Guys not that we dont know most of the stuff in the write-up below, I posted this for us to take another look at the Nigeria we've been dying for since 1960. I may be wrong but I think Awolowo was wiser than Zik, I wish Awo never joined Gowon's Govt even if he supported Nigeria in 1967, if he had done that the East would've loved him more than they love Ojukwu. Well, back to the issue, I think Awo was the Bad Dude of the day, he understood Bello more than Zik.

Anyway, another perspective to this is that its very easy to be caught up in your game. Beware what you play 'cause you might lose your head in it. I believe the ones that played dangerous games with Nigerian politics got high in their supply and in one swoop they all lost their heads in the process. I suppose the question in Nzeogwu's mind was - should we act or not? If we dont the south and entire Nigeria is up for feudalism but if we do there's a chance for civility and normalcy. Well, they did and the rest is history. This is why I believe GEJ is not going to ousted by any coup, as bad or as good as his govt is we all should suck it up and move on 'cause those that did before paid severely.

Anyway, enjoy.

How Federalism was destroyed in Nigeria
By REMI OYEYEMI
Monday, April 02, 2012


• Amadu Bello
Photo: Sun News Publishing
More Stories on this Section
It was Uthman Dan Fodio, a Fulani and great Islamic scholar who described “Conscience” as “an open wound” that could only be healed by “the truth.” Whatever served as the inspiration for this concept could not be anything other than awesome.

The fact that this same Dan Fodio is the great grandfather of Sir Ahmadu Bello, the late Sultan of Sokoto and Premier of Northern Region, the man who have played a prominent role in the Nigerian vicissitudes makes it highly imperative that we all open our “consciences” and allow “the truth” to heal them, if Nigeria must be saved.

It is important that Nigeria returns to true Federalism if it must survive. In this era when there is clamour for the Sovereign National Conference (SNC), it is important that we try to look back in History and examine how our Federalism was unmade. This is because as the Spanish born American Essayist Geoge Santayana once contended, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” In this venture, all of us, regarfless of our ethnic background must allow “the truth” to nurture and heal our “consciences” for the sake of our collective survival as a country.

The Nigerian Federalism was unmade via two fronts: (1) Structural or Political and (2) Fiscal or Financial
In 1952, Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Sultan of Sokoto and the leader of the Northern Peoples Congress (NPC) made the following request to the Nigerian Colonial Seceretary, Mr. Oliver Lyttleton:“If you want us (the North) to be part of this Nigeria you have in mind, then we want 50% of the membership of the National Assembly.”

It would be recalled that as a result of the elections of 1954, there were 162 seats in the Nigerian National Assembly. Out of this, the South had 83 seats (51.23%) and the North had 79 seats (48.76%), including the Yoruba people of Kwara. This means that if the Kwara people were not lumped with the North, they would still have less number of seats than 79, since this was based on population.

This shows that the South of Nigeria has always been more populous than the North of Nigeria. But Sultan Bello, as evident from this 1952 request, has a different idea. If one considers his aristocratic background, one would have an understanding of his fear of “pure” democracy. Aristocracy is “the government of a country by a small group of people especially a hereditary nobility” which is “a group believed to be superior to all others of the same kind.”

Thus for the Sultan to seek to dominate by any means necessary, would seem natural to him.
In 1957, he refused the independence of Nigeria because he insisted the North was not ready. But the North was ready when he got what he wanted, and more, before Nigerian Independence in 1960. The British overlords, in order to assuage Sultan Bello’s fears and put Nigeria in his control, created in 1959, 312 seats for the Nigerian National Assembly without any election or new Census. Out of this 312, the North was allocated 174 and the South 138 in the anticipation of the Parliamentary Political System being put in place for Nigeria’s independence. Sultan Bello asked for 50% of the seats in the National Assembly, he got 55.7%. Suddenly, an apartheid system was put in place as the majority South, became the minority and the minority North became the majority.

This is where the future of Nigeria was unmade, and the seed for the destruction of the Nigerian Federalism was sowed. This development gave unburnished confidence to Sultan Bello who declared on October 12, 1960, in an interview with The Parrot, just days after independence the following words: “This New Nation called Nigeria, should be an estate of our great grand father, Uthman Dan Fodio. We must ruthlessly prevent a change of power. We use the minorities in the North as willing tools, and the South, as conquered territory and never allow them to rule over us, and never allow them to have control over their future.”

With Alhaji Tafawa Balewa firmly in charge in Lagos, Sir Bello’s confidence became ebullient. To him Chief Obafemi Awolowo has been a thorn in his flesh politically, having mainatained an effective opposition to the feudalisation of Nigeria. Earlier in 1959, he had vowed to make Chief Awolowo pay dearly for forcing him to canvass for the votes of his Northern people. Awolowo had to be caged. Thus in the Daily Times of May 3, 1961, Sir Bello said the following:

“I’m set and fully armed, to conquer the Action Group, AG, in the same ruthless manner as my grandfather conquered Alkalawa, a town in Sokoto province, during the last century.” In May 1962, twelve months after this statement, the NPC Prime Minister of Nigeria, Tafawa Balewa, acting on instructions from Sultan Bello moved a motion to Declare A State of Emergency in Western Region. Below is an excerpt of Chief Awolowo’s contribution opposing the motion of Prime Minister Balewa on May 29, 1962:

“Not long ago after independence, there was rioting of a most severe nature in the Tiv Division of Northern Nigeria. Several lives were lost, several properties were destroyed, there was arson and a host of other crimes were committed. At that time, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa was the Prime Minister as he is today. He did not think it fit to call this parliament to declare a state of public emergency in the Northern Region. Also in Okrika - there was widespread rioting in Okrika; again, several lives and properties were lost. I understand that this widespread rioting in Okrika occurred twice in the Eastern Region. The Prime Minister and the cabinet did not think it fit on that occasion to declare a state of public emergency in the Eastern Region.

