WHY NIGER DELTANS DO NOT WANT TO BE PART OF BIAFRA
_- H.E Goodluck Jonathan

Former President of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan delivered a lecture at Texas US on why remaining indivisible with Nigeria than joining forces with Biafrans in splitting the country will pay Niger Deltans more.

I begin this write-up by saying that I mean no ill-thought towards the Biafran struggle or Igbos in general. What I’ve written here are mainly my personal reflections concerning the Niger Delta, especially with regards to non-Igbo groups and their stake in the Biafran movement which has been rebirthed for some time now. I am not a mouthpiece for the Niger Delta but I believe I’ve been in the Niger Delta long enough to know our problems and our stand. I’ve also interacted with many Niger Deltans to know their stand in the Biafran struggle.

When I use the term Niger Delta, I am referring to the region covering Delta, Edo, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River states. However, I understand that the region also covers Ondo, Imo, and Abia states. I’m not concerned with the latter because they are either Igbos or Yorubas and have their own struggles. The ethnic groups within my coverage include Urhobo-Isoko, Bini, Esan, Itsekiri, Ijaw-Epie-Ogbia, Ogoni, Afemai, Efik-Annang-Eket-Oron-Ibibio, Ogoja, Ejagham, and other groups in Cross River North. Ikwerre, Ukwuani, Ika, Aniocha, Ogba, and other Igboid groups, are not included. Historically, Biafra covered all the Niger Delta states EXCEPT Delta and Ondo states. This fact must be emphasised.

Pro-Biafrans are welcome to debate and address my issues in a civil manner. I understand that most pro-Biafrans resort to insults when salient issues are addressed.

Please let’s set a good precedence from hereon.

1. Biafra may not be better for Niger Deltans because Niger Deltans may end up living one form of subjugation for another. The argument Igbos have made for their freedom is the desire to be free from Hausa-Yoruba domination. That argument also applies to the average Niger Deltan. Igbo, no doubt, will be the major ethnic group if Biafra is actualised. Ijaws may have a stake due to their numbers. What about the Ogonis, Urhobo-Isokos, Itsekiris, Efiks, etc? Where will they fit in at the national level? The sad reality is that another Nigeria will just be made manifest and resentments will build up. What will really be the fate of minorities? Will they fare better in Biafra or alone? In Nigeria, big groups such as Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo checkmate each other’s excesses very well. Who will checkmate that of Igbos in the new nation?

2. Where will the capital be located? If we are to follow the notion of central location, the capital of Biafra won’t be Enugu but around Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene axis. Will Igbos allow their capital to be sited in a non-Igbo location? This is a very salient issue because you don’t expect the riverine Niger Deltan in Twon-Brass, for instance, to journey all the way to Enugu to see their President. It has to be a location where ALL BIAFRANS can access easily. Enugu won’t go.

3. The issue of annexation comes to play. For so long, e-Biafrans have annexed Niger Delta as part of the proposed nation. The map below shows us what Biafrans have drawn to constitute the new nation:

If we judge from this map, it means all groups in the Niger Delta have been annexed. My question is whether the leaders of these groups have been consulted before the annexation was done. I, for one, know that Urhobo-Isoko and Efik-Ibibio leaders have not approved of Biafra neither have anybody in these regions declared Biafra. So how and why were they included in the proposed map? Little things like this bring distrust and I understand that many of these non-Igbo regions have disowned the map and pledged allegiance to Nigeria. The declaration by the Delta State government is a case in point. I see this as forceful annexation. The so-called e-Biafrans have also not done much in calming the nerves of the people of the annexed regions. I’ve seen comments such as “if you don’t like it, go and stay in Sokoto”, “all land in the South is Biafraland”, etc. Is it not ironic that a group of people who want freedom want to annexe others?

4. What languages will be made the official languages of the new nation? I have seen several posts by e-Biafrans where Igbo was proposed as the official language of the new republic. What then will happen to other languages such as Urhobo, Isoko, Okpe, Efik, Ibibio, Oron, Ogoni, Eleme, Okrika, Kalabari, Bini, Esan, etc? Will they die off because of Igbo? Certainly NOT! If English is made the official language, the Igbo majority factor will kick in. If your name isn’t Chukwuemeka or Oliseh, Amarachi or Nneka, etc, you won’t get any appointment nor shall you be recognised. These are things we can’t deny. We are very ethnocentric in Africa.

5. What and what have Igbo nation done for Niger Deltans to gain their trust? Every day I see Igbo youths making enemies where there were none. They constantly use the agency of the internet to sprout controversy, hurl insults at dissenters and make unfounded claims. There is this general air of mistrust for Igbos by some Niger Deltans, particularly by Urhobo-Isoko and Bini people. What have Igbos done to checkmate this? Has any Igbo leader or group extended the hand of friendship to the Niger Deltans. Mistrust cannot be wished away. Most Niger Deltans would rather follow Hausas as slaves than follow Igbos as kings. This is the real reality and truthfully, Igbos caused this.

