Gobengroup: Why mentioning yoruba and Awo here. You can state your mind without that.
Despite all Awo and Yoruba did for you lots, your only return is hatred. I hope you stop, this is 2022 for God sake. Ungrateful lots!
Please stop this rubbish in 2022.
All this "Yoruba helped you" talk is pure fallacy.
Did Yoruba or Awo give us free money, free food or free house ? Did Yoruba or Awo keep our Abandoned properties for us ? Did Yoruba fight or die for us ? NO
Yes, we are everywhere in Yoruba land but whatever we are doing there is certainly not for Free. We pay rent, tax, levies, patronize local industries and build businesses that create Job opportunities. All these are neither free or from Yoruba Aid as you wish to put it.
We are direct contributors in the Yoruba micro- economy that is why your Leaders can tolerate us.
kingawothefirst: Stop using Nigeria as an excuse to not better yourself, what kind of daft mentality is that. Poor inconsequential people cannot enact change. Only influential people can. Know this and know peace. Stop using Nigeria as an excuse, work on yourself.
Next year we will have a new president, life will go on but you? You will still have to wake up everyday and live with yourself whether Nigeria breaks up or not.
Igbos have been bettering themselves even before Yoruba found a name for themselves.
If we didn't better ourselves we won't have outnumbered Indigenes in the colonial civil service.
If we didn't better ourselves, where Awo wished to place us would have been our limit.
But look at us now, without a President, we are not begging Yoruba for food. Rather we are buying you out. It's a wonder.
Leaving Nigeria is progress on a different dimension. 2D to 3D, incomparable.
kingawothefirst: Other countries are working on building their nations. Una still dey argue about tribes in Nigeria. By the way biafra ceases to exist, know this and know peace.
Work on bettering yourself and helping your family to do well, that is the only way forward, your nation will be better for it.
Let your word be your bond, don’t say one thing one day then turn around and switch mouth because you think we will forget and not hold you onto account. Igbos made promises to Nigeria after the civil war ended, uphold your promises and let peace rain in Nigeria, stop distracting the government with your bullshit.
I wrote this about a year ago today back when I was still a pacifist and it has truly aged well. I envision that Victory is nigh.
The event of and the buildup to the 2023 general election will greatly strengthen our cause beyond comprehension. Compliments of the season. God bless us all.
The following write-up is in no way intended to incite violence, tribalism or provoke any group(s). This is in-line with the UN charter (1945) Article 1 Chapter 1 in support of self-determination by any people and the UDHR Article 19 which accords every human being with the freedom of speech and expression.
MISCONCEPTIONS ON BIAFRA
“A warrior is not defined by his strength or skill but the conviction to die for a cause.”
The poorly represented populace of the South-East have as a consensus expressed, through various means their deep desire to seek a nationality beyond the status quo. I also, boldly reaffirm my commitment to the actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra; God willing in my lifetime.
In light of current events, and on behalf of my fellow comrades I want to use this post to admonish and dismiss misconceptions raised on the issue of Biafra which I hope will bridge the understanding for all parties. My views outlined below may not be popular with my fellow Biafrans nevertheless it holds the innate and progressive truth.
Here listed below:
1. Secession doesn’t translate to War in any Language:
Secession is neither a declaration of war or threat. It is just another step in the process of conflict resolution. Any group that tries to demonize with imaginary blood is either a parasite or trouble maker which no one wishes to admit.
Biafrans don’t possess destructive tendencies, any violent outburst is only a natural response to the apparent chokehold by the government on opined throats of freedom seekers. If I were to be a westerner I would tag this a “black-man clause” because the westerners and asians alike who we borrowed modern civilization from have provided successful cases of secession experiments yet some of us choose to be blind.
Fortunately, in our case we have a softer dispute. Unlike the Israel-Palestine, Sudan or Arab conflicts, our dispute at this stage doesn’t stem from land ownership conflict, resource tussle, etc. All that is involved euphemistically speaking can be likened to a change of governments, change of sovereignty, names, flags etc. Nothing fundamentally sophisticated, so why has the Federal Government of Nigeria chosen to shed the blood of numerous innocent Biafrans if it hasn't been hijacked by private interest?
2. The South-South is completely Dispensable
I still want to believe that BIAFRA is not an Igbo exclusive project hence I earlier avoided generalizing Biafrans as Igbos, now diversity and individuality has knocked and we have to answer. I have an Igbo Father, an Urhobo Mother. I was born and brought up in Anambra State. Aside paternal relation, I identify strictly as Igbo due to affinity.
