IN RETROSPECT: OJUKWU WAS A PROPHET

By Femi Adesina

I tell you, Ojukwu was a prophet, and like most prophets, he had no honour in his own country.
In December 2009, I was at Aburi, while holidaying in Ghana. We Nigerians call it A-b-u-r-i, but the Ghanaians pronounce it as E-b-r-i. For those who have read widely about the civil war that we fought between 1967 and 1970, Aburi is a significant place. This was what I wrote about Aburi, after returning from that journey:
“Aburi. Beautiful, serene Aburi, set daintily atop a hill. It is home to a botanical garden that is 119 years old. But for us in Nigeria, Aburi goes beyond just nature and its preservation. It is the town where General Yakubu Gowon and Odumegwu Ojukwu met, to try and avert the Nigerian Civil War that lasted between 1967 and 1970. They came out with Aburi Accord, which later broke down. And a shooting war started. You could see the Presidential Lodge on a hill, where the Nigerian leaders had parleyed at the behest of Ghanaian leaders. It all ended in futility.”

As one of the key parties to the Aburi Accord, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, returns to mother earth today, it is also apposite to return to Aburi, and look at the letter and the spirit of the accord once again, an agreement that was violated by the Federal side, and which made a bloody internecine war inevitable.
For most part of 1966, the northern part of Nigeria, particularly, had been turned to killing fields. Non-natives, especially Igbos, were killed in thousands. Many fled, many others were displaced. There was complete anarchy in the land. The average Igbo looked up to Lt. Col Odumegwu Ojukwu, military governor of the Eastern Region, to provide leadership and direction. He did not fail. He picked the gauntlet and championed the cause of his people.

By January 1967, the drums of war were loud and clear, reverberating across the length and breadth of Nigeria. But there was a last ditch effort to prevent what was imminent. There was a peace meeting hosted at Aburi, in Ghana, by the then Ghanaian head of state, Gen J. A. Ankrah. At the meeting were Gowon, Ojukwu, all the military governors of the regions, and some top civil servants, both from the Federal side and the Eastern region. The meeting held on January 4 and 5, 1967, and came out with what is popularly known today as the Aburi Accord.

The agenda of the meeting consisted of three crucial issues: (i) Reorganization of the Armed Forces (ii) Constitutional agreement (iii) Issues of displaced persons within Nigeria.
“Let every region be semi-autonomous and develop at its own level.” Yes, that was the spirit and letter of Aburi, but which sadly became a road not taken. And is that not why we are still suffering today, living in a rickety and decrepit country that can burst at the seams any moment? The two-day meeting reached consensus that were acceptable to both sides. Among others, it was resolved that legislative and executive authority of the Federal Military Government was to remain in the Supreme Military Council (SMC), to which any decision affecting the whole country shall be referred for determination provided it is possible for a meeting to be held, and the matter requiring determination must be referred to military governors for their comment and concurrence. What does this mean in simple language? The SMC would run the affairs of the country, but not without consulting the regions as represented by the military governors. This was something akin to federalism, even under a military government.

Other terms of the agreement include that appointments to senior ranks in the police, diplomatic and consular services as well as appointment to superscale posts in the federal civil service and the equivalent posts in the statutory corporations must be approved by the SMC. What does this mean again in simple language? Equity, fairness, true federalism.

Other matters like the holding of an ad hoc constitutional conference, fate of soldiers involved in the January 15, 1966 coup, rehabilitation of displaced persons, etc, were also amicably resolved, and the conferees returned happily to Nigeria. Only for the Federal side to deliver a blow to the solar plexus: the Aburi Accord, Gowon said, was unworkable, and he reneged on all the agreements. whether we like it or not, there’s no way we won’t return to Aburi. Willy-nilly. I only hope it will be sooner than later, before Nigeria goes to grief. On Aburi I stand.

Using the Eastern Nigerian Broadcasting Service, Ojukwu played the tape recording of the proceedings at Aburi repeatedly, to educate the populace on who was playing Judas. Later, he made a broadcast in which he said: “we in the East are anxious to see that our differences are resolved by peaceful means and that Nigeria is preserved as a unit, but it is doubtful, and the world must judge whether Lt. Col Gowon’s attitudes and other exhibitions of his insincerity are something which can lead to a return of normalcy and confidence in the country.

