Read this article a long time ago and thought I should post it for those that care to read.
Obafemi Awolowo is the undisputed hero of the Yoruba tribe of Nigeria whose wartime policy of starvation and currency change helped kill the Biafran dream. The post colonial era of Nigerian history was dominated by three actors, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Obafemi Awolowo and Ahmadu Bello. Dr Azikiwe was an avowed nationalist who preferred one Nigeria above anything else. Sir Ahmadu Bello was a tribalist who initially preferred a balkanized Nigeria to enable his people live their religious and cultural life without external negative inluence and was later reluctantly convinced to seek an agenda for a united Nigeria. Chief Obafemi Awolowo from the onset did not hide his preference for an Oduduwa Republic.

Chief Awolowo is idolized by the Yorubas because he was able to transform the South West into an educational and industrial hub in Africa and build a robust political climate. He so much understood the value of education that he made it free, affordable and offered a lot of scholarships to Yorubas to advance academically to the highest level. He ran a political system in Action Group whereby people have their say while the leader has his way.

Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, a core nationalist, never received the level of hero worship Awolowo received in the South West because Igbos severally accuses him of not taking them out of Nigeria when Chief Awolowo and Sir Ahmadu Bello were angling for a balkanized nation. Chief Awolowo was the sage whose idea ended the Nigerian civil war. He advised the Gowon Cabinet to block all food supply to Biafra so as to end the war quickly and according to him ” starvation is a legitimate instrument of war ” This led to the starvation of over one million Biafran children. Thus Awolowo’s advice and actions led to the quick end to the Biafran dream. Therefore it is right to say that what the entire armed forces of Nigeria could not do, the wisdom of Awolowo did. Chief Awolowo convinced Gowon that every adult Biafran who managed to survive the starvation deserved only #20 pounds to start life afresh irrespective of economic status before the war, an action perceived as intended to further reduce the ability of Igbos to recover economically.

Another policy of his which frustrated Biafra’s ability to import food and arms was the change of currency which according to Awolowo” And it is on record that Ojukwu admitted that two things defeated him in this war, that’s as at the day he left Biafra.

He said one, the change of currency, he said that was the first thing that defeated him, and we did that to prevent Ojukwu taking the money which his soldiers has stolen from our Central bank for sale abroad to buy arms…So I decided to change the currency, and for your benefit, it can now be told the whole world, only Gowon knew the day before, the day before the change took place”.

Chief Awolowo has been variously accused of introducing tribalism into the Nigerian politics. He chased Dr Azikiwe out of the Ibadan in 1954 when the NCNC headed by Azikiwe won majority seats in the West Nigerian House of Assembly and through a palace coup called cross carpeting Zik was denied the Premiership of Western Nigeria, at a time when Professor Eyo Ita, an Efik was premier of Eastern Region and Alhaji Umoru Altine , a Fulani, was Mayor of Enugu. Dr Azikiwe, following the footsteps of Awolowo, had to frustrate Professor Eyo Ita out of Enugu. Chief Awolowo and Sir Ahmadu Bello seems to have a deeper understanding of the Nigerian complexities than Dr Azikiwe.

While Awolowo never trusted the Igbos, the north never trusted Awolowo and theYorubas. The northern oligarchy instigated crisis in Western Nigeria in the same manner President Obasanjo used the Uba brothers to instigate crisis in Anambra State. This crisis led to the trumped up charges leading to the trial and imprisonment of Awolowo . Reports has it that he was to be poisoned in prison before the military coup altered the state of affairs.

Awolowo was released from Calabar prison by Biafran leader Odumegwu Ojukwu and there was an agreement that while Ojukwu declares Biafra in the East, Awolowo would declare Oduduwa Republic in the West. The British establishment, sensing the dangers of Awolowo declaring Oduduwa Republic in the West, convinced Gowon and the north to checkmate Awolowo’s secessionist agenda by appointing him the Vice Chairman of Federal Executive Council. This strategy worked effectively and Awolowo was deceived that after Gowon’s tenure he would be given the opportunity of ruling Nigeria. Awolowo thus had to checkmate the Biafran dream to clear any obstacle to his ruling Nigeria while the north was looking for the right opportunity to throw him into the dustbin. In frustration, Awo resigned from Gowon’s cabinet when he realized he has been politically duped.

