Ever since former President Jonathan lost the presidential elections on March 28, 2015, which some of us knew he could never win based on the facts that we had access to and the statistics available, a majority of Igbo people have been unhappy and angry. They have been cursing and abusing the president and APC leaders, wishing that President Buhari never existed and APC was never formed. Many of them have been so frustrated after the elections that they are now looking for ways to get back to the APC-controlled federal government.
Now, one Nnamdi Kanu who has been dreaming about the State of Biafra has provided a space for them to vent their anger. Some of them have joined this small boy to begin to wish for the State of Biafra. Suddenly the so-called Radio Biafra has created a momentum for them. On Facebook, I have watched with keen interest what these guys dish out on daily basis in the name of fighting for Biafra. They tell blatant lies; they create havoc; they make terrible noise; they abuse other Nigerians; and they preach unimaginable propaganda and hate that, at once, puts Igboland in potential danger. I have been waiting for the South-East Governors to speak up but they have maintained a deafening silence that suggests complicity. I have also waited for our elders to call this small boy to order but nothing has happened.
With the so-called Radio Biafra, this boy, whose age I do not know, has unleashed an unimaginable trailer-load of lies and potentially dangerous propaganda that has put the Igbo nation in danger. It is now 45 years after the Nigeria-Biafra Civil War and I think that Igbos must rise up to stop this small boy who never saw the 1967-1970 Civil War and who may not know the implications of what he is doing. He has never consulted anybody to seek their opinion. He has been speaking to the gullible and not too educated people in Igboland, and very soon these uneducated people will take a dangerous decision that may decimate and destroy Igboland. Soon our people will start complaining that they were not consulted. To be fore-warned is to be fore-armed.
Can someone tell Nnamdi Kanu that wars may be fought for 50 years, and should people die in order to achieve Biafra? The war may even consume Nnamdi and all the members of his family and millions of others without achieving its purpose. We have been so inter-married, interwoven, intertwined, inter-related that the idea of separation should not be encouraged.
Last week, I saw the photo of a group of people who gave the impression that they are receiving military training somewhere in Igboland. This afternoon, I saw another photograph on Facebook, with some youths bearing guns and Nnamdi Kanu standing with them. I may not know where these pictures are coming from and what they are planning to do, but this is the time to speak out and I urge anybody who is somebody, and who understands where we are coming from to stand up now to be counted. Woe betides a nation whose leaders are children. If we elders do not speak against this evil, posterity will never forgive us. Let us speak out and if these children do not hear us, then it should be on record that we spoke. About a month ago, the barrage of lies and uncontrolled propaganda Radio Biafra dished out everyday drew the attention of the National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC), which asked Nigerians to stop listening to this useless radio station.
Now here are compelling reasons why the Igbo must remain in Nigeria in their own interest:
(1) The Igbo fought a war of self-determination between 1967 and 1970 and lost about one million people. This should be taken as a huge price for the unity of this country. Having paid this monumental supreme price, I think Igbo should work for the unity of this country on the basis of social justice, equity and fair play;
(2) Nigeria has three major ethnic groups: Hausa/Fulani, Yoruba and Igbo. The Hausa/Fulani Empire has Hausa people stretching all through the Sahel to the Sudan. They are mostly muslims and they have contacts with the Arab world. The Yoruba nation has Togo, Benin Republic, and Sierra Leone, even up to Brazil and Cuba to run to where their kinsmen are. The Igbo nation has no other place in the world where the Igbo language is spoken. Therefore the people must see Nigeria as where they belong and work for its survival;
(3) Nigeria provides a big space for Igbo to spread their tentacles, explore, excel and blossom. The South-East is too small for this highly mobile and dynamic people to thrive;
(4) The world pays attention to Nigeria today because of our size and population. If Nigeria splits into smaller countries the world will pack their bag and baggage and leave. Population and size make a nation a destination;
(5) Assuming we manage to get a State of Biafra, which state in the South-East will produce its first President? When Enugu State was created, the late governor C.C Onoh sacked all the civil servants and teachers from Anambra State. Recently, former governor Orji of Abia State sacked workers from Imo, Anambra, Ebonyi and Enugu States. Now, how can we manage Biafra with this attitude?
