₦airaland Forum

Arysexy:
I saw it, they are trying to suppress the news. I have provided two credible links of popular news outlets plus video. Let me see how they will call this fake information.

There was even video in that one a complete YouTube video I watched this around 3-4 am this morning on that thread .

This is shocking.

With all that the toad called it a fake news ?

Arysexy:
Lalasticlala, seun, oam4j this deserves front page

Do know that the other Mod called Myd actually clossed and deleted the first thread of this calling it a fake news ?

Authoreety:
How abt training workshop for youth Empowerment....

I dey talk am reach tomorrow.. No governor fit drag shoulders with Okowa and him family for youth empowerment..

Okobobo ?

U know where okobobo daughter dey ?

If soludo do like that you no go mad ?

Lanretoye:
that's your showcase,but you blame seyi tinubu for being the MD of a company that employs thousands of people...okay o,Anambra,them say make una come do fashion parade

Dude business is business and it can vary . that is why they have departments in a faculty

SWATMan:
This is not a propaganda. CUPP had a live press conference on arise tv around 3pm yesterday enumerating the fraud carried out by INEC in about 18 states of the federation (mostly APC) controlled state. This is something that every Nigerian should be worried about instead of seeing it as propaganda.

Leave that bush suya seller alone .

To these malnutrished goats everything is politics

BigIyanga:
A lot more. She’s riding on her dad’s success and influence. Anybody can do a Fashion Show

What ever makes you feel OK


She should have hired a father to ride on his success and influence abi ?

An open Archive file

SUMMARY. THIS CABLE IS THE IMPRESSIONISTIC REPORT OF

EMBOFFS WHO HAVE RECENTLY VISITED ALL FOUR STATES IN THE
OLD EASTERN REGION. ONE RETURNS FROM THE EAST WITH MANY

IMPRESSION, THE STRONGEST OF WHICH IS THAT THIS AREA HAS
NOT BENEFITTED AS GREATLY AS THE REST OF NIGERIA DURING
THE ERA OF THE PETRONAIRA. THERE ARE ALSO GRAVE PROBLEMS

FOR THE FUTURE OF DEVELOPMENT IN THE AREA. AMERICANS
REMAIN QUITE POPULAR IN THE EAST AND THERE IS A CONSTANT

INTEREST IN THE REOPENING OF AN AMERICAN CONSULATE, BUT
ALWAYS IN "MY TOWN." END SUMMARY.


2. DURING THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS, EMBOFFS HAVE TRAVELED

THROUGHT THE FOUR STATES OF THE OLD EASTERN REGION--ANAMBRA,
CROSS RIVER, IMO AND RIVERS. DURING THESE TRIPS WE HAVE

DEVELOPED STRONG IMPRESSIONS OF THE DIFFERENCES AS WELL AS
CONFIDENTIAL


CONFIDENTIAL


PAGE 02 LAGOS 14939 01 OF 03 281457Z


THE SIMILARITIES OF THESE STATES. THIS TELEGRAM WILL PROVIDE
SOME GENERAL IMPRESSIONS OF THE POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC

CLIMATE IN THE AREA.


3. POLITICAL ACTIVITY IN THE EAST. THE POLITICIANS IN THE
EAST DO NOT APPEAR TO BE AS ACTIVE AS THOSE IN EITHER THE
NORTH OR THE WEST. TWO REASONS WERE CONSISTENTLY CITED FOR









THESE PHENOMENA: A) HAVING BEEN BURNED ONCE (ESPECIALLY THE
IBOS), THERE IS LITTLE DESIRE TO RETURN TO ACTIVE

POLITICS; B) HAVING RESIGNED THEMSELVES TO MAKING MONEY IN
THE BUSINESS WORLD, MANY OLD AND POTENTIAL POLITICAH

)
LEADERS HAVE FOUND THEY ENJOY IT AND ARE RELUCTANT

TO SEEK ACTIVE POLITICAL ROLES. THESE COMMENTS NOT-
WITHSTANDING, THERE ARE A FEW WELL-KNOWN EASTERNERS WHO

HAVE APPEARED IN THE CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY (CA) SUCH AS
MATTHEW T. MBU, BRIGADIER GEORGE KURUBO AND LT. COL.

HILARY NJOKU. HOWEVER, WHEN THESE NAMES WERE RAISED PEOPLE
DID NOT APPEAR TO SEE THEM AS LEADERS IN THE EAST, BUT

RATHER AS WELL KNOWN POLITICIANS WHO HAD WON THEIR SEATS
THROUGH THEIR INFLUENCE IN LOCAL AREAS.


4. WHITHER THE EAST IN THE RETURN TO CIVILIAN RULE? A

DIFFICULT QUESTION TO ANSWER. THE MOST COMMON VIEW WHICH
WAS EXPLICITLY STATED BY ONE IBO WAS THAT THE EAST WILL

BROKER ITSELF TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER IN THE NEW POLITICAL
STRUCTURE. IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS, THE NORTHERNERS ARE
PREFERRED TO THE YORUBAS. IN LINE WITH THIS LATTER OBSERVA-

TION, IT APPEARS THAT A NUMBER OF NORTHERN POLITICIANS
HAVE BEEN ACTIVELY POLITICKING IN THE EAST, BUT THAT THE

YORUBAS HAVE NOT.


