₦airaland Forum

biina:
Akintola, Balewa and Sardauna (and the people in his house) were all military personnel? It is typical that retaliations are worse than the initial attack. The north tried to make sure that there would no reprisals from the igbos. The civil war resulted from bad judgements from several individuals in key positions, but the masses paid the price.

The military was not in govt between 1960 and Jan 1966, so I don't know why u brought this up. The casualties of the first coup were mainly civilian rulers because it was a civilian govt. The casualties of the 2nd coup were mainly military rulers because the military was in power. So pls let's not argue on technicalities, since this is not a law court.

You said: "It is typical that retaliations are worse than the initial attack. The north tried to make sure that there would no reprisals from the igbos.".  That is why I said you were trying to justify the senseles and systematic murder of innocent Igbo civilians, an attempt to eliminate an entire race. As I said, pray such fate does not befall you in future.

I said that the killing of non-Igbo leaders in the Jan 1966 coup was not good at all. But the North retaliated in July by killing the head of state (Igbo) and other Igbos in govt. That was not enough. The murderous gang went after helpless children, women and men and sought to wipe out a race and you tell me that you know where the North is coming from on that. Tufia! I will never support evil.

Dimka from the Middle-Belt killed Murtala Mohammed in the 1976 coup. Why didn't the North go from house to house to wipe out the Middle-Belters? Orkar/Ogboru carved out the North from Nigeria and attempted to kill Babangida in the 1990 coup, why didn't the North retaliate by wiping out the Middle-Belt and Bendel (there was no Delta then) people?

When a Danish cartoonist made a caricature of Prophet Mohammed, what was the connection with the killing of Igbos in the North? Did Igbos descend from Denmark? Or was the mother of the cartoonist an Igbo woman?

For several decades the Igbos have been targetted for elimination in the North for no just cause. Today it is happening to the Jos people. Tomorrow it may happen to you. What I expect from people like you who have the advantage of going to school and seeing the light is to condemn any act of injustice wherever you see it. When Abiola was denied his mandate, I shouted in my corner and through the media that it was an injustice. When Obasanjo wanted to mess up his VP Atiku, I shouted that it was wrong and unjust. When Ribadu was treated like a common thief by Yar'Adua, I shouted too. When Jos children and women were murdered some weeks ago, I shouted; I was horrified, even though the Jos people participated in the killing of Igbos in 1966/67. It does not matter if the victim is your enemy; once you see injustice anywhere, condemn it in its entirely. Few guys like Soyinka raised their voices and wanted the ugly descent into anarchy to stop but were imprisoned.

The mass murder of Igbos in the North in their thousands was the main reason Igbos felt they were not wanted in Nigeria. And Igbos also felt very disappointed that other Nigerians (from the West, Mid-West and present-day South-South) kept quiet and even tacitly gave their support while they were being eliminated by Northerners. 40 years after that ugly incident, the least any right-thinking person can do is to acknowledge that the massacre of Igbo civilians in 1966/67 was completely and inexcusably wrong and unwarranted. There should be no iota of justification for that senseless act whatsoever.

biina:
Ironsi's not prosecuting nor punishing the coup plotters simply wiped out any element of doubt that was left in the northerners and they decided to carry out their own justice. They simply wanted revenge and seem they didnt want the possibility of the Igbos retaliating and thus they tried to wipe out as many of the Igbos as possible. The  excuse given by the northerners was that if they didnt act quickly enough, the Igbos would finish the job that they started in January 1966.

Gowon didnt lead the coup. Murtala (always irritates me to see his face on a currency like if ws a national hero )and danjuma were more prominent actors. The coup plotters wanted to secede and the need to keep Nigeria one was mostly in the interest of outsiders. Gowon's ascension was supposed to be a concession on the part of the core northerners, who felt that Gowon being from the middle belt and a christian provided a middle ground. they were not willing to accept a pure southerner talk less of an Igbo. But there was a  problem right from the start, Ojukwu refused to recognize Gowon as being the head of state and supreme commander in chief on the grounds that Gowon was a junior officer to him.

My issues with Ojukwu stem primarily from my evaluation of him being intelligent and not one to make too many mistakes
1. Ojukwu should have known the consequence of refusing to recognize Gowon and not resigning from the Army
2. During the first round of pogrom, the Igbos ran back to the east, but Ojukwu sent them back to the north guaranteeing their safety. There was no basis for the guarantee. If he hadnt sent them back, the second round of pogrom would have likely been avoided

Some feel that Ojukwu was carrying out the wishes of his people, I suspect he used the opportunity to try and achieve his personal ambition and simply played the other leaders.

