It was on January 13, 1970 that the duo of Nigerian and Biafran forces assembled at Amichi town, the home of late chief Benjamin Obijiofor Atuchukwu, in Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State, to sign a peace accord which marked the end of the civil war. On that day, the then Col. Olusegun Obasanjo led the Nigerian side, while Col. Philip Effiong led the Biafran side, among other officers and men. And peace returned to Nigeria.

The policy of 'no victor no vanquished' announced by the then Head of State, Gen.Yakubu Gowan, has been an issue that has remained a matter of contention since the war ended in 1970. Observers still contend that the unity of the country has remained a fluke; hence the no victor no vanquished policy was a mere paper work.

This also stems from the fact that the venue of the peace accord and the man who offered his home for the peace meeting has remained uncelebrated or relatively unknown to Nigerians and book makers. Amichi itself is not even known by most Nigerian scholars.

Last two weeks, the host of that peace meeting, Atuchukwu, died at the age of 92 and Nigerians are still unmindful of his contributions to the peace in Nigeria. When the then President Olusegun Obasanjo visited Amichi, under the advice of the former Chairman, Police Service Commission, Chief Simeon Okeke, he announced that the home would be converted to a Museum of National Peace, adding that it would serve as a historic reference point in Nigeria. Since 2006 when the visit was made, nothing has been done in that regard. Worse still, the home has almost become desolate but for hard work and salvaging nature of his children who have distinguished themselves in various fields of endeavour.

The sense of abandonment has also shown the level of peace and national integration among Nigerians and their leaders. Speaking on the abandonment of Atuchukwu and his home, former Ohaneze Ndigbo President-General, Dr. Dozie Ikedife, said: "Yes, that place is a landmark in the history of Nigeria and should be treated as such. It does not stop at making it a museum. What happens to his children that leave their own? When you say you want to recognise him, have you considered that while he was alive our people love to recognise their heroes when they are dead and this is not a good testimony. Besides, Obasanjo who visited that place in 2006, how many Nigerians have gone there? I still have my doubts if Nigerians still remembers the man, Atuchukwu.

"This could be traceable to his ethnic background. It will be different if the man is from another part of Nigeria that is not Igbo land. That also tells you how other Nigerians see the peace and the end of the civil war. It also shows what the war meant to Nigerians as well as how they saw the end of the civil war. I can assure you that after Atuchukwu's burial, nothing again would be said and one about him."

However, the House of Representatives in pursuant to the announcement of Obasanjo to immortalise the man, Atuchukwu and his home, passed a resolution on it. This was as a result of a motion brought by the member representing Nnewi North, Nnewi South, and Ekwusigo constituency, Chief C.I.D. Maduabum. The resolution adopted by the entire members, stated:

"That, as from the 1st day of January 2006, the building known as Chief Benjamin Obijiofor Atuchukwu's House situated and being at Amichi Town in Nnewi South Local Government Area, Anambra State shall be a National Monument and a National Centre for Peace and Conflict Resolution, in view of the role of the building in hosting, the meetings, negotiations and ceremonies on the cessation of Hostilities between the Nigerian Federal Troops and the Defunct Biafran troops on 13th January, 1970.

"That having been so designated, a National Monument, the Federal Government of Nigeria through the National Commission for Museums and Monuments shall take over 'the building', pay adequate compensation to the OWNER, develop it, maintain it, and allow the public access to the building.

"That a National Centre for Peace and Conflict Resolution shall be established by the Federal Government at the site of the building and at other places to be determined by the Federal Government, to enable the centre function more effectively as a research institute."

Former Anambra Governor, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife, indeed, had a different view. Ezife dismissed the issue of making the place a monument or museum of peace, insisting that it is not a good commentary for Ndigbo and the South East.

"What do you mean by that. You see it is not for Ndigbo because it is not to our credit. This is a symbol of surrender, if any part of the country must recognise him, it is certainly not Ndigbo. You know that Obasanjo visited the place as a President and people celebrated it. But what the man did was to visit a place where he took the surrender. Obasanjo came to celebrate the surrender. So it is nothing positive for Ndigbo as a people.

"Okay, ever since, are we being properly reintegrated into the Nigerian polity? Where does Ndigbo fall in the political equation? In most places, we are still seen as a conquered people that must remain as captives. So, it is not a good thing for us."

Another ex-Anambra State Governor who incidentally was the only governor that so far visited the home of Atuchukwu before his demise, Dr. Chris Ngige, appeared to have been vindicated. "On that day, I told them to ensure that the promise of making the place a monument of Peace and Conflict Resolution should be actualised. I told them to relocate the family to a befitting place and then make use of the home. I also urged them to compensate the man for using his home and also provide basic amenities for the people of the area. But today, none of these things have been done. It is sad that a man who is a bastion of peace, who offered all he had for the restoration of peace in Nigeria is being treated this way. We shall for ever remember him and may his gentle soul rest in peace."

"But this is also a lesson for Nigerians who claim to love peace while they are messengers of war and lawlessness.

"I urged my fellow Nigerians to follow the steps of late Atuchukwu. It is also instructive to the Nigerian polity considering the level of reintegration since after the civil war and how Ndigbo and other ethnic groups have enjoyed peace and unity in the area of equitable distribution of power and resources," he said.