By Goddy



Speech by Chief Obafemi Awolowo made to the Western leaders of thought, in Ibadan, 1 May 1967. (quoted in "Crisis and Conflict in Nigeria (Volume 1), January 1966-July 1971" by A. H. M. Kirk-Greene. )

The aim of a leader should be the welfare of the people whom he leads. I have used 'welfare' to denote the physical, mental and spiritual well-being of the people. With this aim fixed unflinchingly and unchangeably before my eyes I consider it my duty to Yoruba people in particular and to Nigerians in general, to place four imperatives before you this morning. Two of them are categorical and two are conditional. Only a peaceful solution must be found to arrest the present worsening stalemate and restore normalcy. The Eastern Region must be encouraged to remain part of the Federation. If the Eastern Region is allowed by acts of omission or commission to secede from or opt out of Nigeria, then the Western Region and Lagos must also stay out of the Federation. The people of Western Nigeria and Lagos should participate in the ad hoc committee or any similar body only on the basis of absolute equality with the other regions of the Federation.

I would like to comment briefly on these four imperatives. There has, of late, been a good deal of sabre rattling in some parts of the country. Those who advocate the use force for the settlement of our present problems should stop a little and reflect. I can see no vital and abiding principle involved in any war between the North and the East. If the East attacked the North, it would be for purpose of revenge pure and simple. Any claim to the contrary would be untenable. If it is claimed that such a war is being waged for the purpose of recovering the real and personal properties left behind in the North by Easterners two insuperable points are obvious. Firstly, the personal effects left behind by Easterners have been wholly looted or destroyed, and can no longer be physically recovered. Secondly, since the real properties are immovable in case of recovery of them can only be by means of forcible military occupation of those parts of the North in which these properties are situated. On the other hand, if the North attacked the East, it could only be for the purpose of further strengthening and entrenching its position of dominance in the country.

If it is claimed that an attack on the East is going to be launched by the Federal Government and not by the North as such and that it is designed to ensure the unity and integrity of the Federation, two other insuperable points also become obvious. First, if a war against the East becomes a necessity it must be agreed to unanimously by the remaining units of the Federation. In this connection, the West, Mid- West and Lagos have declared their implacable opposition to the use of force in solving the present problem. In the face of such declarations by three out of remaining four territories of Nigeria, a war against the East could only be a war favoured by the North alone. Second, if the true purpose of such a war is to preserve the unity and integrity of the Federation, then these ends can be achieved by the very simple devices of implementing the recommendation of the committee which met on August 9 1966, as reaffirmed by a decision of the military leaders at Aburi on January 5 1967 as well as by accepting such of the demands of the East, West, Mid-West and Lagos as are manifestly reasonable, and essential for assuring harmonious relationships and peaceful co-existence between them and their brothers and sisters in the North.

Some knowledgeable persons have likened an attack on the East to Lincoln's war against the southern states in America. Two vital factors distinguish Lincoln's campaign from the one now being contemplated in Nigeria. The first is that the American civil war was aimed at the abolition of slavery - that is the liberation of millions of Negroes who were then still being used as chattels and worse than domestic animals. The second factor is that Lincoln and others in the northern states were English-speaking people waging a war of good conscience and humanity against their fellow nationals who were also English speaking. A war against the East in which Northern soldiers are predominant, will only unite the Easterners or the Ibos against their attackers, strengthen them in their belief that they are not wanted by the majority of their fellow-Nigerians, and finally push them out of the Federation.