(6) The Igbo control 60 to 70 percent of all the imports in Nigeria, and other Nigerians, Yoruba, Hausa/Fulani, Ijaw, Efik, Birom, Tiv, Idoma etc. provide the huge market for Igbo’s mobile and big time traders;
(7) Monumental inter-marriages between Igbos and Yorubas and other ethnic groups have thrived for close to 70 years now, and we cannot just dismiss all these with a wave of the hand;
(8) Igbos own huge and massive investments in property in Lagos and Abuja, and other state capitals in Nigeria. Now are you going to wish all these away?;
(9) Other Nigerian cities have provided safe haven for Igbos, as places to run to cool off whenever self-inflicted crisis arise or other problems. When kidnapping became a way of life in the South-East, our people moved to other parts of Nigeria to settle. Now, where will the Igbo go when confronted with these problems in Biafra?;
(10) How can Igbos thrive without their Lagos and Abuja or Port-Harcourt? What happens to all their connections and relationships in these places?
Can someone tell Nnamdi Kanu that wars may be fought for 50 years, and should people die in order to achieve Biafra? The war may even consume Nnamdi and all the members of his family and millions of others without achieving its purpose. We have been so inter-married, interwoven, intertwined, inter-related that the idea of separation should not be encouraged. I do not want to lose my friends from the other parts of Nigeria for anything.
When a writer is silent he is lying. A story that must be told never forgives silence. The only thing necessary for evil to triumph in any society is for good men to do nothing.
I can go on, and on, but there is no need to continue to do so. We must be strong enough to stop this world’s old problem of looking down on people who are different from us. This is a problem with Nigeria. Nigeria’s diversity is a big plus for all of us to excel. United we stand, divided we fall. I confess that Igbos have not played better politics in Nigeria since 1970 and that has been our bane. Anytime we want to change bad leadership in the country, Igbos as a block would resist this. It happened in 1993 and we lost everything. In 2015, Igbos were at it again, but the forces of history prevailed. Igbos can do better than this.
If the truth must prevail, Nigeria has not been fair to Igbos since the end of civil war. They tell us that there is no victor and no vanquished but in actions and deeds the victors are still celebrating and enjoying the spoils of the war, while the defeated are still languishing in abject neglect.
Now we must collectively stop this small boy called Nnamdi Kanu who is still sucking his mother’s breast before he endangers the whole of Igboland and plunges us into a civil war once again. When a writer is silent he is lying. A story that must be told never forgives silence. The only thing necessary for evil to triumph in any society is for good men to do nothing.
We have found solace in all these because we have found out that those who are still oppressing the Igbos in Nigeria are not better. We also take solace in the findings of the Fathers of the Second Vatican Council that all acts of indignity against human persons, against human society debase the perpetrators more than the victims. It is not that the offended cannot forgive but have the offenders repented?
However, I want Nigerian leaders to show leadership by carrying all Nigerians along in distributing power and resources. If there is no justice, there will be no peace. If there is no peace there will be no progress. Let justice prevail. Let us be fair to all concerned. If the truth must prevail, Nigeria has not been fair to Igbos since the end of civil war. They tell us that there is no victor and no vanquished but in actions and deeds the victors are still celebrating and enjoying the spoils of the war, while the defeated are still languishing in abject neglect. For instance, of all the six zones in Nigeria, only the South-East zone has five states.
President Buhari must address this injustice.
We have found solace in all these because we have found out that those who are still oppressing the Igbos in Nigeria are not better. We also take solace in the findings of the Fathers of the Second Vatican Council that all acts of indignity against human persons, against human society debase the perpetrators more than the victims. It is not that the offended cannot forgive but have the offenders repented? This injustice must stop now for the sake of unity of this country. I wrote Igbos: 25 Years After Biafra in 1995 thinking that the book would prick the conscience of other Nigerians but they have not paid any attention to it. It has been business as usual. Now, President Buhari must address this injustice. Case rested! Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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Good article from a right thinking Nigerain of Igbo Descent! I am a non-Igbo man and have been married to a beautiful igbo woman for the past 13 years! for me, Nigeria must be one!! let the jobless and the visionless think otherwise!!!