6. Who will lead the new nation? Obviously, Nnamdi Kanu, their hero, has fought tooth and nails for Biafra and he is currently cooling off in jail. If Biafra comes today, who will be the interim leader and what modalities are in place for subsequent leaders to be elected? Igbos have been the only ones fighting for Biafra since time immemorial with a handful of other groups here and there. Will Igbos allow other groups to rule over them? Will they allow an Urhobo man to be President, for instance? This is not a case of mere wishing. We have to understand that Niger Delta groups MAY NEVER BE ALLOWED TO RULE BIAFRA IF IT IS ACTUALISED.

7. Still on the issue of leaders, are the new leaders going to fall from the skies or they are simply going to change addresses from Abuja to Enugu. If so, what will change in the new nation? It is not arguable that Igbo national leaders are the most corrupt persons in Nigeria. If these same people are the ones to rule the new nation then there is no hope because corruption will be so rife that the economy of the new nation will shut down like a knocked engine. If we argue that new and younger leaders will arise, we still have the issue of who fought for Biafra to contend with. Most pro-Biafrans will not allow someone who sat at the periphery of the struggle to just come and waltz power away from the “heroes” of Biafra. If this is true then we will not have a proper democracy in Biafra.

8. Will Biafra be a utopia? The impression that e-Biafrans give is that Biafra will be perfect and we all know for a fact that this is not true. Apart from the issue of corruption and sentimentalism that have been addressed, we still have the issue of development. Where will money be generated from to develop the nation? In the whole of the proposed Biafra, only Port Harcourt and Onitsha are economically viable cities. Where will the investors come from? Why should they invest in a volatile country? Only in Warri, we have Ijaw, Itsekiri and Urhobo at loggerheads, imagine what would happen to the whole nation. Secondly, I am sure that no Niger Deltan will allow his “oil” to be used to develop Enugu like what happened with Abuja, and is still happening today. Niger Deltans are getting wiser and by the time the new nation is formed, matters that border on oil, wealth distribution and infrastructural development will be raised.

9. The current structure of the proposed nation, as shown in the map earlier embedded, favour Igbos with more states. Urhobo has one, Efik-Ibibio has two, Itsekiri has none, etc. How will this be addressed? Certainly, every ethnic nationality will want adequate representation and so the structure on that map will never work.

10. Last, but not the least, is the issue of referendum. Some Biafrans are already calling for a referendum which will involve all parts of the proposed nation. I am pretty sure how this referendum will turn out. However, for the sake of being hypothetical, let us imagine that some ethnic groups/states vote against Biafra by the majority, what will be their fate at the end of the day? Secondly, will the result of such a referendum be true and honest? I understand that electoral malpractice forms a part of our identity. How are we going to get a true reflection of people’s thoughts? Thirdly, if states and ethnic groups do decide to vote for Biafra, what mechanisms are in place to contain Igbophobia, Igbomania, Igbocentrism, Igbo hegemony, Landgrabbing, and all issues that minorities have raised?

Above are the reasons why I feel that Niger Deltans will NOT subscribe to the Biafran movement. I have been very practical, philosophical and hypothetical in my approach. I do not speak for any group or persons but I present these issues for the pro-Biafrans to address. Niger Deltans can raise more issues that I have not raised. Finally, it should be noted that I expect insults directed at my person by e-warriors and keyboard mercenaries, as usual, but I won’t pleasure such persons with answers or altercations. If you raise good points, we can discuss like intellectuals.

H.E. Goodluck Jonathan.

Fake news:
1. The GEJ that I know will never get involved in this yeye struggle openly.

2.GEJ messages are always full of ambiguous grammar, this one isn't.

3.No true born ijaw blood will ever say this nonsense

Mistrust cannot be wished away. Most Niger Deltans would rather follow Hausas as slaves than follow Igbos as kings. This is the real reality and truthfully, Igbos caused this.

A true ND blood dislike Nigeria and it's ruling class, our problem with Ipob is that they want to forcefully annex us

