By Vanguardngr
COLONEL OLUSEGUN Obasanjo, back then, had asked some of the Radio Biafra workers to accompany him to Lagos where they would be reabsorbed by Radio Nigeria.
Radio Biafra had many prominent names. People like Chinua Achebe, Uche Chukwumerije and Cyprian Ekwensi made contributions. At the time the war ended in January 1970, it was headed by Sam Nwaneri.
Okokon Ndem’s voice was sharper than an AK -47 bullet. The way he made announcements, many Biafrans believed their troops were just miles short of capturing Gen. Yakubu Gowon alive.
It was believed that Radio Biafra operated from Enugu which had fallen into Federal hands as early as 1967.
Many wondered how Gen. Emeka Ojukwu held on to that miracle. However, the man who made Radio Biafra stay on, was Heron Okeahialam, an Electrical/Electronics engineer, trained in the United Kingdom.
While he moved the station from one secret location to another, bullets and fighter bombers were unable to detect it.
Prof. Okeahialam is his elder brother. Prof. Okeahialam said: “Heron converted Radio Biafra from medium to short wave, for wider coverage.”
It was indeed a mobile station. It moved from Enugu to Umuahia and by the end of the war was operating from Obodoukwu Urualla in today’s Ideato area of Imo State.
“At one time,” Prof. Okeahialam added, “the transmitter was in Otulu during the war and a long palm tree was used to mount the aerial.”
Col. Olu Obasanjo who received the instrument of surrender as General Officer Commanding, Third Marine Commando Division of the Nigeria Army could not but marvel at what was Radio Biafra.
Locating it was like a wild goose chase. Accompanied by battle tested troops, Obasanjo waltzed through rough terrain in his official Mercedes Benz car, NA 116, until mission was accomplished.
He said: ”The station was well camouflaged from both ground and air by trees and palm fronds which were changed regularly. It was a perfect job.”
Trust Obasanjo, he came battle ready and was after Okokon Ndem. The broadcaster outsmarted him by disappearing into the undergrowth. An enraged OBJ threatened to flog Ikoneto demons out of the man.
When Okokon Ndem eventually surfaced, the soldiers who would have been ordered to cane him were carried away. They hailed and took photographs with the non-Igbo Biafran.
Accompanying Obasanjo was another non-Igbo, Gen. Philip Asuquo Effiong, President of Biafra in the absence of Gen. Emeka Ojukwu who was flown out in his Grey Ghost by Captain Frank Osakwe.
Obasanjo asked some of the Radio Biafra workers to accompany him to Lagos where they would be reabsorbed by Radio Nigeria. Okeahialam declined.
In 1976, he could not say no to Imo State Governor, Lt. Commander Ndubuisi Kanu.
Kanu saddled Okeahialam with the responsibility of setting up the Imo Broadcasting Service [IBS].
Okeahialam attended St. Joseph’s College, Sasse, Cameroon before proceeding to Professional Technial College, Southampton. He bagged a higher degree from the University of Cyracuse.
The engineer also lived up to his initials of H.O.D. when appointed H.O.D. Electrical/Electronics Engineering department, IMT Enugu. Biafran scientists did great things.
They made beer from cassava. Engine oil came out of coconut. They manufactured ‘Ogbunigwe’ rockets and built Red devil armoured cars. There were refineries. Airports sprang up in Uli, Uga and Obilagu.
Among the scientists were Gordian Ezekwem, Col. Ejike Ebenezer Aghanya, Willy Achukwu,Frank Ndili, Felix Oragwu, Ezekiel Izuogu, Sam Orji, Frank Mbanefo, Benjamin Nwosu and Roy Umenyi. They belonged to the Research And Production Unit [RAP].
Photo: Courtesy of Beegeagles Blog.
