Sit-at-home: SE Governors heed to Amb. Celestine Anadi’s advice, move to make 30th May a recognized Biafran heroes celebration day.
De Erudite Media, 4th June 2021.
By, Osigwe Paschal S.
Over the years, the South East and some other southern states of Nigeria have always honoured the 30th of May, of every year in the memory of those who lost their lives in the 30 months-long Nigerian/Biafran civil war, with a sit-at-home practice as part of the observations to honour those that died during the war.
Meanwhile, it’s worthy of note to emphasise that the 30th of May, 1967 was the day Gen. Odumegwu Ojukwu, the then Military Governor of Eastern Nigeria, declared the Sovereign State of Biafra, a declaration that later led to war between Nigeria and the new nation which when ended still retained the new nation as part of Nigeria.
However, since the renewed agitation for the creation of a sovereign state of Biafra in recent years, the practice of 30th May memorial has become a matter of national attention, where many opinion leaders are against the celebration as they believe that it’s separatist and calls the nation back to the memories of the unfortunate period in the nation’s history.
In the light of this development, especially after this year’s (2021) celebration which was full of tension and witnessed some fatalities due to clashes between the government and Biafran agitators, many eminent Nigerians has once again lent their voice in suggesting ways to reduce and or stop the tension and chaos every year because of the celebration.
One of such Nigerians who after a careful study of the major causes of the fracas and tension suggested the best way forward to South Eastern governors forum, a suggestion they have finally seem to take, was Amb. Celestine Ugochukwu Anadi (Ezeugo).
Recall that on the 31st of May, the National Chairman of Odimma Anambra Forum/Foundation (OAF), a popular socio-cultural pressure group in Anambra State, while answering questions from the press and the media arm of the OAF on the issue of sit-at-home order being observed that day in the South East, advised the SE governors to promulgate a law through their houses of assembly to officially recognize 30th of May of every year as Heroes day, and declare the day as a public holiday throughout the southeastern zone.
He said, “if 30th of May of every year is recognized as heroes day, this will aid to immortalise men, women and children who lost their lives in the course of the Biafran war, and ensure the residents of the zone are protected especially in this time of turmoil.”
The chairman further highlighted that “declaring every 30th of May as a public holiday will help douse the tension in the land and put an end to the continuous loggerhead between the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the government every 30th of May of every year.”
On Wednesdays, 2nd of June, the chairman of South East Governors’ Forum (SEGF), His Excellency Gov. Dave Umahi of Ebonyi state, stated that the SE governors are ready to promulgate a law to mark 30th May as a government recognized zone-wide memorial day for the Heroes of eastern origin who died during the war, and went further to state that is would be an official public holiday too.