SlayerForever:
Niger Delta Republic: Boro did not fight for you.

This is not a piece to malign the young nationalist, in fact it bears praise in many ways. We will take a look at the historic declaration of February 23, 1966 (Niger Delta Republic) and why today's proponents are missing the point.

Due to rising tensions across the Nigeria state, exacerbated by Fulani attacks on other ethnicities, many debates continue to rage across the Nigerian sphere as to whether the country should remain one, or be divided. This is due to the fact that the Fulani marauders are perceived to have the protection of the Nigerian (Fulani controlled) federal government. Hence there seems to be little succour in sight. And this despair has begun to drive secessionist calls across Nigeria in recent times. Of the various (secessionist) agitations rocking the country, there is an agitation for a Niger Delta republic (we will use NDR as we progress).

It is pertinent to note that this new call (for a Niger Delta republic) has not left the discussion stage unlike some other agitations across Nigeria, noteworthy mentions being the Biafran agitation which now receives international coverage (with no follow up so far from the international community), and the agitation for Oduduwa republic (which continues to face heavy scrutiny from local observers as it is rumored to be a ploy to arm twist the federal government into handing power to the region in the next general elections).

Both noteworthy mentions are now in active forms, while the agitation for a Niger Delta republic remains at a "derived" level i.e it is only mentioned as a means of disassociating from the Biafran agitation because the territories argued by some Biafran proponents remain debatable. This would make the NDR agitation take a semblance of an unserious agitation. Nonetheless, unserious or not, its proponents argue feverishly in favor of the said, would be republic, whenever called upon. To drive home their point they argue that the Niger Delta republic was the first secessionist movement to rock Nigeria (in Feb 1966) led by the nationalist Adaka Boro. Historically true in general. But not accurate when scrutinized closely.

The NDR agitation as led by Adaka Boro is nothing like the NDR as feverishly argued by its proponents today. In fact, both are so divergent that attempting to marry both without fully understanding background and context is laughable, even downright silly. From 1963 Adaka Boro began to champion a cause against the Nigerian government (for greater control of the oil resources domiciled in his home area) whom he felt were cheating the indigenous people, from whose lands Nigeria was making huge proceeds, with little or nothing to show in terms of development. He would continue championing this cause for the following years to come. However, for some reason, around 1965 (or earlier) he would interestingly begin frolicking with the antagonists in the central government. He would entangle himself so much with strange bedfellows that on instigation from Balewa (head of the central government and erstwhile foe) Boro would begin to shift blame to the then Eastern region's government as the cause of his people's plight. Things would take a turn after the military takes over in January of 1966. Boro would go from brilliant activist to armed rebel leader, forming a militia to fight the military government. Why Boro chose the critical period of a fresh military takeover, to take up arms against the state seems sketchy. However, with benefit of hindsight it now seems foolhardy. However in his fight against the government for greater resource control, which culminated in the declaration of a breakaway Niger Delta republic, his own area has gone from enjoying a 50% benefits derivation from oil proceeds in the then Eastern region (whose leadership he had now made the target of his aspersions) to 13% in Nigeria today. That is to say his area has become worse off. Adding to worsen the situation, is the fact that vast areas of the environment, over 50 years on, have become heavily polluted from oil spills. No development. Nothing. Boro would be turning in his grave. However, this fall in fortunes in spite of Boro's agitation (and his later frolicking with the central government), is a piece of historical information the proponents deliberately ignore. Perhaps out of shame or a lack of superior argument.

Another historical piece of information which some proponents of NDR fail to put into consideration (or are completely ignorant of) is the territory of the NDR declared by the nationalist Boro. Boro who was quite intelligent, recognized the complex nature of the coastal areas (where the bulk of oil resources was gotten) of the then Eastern region. He discovered and recognized the loose inter-relationships between the numerous ethnicities, which was evident in their various divergent perspectives, difference in value systems. Difference in aspirations and allegiances. Aspirations and allegiances he realized he could never truly control. Hence, he would make the smartest choice, which was to opt for a territory whose destiny he could forge: a nearly homogeneous Ijaw country (likely with one or two closely related ethnicities in and around the area). Pix attached below. Important to note, is the fact that the pseudonym Niger Delta was actually a brilliant, well thought out name the country he would later declare. This is because the Ijaw areas, of interest to him, mostly, if not completely, fall into the Delta area of the great River Niger, with its over hundreds tributaries bubbling with rich biodiversity. Pix attached below. Very apt name. However this key consideration is overlooked by today's NDR proponents.

