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Minorities Testimonies At Willinks Commission On Life In Western Region (1957) - Politics (2) - Nairaland

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1958 Minorities Grievances. *south-south Nigeria, "The Willinks Commission Repor / Western Region Ministerial List In 60s / The Superiority Of The Western Region In 1969 As Published By NY Times (2) (3) (4)

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Re: Minorities Testimonies At Willinks Commission On Life In Western Region (1957) by Sylraph1: 10:38pm On May 13, 2020
Wow...what an eye opener!!!

History really need to be introduced back in school...
The upcoming generation need to learn the real not some concocted propaganda..

Except the thread to be deleted soon because NL is really showing its real colours

11 Likes

Re: Minorities Testimonies At Willinks Commission On Life In Western Region (1957) by horsepower102: 10:40pm On May 13, 2020
mrvitalis:
I have always known yorubas like to project their image on others

Calling igbos ritualist while the news has exposed who are the real ritualist

Saying Igbo marginalized minorities why the truth is here now

They are master projectors. When they accuse people of something, know that they are already doing it to the max.

12 Likes 1 Share

Re: Minorities Testimonies At Willinks Commission On Life In Western Region (1957) by Yankee101: 10:41pm On May 13, 2020
The so-called founding fathers of Nigeria laid the groundwork for nepotism and all the -isms we're suffering today.
Re: Minorities Testimonies At Willinks Commission On Life In Western Region (1957) by horsepower102: 10:44pm On May 13, 2020
gwafaeziokwu:


grin

Don't twist facts Oga.

Wilkinson panel found out that there was real marginalisation against minorities in the Western region. Awolowo will collect their taxes and be building Cocoa house in Ibadan. Infact they recommended the independence of Midwest from the suffocating grips of the ogboni masters.

In the Eastern region they found nothing but Imaginary feelings of marginalisation. Facts presented by witnesses from both sides showed that Igbos were too fair to their neighbours unlike the Yorubas that could not hide their tribalism. Therefore they saw no reason for granting them independence.

This piece of history is classic! Keep up with history revisionism while we slap you with facts.

Thank you. the same commission from the white men confirmed that Igbos were more than fair to their minority neighbors while they recommended the break up of the western regions because of gross unfairness of the yorubas.

13 Likes

Re: Minorities Testimonies At Willinks Commission On Life In Western Region (1957) by Sylraph1: 10:47pm On May 13, 2020
joeyfire:
"In August 1942, the conference of traditional Obas and rulers in what was now the Western Provinces of Nigeria took place in Benin City. It is said that at that meeting, there was an attempt to speak Yoruba as the Lingua Franca, thus causing some irritation among delegates from the Benin and Warri provinces"

http://edo-nation.net/nowao1.htm
shocked

we really need to go back to history....

An eye opener indeed.

14 Likes

Re: Minorities Testimonies At Willinks Commission On Life In Western Region (1957) by horsepower102: 10:48pm On May 13, 2020
Biafrarep:
God help us! So, while the Igbos were patronizing the minorities in the East and giving them more than their fair share in virtually every sector, the afonjas on the other hand were so discriminatory to the minorities in the Western region. Yet lies have been told for ages on how Igbos discriminated Eastern minorities. Little wonder they banned learning of history in Nigeria so that no one would discover the attrocities that went down in the past while they continued to push a wicked propaganda against Igbos.

Thank God for the internet Sha. No matter how far lies travel, truth will still overtake it someday.

Igbos have really suffered from post civil war propaganda against them. These people really accused us of all types of evil that we never committed.

13 Likes

Re: Minorities Testimonies At Willinks Commission On Life In Western Region (1957) by horsepower102: 10:51pm On May 13, 2020
Biafrarep:
Lol, in 1957, the entire area of modern day Delta North and a small area of NE Edo were all known as Igbo territories but today, they are no longer Igbos according to stvpid Nigerians.

I never knew that people can suddenly shed their identity within a few decades.