“But, because the Action Group is pursuing the normal democratic processes as laid down in our constitution to oust someone who happens to be a very close friend of the Prime Minister, and also because the AG is looked upon as a moral foe to the NPC, this very far-reaching provision of our constitution is now being invoked, …..It is doing violence to our constitution and doing violence to the construction of words to suggest that what happened in the Western House of Assembly amounts to a state of public emergency.”

On July 16, 1962, exactly 46 days after Chief Awolow moved this motion and fourteen months after Sir Bello made the statement of conquest of the AG, Chief Awolowo was arrested on the trumped up charges of Treasonable Felony. On November 2, 1962, Chief Awolowo and 28 other members of his party were put on trial. After a hearing lasting eleven months, he was sentenced (September 11, 1963) to ten years imprisonment. This effectively shut down the opposition to the unmaking of Nigerian Federalism which continued unabated.

Thus, why Awolowo was incarcerated, the Northern Peoples Congress led Federal Government embarked on headcount. This exercise was headed by a Briton as Federal Census Officer, Mr. J. J. Warren. The exercise was later cancelled because it was unacceptable. Daniel Agbowu in his book “NIGERIA: The Truth” quoted from M. Crowder’s book, “Story of Nigeria” published in 1966 noting that “The 1962 figures were first questioned in the first place not by politicians but by the civil servant in charge of the Census.”

The Census was reconducted in 1963 but not without controversy. The figure released on February 24, 1964 is as follows:
North: 29,809,000
East: 12,394,000
West: 10,931,000
Midwest: 2,536,000
TOTAL: 55,670,000.

This was in contrast to the initial figure of over 60 million. Dr. Michael Okpara, Premier of Eastern Region described it as “worse than useless.” Chief Dennis Osadebey characterised it as the “stupendous joke of our age.” Chief S. L. Akintola, revelling in his supposed invulnerability having allied himself to the NPC, which mastermined the incarceration of Awolowo, gladly “accepted the census figures” and said “the figures were accurate.”

Dr. Nnamdi Azikwe, encumbered by his involvement in the Balewa government, could not effectively artculate the anger of his people as he pleaded that “all should remain calm” because the Census controversy “might plunge the nation into disaster.” Chief Awolowo was meanwhile effectively out of circulation. Sultan Bello had come out smoking as he threatened that “he and his party were ready for a complete showdown” and “warned all Nigerians” that his “Government has accepted the published figures.” Tafawa Balewa ignored all the protestations and went ahead to distribute the seats in the National Assembly as follows:

North 168 53.8%,
East 69 21 %,
West (Lagos included) 61 19.6%,
Midwest 14 4.5%.

The Eastern Region Soilicitor General, Mr. D. O. Ibekwe “took out a writ in the Supreme Court to restrain the Federal Government from using the 1963 Census figures for delineation of the country.” But the Supreme Court said it had no jurisdiction over the case, thus the unmaking of Nigerian Federalism continued.

Crisis followed that action of 1964 by Tafawa Balawa. In the West, the people took their destiny in their hands to confront the government of S. L. Akintola in an episode ingloriously referred to as “wet e.” The Tiv Riots, simmering since 1960 also came to a head in 1964 in what was called “nande nande” (burning burning) and “atem ityough” (head breaking). The whole country went up in flames which unfortunately, consumed the main actors, Sir Ahmadu Bello, Sir Tafawa Balewa and Chief S. L. Akintola, as the Military ascended the political pedestal to continue the serial rigging of Nigeria’s Federalism.

As at the time the First Republic went up in flames in 1966, there were different constitutions for each region and Nigeria. Each region has its own High Commissioner in London. What does this mean? It meant that every region was in control of its destiny. Most historical analysts believed that General Aguiyi Ironsi who took over the reign of power from the uncoordinated plotters of the coup was the first leader who actually practicalised Unitarism of the Nigerian political space, at least officially.

Reasons for this should not be difficult to decipher given the chaos that ended the First Republic. But this particular act coupled with the fact that in the January 15, 1966 coup led by mainly Igbo officers, Sultan Ahmadu Bello, Alhaji Tafawa Balewa (both Fulani) and Chief S. L. A. Akintola (Yoruba) were killed. But this was reportedly an excuse for the July 25, 1966 coup led by Murtala Mohammed that eventually saw the installation of Lt. Colonel Yakubu Gowon as the military Head of State.

If the Northern soldiers abhored Unitarism, part of the reason they had allegedly staged a vengeance coup, one would have thought that things would have been different on taking power. But alas, that was not the case. The Aburi Agreement meant to calm the nerves after the 1966 pogrom that would have guaranteed each region the control of its own destiny was violated by the North led Federal Government which went ahead to break Nigeria into twelve states. One region, the North ended up with six states. The three other regions ended up with 6 states in yet another rigging of Nigeria. And then there was the Civil War and the unmaking of Nigerian Fiscal Federalism commenced in earnest.

The Constitution establishing Nigeria stipulated 50% derivation “in respect of any Mineral extracted from that region.” Sub-sections 1,2 3,4 and 5 of the Constitution explained this in detail. But this would not deter the rigging of Nigeria as Yakubu Gowon unilaterally took off 5% oil receipt of the Niger Delta leaving them with 45%. He then proceeded with another Census in 1973. At first, Gowon came out with a total of 79,758,969. The six states of the North got 51 million while the Southern six states were given barely 28,758,969.

“This meant that the population of the North had jumped from 53.6% in 1963/64 to 63.8 in 1973/74 census. The Southern population had dwindled to 36.2% from 46.4%....” The Chairman of the census board late Sir Adetokunbo Ademola said “the figures published by Gowon were not my making.” Chief Obafemi Awolowo, now out of incarceration called the 1973 census a “barren exercise..”