ReplyDeleteHe may be a right thinking Nigerian but a wrong thinking Igbo man.
DeleteA FOOLISH & MUMU thinking IGBO MAN. As the JEWS of AFRICA we "UMU ISRAEL" needs our own LAND to dwell on. We are TIRED of this ROTTEN UNFAITHFUL MARRIAGE called NIGERIA.
DeleteKANU ride on I am SOLIDLY behind U.
GOD BLESS the "LAND of the RISING SUN"
Nice piece from one of the most de-tribalised Igbo man I have ever known. Little wonder you are so prominent in the government of a south western state. You have aptly captured the problem with the perceived Igbo marginalization by successive goverments since the end of the civil war in your write-up "It is not that the offended cannot forgive but have the offenders repented? ". I am Yoruba by tribe but I don't consider that a "limiting" factor to me at all, but the problem is that an average Igbo man- young and old, elite and uneducated (even those based in the diaspora), will rather have a Biafra nation instead of Nigeria. For this reason, every Hausa or Yoruba president will find it hard to have an Igbo man as the next president. Every war always end one way or the other but what happens after its end is what determines the future for both parties. The earlier an Igbo man buries the idea of a Biafra nation, the better for all of us. Living in mutual suspicion is not a good way of life.
ReplyDeleteMechie onugu dia Joe Igbokwe! An igbo sell-out ofenmanu guy! Guess the tons of amala you've eaten has darkened your brains! You yaruba guy!
ReplyDeleteYou only make a strong point in the the second to the last paragraph of your article. The rest are meaningless and pointless.
ReplyDeleteExcellent article by an informed Igbo. A few points you and other Igbos may also want to take on board:
ReplyDelete1) Igbos should understand that if the dream of Biafra would materialise, Biafra would be a land-locked country as it would not include Cross River, Rivers and Akwa Ibom States. That would put the country at a serious economic disadvantage. Indeed, this was one of Gowon's key objectives when he created the 12 states in 1967. It may sound unpleasant, but the truth is that the minorities in the old Eastern Region, who now make up the states I mentioned, never loved the Igbos. It was evident in the way Igbos were treated and dispossessed of their properties during and after the civil war. You can be rest assured that these three states would not agree to be ruled by Igbos.
2) The second point I want to make relates to the perception of injustice done to Igbos. Sadly, the fortunes of any part of the country vis-a-vis the Federation depends largely on the people's political alignment. I am not Igbo, but I have great respect for Igbos, particularly their sense of enterprise. However, when it comes to politics, the Igbos are the least competent in Nigeria. It is like a people who do not know where their "bread is buttered". I know of the long-held animosity Igbos hold against the Yorubas. Regardless of whether or not the Igbos have a valid reason for the animosity, it is actually in the Igbo interest to put the ill feelings behind them and move on. Yorubas and Igbos get along so well that I cannot understand why the two major tribes cannot forge an alliance - not for secession, but for a stronger political south. It is on record that properties left in Yoruba land by fleeing Igbos during the war were kept and returned to them after the war - the exact opposite of what happened to Igbo properties in Port Harcourt. When you look at inter-tribal marriages today, marriages between Yorubas and Igbos are soaring in number. Why should the younger generation of Igbos allow their minds to be poisoned by the older, parochial generation, many of whom I have heard propagating hatred?
3) Finally, I am yet to see a complete, unbiased account of what led to the civil war written by any Igbo. Even Alexander Madiebo's work white-washed and massaged the story. Most of what Igbo writers put on paper start with the massacre of Igbos in the north. That polgrom was certainly heinous. But I think if the full story is told to the younger generation, they may have a more balanced and less bitter perspective. What was the political sensitivity around the fact that only the Igbo leaders were not killed in the January 1966 coup whose executors were mostly Igbos? What was the sensitivity around installing Aguyi Ironsi as Head of State after that coup that took the lives of leaders from other regions, and of him (Ironsi) declaring a Unitary Government? I do not want to debate the pros and cons of these things, but it was politically naive for the January 1966 coup team to think the rest of Nigeria would overlook these things? Put out a balanced story, and we would be less bitter about the past.