The Origin Of the Name “BIAFRA” and why South-South and South-East Must
Unite.
"Written By Russell Bluejack"
I write as an Ijaw son from Bonny and Nkoro in Rivers State. Ijaw is my tribe,
but
Biafra remains my national consciousness. I have noticed an inexplicable and
unnecessary division in the South-East and South-South in analogy to the
reinvigorated quest to restore the Sovereign States of Biafra.
I think our people in these sister regions should reflect on these political and
divisive ascriptions and rediscover themselves.
We are neither South-South nor South-East. We are the people of the
Eastern
Region, a people politically and economically impugned by our enemy in their
bid
to break our solid SOLIDARITY. We were too formidable for our enemies.
Some of our people think Biafra is an Igbo thing because they are ignorant of
the
origin of the name. Let me do justice to the origin of Biafra.
THE ORIGIN OF BIAFRA
Biafra is not aboriginal to Biafrans, since it was birthed out of the need to
work
together and escape the pogromists, rapists, land invaders, and religious
fundamentalists called Fulani.
The leader of the Eastern Region, Dim Ojukwu, an educated military officer,
assembled stakeholders from Ijaw, Obibio, Efik, and other tribes that
constituted
the region in his bid to come up with a name that would reflect the
heterogeneous ambience of the region.
Chief Frank Opigo, an Ijaw traditional ruler that hails from today’s Bayelsa,
suggested BIAFRA, and this went down well with everyone in attendance, for
it
referred to the water body that covers the entire region. What Ojukwu sought
after was a name that would not be exclusionary to any of the tribes (Ijaw,
Ibibio,
Itsekiri, Urhobo, Annioma etc) in the region. Biafra became the baby of that
quest.
Biafra, having come from a non-Igbo stakeholder, became the national
consciousness of both the Igbo and non-Igbo constituents of the Eastern
Region.
Thenceforth, the need to actualise the nation of their dreams, the Land of
the
Rising Sun, became the aspiration of every easterner.
The failure of Nigeria to heed the Aburi Accord reached in Ghana for
restructuring
stoked the fire of the agitation for freedom. The Sovereign States of Biafra
was
declared, but it was short-lived because of avoidable internal wranglings that
spiralled into the loss of the Civil War.
The incongruity in the Eastern Region was the result of the feud between
Ojukwu
and Dr. Kenule Benson Saro-Wiwa, an illustrious Ogoni son and Ojukwu’s
military
mentality and disposition.
WHY THE STRUGGLE FAILED IN THE 60s.
Popular perception has it that the struggle for emancipation from perceived
and
obvious oppression by Nigeria was scuttled by the Civil War. That is part of
the
truth, not the whole. Biafra was rocked by internal wranglings.
Two prominent figures in the region, Ojukwu and Saro-Wiwa, became
estranged
friends over an issue that should have remained personal. In one of our
serious
meetings, I was made to understand this side of the story. Legborsi,
Emmanuel, a
very prominent Ogoni son who doubles as a formidable member of my team,
THE SOUTH-EAST/SOUTH-SOUTH COALITION FOR BIAFRA,
opened up the Pandora Box concerning the real cause of their feud.
Ojukwu and Saro-Wiwa were caught in a love triangle, with Princess Amina,
the
daughter of the then Sultan as the magnetic force. As scions (sons of very
wealthy parents), they had the needed charisma to steer the imagination of
the
Sultan. Gowon, a senior military officer, joined the fray, but found himself as
an
underdog, financially and academically, for the duo of Ojukwu and Saro-Wiwa
were of both fabulous financial and transformative academic standing.
Ojukwu and Saro-Wiwa, once friends, now rivals, had to slug it out. The laurel
at
stake was Amina’s affection. Saro-Wiwa, dishonestly struck a cord in Amina’s
emotion and carried the day.
The Sultan, according to the veracious story, could not find his daughter and
had
the innocent Gowon, the suitor he abhorred, to blame for it. A triangle of hate
became the result of this misdeed by Saro-Wiwa: Gowon hated both Ojukwu
and
Saro-Wiwa; Ojukwu hated Saro-Wiwa for edging him out in the most
dishonest
manner; and Saro-Wiwa burned in annoyance over the contest.
An Ikwerre elder, nonagenarian, corroborated this story when I met him. He
told
me that the struggle hit the rock then because of two reasons:
(1) the feud between Ojukwu and Saro-Wiwa
(2) the militarised mentality of Ojukwu’s.
The elder thinks that if Ojukwu, though well educated and exposed, were a
civilian, he would have appreciated the need to dialogue with other
stakeholders
before going to war.
If the stakeholders had been told what each constituent would benefit from
the
emerging nation, the leaders would have had what to say to their people to
excite
them to take the struggle seriously. Ojukwu, on the other hand, wanted these
stakeholders to convince their people to fight first and discuss later.
This did not go down well with them. Some, however, saw the need to fight.
The
festering relationship between Ojukwu and Saro-Wiwa led to a huge sabotage.
The bottom line of the accounts of Legborsi and the elder is that our people
were
