CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

The period 1967-1970 is a very remarkable period in the history of Nigeria. During this period, the country witnessed a devastating civil war characterized by unwanted destruction of lives and property.

The Nigeria Civil War is so significant that the history if this country would be incomplete without a survey of the circumstances that led to the war and the effects it had on the people that fought the war and the neighbouring communities. Although Nigeria as a whole witnessed the impact of the war, the people of the Eastern region suffered most because the war was fought in their territory.

This study is designed to investigate the effects of the Nigerian Civil War on Aboh-Mbaise L.G.A of Imo State, which was torn apart by the cruel war. This prosperous community was ravaged of her progressive and population. While the war lasted, it influenced both men and women by bringing them face to face with the ghastly realities of battle in a town where the sound of gun and other weapons of war were never heard before, it exposed children to hunger and death. The happy days of men and women at work on their own occasion and for their own profit disappeared from millions of people.

War is always a terrible things, it most often connotes deaths, injury, hunger and suffering. however courteous the soldier may be, by their nature, by their training and orders, they must seek to destroy their enemies. The very events of the recent conflict in Nigeria have inevitably made matters worse than might have been the case.

The effect of the war on Aboh-Mbaise is a turning point in the history of Nigeria and the then Eastern region and Aboh-Mbaise in particular. It marked a new dispensation in the government of the communities in Aboh-Mbaise.

Statement of the Problem

The Nigerian Civil War has come and gone but the stigma has remained. This is because of the negative effects of the war on the economic, social and political life of the people of Aboh mbaise. forty two years after the Civil War, people from other ethnic groups in Nigeria regarded the Igbos as enemies when in actual fact, it should not be so, Instead of looking at the war as a unifying factor, some people still approach it from a secessionist point of view.

This pre-conserved notion should be changed in order to ensure peace, unity and progress of the country.

It should be stated here that having officially declared an end to the war on the 10^th of January 1970, the Federal Government adopted the slogan “No Victor, No vanquished”. In line with the above slogan, one would have expected the government of the federal Republic of Nigeria to integrate the Igbos as was the case in the United States of America. After the Nigeria Civil War however, certain policies of federal government were deliberatly aimed at discriminating and marginalizing the Igbos.

This research work by acting as a catalyst would explore areas through which the country would remain together and forge ahead based on equitable distribution of resources, equal participation in governance and equality before the law. It is therefore believed that at the end of this study, peoples’ attitude to the war will be inclined towards the appreciation of it’s positive consequences.

Purpose of Study

This study is aimed at investigating the following.

1. The impact of the Nigerian Civil War on the Socio economic Development of Aboh-Mbaise Local Government Area.
2. The impact of the Nigerian Civil War on the Political Development of Aboh-Mbaise Local Government Area.
3. The Impact of the Nigerian Civil War on the Educational Development of Aboh-Mbaise Local Government Area.

Significance of Study

This research work would be of immense benefit to the people of Aboh-Mbaise Local Government Area as it will help to rediscover their socio-economic, political and educational background.

Furthermore, the Ministry of Education would benefit from this research work since it offers an opportunity on educational planning and policy making.

The Federal Government would benefit immensely from this research work as it would provide solutions to the lingering ethnic rivalry and political imbalance plaguing the Nigerian Political System.

Research Questions

This research work is focusing on the effect of Nigerian Civil War on Aboh-Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State. In order to achieve the set objectives, the underlisted research questions were formulated to guide the study.

They are as follows:

1. To what extent did the Nigerian Civil War affect the Socio economic Development of Aboh-Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State?
2. To what extent did the Nigerian Civil War affect the Political development of Aboh-Mbaise Local Government Area?
3. To what extent did the Nigerian Civil War affected the educational development of Aboh-Mbaise Local Government Area?