Again, very well done for a great article!
Thank you indeed Sir for your thought provoking response to an "excellent article from a most detribalized Igbo man" I have also asked the same question for an unbiased and detailed account of the events before, during and the end of the civil war for prosperity sake. Most account of the war we have today are mostly skewed towards a particular leaning depending on what side of the bridge the writer is. Most of the active participant in the war: Gowon, Obasanjo, Ojukwu, Chinua Achebe et al did not give an accurate and unbiased account of all the events leading to, during and end of the war with exception of Godwin Alabi-Isama whose account was a better account of the civil war but also from the perspective of a single individual. Nigeria as a matter of urgency (before these men are all dead) collate an accurate and unbiased accounts of the entire event prior to, during and at the secession of the war for the entire people of Nigeria especially post civil war youths such as Nnamdi Kanu whose mind has been poisoned by lies and inaccurate account of the civil war.
DeleteMUMUs of a KIND. What is Ur business with what will happen to UMU ISRAEL in the CANNAL LAND? OLOSHE! Pls mind Ur biz. MUMU!
DeleteEL-Katosky, Amadioha Gbue gi, Onye arurala, Omo Ale Igbe, Olosi, shege, Yamirin Banza. Umu Israel ko Mumu Israel ni.
DeleteYou have said it all, nothing is better than the unity of Nigeria. However the igbos should learn how to tolerate and respect other ethnic group, we are all equal be for God. Igbo oppression is a shadow of what the igbo did to them self viewing it from the political perspective. No one reap from where he did not sow. Looking back at our politics, igbos are always on the side of retrogression when other group are trying to correct injustice on the land and moving the nation forward. The most recent is the election that brought Muhamadu Buhari to power. What role has the igbo played in thi regard, to the extend that they forfeit the position of the senate president, which wold have stop the current crosses in the national assembly. Sorry to say Igbo are more selfish. Self centered and arrogant than other group in Nigeria. Igbo are successful in other part to Nigeria because they were better accommodated. Igbo are shadow of there own problem. Igbo leader silent means support for the ring doing. My friends from the eastern Nigeria wake up from your slumbers. Igbo president is possible only if you correct all the evils among igbo and love your Neigbour.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if its a must that the Igbos must belong to Nigeria, don't they have right to self determination? Joe or whatever you call your self, the Igbos are tired of Nigeria, 98% of Igbos will sanction secession of Biafra does not make them uneducated. There is nothing good about Nigeria where one region will be contributing immensely while the other region will sit idly milking the other region's resources.
ReplyDeleteCome to think of it, why would northerners sit at the helm of affairs controlling the resources of the easterners and you expect them to keep mum?
You guys are preaching in support of one Nigeria, how many non easterners invest in the east? go to every corner of the nation, you find an Igbo man there, you find their investment also, they help in developing environment they find their selves in, yet they are not welcomed, they will always be treated as outcast yet you guys will have the courage to call for one Nigeria.
Who is more Nigerian than an Igbo man? The kind gestures of an Igbo man are not being reciprocated rather they are seen as a threat by non Igbos. There are so many reasons why you have to let the Igbo people go cos there can never be unity between them and non igbos.
Nigeria has actually moved on from 1966 when a desire to secede led to a war. I would suggest that proponents of Biafra organise a referendum among Igbos as to whether or not Igbos would like to leave Nigeria. If the referendum shows that majority would like to leave, that would be a step forward because the next thing would be to take that decision to the National Assembly. The notion that the rest of the country would not allow Igbos to leave is incorrect. If you think it is the oil, how much of Nigeria's oil comes from Igbo land? Yes, some oil is produced in Imo State, but by far the largest volumes of oil come from Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom States - and none of these states would consider themselves Igbos. Even the Ikwerres of Rivers State would not want to be considered Igbos. The Aniomas of Delta State have consistently stated that they are not Igbos. So, conduct the referendum among indigenes of the real Igbo States and push it from there.