not united. Our disunity caused by personal grouse and lack of tact cost us
that
war. It is incontrovertible that we would have won the war had our house not
been in disarray.
THE URGENT NEED FOR OUR UNITY NOW
Several years have gone by, yet the socio-economic and political
inconcinnities
that gave rise to the agitation then still stare us in the face. As a matter of
fact,
there is no gainsaying that if our fathers had reasons to fight then, there are
more
reasons to fight now.
The situation today is worse than it was then. Oppression, socio-economic
exclusion, and glaring prejudice meted out to the South-South and South-
East, the
real economic mainstay of this contraption called Nigeria, have reached
unbelievable and unimaginable proportions.
Even Ojukwu could not have conceived the precarious level of hate shown to
us
by the sons and daughters of Uthman Dan Fodio. The unfair treatment we
are
shown should make our unity imperative. Our personality issues and lack of
tact
gave them the happenstance to divide us and make us conquerable. We, the
South-East and South-South people, are the victims of their jihadist rituals.
Our
women get raped, our lands invaded, our crops killed, and our men
butchered.
The Igbo, Ijaw, Urhobo, Itsekiri, Annioma, Ibibio, Efik etc have always lived
together in love and conviviality. A critical observation of our values and
culture
reveals our common ancestry. We dress alike, eat alike, behave alike, and
worship
alike. How different are we, brothers and sisters? Let us come together and
fight
this monster.
They have sent their soldiers to occupy our two regions out of fear of our
imminent reunion. Exasperated by their inability to stop us from uniting, they
have
taken to poisoning our children under the pretense of immunization devoid of
the
viva of the health departments. In their bid to hold on to power at all cost,
they
flouted the constitutional proviso concerning absence of the President.
Their hatred for us led to the embargo placed on our Igbo brothers and
sisters,
which makes it difficult for any of them to become President of Nigeria. We
and
our Igbo brothers and sisters are the real victims here. We have to come
together, sit together, discuss together, reach documented agreement, and
escape
together.
Our unity is the only leeway out of this fortress called Nigeria. Is it not
shameful
that whereas we have all the resources the Gambari are the ones exercising
power over them all? Our Igbo brothers and sisters own both oil and the
business
environment that sustain this oppressive dungeon called Nigeria, but travel to
the
East and you will weep. They killed the Bill seeking the relocation of
company
headquarters to regions where the raw material is fetched. They killed the
Bill
seeking compensation to develop the Eastern Region. Whatever comes from
the
South-East and South-South dies on arrival.
If bills that seek better welfare packages for our regions always die, who is
that
mad person that is telling you that we can restructure this dangerous citadel
that
they claim belongs to them? Was it not the failure of Nigeria to heed
restructuring
agreement that sparked off the Civil War? The only way out of this quagmire
is
the unity of South-East and South-South. Let us unite and live in peace and
harmony. Our sister regions need respite from rape, massacre, genocide,
pogrom,
alienation, discrimination, and prejudice.
Let us keep our unreal differences aside and face the enemy together. They
will
continue to defeat us as long as we remain divided. Our division is their
strength,
but our unity is their weakness. Jasper Adaka Boro, Dr. Ken Saro-Wiwa, and
Sen.
(Dr.) Obi Wali are some of the great men this fake nation has killed
gruesomely.
We have not found Mazi Nnamdi Kanu even as I write. Do you see how they
hate
us? The python that danced in the East has become a crocodile smiling in
the
South-South.
Brothers and sisters, Saro-Wiwa was guillotined by Nigeria after a kangaroo
judgment. Boro was used and shot. Obi Wali was butchered like a condemned
chicken. Our beloved leader of IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is nowhere to be
found
because of his liberating activities. Nigeria is a place where it is a heinous
crime
to speak up against oppression and neo-slavery.
Nigeria has become too dangerous for Christians. Nigeria has become too
stuffy
for anything that breathes. We have to go, brothers and sisters. We have
overstayed in this prison.
We do not even know who signed the 1914 amalgamation, since all our
nationalists were either adolescents, toddlers, or unborn at the time. Nigeria
is the
property of Britain’s under the management of the Fulani. Let the South-
South
and South-East come together and rebirth Biafra. They hate us and we hate
ourselves.
Let love and understanding lead the way this time. Let us dialogue and end
our
differences once and for all. The enemy has become vicious. We should
become
more tactical now. May God bless us all as we heed this clarion call. May
God
bless the entire constituents of the Old Eastern Region.
"Russell Idatoru Bluejack is a thinker, revolutionary writer, university tutor,
and
socio-economic and political analyst that writes from the creeks in the
coastal
part of Biafra".
copied