To appreciate the extent of the rigging of the census figures, a comparative analysis of the figures alloted to the North of Nigeria showed that Niger Republic with 1,266,700sq km in land space in the desert has 5,013,966 population in 1973. Chad with 1,259,200 sq km of space had 4,011,856 population in 1973. But the North of Nigeria sharing boundaries with Chad and Niger Republic and with 679,534 sq km of space had 51million! The 1990/91 Census gave the North 47,261,959. Nothing points more to rigging when you look at the 1973 figures of 51 million and 1990 figure of over 47 million. There is no scientific explanation for the reduced difference of almost 4 million.

The Northerners rigged the population in favour of the North and used it as a basis to create States and local governments to the North’s advantage as ameans to siphoning resources to the disadvantage of the South. The Northern Military rulers who created states made sure that the North always had more states than the South as the table below shows:

At the risk of stating the obvious, it is an open seceret that the North has 64 more local governments than the entire South – North 419 LGs to South’s 355. What is obvious is the careless abandon with which money is allocated to the states and local governments of the North such that the North takes home 21/2 times what the former Eastern Region took, and 3 to 4 times what the Western Region took and at times, as much as 10 times what the former Mid-Western Region took.

According to “Nigeria: The Truth,” since 1980 when the Federation Account was introduced before the 13% derivation was resuscitated, the take home of each region in percentage of the total accrued money is as follows:
North 54%
East 22%
West 18%
Midwest 6%
Not many Nigerians are aware that the Northern Region paid custom duties to the Western Region until 1976, when Murtala Mohammed took over the reigns of Government. Or that as at 1975 when Murtala Mohammend overthrew the Yakubu Gowon administration, the Niger Delta enjoyed 45% rents and royalties? Murtala Mohammed slashed it to 20% (Decree No. 6 of 1975) to assuage the Northern States, before Olusegun Obasanjo, through the Aboyade Technical Commission which recommended the removal of the remaining 20% of the rents and royalties, finally nailed the coffin of the Southern States without any protest from the people of the Niger Delta or other parts of the South.

Since then the North has been having advantages in appointments and resource distribution and have been robbing Peter to pay Paul. Now that the call for Sovereign National Conference is increasing, it is important that Nigerians isolate where the country went off the track and seek ways to retrace their steps as a way of moving forward. The way to go include but not limited to the following: Install True Federalism and allow each region to have its own constitution according to the Principles of Self Determination;

This will put an end to the apartheid system where the minority North is lording it over the majority South.;
This will end the injustice against the South, the goose laying the eggs being deprived of appropriate entitlements to its resources; Allow a minimum of 45% derivation if we cannot go back to the old 50%;
Allow state or regional police force and dismantle the Nigeria Police Force;

Decentralise the Nigerian Armed Forces and allow each region to manage its own defence;
Decentralise power generation; and Let each Region or zone be able to enunciate its own economic plan without the Central Bank being able to overrule them.

http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/politics/2012/apr/02/politics-02-04-2012-001.html

Biafra Laughs

Sir Siddiq Abubakar III was Sultan of Sokoto between 1903–1988

naptu2: Sir Siddiq Abubakar III was Sultan of Sokoto between 1903–1988

What happened to the fellow above, was he mentioned in error in the post?

Sam_Ikenna:

What happened to the fellow above, was he mentioned in error in the post?

Sir Ahmadu Bello was the Sardauna of Sokoto. His cousin Sir Siddiq Abubakar III was Sultan of Sokoto between 1903–1988 (there are rumours that Ahmadu Bello envied his cousin and longed to be sultan).

naptu2:

Sir Ahmadu Bello was the Sardauna of Sokoto. His cousin Sir Siddiq Abubakar III was Sultan of Sokoto between 1903–1988 (there are rumours that Ahmadu Bello envied his cousin and longed to be sultan).

ok, didnt know that. thanks 4 the info.

Sam Ikenna/Remi Oyeyemi:


The Nigerian Federalism was unmade via two fronts: (1) Structural or Political and (2) Fiscal or Financial
In 1952, Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Sultan of Sokoto and the leader of the Northern Peoples Congress (NPC) made the following request to the Nigerian Colonial Seceretary, Mr. Oliver Lyttleton:“If you want us (the North) to be part of this Nigeria you have in mind, then we want 50% of the membership of the National Assembly.”

It would be recalled that as a result of the elections of 1954, there were 162 seats in the Nigerian National Assembly. Out of this, the South had 83 seats (51.23%) and the North had 79 seats (48.76%), including the Yoruba people of Kwara. This means that if the Kwara people were not lumped with the North, they would still have less number of seats than 79, since this was based on population.

[b]This shows that the South of Nigeria has always been more populous than the North of Nigeria. [/b]But Sultan Bello, as evident from this 1952 request, has a different idea. If one considers his aristocratic background, one would have an understanding of his fear of “pure” democracy. Aristocracy is “the government of a country by a small group of people especially a hereditary nobility” which is “a group believed to be superior to all others of the same kind.”

This Adebibu worshipper, Remi Oyeyemi remains dumb, myopic, and outsight silly. How can one conclude that the South of Nigeria has always been more populous than the North simply because Sadauna negotiated a favourable term for his constituents?

Sadauna asked for 50% of the seats in the National Assembly and he got 48.76% including Kwara. How in the world does this translate to “The South has always been more populous than the North”? How can anyone take such a writer seriously?

Sam Ikenna/Remi Oyeyemi:

But Sultan Bello, as evident from this 1952 request, has a different idea. If one considers his aristocratic background, one would have an understanding of his fear of “pure” democracy. Aristocracy is “the government of a country by a small group of people especially a hereditary nobility” which is “a group believed to be superior to all others of the same kind.”

Thus for the Sultan to seek to dominate by any means necessary, would seem natural to him.