“I must warn all Easterners once again to remain vigilant. The East will never be intimidated, nor will she acquiesce to any form of dictation. It is not our intention to play the aggressor. Nonetheless, it is not our intention to be slaughtered in our beds. We are ready to defend our homeland.”

In a piece I did last December, shortly after Ojukwu passed away, I said he was virtually pushed into war by the infidelity of the Federal side to the Aburi Accord. I still stand by that position. Ojukwu was called ‘warlord’ for many decades, but he was by no means a warmonger. He only did what he needed to do for his people–and for the country.

As his earthly remains are interred today, it is tragic that Nigeria is still submerged in the morass that Ojukwu already identified about 45 years ago. Today, bombs go off like firecrackers in the country. There is agitation for the review of the revenue allocation formula. There are strident calls for the convocation of a sovereign national conference. Even some component parts are threatening to pull out of the federation if anything happened to their ‘son’ who is now in power. Didn’t Ojukwu warn of these landmines ahead? Were all these issues not already settled at Aburi? Foremost journalist and media administrator, Akogun Tola Adeniyi, in a recent media interview, explained the Aburi Accord this way: “Let every region be semi-autonomous and develop at its own level.” Yes, that was the spirit and letter of Aburi, but which sadly became a road not taken. And is that not why we are still suffering today, living in a rickety and decrepit country that can burst at the seams any moment? I tell you, Ojukwu was a prophet, and like most prophets, he had no honour in his own country. Pity. But whether we like it or not, there’s no way we won’t return to Aburi. Willy-nilly. I only hope it will be sooner than later, before Nigeria goes to grief. On Aburi I stand.

Federal Government was perfidious and duplicitous on Aburi. It is still the same way today. That is why as Nigerians, we are most times disillusioned, dismayed, dispirited, dejected and depressed. When will change come to this land? Our hearts are getting weary.
Last December, I wrote that Ojukwu should be buried like a hero. I’m glad at the rites of passage so far, culminating in the interment today. Yes, bury him like a true hero. An icon, an avatar, deserves no less. This generation will surely not see another like Ojukwu. He fought not only for his own people, but for a true federation founded on justice, fair play, equity and rectitude. Unfortunately, he did not see the Nigeria of his dreams. Will we? Adieu the Ikemba, the Eze Igbo Gburugburu. May your soul rest in peace. Ka nkpur’obi gi zue ike n’adukwa.

By Femi Adesina
Friday March 02, 2012

(Femi Adesina is a Nigerian journalist and government official, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to Muhammadu Buhari, the President of Nigeria.) ON ABURI HE STOOD

http://www.africannewstoday.com/politics/opinion-ojukwu-was-a-prophet-femi-adesina/

histemple:
IN RETROSPECT: OJUKWU WAS A PROPHET
By Femi Adesina
I tell you, Ojukwu was a prophet, and like most prophets, he had no honour in his own country.
In December 2009, I was at Aburi, while holidaying in Ghana. We Nigerians call it A-b-u-r-i, but the Ghanaians pronounce it as E-b-r-i. For those who have read widely about the civil war that we fought between 1967 and 1970, Aburi is a significant place. This was what I wrote about Aburi, after returning from that journey:
“Aburi. Beautiful, serene Aburi, set daintily atop a hill. It is home to a botanical garden that is 119 years old. But for us in Nigeria, Aburi goes beyond just nature and its preservation. It is the town where General Yakubu Gowon and Odumegwu Ojukwu met, to try and avert the Nigerian Civil War that lasted between 1967 and 1970. They came out with Aburi Accord, which later broke down. And a shooting war started. You could see the Presidential Lodge on a hill, where the Nigerian leaders had parleyed at the behest of Ghanaian leaders. It all ended in futility.”
As one of the key parties to the Aburi Accord, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, returns to mother earth today, it is also apposite to return to Aburi, and look at the letter and the spirit of the accord once again, an agreement that was violated by the Federal side, and which made a bloody internecine war inevitable.

[size=14pt]^^ In other words: "Disjointed Misyarns"[/size]

the Biafrans will invade this thread like bees soon

To be honest, the FG fvcked up by reneging on the Aburi accord. No wonder we've been moving in wider circles ever since.