Reading silently...

FAKE NEWS

Spoken like a true Ijaw man

GEJ should increase the volume pls

It is clear as day

[s]

hammerDK:
AN IDIOT LIKE GEJ CAN NEVER RULE THIS COUNTRY AGAIN.


I AM STARTING TO SEE THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING OUR YORUBA BROTHERS.



THEY SEEM ABLE TO DETECT IDIOT AND VAGABOND EVEN UNDER DISGUISE.

[/s]

Fake news

There will be no Biafra

Thank you Dr. Goodluck Jonathan for stating the obvious. I understand you did not want to stir up emotions by going into the Civil War on what the Igbos did to the Niger-Delta people. Till now on June 21, the people of Abonema celebrate the victory against the Biafran occupation in that region

https://www.bbc.com/pidgin/tori-44592314

The Niger-Delta people will not be dominated by the Igbos especially not in the 21st century. Biafra will end up being landlocked like Niger republic. God bless the federal Republic of Nigeria. The country I was born to know and love. With unity and diversity, we can make the black race proud. Only if we can unite, keep the hate aside and learn to tolerate each other without corruption.

How will our flattttie brothers take this news now? Shuku Okuku Abiama please epp us!

contigiency:
WHY NIGER DELTANS DO NOT WANT TO BE PART OF BIAFRA
_- H.E Goodluck Jonathan

Former President of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan delivered a lecture at Texas US on why remaining indivisible with Nigeria than joining forces with Biafrans in splitting the country will pay Niger Deltans more.

I begin this write-up by saying that I mean no ill-thought towards the Biafran struggle or Igbos in general. What I’ve written here are mainly my personal reflections concerning the Niger Delta, especially with regards to non-Igbo groups and their stake in the Biafran movement which has been rebirthed for some time now. I am not a mouthpiece for the Niger Delta but I believe I’ve been in the Niger Delta long enough to know our problems and our stand. I’ve also interacted with many Niger Deltans to know their stand in the Biafran struggle.

When I use the term Niger Delta, I am referring to the region covering Delta, Edo, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River states. However, I understand that the region also covers Ondo, Imo, and Abia states. I’m not concerned with the latter because they are either Igbos or Yorubas and have their own struggles. The ethnic groups within my coverage include Urhobo-Isoko, Bini, Esan, Itsekiri, Ijaw-Epie-Ogbia, Ogoni, Afemai, Efik-Annang-Eket-Oron-Ibibio, Ogoja, Ejagham, and other groups in Cross River North. Ikwerre, Ukwuani, Ika, Aniocha, Ogba, and other Igboid groups, are not included. Historically, Biafra covered all the Niger Delta states EXCEPT Delta and Ondo states. This fact must be emphasised.

Pro-Biafrans are welcome to debate and address my issues in a civil manner. I understand that most pro-Biafrans resort to insults when salient issues are addressed.

Please let’s set a good precedence from hereon.

1. Biafra may not be better for Niger Deltans because Niger Deltans may end up living one form of subjugation for another. The argument Igbos have made for their freedom is the desire to be free from Hausa-Yoruba domination. That argument also applies to the average Niger Deltan. Igbo, no doubt, will be the major ethnic group if Biafra is actualised. Ijaws may have a stake due to their numbers. What about the Ogonis, Urhobo-Isokos, Itsekiris, Efiks, etc? Where will they fit in at the national level? The sad reality is that another Nigeria will just be made manifest and resentments will build up. What will really be the fate of minorities? Will they fare better in Biafra or alone? In Nigeria, big groups such as Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo checkmate each other’s excesses very well. Who will checkmate that of Igbos in the new nation?

2. Where will the capital be located? If we are to follow the notion of central location, the capital of Biafra won’t be Enugu but around Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene axis. Will Igbos allow their capital to be sited in a non-Igbo location? This is a very salient issue because you don’t expect the riverine Niger Deltan in Twon-Brass, for instance, to journey all the way to Enugu to see their President. It has to be a location where ALL BIAFRANS can access easily. Enugu won’t go.

3. The issue of annexation comes to play. For so long, e-Biafrans have annexed Niger Delta as part of the proposed nation. The map below shows us what Biafrans have drawn to constitute the new nation:

If we judge from this map, it means all groups in the Niger Delta have been annexed. My question is whether the leaders of these groups have been consulted before the annexation was done. I, for one, know that Urhobo-Isoko and Efik-Ibibio leaders have not approved of Biafra neither have anybody in these regions declared Biafra. So how and why were they included in the proposed map? Little things like this bring distrust and I understand that many of these non-Igbo regions have disowned the map and pledged allegiance to Nigeria. The declaration by the Delta State government is a case in point. I see this as forceful annexation. The so-called e-Biafrans have also not done much in calming the nerves of the people of the annexed regions. I’ve seen comments such as “if you don’t like it, go and stay in Sokoto”, “all land in the South is Biafraland”, etc. Is it not ironic that a group of people who want freedom want to annexe others?

4. What languages will be made the official languages of the new nation? I have seen several posts by e-Biafrans where Igbo was proposed as the official language of the new republic. What then will happen to other languages such as Urhobo, Isoko, Okpe, Efik, Ibibio, Oron, Ogoni, Eleme, Okrika, Kalabari, Bini, Esan, etc? Will they die off because of Igbo? Certainly NOT! If English is made the official language, the Igbo majority factor will kick in. If your name isn’t Chukwuemeka or Oliseh, Amarachi or Nneka, etc, you won’t get any appointment nor shall you be recognised. These are things we can’t deny. We are very ethnocentric in Africa.

5. What and what have Igbo nation done for Niger Deltans to gain their trust? Every day I see Igbo youths making enemies where there were none. They constantly use the agency of the internet to sprout controversy, hurl insults at dissenters and make unfounded claims. There is this general air of mistrust for Igbos by some Niger Deltans, particularly by Urhobo-Isoko and Bini people. What have Igbos done to checkmate this? Has any Igbo leader or group extended the hand of friendship to the Niger Deltans. Mistrust cannot be wished away. Most Niger Deltans would rather follow Hausas as slaves than follow Igbos as kings. This is the real reality and truthfully, Igbos caused this.