We have been told that an act of secession on the part of the East would be a signal, in the first instance, for the creation of the COR state by decree, which would be backed, if need be, by the use of force. With great respect, I have some dissenting observations to make on this declaration. There are 11 national or linguistic groups in the COR areas with a total population of 5.3 millions. These national groups are as distinct from one another as the Ibos are distinct from them or from the Yorubas or Hausas. Of the 11, the Efik/Ibibio/Annang national group are 3.2 million strong as against the Ijaws who are only about 700,000 strong. Ostensibly, the remaining nine national group number 1.4 millions. But when you have subtracted the Ibo inhabitants from among them, what is left ranges from the Ngennis who number only 8,000 to the Ogonis who are 220,000 strong. A decree creating a COR state without a plebiscite to ascertain the wishes of the peoples in the area, would only amount to subordinating the minority national groups in the state to the dominance of the Efik/Ibibio/Annang national group. It would be perfectly in order to create a Calabar state or a Rivers state by decree, and without a plebiscite. Each is a homogeneous national unit. But before you lump distinct and diverse national units together in one state, the consent of each of them is indispensable. Otherwise, the seed of social disquilibrium in the new state would have been sown.

On the other hand, if the COR State is created by decree after the Eastern Region shall have made its severance from Nigeria effective, we should then be waging an unjust war against a foreign state. It would be an unjust war, because the purpose of it would be to remove 10 minorities in the East from the dominance of the Ibos only to subordinate them to the dominance of the Efik/Ibibio/Annang national group. I think I have said enough to demonstrate that any war against the East, or vice versa, on any count whatsoever, would be an unholy crusade, for which it would be most unjustifiable to shed a drop of Nigerian blood. Therefore, only a peaceful solution must be found, and quickly too to arrest the present rapidly deteriorating stalemate and restore normalcy.

With regard to the second categorical imperative, it is my considered view that whilst some of the demands of the East are excessive within the context of a Nigerian union, most of such demands are not only wellfounded, but are designed for smooth and steady association amongst the various national units of Nigeria.



The dependence of the Federal Government on financial contributions from the regions? These and other such like demands I do not support. Demands such as these, if accepted, will lead surely to the complete disintegration of the Federation which is not in the interest of our people. But I wholeheartedly support the following demands among others, which we consider reasonable and most of which are already embodied in our memoranda to the Ad Hoc Committee....

That revenue should be allocated strictly on the basis of derivation; that is to say after the Federal Government has deducted its own share for its own services the rest should be allocated to the regions to which they are attributable.

That the existing public debt of the Federation should become the responsibility of the regions on the basis of the location of the projects in respect of each debt whether internal or external.

That each region should have and control its own militia and police force.

That, with immediate effect, all military personnel should be posted to their regions of origin....

If we are to live in harmony one with another as Nigerians it is imperative that these demands and others which are not related, should be met without further delay by those who have hitherto resisted them. To those who may argue that the acceptance of these demands will amount to transforming Nigeria into a federation with a weak central government, my comment is that any link however tenuous, which keeps the East in the Nigerian union, is better in my view than no link at all.

Before the Western delegates went to Lagos to attend the meetings of the ad hoc committee, they were given a clear mandate that if any region should opt out of the Federation of Nigeria, then the Federation should be considered to be at an end, and that the Western Region and Lagos should also opt out of it. It would then be up to Western Nigeria and Lagos as an independent sovereign state to enter into association with any of the Nigerian units of its own choosing, and on terms mutually acceptable to them. I see no reason for departing from this mandate. If any region in Nigeria considers itself strong enough to compel us to enter into association with it on its own terms, I would only wish such a region luck. But such luck, I must warn, will, in the long run be no better than that which has attended the doings of all colonial powers down the ages. This much I must say in addition, on this point. We have neither military might nor the overwhelming advantage of numbers here in Western Nigeria and Lagos. But we have justice of a noble and imperishable cause on our side, namely: the right of a people to unfettered self-determination. If this is so, then God is on our side, and if God is with us then we have nothing whatsoever in this world to fear.

The fourth imperative, and the second conditional one has been fully dealt with in my recent letter to the Military Governor of Western Nigeria, Col. Robert Adebayo, and in the representation which your deputation made last year to the head of the Federal Military Government, Lt. Col. Yakubu Gowon. As a matter of fact, as far back as November last year a smaller meeting of leaders of thought in this Region decided that unless certain things were done, we would no longer participate in the meeting of the ad hoc committee. But since then, not even one of our legitimate requests has been granted. I will, therefore, take no more of your time in making further comments on a point with which you are well familiar. As soon as our humble and earnest requests are met, I shall be ready to take my place on the ad hoc committee. But certainly, not before.