Awolowo quashed the Biafran dream while the northern establishment killed the Oduduwa dream and betrayed Awolowo’s presidential ambition thrice. This fact was aptly captured by a prominent Yoruba leader and Nigeria’s former minister of aviation Chief Femi Fani-Kayode while replying to a boastful statement by another prominent northern leader, Alhaji Usman Farouk on how the north dominated the Yoruba people and conquered the Niger Delta.

According to Fani Kayode, “the north literally begged Awolowo not to declare Oduduwa Republic and go the way of Biafra even though that was his original intention…Fourthly it was the support that the south west gave to the north that allowed Nigeria to win the war. Fifthly it was the lie that Gowon and the northern leaders fed to Awolowo that he would be made President of the country after the war and after being effectively being made de facto Prime Minister under Gowon during the war that got Awolowo to support them”, invariably, the Igbos and Yorubas were effectively dribbled, divided, manipulated and overpowered.

The ascension of Awolowo’s kinsman Obasanjo as Head of State was another opportunity for him to realize his dream of ruling Nigeria. The 1979 election result was decided in the infamous judgement where the Supreme Court refused Awolowo’s plea that 2/3 of 19 is 13 states therefore declaring Alhaji Shehu Shagari the winner of the election. The north led by Generals Shehu Yaradua and Theophilus Danjuma convinced Obasanjo on why Awolowo should never be the president of Nigeria. Therefore, instead of a runoff election, which some believe could favour Awolowo,the Supreme Court declared Alhaji Shehu Shagari the winner.

Chief MKO Abiola at one point was used by the northern dominated NPN to oppose the presidential ambitions of Awolowo . He used his Nigerian Concord newspaper and enormous wealth to fight Awolowo and UPN and when they finished using him to deal with Awolowo, they frustrated Abiola’s presidential ambition and he had to resign from the party in 1982. Alhaji Umaru Dikko, then transport minister, sent message to Abiola that the presidency is not for sale to the highest bidder. When Babangida annulled the election of Abiola in 1993, Yorubas alluded to a certain curse Awolowo released on Abiola, in the heat of the later’s opposition to his presidency “that even if Abiola was to be given the presidential seat, he would not sit on it”

In 1999, after the suspicious death of Abiola, the northern establishment sensing that Chief Olu Falae was the choice of the Yoruba people, rigged the polls in favour of Obasanjo . It is obvious that the North had shown evidence of being deadly political strategists than their Yoruba and Igbo compatriots, having used the political suspicion between the duos to dribble them. Conclusively, the north is not as dumb as people assume; they used Awolowo to checkmate Biafra and then dealt with Awolowo and his ambitions.

themodernman:


Capturing the seat of government means they wanna turn the whole Nigeria to Biafra nah

*sighs

eazisky:


Obviously the only thing we knw u biggots for is chest beating, always ranting when u knw u are an empty drum, who doesnt knw an igbo man with love of money? even ur briklayer dad is being rated high by u? hahaha

I don't blame you I blame my self to have quoted you . SMh poorverty is a life style pls change

akinegba1:


we yorubas cannot miss awo because he committed sucide.

You are a useless IGboman. Be proud of your race instead of hiding under a Yoruba handle. You are just as empty and cowardly as your hero Agbari ojukwu

OoduaVanguard:


Yeah, he was do great that he ran off like a bit.CH to the ivory coast while the unfortunate souls he led to war were starving to death and dying like flies. A great coward you mean. :
D

we yorubas are worse cowards at least Ojukwu held on for 3yrs with just matchetes and sticks whereas diya shiit and started crying on sighting abacha.i said it, this is not the best time to be omoluabi

teeowl:
why would a 78 years old man commit suicide. Please Awolowo died in his sleep peacefully.

That was the first case of a frustrated 78 years old man.

Case study: dnt leave dem alone till dey re 79 or 80

OzMingle:
....we missed your legacies! The Zik's, Awolowo's, Tafawa's.....May you all rest in peace while hoping GMB will make you happy in the ancestoral kingdom.

Thats it. I dont believe anyone was greater than the other. Any opinions are subjective

OoduaVanguard:


You are a useless IGboman. Be proud of your race instead of hiding under a Yoruba handle. You are just as empty and cowardly as your hero Agbari ojukwu

anybody that decides to stand for truth is an Iboman. Smh for u

sweetgala:
It bewilders me how all igbo people have not given Ojukwu the designation he deserves. He was a rich boy that joined the army and was propped up through influence, he was never a military tactician , he then decided to gamble the lives of 3 million people on flimsy excuses.
it is not Gowon's fault Ojukwu came poorly prepared for the Aburi accord and got a shit deal.