Duhh! What a revelation by Remi Einstein !!

This article is filled with so much crap that I will not spend any more time exposing the writer’s follies.

@Sam Ikenna, I’m disappointed that you fell for this quack of a writer. Would you please expatiate on your statement “I think Awo was the Bad Dude of the day”

ndu_chucks:

This Adebibu worshipper, Remi Oyeyemi remains dumb, myopic, and outsight silly. How can one conclude that the South of Nigeria has always been more populous than the North simply because Sadauna negotiated a favourable term for his constituents?

Sadauna asked for 50% of the seats in the National Assembly and he got 48.76% including Kwara. How in the world does this translate to “The South has always been more populous than the North”? How can anyone take such a writer seriously?



Duhh! What a revelation by Remi Einstein !!

This article is filled with so much crap that I will not spend any more time exposing the writer’s follies.

@Sam Ikenna, I’m disappointed that you fell for this quack of a writer. Would you please expatiate on your statement “I think Awo was the Bad Dude of the day”

Awo was more pragmatic and wiser than Zik and Bello. He knew the British better than all, in fact I would say that I believe he knew the Brits better because they taught him like they they taught Ojukwu. Zik was more American in his thoughts and ideals while Bello was conservative and feudalistic. Awo saw us as different while Zik say all as one, maybe its because Zik was Igbo as much as he was Hausa (he was born in the north), in addition Zik was trained in the US so its like everything was set for him to believe he could be one with everyone. I might be wrong but I doubt it.

Anyway, I'm not exaulting Awo because I believe he made a bad strategic move by joining Gowon's Admin. If he had stayed away from Gowon's govt even if he had pitched tent with One Nigeria, his place would've been second to God in Nigeria.

Anyway, whats happened has happened, but to deny the wisdom and cunniness of Awo is to play dumb.

Sam_Ikenna:

Anyway, I'm not exaulting Awo because I believe he made a bad strategic move by joining Gowon's Admin. If he had stayed away from Gowon's govt even if he had pitched tent with One Nigeria, his place would've been second to God in Nigeria.

Anyway, whats happened has happened, but to deny the wisdom and cunniness of Awo is to play dumb.

I'm not following you. Awo did his patriotic duty by participating in the legitimate government of the day, but you are saying if he had been more unpatriotic by refusing to serve his people, then he would have been "god" in Nigeria?

That does not make much sense to me, would you explain futher?

ndu_chucks:

This Adebibu worshipper, Remi Oyeyemi remains dumb, myopic, and outsight silly. How can one conclude that the South of Nigeria has always been more populous than the North simply because Sadauna negotiated a favourable term for his constituents?

Sadauna asked for 50% of the seats in the National Assembly and he got 48.76% including Kwara. How in the world does this translate to “The South has always been more populous than the North”? How can anyone take such a writer seriously?



Duhh! What a revelation by Remi Einstein !!

This article is filled with so much crap that I will not spend any more time exposing the writer’s follies.

@Sam Ikenna, I’m disappointed that you fell for this quack of a writer. Would you please expatiate on your statement “I think Awo was the Bad Dude of the day”

The bolded was your question and thats what I ansd. You wanted to know why Awo was the "bad dude" of the day and I told you why. Go back to my post and read why I think Awo was wiser and more cunning than his comrades.

Yes, I said if he had stayed away from Gowon's admin he would've been revered by all is also true. I dont care if he wanted one Nigeria or not, the fact that he joined a govt that launched war against his people puts a serious dent on him but thats not to say he wasnt wiser than his friends.

@OP I think u r a compounded fo+ol, the 3 leaders all knew each others angle and this means they did not trust each other. All 3 wanted to dominate Nigeria, in fact ZIK was d conciliatory one amongst them. I think daft Nigerians like d OP hang on to d past focusing on other peoples' failure than addressing todays problem. Besides if Ahmadu Bello and his limited education can pocket Awo and Zik then he must be saluted as being extraordinary, but I will like to look at the issues differently they failed to look at the Big picture just as Nigerians today are all failing to see that the Nigerian project can be beneficial to all seeing that the world over country are expanding their borders by way of forming superstate such as the EU. But I doubt if our lowly OP can see beyond his nose.

vedaxcool: @OP I think u r a compounded fo+ol, the 3 leaders all knew each others angle and this means they did not trust each other. All 3 wanted to dominate Nigeria, in fact ZIK was d conciliatory one amongst them. I think daft Nigerians like d OP hang on to d past focusing on other peoples' failure than addressing todays problem. Besides if Ahmadu Bello and his limited education can pocket Awo and Zik then he must be saluted as being extraordinary, but I will like to look at the issues differently they failed to look at the Big picture just as Nigerians today are all failing to see that the Nigerian project can be beneficial to all seeing that the world over country are expanding their borders by way of forming superstate such as the EU. But I doubt if our lowly OP can see beyond his nose.

Thanx for the insults, when you're done pls free to go your usual Islamic section of NL. If you think I'm ready for your kind of slugfest then Im sorry, I dont swing that way. If you have something serious devoid of this your childish rant above then holla me. Till then, bye.

@Vedaxcool: So, he (Ikenna) is a fool because you don't agree with him? Look in the mirror and you will see you are the real one to take home that title.

Ikenna, I know you to be an ardent tribalist and an apostle of Dede1 and many loser tribalists here but I will overlook that in the interim. My questions to you is this: Were you in any way privy to the happenstance of those days to now be in a position to criticize, Zik, Awo and Bello? These people were not perfect, just like you, but they took hard decisions without a template to copy from at that time. Now, do you pontificate on your superior knowledge? You say that Awo should not have made a decision he had a personal right to make and join the "legitimate" government of the day, why?

