Since the end of the war, Nigeria's federal government has not satisfactorily resolved the Biafran issue.  Therefore, some of the conditions that led to the declaration of the republic of Biafra exist latently.  For example, the April 1990 failed attempt to topple the regime of ex-Gen.  Ibrahim Babangida had the coup plotters seeking to break up the country, again.  After the annulled June 12 199 3 elections the resulting crises led many to believe the country was on the verge of collapse and disintegration.

These are indications that unless and until the Biafran issue is satisfactorily resolved and the former Biafrans particularly the Igbos, the Ibibios and the Riverine peoples of the East  are reasonably compensated and fully integrated into the Nigerian polity, the stability of the country will continue to be in question.

Those who suggest that Biafra should not be discussed or brought do not have a proper knowledge of history.  Why?  "it is an endemic part of the history of Nigeria and a fact in today's federalist questions in Nigeria.  Biafra was equally a question demanding what form of government Nigeria should have.

(Ojukwu, Biafra flag, Gowon, Nigeria flag digital graphic design by Chido Nwangwu with USAfricaonline.com/news agencies/archive photos)

Biafra was a sacrifice, an effort for the rights and privileges of any Nigerian citizen.  Could an Igbo or Hausa live in Ijebu Ode or Bori?  Biafra goes to the issue of citizenship.  Is it limited to a Nigerians area of origin or is it co-extensive to the boundaries and territories of the federal republic of Nigeria?  It is a valid debate.  All those who say don't talk about Biafra should look at the history of World Wars 1 and World war II.  The unsatisfactory resolutions of the issues of the WW 1 played a major part in the emergence of the 2nd World War.  After World War 2, even the victors established the Marshall Plan that revived Germany and Asia.

The U.S leadership with Gen.  Douglas MacArthur helped in reviving Japan.  Thanks to the wisdom of the victors, today Germany and Japan are making significant contributions to world peace and development.  Those are  useful lessons for those who pretend that Biafra never existed or is too sensitive an issue to discuss. The fact is that the advantages of learning from history outweigh self-defeating denial of what we all deeply know.

Okorafor, member of the editorial board of USAfrica The Newspaper, served as president of the Nigerian Foundation, Houston chapter. USAfricaonline.com Publisher Chido Nwangwu contributed to this opinion piece.

USAfricaonline EXCLUSIVE ODUMEGWU EMEKA OJUKWU: "It was simply a choice between Biafra and enslavement! And, here's why we chose Biafra" Biafra-Nigeria war and history to get fresh, critical look from a survivor  'Biafra: History has no Mercy' - a preliminary note by Chido Nwangwu Why Bush should focus on dangers facing Nigeria's return to democracy and Obasanjo's slipperyslide. By Chido Nwangwu How Obasanjo's self-succession charade at his Ota Farm has turned Nigeria to an 'Animal Farm.' By USAfricaonline.com contributor Prof. Mobolaji Aluko Obasanjo's late wake to the Sharia crises, Court's decision and Nigeria's democracy. By Ken Okorie Obasanjo's own challenge is to imbibe "democratic spirit and practice," By Prof. Ibiyinka Solarin Is Obasanjo really up to Nigeria's challenge and crises? By USAfrica The Newspaper editorial board member, attorney Ken Okorie. This commentary appears courtesy of our related web site, NigeriaCentral.com Obasanjo's late wake to the Sharia crises, Court's decision and Nigeria's democracy. By Ken Okorie Sharia-related killings and carnage in Kaduna reenact deadly prologue to Nigeria-Biafra war of 1967. By Chido Nwangwu. NEWS INVESTIGATION: The Marc Rich Oil Deals in Nigeria OIL in NIGERIA: Liquid Gold or Petro-Dollars Curse? Should Africa debates begin and end at The New York Times and The Washington Post? No Jonas Savimbi, UNITA are "terrorists" in Africans' eyes despite Washington's "freedom fighter" toga for him. By SHANA WILLS Nelson Mandela, Tribute to the world's political superstar and Lion of Africa   Winnie Madikizela-Mandela's burden mounts with murder charges, trials TRIBUTE A KING FOR ALL TIMES: Why Martin Luther King's legacy and vision are relevant into 21st century.     DIPLOMACY Walter Carrington: African-American diplomat who put principles above self for Nigeria (USAfrica's founder Chido Nwangwu with Ambassador Carrington at the U.S. embassy, Nigeria) DEMOCRACY'S WARRIOR Out of Africa. …The cock that crows in the morning belongs to one household but his voice is the property of the neighborhood. -- Chinua Achebe, Anthills of the Savannah. An editor carries on his crusade against public corruption and press censorship in his native Nigeria and other African countries. By John Suval. ARINZE: Will he be the FIRST BLACK AFRICAN POPE? By Chido Nwangwu HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY How far, how deep will Nigeria's human rights commission go? Rtd. Gen. Babangida trip as emissary for Nigeria's Obasanjo to Sudan raises curiosity, questions about what next in power play? 110 minutes with Hakeem Olajuwon Nigerian stabbed to death in his bathroom in Houston. Cheryl Mills' first class defense of Clinton and her detractors' game  It's wrong to stereotype Nigerians as Drug Dealers Private initiative, free market forces, and more democratization are Keys to prosperity in Africa Apple announces Titanium, "killer apps" and other ground-breaking products for 2001. iTunes makes a record 500,000 downloads. Steve Jobs extends digital magic Johnnie Cochran will soon learn that defending Abacha's loot is not as simple as his O.J Simpson's case. By Chido Nwangwu USAfrica The Newspaper voted the "Best Community Newspaper" in the 4th largest city in the U.S., Houston. It is in the Best of Houston 2001 special as chosen by the editors and readers of the Houston Press, reflecting their poll and annual rankings.