6. Who will lead the new nation? Obviously, Nnamdi Kanu, their hero, has fought tooth and nails for Biafra and he is currently cooling off in jail. If Biafra comes today, who will be the interim leader and what modalities are in place for subsequent leaders to be elected? Igbos have been the only ones fighting for Biafra since time immemorial with a handful of other groups here and there. Will Igbos allow other groups to rule over them? Will they allow an Urhobo man to be President, for instance? This is not a case of mere wishing. We have to understand that Niger Delta groups MAY NEVER BE ALLOWED TO RULE BIAFRA IF IT IS ACTUALISED.

7. Still on the issue of leaders, are the new leaders going to fall from the skies or they are simply going to change addresses from Abuja to Enugu. If so, what will change in the new nation? It is not arguable that Igbo national leaders are the most corrupt persons in Nigeria. If these same people are the ones to rule the new nation then there is no hope because corruption will be so rife that the economy of the new nation will shut down like a knocked engine. If we argue that new and younger leaders will arise, we still have the issue of who fought for Biafra to contend with. Most pro-Biafrans will not allow someone who sat at the periphery of the struggle to just come and waltz power away from the “heroes” of Biafra. If this is true then we will not have a proper democracy in Biafra.

8. Will Biafra be a utopia? The impression that e-Biafrans give is that Biafra will be perfect and we all know for a fact that this is not true. Apart from the issue of corruption and sentimentalism that have been addressed, we still have the issue of development. Where will money be generated from to develop the nation? In the whole of the proposed Biafra, only Port Harcourt and Onitsha are economically viable cities. Where will the investors come from? Why should they invest in a volatile country? Only in Warri, we have Ijaw, Itsekiri and Urhobo at loggerheads, imagine what would happen to the whole nation. Secondly, I am sure that no Niger Deltan will allow his “oil” to be used to develop Enugu like what happened with Abuja, and is still happening today. Niger Deltans are getting wiser and by the time the new nation is formed, matters that border on oil, wealth distribution and infrastructural development will be raised.

9. The current structure of the proposed nation, as shown in the map earlier embedded, favour Igbos with more states. Urhobo has one, Efik-Ibibio has two, Itsekiri has none, etc. How will this be addressed? Certainly, every ethnic nationality will want adequate representation and so the structure on that map will never work.

10. Last, but not the least, is the issue of referendum. Some Biafrans are already calling for a referendum which will involve all parts of the proposed nation. I am pretty sure how this referendum will turn out. However, for the sake of being hypothetical, let us imagine that some ethnic groups/states vote against Biafra by the majority, what will be their fate at the end of the day? Secondly, will the result of such a referendum be true and honest? I understand that electoral malpractice forms a part of our identity. How are we going to get a true reflection of people’s thoughts? Thirdly, if states and ethnic groups do decide to vote for Biafra, what mechanisms are in place to contain Igbophobia, Igbomania, Igbocentrism, Igbo hegemony, Landgrabbing, and all issues that minorities have raised?

Above are the reasons why I feel that Niger Deltans will NOT subscribe to the Biafran movement. I have been very practical, philosophical and hypothetical in my approach. I do not speak for any group or persons but I present these issues for the pro-Biafrans to address. Niger Deltans can raise more issues that I have not raised. Finally, it should be noted that I expect insults directed at my person by e-warriors and keyboard mercenaries, as usual, but I won’t pleasure such persons with answers or altercations. If you raise good points, we can discuss like intellectuals.

H.E. Goodluck Jonathan.

source

bastardmod:
Fake news

This is the feelings every Niger Deltans, so what is fake about the news

OH! IT IS EVEN FAKE NEWS...

That is there business.
Who cares? Nobody.

Nothing like Biafra before

Otuegbe:
source

If it's against biafra you want the source, but if it's favour Biafra no source is need

Ok, kindly disregard. The news is old and fake.
See link https://pmnewsnigeria.com/2020/05/16/jonathan-disowns-purported-speech-on-niger-delta-biafra-agitation/

Op, you no try sha.

Jona want to secure Niger Delta for Buhari, before you do something stupid, remember how the North treated you when you were the president. Niger Delta is not a new territory it has always been part of Biafra.

One thing with Niger delta is if they stand alone as one country, they will never develop, back biting and betrayer with violence is what they are good with

optionalY09:
Jona want to secure Niger Delta for Buhari, before you do something stupid, remember how the North treated you when you were the president. Niger Delta is not a new territory it has always been part of Biafra.