Now it is becoming clear as day light why Nigeria failed as a country. Tell me how a country that was built on cheap lies, propaganda and mischief would ever amount to anything?

Even nairaland can't hide its Igbophobic tendencies. Create threads that exposes lies that were told against Igbos over the years and it will either never grace front page or totally deleted but create thread that seems to put Igbos in bad light and see how it will be on the front page within minutes.

Now you finally hit the nail on the head why Nigeria is a real joke of a country. Look at how much lies these people have been dishing out for decades with straight face. God help us .

9 Likes

Re: Minorities Testimonies At Willinks Commission On Life In Western Region (1957) by XANDERBOY85: 10:55pm On May 13, 2020
jom28gy:
Ok good memories

........good times! grin

3 Likes

Re: Minorities Testimonies At Willinks Commission On Life In Western Region (1957) by horsepower102: 10:55pm On May 13, 2020
Biafrarep:


They are still telling lies so shamelessly even when caught. Who did you give independence? Was it not NCNC through Zik that collaborated with with Ahmadu Bello's NPN that forced referendum on the Western region?

Even this report stated that Awolowo's AG formed a shadowy group to frustrate the referendum and even made the ridiculous claim that Igbos will dominate the Benis if they should go ahead with the referendum. Lol, I can even draw some parallels with those blackmails of Awolowo's AG to what is happening in recent times between Igbos and the minorities. They are now telling the minorities how Igbos are after their oil and would subjugate them should they align with us.

The evil that is currently going on in Nigeria did not start today. SMH!

I used to respect the yorubas when I was growing up because I bought into their propaganda about themselves. Now I know better. These people have a culture of lying, betrayals and sowing seed of discord among people. I hope Igbos are fast learning how to deal with them.

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Re: Minorities Testimonies At Willinks Commission On Life In Western Region (1957) by Obamaofusa: 11:05pm On May 13, 2020
joeyfire:
http://edo-nation.net/nowao1.htm

The Willinks Commission held public and private meetings in Benin and Warri from 8th - 23rd December 1957.

Three major sets of opinion were canvassed. The Midwest State movement was only interested in the creation of the Midwest (meaning Benin and Warri provinces en bloc) to which it wanted the Edo-speaking Sobe and Ijagba areas of Ondo province appended. The Action Group, represented by its lawyer, Fani Kayode, conceded that the Midwest might, as a last resort, be allowed to go (after all the legislative hurdles) but that Warri division and Akoko-Edo should join Ondo province, while the western Ibo should join the Eastern region and the western Ijaw should join eastern Ijaw. He even went further to suggest that Ishan division should be excluded from the residual Midwest for no other reason than because Ishan had a significant number of Action Group supporters. The government of the Western region, represented by Rotimi Williams, differed slightly from Fani-Kayode, by accepting that Afemai and Ishan divisions could join the proposed residual Midwest implying the Benin and Urhobo divisions, if they wished. [Willink Commission report. Cmnd. 505. London: HMSO, 1958]

1. The position of the MSM was based on fear of colonization by the Yoruba. Detailed testimony was heard from a broad range of witnesses, including Chiefs Ezomo, Oliha, Ineh and Osula. Other witnesses included the Chairmen of the Iyekovia, Uhunmwode and Benin City councils, namely Messrs Adonrin, Atohengbe and Ogbebor. Edo women made a submission through Madam Eweka. Complaints included lack of rubber markets and processing facilities, excessive local taxation, including head taxes which would then be remitted to Ibadan, poor infrastructure, and discrimination in the award of scholarships and opportunities for Edo women traders at Ibadan. More recently, Mr. Isaac Asemota recalled that, While Benin- City stayed in the dark with no electricity, running water, good roads, separate and unequal schools and grossly inadequate health clinics, there in Ibadan, Edo tax monies were being squandered in the construction of Cocoa House, Mapo Hall and Commercial Broadcasting Service Radio Station whose frequency we couldnt even pick up in Benin-City. The best we could hope for was Redifussion radio which had a very low frequency and could not be heard more than two miles away from the broadcasting booth. (Isaac Asemota: The last Edo Political Titan: Chief Humphrey Omo-Osagie unpublished manuscript, Edo-Nation Egroup, July 2, 2002.)