The South-South has long been synonymous to Igbos until recently, when Identity politics became a criteria for political representation in Nigeria which is justifiable in the context of the prevalent nepotic culture. Mutual grounds hasn’t mitigated the widening divide in any way.
We have witnessed biological twins break ties talk less of loose ethnic groups with stints of bad blood in-between. It won’t come as a shock if tomorrow a section of Southeast seeks out of the Biafran Plan.
It has become a paradoxical joke that the Igbos who seek freedom from Nigeria have themselves become unity beggars. I won’t agree, we are not and will never be beggars. We were not the ones who claimed abandoned properties in the aftermath of the war. Left with 20 pounds, did we succumb to their impoverishing intent? No. Blessed with natural, human and capital resources we are not left bare, fortunately our “oil” has not become our only bragging right in Nigeria and beyond.
Why then should we begin to belittle ourselves now, even to the extent of exchanging insults with these groups, how convincing can our insult be? Will we then become what we fight against? I charge every Igbo to take rejection as a motivation to outperform objectives and expectations, let their denigration revert to praise as was with our bounce back from the war.
To our South-South brethren don’t let the Nigerian Model confine your understanding of governance. Switzerland is a country of at least 7 major ethnic groups (Including groups of Italian, German and French extractions), each represented by a president (7 equal presidents forming the Federal Executive Council) unlike a single president whose loyalty might be ambiguous.
Just a peek of what a true federal state means for equal representation. Humans are intelligent enough to negotiate. Ya Gazie. “Better a familiar devil than a strange angel”.
3. Landlocked not Brain Locked.
“The worst defeat is that of the Mind”
Once again, I point to the Swiss Model. Switzerland is a completely landlocked country in Europe. 22 times smaller than Nigeria and is resource poor. Yet, Switzerland is the world’s largest commodities trading hub. It controls 35%, 60%, 50% of Global Oil, Metals and Sugar & Cereals trade respectively. How is this possible?
Excluding gold, the commodities most of which not sourced from Europe, never physically enter Switzerland but are transported directly from producing country, processing and entrepot down to final consumer by Swiss companies and their foreign subsidiaries.
In 19th century, the Rothschild family established the first international banking network in Europe. They executed international transactions for royals and merchants without moving physical coins.
They achieved this by each brother establishing a branch of the bank in major economic hubs in Europe thus when a transfer is made, the recipient branch records in ledger that his brother’s branch owes him an amount, when convenient, they settle accounts and transport coins to the net positive branch thus reducing transport cost and security risk on each possible transaction. This established their influence in Europe and saved them from highway robberies and non-credible partners.
Bringing this back home, God willing, Biafra will not be limited by coastline. That narrative should be squashed in the mind of every naysayer. Statistically, it would take a miracle for a landlocked nation to become an economic hit nevertheless, such odds are similar to our chances of recovery back in 1971 when only 20 Naira was reimbursed to account holding Biafrans. This occurred shortly before the indigenization policy where Biafrans were tactically excluded when the rest of Nigeria exclusively scooped up the wealth which Biafrans played a significant role in building . Your expectations are yours not ours.
We have looked inwards enough, I believe it is time to look outwards. If we can be threatened close to home by neighbors, then it’s time to forge alliances and networks far from home. The market is now globalized and broad and we are up to the task.
God willing it, lack of opportunities and marginalisation in Nigeria pushed Biafrans out and gave us a considerable large diaspora community from Nigeria in the world and largest in Africa. We have a wide distribution of our compatriots around the world right from the hinterlands of Africa to developed economies. A good proportion of which are entrepreneurs rather than domestic workers that have enough capital base to make an impact.
Africa is the last frontier. Let’s grow with it. Let’s discard our notorious characteristics, becoming better guests and build on our already established foundational networks by consolidating our wealth for greater impact. A single Axe Head is more effective than a thousand cutlery knives.
Slowly, we’ll have to liquidate, drain and divest our wealth held in Nigeria. Then and only will our elite be independent of the government’s persecutive pressure. Subsequently, political interests will align with the masses then freedom is definitely near.
BIAFRA is not a Mission of Hate, Rancor or Supremacy
We are humans too with flesh and blood. No true Biafran can claim supremacy over any tribe, group or entity. We can’t claim Biafra will eventually become a heaven on earth rather it will be easier to bend our own government to our will, such attempt in Nigeria will be seen as an imperialist move.