Another BIG FALSITY is that the government launched a war against the people. C'mon don't try to be stupid because that is a big lie. Lots of very informed people using extensive cross-referenced sources have hung tribalists like you and ODedenson1, OnlyLIES, AKliar47, Illogical Bottom, etc to shame on this lie. The declaration of secession was the declaration of WAR! Got it? Now, after that declaration, there was a long interlude before the commencement of hostilities why the government was trying to negotiate a way out of impending war and violence and that is what resulted in Aburi accord. Stop lying and showing your ignorance here.

CyberG: @Vedaxcool: So, he (Ikenna) is a fool because you don't agree with him? Look in the mirror and you will see you are the real one to take home that title.

Ikenna, I know you to be an ardent tribalist and an apostle of Dede1 and many loser tribalists here but I will overlook that in the interim. My questions to you is this: Were you in any way privy to the happenstance of those days to now be in a position to criticize, Zik, Awo and Bello? These people were not perfect, just like you, but they took hard decisions without a template to copy from at that time. Now, do you pontificate on your superior knowledge? You say that Awo should not have made a decision he had a personal right to make and join the "legitimate" government of the day, why?

Another BIG FALSITY is that the government launched a war against the people. C'mon don't try to be stupid because that is a big lie. Lots of very informed people using extensive cross-referenced sources have hung tribalists like you and ODedenson1, OnlyLIES, AKliar47, Illogical Bottom, etc to shame on this lie. The declaration of secession was the declaration of WAR! Got it? Now, after that declaration, there was a long interlude before the commencement of hostilities why the government was trying to negotiate a way out of impending war and violence and that is what resulted in Aburi accord. Stop lying and showing your ignorance here.

Nwanne, sorry to burst your bubble a bit, I'm not a tribalist rather I'm a staunch believer in personal destiny. tribalists dont see anything good in others, they're ethnocentrists, they're egomaniacs, and they love no one other than themselves and their people. Now do you still think I belong to that group? I want you to search my posts when you're done then tell me if the title you gave me is accurate. If you must know, I'm not mad at you.

In the interim, Dede1, Onlytruth, Logic_mend, etc. Those people you mentioned are not tribalist, the fact that they want a better deal for their people is not a benchmark for that title. If that was a benchmark, then Awo would not be seen by people like me as a wise man. Awo always, always sought for the best deal for Western region. He said in one of his numerous pronouncements that a leader must always seek for the good of his people. Now if I get upset because my people are perenially blown up in churches and mosques does that make me a tribalist? If I question why Nigeria forced my people back to a nation that wasnt ready to see me as a Nigerian does that make me a tribalist?

If Awo decided to join Gowon Admin and he was judged to be right by you why then do you see me as a tribalist? You dont have to pick and choose. You have a right to be who you want to be and its none of my Biz and I would hope you also accord me that little respect. I was Igbo before I became Nigerian, Awo also said something similar. Nigeria is a geographical expression - I didnt say that.

The point is - dont call people tribalist because they feel unwelcome or hurt due to your actions or actions of our founding fathers, get to know why they feel the way they feel then maybe you would understand. I hate no ethnic group in Nigeria, the fact that I dont feel Nigeria the way you probably do does not mean I hate the people that make-up Nigeria - Hell no! I think its time for people to seperate Nigeria from their person or their group. If I have beef with Nigeria it doesn't mean I have beef with Ijaw or Isoko- its none of that. Nigerian state and govt is a wayward govt thats corrupt and irresponsible. The fact that I would like to negotiate a different govt or would want out does not make me a tribalist. I bet you those people that got roasted on chritmas day would have loved to be Somalians than Nigerians if anyone told them what was in the offing.

Nwanne, if you want us to sit and negotiate the future of this nation - fine, but if you tag me tribalist because I dont want to be in a sinking ship then its your choice.

@Ikenna: Ha! I can't believe a tribalist tried to be civil and not haul abuse and insult on me because I said it as it is! Well, I will wait for the day and time you will come out all guns blazing with tribal bullets. Until then, here is the answer to your post:

1. Dedenson, OnlySoFATLIES, Illogical_blackmind, etc are RACISTS black KKK tribalist and they are proud of it. I think they will do a more evil job of defending themselves than anyone ever would!

2. You are Igbo before Nigerian? Well, it is your choice BUT you are WRONG comparing with Awo's comment! Were you born before 1960? Awo was born in 1909 or so long before Nigeria came along or was amalgamated, can you say the same thing for yourself? Ojukwu was 34 at the outbreak of the civil war in 1967 so he came after amalgamation but before independence and may still have a case. Gowon, similar to Ojukwu. Now you? Dedenson1? OnlyFATTERLIES, AKBottom?, etc? C'mon be honest and own up to your age.

3. I am not here to speak for Awo, he has written more than most Nigerians will write in 10 lifetimes. However, YOU or anyone cannot question a decision he made in 1967, and within his rights, in 2012! He joined the "legitimate" government of the day which is directly traceable to anticidents created by Ironsi who practically abrogated Nigeria's federalism; after Ifeajuna, Nzeogwu, Ademoyega, Onwetewagwu, etc stirred up violence by starting the first coup, military betrayals and treachery among their comrades-in-arms. If you have any atom of fairness, a robber attacked a man's home and after the house owner teamed up with the police to overpower the thief, you still blame the house owner. Really?

4. Nigeria had a real chance to NOT be what it is today but what happened? Who spurned a "progressive" allowance of two peoples in the South of Nigeria to team-up with the Northerners who you now hold in ignominy and infamy? Please answer that question. It's like a competitive race where you get to chose a partner: an equally strong or stronger, decisive and leading light partner who will challenge all your positions to create better good for the peoples of the alliance or one you can hope to pull over his eyes with education, guile and subterfuge (like a small air head BIMBO with voluptuous titties). Well, this partner may be good for the sexxing but you cannot win any competition with such alliance and that is what happened. The SE dominated the civil service pre-civil war and pre-independence and allying with the northerners who were "most backward" ensured that the Ibos will call the shots. So, the ibo leadership spurned the alliance with the westerners and put up their tent with the northerners. When the relationship crashed, now you first tried to steal the other strong man's house through the attack in the Midwest, and an incursion into the West. Well, this woke the sleeping giant and at Ore, all hell broke lose! The offensive from that part on into the Ibo hinterland still makes Odenson1, IamONLYLies, etc to cry today. I bet he will kick the bucket and find that Naija is still here. . .LOL.

