oglalasioux:
Ojukwu tried for us but he executed the war poorly. Testimonies from his own Chief of General Staff, Alexander Madiebo, Cyprian Ekwensi (Divided We Stand), Tony Ubesie (Isi Akwu Dara n'ala), and others suggest he ran a one man show. Unfortunately he didn't learn from the mistakes of Adolf Hitler and Napoleon Bonaparte who were both defeated by England : same England that made sure Gowon used their system of dispiriting the populace to win the war.

Once the enemy achieves the objective of starving the civilian population, the war is as good as over. Ojukwu lost the war to hunger and not the Nigerian military.

OJUcrook:
Philip Effiong is the real Civil war hero on the Biafran side. He did not run away, he stood his ground and surrendered because he knew the odds were stacked against the Biafrans.

However, Ojukwu, the initiator of the war, could not equip his army properly, he could not feed his civilians adequately yet he once boasted before the commencement of hostilities that he had the largest army in Black Africa and that the other side(Nigeria) will be shocked as to what they will get from him. Ojukwu boasted that he would fight till the last drop of his blood but when the federal forces closed in on him, he ignominiously ran away to Abidjan after commandeering a plane that was meant to airlift sick Biafran children, abandoning the civilians he swore to protect.

Alhaji Shehu Shagari later granted Ojukwu amnesty in 1982 after twelve years in exile. In 1983 Ojukwu contested in the Senatorial election, he also contested in the 2003 and 2007 Presidential elections but lost woefully on all occassions.

It is highly preposterous that a man who led a war against Nigeria, came back to Nigeria and participated in elections in the same country he fought against

LorDBolton:


LMAO... Bros obviously you're not well versed in war stretegy @ all.

Since u have google, pls Google world war 1 & world war 2 and share with us a screenshot of the casualty figures n explain why the allies won.

Lemme explain the figures u wil see for you...

an invading force will always loose a lot of men. Because they're crossing enemy lines.

Do u think the enemy will sit down and wait? They will lay booby traps and ambushes for the invading force which will decimate their numbers...

For example; if NA are crossing river niger (like murtala mohammed RIP tried) do u expect the biafran forces to siddon look? They will obviously be firing at the NA (thus NA would have already lost @least 50 men b4 even reaching half of the journey)

Now if u check online many nigerian army losses were due to AMBUSH. The greatest igbo soldier kaduna died during an encirclement/ambush his forces tried on the NA (I think @ ph)

Ask yourself why it was so easy to chase the biafran forces out of mid-west when they invaded?

Sir pls if u don't know about war don't talk. Those dead soldiers were the cost of victory.

Victorvexz:
Am sorry to say this, but hitler was a brave man than Ojukwu. When world war 2 was almost coming to an end, and Germany was almost captured, Hitler had the chance to run away. He had a network of underground tunnel that he can easily used to escape, he had the chance of using an aircraft to run away, but he did not. Although his ideology was evil, he still believed in it and died for it, instead of surrendering or get captured by the soviet army or the American army, he preferred to commit suicide rather than admit defeat. That is what Ojukwu could have done considering the fact that he led 3 million souls to their death.

pazienza:


There can never be a protagonist without antagonists.

Ojukwu could have never carried everyone along!

Comparing Ojukwu who was fighting a war of survival with Napoleon and Hitler that were fighting wars of annexation and imperialism exposes your ignorance on this issue.

Yes I agree with you that Ojukwu made mistakes in executing the war. But this is only hindsight, and it's always 20/20.

pazienza:


No disrespect, but you sound retarded.

1. Ojukwu handed over to Effiong and instructed the terms for conceding the war .
Igbophobic Nigerians were chanting for Ojukwu's head. Should Ojukwu had conceded, he would have been locked up and killed by Nigerians. They would disgrace him and that wouldn't be good for the Igbo psychology. With Ojukwu alive and breathing, many believed the future was still bright. Ndiigbo needed that hope to wriggle out of the ignominy of loss of the war.

2. Ojukwu didn't declare secession over night. Gowon rejected terms and conditions agreed upon in Aburi. He wanted a brand of Nigeria not suitable to Easterners. A nation is meant to serve people's interest, and not people a nation's interest.
Right to self determination is a universal right.

3. Why wasn't Awo and Gowon kids in the battle front fighting for one Nigeria, since they so much loved one Nigeria. Not every Igbo people starved during the war. Communities where the war didn't reach were busy farming and feeding alright, so this your point is silly.
Ifeajuna betrayed the struggle and many died because of his betrayal, not forgetting the fact that he was an integral part of the ill thought Nzeogwu coup and set the balls rolling. Banjo was an Afonja who compromised the Biafran March to capture Lagos after discussing with his Afonja people. He was rightly killed by Ojukwu.