The most powerful and emotional testimony from Benin came from Chief H Omo-Osagie. He lamented the insidious cultural role of Ifa divination and Ogboni activities in inserting Yoruba values and ways into Benin society. He explained that Ifa divination required knowledge of Yoruba, while the Yoruba derived Ogboni society, was, according to him, more dangerous than freemasonry. In fact he openly stated that after independence, laws would likely be passed, making membership of the ROF compulsory. He went on to criticize the Western region Chiefs Law No. 20 of 1957 which was being used with effect to intimidate traditional rulers and influence the selection of chiefs and Dukes inside the Midwest. The Chief also went into additional detail about perceptions of Yoruba domination of the Police, government boards, the public service, and the use of scholarships as a tool for punishing separatist divisions. The Benin division, for example, had not, under the period of review, received any scholarships, while the Ijebu province (home to Chief Awolowo) had secured 17 such awards. Another complaint was that Rubber was being developed in the Ijebu province when investment in the promised Ikpoba Rubber processing factory for already established rubber plantations of the Midwest was being help up. A similar shenanigan affected the Koko port. He went on to use examples of the decision by the Action Group government to dissolve the Benin Divisional Council in 1955 as an example of arbitrary misuse of power. In conclusion, Chief Omo-Osagie opposed the new Welsh-type arrangement implemented by the Action Group through the establishment of the Ministry of Midwest Affairs and the Midwest Advisory Council, and demanded either the creation of a Midwest region or a return to a unitary government at the center with provinces at the periphery.
Supporting testimony from the Ishan division, where the Action Group had deposed the Onogies of Idoa and Ubiaja was also heard from G. Ebea, A. Ibhazo, Prince Shaka Momodu, and His Royal Highness, Enosegbe II, Enogie of Ewohimi. Similarly, the Commission heard from the Oba of Agbede who bluntly stated that the Oba of Benin, and not any of the Yoruba Obas, was his Oba. On their part, Messrs Utomi, Onyia and Odiakosa provided the views of the Asaba division. Interestingly, while scholarship complaints were commonplace in the Benin division, the Asaba division was doing very well with scholarships under the guidance of its representative, Dennis Osadebay, who was then the Chairman of the Regional Scholarships Board.

In Warri, there was a split among the Itsekiri. While Chiefs Arthur Prest and Festus Okotie-Eboh were in support, at this stage, of creation of a Midwest region, O.N. Rewane and the Olu of Warri were against it. In response to testimony of pro-Midwest witnesses, a shadowy organization called the Anti-Midwest State Movement was put forward by the Action Group. It asserted that Edos had more to fear from Igbo than Yoruba domination, and that creation of a Midwest region would expose Edos to Igbo domination.

Among its observations, the commission noted that actual expenditure on road development in the Midwest area up to March 31, 1957, was only 15% of the estimates, compared with 50% in the Yoruba West. It also made the following observation:

“What is feared is a permanent Action Group majority in the Western House of Assembly. The Action Group drawing its inspiration from a Yoruba society, the Egbe Omo Oduduwa expressing itself through the Ogboni Fraternity, controlling Boards, Corporations and Commissions, eventually even the Magistracy and Judiciary, aiming at the obliteration of all that is not Yoruba. That is what is meant by Yoruba domination.”



The rift to create mid west was more political than critical.

Ibadan was the capital and it is ubderstandable that the bulk of development Wii be there and the bulk of the money used in developing Yorubaland and even Benin-Delta came from cocoa. How much is the tax being paid now talk less of then when stipends were taken as taxes and just a few usually paid the tax
Most of the Midwesterner enjoyed free medical care, free education etc.