5. Well, when Naija is renegotiated, we can all breathe easy because I and many people are TIRED of e-fighters. The real fight, they won't fight, yet they are not happy with "no victor, no vanquished". When are the tribalists going to bring their BEST A-GAME to a real fight, better than the 1967 war, I ask again? See hot air here: https://www.nairaland.com/899348/nigerian-civil-war-rematch#10456293

CyberG: @Ikenna: Ha! I can't believe a tribalist tried to be civil and not haul abuse and insult on me because I said it as it is! Well, I will wait for the day and time you will come out all guns blazing with tribal bullets. Until then, here is the answer to your post:

1. Dedenson, OnlySoFATLIES, Illogical_blackmind, etc are RACISTS black KKK tribalist and they are proud of it. I think they will do a more evil job of defending themselves than anyone ever would!

2. You are Igbo before Nigerian? Well, it is your choice BUT you are WRONG comparing with Awo's comment! Were you born before 1960? Awo was born in 1909 or so long before Nigeria came along or was amalgamated, can you say the same thing for yourself? Ojukwu was 34 at the outbreak of the civil war in 1967 so he came after amalgamation but before independence and may still have a case. Gowon, similar to Ojukwu. Now you? Dedenson1? OnlyFATTERLIES, AKBottom?, etc? C'mon be honest and own up to your age.

3. I am not here to speak for Awo, he has written more than most Nigerians will write in 10 lifetimes. However, YOU or anyone cannot question a decision he made in 1967, and within his rights, in 2012! He joined the "legitimate" government of the day which is directly traceable to anticidents created by Ironsi who practically abrogated Nigeria's federalism; after Ifeajuna, Nzeogwu, Ademoyega, Onwetewagwu, etc stirred up violence by starting the first coup, military betrayals and treachery among their comrades-in-arms. If you have any atom of fairness, a robber attacked a man's home and after the house owner teamed up with the police to overpower the thief, you still blame the house owner. Really?

4. Nigeria had a real chance to NOT be what it is today but what happened? Who spurned a "progressive" allowance of two peoples in the South of Nigeria to team-up with the Northerners who you now hold in ignominy and infamy? Please answer that question. It's like a competitive race where you get to chose a partner: an equally strong or stronger, decisive and leading light partner who will challenge all your positions to create better good for the peoples of the alliance or one you can hope to pull over his eyes with education, guile and subterfuge (like a small air head BIMBO with voluptuous titties). Well, this partner may be good for the sexxing but you cannot win any competition with such alliance and that is what happened. The SE dominated the civil service pre-civil war and pre-independence and allying with the northerners who were "most backward" ensured that the Ibos will call the shots. So, the ibo leadership spurned the alliance with the westerners and put up their tent with the northerners. When the relationship crashed, now you first tried to steal the other strong man's house through the attack in the Midwest, and an incursion into the West. Well, this woke the sleeping giant and at Ore, all hell broke lose! The offensive from that part on into the Ibo hinterland still makes Odenson1, IamONLYLies, etc to cry today. I bet he will kick the bucket and find that Naija is still here. . .LOL.

5. Well, when Naija is renegotiated, we can all breathe easy because I and many people are TIRED of e-fighters. The real fight, they won't fight, yet they are not happy with "no victor, no vanquished". When are the tribalists going to bring their BEST A-GAME to a real fight, better than the 1967 war, I ask again? See hot air here: https://www.nairaland.com/899348/nigerian-civil-war-rematch#10456293

1. If you're still bent on hanging on to this your "tribalist" tag then its your Biz. I have nothing to gain or lose in making you check my posts in NL to see if this "tribalist" name calling is real or fluke.

2. Quit dragging Onlytruth or Dede1 into this convo unless thats your clever way of drawing them into a fight. Besides when you write peoples' monikers or names please do you mind writing it the proper way? even if you disagree with people courtesy demands that you accord people the same respect you would want accorded to you.

3. I was Igbo before I became Nigerian - has nothing to do with date of indepence or amalgamation. Britain made me Nigerian but God made me Igbo - big difference. Nigeria has "production" date unlike Igbo, Isoko, Ijaw, etc so I'm 100% right to say that I was Igbo before I became Nigerian. I'm Igbo by DNA but same cant be said of Nigeria. Its understandable that some folks get so rilled up when they hear oppinions that are contrary to theirs with regards to Nigeria but then I ask - if you're so fed up with me why do still want me to be part of your "great" country?

4. That Awo joined Gowon's admin was not the only thing in my post but I guess thats the only thing you disagree with hence this back and forth.

5. You posting a link where you're calling for War rematch speaks volumes, I guess I should have ask how old you are.

Sam_Ikenna:

Thanx for the insults, when you're done pls free to go your usual Islamic section of NL. If you think I'm ready for your kind of slugfest then Im sorry, I dont swing that way. If you have something serious devoid of this your childish rant above then holla me. Till then, bye.

U welcome, the mere fact that I rightly categorized u character rattled u so much that ur lowly self had to go thru my profile to console yourself, have fun with sharing ur weak thoughts that mimics the behavior of one that suffers dementia

CyberG: @Vedaxcool: So, he (Ikenna) is a fool because you don't agree with him? Look in the mirror and you will see you are the real one to take home that title.