Awolowo would always be greater than ZIk and any other person the Igbo can put up, You can go up to anyone above 50 years old and ask them what awo's legacy is and they'll tell you, It was Awo's free education policy that enabled the upward mobility of many children born into relative poverty , they have become the doctors, lawyers, accountants and doctors and governors you see today in SW, Middle belt and many Igbo ,SS and Bendel indigenes benefited too.

What did Ojukwu ever give the Igbo except for FALSE HOPE AND DEATH , he was not even courageous enough to stand till the last bullet is shot, he ran away dressed as a woman. If Awo did poison himself he has shown himself to be true yoruba man after the adage "death is more pleasant, than an underserved public shaming"

you are very funny dude...most times I prefer to view than comment just to see what peoples opinions are.......ojukwu was a poor tactician? Like seriously? Lolz...it amazes me how people make conclusions based on what their tribal people tell them.....ojukwu was trained in the same place where gowon was trained..sanndhurst.....the only difference was that ojukwu was an oxford graduate...he was well educated......mind you,the mecenaries that came to the aid of biafra came sole because of the experience they has in GUERRILLA WARFARE....not a conventional army...ojukwu came poorly prepared for the aburi conferenceGosh...did u actually read about these things?? One thing most of yall fail to understand is that ojukwu DID not start a war....the igbos where on the defensive not the other way round.....I don't want to write too much......it clearly shows that your type shouldn't be argued with.....if you can write thing then what other false information would be in your head.??

meccuno:
you are very funny dude...most times I prefer to view than comment just to see what peoples opinions are.......ojukwu was a poor tactician? Like seriously? Lolz...it amazes me how people make conclusions based on what their tribal people tell them.....ojukwu was trained in the same place where gowon was trained..sanndhurst.....the only difference was that ojukwu was an oxford graduate...he was well educated......mind you,the mecenaries that came to the aid of biafra came sole because of the experience they has in GUERRILLA WARFARE....not a conventional army...ojukwu came poorly prepared for the aburi conferenceGosh...did u actually read about these things?? One thing most of yall fail to understand is that ojukwu DID not start a war....the igbos where on the defensive not the other way round.....I don't want to write too much......it clearly shows that your type shouldn't be argued with.....if you can write thing then what other false information would be in your head.??

I am yet to see any of my kinsmen in the military that is as educated as ojukwu.

BuddahMonk:
Atleast Biafra lasted for three good years, when you tried your gra gra in 1993 it did not even last for two days because people deserted your cities and towns, that was when you realized your paper champions.
You started June 12 and was expecting Igbos to fight your wars, Ralph Obioha and Bobo Nwosisi were the only people around Aare Ona kakanfo when he declared himself president elect, when the two dudes left him his people couldn't even protect him or at worst sneak him out



















and







this is the end of Solomon Grundy

Classic response. 3 days gra gra indeed.

OoduaVanguard:


Unlike you f*ools, we were strategic in our resistance during June 12 and pick our battles carefully. We only fight battles we can win. Awo realized Ojukwu was a fraud hence his alliance with the north instead of u losers.

And what do you have to show for those 3-yrs? 3-million wasted lives.

COWARDS!

OoduaVanguard:


Unlike you f*ools, we were strategic in our resistance during June 12 and pick our battles carefully. We only fight battles we can win. Awo realized Ojukwu was a fraud hence his alliance with the north instead of u losers.

And what do you have to show for those 3-yrs? 3-million wasted lives.

Which battle did u pick, abeg let me hear something. Bunch of fucken cowards..
I really wish Abiola was the president but he surrounded himself with cowards who ran away like cockroaches and still ended up betraying Abiola..
IF Abiola had pitch his tent with people who had guts am sure the story could have been different...

BuddahMonk:
[size=15pt]he said Nigeria is a mere geographical expression but when the opportunity came for him to have his country he used his traditional yoloba treachery, backstabbing and deceit to frustrate something he believed in.
what an ediot.