In closing, I have this piece of advice to give. In order to resolve amiably and in the best interests of all Nigerians certain attributes are required on the part of Nigerian leaders, military as well as non-military leaders alike, namely: vision, realism and unselfishness. But above all , what will keep Nigerian leaders in the North and East unwaveringly in the path of wisdom, realism and moderation is courage and steadfastness on the part of Yoruba people in the course of what they sincerely believe to be right, equitable and just. In the past five years we in the West and Lagos have shown that we possess these qualities in a large measure. If we demonstrate them again as we did in the past, calmly and heroically, we will save Nigeria from further bloodshed and imminent wreck and, at the same time, preserve our freedom and self-respect into the bargain.

May God rule and guide our deliberations here, and endow all the Nigerian leaders with the vision, realism, and unselfishness as well as courage and steadfastness in the course of truth, which the present circumstances demand. "

www.thenigerianvoice.com/news/98546/1/speech-by-chief-obafemi-awolowo-to-western-leaders.html

nice

londongal03:
nice

Lol
You read it in just two minutes? Good

my sig

.

The Idi0t that committed suicide.

Ok, I will comment once I wake up

Very intellectually stimulating text. But Awolowo never supported the war against the igbo people in this write-up.

In fact, he was pro igbo in most of his comments here. So,when did the tide turn?

What happened between when he read this text and when he accepted to be federal commissioner of finance in gowon's government.

Why is he so hated by the same people he supported in this message?

Questions,questions,questions!

.

Chiefpriest1:
Very intellectually stimulating text. But Awolowo never supported the war against the igbo people in this write-up.

In fact, he was pro igbo in most of his comments here. So,when did the tide turn?

What happened between when he read this text and when he accepted to be federal commissioner of finance in gowon's government.

Why is he so hated by the same people he supported in this message?

Questions,questions,questions!

Awolowo was not pro-any side. He was fair and neutral.
What changed was Ojukwu marching boots and guns into Yorubaland. That's a no-no for Awo! That's when Yorubas launched assault towards Iboland.

By far the most intellectual leader to come out of this country. I am sucker for braino.

I was here

[size=28pt]Awolowo shows lack of knowledge of the law. The government of the independent country of the kingdom of western Nigeria never stop .


Because a monary Union was form like Europe does not mean. The country of western Nigeria was dissolve.

I appointed Sarah alade. If the government of the country of western Nigeria was dissolve how could I appoint Sarah alade.

It was awolowo career which ended not western Nigeria country.

The upper government of the country of western Nigeria never stop. The lower house and function was only taken by the military.

Just like osibanjo join the sister country Nigeria government , awolowo also join them.

This is why, I am going by the book. By doing the right thing for my people . as the head [/size]

Bros above me. Pls avoid kwale weed at all cost. Hallucinations and other ills are some of its side effects

Any thread Musiwa enters dies a natural death

Chiefpriest1:
Very intellectually stimulating text. But Awolowo never supported the war against the igbo people in this write-up.

In fact, he was pro igbo in most of his comments here. So,when did the tide turn?

What happened between when he read this text and when he accepted to be federal commissioner of finance in gowon's government.

Why is he so hated by the same people he supported in this message?

Questions,questions,questions!

All that changed after the Biafrans started bombing Lagos and brazenly invaded the MidWest and the Western Region. Up until then he was somewhat sympathetic to their plight.