4. Ojukwu has every right to contest for elections in Nigeria. He was never anti Nigeria, he was anti the brand of one Nigeria propagated by Gowon and his likes. If his contesting Of elections in Nigeria is your headache, you can as well go and do the needful.

Saddam and Gaddafi both died hiding in holes. They didn't die at the battle front. They wanted to flee, but it was too late for them.
Moreover, you are a nobody to tell a people like Ndiigbo who your own insignificant people can't achieve half of their achievements, who and who not to call a hero.

If Ndiigbo say that Ojukwu is a Biafran Hero, then he is. It's not up to you and your insignificant people to accept or deny.

Baltazarcus:


you speak of hitler as if you have read all accounts of him and the ww2. know this , hitler never committed suicide in the bunker , what was found dead on the bunker ie the charred remains of Hitler and Eva braun was their double , the main Hitler and Eva braun fled to Argentina, As comfirmed by Joseph Stalin , the Soviet dictator

oglalasioux:


How can you agree that Ojukwu made mistakes in executing the war and still call me ignorant on the issue?

We love Ojukwu for his courage and pan Igbonism but he executed the war poorly.

How many books have you read on the war? What researches have you done on your own? Ojukwu should have known better than to undermine the advice of the non Igbo speaking areas especially his fall out with Okoi Arikpo and Zik.

You can't be 33 years old and disregard the advice of 50 year olds. That was where Ojukwu started fucking up. He executed the war poorly. That's the bitter truth.

As for comparing him with Hitler and Napoleon, you only have to understand the mathematics of war to know why Ojukwu bleeped up.

LorDBolton:


No offence but your retort Is puerile.

If a gibbon could write it'd give a better retort

I had a good laugh reading it tho.

BjDreamchaser:



That's just the fact. And am sure you will apply to clean my shoe if you get to meet me offline. I doubt that tho... Because I don't roll with people of your caliber. Let me know if you need any financial assistance, I will be glad to help you.. True talk u

pazienza:


Trash. Biafran forces couldn't hold unto the Midwest because:

1. Holding unto the Midwest was never the plan. The plan was to launch a surprise attack through the Midwest to capture Lagos and decapitate Nigerian military headquarters anchored there.
Ojukwu naively believed that the Arewa military is headquartered in Lagos against the Afonja's wish. This also could explain why he handed such a crucial mission in the war, to an Afonja soldier to lead. If only he knew better...

2. There was never a way Biafran soldiers could have held unto Midwest. They had not the numbers nor the weapons to defend the entire territory without eexposing the Eastern region.
They would be spread too thin.
The logical decision was to return back to the East, once the Lagos mission failed after Banjo compromised the mission.

None of this had anything to do with the trash you were reeling out there.
Biafrans were better soldiers than Nigerians,they made use of whatever advantage they had to accomplish their goals. In the end though, lack of weapons on the Biafran side and abundant of such on the Nigerian side, decided the war.

Baltazarcus:


you speak of hitler as if you have read all accounts of him and the ww2. know this , hitler never committed suicide in the bunker , what was found dead on the bunker ie the charred remains of Hitler and Eva braun was their double , the main Hitler and Eva braun fled to Argentina, As comfirmed by Joseph Stalin , the Soviet dictator

T8ksy:



Ojukwu didn't invade the midwest- an erstwhile neutral region rather he "liberated the area foisting his own man on the people before proceeding to the Western region to "liberate" them, too.

None of theses region asked ojukwu to liberate them . Meanwhile, Ojukwu claimed his sole aim was to seek freedom for his people but ended up occupying neighbouring regions.

laudate:
Hehehe.... wey my mat, my popcorn and my malt drink? Na on top this thread I go match brake today.

Nothing wey person no go see for here. Biafran soldiers did not want to hold on to the Mid-West .... hehehe.... yet they appointed a military administrator for them, and even renamed the whole area. I love this tales by moonlight! Wonders shall never end!

_{cc: EdCure, PenSniper, Mulattoclaro, LordBolton}

laudate:
Hehehe.... wey my mat, my popcorn and my malt drink? Na on top this thread I go match brake today.

Nothing wey person no go see for here. Biafran soldiers did not want to hold on to the Mid-West .... hehehe.... yet they appointed a military administrator for them, and even renamed the whole area. I love this tales by moonlight! Wonders shall never end!

LorDBolton:
Do u mind that Very dull guy.

