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Philip Effiong, also spelled Efiong, was a deputy to Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, head of state of the short-lived Republic of Biafra , during the 30-month Nigeria-Biafra civil war, 1967-70.
Near the end of the Nigeria-Biafra war, with the situation seriously deteriorating, Ojukwa fled to the Côte d'Ivoire, leaving Effiong in charge. Effiong assumed leadership on 10 January 1970 and on 12 January announced the surrender of Biafra (http://biafra.info/biafra/nigeria-biafra-civil-war-effiong-surrenders-biafra.html).
Even before the war, Biafra was net importer of food, depending on income from its oil fields to feed its populace. The tactics of the Nigerian military, which included deliberate destruction of agricultural land, and finally the loss of the Biafran oil fields, depriving Biafra of its main source of income, are believed to have caused the starvation of over a million civilians.
At the time of the surrender, Effiong believed that the situation was hopeless and that prolonging the conflict would have led only to the further destruction and starvation of the people of Biafra. At that time Effiong said, "I am convinced now that a stop must be put to the bloodshed which is going on as a result of the war. I am also convinced that the suffering of our people must be brought to an immediate end." [1] (http://biafra.info/biafra/nigeria-biafra-civil-war-philip-effiong-passes-away.html)
To the surprise of many in the outside world, threatened reprisals and massacres did not occur after the surrender, and genuine attempts were made at reconciliation. At least part of the credit for this situation must go to Effiong's leadership and diplomacy at this crucial moment.
In a 1996 interview, Effiong reflected on those events:
- I have no regrets whatsoever of my involvement in Biafra or the role I played. The war deprived me of my property, dignity, my name. Yet, I saved so many souls on both sides and by this, I mean Biafra and Nigeria. . . .
- I felt that I played a role which has kept this country united till today. . . .
- At the end of it all when I saw they (Biafran soldiers) could no longer continue and Ojukwu had fled, I did what was ideal after wide consultation . . . [2] (http://biafra.info/biafra/nigeria-biafra-civil-war-philip-effiong-passes-away.html)
Effiong passed away November 7th, 2003, at the age of 79 years.
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