Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide received the news of the passing of a compatriot, Dr. Obadiah Mailafia with a rude shock and innermost pain.
Mailafia was a generous spirit whose active conscience has helped in many ways to sustain the hope of his people and the corporate existence of Nigeria. He was one of the rare selfless Nigerians who could sacrifice a juicy political appointment in other to make a statement about the abhorrent treatment meted to his people on a daily basis.
The most endearing message to humanity is his uncompromising stand that the Middle Belt should apologise to the Igbo for their atrocious roles shortly before and during the Nigeria-Biafra civil war between 1967 and 1970. On May 19, 2021, Dr. Obadiah Mailafia, leading a group of Middle Belt scholars, stated: Ndigbo, we are on our knees begging you to forgive us for the sins we committed against you, against God and against humanity……we swear by the graves of our venerable warrior ancestors, the graves of the millions of your and our people who perished in Biafra Land, and we swear by everything we hold most sacred, that we shall never stand against you in life or in death. Never again!
Also, in his treatise: The Spirit of Democracy and its Enemies, June 14, 2021, Dr. Mailafia, in calling for dialogue as an inevitable tool for an enduring democracy, cautioned that “ if Ndigbo must go, Oduduwa and Middle Belt must follow suit. This is the reality on the ground”. And several others. I therefore leave the reader to guess what the death of Dr. Obadiah Mailafia means to Nigeria in general and Ndigbo in particular.
An expression of sorrow over our erroneous deeds and an untrammeled willingness to apologize and repent is a sign of good conscience and godliness in an individual.
Humanity is in a dynamic equilibrium because of the courageous godly men and women with the kind of active conscience that dwelt in the heart of Mailafia. On the other hand, it is the Mailafian spirit of this world that serve as the countervailing force against the wickedness and atrocities of the heartless among humans.
Mailafia is mourned today by Ndigbo and Nigerians, not because of a stupendous wealth but because of his courage, selflessness, generous dispositions, character comeliness, sacrifice, hospitality and patriotism. His life is easily a veritable source of knowledge and guidance on how we should conduct our lives on earth.
The President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Ambassador Professor George Obiozor is pained that Mailafia has left us when his wise counsel, courage, and uncompromising stand for equity is most needed. This is a death too many. However, our solace derives from his enviable footprints in the sands of time.
Ohanaeze sends condolences to the immediate family of Mailafia, the good people of Kaduna State, the Middle Belt and indeed to all those that stand for justice in Nigeria.
May the Almighty grant his soul an eternal rest in his bosom.
Chiedozie Alex Ogbonnia, National Publicity Secreatary, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.