If you can provide evidence that I called him a fool for disagreeing with him then I will accept your claim failing to do so leaves us to call you a derelict imbeci1 whose IQ is comparable to none except domestic animals lol!

vedaxcool: @OP I think u r a compounded fo+ol, the 3 leaders all knew each others angle and this means they did not trust each other. All 3 wanted to dominate Nigeria, in fact ZIK was d conciliatory one amongst them. I think daft Nigerians like d OP hang on to d past focusing on other peoples' failure than addressing todays problem. Besides if Ahmadu Bello and his limited education can pocket Awo and Zik then he must be saluted as being extraordinary, but I will like to look at the issues differently they failed to look at the Big picture just as Nigerians today are all failing to see that the Nigerian project can be beneficial to all seeing that the world over country are expanding their borders by way of forming superstate such as the EU. But I doubt if our lowly OP can see beyond his nose.

^ What is that up there that you called him? Or, the + changed what you had in mind? I bet you are so scared of the NL "post has been hidden" LOL.

@Ikenna, well whatever! You can choose to be from the moon or under the ground or be anything, that is your prerogative. However, I pointed out to you that you drew a false parallel but I can understand if it makes you mad that I got under your skin. Abeg, old man relax oooo!

I see you defend your co-apostles like OnlyLIAR, AKBottom, etc and the racist tribalist in chief Dendeson1. Well, I call them their real names and that will not change! Your boss has been so dealt with chief apostle OnlyLIES there mortal powers are now failing when the see tribalism busters like this post. . .hahaha! See, they have not even thrown a stone yet and they are spoiling for war? Nothing they can do, so impotent when it comes to matching words with action! Ihijerika and his men are waiting when you are ready to launch una offensive. . .LOL

Sam_Ikenna:

Yes, I said if he had stayed away from Gowon's admin he would've been revered by all is also true. I dont care if he wanted one Nigeria or not,[b] the fact that he joined a govt that launched war against his people [/b]puts a serious dent on him but thats not to say he wasnt wiser than his friends.

Awo joined a govt that launched war against his people? That's a fat lie, Nigeria never launched any war against the Yorubas or the SW. Ojukwu was the one who returned from exile and joint the govt that launched war against his people by participating in politics, forming APGA, and running for office e.t.c

ndu_chucks:

Awo joined a govt that launched war against his people? That's a fat lie, Nigeria never launched any war against the Yorubas or the SW. Ojukwu was the one who returned from exile and joint the govt that launched war against his people by participating in politics, forming APGA, and running for office e.t.c

Nwanne, the people there are not Yorubas or SW, I didnt put it right - people = Easterners. Now we're clear.

CyberG:

^ What is that up there that you called him? Or, the + changed what you had in mind? I bet you are so scared of the NL "post has been hidden" LOL.

@Ikenna, well whatever! You can choose to be from the moon or under the ground or be anything, that is your prerogative. However, I pointed out to you that you drew a false parallel but I can understand if it makes you mad that I got under your skin. Abeg, old man relax oooo!

I see you defend your co-apostles like OnlyLIAR, AKBottom, etc and the racist tribalist in chief Dendeson1. Well, I call them their real names and that will not change! Your boss has been so dealt with chief apostle OnlyLIES there mortal powers are now failing when the see tribalism busters like this post. . .hahaha! See, they have not even thrown a stone yet and they are spoiling for war? Nothing they can do, so impotent when it comes to matching words with action! Ihijerika and his men are waiting when you are ready to launch una offensive. . .LOL

You're a little bit more civil than others. Besides you were not getting under my skin. I'm fine.

Sam_Ikenna:

Nwanne, the people there are not Yorubas or SW, I didnt put it right - people = Easterners. Now we're clear.

In that case, what good would the endearment that Awo would have enjoyed done for Awo's people in the SW?

Sam_Ikenna:

Nwanne, the people there are not Yorubas or SW, I didnt put it right - people = Easterners. Now we're clear.

hehehe! Sam_Ikenna is calling ndu_chucks "nwanne".
If you can survive with a puff adder or a molting cobra INSIDE YOUR COAT, then you will survive a brotherhood with ndu_chucks.

Nna Sam, I hope the bolded is not meant literally, else you would need the help of a professional snake catcher.

Onlytruth:

hehehe! Sam_Ikenna is calling ndu_chucks "nwanne".
If you can survive with a puff adder or a molting cobra INSIDE YOUR COAT, then you will survive a brotherhood with ndu_chucks.

Nna Sam, I hope the bolded is not meant literally, else you would need the help of a professional snake catcher.

I can assure you that Sam_Ikenna is 1000 times your intellectual superior who does not need any suggestion as to how to conduct himself on NL from you. Go and find your usual groopies to admonish.

I can see that I am getting under ya skin. You don dey follow me arround, small time I go dodge you and you go enter inside market.

Onlytruth:

hehehe! Sam_Ikenna is calling ndu_chucks "nwanne".
If you can survive with a puff adder or a molting cobra INSIDE YOUR COAT, then you will survive a brotherhood with ndu_chucks.

Nna Sam, I hope the bolded is not meant literally, else you would need the help of a professional snake catcher.

OnlyFATTESTLies cannot stand that Ikenna called another person Nwanne? Like a white guy calls a black guy "bro" brings out the KKK racist in aliens like racist AmONLYLies! Ha! One day, you and your racist and tribalist Odedede0 will kick the bucket and leave normal people in peace!

CyberG:

^ What is that up there that you called him? Or, the + changed what you had in mind? I bet you are so scared of the NL "post has been hidden" LOL.