5. REINTEGRATION OF THE IBOS. IN LAGOS ONE HAS THE
CONFIDENTIAL


CONFIDENTIAL


PAGE 03 LAGOS 14939 01 OF 03 281457Z


IMPRESSION THAT THE IBOS HAVE BEEN QUITE SUCCESSFUL REINTEGRATING

THEMSELVES INTO NIGERIAN SOCIETY SINCE THE CIVIL WAR. ONE
FINDS A DISTINCT

BANIOSIOE IMPRESSION IN THE EAST. THERE
IS A WIDESPREAD FEELING THAT THE EAST IN GENERAL AND THE

IBOS IN PARTICULARartners
WikiLeaks
Press release
About PlusD
Browse by creation date
1966 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Browse by Classification
UNCLASSIFIED
CONFIDENTIAL
LIMITED OFFICIAL USE
SECRET
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
SECRET//NOFORN
Browse by Handling Restriction
EXDIS - Exclusive Distribution Only
ONLY - Eyes Only
LIMDIS - Limited Distribution Only
NODIS - No Distribution (other than to persons indicated)
STADIS - State Distribution Only
CHEROKEE - Limited to senior officials
NOFORN - No Foreign Distribution
LOU - Limited Official Use
SENSITIVE -
BU - Background Use Only
CONDIS - Controlled Distribution
US - US Government Only
Browse by TAGS
US PFOR PGOV PREL ETRD UR OVIP ASEC OGEN CASC PINT EFIN BEXP OEXC EAID CVIS OTRA ENRG OCON ECON NATO PINS GE JA UK IS MARR PARM UN EG FR PHUM SREF EAIR MASS APER SNAR PINR EAGR PDIP AORG PORG MX TU ELAB IN CA SCUL CH IR IT XF GW EINV TH TECH SENV OREP KS EGEN PEPR MILI SHUM KISSINGER, HENRY A PL BR RP GR SF AFSP SP PTER MOPS SA UNGA CGEN ESTC SOPN RO LE TGEN PK AR NI OSCI CI EEC VS YO AFIN OECD SY IZ ID VE TPHY TW AS PBOR
Media Organizations
Australia - The Age
Argentina - Pagina 12
Brazil - Publica
Bulgaria - Bivol
Egypt - Al Masry Al Youm
Greece - Ta Nea
Guatemala - Plaza Publica
Haiti - Haiti Liberte
India - The Hindu
Italy - L'Espresso
Italy - La Repubblica
Lebanon - Al Akhbar
Mexico - La Jornada
Spain - Publico
Sweden - Aftonbladet
UK - AP
US - The Nation



Specified Search View Map Make Timegraph View Tags Image Library
BIAFRA REVISITED: JOURNEYS TO THE EAST
Date:1977 December 28, 00:00 (Wednesday) Canonical ID:1977LAGOS14939_c
Original Classification:CONFIDENTIAL Current Classification:UNCLASSIFIED
Handling Restrictions-- N/A or Blank --
Character Count:11472
Executive Order:GS Locator:TEXT ON MICROFILM,TEXT ONLINE
TAGS:NI - Nigeria | PGOV - Political Affairs--Government; Internal Governmental Affairs | PINT - Political Affairs--Internal Political Affairs Concepts:POLITICAL SITUATION | REPORTS
Enclosure:-- N/A or Blank -- Type:TE - Telegram (cable)
Office Origin:-- N/A or Blank --
Office Action:ACTION AF - Bureau of African Affairs Archive Status:Electronic Telegrams
From:Nigeria Lagos Markings:Margaret P. Grafeld Declassified/Released US Department of State EO Systematic Review 22 May 2009
To:SECSTATE LONDON


ContentRaw contentMetadataRaw sourcePrintShare
Show Headers

1. SUMMARY. THIS CABLE IS THE IMPRESSIONISTIC REPORT OF

EMBOFFS WHO HAVE RECENTLY VISITED ALL FOUR STATES IN THE
OLD EASTERN REGION. ONE RETURNS FROM THE EAST WITH MANY

IMPRESSION, THE STRONGEST OF WHICH IS THAT THIS AREA HAS
NOT BENEFITTED AS GREATLY AS THE REST OF NIGERIA DURING
THE ERA OF THE PETRONAIRA. THERE ARE ALSO GRAVE PROBLEMS

FOR THE FUTURE OF DEVELOPMENT IN THE AREA. AMERICANS
REMAIN QUITE POPULAR IN THE EAST AND THERE IS A CONSTANT

INTEREST IN THE REOPENING OF AN AMERICAN CONSULATE, BUT
ALWAYS IN "MY TOWN." END SUMMARY.


2. DURING THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS, EMBOFFS HAVE TRAVELED

THROUGHT THE FOUR STATES OF THE OLD EASTERN REGION--ANAMBRA,
CROSS RIVER, IMO AND RIVERS. DURING THESE TRIPS WE HAVE

DEVELOPED STRONG IMPRESSIONS OF THE DIFFERENCES AS WELL AS
CONFIDENTIAL


CONFIDENTIAL


PAGE 02 LAGOS 14939 01 OF 03 281457Z


THE SIMILARITIES OF THESE STATES. THIS TELEGRAM WILL PROVIDE
SOME GENERAL IMPRESSIONS OF THE POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC

CLIMATE IN THE AREA.


3. POLITICAL ACTIVITY IN THE EAST. THE POLITICIANS IN THE
EAST DO NOT APPEAR TO BE AS ACTIVE AS THOSE IN EITHER THE
NORTH OR THE WEST. TWO REASONS WERE CONSISTENTLY CITED FOR









THESE PHENOMENA: A) HAVING BEEN BURNED ONCE (ESPECIALLY THE
IBOS), THERE IS LITTLE DESIRE TO RETURN TO ACTIVE

POLITICS; B) HAVING RESIGNED THEMSELVES TO MAKING MONEY IN
THE BUSINESS WORLD, MANY OLD AND POTENTIAL POLITICAH

)
LEADERS HAVE FOUND THEY ENJOY IT AND ARE RELUCTANT

TO SEEK ACTIVE POLITICAL ROLES. THESE COMMENTS NOT-
WITHSTANDING, THERE ARE A FEW WELL-KNOWN EASTERNERS WHO

HAVE APPEARED IN THE CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY (CA) SUCH AS
MATTHEW T. MBU, BRIGADIER GEORGE KURUBO AND LT. COL.

