Ambassador Raph Uwechue

Raphael Chukwu Uwechue was born in 1935.

He was former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s Special Envoy on Conflict Resolution in Africa from 1999 to 2007, one out of a few who were there from the beginning of OBJ’s Administration to the end. Also, He was Special Representative of ECOWAS Executive Secretary in Cote d'Ivoire from 2002 to 2007.

Raph is a man who has devoted his life to conflict prevention and resolution in Africa. He’s been through the length and Breadth of Africa from Sudan to Angola, to Burundi, etc.

A major feat was the peace brokering between the warring factions in Sierra Leone in 2001. This largely unsung hero restored peace to that country.

He is an indigene of present Day Delta State.

He had his primary school in Sokoto and his secondary school education was at St. John’s College Kaduna,alma mater the likes of Major Kaduna Nzeogwu and Air Vice-Marshal Abdullahi Dominic Bello.

He proceeded to the university College of Ibadan where he took an honours degree in modern history.

Thereafter, He travelled to Switzerland to study French and international law at the Geneva Africa Institute.

Ambassador Raph Uwechue joined the Nigerian Foreign service at its inception in 1960.

He served in a number of countries including France, Camerooon, Pakistan and Mali.

He holds the honor of being Nigeria’s first diplomatic envoy to France, where he opened the Nigerian Embassy in Paris in 1966.

He later switched his allegiance to the Biafran Republic.

He had the following to say in His Book: Reflections on the Nıgerian Civil War, Facing the Future

"The principal point at issue on which I disagreed with the Federal Government (of Nigeria) was its inability.

(a) to provide effective protection for Ibo civilians during the gruesome massacres of 1966 and, (b) the unsatisfactory handling of the question of compensation and rehabilitation of the families and dependents of the victims of those unfortunate events.

"My opposition to the Federal Government.was not based on any sudden realisation that the Nigerian peoples who had lived together in one country and in that sense as one community, in considerable harmony for over half a century, have become such inveterate incompatibles that they must now be separated in order to be saved...

"Until we become a truly integrated nation - only time, tolerance and patience will make this possible - it is unrealistic to adopt a constitution which presupposes the existence of an already integrated society.The answer lies in 'modulated' decentralisation within the framework of a federation in which minority elements are effectively insulated from the threat of domination by any of the preponderant tribes, Hausa-Fulani, Ibo and Yoruba."

Back in 2003, when I became confused about the happenings in Nigeria, Raph Uwechue was an example of how things could still go right in Nigeria.

His book rated the most impassioned account of the Nıgerian Civil War, dwelt extensively on the remote and immediate causes of the war. He didn’t stop at that, He also proffered credible solutions that would have stood the test of time if they had been implemented.

Ambassador Raph Uwechue, Mr. Africa has traversed the length and breadth of Africa in search of Peace for a Troubled Continent.

In these days and times, when Political Mentors are fast disappearing on the Nigerian Political Landscape, Ambassador Raph Uwechue’s life, ideas and stand is one which progressive Youths can tune into in our quest for a new Africa.

The ghost of Biafra..

I read with disgust a few days ago in the papers that self-promoted four-star Biafran Army General Ezegburugburu Odimegwu Ojukwu was at the Millitary Pensions Board to collect his gratuity.

I was appalled because that to me represents a sell-out of the struggle that led to the secession of the Igbo race from the rest of Nigeria.

I remembered a discussion I had with my political mentor, Amb. Raph Uwechue a few years back on his book, 'Reflections on the Nigerian civil war: Facing the future', the circumstances that led to the secession who found a collective voice in Emeka are still present today albeit cloaked.

I wouldn't know if Dim Emeka reflects on happenings in the country presently on the 15th of January every year as a day that Biafra, a child of necessity then and now was killed with the formal surrender of Phillip Effiong at Dodan Barracks in Lagos.

Biafra was an ideal child of necessity against the blood-sucking elements who were thirsting for Igbo blood in the northern part of the country. If only He, Ojukwu had been humble enough to enjoy the goodwill of the Igbo people and seek not to entrench himself in apparent power,
my country, The United States of Nigeria would have been doing the black race proud.

38 years after, I wouldn't know if Ojukwu has been misled to think now that all is well with Nigeria. The problems of Nigeria are legion which could have been settled if Ojukwu had not gotten carried away with the power he could have wielded as an independent ruler of the Biafran Republic without answering to anybody at Dodan Barracks. Erstwhile, he was the military Governor of the Eastern Region.

I daresay that the ideals of Biafra were noble and present-day Nigeria lost out in properly constituting itself into a true United States of Nigeria because Ojukwu got himself misled about his military strength when the Federal Government reneged on the Aburi accord and stuck to his guns when it was eventually ready for it.
Its so bad that villains like Brig-General Benajamin Adekunle are the silent heroes of the Nigerian Civil war and the Obasanjos openly gloat about their being able to bring an end to the civil war.

In light of Ojukwu's recent action, what can be said to be the value of the lives of eminent people like Aguiyi Ironsi, Brig. Victor Banjo, Major Sam Agbamuche, Major Phillip Alale and the rest of those who lost their lives in the struggle?