DeleteThat is where you go wrong, originally we have three regions, north, east and west. In case u think that the minorities in the eastern region will align with Nigeria then u got it all wrong even the northern minorities would want to align with the eastern region, I advise you a poll or survey and you will find out.
DeletePlease get on with the poll and we would know who is right. Biafra is not created online - get the people to actually vote to decide. I think you are seriously self-deluded to think all the minorities in the country would want to be ruled by Igbos. So you think the Rivers people who killed the Igbos and took over Igbo assets would want the same Igbos to come and lord it over them? Ha! ha!! ha!!! Dreams are made of these!
Delete"I confess that Igbos have not played better politics in Nigeria since 1970 and that has been our bane. Anytime we want to change bad leadership in the country, Igbos as a block would resist this", the write quotes. Barely a paragraph away, same writer affirms,"If the truth must prevail, Nigeria has not been fair to Igbos since the end of civil war. They tell us that there is no victor and no vanquished but in actions and deeds the victors are still celebrating and enjoying the spoils of the war, while the defeated are still languishing in abject neglect". Joe Igbokwe is a brilliant man, but i dont know why i feel this write up is a case of playing to the gallery. If his generation with all their wisdom of the past, still havent overturned the imbalances and corrected the structure for an all encompasse nationhood, then what exactly does he want our generation to do? Listen to same rhetorics that has limited us all these years. Rather, He should openly emphasize, the last quarter of his write up to the hearing of his so called friends from other tribes who [he rightly mentioned] regard just him and to his glaring awareness resent all that has to do with his origin.
ReplyDeleteJoe igbokwe is a retard...wat a bastard he is....where was he when the yorobastards where destroying Igbo shops in lagos....where was he wen the stupid oba made his foolish comment on Igbo's... Where was he wen yorobastards were calling for the mass killing of Igbo's??
ReplyDeleteNow tell me why if a person does something wrong abroad they will identify the person by tribe and when he does good....he is known as a nigerian...45yrs after the war as an Igbo man what achievement have you made that will inspire the Igbo's if not selling yourself to be known publicly...
The hypocritical part if it all is the yorobastards will come out to say that the Igbo's are the problem of the country but when they call for secession you say no that they must remain part of the country.
To the Igbo's who own business in lagos and lived all their lives there can remain there when Biafra comes at least the yorobastards are peaceful people but if you are in the north then you are on your own cos you will not escape death....that I assure you.
Peace be unto those who wish Biafra cometh.
Good Biafrans, Men of Dignity, People who know what they want, don't go want writing scripts full of Paragraphs but MAKES POINT. But i just saw a coward making useless Points. Biafra MUST surely come because GOD IS INVOLVE THIS TIME
ReplyDeleteJoe igbokwe is a retard...wat a bastard he is....where was he when the yorobastards where destroying Igbo shops in lagos....where was he wen the stupid oba made his foolish comment on Igbo's... Where was he wen yorobastards were calling for the mass killing of Igbo's??
ReplyDeleteNow tell me why if a person does something wrong abroad they will identify the person by tribe and when he does good....he is known as a nigerian...45yrs after the war as an Igbo man what achievement have you made that will inspire the Igbo's if not selling yourself to be known publicly...
The hypocritical part if it all is the yorobastards will come out to say that the Igbo's are the problem of the country but when they call for secession you say no that they must remain part of the country.
To the Igbo's who own business in lagos and lived all their lives there can remain there when Biafra comes at least the yorobastards are peaceful people but if you are in the north then you are on your own cos you will not escape death....that I assure you.
Peace be unto those who wish Biafra cometh.
just for the record, when Senate president was zoned to South East between 1999 and 2007, how many senate presidents did Nigeria have?.Igbos are more selfish. Self centered and arrogant than other group in Nigeria. Igbo are successful in other part of Nigeria because they are accommodated. they are exploiters that is why if you are working under Ibo man sorry is your name.Anyway have you ever seen anybody having succesful business in igbo Land?