HILARY NJOKU. HOWEVER, WHEN THESE NAMES WERE RAISED PEOPLE
DID NOT APPEAR TO SEE THEM AS LEADERS IN THE EAST, BUT

RATHER AS WELL KNOWN POLITICIANS WHO HAD WON THEIR SEATS
THROUGH THEIR INFLUENCE IN LOCAL AREAS.


4. WHITHER THE EAST IN THE RETURN TO CIVILIAN RULE? A

DIFFICULT QUESTION TO ANSWER. THE MOST COMMON VIEW WHICH
WAS EXPLICITLY STATED BY ONE IBO WAS THAT THE EAST WILL

BROKER ITSELF TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER IN THE NEW POLITICAL
STRUCTURE. IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS, THE NORTHERNERS ARE
PREFERRED TO THE YORUBAS. IN LINE WITH THIS LATTER OBSERVA-

TION, IT APPEARS THAT A NUMBER OF NORTHERN POLITICIANS
HAVE BEEN ACTIVELY POLITICKING IN THE EAST, BUT THAT THE

YORUBAS HAVE NOT.


5. REINTEGRATION OF THE IBOS. IN LAGOS ONE HAS THE
CONFIDENTIAL


CONFIDENTIAL


PAGE 03 LAGOS 14939 01 OF 03 281457Z


IMPRESSION THAT THE IBOS HAVE BEEN QUITE SUCCESSFUL REINTEGRATING

THEMSELVES INTO NIGERIAN SOCIETY SINCE THE CIVIL WAR. ONE
FINDS A DISTINCT

BANIOSIOE IMPRESSION IN THE EAST. THERE
IS A WIDESPREAD FEELING THAT THE EAST IN GENERAL AND THE

IBOS IN PARTICULAR ARE STILL BEING PUNISHED FOR THEIR ROLE
IN THE CIVIL WAR. IT WOULD APPEAR TO US THAT PERHAPS THOSE

IBOS WHO LEFT THE EAST HAVE FAIRED BETTER AS INDIVIDUALS
THAN THE IBOS WHO REMAINED AT HOME AND AS A GROUP HAVE SUFFERED

FOR THE "SINS" OF THE CIVIL WAR.


6. AS A FOOTNOTE, WE SHOULD PASS ON THE VIEW OF ONE AMERICAN
OBASERVER WHO LIVES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NSUKKA. HE SAYS

THAT WITHIN THE INTELLECTUAL/ACADEMIC COMMUNITY THERE IS A
STRONG FEELING THAT THE IBOS WHO LEFT THE EAST TO REJOIN THE

FMG AND SEEK THEIR FUTURES IN THE FEDERAL BUREAUCRACY WERE
"TRAITORS." EMBOFFS DID NOT HEAR THIS VIEW EXPRESSED

ELSEWHERE.


7. ON THE POSITIVE SIDE, THE LAST TWO YEARS HAVE APPARENTLY
WITNESSED THE REDUCTION OF FEDERAL TROOPS THROUGHOUT THE
EAST IN IBO AND NON-IBG AREAS. REFERRED TO BY SOME AS










"OCCUPATION TROOPS," THEIR ROADBLOCKS AND INSPECTIONS



CONFIDENTIAL






NNN


CONFIDENTIAL


PAGE 01 LAGOS 14939 02 OF 03 281528Z

ACTION AF-10


INFO OCT-01 EUR-12 IO-13 ISO-00 CIAE-00 DODE-00 PM-05
H-01 INR-07 L-03 NSAE-00 NSC-05 PA-01 PRS-01

SP-02 SS-15 USIA-06 ACDA-12 HA-05 AID-05 COME-00
EB-08 FRB-03 TRSE-00 XMB-02 OPIC-03 LAB-04 SIL-01

OMB-01 AGRE-00 A-01 SCS-06 CA-01 /134 W
------------------023233 281539Z /44

R 281445Z DEC 77
FM AMEMBASSY LAGOS

TO SECSTATE WASHDC 5630
INFO AMEMBASSY LONDON
AMCONSUL IBADAN

AMCONSUL KADUNA
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK


C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 2 OF 3 LAGOS 14939


WERE APPARENTLY A TREMENDOUS IRRITANT TO THE CIVILIAN

POLULATION. AS ONE IBO SAID TO AN EMBOFF, IF YOU HAD THE
SLIGHTEST RUN-IN WITH THE SOLDIERS, THEY WOULD "BEAT THE

HELL OUT OF YOU." WHILE THERE ARE STILL SOLDIERS
AROUND THEY NO LONGER ACT LIKE OCCUPIERS AND THEY WERE MUCH

LESS OBVIOUS THAN THEY REPORTEDLY WERE IN THE PAST.