Excerpts from The Untold Story of Biafra War (From American Secret Documents) Part 2
http://www.nigeriavillagesquare.com/articles/the-untold-story-of-biafra-war-from-american-secret-documents-part-2.html

According to the periodic Intelligence Note complied on the Nigerian situation on by Thomas L. Hughes, the Director of Intelligence and Research submitted to US secretary of State, Dean Rusk , the “chief target” of the Ojukwu’s “seizure of Midwest” was the Yoruba. “Should this large tribe, numbering 8 million or more, choose to join Ojukwu in a move to oust Northerners from southern Nigeria, the rump Nigerian federation would come apart…The Yorubas, riven by past divisions and in no mood to pull Ojukwu’s chestnuts out of the fire [rescue Ojukwu], are undecided. They have tended to side with the Gowon government ever since their principal spokesman, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, agreed to join it last June. At the same time the fear northern domination remains strong…Awolowo rallied towards the Federation when Gowon, himself a Northerner, showed he meant to break up the once monolithic North by decreeing several new states there,” the US intelligence estimate stated.

The Speech of Chief Obafemi Awolowo in response to the Midwest Invasion on August 12th, 1967

The recent coup in the Mid-West has been followed by a massive propaganda offensive from Enugu, which I considered it my duty to counter.

The Yorubas have been called upon to rise up in arms now and liberate themselves from what the Enugu radio termed the Hausa-Fulani domination. Even Yoruba soldiers have been asked by the Enugu propagandists to desert the Nigerian Army and report to the rebel Headquarters in Enugu or Benin.

From the inception of the country, the Yorubas have consistently stood for the unity of Nigeria, and for the equality of status for each of the many and diverse national groups in the country, regardless of territorial or population size.

The Yorubas have never set out to dominate others, but have always resisted, with all the energy in them any attempt however slight or disguised, by others to dominate them. They believe in the Federal Union of Nigerian peoples, and in complete self determination for all the national units in the land.

It is for these causes that they fought valiantly in the past and will fight now and in the future. Indeed it is for these causes that they must now be ready to resist any attempt by the rebel forces from the East and the Mid-West to violate their territory and subjugate them.

Some people, possibly well meaning, have suggested, and others evilly-disposed are already trying to exploit this false suggestion to win Yoruba support for a disloyal cause, that I am on the side of Ojukwu who represents the Ibo people, and opposed to General Gowon who represents the Northern peoples. Those who make this suggestion also hold the view that the interests of the Yoruba people are better served, by aligning themselves with the North.

The truth is that, in the present contest, I am neither on the side of Ojukwu nor on that of General Gowon as representatives of the Ibos and Northern peoples respectively. For on thing, Ojukwu does not seem to me to represent the best interests of the Ibos; nor does General Gowon appear to me to be the agent of the Northern section of our Federation. For another, I am absolutely and irrevocably committed to the side of Nigeria, and of the complete self-determination, autonomy, and unity of the Yoruba people and each of the national groups in the country, within the context of a Nigerian Union.

Futhermore, I firmly believe that the best interests of the Ibos, the Yorubas, the Hausas, and other ethnic groups in the country, will be served in a reconstructed and reconstituted united Nigeria. A Nigeria so reconstituted and reconstructed as to make it impossible for any ethnic group ever again to assay to lord it over the others, or to be in a position effectively to incite division and disaffection among the members of the other national groups. Indeed, a Nigeria so reconstituted and reconstructed that every Nigerian citizen will be able, and be consciously enabled by the Governments of the land, to live and move freely and happily in any part of the Federation, and play an equal role in the affairs of the country.

It is imperative, therefore, that the unity of Nigeria must be preserved by any means which the prevaliling circumstances dictate. And, of course, the best judge of what the prevailing circumstances warrant is the Federal Military Government, and not the many jarring voices of despair which now clamour for audience in and outside Nigeria.

I have no doubt that after the present rebellion shall have been overcome, a new Nigeria, with the existing boundries remaining inviolate, will emerge, and that the Yoruba people will retain their liberty of action and enjoy equality of status in the new dispensation.

To these ends, therefore, all Yoruba people, particularly those in the Western and Lagos States which now face the threats of invasion by the rebels from the East and the Mid-West, must not only be as vigilant as ever, but must also lose no time and spare no efforts in giving every conceivable support to the Federal troops in defence of their homeland, and of the Fatherland.

