₦airaland Forum

ehie: your brother nzeogwu started this,if there hadnt been a coup,nigeria would have been a better nation,five thousannd nigerian soilders died,because your greed for power,u broiught this on urselves,stop disturbinng nigeria

I shall not join you in a wild prediction that Nigeria would have been heaven or not if the January 15, 1966 coup was not precipitated. However, I had to postulate it was better in 1966 than today as sophisticated weapons are abounded. As of today onward, it will be matter of careful planning akin to surgical operation.

Ndigbo are not disturbing you or anybody for that matter. You are simply mourning yourself.

ROSSIKE: I've always wondered about this rarely mentioned aspect of the Biafran War.

Going by the various debates on the topic, a visitor from outer space would be forgiven for thinking the war was strictly between Nigeria AND the Igbos.

But the territory of Biafra also included the various lands and ethnicities located south and south west of Igboland - the Efiks, the Ijaws, the Ogonis, the Anyangs, the Ibibios, the Kalabari, the Ikwerres etc etc.

These of course are the oil producing regions whose multi-billion dollar industry lies at the very heart of the modern Nigerian economy.

A few questions: Since Ojukwu's reason for declaring secession was the 'oppression of the Igbos', why did he include the non-Igbo oil-rich riverine areas in his newly-declared nation?

Did they ask to be included?

Was the decision to rope them in democratically reached, with the agreement of those people?

Or were they forced into the new republic at the barrel of an Igbo-held gun?

If Biafra had won, who would have controlled those oilfields?

Igbos?

Would they have become the new oligarchs, suppressing the rights of the riverine people who owned the oil?

What chances would a riverine politician have had to emerge president of Biafra considering the Igbo majority?

What chances are there that Ojukwu would have surrendered power to a democratically elected president after leading Biafra to triumph?

There is no doubt you are idiotically ill-informed. If not, you could not have conjured the crap such as “Since Ojukwu's reason for declaring secession was the 'oppression of the Igbos', why did he include the non-Igbo oil-rich riverine areas in his newly-declared nation?”

I know with time, you will show your true color as Edo peep. Ojukwu never reasoned for anything in declaring secession except for the lack of guarantee of safety for the easterners residing in other parts of Nigeria baring eastern region.
In addition, the eastern consultative body consisted members of eastern house of assembly even dissolved they were still the mouthpiece of the people of eastern region.

..

ehie: On 29 July 1966, the Northerners executed a counter-coup. This coup was led by Lt. Col. Murtala Mohammed. It placed Lt. Col. Yakubu Gowon into power. Gowon was chosen as a compromise candidate. He was a Northerner, a Christian, from a minority tribe, and had a good reputation within the army. Ethnic tensions due to the coup and counter-coup increased and the sequels to the mass pogroms in May 1966 repeated later the same year in July and September known as the large-scale massacres of Christian Ibo living in the Muslim north

Why are Nigerians very good at regurgitating fallacious crap? May I ask you a “compromise candidate” between who and whom? Were there many candidates vying for the position of C-in-C? And who was contesting with Gowon to assume the position of C-in-C? All these junks people post on this forum were written by deluded Nigerians during the war and meant for the consumption of ill-informed Nigerian masses during the war. It was called "win-the-war effort".

Katsumoto: Charles Chandler was the man who killed Nzeogwu and I know he died the day after Nzeogwu. I always thought he died during a battle. Now it makes sense how he died the day after. THANKS

I knew you will join the chorus to propagate this nonsensical crap. It is rumored that among the soldiers who operated the 106mm gun that blasted off Nzeogwu and Biafra built armored vehicle was Nzeogwu’s orderly while stationed in Kaduna. If it was not Dickson today, it must be Chandler tomorrow.

nku5: To call a spade a spade he was a jewel among the many demons who were northern officers. What most people don't know is that Major General Shuwa is the one who made it possible for nigeria to defeat biafra in just 3 years. After he captured Enugu he allowed biafrans who were tired of the war to move into the area under his command unharmed and unmolested.

Many ppl separated from their loved ones and heard that they were living well under Shuwa trooped across enemy lines in droves and sufficiently weakened morale of many in biafra.

As I've heard from close relatives in that sector during the war, he charged his men not to attack igbos by saying the famous. "Shoot them and I shoot you" phrase.

Most oustanding was the fact that it was Shuwa who with his service pistol, shot the soldier who blinded and killed nzeogwu. I've heard this story from a number of relatives who were in that sector. The soldier who killed nzeogwu reported himself to shuwa and got a bullet in the neck.