8. STATE GOVERNMENTS. THE QUALITY OF STATE GOVERNMENTS IN
THE EAST WAS QUITE CHECKERED. IMO, THE NEW IBO STATE, HAS

AN IMPRESSIVE COLLECTION OF YOUNG CIVIL SERVANTS BASED IN
AN ALMOST UNLIVABLE TOWN STRUGGLING TO BECOME A CITY.
PERHAPS THE DIFFICULTIES OF OWERRI AND THE OPPORTUNITIES

OF A NEW STATE GOVERNMENT ATTRACT MANY YOUNGER CAPABLE
PEOPLE WHO SEE THEIR FUTURES BLOCKED BY OLD LINE CIVIL

SERVANTS IN OTHER STATES.


9. BY CONTRAST, EMBOFFS WERE UNIMPRESSED BY THE CIVIL
SERVANTS IN ANAMBRA STATE. THIS CAN BE EXPLAINED IN PART

BECAUSE SO MANY OF THE CIVIL SERVANTS REMAINED WITH THE
CONFIDENTIAL


CONFIDENTIAL











PAGE 02 LAGOS 14939 02 OF 03 281528Z


GOVERNMENT IN ENUGU THROUGHOUT THE PERIOD OF THE OLD
EASTERN REION GOVERNMENT, THE BIAFRAN GOVERNMENT, THE

CORRUPT ASIKA REGIME AND NOW THE NEW ANAMBRA STATE
GOVERNMENT. REPORTEDLY, THE OLDEST PERMANENT SECRETARY IN

NIGERIA IS IN ENUGU. IN THE WORDS OF ONE OFFICIAL, THE
CIVIL SERVANTS ARE OLD AND TIRED; THEY HAVE BEEN BUFFETED
BY THE WINDS OF TOO MANY POLITICAL CHANGES.


10. CROSS RIVER STATE FALLS SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN WITH A

NUMBER OF YOUNG ENERGETIC OFFICIALS, BUT LACKING IN DEPTH
OF TALENT. ONE YOUNG IBO IN ENUGU COMMENTED THAT CROSS

RIVER, UNLIKE ANAMBRA, STILL ATTRACTS QUALIFIED YOUND
OFFICIALS WILE IN OTHER AREAS THEY TEND TO LOOK TOWARD,

THE BUSINESS WORLD. PERHAPS CROSS RIVERS' GREATEST
HANDICAP, ASIDE FROM ITS PHYSICAL ISOLATION, IS THAT IT

LACKS A SUFFICIENTLY LARGE POOL OF TALENTED MANPOWER,
OR MONEY, FROM WHICH TO DRAW.


11. WE DID NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT CONTACT WITH RIVERS STATE

OFFICIALS TO MAKE ANY GNERAL COMMENTS.


12. FINANCE. THE STATES IN EASTERN NIGERIA, AS ALL THE
STATES, ARE DEPENDENT ON THE FMG FOR THE LION'S SHARE
(80-85 PERCENT) OF THEIR REVENUES. THERE IS JUSTIFIABLE

CONCERN AMONG STATE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS THAT HIS YEAR'S
FEDERAL BUDGET CUTS INDICATE FUTURE AUSTERITY WITH

STAGNATION, OR PERHAPS DECLINE, IN FEDERAL BUDGETARY
SUPPORT. THIS IS A SPECIAL PROBLEM IN THE EAST SINCE

THESE STATES HAVE NOT BENEFITTED AS MUCH FROM THE ERA
OF THE PETRONAIRA AS THE REST OF NIGERIA.


13. ONE REACTION OF STATE AND LOCAL OFFICIALS TO THIS

SITUATION WAS TO TALK OF TAPPING THE LOCAL TAX BASE.
CONFIDENTIAL


CONFIDENTIAL


PAGE 03 LAGOS 14939 02 OF 03 281528Z


WHILE POTENTIAL MAY EXIST IN THE LARGER TOWNS, THERE ARE
NO TAX COLLECTION MECHANISMS IN PLACE, NOR DO THERE

APPEAR TO BE PLANS FOR ANY.


14. THE FMG IS PUSHING PRIVATE BANKS TO OPEN MORE
BRANCHES IN THE STATES AND POSSIBLY LEND FUNDS DIRECTLY

TO THE STATES. NONETHELESS, SINCE THE STATES DEPEND ON
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR FINANCING, ANY BANK LOANS

TO THE STATES WOULD ULTIMATELY HAVE TO BE UNDERWRITTEN BY
THE FMG AND WOULD BE SIMPLY ANOTHER FEDERAL SUBSIDY.


15. ECONOMIC ACTIVITY. WITH THE EXCEPTION OF CROSS RIVER

WHICH LIVES ON THE OIL INDUSTRY, THE FINANCIAL PICUTRE









DESCRIBED ABOVE HAS SERIOUS IMPLICATIONS FOR ECONOMIC ACTIVITY.
IN THE REST OF THE STATES, ASIDE FROM THE UBIQUITOUS IBO

TRADE, MOST ACTIVITY IS PETRONAIRA CONSTRUCTION DIRECTLY
OR INDIRECTLY FUNDED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. THERE

IS A POTENTIAL FOR SOME PRIVATE INVESTMENT BUT, GIVEN THE
"TRADING MENTALITY" OF THE IBOS WHO DOMINATE THE AREA,

MUCH OF THIS LOOSE CASH REMAINS UNFOCUSED FOR INVESTMENT
PURPOSES.


16. THERE ARE FEW INDICATIONS THAT THE STATE GOVERNMENTS
HAVE THE TALENT TO ORGANIZE OR DIRECT THIS WEALTH. PRIVATE

BANKS WOULD PROBABLY CONCLUDE THAT AS BAR AS INVESTMENT IS
CONCERNED, THE RISKS ARE TOO GREAT. THE PARASTATAL FINANCE

INSTITUTIONS, E.G., ANAMBRA'S CENTRAL INVESTMENT COMPANY,
ARE PROBABLY THE BEST HOPE BUT THE TASK IS ENORMOUS SINCE

IT INVOLVES NOTHING LESS THAN TRANSFORMING TRADERS INTO
INVESTORS.