Most of the citizens did not want to go but for the political leadership..

THIS IS FROM THE ARTICLE:

In the weeks preceding the formal launching of the united �Action Group� at Owo from April 28 � 30, 1951, Anthony Enahoro had organized a meeting of Benin and Warri leaders of thought in Sapele, ostensibly to discuss Midwestern solidarity. People like Gaius Obaseki, Arthur Prest, Festus Edah (Okotie-Eboh), Okorodudu, S. O. Ighodaro etc. were present. At the meeting, most participants expressed sentiments against the creation of a separate midwestern region. However, two dissenters, Chike Ekwuyasi and E. O. Imafidon who were present, rushed back to Benin to alert Omo-Osagie who then called a rally of his own and initiated counter-measures [Oronsaye, op. cit.; Uwaifo, op. cit].

2 Likes

Re: Minorities Testimonies At Willinks Commission On Life In Western Region (1957) by horsepower102: 11:53pm On May 13, 2020
bump

2 Likes

Re: Minorities Testimonies At Willinks Commission On Life In Western Region (1957) by MetaPhysical: 12:55am On May 14, 2020
Summary...

It asserted that Edos had more to fear from Igbo than Yoruba domination, and that creation of a Midwest region would expose Edos to Igbo domination.


...and it did happen. grin

1 Like

Re: Minorities Testimonies At Willinks Commission On Life In Western Region (1957) by vicenzo(m): 1:59am On May 14, 2020
In response to testimony of pro-Midwest witness, a shadowy organization called the Anti-Midwest State Movement was put forward by the Action Group. It asserted that Edos had more to fear from Igbo than Yoruba domination, and that creation of a Midwest region would expose Edos to Igbo domination.


Key emphasis on "shadowy". Meaning the panel at the Willink commission suspects their authenticity.

Typical Yoruba way, always walking in shadows trying to dent the Igbo image.

The Igbos of Midwest were not more in numbers than Urhobos, let alone Edos, how could they have been able to dominate them? Rather than accept their wrong in marginalizing minorities, they had to rope Ndiigbo in. You don't need a seer to know who was behind the shadow.

This Yoruba behavior of trying to demonize Ndiigbo didn't start today. Our forebearers were just too blind to it. They did nothing whatsoever to counter Yoruba incessant calumny against Ndigbo in the past. They left us the modern Igbo generation with too much to do.
But we are rising to the task. First we stood up to modern anti Igbo propaganda emanating from that wing, now we are exhuming the past to do what our parents failed to do.

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Re: Minorities Testimonies At Willinks Commission On Life In Western Region (1957) by BeerParlour: 2:26am On May 14, 2020
Amarabae:
wow, what an exposition!

1 Share

Re: Minorities Testimonies At Willinks Commission On Life In Western Region (1957) by stonemasonn: 2:36am On May 14, 2020
vicenzo:



Key emphasis on "shadowy". Meaning the panel at the Willink commission suspects their authenticity.

Typical Yoruba way, always walking in shadows trying to dent the Igbo image.

The Igbos of Midwest were not more in numbers than Urhobos, let alone Edos, how could they have been able to dominate them? Rather than accept their wrong in marginalizing minorities, they had to rope Ndiigbo in. You don't need a seer to know who was behind the shadow.

This Yoruba behavior of trying to demonize Ndiigbo didn't start today. Our forebearers were just too blind to it. They did nothing whatsoever to counter Yoruba incessant calumny against Ndigbo in the past. They left us the modern Igbo generation with too much to do.
But we are rising to the task. First we stood up to modern anti Igbo propaganda emanating from that wing, now we are exhuming the past to do what our parents failed to do.



With the way you guys blame Yorubas for everything in Nigeria, I think we should all go our separate ways, Hausas have been treating the Igbos badly from one riot to the other destroying Igbo properties and businesses but who is to blame...Yorubas, please let's go our separate ways. Haba

2 Likes

Re: Minorities Testimonies At Willinks Commission On Life In Western Region (1957) by Fatimaade: 3:34am On May 14, 2020
gwafaeziokwu:


Wilkinson recommended independence and you couldn't do anything about it.

