http://naijajaw..com/2012/10/why-is-chinua-achebe-dragging-yorubas.html

Chinua Achebe long awaited book on the Okjukwu led cvil war has caused heads to roll and led supporters of Achebe and the admirers of late Chief Obafemi Awolowo enter into verbal war.

On Thuesday, the Guardian UK, published excerpts of the book. The book which focuses on Achebe's experience during the war brings down painful memories as well as explores the roles played by keymen who dictated the dimension of the war. Awolo happens to be one of the major actors of the war as Achebe graciously elucidates.

Why is Chinua Achebe Dragging Yorubas Into Igbo-Hausa Feud?
Image Credit: achebebooks.com
Achebe claims Late Awolo used his power as Vice Chairman of the wartime federal cabinet to annihilate the Igbo as a race that stirred the dangerous situation.

"It is my impression that Awolowo was driven by an overriding ambition for power, for himself and for his Yoruba people. There is, on the surface at least, nothing wrong with those aspirations

However, Awolowo saw the dominant Igbos at the time as the obstacles to that goal, and when the opportunity arosethe Nigeria-Biafra warhis ambition drove him into a frenzy to go to every length to achieve his dreams. In the Biafran case it meant hatching up a diabolical policy to reduce the numbers of his enemies significantly through starvation eliminating over two million people, mainly members of future generations." Achebe wrote.

This excerpt as published by Guardian has caused passionate debates on blogs and microblogs.

In one of such blogs, Vincent wrote: "The Prof wrote a book about his Biafra war experience as he saw it. So, what's the big deal? If you don't like what he wrote, go write your own book. The problem is some Yorubas can't stand it when someone criticize Awolowo. Awo is almost a godlike figure among the Yorubas but still, he had his weakness. Quite honestly, anyone who wants to build any lasting relationship between the Yoruba and Igbo should not bring Awo into it because Ndigbo have no love for Awo just as Awo never loved Ndigbo".

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Fellow country men,
For how long shall brood on a single wound? Awo could have done all that , but he is long gone. Why unearth a buried carcass? Of what use will that be to the fostering and development of our dear country Nigeria? In as much as I respect Par. Achebe, I think , in my own opinion, that revisiting the plight of the Igbos during the war, at this point in time , knowing fully well the dilemma the nation has found itself, he has not acted well....... ...... If this country must move forward, there is need for us to leave every atom of resentment and forge ahead ....... TOGETHER WE STAND