ReplyDeleteThank you for this article sir. It is good that you also mentioned the unfair treatment to the Igbos in the last paragraphs. Nigeria is better off as one Nation and even the Igbos know it. Most Igbos that clamour for war and division are in diaspora, they will not be killed in the war, they may not even have family or property in the east that will be affected by the war. They will watch the war on BBC and CNN with popcorn and coke as they watched our 2015 elections. My dear Igbo brethren in Nigeria who have no where to run to and have no choice but to stand and fight, biko carry on your job or business or vocation in peace and pay deaf ears to the voices of doom from diaspora. God bless the Igbo nation and God bless Nigeria.
ReplyDeleteObaseki thanks for your comment. Remain blessed.
DeleteGood response. Igbos forget that Ojukwu led them to war in 1967 but abandoned them for Ivory Coast when it got hot.
DeleteWell as an Igbo man, we have to put the past behind and forge ahead for a better future, even the British who colonized Americans and fought war with them later on, are at peace with the Americans today, and they forge ahead as the developed countries of the world. Africans were once slaves to the Europeans but now there's a kind of freedom and equality, in which we welcome the Europeans to our country and they too welcome us to their country. Constant reference and remembrance of the Biafran war will not make things better. The mistake had been grossly made and nothing can change that but we can forge ahead and change the future. I do believe that though the igbos thrive in other areas and are law abiding while helping the economy of any region they find themselves, they must learn to be united in the leadership of the southeast. Supposing Nigerians were to call for the southeast to present a president, would they be uniformity, unity of purpose and easy agreement. I wonder how easy it would be to achieve that. We igbos need to understand the real meaning of democracy and politics, its nobody's birth right, but its a product of unity, equality, peace and justice, you have to play the game with out sentiments or prejudice to win it. Let the igbos harness their God given talents for the betterment of Nigeria, we can help each other if we put the past behind, unite and forge ahead, recognizing our differences with other tribes but remembering that we all form the entity called Nigeria and we need each other to make the country great.
ReplyDeleteThe history must be told correctly especially to our youths, but let the future blessings that lie ahead be our main focus and concern. Nigeria will be great, and we igbos you have a big part to play in this journey, accept and learn from the mistakes of the past and forge ahead for galvanized leadership in south east, southsouth, southwest, the north and one day Nigeria. I look forward to an igbo president one day. If US could have a black president, why can't we, but first we must bury the hatchet and love one another in unity to forge ahead. Misconceptions and digging old wounds will take us no where. Long live Nigeria our county.
Joe Igbokwe you describe Nnamdi Kanu as a "small boy", yet you claim in the same article that you don't know how old he is. That conflicts your characterization of him as a small boy. Secondly, if this person that you describe as a small boy is able to disrupt Nigerian airways and find space for his Radio Biafra broadcasts, then he is not that 'small' afterall. Indeed he appears to be more smart than you and those of your class. I watched the movie "Hotel Rwanda" just a couple of days ago. Have you guys seen that move? That's exactly what happened to Ibos in Nigeria 40+ years ago. A bunch of savages murdering and mutilating another tribal group on the streets, all because of tribal hatred. Those who were not on the receiving end of the massacre of Ibo on the streets of Nigeria do not understand what the Ibos are angry about. The Yorubas do not understand it because they were the supposed beneficiaries. The Hausas do not understand it because they were the perpetrators of the henious act. The Ibos have always created a heterogenous Nigeria which has elicited jealousy from other tribal groups. Ibos are all over Nigeria; in Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Ibadan, Kaduna, PortHarCourt, etc. They have given the country a true national character which elicits a lot of jealousy from other groups. The Yorubas confine themselves to Lagos and are afraid to go elsewhere; Hausas move out to a certain degree. They are in Aba, Umuahia, Lagos etc. I like that too. With all the concerted effort to deny the Ibos the right to their own country and with the country's leadership being dominated by the Hausas and Yorubas, Nigeria still remains a major disaster of corruption, ignorance and incompetence, mostly by those that govern the country. Maybe it's time for Nigeria to start thinking about what they are doing to themselves by being so hateful of a group of progressive and highly educated people called the Ibos.