Shuwa was a noble man. Chikena

Please discontinue this nonsensical rumor before it grows taproot like the nonsense accredited to Francis Fajuiyi. Mohammed Inuwa Shuwa was miles away from the front where Nzeogwu was killed with other Biafrans soldiers and notable among them was Ojukwu’s half brother. I hope you realize that 106 recoilless rifle is not operated by a single soldier.

Again, Mohammed Inuwa Shuwa stood happily and diligently encouraged soldiers under his command to kill defenseless civilians from eastern region of Nigeria during the time of peace.

I can not extend sympathy to a man who stood akimbo and encouraged soldiers under his command to murder innocent civilians in a time of peace. They will fall one after the other. I learnt few of them are eating from dogs and mentally deranged.

moxamet: So who is lying; you or femi fani kayode ?

U no get shame.

What has my post got to do with slimy Femi Fani-kayode, olodo? I am not surprised you can not comprehend a linearly strung sentence.

Major General Mohammed Mamman Shuwa allowed ethnic sentiments to ruin his military career and so shall it be. After Ironsi was killed, the pogrom followed. It must be recall that Lt. Col. Mohammed Mamman Shuwa, as the commander of 5th Battalion Nigerian army Kano, encouraged soldiers under his command to massacre innocent easterners in northern region. This unbecoming behavior of a Sandhurst trained officer such as Shuwa was in sharp contrast to Ojukwu as the commander of 5th Battalion on January 15, 1966. I guess the evil that men do lives after them.

Major Nzeogwu had sent Lt Oji to 5th battalion requesting Ojukwu’s help to sustain the coup instead the 5th battalion commander locked up Lt Oji and sent a message to the boys in Kaduna to get ready for an assault from Kano.

[quote author=ndu_chucks]Thanks. So Aguiyi was not his real name, I believe Aguiyi means lizard in Igbio, no?[/quote]This is show of shame both historically, intellectually and culturally.

afam4eva:

What do you know about Imo state and it's priorities?

Bros, the father of that moronic lapper could be an Igbo man. The name, Dayo Kanu, has hidden information in it.

COOLDUN: Totally OUT OF POINT. TRASH, PDP sponsored sadist. I doubt if you are from Imo state, if yes then you must be related to Arthur Nziribe, Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, Ikedi Ohakim, or PDP bloody loser in Imo state. Spare us these I too know low life oratory.

Let him finish his first 4 years and let us know how he fared before regretting our insinuated mistake in electing him as our governor. PDP, PPA, PDP ruled Imo state for a whole 12 years, what are their visible achievements in Imo state? Imolites are too wise and prudence to know who they voted in, by voting out bunch of nicomboobs and blood suckers that held the state hostage for decades. Keep up your sponsored kidnappings in Imo state, meat is getting ready to be eaten on fire, why boasting of dropping oil. Keep your rantings to yourself, Imolites know how to show any non performing governor a way out of the Douglas House.

Ikeja and Owerri are not the same places. They can have Unclad Club Houses in every house and street at Ikeja, that is their business, Imolites do not want it in our state. Those places are the breeding and safe heavens for the criminals and evil people in Imo state and other places they are operating.

Owelle Rochas .A.Okorcha works with security personnel; he gets information daily about the criminals in the state. He is not stupid to call for an end of that nonsense. Many states have their respective laws. What was your action when Yerima introduced sharia law in Zamfara state? Hater can never see any good of their hated persons.

If you are not trash, you must be talking load of trash. You must be disappointed that I do not have anything do with the characters you mentioned and do not give a ratazz about PDP, APGA, PPA, ACN, CPP or any political party in Nigeria.

Unlike you who have shown preference for governor to another, I do not give a hoot about Okorocha or Ohakim or any governor for that matter. Whether Ikeja is different from Owerri or not, I do not think there is a statuary code that banned such clubs in Imo State.

Okorochas was not elected to become the LAW but serve and execute the laws enacted by the state assembly. I think if there were such laws against such clubs, they should not have been operational in the first place. I do not care what Yarima does in Zamfara State because my home is Imo State.

Rochas Okorocha does not and can never feed me. I have every audacious pedigree as a person from Imo State to fan criticisms against Okorocha’s stupidity.

maxsiollun: At the time of the coup OBJ was the Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters (i.e. he was not even holding a military position). He was in a political position, totally disconnected from the army and without command of troops. On the other hand, Danjuma was the Chief of Army Staff and held command of the entire army, and IBB was the head of the armoured corps. Other officers who held political positions and did not command troops also hid. Maj-Gen James Oluleye laid low in his office then went home in mufti.

