It is clear to all and sundry that President Buhari is not satisfied with the way the Biafra/Nigeria way ended. He is particularly incensed at the rather quick recovery of Biafrans from the war hardships and is offended that ex-Biafrans are eager to participate in Nigeria’s development not just as receivers of Nigeria’s benevolences but as the creators of wealth. PMB would rather see ex Biafrans as the hewers of wood and drawers of water or as those who sit in street corners begging for a half of a loaf of bread. PMB wants to teach Biafrans a lesson that should have been taught the Biafrans immediately after the war. Even though rehabilitation, reconstruction and reconciliation was talked about but not implemented; even though twenty pounds per account were exchanged for billions of pounds left by Biafrans; even though millions of Biafrans were starved to death and tens of thousands of young Biafran men perished in the battle field, they are not considered by PMB as sufficient punishment.

He wants to refight the war and to teach “them” a lesson.

Or two.

PMB’s apparent entry gate into the war was opened by one Nnamdi Kanu a little know pseudo journalist who is the managing editor for the struggling Radio Biafra. PMB first attempted to block out the station but failed woefully. (Why he thought he could do it when radio Nigeria was not able to do so when Biafra was a land mass contained in a land less than 50 X 50 sq. miles beats my imagination). But having failed he was looking for a way in and Mr. Kanu’s visit to Nigeria provided the opening. He jumped on the poor boy and ignited the obvious demonstrations.

The demonstrations was peaceful for a while until PMB’s armed forces shot and killed half a dozen in Onitsha provoking a retaliation that involved burning of a mosque in town which has led to the burning of Igbo market in Kano. We are at the threshold of an inter-tribal war. Exactly what President Buhari had been itching for a long time.

PMB has a war he does not want to fight, the Boko Haram war which has killed over 10,000 Nigerians. He wants to put that on the back burner to fight the war he wants, against the Igbo. He believes that if he wins the Biafran war he would teach “them” a lesson and would become a war hero which seems to have eluded him in 1967-1970 outing. He believes that he would once more unite Nigerian against a belligerent people.

There are two things to bear in mind. Pitched battles for which he had been trained is passé these days. Big armies in a trench against another is no longer the norm. BH probably never had 2,000 armed men at any time, but they strike everywhere they choose at the time of their choosing and at the target of their choice. The Nigerian armed Forces occupy ever sq. inch of Nigeria but that does not deter BH troops. PMB should realize that he has his troops all over Biafra and the BH tactics could be used by Biafrans if he declares war on Biafra. He should bear this in his mind.

The second thing to think of is that it is the fight in the dog in a fight that matters not the size of the dog in the fight. He may be in command of 20 Divisions of soldiers supported by a full-fledged Navy and Air Force just as USA has but still be helpless with a few thousand poorly equipped freedom fighters.

The solution to Nigeria’s impending war is to do simple things such as:

1. President Muhammadu Buhari should rethink his perception of some segments of Nigerians and come back to the fact that he is president of all Nigerians. Failure to understand his role will make thing bad for everyone, including the man who believes that the title Commander-In-Chief gives him the right to do everything.

2. Mr. Nnamdi Kanu is just an irritant that could be ignored. He should release him unconditionally and allow him to roam the country as he pleases within the law. He would have less impact as a free man than he would have as a prisoner of conscience.

3. Biafrans would like to remain and contribute to Nigeria despite the maga maga. But would fight if pushed to and would make governing impossible for a chosen dictator. With full economic blockade, and starvation, but with a handful of riffles Biafrans were able to hold Nigeria for 3 years. Now they have better communications equipment and a better strategy. Biafran/Nigerian war would now last decades and could involve other powers

4. Jaw jaw is better than war war. PMB should sit down with Biafrans and find a middle ground. He should do so with other Nigerian ethnic groups including BH, MENDS, Oduduwa promoters, etc. He would be glad he did.

5. He should take a second look at the recommendations of the past Nigerian Conference to see how to implement all or parts of it.

If PMB continues on the path of “Father-Knows-It-All” he will fail and fail absolutely. Absolute power corrupts absolutely.

I know that it is difficult to come from dictatorial to democratic leadership. But PMB should try and be seen as trying. Right now he does not seem to understand how democracy works.

•Benjamin Obiajulu Aduba writes from Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Photo shows President Buhari.

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