Read and learn

Point is we are not begging them or claiming them as blothers the way you have turned to NDI AYIYO for unity with Niger delta
Re: Minorities Testimonies At Willinks Commission On Life In Western Region (1957) by Fatimaade: 3:35am On May 14, 2020
stonemasonn:
With the way you guys blame Yorubas for everything in Nigeria, I think we should all go our separate ways, Hausas have been treating the Igbos badly from one riot to the other destroying Igbo properties and businesses but who is to blame...Yorubas, please let's go our separate ways. Haba

Yeeboss are not leaving Nigeria soon
Since their hero lost they have resorted to insults and emotional blackmail na their way
Re: Minorities Testimonies At Willinks Commission On Life In Western Region (1957) by horsepower102: 7:24am On May 14, 2020
Fatimaade:


Yeeboss are not leaving Nigeria soon
Since their hero lost they have resorted to insults and emotional blackmail na their way

Don’t worry we are in this Nigeria with you. Enjoy!

11 Likes 1 Share

Re: Minorities Testimonies At Willinks Commission On Life In Western Region (1957) by gidgiddy: 8:06am On May 14, 2020
Donaldoni:
At least we didn't hold them down against their wish. When they asked for independence, we held a referendum and based on the result gave them their independence.

But in the Eastern region, the minorities were held hostage against their wish until Gowon created states in 1967... embarassed

Pathetic!

Gowon created states then took away resource. The minorities got their states but they were held in a bigger hostsge than they were in the Eastern Region. What is the point of creating states that do not control their resources?

12 Likes

Re: Minorities Testimonies At Willinks Commission On Life In Western Region (1957) by Christistruth00: 8:14am On May 14, 2020
smiley

Re: Minorities Testimonies At Willinks Commission On Life In Western Region (1957) by OgboAto: 9:30am On May 14, 2020
Biafrarep:


They are still telling lies so shamelessly even when caught. Who did you give independence? Was it not NCNC through Zik that collaborated with with Ahmadu Bello's NPN that forced referendum on the Western region?

Even this report stated that Awolowo's AG formed a shadowy group to frustrate the referendum and even made the ridiculous claim that Igbos will dominate the Benis if they should go ahead with the referendum. Lol, I can even draw some parallels with those blackmails of Awolowo's AG to what is happening in recent times between Igbos and the minorities. They are now telling the minorities how Igbos are after their oil and would subjugate them should they align with us.

The evil that is currently going on in Nigeria did not start today. SMH!


Thief.

Nationalist struggle for independence was started & led by Yoruba men who founded & populated NCNC.

Read a book.

25 Likes

Re: Minorities Testimonies At Willinks Commission On Life In Western Region (1957) by horsepower102: 12:05pm On May 14, 2020
Bump

6 Likes

Re: Minorities Testimonies At Willinks Commission On Life In Western Region (1957) by nijabazaar: 12:29pm On May 14, 2020
Another epic exposition.

horsepower is right. I have noticed that the yoruba has this annoying tendency to project their faults on others. From this exposition on Awos dealings , one can only say that They are indeed as Clannish , Nepotistic and champions of ethnic chauvinism

13 Likes 2 Shares

Re: Minorities Testimonies At Willinks Commission On Life In Western Region (1957) by nijabazaar: 12:31pm On May 14, 2020
stonemasonn:
With the way you guys blame Yorubas for everything in Nigeria, I think we should all go our separate ways, Hausas have been treating the Igbos badly from one riot to the other destroying Igbo properties and businesses but who is to blame...Yorubas, please let's go our separate ways. Haba

This is what we're all praying for.

Let's hope we would achieve the separation in our lifetime.