They must do more. They must continue to give support and loyalty to the Federal Government in the prosecution of the present Military operations, so that the rebellions in the Eastern and Mid-Western States may be brought to a swift end, and the honour, integrity, and unity of Nigeria fully restored.

http://ikalevoice.com/4/?p=2052

Informative & Educative.

I swear

Ayoola171:
Informative & Educative.

Yorubas have been so open and democratic in their dealings with people in other tribes in this present union.

Its a general trait among yorubas to be accomodating, wise, patriotic, loyal but yet decisive and brutal when harmed. Our history speaks for us.

Pa Awolowo you have represented us well and youre a shining example amongst omoluabis. Am almost moved to tears when the ibos on this forum denigrates your name out of shame ans regret of what they couldnt acheive despite your best intentions.

You warned them but they failed to listen because a typical iboman would rather commit suicide by drowning in the lagoon instead of heeding to words of wisdom. Fastforward to 2015, the ibos still have turned deaf ears to voice of reason and rationality. They all commited political suicide and voted enmasse for PDP. Now they are struggling for relevance by issuing one ultimatum after the other and also threatning to revive the same biafran struggle you warned them against.

Most especially you told them to employ reason and dialogue by involving their top polititicians in their agitations and do it peacefully, but know they have decided to tow the path of violence once again.

The funniest thing is that the yorubas are now the main focus of their hate campaigns despite our non connivance and involvement back then and right now.

I hope they backtrack and reconsider their stance before its too late hence history might repeat itself.

Of course youll be dumbfounded on a threads like this. It presents you no opportunities to bash yorubas or insult buhari.

Youre a true descendant of the devil and the political party you represent, PDP is a relentlessly notorious bloodsucking cult

oluwalfa:
my sig

The ibos just chose to hate this man for nothing.

Their nairaland goons won't see this thread filled with fact. They prefer to ruminate on the dust of lies fed to them by their loser grandfathers.

Dollyak:
By far the most intellectual leader to come out of this country. I am sucker for braino.

You're a sucker for yourself

OPCNAIRALAND:


Awolowo was not pro-any side. He was fair and neutral.
What changed was Ojukwu marching boots and guns into Yorubaland. That's a no-no for Awo! That's when Yorubas launched assault towards Iboland.

You are a smelly liar and a buffoon of the grandest order. A shot was fired at Biafra at garkem with orders taken from yorubaland and you expected the Biafrans to clap for you and dance shoki.
You yorubas had no guts, you were surrounded at all cardinal points by soldiers of the caliphate whom you served(and still do) as slaves.

The Biafran war provided a leeway to cement the south and reclaim illorin from the Sultanate but as cowardly slaves you blew that chance. Your slavery is etched forever in the sand of time. Posterity help you when your children will ask " Daddy why is illorin a yoruba city controlled by an Emir of the sultanate instead of an Oba", i expect you to reply "Son we yorubas are greatest coward in all of mankind, they defeated us without lifting a finger". Just say the truth, just don't lie to the poor child.

Lol...your buffonry knows know bounds.

Tell me why are some disputed lands in the south south which was originally iboland not reclaimed by the ibos?

ArodewilliamsT:


You are a smelly liar and a buffoon of the grandest order. A shot was fired at Biafra at garkem with orders taken from yorubaland and you expected the Biafrans to clap for you and dance shoki.
You yorubas had no guts, you were surrounded at all cardinal points by soldiers of the caliphate whom you served(and still do) as slaves.

The Biafran war provided a leeway to cement the south and reclaim illorin from the Sultanate but as cowardly slaves you blew that chance. Your slavery is etched forever in the sand of time. Posterity help you when your children will ask " Daddy why is illorin a yoruba city controlled by an Emir of the sultanate instead of an Oba", i expect you to reply "Son we yorubas are greatest coward in all of mankind, they defeated us without lifting a finger". Just say the truth, just don't lie to the poor child.

vicadex07:
[s]Yorubas have been so open and democratic in their dealings with people in other tribes in this present union.

