It's a pity the quality of vigorous intellectual debate is dying on NL these days for several reasons. One reason, of course, is a new disease which was not wanton when this site started: compromising some Nigerians to defend any government policy at any cost. These people generally seek to dilute the general perception of the state of issues in Nigeria and this trend was birthed under Yaradua and now Jonathan, two of the worst leaders or presidents Nigeria has ever and would ever have!

Asides that, I see many NL respond to issues ONLY based on their emotion - a knee-jerk reaction to any issue that does not perpetuate a fairy-tale story about their tribe or ethnic group. Evidence is on permanent sabbatical leave when ethnic jingoists, tribalists - among whom are now even NL moderators - engage in any discussion. It was not like this from the beginning, for back in the days of yore, notable posters and debaters amassed 10,000 - 30,000 posts on this same forum with a great percentage very useful points that add value to the debates they contributed to. In NL of 2013, Fact is dead but fiction and fantasy are the new orders of the day! There is no intellectual honesty or disciplined research! Worse, you can expect most subsequent posters to take the position of their tribes-man, even for the most glaring cases of falsity, making the most tenuous arguments and connections that are not supported by any evidence. There are several cases on this forum. It is my intention to have posters state the facts in this thread and move on. If the facts are not in your favour today, go and work very hard so that history and posterity will judge you positively. I will set the ball rolling here:

1. Professor Wole Soyinka WON the Nobel Prize for Literature, the best in class award and most prestigious recognition, in 1986.

2. Professor Achebe did NOT win any such award nor was recognized by the academic community that gives such award to have been worthy of it.

3. At Independence, Southern Nigeria had a chance to team up together based on the foresight of its leaders notably Chief Obafemi Awolowo who wanted an alliance with Nnamdi Azikiwe but Azikiwe opted to partner with the North. The secession clause that would have allowed a part of Nigeria to willingly leave the union was killed although this was pushed by Chief Awolowo.

4. When Ojukwu went to war in 1967 to defend the Ibos who were on the receiving end of the pogroms, he was ill-prepared to wage, fight or prosecute war. He had 120 rifles and the 'largest army in black Africa'. He did not have the food basket of Nigeria in the East, control of the access to the sea in the East, alliances that were sure, heavy weapons that can be deployed at a moment's notice, etc.

5. The same Ojukwu was 33, a Colonel, not battle-hardened, not a war General, not a commander of famed Armies, no history of combat action or duty, no known experience of knowing what to do when the rubber meets the road and the road meets the rubber! Ogamigwe! Chineke me! Ayekooto o! This is WAR not child's play or Mortal Kombat, no extra life!

6. The same Ojukwu, left Nigeria for the UK at 13 years old, to Epsom and Lincoln Colleges and finally Oxford where he bagged a Master's degree in history, not engineering, not Military or War tactics, having lived a life of privilege in his multi-millionaire father's house, a typical aje-butter, who usually got most things from the parents easily, now he has gone to look Colonel Gowon and Nigerian Army in the eye!

7. Then, Colonel Yakubu Gowon, was just 32, a very good athlete, pole-vaulter, record-breaking long distance runner and a boxer, whose entire education was in the Military! In addition, he had seen combat action in Congo in 1960-1961, 1963 and had been promoted to battalion commander in 1966. A battalion commander leads an army of up to 1,300 soldiers at the same time!

8. In the matchup of 6 Vs 7, it was the omen was glaring for everyone to see and there's no questions about who was the big loser in this upcoming battle!

9. In the history of Nigeria, it is on record that mostly Igbos (or Ibos) have ALWAYS run away from battle - check the list: 1. Nnamdi Azikiwe, ran from the british when they were looking for him and hid in his cousin's house, he ran away when the first coup by Nzeogwu, Ifeajuna, etc was in execution after being tipped off by Ifeajuna, during Biafra war, he was in London, so much so his physician had to abandon him there knowing he was running away. 2. Michael Okpara, the Easter Premier was also tipped off and he ran away. 3. Odumegwu Ojukwu he also ran away after a record 3 M Igbos were led into war and killed, sensing that the 3rd Commando Division of Adekunle, Obasanjo, et al. were closing in, he ran away reportedly crushing two little children during the escape.

10. No need to over emphasize, the graceful no victor, no vanquished was declared in brotherly love to the Igbos although today, they make it seem as though they won the war gallantly, no they did NOT!

11. Now to you mouthed Yorubas! Chief Obafemi Awolowo refused to run away and chose to defend himself in court during his famed and unjust trial for treasonable felony! Chief MKO Abiola could have stayed in the US or London, he refused to run away, he came back himself and recorded a phone conversation the day he was taken by the Police while fighting for his mandate given by the people and birthing the democracy you Nigerians enjoy today! Kudirat Abiola, the Amazonian, she refused to run away and stood with her husband until corrupt killer Abacha killed her unjustly.

12. These are the historical facts which there are tons of evidence to back it up. Now post yours in numbered fashion so we can compare notes!

What is the essence of this post? Are you guys not tired of fighting E-Wars?
How does this post reduce the number of Agberos on Lagos streets?
I think the current and latest news is the burial of Achebe and the idiot that killed a soldier in UK yesterday. Those are the most current news, not outdated newws.

Ricky_Ross: What is the essence of this post? Are you guys not tired of fighting E-Wars?
How does this post reduce the number of Agberos on Lagos streets?
I think the current and latest news is the burial of Achebe and the idiot that killed a soldier in UK yesterday. Those are the most current news, not outdated newws.

Note, this thread is for mature adults who can speak based on FACTS only. If you are interested in other news, go and post there. You are not compelled to read or comment on this one.