted

out to them
Fifty years after, the major causes of
the war appear yet to be resolved. The

average igbo are still complaining of
merginalization. The South South is
not excluded despite their oil wealth.

Accusations and counter accusa-
tions of ethnic dominance, inequality

and religious prejudices remain the

order of the day. This perceived mar-
ginalisation over the years has led to

the emergence of various groups with

secession agenda; the most prom-
inent being the Indigenous People

of Biafra led by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu
who has been hounded down without
reprieve by the federal authorities for
asking separation from the Nigerian
project. He has been in and out of
prison and risk being jailed for life.
The issue of insecurity now reigning
supreme in many parts of the country

and the resolve by some regions to
form their own security apparatus
to complement that of the police is
no doubt an attestation of the wind
of change that is gradually blowing
across the land. It suggests that the
time is more than ripe for the various

components that make up the Nigeri-
an state to come together and fashion

out the way forward
The federal and state governments
need to appreciate and identify the
peculiarities of the times which
require an all inclusive approach to

governance. Reaching out to the var-
ious segments of the country would

go a long way to heal gaping wounds

and set the pace towards true recon-
ciliation that is needed at this time.

Share199Tweet125Share50
admin

admin

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest

The 12 Articles of the Creed

June 14, 2021

Examination malpractices: Who is to blame?

July 10, 2021

Act right, don’t be part of those destroying the world today!

June 14, 2021

Agenda for in-coming Lagos State Governor

0

Fathers And The Omugwo Train

0

Married Pentecostal Pastor Set To Become Catholic Priest

0
Archbishop Alfred Adewale Martins at 64: Full of gratitude, yearning to work more

59th World Day of Social Communications: Archbishop Martins echoes Pope Francis’ Call for Gentle Communication

June 11, 2025

Pentecost as birthday of the Church

June 11, 2025
Now that 2023 general elections are drawing near

Government should reverse the decline in academic standards

June 11, 2025
Catholic Herald

© 2024 | Xebrian

Navigate Site

  • Home
  • Mixed Grill
  • Interview Section
  • Spirituality
  • Sports
  • Health
  • Technology
  • Gallery
  • Back Page
  • Contact

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Cover Story
  • Editorial
  • Archbishopric
  • News
    • Vatican News
  • Homily
    • Spirituality
  • Mixed Grill
  • Interview Section
  • Sports
  • Technology
  • Health
  • Kids &Teens
  • Gallery
    • Gallery
  • Back Page
  • Contact

© 2024 | Xebrian