THE QUESTION IS, CAN HE STILL BOLDLY WRITE THE SAME ARTICLE NOW OR ADVICE HIS PRINCIPAL ON WHAT HE WROTE?
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.
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.
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

The Constitution of Nigeria after Aburi Agreement have consistently provided for 3 Tiers of Government which is an improvement on th 2 Tiers of Aburi. The simple fact now is that the Military is out of Government. We are in a Democracy and the civilian in the Legislature is weak, greedy and lack focus to move the Country democratically forward. One Senator has even suggested inviting the Military to take over the Government. We have many Retired Military legislators in the Country but all are as selfish and greedy as their civilian counterparts. Ekweremadu has once suggested collapsing Nigeria into 6 Autonomous Zones. That's a legislator from the East. What is wrong with that suggestion that up till now, it has not even been supported let alone deliberated upon. And yet, Sharia Bill and Fulani Grazing land Bills are about being passed into law. Bokoharam is already Piping Nigeria Oil into Niger and into Greater Daura Emirate in Niger, Chad and the Cameroon. Instead of this continued wasting of Time and Resources on agitation for Biafra, which up till now remains unconstitutional, there are Igbos in the NASS, why can't they support Ekweremadu to amend the Constitution and grant FULL AUTONOMY to the 36 States and collapse them into 6 Recognizable Trade Zones?

orisa37:
The Constitution of Nigeria after Aburi Agreement have consistently provided for 3 Tiers of Government which is an improvement on th 2 Tiers of Aburi. The simple fact now is that the Military is out of Government. We are in a Democracy and the civilian in the Legislature is weak, greedy and lack focus to move the Country democratically forward. One Senator has even suggested inviting the Military to take over the Government. We have many Retired Military legislators in the Country but all are as selfish and greedy as their civilian counterparts. Ekweremadu has once suggested collapsing Nigeria into 6 Autonomous Zones. That's a legislator from the East. What is wrong with that suggestion that up till now, it has not even been supported let alone deliberated upon. And yet, Sharia Bill and Fulani Grazing land Bills are about being passed into law. Bokoharam is already Piping Nigeria Oil into Niger and into Greater Daura Emirate in Niger, Chad and the Cameroon. Instead of this continued wasting of Time and Resources on agitation for Biafra, which up till now remains unconstitutional, there are Igbos in the NASS, why can't they support Ekweremadu to amend the Constitution and grant FULL AUTONOMY to the 36 States and collapse them into 6 Recognizable Trade Zones?

We want out, what part of the statement is ambiguous?

I no marry again, na by force?

Your death wish on Biafra is a reflection of your fears and insecurity hence tell us about your fears should Biafra secede instead of these long statements of deceit and selfishness.

The Only Way Out is Biafra...so that the yorobers and housa can feed on themselves.. Truth

I'm sure Femi Adesina will deny ever penning this piece. You see, most of these goats know the truth but pecuniary interests and inherent slavish mentality will not allow them to stand by the truth. Ngwanu, shut up and let those ready to speak n fight for truth do their thing na, for where? They become automatic saboteurs and start the 'pull-him-down' process with all resources at their disposal even when that which is being fought for will bring them peace and progress in the long run.

Femi Adesina always my mentor

Now that he is part of this government, he is a new creature, baptised with the spirit of lying.
Let's not even get started on what his response would be if you confront him with this piece.
Op you can make the piece more reader friendly, edit it and highlight the necessary quotes.

sapiosexual1:
Now that he is part of this government, he is a new creature, baptised with the spirit of lying.
Let's not even get started on what his response would be if you confront him with this piece.
Op you can make the piece more reader friendly, edit it and highlight the necessary quotes.

If edited you have given Femi room to say he was quoted out of context. That is the reason of verbatim.

This is a good lesson for the younger generation of Nigerians who keep shouting ignorantly that Ojukwu started the war. Ojukwu did over and beyond what he was supposed to do so that their would be peace. But even the pope has a limit on the number of slaps he will take on.the cheek before he slaps back in return

Now it's you and I, let us all jointly and clearly tell The NASS to do its work very well, quickly and democratically too.