1 - The Spectre of Biafra

Abstract

Many existing narratives of the Nigerian Civil War remain as contentious as ever. Usually, authors of such accounts of the war where participants n the conflict interested only in soothing their own egos or self-validation. Or else, they have an undisguised ethnic agenda in mind, either as victims or heroes of the war. As such, it is dificult to glean an unbiased picture of what really transpired. Alas, the Nigerian Civil War is a wound that refuses to heal; instead, it becomes really sore at the slightest provocation. It is quite refreshing to read an account by Michael Gould who is obviously not motivated by the all-too-familiar ethnic sentiments. It would seem that, for a Nigerian, it is impossible to think straight once plunged into the murky historical pool of the war. For many Nigerians, writing about the war is still a deeply troubling exercise and there is usually a partisan dimension to it.