On thing with Niger delta is if they stand alone as one country, they will never develop, back biting and betrayer with violence is what they are good with

That shouldn't be your headache

optionalY09:
Jona want to secure Niger Delta for Buhari, before you do something stupid, remember how the North treated you when you were the president. Niger Delta is not a new territory it has always been part of Biafra.

On thing with Niger delta is if they stand alone as one country, they will never develop, back biting and betrayer with violence is what they are good with

We are ok with been backward, after all the backward people were able to produce the President before you

Hmmmm, salient, but doesn't appear like a recent piece

tutudesz:

We are ok with been backward, after all the backward people were able to produce the President before you

Were Fulani claiming Niger deltan, when UGM is done with y’all cow fvckers you will know

Hahahahaha... This Jonathan wants to give Kanu sleepless nights.

We all know that without the Niger Delta, the entire Biafra agitation comes to a screeching halt. Because their greedy eyes are on that oil. Nothing else.

Thanks President Jonathan.

contigiency:
WHY NIGER DELTANS DO NOT WANT TO BE PART OF BIAFRA
_- H.E Goodluck Jonathan

Former President of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan delivered a lecture at Texas US on why remaining indivisible with Nigeria than joining forces with Biafrans in splitting the country will pay Niger Deltans more.

I begin this write-up by saying that I mean no ill-thought towards the Biafran struggle or Igbos in general. What I’ve written here are mainly my personal reflections concerning the Niger Delta, especially with regards to non-Igbo groups and their stake in the Biafran movement which has been rebirthed for some time now. I am not a mouthpiece for the Niger Delta but I believe I’ve been in the Niger Delta long enough to know our problems and our stand. I’ve also interacted with many Niger Deltans to know their stand in the Biafran struggle.

When I use the term Niger Delta, I am referring to the region covering Delta, Edo, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River states. However, I understand that the region also covers Ondo, Imo, and Abia states. I’m not concerned with the latter because they are either Igbos or Yorubas and have their own struggles. The ethnic groups within my coverage include Urhobo-Isoko, Bini, Esan, Itsekiri, Ijaw-Epie-Ogbia, Ogoni, Afemai, Efik-Annang-Eket-Oron-Ibibio, Ogoja, Ejagham, and other groups in Cross River North. Ikwerre, Ukwuani, Ika, Aniocha, Ogba, and other Igboid groups, are not included. Historically, Biafra covered all the Niger Delta states EXCEPT Delta and Ondo states. This fact must be emphasised.

Pro-Biafrans are welcome to debate and address my issues in a civil manner. I understand that most pro-Biafrans resort to insults when salient issues are addressed.

Please let’s set a good precedence from hereon.

1. Biafra may not be better for Niger Deltans because Niger Deltans may end up living one form of subjugation for another. The argument Igbos have made for their freedom is the desire to be free from Hausa-Yoruba domination. That argument also applies to the average Niger Deltan. Igbo, no doubt, will be the major ethnic group if Biafra is actualised. Ijaws may have a stake due to their numbers. What about the Ogonis, Urhobo-Isokos, Itsekiris, Efiks, etc? Where will they fit in at the national level? The sad reality is that another Nigeria will just be made manifest and resentments will build up. What will really be the fate of minorities? Will they fare better in Biafra or alone? In Nigeria, big groups such as Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo checkmate each other’s excesses very well. Who will checkmate that of Igbos in the new nation?

2. Where will the capital be located? If we are to follow the notion of central location, the capital of Biafra won’t be Enugu but around Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene axis. Will Igbos allow their capital to be sited in a non-Igbo location? This is a very salient issue because you don’t expect the riverine Niger Deltan in Twon-Brass, for instance, to journey all the way to Enugu to see their President. It has to be a location where ALL BIAFRANS can access easily. Enugu won’t go.

3. The issue of annexation comes to play. For so long, e-Biafrans have annexed Niger Delta as part of the proposed nation. The map below shows us what Biafrans have drawn to constitute the new nation:

If we judge from this map, it means all groups in the Niger Delta have been annexed. My question is whether the leaders of these groups have been consulted before the annexation was done. I, for one, know that Urhobo-Isoko and Efik-Ibibio leaders have not approved of Biafra neither have anybody in these regions declared Biafra. So how and why were they included in the proposed map? Little things like this bring distrust and I understand that many of these non-Igbo regions have disowned the map and pledged allegiance to Nigeria. The declaration by the Delta State government is a case in point. I see this as forceful annexation. The so-called e-Biafrans have also not done much in calming the nerves of the people of the annexed regions. I’ve seen comments such as “if you don’t like it, go and stay in Sokoto”, “all land in the South is Biafraland”, etc. Is it not ironic that a group of people who want freedom want to annexe others?

4. What languages will be made the official languages of the new nation? I have seen several posts by e-Biafrans where Igbo was proposed as the official language of the new republic. What then will happen to other languages such as Urhobo, Isoko, Okpe, Efik, Ibibio, Oron, Ogoni, Eleme, Okrika, Kalabari, Bini, Esan, etc? Will they die off because of Igbo? Certainly NOT! If English is made the official language, the Igbo majority factor will kick in. If your name isn’t Chukwuemeka or Oliseh, Amarachi or Nneka, etc, you won’t get any appointment nor shall you be recognised. These are things we can’t deny. We are very ethnocentric in Africa.