We also can’t claim to be infallible, perfect or saints. In the past, we made mistakes and miscalculations, which we will be wrong not to admit. Critics say we are the architects of our misfortune, yes we concede but note, the last you should expect is to remain on the ground for people to mock and scorn us. If you feel offended, on behalf of my compatriots I and other well-meaning Biafrans apologize. The bitter atmosphere is only reflective of the times, desperation and anxiety gets the better of most.
Fellow Biafrans, every step forward should be corrective and calculative in every sense of the word. We are not separating because we hate Fulani, Muslims or any other group, presidency denial or any secondary interest.
We shouldn’t misinterpret the struggle because tomorrow Buhari will leave office, an Igbo can be foisted as Head of State. What next? Rather we choose to secede for the sole sake of Autonomy. We should be able forge our own path and to decide our fate without consulting or patronizing anyone. That is the only way to actualize our maximum potentials.
Let’s prioritize our freedom over miniscule benefits Nigeria might seem to offer. Look around you today, do you sense hope or despair?
Inflation in all sectors especially Food sector, Ardent Corruption, Astronomical Foreign Debt, Negligence and Apathy, Insecurity, Victimization of our People, Marginalization, and widespread Secessionist sentiments.
Does that picture to you as a budding nation bound to thrive or a Worn-Out Contraption rigged to blow.
Our Commitment needs to be deeper and our Efforts higher. Salvation is near. If we relent in times of persecution our faith is small. God Wills It and It shall be.
UDO to the Biafran Family Worldwide !!!
I have long repented from the last paragraphs with a newer understanding that Force begets Force. We are not dealing with civilized men rather they are violent Oppressors that must be treated accordingly.
ManMountain: Cut yourself off by banning Chisco, ABC , Ekene Dilli and the rest from shipping you all across the country on daily basis
It’s 100 � confirmed that you get more than your contribution to this union
Stupid !
Do I look like your Leaders.
You claim you know the problem " Igbo Parasitism" and the Solution " Cutting Out Igbos ".
What then is stopping you and your kind from taking action. Except Perhaps the Macro truth about Igbos in Nigeria supersedes your Micro opinion about Igbos in Nigeria.
Those with power know the Macro while nobody you is arguing with Micro.
ManMountain: Not just geography, he need political-economy lessons.
The older generations of igbos understand that they are the greatest beneficiary of Nigeria both in market population and geography. However, it will take a reality shock on this current generation to understand what their grandparents understood long time ago
I am curious how you got this clueless,
If we are truly parasitic beneficiaries please cut us off. Coming from parasites themselves, shame
The Niger Delta should also understand that whatever freedoms and devolution of powers that were impossible to achieve when its Indigene ( G. E. Jonathan ) held central power as the President on the Nation is likely impossible to accomplish in any different outcome.
In Simpler terms, Your brother could not save you, who then will save you ?
What the Niger Delta truly seeks and legitimately deserves can not be found within the four walls of the Nigerian State.
I won't be prescriptive or suggestive but save yourselves by whatever means, the wasted years are about to span your lifetime. Elsewhere, progress is being made with one's resources, in Nigeria it has become a tool for corruption, deprivation and Insult ultimately.
Senior Lawyer, Ozekhome Disagrees With Ex-President Obasanjo Over ‘Oil Belongs To Nigeria, Not Niger Delta’ Statement
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Mike Ozekhome, has disagreed with former President Olusegun Obasanjo over his statement that Niger Delta cannot lay claim to the crude oil found in the region.
Obasanjo had in a six-page letter to Niger Delta elder, Chief Edwin Clark noted that the constitution did not confer ownership of oil and other mineral resources on any of the then regions.
He insisted that just as the Niger Delta’s oil belongs to the Nigerian federation, the minerals in other parts of the country also belonged to the country.
Reacting in a statement sent to SaharaReporters, Ozekhome said a law that “literally steals the resources of a people, punishing them with destruction of their only available aquatic and agrarian life, even though in the statute books, is a bad, aberrant and obnoxious law.”
The lawyer said the Niger Delta region has been repressed, suppressed, marginalized and neglected.
The statement read, “Former president Olusegun Obasanjo has theorized that the oil and gas found in the Niger Delta region belong to the federal government, and not to the oil-bearing communities. Legally speaking, Obasanjo can be said to be correct, because he was part and parcel of successive military juntas that cleverly and systematically inserted expropriatory and inhuman laws concerning ownership of oil and gas into our statute books. But, does that make such laws right or justifiable? No. I think not.