APPRECIATION A young father writes his One year old son: "If only my heart had a voice...." Why Chinua Achebe, the Eagle on the Iroko, is Africa's writer of the century. By Chido Nwangwu Since 1958, Achebe's "Things Fall Apart" set a standard of artistic excellence, and more. By Douglas Killam DEMOCRACY DEBATE CNN International debate on Nigeria's democracy livecast on CNN. It involved Nigeria's Information Minister Prof. Jerry Gana, Prof. Salih Booker and USAfricaonline.com Publisher Chido Nwangwu. Transcripts are available on the CNN International site. Osama bin-Laden's goons threaten Nigeria and Africa's stability. By Chido Nwangwu, USAfricaonline.com Publisher. What has Africa to do with September 11 terror? By Chido Nwangwu Africans reported dead in terrorist attack at WTC September 11 terror and the ghost of things to come.... Will religious conflicts be the time-bomb for Nigeria's latest transition to civilian rule? NEWS 5 students from Nigeria at Abilene Christian University killed in March 31, 2002 one-car accident.18 year-old Kolawole Oluwagbemiga Sami was identified as the driver of the Isuzu which had 2 other men and 3 women. One of those female passengers in the 1994 Isuzu Rodeo SUV had an identification card stating her as Iyadunni Oluwaseun Bakare. She is also 18 years old. USAfricaonline.com special report by Chido Nwangwu USAfrica The Newspaper voted the "Best Community Newspaper" in the 4th largest city in the U.S., Houston. It is in the Best of Houston 2001 special as chosen by the editors and readers of the Houston Press, reflecting their poll and annual rankings. Osama bin-Laden's goons threaten Nigeria and Africa's stability. By Chido Nwangwu Tragedy of Ige's murder is its déjà vu for the Yoruba southwest and rest of Nigeria. By Ken Okorie What has Africa to do with September 11 terror? By Chido Nwangwu Should Africa debates begin and end at The New York Times and The Washington Post? No NEWS INSIGHT CNN, Obasanjo and Nigeria's struggles with democracy. Why Obasanjo's government should respect CNN and Freedom of the press in Nigeria. Jonas Savimbi, UNITA are "terrorists" in Africans' eyes despite Washington's "freedom fighter" toga for him. By SHANA WILLS Lifestyle Sex, Women and (Hu)Woman Rights. By Chika Unigwe Africa suffers the scourge of the virus. This life and pain of Kgomotso Mahlangu, a five-month-old AIDS patient (above) in a hospital in the Kalafong township near Pretoria, South Africa, on October 26, 1999, brings a certain, frightening reality to the sweeping and devastating destruction of human beings who form the core of any definition of a country's future, its national security, actual and potential economic development and internal markets. 22 million Africans HIV-infected, ill with AIDS while African leaders ignore disaster-in-waiting Bola Ige's murder another danger signal for Nigeria's nascent democracy. In a special report a few hours after the history-making nomination, USAfricaonline.com Founder and Publisher Chido Nwangwu places Powell within the trajectory of history and into his unfolding clout and relevance in an essay titled 'Why Colin Powell brings gravitas, credibility and star power to Bush presidency.' AFRICA AND THE U.S. ELECTIONS Beyond U.S. electoral shenanigans, rewards and dynamics of a democratic republic hold lessons for African politics. CONTINENTAL AGENDA Bush's position on Africa is "ill-advised." The position stated by Republican presidential aspirant and Governor of Texas, George Bush where he said that "Africa will not be an area of priority" in his presidency has been questioned by USAfricaonline.com Publisher Chido Nwangwu. He added that Bush's "pre-election position was neither validated by the economic exchanges nor geo-strategic interests of our two continents." These views were stated during an interview CNN's anchor Bernard Shaw and senior analyst Jeff Greenfield had with Mr. Nwangwu on Saturday November 18, 2000 during a special edition of 'Inside Politics 2000.' Nwangwu, adviser to the Mayor of Houston (the 4th largest city in the U.S., and immigrant home to thousands of Africans) argued further that "the issues of the heritage interests of 35 million African-Americans in Africa, the volume and value of oil business between between the U.S and Nigeria and the horrendous AIDS crisis in Africa do not lend any basis for Governor Bush's ill-advised position which removes Africa from fair consideration" were he to be elected president. By Al Johnson