UMAHIA , THE SLEEPING BEAUTY: War museum & Ojukwu Bunker

 

UMAHIA

If you are coming from crowded, always in a hurry and crazy cities like Lagos and Aba, the calm city of Umahia may be a bit of a shock to you. It will command you to to slow down your tempo. It is a civil servant city, no one is in  mad rush.  On entering such cities, drop your garb of ‘hot blood’ don’t disgrace yourself by running after buses or quick to curse at other drivers!

I visited the war Museum and the Ojukwu Bunker in Umahia. It’s a recollection of the unfortunate civil war, and how Biafra made a technology leap in warfare and in other areas. Whilst Nigeria must never go through another civil war, I am not sure the issues have been resolved yet. In my first visit I met some old people who told things about the war that gave me goose pimples. My wife is from Abia state, so I get to visit often.

The Ojukwu bunker is an underground ‘ road and abode’ linking few places inside this city and leading up to the war museum in itself. They are different locations. It is bomb proof and made of materials inclusive of some strong concrete. Amazingly, it is cool inside without a noticeable air source. There is a bed where Col Odumegwu Ojukwu slept during the war and a small reading table. You will be allowed a small walk through the tunnel. This is where broadcast were also made during the war, relics of micro phones and transmitters are still there

On the end of the war museum, you will witness a display of arrays of war equipment, locally made by the Biafran soldiers, and they made a plane that could fly and bomb! We are certainly retrogressing.

Place needs more improvement and face lift, but it is ok to visit

If you find yourself in Abia state, it is a must for a visit!