debetmx: Ojukwu definitely had his points but he should have being more conciliatory. Every dispute doesn't have to be settled by violence. Nobody has answered the question i raised, u guys said Gowon was not the most senior army officer and i asked was Ojukwu the most senior eastern officer in biafra?

I still maintain the civil war was at its best utterly stupid, pointless (between brothers) driven blindly by greed, ignorance, ego and some other incomprehensible credo. I imagine if the energy, brilliance (the ibos) and resourses channeled into the war has been used the develop Nigeria, may will be like SA now. I cannot but marvel at Ojukwu and Gowon who gambled so recklessly with staggering costs in human life, blood and resources. Ojukwu and Gowon survived the war and were granted pardons while millions died, children became orphans, people who were lucky to survive the war lost all they had worked their lives for. Its so easy for us to grandstand on the internet and talk about the war. Truth be told, war is not mortal kombat where after u die, u cant still play again.

Coming to the issue of the yorubas not joining with the eastern region to fight the hausas. If Ojukwu was willing to fight the northerns in a war he never could have won, would the yorubas also go to war with the same mindset? In 1967, the same year the biafra war won started, Israel fought with Egypt, Jordan and Syria all togetherhe war just after six days. When Awolowo approached the yoruba army officers like Olutoye about joining the ibos in fighting the war, they asked Awolowo pertinent questions like if he had weapons and barracks of his own, he said no. If Awolowo had joined in a alliance that could not win the war, i wouldnt be here defending him

tomakint: Ojukwu was right afterall! May his soul continue to rest in peace! He clearly fought against a 'too powerful central government' at Aburi, many thought he was being too heady but we know better today

debetmx:
Coming to the issue of the yorubas not joining with the eastern region to fight the hausas. If Ojukwu was willing to fight the northerns in a war he never could have won, would the yorubas also go to war with the same mindset? In 1967, the same year the biafra war won started, Israel fought with Egypt, Jordan and Syria all togetherhe war just after six days. When Awolowo approached the yoruba army officers like Olutoye about joining the ibos in fighting the war, they asked Awolowo pertinent questions like if he had weapons and barracks of his own, he said no. If Awolowo had joined in a alliance that could not win the war, i wouldnt be here defending him

tomakint:
...and if you were in Ojukwu's shoes what would you have done? I need your personal answer

T9ksy:


My brother, Awo did the right thing! Why should the yorubas put their neck on the line for the ibos? Ore wo ni ipa won se idi? When the ibos were cavorting with the northerners, did Awo not warn them? Instead, they colluded with their Fulani masters to cause mayhem in yorubaland hoping that they can then sweep in and take over yorubaland until akintola told them where to go. How many yorubas lost their lives in the subsequent “operation wetie” instigated by okpara?

Had the yorubas joined the ibos in the war, we would have lost a lot in both human and natural resources only for the ibos to match into lagos as the phocking liberator! Do you think the ibos will just then leave us to rule ourselves? Even now, without fighting and winning any war, the ibos are fond of laying claim to part of our ancestral land so imagine if they have “liberated” us!

Ojukwu was smart but not 10% as smart as Awo!His childish prank cost nigeria millions of innocent souls. May he never find peace wherever he is now. Amen.

T9ksy:


My brother, Awo did the right thing! Why should the yorubas put their neck on the line for the ibos? Ore wo ni ipa won se idi? When the ibos were cavorting with the northerners, did Awo not warn them? Instead, they colluded with their Fulani masters to cause mayhem in yorubaland hoping that they can then sweep in and take over yorubaland until akintola told them where to go. How many yorubas lost their lives in the subsequent “operation wetie” instigated by okpara?

Had the yorubas joined the ibos in the war, we would have lost a lot in both human and natural resources only for the ibos to match into lagos as the phocking liberator! Do you think the ibos will just then leave us to rule ourselves? Even now, without fighting and winning any war, the ibos are fond of laying claim to part of our ancestral land so imagine if they have “liberated” us!

Ojukwu was smart but not 10% as smart as Awo!His childish prank cost nigeria millions of innocent souls. May he never find peace wherever he is now. Amen.

T9ksy:


Its unfortunate that Ojukwu didn't fight as assiduously as he did at aburi when his kinsman Ironsi foisted centralised govt on the rest of us with so much as a plebscite. Rather he went on air the following day bragging about how he is going to export many of his kinsmen to the north to take up govtal post in the region. Anyway, at what price was ojukwu willing to fight against a "too powerful central govt"? Certainly, not with his life but the life others excluding of course, his immediate family members. Only "animals" resolve any disagreement (with their peers) with violence as they can't really articulate their thoughts and wishes etc. to others.

debetmx: Ojukwu definitely had his points but he should have being more conciliatory. Every dispute doesn't have to be settled by violence. Nobody has answered the question i raised, u guys said Gowon was not the most senior army officer and i asked was Ojukwu the most senior eastern officer in biafra?