18. IF THERE IS TO BE INVESTMENT, THE GREATEST NEED

AND POTENTIAL IS IN AGRICULTURE AND LIGHT INDUSTRY. HOWEVER,
THE DEVELOPMENT OF THESE SECTORS IS DEPENDENT ON THE

REHABILITATION OF THE EAST'S ROAD NET WHICH IS NOT A


CONFIDENTIAL






NNN


CONFIDENTIAL


PAGE 01 LAGOS 14939 03 OF 03 281504Z
ACTION AF-10


INFO OCT-01 EUR-12 IO-13 ISO-00 CIAE-00 DODE-00 PM-05

H-01 INR-07 L-03 NSAE-00 NSC-05 PA-01 PRS-01
SP-02 SS-15 USIA-06 ACDA-12 HA-05 AID-05 COME-00

EB-08 FRB-03 TRSE-00 XMB-02 OPIC-03 LAB-04 SIL-01
OMB-01 AGRE-00 A-01 SCS-06 CA-01 /134 W

------------------023061 281537Z /41
R 281445Z DEC 77
FM AMEMBASSY LAGOS

TO SECSTATE WASHDC 5631
INFO AMEMBASSY LONDON

AMCONSUL IBADAN
AMCONSUL KADUNA

USMISSION USUN NEW YORK


C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 3 OF 3 LAGOS 14939


CERTAINTY GIVEN THE GOVERNMENT'S BUDGETARY PROBLEMS. THE
ROADS VARY FROM POOR TO ALMOST IMPASSABLE. ALTHOUGH THIS

PROBLEM IS PARTIALLY ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE RAVAGES OF THE CIVIL









WAR, THE INADEQUACIES OF THE POST-WAR ADMINISTRATION,
AT LEAST IN IBO AREAS, HAVE FURTHER COMPOUNDED THE PROBLEM

WITH YEARS OF INADEQUATE DEVELOPMENT AND MAINTENANCE.


18. CONCLUSION. DESPITE THE EMPHASIS ON NEW STATES AND
SMALLER ETHNIC GROUPS, THE IBOS REMAINS THE MOST IMPORTANT

PEOPLE IN THE REGION. YET AT HOME THEY ARE MUCH LESS IMPRESSIVE
THAN THE IBO BUSINESSMAN AND BUREAUCRATS ONE MEETS IN OTHER
PARTS OF NIGERIA. PERHAPS, LIKE THE OVERSEAS CHINESE, MUCH OF

THE CREAM OF THE SOCIETY IS DRAINED OFF SEEKING CAREERS IN
OTHER AREAS. IF SO, AGAIN PERHAPS LIKE THE CHINESE, MUCH

OF THE HOPE FOR PRIVATE INVESTMENT AND PROGRESS WILL BE
THE GRADUAL RETURN OF MONEY AND INDIVIDUALS TO THE HOMELAND

TO PUSH DEVELOPMENT.


19. THE CIVIL WAR IS OVER, YET IT REMAINS IN THE
CONFIDENTIAL


CONFIDENTIAL


PAGE 02 LAGOS 14939 03 OF 03 281504Z


MINDS OF MANY WITH SASUAL REFERENCES TO "THE WAR." OF

COURSE IT MEANS DIFFERENT THINGS TO DIFFERENT PEOPLE. THIS
FEELING IS PERHAPS SYMBOLIZED BY MAY 27TH STREET IN ENUGU.
ONE OF THE MAIN STREETS, IT WAS REPORTEDLY NAMED BY OJUKWU

IN 1967 BECAUSE THAT WAS THE DATE THAT THE CONSULTATIVE
ASSEMBLY OF THE EASTERN REGION CALLED UPON HIM TO DECLARE

ITS INDEPENDENCE. IT STILL BEARS THAT NAME BECAUSE TO 4HE
VICTORS IN THE WAR, IT IS THE DATE ON WHICH GOWON DECLARED

THRE CREATION OF 12 STATES, SYMBOLIZING THE NEW NIGERIA, BUT
SPURRING THE IBOS TO DECLARE THEIR INDEPENDENCE.


20. AMERICANS REMAIN QUITE POPLULAR IN THE AREA. EVERYONE

WAS INTERESTED IN THE OPENING OF A CONSULATE, ALTHOUGH WITH
FOUR STATES THE QUESTION IS NOT ONLY WHETHER BUT ALSO WHERE.

EASUM



CONFIDENTIAL

An open archive file



Classified by Ambassador Howard F. Jeter; Reasons 1.5 (b) and
(d).


1. (U) This is an action request. Please see para 6.


2. (C) SUMMARY: During a November 11 meeting with Ambassador
Jeter, NSA Aliyu Mohammed urged the United States to stop a
U.S.-based organization from calling itself the "Embassy of
Biafra," and from broadcasting the "Voice of Biafra" to
Nigeria. After referring to the freedom of speech protection
granted by the U.S. Constitution, Ambassador Jeter explained
that we would look into the matter quickly. Action requested
in para 6. Draft press release in para 7. END SUMMARY.


3. (C) The NSA stated flatly that the Biafra House, "Embassy
of Biafra" situation, concerned the GON a great deal. They
now had a radio station, "The Voice of Biafra," broadcasting
from Washington to Nigeria. After losing over one million
people in its civil war, and then putting the conflict behind
it, Nigeria did not want to relive this piece of its history.
The NSA enjoined the Ambassador to "do something" to stop
the group from calling itself an Embassy and broadcasting to
Nigeria.