You know Nigeria is not a country why didn't you move a motion to have your own country because you lack the guts instead of living in a patch patch country, another person mustered the guts to have his own country you connived and frustrated the move only to come back and start trying to be the president of a no country or fairly ruler of a mere geographical expression.[/size]

You forgot to add:he introduced ethnicity in our polity,in 1963 when he was fighting with Akintola,which gave room for Azikiwe to won in the Western region,on realizing what happened,he lead other Yorubas to cross-carpet making it imposible for Zik to take control of the house.

teeowl:
why would a 78 years old man commit suicide. Please Awolowo died in his sleep peacefully.

Taaaaaa! Don't try to rewrite history. Awo ingested rat poison.

Was the war necessary? Absolutely not but let's not pretend especially we igbos that we were the only casualties registered, it reeks of the same emotional blackmail we use up east to justify our shortcomings in National politics of today, i feel we've played this victim card for way too long and should be looking to consolidate our stand as the brightest and most dominant tribe in this country or wouldn't it be more fun ruling over a people who refused letting us secede for fear of domination

BuddahMonk:
[size=13pt]Indirect rule was success in North, failure in East but in West nobody knew their stand till today, you cant say whether indirect rule was a success or a failure in West, everything about a people is sitting on the fence, unable to create a clear cut agenda and unable to speak with one strong voice.

In Confab, South went with resource control as part of the agenda, South East stood on resource control, South South stood on resource control, when it got to South West Lagos delegates where saying different things, yoloba delegates where saying another things(that everybody will control resources except oli), Afenifere was waiting to know what the North will say in order not to ruffle their feathers....this was how everything about resource control fall yakataaa[/size]

U are well inform

Murderer, Backstabber etc... He should rot in hell.

U sound so bitter. Do u hate the truth dat much?

eazisky:


Bastard... ask ur mum

meccuno:
you are very funny dude...most times I prefer to view than comment just to see what peoples opinions are.......ojukwu was a poor tactician? Like seriously? Lolz...it amazes me how people make conclusions based on what their tribal people tell them.....ojukwu was trained in the same place where gowon was trained..sanndhurst.....the only difference was that ojukwu was an oxford graduate...he was well educated......mind you,the mecenaries that came to the aid of biafra came sole because of the experience they has in GUERRILLA WARFARE....not a conventional army...ojukwu came poorly prepared for the aburi conferenceGosh...did u actually read about these things?? One thing most of yall fail to understand is that ojukwu DID not start a war....the igbos where on the defensive not the other way round.....I don't want to write too much......it clearly shows that your type shouldn't be argued with.....if you can write thing then what other false information would be in your head.??

[b]Stop trying to re-write HISTORY!

By declaring another state, within a National boundary (termed seceding), Ojukwu declared war on himself and his people.
He committed an act of treason for which he should have been shot at Bar beach if not that Obasanjo and Gowon were merciful on his poor soul.


Yes, he was a poor tactician in all aspects of warfare ... and the result was a massive slaughter of his people at Oore and everywhere else.

if he had any iota of shame and dignity, he should have taken the "Japanese Option" ......
(Just like Awolowo is reputed to have done; "Death is always a preferred choice, than Disgrace, for those who have a sense of shame and Dignity) ....by falling on his own sword.

What manner of shameless and selfish "general" looses a war with the slaughter and complete annihilation of his rag-tag Biafran Army, yet still has the effrontery to want to rule the same Nigeria, the same "entity" for which you wasted millions of your people's life?

If not for anything, for the sake of the "dead millions of Igbos", he should just have come back quietly, ... and probably still continue to work for "what he believed-in" (assuming he BELIEVED IN SOMETHING) .............but his intentions and actions afterwards shows that it was all about GREED and LUST FOR POWER.
Shame on him.[/b]


Lastpage!


@Mods: You can delete my post and ban me as you have always done to my robust rebuttal of those who try to manipulate history but then, since l am only responding to what was posted, l guess l cant be more guilty that the original posters... except ofcourse if you wan to confirm your "ethnic agenda"

meccuno:
you are very funny dude...most times I prefer to view than comment just to see what peoples opinions are.......ojukwu was a poor tactician? Like seriously? Lolz...it amazes me how people make conclusions based on what their tribal people tell them.....ojukwu was trained in the same place where gowon was trained..sanndhurst.....the only difference was that ojukwu was an oxford graduate...he was well educated......mind you,the mecenaries that came to the aid of biafra came sole because of the experience they has in GUERRILLA WARFARE....not a conventional army...ojukwu came poorly prepared for the aburi conferenceGosh...did u actually read about these things?? One thing most of yall fail to understand is that ojukwu DID not start a war....the igbos where on the defensive not the other way round.....I don't want to write too much......it clearly shows that your type shouldn't be argued with.....if you can write thing then what other false information would be in your head.??