I still maintain the civil war was at its best utterly stupid, pointless (between brothers) driven blindly by greed, ignorance, ego and some other incomprehensible credo. I imagine if the energy, brilliance (the ibos) and resourses channeled into the war has been used the develop Nigeria, may will be like SA now. I cannot but marvel at Ojukwu and Gowon who gambled so recklessly with staggering costs in human life, blood and resources. Ojukwu and Gowon survived the war and were granted pardons while millions died, children became orphans, people who were lucky to survive the war lost all they had worked their lives for. Its so easy for us to grandstand on the internet and talk about the war. Truth be told, war is not mortal kombat where after u die, u cant still play again.

Coming to the issue of the yorubas not joining with the eastern region to fight the hausas. If Ojukwu was willing to fight the northerns in a war he never could have won, would the yorubas also go to war with the same mindset? In 1967, the same year the biafra war won started, Israel fought with Egypt, Jordan and Syria all togetherhe war just after six days. When Awolowo approached the yoruba army officers like Olutoye about joining the ibos in fighting the war, they asked Awolowo pertinent questions like if he had weapons and barracks of his own, he said no. If Awolowo had joined in a alliance that could not win the war, i wouldnt be here defending him

debetmx:
I would never have declared seccession. I would rather have held out for a better deal for my people. Better still, i would have taken my case to the UN to conduct a plebiscite to determine if the easterners wanted to be administered in Nigeria or Biafra. Lastly he could declared seccession in the newly created southern central state which contained only ibos.

Dede1:

You are pathetically laughable. Anyway, you are not a stranger to me. I guess humans can be absolved from their fallibility when incapable of discerning a seemingly conflict among them.

debetmx:
I would never have declared seccession. I would rather have held out for a better deal for my people. Better still, i would have taken my case to the UN to conduct a plebiscite to determine if the easterners wanted to be administered in Nigeria or Biafra. Lastly he could declared seccession in the newly created southern central state which contained only ibos.

Andre Uweh:
What a load of rubbish above. The rubbish above show that the poster is not informed. Did Ojukwu not go to Ethiopia at OAU assembly. You feel he did not want peace?. The more you guys chat here the more you showcase your ignorance.
About east central state, Gown was really wasting his time creating states in the east as he was not in control of the east until mid Jan'70. Even at that, there were Igbo people outside the south east. For your tiny brain, the war was not about Ndigbo but old eastern Nigeria.
I know some peeps in real life who only come to nairaland to read through and leave no comments. Why not be like that?.

T9ksy:

Yeah, just as you are well known to me too- a pathetic old man still afflicted with vanquished syndrome, 40-odd years after the fact. I suppose in your neck of the woods, any "seemingly conflict" can only be solved with violence. Talk about self-fulfilling prophesy!!! Just because they label you, "animals" does not necessarilly mean you have to behave as one.

eagle,eye:


I have said it else-where, even if Ojukwu did not make the Ahiara Declaration another Ranking Soldier would have, and Ojukwu may even have a mutiny on his hand.
The situation that time warrants the East to go there seperate ways, since it was obvious that Nigeria did not accept them (even now, have the Igbos really been accepted in the so called one NIGERIA?)
Ojukwu's hands were forced he did the best under the circumstance. Moreover why will the Nigerian Army still resort to the use of Force, if they really wanted the East back to the union called Nigeria.
Gowon could have still called for another round of Dialogue when he found out that he has goofed. As the then Eastern governor, Ojukwu did the best he could given what was on ground.

debetmx:

I have some questions for you.

a. When did Ojukwu go to Ethiopia for the OAU Assembly?

b. What happened when Adaka Boro declared Niger Delta Republic in February 1966 when an igbo was in power, what precedence was set and what was Ojukwu's reaction?

c. If Aguiyi Ironsi (igbo man) could not allow the Niger Delta go, why should Gowon allow the eastern region leave Nigeria?

d. Who has the powers to create new states in the Federation and Gowon was not in control of the eastern region by virtue of what?

Andre Uweh:
After Aburi, Ojukwu also went to OAU conference of head of states seeking for a peaceful resolution of the Nigerian crisis (1967).
Biafra was not just declared by Ojukwu but by the eastern Nigerian parliament at Enugu. Unlike Adaka Boro, who did not act with the wish of any parliament.
Ojukwu was in firm control of the east and not Gowon. Have you not bothered to ask why Ojukwu released the prisoners detained or serving in the east?. Gowon as I said earlier was just wasting his time creating states in the east.

debetmx:



When Ifeajuna killed Tafawa Balewa, Largema and Maimalari, the ibos were being forced out? When Nzeogwu killed Ahmadu Bello, Ademulegun's pregnant wife, the ibos were not accepted? .when Ibo officers killed innocent and harmless people they wanted to revolutionarize Nigeria. When Northerners NCOs killed ibo people they were forcing them out of Nigeria. When Achuzia kills a Nigeria officer, he is a hero, when Benjamin Adekunle kills a biafran officer, he is a coward.

