Q&A wt Chido Nwangwu. Follow on X @Chido247
Special to USAfrica magazine (Houston) and USAfricaonline.com, the first Africa-owned, US-based newspaper published on the Internet.
Congratulations on your new book, LIZARD FEASTS: War Time Experiences of a Teenage Boy in Biafra.” What motivated you to write this important book of reflection on the history of Biafra and Nigeria, 1967-1970?
Ukabam: Let me first thank you for giving me this opportunity to share some useful insights with you and your readers. Although it has been a while since the war ended, each time I relate an aspect of the war to my friends, someone invariably suggests that I put down some things in writing for historical purposes and preservation of eyewitness accounts. By writing this book, I hope to help the younger ones who were not yet born or too young during the war, to learn a few things about that war and that period. Also, a lot of participants in that war have stories to tell but feel either unable to or inadequately equipped. This should encourage them to think again.
Finally, any careful observer will notice that revisionists have been trying to twist the truth when it comes to the story of the war. My first-person account will shed some light on aspects of the war that someone might try to deny or whitewash.
What are the major lessons of the war?
Many lessons can be learned from that war. First and foremost, one understood that there is nothing like morality in global power politics. The Biafrans had every right to defend themselves against a stronger Nigerian side but the alliance of global powers such as Britain and Russia with the assistance of proxies like Egypt and others , assured the preservation of their own interests by supporting Nigeria. Secondly, it became obvious to the Biafrans that the words of the Nigerian national anthem, “though tribe and tongue may differ, in brotherhood we stand”, were hollow and not worth the ink they were written with. There is no love lost between the different Nigerian ethnic groups. For brevity, let me use Chinua Achebe’s words to emphasize another key learning from the war. The single most powerful factor that unites Nigerians is hatred for the Igbo. There are many other lessons but those are for Biafrans to internalize and learn from.
Tell USAfricaonline.com readers what and who compelled a teenager, at the time, such as yourself to go to thefight the war of survival?
As you may remember, all schools were closed because the Nigerian side was bombing and strafing schools, hospitals and other civilian gathering places. So young people had a lot of free time on their hands. Anger, anxiety, restlessness and curiosity led some of us to consider enlisting in the armed forces to defend the nascent republic. Many of us joined and wore the uniforms proudly despite the hardships. It was more a sense of duty that made me to enlist and serve.
If I may ask, Mazi Ukabam, do you think that the major issues and comparably combustible events that led to what I refer to as the Uncivil War of 1967 to 1970 have been resolved?
Not at all. In fact, it is not an exaggeration to say that the issues are more pronounced and malignant today. The Igbo, the largest ethnic group in Biafra, are still suffering marginalization and outright victimization similar to what led to the war. The Biafrans were treated like they did not belong to the same country as others. The same is still true today. They have been literally shut out from the mainstream of Nigerian socio-economic and political life. They survive and, occasionally thrive through sheer grit. We are far from resolving the issues that led to that war.
Tell us a brief bio-profile of you, a distinguished son of the great Arondizuogu community?
I was born in Lagos to Mazi Sylvester and Madam Mary Ukabam. I started elementary school education in Port Harcourt but finished up at St. Philip’s Catholic School in Arondizuogu. Secondary education led me to Mbaise Secondary School. The war interrupted schooling and I went off to war as a member of the Biafran Air Force, where my most important work was in Air Traffic control.
I graduated with honors from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, then proceeded to the University of Wisconsin, Madison where I obtained my Masters and Doctorate degrees. I spent more than 30 years working in industry.
I live in Marietta, Georgia, with my wife, Dr. Charmaine Emelife-Ukabam and our children.
Thank you, and best wishes.
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