4. (C) Ambassador Jeter, noting that President Obasanjo had
discussed this matter with Secretary Powell during his
November 2 visit to Washington, explained that the protection
of freedom of speech in the United States gave groups wide
latitude as to what they might call themselves. However, the
Biafra House was not an accredited Embassy to the United
States, nor were they being treated as one. Jeter informed
the NSA that we would look into the matter urgently to see
what, if anything, could be done. On November 26, visiting
Nigerian Ambassador to Washington, Jibril Aminu, called
Ambassador Jeter to relay President Obasanjo's continuing
concern over this issue. Obasanjo, Aminu related, felt very
strongly about this matter because he had led Nigerian forces
during the civil war and wanted the matter of Biafra closed,
now and forever.
The misrepresentation that there is an
"Embassy of Biafra" in the United States deeply concerns the
GON leadership. The GON sees the "Embassy of Biafra" as an
attempt to foment separatism, and to undermine the Obasanjo
Administration. Given the tragedy of the Nigerian Civil War,
any representation of Biafra as a diplomatic entity provokes
strong emotional reaction from the GON senior leadership,
some of whom, like President Obasanjo and NSA Mohammed, were
military officers at the time of the war. They
understandably want to nip this in the bud before it spurs
more separatist agitation from this or any other group.
(While separation is not a strong political force, such
public agitation could unduly rile ethnic tensions at a time
when everything should be done to calm the waters.)
ACTION REQUEST: Because it is an important issue for
Nigeria (it was the only point raised by the NSA in the
meeting and the first issue raised by President Obasanjo in
his meeting with Secretary Powell), we believe the USG should
make a clear statement regarding Biafra House. The Embassy
requests that the Department approve the issuance of the
press release in Para 7. We also ask the Department to find
out whether Biafra House is broadcasting in accordance with
applicable U.S. law and regulations. The broadcasts are
being transmitted on short-wave at 12.125 MHz. The address
of Biafra House is Suite 700, No 733, 15th Street NW. The
phone number is 202-347-2983. END ACTION REQUEST.

7. (SBU) BEGIN PROPOSED PRESS RELEASE: It has come to the
attention of the Embassy and the Government of the United
States that an organization has been publicly representing
itself in the United States as the "Embassy of Biafra."
Neither the Embassy nor the Government of the United States
recognizes the existence of any organization by that name.
This group does not have diplomatic status in the United
States, nor does the United States recognize any such group
as representing any known government. Whatever confusion
resulting from the group incorrectly referring to itself as
an Embassy is unacceptable. We disapprove of such false
misrepresentation and urge the organization to take the steps
necessary to end the confusion that it has caused. We also
take this opportunity to reaffirm our friendship toward the
Nigerian people, our full recognition of the Obasanjo
Administration, and our respect for the territorial integrity
and indivisible sovereignty of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria. END PROPOSED PRESS RELEASE.
Jeter

Sergio103:


Next is to shoot them

Nigeria really goofed big time when they voted in this administration.

Now exactly the same people that campaigned for Buhari is campaigning for Tinubu again.

Won't you use your sense for once and smell the coffee??

Very clueless government

ogmask:
This is the kind of bridge we should be talking about and not those things in Portharcourt wike wasted money on.

Wike's biggest road achievement is the planting of touts everywhere around the bridges to harass and steal from people. All the bridges are the perfect cover for thieves and hoodlums because of the blind spot created with concrete slabs by Julius Berger

Learnt from special Agent Asiwazz

NwaNimo1:
...Keke all over the place!

[img]https://giffiles./216/216404.gif[/img]

This man lol

APC will come and compare why Nigeria lacks 24/7 electricity

PROUDIGBO:
Just like its borders!

I watched the video this is crazy .

How how how , Nigeria joke with IT and ICT FvCkkkkkk

proff010:
Your family is in lagos enjoy Tinubu life yet you want obituary Pandora.
Shame

Is that why you sniff Tinubu's merchandise?

swaggerjack:
CC

omenka

Meowww

BigIyanga:
Does she know any other thing except fashion show? How about training workshop for coding, fx, crypto mining, web design, and IT-services??

How many have you done ?

You see someone young like you doing something and you are saying thrash

Nice one

Realist12:
How would you feel if a drunkard asked you to drink responsibly, or if a beggar asked you to spend wisely. We know who Okoye is supporting so it's annoying he has the guts to say vote wisely yet his former Anambra state governor is his preferred candidate.
If he was wise then he shouldn't be supporting Obi whilst he comfortably lives and works in Lagos.

Oluwole media

Alright next ?

When are they arresting Bello Turji?

Nigeria and APC go do face like them no see the news .

Lebanon

..

Venezuela

..

Nigeri.......

Atiku hacker

Haywhy3579:
How do u plan to reject inec result. Don’t go and practice end sars because u might bcoms the scape goat. Don’t let ur village people follow u to the city make army no use u shine shoe.

Dude grow up this is a shame to the country.
Or you really don't understand what is going on here .

Or you do but want to act dumb ?

Moh247:
The fear of defeat

Dude the F is wrong with you ?

The man who exposed this is from Cupp .

This is a slap on the country no matter the party .

It's an issue or you don't see it as one ?

How can you generate Japanese names ,Italian and Zimbabwe names using one finger print?

The country's bio data is porus ..


FVCKKKKK

Nigeria is an animal farm

ElSudani:
Quote the part where it says Tinubu should step down? Olodo.