ReplyDeleteCan you tell us exactly what led to the massacre of Igbos in the North in 1967? When you Igbos tell the story, you start it from the middle. I ask you:
Delete1) What was the tribal composition of the 9 army officers that led the January 1966 coup?
2) Which tribes had their leaders killed in that coup?
3) What was the tribe of the leader that took over the country's leadership after that coup and what did he mean by a Unitary Government?
4) Which tribe published cartoons in newspapers and Drum magazine mocking northerners whose leaders were killed in the January 1966 coup?
As for why you don't find Yorubas living in Igbo land, it is actually a testimony to the hostility of Igbos. In 1973, there was only one black family in Iceland, and the family came from Ogbomosho. So Yorubas travel. Yorubas are in Port Harcourt. In fact, Rivers people had a word for Yorubas in their midst - they call them "Omo". But there is something about the Igbos: If a non-Igbo tries to do the same business they (the Igbos) do, the Igbos would gang up to make sure the non-Igbo fails. When I lived in Warri in the eighties, there was only one Yoruba man selling car spare parts. His shop was on Warri-Sapele Road, He told me of how the Igbos ganged up to kill his business. That is Igbo for you. If Igbos show themselves to be truly accommodating, other tribes would come and invest in Igbo land.
Please tell complete stories, not abridged editions to favour your embittered view.
For those who did not know, especially the younger Igbos who have been told half-stories, the inner circle of the January 1966 coup comprised:
Delete1) Major Chukwuma K Nzeogu
2) Major Adewale Ademoyega
3) Major Emmanuel Ifeajuna
4) Major CI Anuforo
5) Major IH Chukwuka
6) Major D Okafor
7) Captain O Oji
8) Captain E N Nwobosi
9) Major Timothy Onwuategu
These were the people that killed the Prime Minister and all regional Premiers except the Igbo Premier.
Following these killings:
a) They installed Aguyi Ironsi as Head of State
b) Aguyi Ironsi declared that the regions no longer had any powers, and the government would now be "Unitary" - with only himself having the powers
c) Newspapers and magazines were awash with cartoons mocking the northerners. There was one that showed Ironsi riding on the back of Sadauna like a donkey
These incensed the northerners and triggered the slaughter of Igbos in the North. The Igbos fled the North, following which Ojukwu declared the Republic of Biafra.
Excellent account of what the older generation has tried to bury! There are 2 other facts that need to be stated:
Delete1) The mockery of northerners after the January 1966 coup led to the "counter-coup" by the northern army officers in July 1966 when Aguyi Ironsi was killed. Ironsi was visiting Adekunle Fajuyi at Ibadan when the northern officers led by Theophilus Danjuma struck to abduct Ironsi. Fajuyi insisted that whatever they did to Ironsi must be done to him as well. So both of them were taken away and killed in the night of 29th July 1966. The northern officers then installed Yakubu Gowon as Head of State. Then the killing of Igbos in the north started.
2) Curiously, a Yoruba army officer - Victor Banjo , actually fought on the side of Biafra during the war. He was killed by Ojukwu at Enugu in circumstances that were never made clear.
If where one Nigerian , why there is know trust to allow Igbo man to become President of one Nigeria ?? please can we allow Igbo's to bring out the next President of One Nigeria without having something in mind for other parts of Nigeria ?? Someone should give me good answer ??
ReplyDeleteIf where one Nigerian , why there is know trust to allow Igbo man to become President of one Nigeria ?? please can we allow Igbo's to bring out the next President of One Nigeria without having something in mind for other parts of Nigeria ?? Someone should give me good answer ??
ReplyDeleteWho is stopping Igbos from becoming President of Nigeria? Do people get hand-picked to become president? Igbos should learn the politics of alignment and not be politically naive.
DeleteNobody is stopping us (igbos) from being the president of Nigeria, after all its all about democracy, if we learn to play the political game right bereft of any reservations or prejudicial dispositions, leaving the past and forging for a united Nigeria, Every Nigerian will throw their support behind igbos, but as long as igbos keep dishing out blame, presenting post-injustice, post-marginalization, and the pains that resulted from the biafran war as stories that continue to replay afresh even in the current Nigerian poiltical scene, it might be hard to convince other Nigerians to stand behind the igbos
DeleteGo back to primary school, fool.