As for foreign peacekeeping ops. Here is a summary of the commanders of Nigerian peacekeeping ops over the years:

General Martin Luther Agwai
Lt-Gen Joshua Dogonyaro
Lt-Gen Chikadibia Isaac Obiakor
Lt-Gen SVL Malu
Lt-Gen Joseph Owonibi
Maj-Gen Edward Unimna
Maj-Gen Festus Okonkwo
Major General JTU Aguiyi Ironsi
Major General Chris Garuba
Major General Ekundayo Opaleye
Major General Geoffrey Ejiga
Major General S Iliya
Major General Collins Ihekire
Major General Rufus Kupolati
Major General Ishaya Bakut
Major General John Mark Inienger
Major General Timothy Shelpidi
Major General Felix Mujakperuo
Major General Gabriel Kpamber
Major General Mohammed Magoro
Brigadier John Shagaya
Brigadier Adetunji Olurin

I am disappointed with your vacillation on the subject matter. A good historian such as you should have known and done better than you have demonstrated. In one instance Aguiyi Ironsi did not command any army or military unit, yet in another instance you listed him as among the Generals who did nothing but commanded a unit with UN peacekeeping ops. As a General, Ironsi commended the entire UN Peacekeeping force and as a Lt Col, commended Nigeria’s 5th battalion in Congo.

maxsiollun: Ironsi never commanded a unit during a war. He was the commander of the UN peacekeeping force in the Congo, and later became the first indigenous GOC of the Nigerian army.

What army unit did your list of soldiers command during any war? See your list below:

Gen Martin Luther Agwai
Lt-Gen Chikadibia Obiakor
Lt-Gen Victor Malu
Lt-Gen Salihu Ibrahim
Lt-Gen Domkat Bali
Maj-Gen Aguiyi-Ironsi
Maj-Gen Mohammed Shuwa
Brig Ogundipe
Brig Ademulegun
Brig Maimalari
Lt-Col Alex Madiebo
Major John Obienu

For any soldier to qualify for this lofty status, the soldier must have attended the rank of General or granted such rank and commended an army or any unit of the armed forces during a war. I guess boyscout was correct with his\her list of generals. It is funny to see Nigerians list soldiers who were mere Lieutenants, Captains, Majors, Lt Cols and Cols during the war as generals.

Truly speaking, Rochas Okorocha the effusive governor of Imo State should ban the use of Naira so that the unclad clubs should not be patronized. What a dumbazz governor.

Katsumoto: Please read the 'copy and paste' again. The name of the individual is there. In true fashion, you will soon tell us that Muna was actually a Northerner who was planted in the Eastern Executive by the British and fired when he was discovered not be an Easterner.


Katsumoto:

Another Link

Following a dispute within the Eastern House of Assembly in Enugu in May 1953, nine out of 13 delegates from the Southern Cameroons, who had originally been elected on the platform of the National Council for Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC), opted for ‘neutrality’, claiming that they were not Nigerian. Mr. S. T. Muna, the only Southern Cameroonian in the Eastern Executive Council at that time was actually dismissed. This crisis led to the name change from “National Council for Nigeria and the Cameroons”, as the NCNC was then known, to “National Council of Nigerian Citizens.”

To say I am disappointed over your recklessness on certain political issues and addiction on “copy and paste”, it is an understatement. Both Endeley and Muna has announced they were not Nigerian, wished to be Cameroonians and firmly supported the 1953 granting of southern Cameroon autonomous status, they were rightfully expelled from NCNC hence the change of name from National Council of Nigeria and Cameroon to National Council of Nigerian Citizens. I guess you realized the mid-westerners who held ministerial appointment in western region resigned when mid-western region was granted regional autonomy.

Katsumoto:

I suppose the British were also responsible for the Easterners removing the only Camerounian in the Eastern executive council from office. Those damned British and their mind tricks.

I guess you have lost your mind on this issue. It would have been proper if you had supplied the name of regional minister in your reference. I hope he was not whom I thought.

sebyluv: Very good action from d Governor. Some pple wud say some of ds actions r effects of civilisation but I tend to disagree wit dem. Cos being civilised means we r v to be more responsible n cultured. Dancing naked or prostituting is certainly not a way or exhibiting dat. I tnk God dat m a Nigerian n dat we still hold our moral values in high esteem and I will keep praying dat our leaders do not relent on dis front while dey keep doing dr best on d areas of infrastructure.

I guess you forgot prostitution is the oldest profession known to mankind. The issue in this discussion does not center on morality or lack thereof but a governor who has no iota of ideas about the business of governance

Madam Ajimobi, what happened to secondary schools and universities your husband seems to support? Are the schools in your stated meant for children from Mars? ACN is a political party full of moronic ninnies.