They tried tooth-and-nail to kill ejoor

Infact he's as stupid as the ojukwu whose blunder opened up the "neutral" Midwest to FG who now launched decisive actions from there against biafran forces who were blowing up every bridge while retreating.

Thieves who looted the city and CBN

Azzin i'm perturbed that guy could be soo dull

LorDBolton:


I will appreciate u don't quote me again bruv I know brainwashed people when I interact with them and you're certainly one of them .

First u don't know the initial reason for the mid west invasion...

Second u got no clue why the MW was easily taken...

Third u have no clue about the impossibility of the lagos mission & why banjo needed the MW to join the biafran cause something ojukwu fcked up by naming an igbo man president.

Third u know nothing about difference between attack n defence in fact I just dey laugh for here.

If ur I.Q can't better a gibbon then how can I relate with u?

Pls I use ojukwu beg u never quote me again. Find a congress to relate with

Baltazarcus:



hahahahahhahaha bro
neither Napoleon nor Hitler lost the war to Britain , they lost because of the failed invasion of Russia, go and check ur history, the british only captalised from their lost and form alliance from other europeans to consolidate their victory.


has the British ever won a major war single handedly ? they always seek and form alliances.

laudate:


They guy has a Ph.d when it comes to turning logic on its' head.

Alariwo2:


ojukwu wore blouse and skirt then fled instead of ending himself. A cowardly act
Don't try too hard

oglalasioux:


Napoleon withdrew from Russia but lost outrightly to England. That I'm sure of.

England played a major role in German loss in Russia. They forged the intelligence report that made Hitler invade Russia and Japan bomb Pearl Harbour.

It was England that won ww2. Believe it or not.

Arch1:
Boss Man, Can you please recommend me books about the Biafra war. Those written by both foreign and local authors. Thanks

1). Reflections on the Nigerian Civil War : Facing the Future by Ralph Uwechue
Publisher: Trafford Publishing (2004) 236pp
ISBN-1412223628,
ISBN-9781412223621
Read the review here: http://meniru..com/2009/10/ojukwu-or-uwechue-who-is-biafran-war.html

2). Oil, Politics and Violence: Nigeria's Military Coup Culture (1966-1976) by Max Siollun
Published by Algora Publishing (2009) 268pp.
ISBN-13: 978-0875867083
ISBN-10: 0875867081
Read the review here: https://maxsiollun./my-book/

3). The Biafran War: The Struggle for Modern Nigeria by Michael Gould
Published by I. B. Tauris (2013) 288pp
ISBN-10: 1780764634
ISBN-13: 978-1780764634

4). There Was a Country: A Personal History of Biafra Hardcover by Chinua Achebe
Publisher: Penguin Press; US (2012) 352pp
ISBN-10: 9781594204821
ISBN-13: 978-1594204821
ASIN: 1594204829
Please read the 1st review here: http://www.nigeriaintel.com/2013/03/31/biafra-the-facts-the-fiction/
Please read the 2nd review: http://www.amazon.com/There-Was-Country-Personal-History/dp/1594204829/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top?ie=UTF8
Please read the 3rd review: http://www.premiumtimesng.com/opinion/108978-achebes-there-was-a-country-an-outsiders-review-by-femke-van-zeijl.html ; http://adegoke.info/2015/04/19/stop-teaching-tribal-superiority/

4). The Nigerian Revolution and the Biafran War by Alexander A. Madiebo
Publisher: Fourth Dimension Publishing Co.; Reissue edition (2000) 424pp
ISBN-10: 9781561173
ISBN-13: 978-9781561177
2 reviews here: http://www.amazon.com/The-Nigerian-Revolution-Biafran-War/dp/9781561173

5) The Tragedy of Victory: On-the-spot Account of the Nigeria-Biafra War in the Atlantic by Godwin Alabi-Isama
Publisher: Spectrum Books Limited, Ibadan, Nigeria (2013) 757pp
ASIN: B00G6HFDRQ
File Size: 18071 KB
Kindle e-book available
Please read the review here: http://www.amazon.com/The-Tragedy-Victory-spot-Nigeria-Biafra-ebook/dp/B00G6HFDRQ
Please read the 2nd review: http://dailyindependentnig.com/2014/02/alabi-isamas-tragedy-of-victory-a-review-2/

LorDBolton:


To be honest your analysis is greatly flawed.

#1- ojukwu didn't flee to ensure a peaceful end to the war, what war was left to fight? When they were closing in on him? He fled cos he didn't want to 'concede defeat' and also 'didn't want to die'. He is a coward.

Wanna know a brave man? Google saddam and gaddafi not a spineless rotting corpse called ojukwu

#2- the governor of the east(ojukwu) declared independence, thus he declared war...or did u expect naija to say Ok? Reannexation was the normal course of action.

