FORTY years today the Nigerian Civil War that set Biafra, against the rest of Nigeria, ended when Col Philip Effiong surrendered to then Col Olusegun Obasanjo. It ended a 30-month hostility that claimed millions of lives.

Were the tragedies avoidable? Did the country learn anything from the war?

History, depending on who is writing, tends to blame the other side. No serious efforts have been made to answer such questions. War leaders then Lt-Col Yakubu Gowon and Lt-Col Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu have restrained themselves from writing memoirs.

Various memoirs have exalted individuals’ contributions in the war. They have been controversial with key participants in the war disputing them. The main issues round the war have similarly been mired in disagreements. They remain touchy matters.

However, it is important that issues around the Civil War enjoy more open discussions as they remain relevant to numerous agitations about Nigeria’s future. Of late, references are made to true federalism and devolution of powers, all circuitous cravings for pre-Civil War days when there were federal and regional constitutions.

There may be no agreements on what caused the war but some events precipitated it. Discontent trailed results of the 1963 census, the general elections, and regional election in the West. The military stepped in with Major Kaduna Nzeogwu’s 15 January 1966 coup, accusing politicians of corruption. Top politicians from the North, including the Prime Minister Mallam Tafawa Balewa and the Sadunna Sokoto, Alhaji Ahmadu Bello, died in that coup.

Major-General Thomas Umunnakwe Aguiyi-Ironsi became Head of State. Anti-Igbo riots started in the North. Igbo army officers were accused of staging the coup to further interest of their nationality.  General Aguiyi-Ironsi died in a counter coup of 27 July.

Gowon became Head of State and Ojukwu refused to recognise his leadership, demanding the whereabouts of General Aguiyi-Ironsi and why Gowon was promoted above his seniors, including Brigadier Ogundipe, the most senior officer, who was shipped off to Britain as High Commissioner.

Massacres of Igbos continued and Ojukwu asked them to return to the East. Many peace talks, notably the one in Aburi, Ghana, failed to resolve the conflict. In Aburi, Biafra wanted more powers for the regions, Nigeria insisted on a stronger central government.

On 27 May 1967, Ojukwu promulgated the Republic of Biafra, and the Federal Government on July 6 declared war against Biafra. The tragedies were particularly telling in Biafra where cases of malnutrition were acute.

Reconciliations that Gowon initiated after the war were inconclusive. Some former Nigerian soldiers who fought on the Biafran side were pardoned only a few years ago. Properties that belonged to Igbos are still seized in some places.

Forty years after there is no official history of the war. Agitations about provisions of the 1999 Constitution that abnegate federalism are reminders that few lessons, if any, were learnt from the war.