Hey bingo

A suicide bomber cannot be vice president.

Your ass licking Druggie should know that proper

ElSudani:
Please explain to us how you got to the conclusion that they are asking Tinubu and Shettima to step down?
Liars and thieves are some of the most difficult and dangerous people to deal with. Obi and his supporters have shown themselves to be shameless liars.

Hey bingo .

Read the banner

Continuation.

BIO NOTE: Festus Keyamo, a human rights activist
and lawyer based in Maryland, Lagos, has been embroiled in
many of Nigeria's top scandals from the past two years. He
is currently under SSS and police monitoring, having been
released conditionally from arrest several days ago. Keyamo
was detained for questioning after he declared his intention
to defend Chris Nwokobia, the self-styled leader of the
"Youth Democratic Movement" which claimed responsibility for
the fire at NNPC (septel). The fire began just days after
Keyamo's public pronouncement of the Future Republic of Niger
Delta. Other battles Keyamo has recently fought in the glare
of national media include his defense of those accused of
killing Attorney General Bola Ige in December 2001 and a suit
he brought against the Federal Government over aviation
safety issues. Colleagues say Keyamo is not necessarily
involved directly in any conspiracies, but his taste for high
profile cases often leads him to prominent involvement in
bizarre cases. He reputedly seeks public attention and loves
the limelight. One source argues that Keyamo, a sound enough
lawyer, has trouble distinguishing between what is a serious
matter for democracy and social progress versus a personal
opportunity for notoriety.))

Continuation.

Another source discounts the mutual security theory,
claiming Obasanjo's true agenda is in fact to replace
northern hegemony of the armed forces with diversified
officers at the lower ranks. Proceeding slowly, carefully
and quietly, avoiding media attention which would unravel the
whole endeavor, Obasanjo has progressed to the point that the
South no longer depends on the North for military support, he
argues. Nevertheless, CDHR asserts, the South still believes
military power is a northern product, a perception which
reinforces cohesion.
Many, if not most, analysts fear uneven resource
distribution and economic hardship are steadily corroding the
country's stability. Daily street scuffles across the South
have varied causes, but some relate to the question of
national unity. George Ehusani, Secretary General of the
Catholic Secretariat, blames most of the violence on poverty,
which impedes Nigeria's forming "a melting pot like the
United States." Given "impoverished conditions," he finds it
unsurprising that violence erupts with "people biting each
other." Competition over resources is often expressed as a
conflict between "indigenes" and "settlers," two concepts
whose precise definitions can differ wildly from one village
to the next. Ehusani sees most of Nigeria's current threats
to cohesion in these terms, including the complexities of
expanding Shari'a

Ehusani, who traveled to Kigali last fall, is
publishing his analysis of potential lessons Nigeria can
learn from the Rwandan genocide. He fears "ethnic
antipathies, combined with long-standing issues of perceived
or real injustice, mixed with severe economic depression"
could spark similar mass violence in Nigeria. While the
military regimes "suppressed genocidal sentiments," under
democracy, the situation now may be "boiling over."
"Disorganized violence," Ehusani argues, is manifest between
poor individuals. "If violence is organized by a Big Man,"
on the other hand, he fears it is used in Nigeria to
"manipulate the Small Man versus the Small Man to the gain of
the elite." He claims religious teachings of peace and
forgiveness are the main deterrents to all-out class warfare
and mass violence in Nigeria

Nigerian unity may prove more resilient than expected
from a cursory glance at the headlines on present violence
and political posturing. Following Ehusani's theory of
Nigerian conflict, one might ask what a "Big Man" might
expect to gain from an organized secessionist movement and
whether current political conditions make this strategy
attractive. At the moment, Southerners are asserting their
agendas tenaciously within the actual political framework and
appear willing to see what opportunities may be yielded by
upcoming elections. "Big Men" are busily seeking to maximize
their share in the present political arena; "Small Men" are
waiting to see what will happen next.
16. (C) Uncertainty about the potential for electoral
violence associated with the coming polls is generating
excitement, nervousness, and speculation. Still, the
expectation that elections indeed will take place as
scheduled in April and May is surprisingly widespread in the
South. This expectation seems to be putting frustrations
over the slow pace of progress on hold, even as challengers
to incumbent officials engage rhetoric that is increasing
public attention to problems the government has left
unsolved. In some cases, anger over unresponsive government
is being channeled into determination that the next
government will be more responsive to their needs. Sincere
or not, opportunists will keep threatening to secede to mount
pressure on an otherwise unresponsive government.
17. (C) While the loudest commentators clamor for their
ethnic group's representation at the government's helm,
candidates who adopt popular issues in their platforms may
bolster Southerners' commitment to democracy and the nation.
Issues are not yet in vogue among politicians, but issues
such as infrastructure, health care, and employment have
nationwide relevance and popularity (septel). A few
forward-thinking politicians are testing the plausibility of
capitalizing on some issues' popularity for their political
ambitions. General Ibrahim Babangida, one of the savviest
politicians, recently condoned the possible utility of a
national conference (reftel). However contrived a
convention's outcome, the mere exercise would be highly
welcomed by many Southerners. Politicians also have yet to
exploit the positive nation-building sentiments related to
the June 12, 1993 events. How to seize the spirit of unity
engendered by the events without raising painful memories or
embarrassing past political actors remains problematic.
Creative and nation-minded leaders may find a way yet.

Continuation.