T9ksy:


Its unfortunate that Ojukwu didn't fight as assiduously as he did at aburi when his kinsman Ironsi foisted centralised govt on the rest of us with so much as a plebscite. Rather he went on air the following day bragging about how he is going to export many of his kinsmen to the north to take up govtal post in the region. Anyway, at what price was ojukwu willing to fight against a "too powerful central govt"? Certainly, not with his life but the life others excluding of course, his immediate family members. Only "animals" resolve any disagreement (with their peers) with violence as they can't really articulate their thoughts and wishes etc. to others.

debetmx:
I would never have declared seccession. I would rather have held out for a better deal for my people. Better still, i would have taken my case to the UN to conduct a plebiscite to determine if the easterners wanted to be administered in Nigeria or Biafra. Lastly he could declared seccession in the newly created southern central state which contained only ibos.

T9ksy:


Instead, they colluded with their Fulani masters to cause mayhem in yorubaland hoping that they can then sweep in and take over yorubaland until akintola told them where to go. How many yorubas lost their lives in the subsequent “operation wetie” instigated by okpara?

ilugunboy:

That is the level of ridiculous deceit these people can get into....

It's good for them to do it..but never good for the other party to pay them back in their coin..

tomakint:
Son, go back to bed, I am done with you

joeyfire:

Kindly shed more light on this please. I've never heard this one before

Dede1:


It takes one animal to recognize another. I am happy to watch a man whose mind plays him like a pawn. Nothing exemplifies such scenario more than the above idiotic post. The moronic interplay explains the character of the individuals who aided the violence in a bid to solve the conflict. I had rather fight and experience defeat than cowered into submission without gauging my strength, olodo
.

By the way, remember who started the game of insult in this discuss.

T9ksy:

The bolded speaks volume about you and your kinsmen. So, ojukwu was just assessing his strength by sending young boys into the battlefield with one gun between two of them whilst the enemy is well and fully armed with modern weapons. However, on realising his "strength" is nothing to write home about, he legged it like a thief in the night leaving his defenceless people at the mercy of the approaching armed forces.

When we fight, we fight to win or we don't fight at all till we are good and ready to give the enemy a bloody nose. In yoruba war history, the are ona kakanfo (general) fights to win or die on the battlefield. He doesn't run off in the night only to come back and start pointing accusing fingers at others for his failure on the battlefield.

In the history of yorubaland, no are onakakanfo has been known to lose a war and then come back to live till old age among the people, like ojukwu did.Never mind marrying a young damsel. Certainly, the yorubas will not consider him a hero!

tomakint:
Too many palm wine tappers on Nairaland my brother

joeyfire:

Kindly shed more light on this please. I've never heard this one before

The honourable member representing Ajeromi-Ajegunle Constituency, Mr. Ebube Dike, an Igbo settler from Okigwe, raced to the Speaker's table and made for the mace to hit it on the Speaker's head. The Speaker, Prince Adeleke Adedoyin dodged it and the mace hit on the table and broke into pieces.

It was the assigned role of Ebube Dike to remove the mace, being the authority of the parliament but he attempted to hit the mace on the head of the Speaker. It was not the intention of NNDP/NCNC alliance that the mace be broken but only to remove the mace and end the day's session. Likewise the instruction to honourable Oke was to tap the table to arouse the attention of Ebube Dike and not to jump up and down and shouting fire on the mountain. However, Ebube Dike in his ulterior motive regarded this as a reprisal action to pay back the AG on what they did to Zik in 1952, so 1952 remains a remarkable year for Igbos.

T9ksy:

The bolded speaks volume about you and your kinsmen. So, ojukwu was just assessing his strength by sending young boys into the battlefield with one gun between two of them whilst the enemy is well and fully armed with modern weapons. However, on realising his "strength" is nothing to write home about, he legged it like a thief in the night leaving his defenceless people at the mercy of the approaching armed forces.

When we fight, we fight to win or we don't fight at all till we are good and ready to give the enemy a bloody nose. In yoruba war history, the are ona kakanfo (general) fights to win or die on the battlefield. He doesn't run off in the night only to come back and start pointing accusing fingers at others for his failure on the battlefield.

In the history of yorubaland, no are onakakanfo has been known to lose a war and then come back to live till old age among the people, like ojukwu did.Never mind marrying a young damsel. Certainly, the yorubas will not consider him a hero!

Dede1:


To the best of my knowledge, Yooba peeps have not fought any war worthy of mention talk less writing home about. They had their azz kicked seven ways to Sunday by Sokoto Caliphate. Anybody whose original home was situated 30 miles north of Ilorin had no business talking of any war even if it was wrestling match.