@ Biina, I guess you are from the North.  For the first time in Nigerian history, I ve seen a Northerner that agreed that there was a 'pogrom' in the North against Igbo people in 1966/67. Unfortunately, rather than condemn the killing of about 50,000 civilians in cold blood as mindless and wicked, you are trying to justify it. I hope such fate does not befall you and your family in future so you will understand the pain and horror of it.

Ojukwu refused to accept a junior as head of state because the Gowon and co said that their coup was not a coup. So Ojukwu told them if the military hierarchy had decided to remove the head of state, the most senior officer in the army (Brig Ogundipe) should take over. Simple. Ojukwu still accuses Gowon as being the initiator of indiscipline in the Nigerian Army.

You people still accuse Ojukwu of declaring Biafra for personal reasons but u said During the first round of pogrom, the Igbos ran back to the east, but Ojukwu sent them back to the north guaranteeing their safety. What does that tell u? Can someone who did not believe in Nigeria send his people back to Nigeria to be murdered again if he had initially wanted to opt out of Nigeria? After the first pogrom, Gowon assured Ojukwu that it would not happen again; so Ojukwu told Igbos to go back to the North. And they were massacred again.

Why is it so difficult for you people to acknowledge that the cause of the Civil War was the senseless massacre of innocent Igbos in the North? In Rwanda, those who massacred their neighbours during the Rwandan genocide have confessed and the nation has moved on. Why is it so difficult for Northerners and other Nigerians to accept that they showed unmerited wickedness to the Igbos by the pogroms of 1966/67?

Igbo officers executed a coup in Jan 1966 and killed mainly non-Igbos. That was bad - very bad. Northern officers had a countercoup in July 1966 and killed Ironsi (head of state) and other Igbo officers, and took over power. Was that not justice enough? What was the business of civilian women and children with the coup that they had to be killed in cold blood several months after the coup? Have you ever heard any Igbo man complain about the killing of Ironsi in a revenge coup?

If Igbos were killed in their thousands in a country they had championed independence for; and they were assured to return and were still killed in their thousands, was that not a clear sign that they were not wanted in that country? And if Ojukwu and Gowon signed an accord at Aburi but Gowon came back to rescind on his promise, was that not a clear signal that he could not be trusted going forward? Lets tell ourselves the truth please.

Although there were a few "Nays" a majority of senators approved the ministerial appointment of Prof Dora Akunyili at about 2.45pm today

Sun of god:
This is only a pre requisite to military intervention, A military cabinet is being comprised right now.

People continue to live in the stone age by believing that the military will be accepted in Nigeria again after the rubbish they did in Nigeria.

The fastest way to cause a break-up or resurrect ethnic militancy is by a coup.

Pls military apologists beware!

Without hope, we are dead.

If the only thing Bros GJ gives us is credible elections in 2011, then he will have marvelously done well.

Ride on, Bros GJ. We are behind you. Pls don't disappoint optimists like me.

I believe that it will be well with this blatantly raped nation called Nigeria

Goodluck Jonathan Dissolves The Federal Executive Council

Breaking news on AIT. Will keep u posted

Goodluck Jonathan Dissolves The Federal Executive Council

Yes in line with the Igbo way of life, the Igwe of Nnewi has never been all-powerful like the Emir of Kano or Ooni of Ife. But he has never been a spiritual leader. We have Priests for Edo, Ogwugwu, Akpu, Udo etc.

The Igwe of Nnewi reigns among his people with their consent and support. Nnewi people have a saying: "You don't rule Nnewi people; you administer/manage them."

Yes in line with the Igbo way of life, the Igwe of Nnewi has never been all-powerful like the Emir of Kano or Ooni of Ife. But he has never been a spiritual leader. We have Priests for Edo, Ogwugwu, Akpu, Udo etc.

The Igwe of Nnewi reigns among his people with their consent and support. Nnewi people have a saying: "You don't rule Nnewi people; you administer/manage them."

