How Twenty Pounds Saved Me From Going To Jail – US based veteran journalist
An American based veteran Journalist, Shedrack Ikwuagwu ,has made important clarifications on how he spent his £20pound received from Nigeria government shortly after the Biafra war.
The amount, given to adult makes in former Eastern region, was widely condemned as Igbo people lost property and huge sums of money domiciled in what was Nigeria at that time.
In this interview with Henry Emeana, the elder statesman disclosed to Eastern Voice that the Biafra currency was useless immediately after the war because it wasn’t in circulation .
The 83 years old also described the nullification of Rt.Hon. Emeka Ihedioha’s victory by the Supreme Court as a dent on the apex body, lambasting the Nigerian legal system for ridiculing the country before the global community.
Excerpts:
What can you make of the Nigeria ,Biafra civil war and how did you spent the £20pounds given to you after cessation of hostilities?
My son, I think I have had enough of Biafra struggle. I was so involved in the Biafra war that I don’t wish for another now. The Biafra currency was useless and wasn’t in circulation shortly after the war. So after the war ended ,Nigeria government gave every taxable Igbo adults 20 pounds but before that I will like to say few things about Biafra agitation. You see some of those agitating for this course now don’t know anything about it and the honest truth is that agitation for state outside your country is a waste of time .Telling the people you visited foreign countries is not the way to actualise this cause because those countries visited have international relations with Nigeria. So they will not listen or grant your request and that is why Odimegwu Ojukwu failed . Our problem in Nigeria is the educated people. Regarding how my 20 pounds was spent I think I invested it wisely.. Mine was used to buy a book titled “Nigeria Press Law”, a book that eventually rescued me from being jailed many years after when I wrote a story about embezzlement of fund during the military administration of the old Imo state. Indeed, It was a terrible experience because I was denied access to my family members and relatives but I thank God that after I was remanded for over three weeks, i was later discharge by the trial judge after I mentioned a section in the book that protects journalists during a court process’. I also know that some of our Igbo brothers are millionaires today because they ventured into business with their twenty pounds.
Many people say Nigeria is bleeding. What in your view gave rise to this?
The administration of President Muhammadu Buhari did. This government is the worst in the history of Nigeria. Worst than the military juntas in terms of performance. Buhari’s failure to restructure the country is what has been giving impetus to agitations for secession. The All Progressive Congress, APC and Buhari should be held responsible for the orgy of violence in the country today. The security of Nigeria is the most terrible thing in the world now. The military government is better than Buhari’s government. Those who have ruled before Buhari are better than him: he has disappointed Nigerians. I am calling on him to change his actions and policies. There are so many issues in Nigeria today. Nigeria is running a presidential system of government but what Buhari is running now is not Presidential system of government: he is running self government. It’s the duty of the two chambers of the National Assembly to call on Buhari to return the local government system in full. You can’t run Presidential system of government without the local government. The three tiers of government should have autonomy.
What does Supreme court judgement that ushered in the administration of Governor Hope Uzodima portend for the country?
Its obvious that the judiciary has gone to sleep. We don’t have courts in Nigeria. We only have traders .Supreme court has brought shame to us. The most shameful thing that has happened to Nigeria is the nullification of Chief Emeka Iheadioha’s election by the apex court. Matters are not helped and its the worst thing in Nigeria to have 91 political parties in the country: that is the worst fraud. Nigeria system of election is completely dangerous and full of fraud. The most shameful.
What is your assessment of the Rochas Okorocha past administration in Imo state?
Okorocha damaged Imo. It will take the state 20 years to recover. His greed and level of impunity are unparalleled. We need to pray and hope that a government that truly loves and cares for the people should come