This land is not for sell















Watching

The federal government then was a british puppet. When they came back from Aburi with the news of the Aburi Accord, Nigerians received it with excitement and felt relieved because there was great political tension in the young country.

Unfortunately, early in the following morning the mouthpiece of the british govt, the BBC came out with an incitement. It stated that all the Military Governors of Nigeria had 'BOWED DOWN' to Lt. Col. Odumegwu Ojukwu at Aburi.

The incitement worked as it was intended as Gowon and his northern cohorts followed and acted as the british govt programmed them.

It was a game of business and selfish interest from the part of the british govt and a conspiracy from some top European govt when they saw the huge and promising prospect the Aburi Accord has to offer to Nigeria and Africa as a whole.

Nigeria had the chance but gave it away! Indeed Ojukwu was a prophet.

Europe succeeded in making Africa a dumping ground.

Hmmm I see

Na so

Adeshina has moved to the dark side now. He will soon deny this write up.

We Nigerians are not principled rather we are fair weather, tilting to wherever the wind blows us & who pays the piper. Adeshina knows the truth but ask him today & see how he will say & act differently just to impress his employer. All Ojukwu demanded for and was denied is what we are still fighting for today & Nigeria keeps going in circle.

In ojukwu's words i say 'goodmorning Nigerians'.


In biafra we stand.

Smh

doublewisdom:
Adeshina has moved to the dark side now. He will soon deny this write up.

I prefer this Adeshina to Garba shehu, he is more upright

Despite all these the British fully funded and ran the war for the Nigerian side, what does that tell you. No matter what anyone wants believe or force themselves to believe, we're all Biafrans in this country.

Femi Adesina has now forgotten all these. The same way Reuben Abati forgot his criticisms the moment he was appointed by GEJ.
Yorubas eh.

How I wish we will agree and go back to that accord.but.........let me stop talking. Before I will talk am gbooaa.

Malignant Nation.
I have read through the article.

Political statements

Ikwokrikwo:
Femi Adesina has now forgotten all these. The same way Doyin Okupe forgot his criticisms the moment he qas appointed by GEJ.
Yorubas eh.

How?

Ojukwu jesus or na ojukwu muhammed?


No be only prophet na soothsayer!

No matter how fast lie flies, the truth will always catch up with it. It's now 55 years and counting, I'm looking forward to that day when Nigerian youths will rise above primordial partisan and ethnic sentiments to collectively demand for a system of government that obviously suites our diversity. Till then our wicked elites will continue to manipulate us for their selfish gains.

Gowon accepted it; Awolowo turned it down for his selfish reasons. Let us situate a problrm where it should be.

I am not here to attack anyone or ethnic group but this is what it is. Ojukwu too made some mistakes during the war.

The Super Perm Secs of that era were the human demons that influenced Gowon from reneging on the earlier agreements made at Aburi Accord.........such a huge shame. Unfortunately, Femi will even deny this brilliant piece he wrote 4 years ago now!

Ojukwu will forever remain one of my heroes and probably the best among the 3!

TRUST ME ON THIS, WISE MEN ARE ALWAYS FOUND IN THE EAST!

Lalasticlacla and Mynd44 please come and move this to FP. It is important for the new generation to understand what happened.

Ikwokrikwo:
Femi Adesina has now forgotten all these. The same way Reuben Abati forgot his criticisms the moment he was appointed by GEJ.
Yorubas eh.

More like, "politicians, eh?"

Femi Adesina was once upon a time a very honest person.

Ojukwu never wanted war or Biafra. He simply wanted an end to the killing of his people and prevention of future chaos that has become common for us nigerias today. Gowon agreed as well but the coward could not keep his word.Today we are practising a government system that is bound to inevitably fail and lead to continued chaos.

Broda Femi

mrkayusfit:
the Biafrans will invade this thread like bees soon

. Yes.. we will, is all about us..the genus tribe of Africa who are being slowed by other contaminating tribes in Nigeria.

this deserve front page

molydonhenry:
I prefer this Adeshina to Garba shehu, he is more upright

None of them are. They are all LIARS