3 Likes

Re: Minorities Testimonies At Willinks Commission On Life In Western Region (1957) by horsepower102: 12:34pm On May 14, 2020
nijabazaar:
Another epic exposition.

horsepower is right. I have noticed that the yoruba has this annoying tendency to project their faults on others. From this exposition on Awos dealings , one can only say that They are indeed as Clannish , Nepotistic and champions of ethnic chauvinism

No be today. These people are master manipulators. They are part of the oppressors of igbos and minorities but they have also mastered the art of crying like victims.

It’s like when someone is hitting you behind closed doors and yet the same person is screaming “stop hitting me”

9 Likes

Re: Minorities Testimonies At Willinks Commission On Life In Western Region (1957) by Nobody: 12:42pm On May 14, 2020
Saying igbos will dominate us if we form midwest makes no sense at all.

Yorubas always said we were useless during the Western region but they were the ones using our resources to develop their land while we were in darkness.

The greatest insult is trying to force Yoruba on us and saying oba of Benin should go learn Yoruba, we'll never forget.

Itskerri people always love following yorubas, if nigeria do divide I hope to see them in yoruba republic.

11 Likes

Re: Minorities Testimonies At Willinks Commission On Life In Western Region (1957) by nijabazaar: 12:42pm On May 14, 2020
vicenzo:



Key emphasis on "shadowy". Meaning the panel at the Willink commission suspects their authenticity.

Typical Yoruba way, always walking in shadows trying to dent the Igbo image.

The Igbos of Midwest were not more in numbers than Urhobos, let alone Edos, how could they have been able to dominate them? Rather than accept their wrong in marginalizing minorities, they had to rope Ndiigbo in. You don't need a seer to know who was behind the shadow.

This Yoruba behavior of trying to demonize Ndiigbo didn't start today. Our forebearers were just too blind to it. They did nothing whatsoever to counter Yoruba incessant calumny against Ndigbo in the past. They left us the modern Igbo generation with too much to do.
But we are rising to the task. First we stood up to modern anti Igbo propaganda emanating from that wing, now we are exhuming the past to do what our parents failed to do.




Yes.

6 Likes

Re: Minorities Testimonies At Willinks Commission On Life In Western Region (1957) by Nobody: 12:43pm On May 14, 2020
After Midwest was created, they were the best region in Nigeria I guess that's why the yorubas were jealous.

The Midwest open new universities, stadium,zoo museum etc.

We lead in sports and agro businesses.

9 Likes

Re: Minorities Testimonies At Willinks Commission On Life In Western Region (1957) by horsepower102: 12:46pm On May 14, 2020
Igbosmoker:
After Midwest was created, they were the best region in Nigeria I guess that's why the yorubas were jealous.

The Midwest open new universities, stadium,zoo museum etc.

We lead in sports and agro businesses.

Midwest was the only true region that was created post independence by overwhelming popular vote.

Not these unproductive states littered everywhere by military fiat.

The midwest said a loud no to Yoruba marginalization which was confirmed by the commission.

9 Likes

Re: Minorities Testimonies At Willinks Commission On Life In Western Region (1957) by duncun: 6:00pm On May 14, 2020
.

9 Likes 1 Share

Re: Minorities Testimonies At Willinks Commission On Life In Western Region (1957) by WeneDiali: 6:26pm On May 14, 2020
Sunshineg5:
Cool story

Did you know Olu of Warri was jailed when he refused to join Midwest region?

Olu of Warri preferred to remain in Western Nigeria.




Why wouldn't he? He was indebted to Awolowo who changed his title from 'Olu of itshekiri' to 'Olu of Warri', effectively transfering royal ownership of Warri a multi-ethnic city owned historically by also the Ijaws and Urhobo to the Itshekiris because they bear yoruboid names like Ayo, Oritshe, Femi etc.

That singular act by Awolowo has been the major causative factor of the violent tensions between Urhobo, Warri, Ijaw in that once glorious oil rich city that has lingered till today, long after Awo kicked the bucket.

Awo was a trouble maker. A big one.

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