[#3- do u dispute the fact his kids were well fed during the war? Or that he executed ifejauna ( a man with more credibility than him) and banjo who tried negotiating a surrender earlier? (thus ojukwu prolonged the war). Yet still fled!

#4-. If he had any self respect he wouldn't have contested those elections, he would have quietly and honorably sit back but NO he still wanted power.


Most Igbos will always love him tho...but to the rest of us (non-igbos) who know history we'll forever see him as a failure.

laudate:


Well, I will try to recommend a few.

There are many perspectives of the war, because there were many participants in that war. War is not pretty. And there are always casualties, on all sides.

Different books on the events that took place at that time need to be read along with other accounts of the Civil War, in order to compare the different perspectives so that readers can draw their own conclusions. Some of the books listed below are independent accounts of the war.

Please read the following:



According to Nigerian scholars in 2011, over 69 books and pamphlets, 53 government publications, 3 bibliographies and various theses have
been published on the 30 month long Nigerian Civil War that took place between 1967 and 1970. In the US, over 2,000 books were written about their own civil war.

So there is still a need to write more. People need to tell their stories about what happened during the war, because in the words of Chimamanda Adichie "we all remember differently."

OJUcrook:
No that is not all. There is more to the story: Nnamdi Azikiwe was the one that composed the Biafran National anthem but he ran away from Biafra. Ojukwu was the one that declared Biafra but he also ran away from Biafra. All the Biafran leaders all ran away from Biafra after sending 3million civilians to the slaughter slab.

Of particular interest is Ojukwu, the Head-of-State of Biafra. While Biafran children were dieing of Kwarshiorkor and starvation, Ojukwu's own children were feeding fat and looking healthy. Ojukwu was never at the war front. He was hiding from one under ground bunker to another throughout the duration of the war.

When Enugu the capital of Biafra fell, Ojukwu ran away to Umuhia. When Umuhia fell, he ran deeper into the Biafra heartland. He was running all through the war until he eventually ran away to Abidjan. It is rumoured that while he was on exile in Ivory Coast, he lived comfortably in a sea side masion, eating the choicest delicacies and dancing Makossa daily with Abidjan girls

OJUcrook:
You are the ignorant one here. Ojukwu's Biafra had nothing to do with self determination, it was a territorial annexation exercise. Colonel David Ejoor, the military administrator of the midwest proclaimed that the midwest would take no part in the fighting, it was to be neutral, a buffer state. The Federal government accepted this situation and concentrated its fighting force - The 1st division on the only frontier over which it could attack Biafra, namely the border which separated the Eastern region from the Benue Province of the Northern Region.

Ojukwu on his own part did not respect the midwest neutrality. He invaded the midwest, forcefully appointed Major Albert Okonkwo, an ibo man as the administrator of the region, and then ordered his Biafran Liberation Army to march to Lagos and Ibadan

OJUcrook:
No that is not all. There is more to the story: Nnamdi Azikiwe was the one that composed the Biafran National anthem but he ran away from Biafra. Ojukwu was the one that declared Biafra but he also ran away from Biafra. All the Biafran leaders all ran away from Biafra after sending 3million civilians to the slaughter slab.

Of particular interest is Ojukwu, the Head-of-State of Biafra. While Biafran children were dieing of Kwarshiorkor and starvation, Ojukwu's own children were feeding fat and looking healthy. Ojukwu was never at the war front. He was hiding from one under ground bunker to another throughout the duration of the war.

When Enugu the capital of Biafra fell, Ojukwu ran away to Umuhia. When Umuhia fell, he ran deeper into the Biafra heartland. He was running all through the war until he eventually ran away to Abidjan. It is rumoured that while he was on exile in Ivory Coast, he lived comfortably in a sea side masion, eating the choicest delicacies and dancing Makossa daily with Abidjan girls

laudate:


They guy has a Ph.d when it comes to turning logic on its' head.

Victorvexz:

Mr know all, why was Ojukwu then boasting as if he had nuclear weapons? How can u go to war without preparing. According to his statements in some interview, he spoke as if Nigeria had no chance in the war, he spoke as if he will win it. U all should be asking him why he had to lie to u people that he was prepared for the war, and not coming here to tell me I know nothing about wars. Ur hero was a coward, short and simple

berrystunn:



Name one thing you have achieved,
There is nothing in your account,
But you have the time to write nonsense up in here.

Usu.

AgentCocoa:


May his soul rest in piece, unlike the children killer and rat posion drinking master aka awolowo who was to cowardly to confront his fears and chose to eat rat food.