Its a general trait among yorubas to be accomodating, wise, patriotic, loyal but yet decisive and brutal when harmed. Our history speaks for us.

Pa Awolowo you have represented us well and youre a shining example amongst omoluabis. Am almost moved to tears when the ibos on this forum denigrates your name out of shame ans regret of what they couldnt acheive despite your best intentions.

You warned them but they failed to listen because a typical iboman would rather commit suicide by drowning in the lagoon instead of heeding to words of wisdom. Fastforward to 2015, the ibos still have turned deaf ears to voice of reason and rationality. They all commited political suicide and voted enmasse for PDP. Now they are struggling for relevance by issuing one ultimatum after the other and also threatning to revive the same biafran struggle you warned them against.

Most especially you told them to employ reason and dialogue by involving their top polititicians in their agitations and do it peacefully, but know they have decided to tow the path of violence once again.

The funniest thing is that the yorubas are now the main focus of their hate campaigns despite our non connivance and involvement back then and right now.

I hope they backtrack and reconsider their stance before its too late hence history might repeat itself.[/s]

Please help us close that your smelly gutteresque mouth.Nice word from Pa Awo but what happened when he got the Finance minister/VP portfolio?Guess He threw away his moral principle. i guess Gowon motivated his greedy thirst with that portfolio. Thank God the Igbo paid him back in his coin when he later contested for presidency. He was even stoned at Aba and he scurried into his helicopter holding his head with both hands.

Anyways when Biafra emerges which is inevitable, all those who have Biafran blood on their hands will be told the cost of a drop of Biafran Blood and will be made to pay IN FULL. It's a debt that will be repaid be it in 50, 100 , 500years from now. Even when you die YOUR CHILDEEN will be made to pay for the sins of their forefathers. You can't escape it.

vicadex07:
Lol...your buffonry knows know bounds.

Tell me why are some disputed lands in the south south which was originally iboland not reclaimed by the ibos?

There are no disputed lands. Prehistoric Igboland knows it boundaries, not what 50year old Nigeria says is Igboland. Before Nigeria there were Igbos, After Nigeria, there will be Igbos. Ruminate on that and face the illorin debacle.

Lol...internet biafran warlord...just a word of advice if trully youre all really serious about your biafran bullshit pls kindly get all your asses out of Lagos before you start so that nobody will start screaming Ibo genocide again, and when youre all at it, pls tell me where you and your family lives in Lagos so that I can take over your property you know, as your nairaland brother

ArodewilliamsT:


Please help us close that your smelly gutteresque mouth.Nice word from Pa Awo but happened he got the Finance minister/VP portfolio? He threw away his moral principle, i guess Gowon motivated with that portfolio.

Anyways when Biafra emerges which is inevitable, all those who have Biafran blood on their hands will be told the cost of a drop of Biafran Blood and will be made to pay IN FULL. It's a debt that will be repaid be it in 50, 100 , 500years from now. Even when you die YOUR CHILDEEN will be made to pay for the sins of their forefathers. You can't escape it.

Awolowo is a man of knowledge and intelligence. A quintessential politician that believed in justice and fairness.

vicadex07:
Lol...internet biafran warlord...just a word of advice if trully youre all really serious about your biafran bullshit pls kindly get all your asses out of Lagos before you start so that nobody will start screaming Ibo genocide again, and when youre all at it, pls tell me where you and your family lives in Lagos so that I can take over your property you know, as your nairaland brother

You won't have the property of any Igboman even when the Biafra is hoisted in all of Biafraland. Biafrans are global citizen, who have the right to lead themselves in the their lands and own properties anywhere from Catalunya to Benin rep, from Cameroun to Tanzania. Sounds like bad news to you right? Lol.
Yeah, that mean you need stop sh11ting all over the place like yorubaman that you are, gat your laszy gay aszze and work! work! work!. You won't take another man's sweat, karma won't let you enjoy it. You might even die before touching that property it's a promise. Biaran will defend themselves anywhere! They've always done that even in the arid north. Yours will be a walk over.