Ojukwu was not cut out for military front line fact, I've read credible accounts that the man was never any where near the front line throughout the three years.

It is known fact, that ojukwu didn't bring enough technocrats to the Aburi accord , and he got a terrible deal, nothing short of "go home disband your militia and that all" no promises no consesions from Nigeria , Biafra was never under attack until they ran through the middle belt , sacked Benin and ore and looted the central depository there . NA then moved to occupy the middle belt and slowly advanced .


It is not my fault the Igbo cowards were given a lesson in diplomacy 101 in 1966 but they surely have not learnt much from that experience if current trends are signals,

You did not mention what Ojukwus legacy is in your life, what impact has he made except for sending your fathers , brothers and uncles unto the end of a NA gun.
"Zik was no different he did nothing with his 6 years , no myth no legend

BuddahMonk:
Atleast Biafra lasted for three good years, when you tried your gra gra in 1993 it did not even last for two days because people deserted your cities and towns, that was when you realized your paper champions.
You started June 12 and was expecting Igbos to fight your wars, Ralph Obioha and Bobo Nwosisi were the only people around Aare Ona kakanfo when he declared himself president elect, when the two dudes left him his people couldn't even protect him or at worst sneak him out

and

this is the end of Solomon Grundy

The end of nigeria's solomon grundy was pitiful

dearpreye:
I hardly delve into tribal wars......I used to have the deepest respect for Awo. ..not anymore. ...he's a hero to his people. ..no doubt....

Noted!

adedeji65:
in death, so awesome

yeah men only attain glory in death.

OoduaVanguard:


Only a f*ool will compare Ojukwu the coward, who initiated a war he was ill-prepared to wage, to an Awo. The same Agbari-Ojukwu that sacrificed and wasted 3-million of his kinsmen in a needless war, only to flee at the last minute to ivory coast. Obviously they haven't learned anything from that misadventure.

The chest-beaters should unite and return to their region in peace so they can have their Biafra peacefully. Then we will take them seriously. But if they start any shyt like the last time, there will be no mercy on them this time around.

which shit.start the war. can u fight. ranters ranting outside Nigeria.

driand:
yeah men only attain glory in death.

i want to achieve, lots before death not after death jst a personal view

OoduaVanguard:


Unlike you f*ools, we were strategic in our resistance during June 12 and pick our battles carefully. We only fight battles we can win. Awo realized Ojukwu was a fraud hence his alliance with the north instead of u losers.

And what do you have to show for those 3-yrs? 3-million wasted lives.

we were prepared to die, we are not cowards. stop riding nothern di*cks*. fight for your right atleast once.

Erin wo, Ajanaku sun bi oke!

OoduaVanguard:


You must be under-20 yrs old or something to compare the unprecedented passion, the pomp, the grief, and pageantry that greeted Awo's burial to Ojukwu's. Go and ask your elders so they can enlighten you on that.

There's no glory in suicide.

adedeji65:
i want to achieve, lots before death not after death jst a personal view

of course what you achieve in life earns you glory in death,

sweetgala:


Ojukwu was not cut out for military front line fact, I've read credible accounts that the man was never any where near the front line throughout the three years.

It is known fact, that ojukwu didn't bring enough technocrats to the Aburi accord , and he got a terrible deal, nothing short of "go home disband your militia and that all" no promises no consesions from Nigeria , Biafra was never under attack until they ran through the middle belt , sacked Benin and ore and looted the central depository there . NA then moved to occupy the middle belt and slowly advanced .


It is not my fault the Igbo cowards were given a lesson in diplomacy 101 in 1966 but they surely have not learnt much from that experience if current trends are signals,

You did not mention what Ojukwus legacy is in your life, what impact has he made except for sending your fathers , brothers and uncles unto the end of a NA gun.
"Zik was no different he did nothing with his 6 years , no myth no legend

Is the commander of an army usually anywhere near the frontline?