Thank God for this topic. It is helping us to know who are teenagers, young adults and MEN and WOMEN on NL, so that when they comment on other serious national issues, we will know if a child is talking or an adult is.  

marvix:
In my opinion u tink dis is d best time to dump d zonin arangement and d only way Jonathan can win and rule as president is via a relatively free, fair and credible elections also d only way he can lose afta contestin is thru d same free, fair and credible elections, so in doin that we wld be dumpin d zonin arangement nd getin beta elections.
Having said this d candidates I wld lik to see is Jonathan and Danjuma Goje/Mahmud Yayale this cld be on d platform of d PDP while d mega party can then offer an Umar and Utomi or Shekarau and Ken Nnamani.
Whoever emerges shld be able to run 2 terms not mindin d zone he emerged from.

You would be day-dreaming if you fail to take into account the religious and ethnic sentiments in Nigeria. Ask yourself - Why has Yar'Adua not been impeached even though it is crystal clear that he is incapacipated? The answer is simple: The North feels that he is their son and it is the turn of the North to rule. It doesn't matter to them if the man is unconscious or not - as long as he is alive, he must be President and must not be impeached!

So it is politically naive to think that a Southerner will rule Nigeria from May 29, 2011, no matter how politically sound that person is. What we should be angling for is to get a credible candidate from the North. (Every zone has some candidates with the propensity to turn things around).

Zoning may stop when Nigeria has moved away from its sorry state. But for now, it is unfortunatetly Turn-by-Turn Nigeria Plc.

I feel sick any time I hear about IBB coming back. I have seen 8 years of IBB and I don't know what better he can offer us that he has not offered. We need to move to greater things. Nigeria has suffered enough and needs a break.


Buhari, for me, sounds better, given his reputation for discipline and integrity. He may not be a saint must saints are hard to see. We need someone whose word will be his bond, someone who will try his best to clean the Augean stables that Nigeria has become.

Options:
A. Anthony Enahoro
B. Nwafor Akwaeke Orizu
C. Samuel Ladoke Akintola
D. Aminu Kano

So simple? Test your knowledge of Nigeria's history now by answering the question.

chakula:
@azuka0,

keep narrating your stories, until you empty your silly brain that doesn't have reasonable thought.

Pls read my posts above before you continue with your insults. Unlike you, no matter the provocation I don't bandy insults because I believe only base people do so. If you do not have an answer for my questions, the best thing for you to do is to move on and allow intelligent Moslems to respond to me. Your post shows you are one of those Moslems that tarnish the image of Islam because of unnecessary intolerance and hatred.

I am still waiting for Intelligent Moslems to respond to my post above.

Pls those who enjoythrowing insults should look for other targets. I am not a candidate for that

@ Nopuqeater,

You made some sense then resorted to the same overflogged defence and justicatication that I hear from Moslems, the same point of making Moslems appear like the victims.

Pls differentiate these two scenarios:  1. I am a Christain; I go to a Lagos bus stop with a gun and start shooting at random, killing many people
                                                              2. I am a Christian; I stand in front of a Mosque on Friday afternoon with a gun and start shooting at Moslems coming out from prayers while shouting "Onward Christian Soldiers" as I kill them.

In the first scenario, even though I am a Christian, will you accuse me of religious aggression or mentally unbalanced? Pls answer this.

When people who are Christians or Buddhists commit atrocities, you don't link it to religion if there is no religious link. The same goes for Moslems or Jews, etc.

Radovan Karadzic is on trial now at the World Court for murdering Moslems in Srebenica (Bosnia & Herzegovina), and those trying him are mainly fellow Christians. Christians have not justified his act or that of his co-conspirator Gen Mladic.

Yes, we admit that there were many atrocities committed by Christianity during the inquisition, slavery (as if Moslems didn't practise slavery too), colonialism, apartheid, etc. My ancestors in Igboland killed twins, practised human sacrifice, sold their children into slavery - Does that mean that if I complain about a Yoruba man for committing murder, he is right to respond to me: "Why condemn me? After all, your ancestors committed worse atrocities?" Is that response logocal? US is overbearing on some Moslems countries like Iran, Iraq, Afghanistann but the same US also invaded Christian/non-Moslem countries like Vietnam, Phillipines, etc. North Korea, USSR, China, Cuba, Venezuela etc are not Moslem countries, and yet US has been having issues with them. So pls let's not use US or Britain as an excuse, after all one of the biggest allies of US is Saudi Arabia, which is home of the Islamic holy cities and sites.