“Ex-president Obasanjo should be told in very clear terms that there is such an overriding principle of law which goes with the maxim of 'quic quid plantatatur solo solo cedit'. This literally means that whoever owns the land owns everything on top of it. Any extant constitutional or statutory provisions ( such as those apparently referred to by Obasanjo) that run contrary to this commonsensical common law principle are therefore nothing but bad, immoral, exproriatory and exploitative laws.
“Help me inform Obasanjo that Nigeria operates a federal system of government, and that federalism is fiscal and plural. One of the major attributes of federalism is that it ensures that regions, sub-national or federating units develop according to their pace and needs, using the God-given resources that are available to such units. They pay tax to the central government.
“Help me inform President Obasanjo that a law that literally steals the resources of a people, punishing them with destruction of their only available aquatic and agrarian life, even though in the statute books, is a bad, aberrant and obnoxious law.
“Help me tell Obasanjo that in the USA, since oil was discovered in 1859, (a country whose Presidentialism and federalism we ape after), oil and gas are not owned by the American Federal government, but by the surface owners; while oil and gas offshore are owned either by states or federal government. Help me remind Obasanjo that before the January 15, 1967 first military putsch led by Major Kaduna Nzeogwu Chukwuma, neither the cotton, groundnut and hides and skin obtainable in the North, the cocoa grown in the West, Palm produce produced in the East; nor the rubber and timber that existed in the then Midwest, were said to belong to the federal government. They belonged to the regions that took a lion 50% share, while paying tax to the Federal government at the centre. What has changed? Nothing, I believe.
“Help me remind Obasanjo to remember history, and that the major reason his 2005 Political Reform Conference failed was because of the rancor and rockus generated by the thorny and still unsolved controversy of resource control. He should remember that this led the South South delegates to stage a walkout from the conference. I was not only a Civil Society delegate, I was actually the head of the Civil Society unit that drafted our final committee report and recommendations.
“Obasanjo should therefore not have dismissed such a festering thorny issue as oil and gas and bleeding oil-bearing communities with a wave of the hand in a most provocative and cavalier manner. The 1960 independence Constitution and the 1963 Republican Constitution had actually activated true fiscal federalism, after the 1957-1958 Willinks Commission Report which had identified and validated the fears of minorities within the Nigerian space.
“Help me inform Obasanjo that the failure of the 1922 Hugh Clifford Constitution, 1946 Arthur Richards Constitution, 1951 Macpherson Constitution and 1954 Littleton Constitution, was partly ascribed to the overbearing influence of majority tribes over the minority ones (374 ethnic groups in Nigeria, according to Prof Onigu Otite).
“Kindly emphasize to Obasanjo that as an Elder statesman, former military Head of State and former democratic President, his well respected public statements and opinions (which he is constitutionally entitled to, should be generously garnished with unifying, healing, therapeutic and inclusive flavor ; and not with the vinegar of divisive and provocative statements.
“The Niger Delta region has been repressed, suppressed, marginalized and neglected. Respected Obasanjo, more than any other person, knows this very well, having had the rare privilege of governing Nigeria both in khaki and agbada. The poor people have had to pay with their sweat, sorrow, tears, blood, pains and pangs, over their God-given wealth. The wealth has become a curse rather than a blessing. I wholly disagree with Obasanjo's thesis. I rather embrace wholly embrace Pa E. K. Clark's anthesis, which wears a human face.”
A commentator said Islam is the solution to all problems but deleted it after he realized his fooly.
Yet, Islam hasn't cured the backwardness, poverty, wars, terrorism and hatred prevalent in Muslim countries.
Before they claim the West is fighting them, remind them that their holy nation Saudi Arabia is biggest customer of US war industry, buying weapons to kill Muslim goat herders in Yemen and physically dig a trench to divide the Arab continent so as to isolate Qatar Muslims.
This Islam did not prevent the first offspring of Islam from killing each shortly after Muhammad died, as they battled for supremacy leading to the Shia - Sunni split.
Intelligent Arabian minds were rising up in Science and Technology, it was this same perfect Islam that silenced them in favor of fanaticism. It killed Science and Philosophy thus weakening the Ottoman Empire when the European Christian super powers came knocking.
Today they still play second fiddlew. Any stretch of power left or acquired was initially achieved by coercion / jihad or birth rate explosion right from the days on the originator never by conversion.
Such a perfect Religion, It never cease to amaze me.
Trustworthiness: The fact still remains that this idealogy is from Islam. Then... It is worth mentioning. There is nothing wrong all religious groups bring out a game changing ideas that can bring reformation in the country. So, if your religion has something for the country, then let us know and don't keep it to yourself
Guyy Non-Interest lending existed before Muhammad birth please.