You see how u easily fulfill the criteria for the word derelict Imbeci1 whose intelligence is . . . as I asked where is ur evidence that I called him fool for simply disagreeing with him, or being a derelict Imbeci1 has made it impossible for you to comprehend this simple question? If you did not understand the question what derelict imbeci1s like yourselves do is to ask for clarification just as u assumed that the reason I called the OP C-fool is because I disagreed with him when in fact my reasons for calling him so are totally different.

vedaxcool:

You see how u easily fulfill the criteria for the word derelict Imbeci1 whose intelligence is . . . as I asked where is ur evidence that I called him fool for simply disagreeing with him, or being a derelict Imbeci1 has made it impossible for you to comprehend this simple question? If you did not understand the question what derelict imbeci1s like yourselves do is to ask for clarification just as u assumed that the reason I called the OP C-fool is because I disagreed with him when in fact my reasons for calling him so are totally different.

From the look of things CyberG and I belong to different schools of thought, but at least we tried to keep the convo as civil as possible. There is one thing you, vedaxcool, havent learned and that is - if you want people to listen to you use proper language and try as much as possible, even if its personally uncomfortable, not to insult them. You can pass your message without insults.

My people have a saying that goes like this - a dog that bites does not bark. Being civil doesn't make you a push-over. You need to undersand you have a foul mouth, maybe thats who you really are or maybe thats the personna you front online to appear tough.

Name calling online is dumb, I believe if a person is red hot with anger the simplest thing should be - call out your opponent for a fist showdown, if the person shows up then its free for all. But if you know you cant do that then whats the point wasting your energy online yelling and calling names - next best thing if you cant vent your anger physically would be - go take a super cool beer afterwhich you go love your woman.

Take my advice and you'll be fine.

CyberG:

@Ikenna, well whatever! You can choose to be from the moon or under the ground or be anything, that is your prerogative. However, I pointed out to you that you drew a false parallel but I can understand if it makes you mad that I got under your skin. Abeg, old man relax oooo!

I see you defend your co-apostles like OnlyLIAR, AKBottom, etc and the racist tribalist in chief Dendeson1. Well, I call them their real names and that will not change! Your boss has been so dealt with chief apostle OnlyLIES there mortal powers are now failing when the see tribalism busters like this post. . .hahaha! See, they have not even thrown a stone yet and they are spoiling for war? Nothing they can do, so impotent when it comes to matching words with action! Ihijerika and his men are waiting when you are ready to launch una offensive. . .LOL

I pity your sorry a/r/s/e. Look at how you are exposing your uncouth self. I guess you need to reform your internal self(which is heavily flawed) before venturing out. See how you are launching tirades like a child brought up in a mental home. Really, you and Ikenna belongs to different school of thought. I'll push the envelope further by suggesting that you belongs to the gutter. I'm amazed that Ikenna descended so low to respond to your comments. Though he chose a high road. But you insist on dragging him to your gutter abode.
Anybody that expresses his opinion freely is a tribalist in your definition. What an intolerant dude! You are incapable of accomodating dissenting views. Pls recoil back to your gutter abode and leave Sam_Ikenna alone.

CyberG:

OnlyFATTESTLies cannot stand that Ikenna called another person Nwanne? Like a white guy calls a black guy "bro" brings out the KKK racist in aliens like racist AmONLYLies! Ha! One day, you and your racist and tribalist Odedede0 will kick the bucket and leave normal people in peace!

LOL now this is funny

@ Ndu chucks

danuwana ndu chucks, zan kasance tare da ku

ACM10:

I pity your sorry a/r/s/e. Look at how you are exposing your uncouth self. I guess you need to reform your internal self(which is heavily flawed) before venturing out. See how you are launching tirades like a child brought up in a mental home. Really, you and Ikenna belongs to different school of thought. I'll push the envelope further by suggesting that you belongs to the gutter. I'm amazed that Ikenna descended so low to respond to your comments. Though he chose a high road. But you insist on dragging him to your gutter abode.
Anybody that expresses his opinion freely is a tribalist in your definition. What an intolerant dude! You are incapable of accomodating dissenting views. Pls recoil back to your gutter abode and leave Sam_Ikenna alone.

FailureACM who? Haha. . .what is this overused dirty rag making sounds like a pig? I think the spanking that you got immemorial has turned your flat head totally insane and a nest for vultures, dogs and pregnant sows to defecate. It is incomprehensible that a retarded, accursed tribalist object like you even made a sound in the congregation of inanimate objects, club footed animals, talk less of deranged animals? OnlyLIES, Odedenson001, etc have been so battered because of their useless myopia of tribalism, they know when to use their glasses and semi tribalist brains when they engage some people in conversation but who is this thing FailureACM ZERO? Thunder fire you dirty object to ashes! Even in the congregation of gravestones, you have no rights to exist! What a useless piece of shaite, stinking and accursed object!!?? Your biggest pain is you know objects like you are of no use: YOU LOST several years ago and YOU are a PERMANENT, IRREDEEMABLE loser and should you feel different, move over for a REMATCH! Let Ikenna speak for himself you inanimate object trying to get attention!

CyberG:

FailureACM who? Haha. . .what is this overused dirty rag making sounds like a pig? I think the spanking that you got immemorial has turned your flat head totally insane and a nest for vultures, dogs and pregnant sows to defecate. It is incomprehensible that a retarded, accursed tribalist object like you even made a sound in the congregation of inanimate objects, club footed animals, talk less of deranged animals? OnlyLIES, Odedenson001, etc have been so battered because of their useless myopia of tribalism, they know when to use their glasses and semi tribalist brains when they engage some people in conversation but who is this thing FailureACM ZERO? Thunder fire you dirty object to ashes! Even in the congregation of gravestones, you have no rights to exist! What a useless piece of shaite, stinking and accursed object!!?? Your biggest pain is you know objects like you are of no use: YOU LOST several years ago and YOU are a PERMANENT, IRREDEEMABLE loser and should you feel different, move over for a REMATCH! Let Ikenna speak for himself you inanimate object trying to get attention!

Holy crap! Why skip your medication again?! You've suffered a terrible relapse.