If we use the treatment Christian countries give to Moslem people as justification, for terrorism, in Islamic countries like Sudan, Algeria, Morocco, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, etc Christians and Blacks are treated like second-class citizens (if not animals), yet Christians don't go blowing up Moslems in these countries. In Nigeria, I have lost so many relatives/property due to unprovoked attacks in the North, but I can't recall any Christian waking up and taking up arms to single out Moslems and kill them (except in retaliation in Kaduna in 2000, and since then Kaduna has been calm).

What is the link between a cartoonist act in Denmark against Islam and the attack on Igbos/Christians in Northern Nigeria? Pls don't skip this.

I have heard Christians insult Islam. I have also heard Moslems insult Christianity (just like you did to Jesus in your post above). I don't insult anybody's religion - I think it is very wrong, childish and mean to do so. I stick to my religion and allow any other person to stick to his or hers. I seek peace and understanding in my dealings with all people. But when you insult my religion, I can register my displeasure and correct any wrong impression you have, but I can never fight with you, not to talk of killing you. So many books and films (like the The da Vinci Code) have been produced to ridicule Christianity and Jesus, but Christians may demonstrate peacefully but nobody kills anyone. Moslems call Jesus Christ a prophet, which we see as a big insult, because we believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Saviour, the Messiah, but we don't kill any Moslem who says it or burn down any Mosque in protest.

What I would like to hear from you is rather than defence or justication,
(1) What can be done to ensure that Moslems are as tolerant as Buddhists, Hindu, Animists, Atheists, Christians, etc
(2) If you say that the acts of terrorism is from deviant Moslems, what can be done to curtail them, since they are becoming more visible than the good Moslems?
(3) The world is becoming more unsafe courtesy of acts of terrorism by mainly people of Islamic faith, thereby painting Islam in bad light; what can be done to make people see Islam the way good Moslems would like it to be seen?
(4) Do you feel happy that fellow Moslems commit acts that make people give you a bad name as a Moslem and feel unsafe when you are with them, (especially in the Western world)?

Thank you.

ezeagu:
Were there no queens?

Was that a joke? Queens in Igboland? If you mean Queen as in Regina (reigning queens), there have never been any in Igboland. (Except in Nollywood fantasies). If you mean queen as Igwe's wife, yes.

Pls DEEP Muslims respond to me.

I don't engage in religion/person bashing. I seek understanding and knowledge.

A. Christians are always accused of misunderstanding Islam  B. Islam is said to stand for peace.

Questions:

1. Why is there so much religious bloodshed from people who practise Islam?

2. Why are many Moslems very intolerant of other people's religions despite what the Quaran says about allowing others to practise their religion?

3. From Middle East to Northern Nigeria, why is there too much religious violence?

4. Yorubas, Edo etc have so many Moslems, yet there is hardly relgious problem in the South, why?

5.  Indonesia is the biggest Islamic nation in the world, yet you hardly hear of any religious crisis in that region, why?

6. Can we safely say that Islamic violence is perpetrated mainly by Arab Moslems and their allies or followers like the Fulanis/Hausas?

7. RATHER THAN ENGAGE IN DENIALS, WHAT CAN MOSLEMS DO TO ENSURE THAT ACTS OF TERRORISM ARE NOT COMMITTED IN THE NAME OF ALLAH (IE BY PEOPLE WHO SHOUT ALLAHU AKBAR WHEN THEY KILL OTHER PEOPLE) When an Igbo or American or Italian man goes on a killing spree, he does not say that he is doing it for God or Jesus. When an Indian goes on a killing spree, he doesn't say he is fighting for Buddha.

Pls I need DEEP answers not shallow, run-of-the-mill defensive responses that most people usually give. Thanks.

Pls DEEP Muslims respond to me.

I don't engage in religion/person bashing. I seek understanding and knowledge.

A. Christians are always accused of misunderstanding Islam B. Islam is said to stand for peace.

Questions:

1. Why is there so much religious bloodshed from people who practise Islam?

2. Why are many Moslems very intolerant of other people's religions despite what the Quaran says about allowing others to practise their religion?

3. From Middle East to Northern Nigeria, why is there too much religious violence?

4. Yorubas, Edo etc have so many Moslems, yet there is hardly relgious problem in the South, why?

5. Indonesia is the biggest Islamic nation in the world, yet you hardly hear of any religious crisis in that region, why?