The South-South "in particular feels strongly that
areas have been neglected," Williams asserts. For this
reason, his Patriots group advocates restructuring the
constitution to eliminate the belief that "no one will ever
be president from the South-South" and that "unless one
belongs to the majority ethnic groups, one stands no chance
at all." To Williams, as long as Nigerian minority groups
feel they are treated as "second class citizens," a serious
threat to cohesion exists. He believes minority groups will
not even try to contest in a system that seems to guarantee
rule by groups historically dominating Nigerian politics.
Asked whether " zoning", the presidency according to
ethnicity does not encourage tribal divisions, Williams
disagreed. He argued that if society is to "mature" toward
equal opportunity devoid of ethnic opportunism, an
institutionalized power-sharing arrangement must be
implemented at least on a short-term basis.
C) While some Nigerians fear a national convention would
re-ignite disgruntled groups' secessionist tendencies, others
argue such a meeting would diffuse underlying tensions and
initiate a productive way forward. The Committee for the
Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) claims that a national
convention will "raise Nigerians' adrenaline but not lead us
to kill ourselves." Had a convention been "called during the
military years, the Niger Delta would have called for
secession," CDHR posits. In today's civilian climate,
particularly with the Bakassi issue at present (paragraphs
11-12), a national conference is unlikely to fan the embers
of secessionism, they argue.

While some Nigerians fear a national convention would
re-ignite disgruntled groups' secessionist tendencies, others
argue such a meeting would diffuse underlying tensions and
initiate a productive way forward. The Committee for the
Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) claims that a national
convention will "raise Nigerians' adrenaline but not lead us
to kill ourselves." Had a convention been "called during the
military years, the Niger Delta would have called for
secession," CDHR posits. In today's civilian climate,
particularly with the Bakassi issue at present (paragraphs
11-12), a national conference is unlikely to fan the embers
of secessionism, they argue.
Meanwhile, some groups are calling for the creation
of their own state within the federation. One of the groups
most disappointed by the nation's lack-luster performance in
meeting public needs is the Ogoni people of Rivers State.
The Ogoni believe they were martyred as a people for Nigerian
democracy, but many resent receiving so few dividends to
date. In meetings held during a recent fact-finding mission
by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR),
the National Commissioner for Refugees, and Poloffs, Ogoni
members asserted that their only hope was to have an Ogoni
state with its own resources administered according to their
own decisions (septel).

BAKASSI AND THE LIMITS OF ETHNIC AUTONOMY. CDHR
thinks the October 10 ruling on Bakassi by the International
Court of Justice further diminished the South's impulse
towards secessionism by reminding it of its need for northern
military coverage. "Bakassi has reminded the South that we
live better together," remarked Belo Aideloje, Secretary
General of CDHR. Combining the regions together, "Nigeria is
seen as so mighty that no one (e.g. Cameroon) could stand up
to it." The "mutual need for security" has sparked a "spirit
of kith and kinship among communities of the South-South,
South-East, and South-West," claims CDHR. Therefore,
perceived mutual security needs has undercut ethnic
animosities, they conclude. "There is an overestimation of
the strength of ethnic groups. Each tribe knows its limits.
People are careful to not be pushed outside the tensile
strength of their own group," CDHR explains. Yet, it
concedes that these ties have not been as well developed
between the South and the North.

Continuation.



5. (U) Nigeria's older generation remembers the root causes
of conflict that led to the Biafran War's outbreak, but the
South's younger generation mostly remembers the war's
terrible consequences. The idea of launching another civil
war repulses young professionals and workers from across the
South, many of whom were born during or survived childhood
through the war. Throughout the southern states, stories can
be heard about the severe economic hardship endured through
the war years and beyond. Many Southerners still recount
tragic fates suffered by family members who were killed
directly, by collateral violence, or through starvation.


TRACES OF UNITY AMIDST ETHNIC DIVERSITY. Though
diminished since 1999, unifying forces of shared history and
political struggle against military rule hold meaning for
many Nigerians. Ardent pessimists of Nigeria's cohesion
concede that traditional ethnic groups today are weaving a
new pattern in the nation's political cloth. With near
consensus, the South sees the June 12, 1993 national election
as a major turning point, the effects of which continue to
reverberate. Legborsi Saro Pyagbara of the Movement for the
Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) calls June 12 a "true
water-shed day" in which the public "forgot about ethnic
differences" to condemn the election's annulment. Hundreds
of other analysts, pundits, poets and artists publicly share
his view.

ON-GOING CALLS FOR A NATIONAL CONVENTION. Most
critics of the status quo focus on improving Nigeria's
legitimacy, threatening secession only as a last resort. The
two most frequent proposals to redress on-going southern
grievances are to hold a national convention and to
decentralize federal resource control. The most popular
incarnations of these ideas are the holding of a national
convention and the approval of the on-shore/off-shore
abrogation bill. The national conference proposal has been
floated for years without much forward momentum. NGOs
regularly lobby and educate key political figures on the
potential benefits of such an exercise, hoping to convince
powerbrokers that one could be held without negating
entrenched interests. Reformists and NGOs seeking long-term
stability argue that geopolitical groups must send their
respective representatives to forge a new social compact on
unity and the role of Nigerian government. Serious, divisive
issues impeding national cooperation must be discussed openly
in a forum to devise new rules about how differences will be
peaceably settled. The meaningful legitimacy of the current
constitution is dangerously low, they warn, as it is a
document inherited from military rulers. (Comment. We should
keep in mind that the 1999 Constitution is basically a
recycled 1977 Constitution, and that was drafted primarily by
civilians, albeit under the authority of the Murtala/Obasanjo
regime. The kinds of people who participated in both the
1977-78 drafting process and the 1994-5 Constitutional
Conference (its document was never adopted) were much the
same societal elements who would be likely candidates to
participate in a national conference.