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Biafra Is Not Igbo And Igbo Is Not Biafra by zuchyblink(m): 5:39pm On Aug 17, 2015 |
Many have been misled to believe that the
defunct Republic of Biafra was another
name for the Igbo ethnic group in Nigeria.
This notion is totally untrue. The defunct
Republic of Biafra was the name for the
entire eastern region of Nigeria as at May
30, 1967, which comprised of 8 provinces
namely: Port Harcourt province, Calabar
province, Ogoja province, Abakaliki
province, Enugu province, Onitsha province,
Umuahia province, and Owerri province.
Five out of these 8 provinces (Abakaliki,
Enugu, Onitsha, Umuahia and Owerri) were/
are homes for the Igbo ethnic group, while
the remaining 3 provinces (Port Harcourt,
Ogoja and Calabar) were/are homes for the
Ijaw, Efik, Ibibio, Ikwere, Ogoni, and few
other ethnic groups. The eastern region of
Nigeria comprising of the above ethnic
groups inhabiting the 8 provinces, was
declared the Republic of Biafra on My 30,
1967.
When the northerners massacred about
30,000 innocent civilian easterner living in
the north in July of 1966, the victims were
not only Igbos. Many easterners from Ijaw,
Efik, Ibibio, Ikwere, Ogoni, including
Nigerians from the mid-west were among
the victims of the pogrom. Easterners were
the main target of the massacre by
northerners. However, since Igbos were the
dominant ethnic group in eastern Nigeria,
majority of the victims of the July 1966
massacre in the north were therefore, the
Igbos.
Easterners who escaped the massacre in the
north, ran back to eastern region and
became refugees. These refugees were not
only Igbos but also people from other
ethnic groups as mentioned above. Most of
these refugees became homeless and were
housed and fed in school buildings and
other public properties all over the eastern
region. Some of the refugees died during
the war on the streets, market places and in
school buildings where they were housed.
It was well understood at the beginning
that the Republic of Biafra was the new
name for the old eastern region of Nigeria.
However, the Nigerian military government
brilliantly succeeded in defining the
Republic of Biafra to be another name for
the Igbo nation. To achieve this, they
quickly adopted the concept of “divide and
conquer” in which they divided the eastern
region into 3 states namely: River State for
the Ijaw, Ikwere. Ogoni and other minor
ethnic groups, Cross River State for the Efik,
Ibibio and other minor ethnic groups and
then East Central State for the Igbo ethnic
group. The strategy worked very well for
the Nigerian military government because it
empowered the minority ethnic groups in
eastern region and gave them autonomy so
they could no longer see themselves as part
of the new Republic of Biafra any more. The
Nigerian military government installed a
military governor for River State with head
quarters in Port Harcourt, a military
governor for Cross River State with head
quarters in Calabar, and an administrator for
East Central State with head quarters in
Enugu. All these were created in 1967 to
destabilize, disintegrate and disorganize the
new Republic of Biafra and it worked
brilliantly. With that major accomplishment,
the war was safely and boldly proclaimed
as Nigeria’s effort to crush Igbo rebellion in
their attempt to grab Nigeria’s oil territory.
The military government of Nigerian had
succeeded in re-branding and re-defining
the struggle for the survival of the
easterners from total extinction, into the
fight of the Igbos for Nigeria’s oil. And the
world believed the propaganda.
The success of the 1967 Nigerian military
propaganda in re-defining the Biafra
struggle has led to some Igbo young people
today still clamoring for the Republic of
Biafra. They have been misguided into
believing that Biafra is Igbo and Igbo is
Biafra. They want Biafra back because they
have been misled into believing that the
Republic of Biafra was created for Igbos.
This goes to show how strongly the power
of propaganda can destroy posterity and
produce generations of people who will be
SINCERELY WRONG. The Nigerian military
propaganda was so effective to the point
that it almost erased the pioneering efforts
of Igbos in the foundation of our country
Nigeria. Nigerians who were born after
1970 have been taught distorted history of
Nigerian which eliminates the major
contributions made to Nigeria by people of
the Igbo ethnic group. What do you expect?
After every war, the victor writes the story
to exult himself and re-writes history to
cement his version of events on posterity.
Nigerian military government was no
different.
The Republic of Biafra is gone and she now
dwells in the hearts and sacredly cherished
by those who experienced and participated
in the struggle. May the fighting souls of the
those who died in the struggle rest in peace.
May the soul of General Chikwuemeka
Odumegwu Ojukwu rest in perfect peace.
Our new President was sworn in yesterday,
May 29, 2015, in the person of General
Buhari. Under the leadership of President
Buhari, Nigeria has another chance to put
her house in order and join the rest of the
civilized countries in moving forward. I am
tempted to say that President Buhari may
be Nigeria’s last chance to clean house. I
believe in Buhari’s strong credentials and
capabilities in leading Nigeria out of
decadence. I also I know that the Almighty
God has control and He will not turn His
back on the poor citizens of Nigeria.
I am asking all Nigerians to support and
cooperate with Buhari’s administration in
every way possible because this may be
our last chance to salvage Nigeria. Those
who did not support Buhari’s candidacy can
now support his presidency for goodness
sake and for posterity. Let it be Nigeria for
all and all for Nigeria.
Dr. Mike Okeke
Ifekanku
Atlanta |
Re: Biafra Is Not Igbo And Igbo Is Not Biafra by Godset1: 5:40pm On Aug 17, 2015 |
Re: Biafra Is Not Igbo And Igbo Is Not Biafra by Nobody: 5:41pm On Aug 17, 2015 |
i will ready all these long nonsense after Biafra gets her independence.......which is in the near future. |
Re: Biafra Is Not Igbo And Igbo Is Not Biafra by glassjar1: 5:41pm On Aug 17, 2015 |
I'M from BIAFRA ,BIAFRA IS MY DESTINY . HATERS COME ON . |
Re: Biafra Is Not Igbo And Igbo Is Not Biafra by Godset1: 5:41pm On Aug 17, 2015 |
Q |
Re: Biafra Is Not Igbo And Igbo Is Not Biafra by Queennikky(f): 5:41pm On Aug 17, 2015 |
Nonsense..... Biko umu igbo kwenu |
Re: Biafra Is Not Igbo And Igbo Is Not Biafra by NoRetreat(m): 5:41pm On Aug 17, 2015 |
Hmmmm. What's the difference between palm wine and red oil. One is white another is red? What is their source? |
Re: Biafra Is Not Igbo And Igbo Is Not Biafra by kestolove95(m): 5:53pm On Aug 17, 2015 |
D rise and fall of Biafra |
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