ReplyDeleteI hope when the igbos finally secede and get this biafran nation, they will be more united. It is baffling how people of this generation still believe secession is the solution to a perceived marginalisation. Am sure by the time biafra becomes an independent state, the struggle for supremacy by states in that nation will not cease. Instead, in-fighting about who contributes more to the centre, and who should wield more powers will surface. Then the anambra man, will begin to tell the ebonyi man that I am more IBO than you are. We have seen the north unite times without number to present a common candidate for presidency. How many times have the easterners been able to demonstrate this sense of unity and common goal?hardly, if not never. These are some of the issues. until the IBO nation begins to speak with 1 voice, they will continue to be a marginalised nation within a nation. We all need each other to survive in this country. This unnecessary bravado about how it is only the ibo race that is baking the cake we are all eating is overrated. If they IBOS are so self sufficient why take your commerce to other regions out of the east. Why establish businesses outside ur region. Why not be a small china in Nigeria, and allow every other region come to u? If there should be another civil war because of these hate speeches currently being bandied about, the IBO nation stands to lose more again a second time. Not even in terms of loss of life, but investments that the IBOS have spread across the nation will be lost to those locations. How do you start to build that back? Let's be wise and use our tongues to count our teeth. Let's stay together. We need each other
ReplyDeleteThe writer is one of those deluded people who speak of one Nigeria only because they benefit from the corrupt, senseless, idiots parading themselves as representatives of the people. What is one Nigeria except for the oil in the south. One Nigeria where there is no equality and double standards in all areas. Just look at your one Nigeria government, even look at the entourage of the president to US. Please shut your mouth if you cannot distinguish between truth and lies.
ReplyDeleteYou are obviously a born liar to say Radio Biafra tells lies and talks to uneducated Biafrans. Can you give an example of one lie you have heard. Nigerians are terribly corrupt and for the first time someone has the courage to say it to your face you all want him dead. In which country do public servants buy private jets like business moguls. Let me just warn all you liars and deceivers that Radio Biafra stands for the truth which I know is bitter for you.
Nigeria in the first place came out of some white man's greed with his girlfriend suggesting a name. Even your founder said the north and south are like oil and water and can never mix yet you want to leave in lies and denial.
God is about to redeem his people and soon you will be fighting with God if you decide to continue to wallow in lies and deception.
One Nigeria where the north believe they are born to rule. Please go and listen to what Ahmadu Bello said decades ago and see those who started the northernisation affair. He would rather employ a foreigner than a Nigerian from the other non-northern areas. You probably did not know this but the north were the first to reject the amalgamation. You talk about a coup which happened after the northerners started killing the Igbos.
Who said there is no more basis for unity - Gowan, just in case you do not know.
Ojukwu was at the forefront of one Nigeria and when the killing did not stops the BIafran leaders told him to declare Biafra so you also know.
Which tribe leaves in every part on the so called one Nigeria and would readily settle in the most interior places as well as put their efforts and resources to the development of the land - Biafrans in particular Igbos.
You are blind to the injustice the Biafrans have endured but I tell you Nigeria's time is up and the document establishing your so called one Nigeria is long expired.
I am sure you know the lies start from the constitution supposedly that which is greater than all. A secular country indeed but at the same time allows sharia. A constitution drawn up by idiots, liars and deceivers who think it easier to gradually Islamize the nation rather than declare it non-secular state. You talk of Sharia, Islam, Mosque, Grand Khadi in a 'secular' constitution where rightfully no mention of Christianity, Christian or Church is made.
You just think somehow the truth will die, you are dreaming. I don't care how much you hate Biafra and your silly land locked description, you are greatly deceived in thinking the other parts will not want to be included. Seek the facts from truth loving members not thieves who still public funds in the name of One Nigeria as they will always want One Nigeria so they can continue to steal.
You are a disgrace to the Igbo race and have no respect to those who died fighting for your freedom. The same goes for every Biafran who rejects the truth and may you never enter Biafra when it comes.
Who is this fool writing this nonsense?
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