ACM10: When Madiebo's account favours your line of argument, he becomes a credible historian. But when it conflicts with your line of thought, he becomes a liar.

You claimed that it was Zik who struck out the seccession clause from the constitution. You could not put up a credidble defence when you were exposed as liar.

You started a thread to assail Sanusi claiming knowledge of economics. Yet you don't know the economic indices which affects the strength of a currency.

You claimed that Awolowo offered Zik the position of prime minister when Awo was secretly negotiating with Sardauna to form a coalition. When you were busted; you labelled Awos trescherous act "politicking". You later went eeriely silent on that issue.

You continue to shamelessly dance unclad in this forum with your revisionism. You can never make your point without diminishing the other person. You must call the other historian liar as if you have a first hand account of the event. Only your account is correct cos you have monopoly of history.

You claimed that Ifeajuna is a cousin to Zik, much to the chagrin of some of us who grew up in Onitsha. When you were challenged, you called on Ajuluchukwu as if he he has an exclusive knowledge of the two families.

You went berserk yesterday, quoting article from nigerdeltacongress and dawodu. I only felt sorry for your outward show of desperation. Why can't you research deeper on a topic instead of spamming the thread with junk articles?

You continue to dance around on the forum from one position to another like your demi-god Awo. Shifting the goalpost whenever you are busted. You only deserves our pity.

Please do not pay any attention to the usual “copy and paste” crap the poster is noted. It is unfortunate most Nigerians can read but comprehend the underlying issue of the subject matter. If the southern Cameroonians looked up to Enugu instead of Lagos, the political patronages due to them would have been readily available. British, in their cunning and deceptive ways, annexed Southern Cameroon to Eastern region and administer it from Lagos. It was after 1953 London Conference that Southern Cameroon was granted regional autonomy and administrative headquarter moved from Lagos to Buea. It could take a very competent and unbiased reader to figure out the deceitful mechanism setup by British to engender instances of discord between easterners and southern Cameroonians.

I have said it before and will continue to say Imo State electorates elected a Con Artist as governor in Rochas Okorocha. When he runs out of stunt ideas, he invokes idea of moral policeman. It will amount to acts of insanity to compare Owerri to Ikeja with respect to unclad clubs. Rochas Okorocha has always use his naughty niches to tarnish the image of Imo State by playing to the goofy grandstand.

seanet01: No PDP chairman will eventually man any local government in Lagos. Mark my word

The time around is 2012 not 1951, olodo.

justice11: So Enugu, Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Imo, are no more ibo states, abi. You are the one with half education.
You remember Nzeribe liquidate his bank after taking people's money those days too. In fact the major problem of Nigeria is bringing goat and sheep together!!!
Yoruba race is never you people's equal!

If you want to live your entire miserable life on blatant falsehood, I do not give a ratazz. You can even insinuate Nzeribe owns southwestern Nigeria.

ACM10: I want to pay General Madiebo a visit. Can anyone link me to the general? I would want to discuss a whole range of issues with him. Our elders knows a lot, but chose to keep mum. Now, they are dying with the truth. Since information abhors vacuum; other tribes are cashing in to fill the information gap with their revisionist version.

I learnt last week that Awolowo was secretly negotiating with NPC while he was in active negotiation to form a coalition government with NCNC. Can you imagine that depraved character?! Yorubas including Katsumoto were telling us that Awo offered Zik the position of Prime minister but he chose to align with NPC. Now we've seen that Awo was a split personality and bold-faced liar who cannot be trusted.

Dede1 recently exposed Katsumoto by quoting a British document on 1957 constitutional conference which negates their claim that Zik threw away the seccession clause and chose to wait for the north to be ready before the independence.

I'm bewildered on why Ndigbo chose to sit on top of the truth and allow Yorubas to assign us many damaging roles in the historical events. I'm disappointed with our elders.

I lived in Yoruba land for years and had the opportunity to study personal demeanor of the people. Yoruba people are very crafty, noisy, pompous and cunning. Also, they are much focused and will do anything to achieve their personal ends especially when the pride of the ethnic group is at stake. If propagating a blatant falsehood will swing the advantage to Yoruba, even the Oba will support such idea.

Ndigbo are quiet, clever and calculated. Also Ndigbo are number one enemy of them selves. It is most likely that Igbo person could be the first to deny his\her cultural identity to impress an onlooker. He\She will be the first to challenge a story told by another Igbo person while providing the most fallacious rebuttal to the original story.