Get informed dude. Check my post up there and read up credible sources on the internet Madrassa no be school, dem no wan hear smh
Religion is not our problem but rather a solution to our problem First and second WW were not caused by religion
Tranquility4u: Islamic banking is the best. Many have committed suicide because of indebtedness caused by interest rate, brought about by Western banking system. Islam is the only system that can solve the world's problems.
drlateef: I am very sure majority of subscribers will be Christians.
AbuMaryam1: Children of hatred would soon call you names. Forgotten the so called world powers have long ago went into Islamic finance. Cause of it stability and fairness
These fanatics again.... Hold your high horses.
Why are you guys trying to imply silly religious narratives into these report.
For your information, Islam didn't Invent or even Introduce non-Interest finance to the world. Even Muhammad came to meet non-Interest finance practiced in his time. In Medieval Europe Usury was a Sin/Crime for Christians. It was only allowed for Jews who could only practice such to only non-Jews. Later, The Medici's adopted the trade and rose to power in Europe.
So it's nothing new or original to Islam that you should brag or blab about. It shouldn't even be addressed as Islamic finance rather Non-Interest/Ethical Finance No system is perfect as some naive people claim.
Islamic finance differs on 2 major concepts: 1. Shariah Permissible/Ethical Investing 2. Profit/Loss Sharing
This does not magically delete the inherent risk in the business invested on. The business can fail woefully causing deeper losses for the lender than on the other hand, the flip side is that both parties share losses. Hence Ethical Finance is more sustainable and ensures the lender is a partaker of the risk so lending is more vetted rather than careless lending. On the other hand, Interest charging finance offers more time value for the lended money and protects you better from inflation while sacrificing sustainability.
The Oversubscribing of Sukuk Bonds is also simply a feature of expanding Capital that is seeking returns. Capital is flowing about and needs returns so any available sustainable opportunity is a good bet.
It doesn't mean anyone wants to shout Allahu Akbar, pray 5 times or blow up stuff with you
Trustworthiness: The fact still remains that this idealogy is from Islam. Then... It is worth mentioning. There is nothing wrong all religious groups bring out a game changing ideas that can bring reformation in the country. So, if your religion has something for the country, then let us know and don't keep it to yourself
Bruhh get educated and stop blabbing.
Muhammad came 600 years after Jesus Christ. Read Church History, it was forbidden for Christians to loan a fellow Christian money and expect anything in return not even profit sharing was permitted.I guess inflation wasn't a worry thing then. They practiced this for good 500 years + before Muhammad came around with his revelations In Medieval Europe, Usury was also a crime.
Muhammad came to meet Ethical Investing and as usual everything was plagiarized into Islamic Banking. So because the word "interest" was replaced with "Riba", it is now of Islamic origin. SMH. Truly truly Madrassa no be school
I laugh in Swahili. Fake news Which oil ? Groundnut or PalmOil
Geological survey has already revealed that this region has no iota of substantial crude deposits. They will have to wait for another formation cycle to reach such levels, upwards of a 1000 years. North should stop fooling itself and embrace secession as the solution to their parasitism.
Unlike the lieing North, huge Natural Gas deposits have actually been discovered in South East around the Imo - Anambra corner.
Do you see the news anywhere ? None at all. The Nigerian Government and her agencies are announcing redacted reports that leave out the locations of these transformative resources. Nevertheless we Indigenes know the truth.
Infact Foreign Oil Companies are sparing no expense in partaking in this new discovery. Billionaire Arthur Eze recently sold lands worth billions of dollars to Total Energy.
Don't quickly forget that the price of commodities has alot to do with demand which is the willingness and ABILITY to buy.
Cheaper labor and arable land is factored into the low prices in the North nevertheless demand isn't forsaken. Over there most can't even afford substantial quantity of what grows in their backyard, thus market forces push the prices lower. And supply is directed at wealthier Southerners.
In the scenario, that Northern Nigeria were to be an oil producing region tilted towards services industry, the price disparity won't have been these wide.
Exploitative Hoarding and Inflation Profiteering is another factor Southerners should look into. Food producers and Traders up north create artificial scarcities inorder to hike prices and get as much as possible from their cash-cow South. Inflation is also unduely exaggerated since it's easy to blame your greed on " bad economy"
Solution: 1. Intensify Agricultural Production in the South
2. Form a Buyside Cartel that contributes in price fixing for food commodities.
Else we will continue to be robbed by these same people that benefit from our resources without surcharge.