THE BATTLE OF SOMME 1916 AND NIGERIAN HISTORY
(Remembering The Battle of Awaka, The Battle of Umuobaa, The Battle of Abagana and Other Battles: Who remembers them?)

Young gruaduates and undergraduates of Igbo Land laid their lives in the great battles of Biafra and Nigeria; who remembers them? Nigeria neglects their history for the fear of justice. The world pays attention to Somme in France to pay respect to the young men and women of the Commonwealth and the French who died in the great battle of Somme. As a management student in 1996, the battle of somme of was a senario for strategic management in the UK. For the fear of justice, the Nigerian government neglects their history to educate their young people. Today, Germany, France and Britain are great friends however, the remembrance does not in any way destroy their friendship though they were once enemies. In Igbo Land, Abagana sector was a great battle, Awaka sector in Owerri was a great battle, Umuobaa sector in Owerri was a great battle where (like the battle of Somme – the British, the French and the German) young soldiers of the second generation of Igbo graduates and undergraduates lost their lives. We shall remember them. Nigeria sweeping our history under the carpet for the fear of justice will never bring peace to the people. Say the truth and let us learn from that. We shall remember the young Biafran and Nigerian soldiers who lost their lives for the war they did not even know how it started. Five (5) young men (two Yorubas and three Igbos) fired the first shot which eventually cost the lives of two (2) million Igbo lives. Igbo lives matter and we will remember them.

 

Oguchi Martins Egbujor