Another point, as already highlighted above is the peoples of interest in Boro's NDR. He fought mainly for the Ijaw peoples. Perhaps not strictly. But surely, with the understanding of the terrain and the peoples therein, it was a no brainer to take his Ijaw people as focus. Today's proponents either willfully or ignorantly fail to see this. In many a fora it is common to see people from ethnicities with no known connection to Boro's Ijaw, either historically, geographically or culturally, argue vehemently in favor of a NDR. This is a sociopolitical anomaly for several reasons, chief amongst them being that a workable political (inclusive) set up for this new NDR (spanning foreign lands and unrelated peoples with strongly divergent worldviews) remains elusive to achieve in theory, much less in practice. Proponents from ethnicities with no verifiable mutuality with the Ijaw peoples, in worldview or ambition, are found clamoring for something they have a poor understanding of. Nations are not created on a whim or they become unworkable a little period afterwards. In these various fora, it gets even worse as one can see Igboid ethnicities in the South South region chanting for NDR. The same NDR that was declared by a man who was unhappy with (the illusion of) "Igbo domination" in the Eastern region. A man who by deduction, could be said to be fighting the Igbo. Yet Igbo people in the South South region, in a crass display of ignorance chant for NDR. What an irony. Many of these ethnic Igbos today in the South South are ignorant of the fact that Rivers state when newly created in 1967, was an Ijaw controlled state. The Igboid ethnic groups who found themselves in the new Ijaw dominated Rivers state were dealt with severely by the Ijaw in power. The Ijaws, extremely jubilant and ecstatic to have a state in their control, literally crushed the Igbo peoples therein into submission. All this is verifiable and well documented, not hearsay. This is not to taint any group of person or indeed ethnicity. Just setting the records straight.

Another issue sprouting from stark ignorance from today's NDR agitators, is the choice of the "Niger Delta" name. The name as popularized by the nationalist Boro was apt for the terrain he had in mind: the majorly Ijaw terrain resting on the Delta of the great River Niger. Proponents from other areas who clamor for a nation with the name "Niger Delta" are poorly informed. The following territories as listed, which include the Ibibio areas, Cross River, Rivers, Anioma, Urhobo areas, Benin area, are infact territorially outside the Niger Delta. In simple terms, they are outsiders to the true Niger Delta area. Flying such name for the would be country would be a national heritage error and would insinuate that the Ijaw peoples are the custodians of the would be NDR, to which the others must kowtow. This could prove to backfire if the enthroned custodians decide to (solely or mostly) determine all affairs of state, as they would have the greatest claim to nationhood, power and influence. This could be solved though, if there are agreements to run an all inclusive style of governance. Interestingly though, in the mean time, none of the proponents today give thought, or make mention of such critical considerations. They appear blind to this latent issues.

In discussions and considerations going forwards it would be in the interest of NDR proponents who are outside the true Niger Delta (Ijaw) territory, to critical investigate or deliberate on these few salients points because in the NDR struggle of 1966 during the 12 day revolution, the nationalist, Isaac Jasper Adaka Boro, did not fight for you.

richmond500:
I ain't reading this long shit.
BTW, can u drop the link where u got that pic showing the rivers? I wan check something.

Also where the fvck is coastal Igbo's? That part is occupied by Kalabaris, ogoni,Ikwerre Andoni etc. Don't go and annex other peoples land so u don't cause fight here

Owontime:
Una no de tire?
Na dis attachment and obsession with Niger Delta go finish una.
Tribe with no shame or self worth.
Stop begging us.

SlayerForever:


However in his fight against the government for greater resource control, which culminated in the declaration of a breakaway Niger Delta republic, his own area has gone from enjoying a 50% benefits derivation from oil proceeds in the then Eastern region (whose leadership he had now made the target of his aspersions) to 13% in Nigeria today. That is to say his area has become worse off. Adding to worsen the situation, is the fact that vast areas of the environment, over 50 years on, have become heavily polluted from oil spills. No development. Nothing. Boro would be turning in his grave. However, this fall in fortunes in spite of Boro's agitation (and his later frolicking with the central government), is a piece of historical information the proponents deliberately ignore. Perhaps out of shame or a lack of superior argument.

Owontime:
Una no de tire?
Na dis attachment and obsession with Niger Delta go finish una.
Tribe with no shame or self worth.
Stop begging us.

nku5:


The derivation matter is the biggest tragedy. The same north that Boro connived with to fight the Eastern region are the ones that totally erased resource control. From 50% up until the time of Ironsi, when Gowon took over he removed it totally by 1969. By the time Shagari took over it was 1% derivation

BKayy:

Na today you know say we no get shame?
That ego tripping doesn't work on this generation.
If you come out of your swamp to drag land with us then we will wrestle with you in that mud.
Na the same pride make Yoruba lose Ilorin till tomorrow.
No inch of Igboland will be annexed by swamp people

richmond500:
I ain't reading this long shit.
BTW, can u drop the link where u got that pic showing the rivers? I wan check something.

Also where the fvck is coastal Igbo's? That part is occupied by Kalabaris, ogoni,Ikwerre Andoni etc. Don't go and annex other peoples land so u don't cause fight here

Owontime:
Una no de tire?
Na dis attachment and obsession with Niger Delta go finish una.
Tribe with no shame or self worth.
Stop begging us.

Kinematics:
Ibos won't seize to amaize me. If you guys like open 1 million threads on nairaland...


In Niger Delta we trust.


Op your tears is delicious...