6. Can we safely say that Islamic violence is perpetrated mainly by Arab Moslems and their allies or followers like the Fulanis/Hausas?

7. RATHER THAN ENGAGE IN DENIALS, WHAT CAN MOSLEMS DO TO ENSURE THAT ACTS OF TERRORISM ARE NOT COMMITTED IN THE NAME OF ALLAH (IE BY PEOPLE WHO SHOUT ALLAHU AKBAR WHEN THEY KILL OTHER PEOPLE) When an Igbo or American or Italian man goes on a killing spree, he does not say that he is doing it for God or Jesus. When an Indian goes on a killing spree, he doesn't say he is fighting for Buddha.

Pls I need DEEP answers not shallow, run-of-the-mill defensive responses that most people usually give. Thanks.

@ poster, there is a question you have not answered: Do you know how you contracted the virus? Do you suspect any particular act? Is it possible to know how the virus was contracted?

Did you go for routine test or was it the nausea/tiredness that made you go for test?

Your fiance tested negative. Have you been sexually involved with him. If so, for how long? And were you using Durex? (You are not using your real name, so you can say it the way it is)



Despite the fear, HIV/AIDS is just another disease. It is child's play compared to heart failure/cardiac arrest, even sickle cell anemia. Cancer is a horror. So let nobody start saying pele o, etc as if the poster is condemned/looking at the grave.

Yeah, I heard the Nigerian line in the Avatar but I don't think it was in bad light.

Watching that movie was pure waste of time and money. The simulation/animation was good but the story was too predictable and childish, just like a cartoon story for kids where Ben 10 or Superman can do anything.

Imagine an army with bows and arrows destroying jet fighters and so on.

ifyalways:
So Azuka what determines who succeds a dead igwe in Nnewi?does it rotate btw families in Otolo or its passed down from a particular lineage?

Ify, I said it in one of my posts above: All traditional institutions in Nnewi are hereditary (by the first son). Any day the current Igwe dies, WHOEVER is his first son at the time of his death automatically becomes the next Igwe. If the current Igwe has no male child at the time of his death, his immediate younger brother becomes the Igwe. If none of his brothers is alive, the eldest of his nephews becomes the Igwe. That is the way it is for all the Obi of all the umunna, villages and 4 quarters of Nnewi.

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Saad
Abubakar has condemned calls for the sack
of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen.
Abdulrahaman Danbazau over the
deployment of troops along major roads in
Abuja when President Umaru Yar’Adua
returned from Saudi Arabia on February 23.
Speaking yesterday during the N100 million
fund raising for NAJOMO Mosque at the
Syrian Club, Ikoyi, Lagos, the Sultan described
the demand as uncalled for.
The Army, he said, is not a religious Army.
"Because he happens to be a Muslim, if he is
a Christian, would they have called for his
sack. Many things happen in this country but
no Muslim leader has called for the sack of
any Christian government official.


This is shocking, coming from an educated person like the Sultan. I hope it's not true. Christians have called for the sack of Michael Aondoakaa, a Christian. Christians and Southerners have called for the head of Obasanjo., even after he left govt. Christians have defended Moslems like Ribadu and el-Rufai against Yar'Adua, a Moslem. If the Sultan really made this statement, then we are in grave trouble in this nation.

Balewa, Shagari, Yar'Adua - three elected presidents/head of govt from the North - have not been bold, firm, decisive, and inspiring. The next Nigerian President from the North must be a LEADER in all aspects of the word, so that this nation will rise and walk.

Fhemmmy:
Like i said, he is a man that seems to have people that will listen to him in almost all states and cities.
he has already stole all he could and i am sure, he will wanna repair his name and do the right thing

A lion does not kill an antelope because he is wicked. That is just the way he is.

IBB is what he is because that is his nature - nothing will change it. A man who will place his hand on the Koran and swear to do a thing and yet turn around to do the opposite. Forget it!

He has influence across the states because he understands the act of manipulation and settlement.

We need people who genuinely love this nation, not people who are power-crazy and chameleonic. And there are so many good guys in all parts of this country - I have met so many of them.

humantoy:
IBB and Fashola
IBB and Donald Duke

IBBBBBBB? We are talking about moving Nigeria forward and you are talking about taking us deeper into a govt of "settlement" and manoevring. Are you sure you love this nation or are you joking?