5. What and what have Igbo nation done for Niger Deltans to gain their trust? Every day I see Igbo youths making enemies where there were none. They constantly use the agency of the internet to sprout controversy, hurl insults at dissenters and make unfounded claims. There is this general air of mistrust for Igbos by some Niger Deltans, particularly by Urhobo-Isoko and Bini people. What have Igbos done to checkmate this? Has any Igbo leader or group extended the hand of friendship to the Niger Deltans. Mistrust cannot be wished away. Most Niger Deltans would rather follow Hausas as slaves than follow Igbos as kings. This is the real reality and truthfully, Igbos caused this.

6. Who will lead the new nation? Obviously, Nnamdi Kanu, their hero, has fought tooth and nails for Biafra and he is currently cooling off in jail. If Biafra comes today, who will be the interim leader and what modalities are in place for subsequent leaders to be elected? Igbos have been the only ones fighting for Biafra since time immemorial with a handful of other groups here and there. Will Igbos allow other groups to rule over them? Will they allow an Urhobo man to be President, for instance? This is not a case of mere wishing. We have to understand that Niger Delta groups MAY NEVER BE ALLOWED TO RULE BIAFRA IF IT IS ACTUALISED.

7. Still on the issue of leaders, are the new leaders going to fall from the skies or they are simply going to change addresses from Abuja to Enugu. If so, what will change in the new nation? It is not arguable that Igbo national leaders are the most corrupt persons in Nigeria. If these same people are the ones to rule the new nation then there is no hope because corruption will be so rife that the economy of the new nation will shut down like a knocked engine. If we argue that new and younger leaders will arise, we still have the issue of who fought for Biafra to contend with. Most pro-Biafrans will not allow someone who sat at the periphery of the struggle to just come and waltz power away from the “heroes” of Biafra. If this is true then we will not have a proper democracy in Biafra.

8. Will Biafra be a utopia? The impression that e-Biafrans give is that Biafra will be perfect and we all know for a fact that this is not true. Apart from the issue of corruption and sentimentalism that have been addressed, we still have the issue of development. Where will money be generated from to develop the nation? In the whole of the proposed Biafra, only Port Harcourt and Onitsha are economically viable cities. Where will the investors come from? Why should they invest in a volatile country? Only in Warri, we have Ijaw, Itsekiri and Urhobo at loggerheads, imagine what would happen to the whole nation. Secondly, I am sure that no Niger Deltan will allow his “oil” to be used to develop Enugu like what happened with Abuja, and is still happening today. Niger Deltans are getting wiser and by the time the new nation is formed, matters that border on oil, wealth distribution and infrastructural development will be raised.

9. The current structure of the proposed nation, as shown in the map earlier embedded, favour Igbos with more states. Urhobo has one, Efik-Ibibio has two, Itsekiri has none, etc. How will this be addressed? Certainly, every ethnic nationality will want adequate representation and so the structure on that map will never work.

10. Last, but not the least, is the issue of referendum. Some Biafrans are already calling for a referendum which will involve all parts of the proposed nation. I am pretty sure how this referendum will turn out. However, for the sake of being hypothetical, let us imagine that some ethnic groups/states vote against Biafra by the majority, what will be their fate at the end of the day? Secondly, will the result of such a referendum be true and honest? I understand that electoral malpractice forms a part of our identity. How are we going to get a true reflection of people’s thoughts? Thirdly, if states and ethnic groups do decide to vote for Biafra, what mechanisms are in place to contain Igbophobia, Igbomania, Igbocentrism, Igbo hegemony, Landgrabbing, and all issues that minorities have raised?

Above are the reasons why I feel that Niger Deltans will NOT subscribe to the Biafran movement. I have been very practical, philosophical and hypothetical in my approach. I do not speak for any group or persons but I present these issues for the pro-Biafrans to address. Niger Deltans can raise more issues that I have not raised. Finally, it should be noted that I expect insults directed at my person by e-warriors and keyboard mercenaries, as usual, but I won’t pleasure such persons with answers or altercations. If you raise good points, we can discuss like intellectuals.

H.E. Goodluck Jonathan.

Nnamdi Kanu is also a Niger deltan. So what is this foolish clueless Jonathan talking about?

optionalY09:


Were Fulani claiming Niger deltan, when UGM is done with y’all cow fvckers you will know

We are waiting for UGM to enter the really Niger Delta for friendly game's is Your Lord Kanu too afraid To send his boys to face real men

dometome:
Nnamdi Kanu is also a Niger deltan. So what is this foolish clueless Jonathan talking about?

Niger Deltan by NDDC is different from Nigeria Delta by people