I remembered when you wrote that Francis Fajuiyi was hero because he, Fajuiyi, wanted to die with Ironsi. Nothing could be farthest from truth than the ridiculous conjecture accredited to Fajuiyi by the 1967 western Nigeria regional government publication. When I met Flt A Nwankwo, ADC to Ironsi, in Lagos, and called his attention to such crap, he laughed and told me that Fajuiyi would have disowned such crap if he, Fajuiyi, was alive.

One of the worst things you want to do is fight for the love or attention of a young and beautiful girl with a Yoruba peep. The Yoruba peep will mortgage his father’s house, volunteer to wash the girl’s undergarments and cook amala and ewedu for the girl in order to win the attention of the girl.

Onlytruth: This is the first time I'm hearing it. Our leaders should all open up and speak now before we lose the truth forever.
For sometime, I even blamed Zik for losing SW Cameroun. Apparently our Eastern leaders did their best to keep them.

You shall live long, bro. At least, you admitted your political follies.
I remembered in one thread you thought Zik and eastern region lost southern Cameroon led by Dr. Endeley. I kept lamenting it was not true. All the bad press against Ndigbo and Azikiwe, the riots in northern region primarily targeted against Ndigbo and the rigging of census and election in favor of the north were orchestrated by British.

From the moment British came in connect with Ndigbo and the sudden fortune discovered in the backyard of Ndigbo, British realized Igbo person is a hard nut to crack. Every ploy was applied by the British to check the progress of Ndigbo in Nigeria.

It was the British that alerted Bello and Tafewa about the rapid rise of Igbo peeps in the officer’s cadre of Nigerian armed forces and urged them to do something about it, hence the introduction of quota system and nepotistic mechanism that saw moronic northerners in the officer’s uniform.

Da infamous: This is why i said you cant blame a war criminal because Innocent blood have clung his eyes he believed in killing innocent women and children/civilians is justifiable,people like that dont deserve to walk on the street...


This is Asaba memorial Blog,how can justice in nigeria allow war criminals that committed this atrocities to be walking freely in nigerian soil?it shows the actual false foundation of the country,i have said these before that is only a few mafia elites with political power in Nigeria are the ones holding the fake country as one.




October 7, 2012 — 45 Years After the Massacre
OCTOBER 7, 2012

Asabans gather to look at the exhibit: “Most Vulnerable Nigerians: The Legacy of the Asaba Massacres.”

From Liz Bird:

The purpose of this month’s trip back to Asaba (it’s sometimes hard to believe this is our fifth visit!) was to participate in the third October 7 commemoration, which marks the worst day of killing in the 1967 massacres. This time, we were bringing the final version of the memorial exhibit, on which we’ve been working since our trip earlier this year.

Our exhibit takes the form of 11 large (79 inches x 32 inches) panels, which tell the story of the rampage that left so many dead 45 years ago. Printed on heavy duty vinyl, they were mounted on portable metal stands, which we had carried with us from Tampa. Eventually they will be displayed in a permanent site in Asaba – for this special event, we erected them at the back of a community hall, where about 200 people came in procession after a memorial service at the largest mass grave site, Ogbe-Osawa.

The events at the hall included speeches, led by our friend Chief Louis Odogwu, head of the Asaba Development Union, and the showing of a short video we compiled from our interviews and research. There were a few scares as everyone struggled with the a/v equipment, but all worked out, and after the video we were asked to say a few words about our three years of research.

As we heard the appreciative comments from so many people, we were sure the work – not to mention the struggle to carry all the panels, stands, and other materials! — had all been worthwhile. We reconnected with many people we’d met before, and we were especially happy to see a significant number of younger people in attendance, and avidly reading the panels.

It has been a long day, but this evening we’ll be able to relax, think about today’s commemoration, and maybe plan the next phase of our work.

Bros, the group I belonged wanted to emulate the Israelis in revenge of atrocities committed by Nazis but hampered by the fact we are still Nigerians for now and the governmental apparatus is not set in our favor.

Katsumoto: I tend to name my references by providing the name of the book and author. If I am then lucky to find a link on the Internet which supports my position, I will provide it.

You have the habit of questioning everything while NEVER providing anything to support your position. Even when I cited a book by Madiebo, you disagreed with it.

Who are you that we should accept your word without proof?

1957 Nigerian Constitutional Conference business before the delegates was not about balkanization of Nigeria as you previously posited in your post. It was for granting independence to Nigeria in 1959. Even Bello the then premier of northern region of Nigeria agreed to it. If Bello agreed to Nigerian independence in 1959, why would Zik oppose it on behalf of the northerners? Was Zik representing northern region during 1957 Conference for Nigeria's independence in 1959 when Bello had agreed?

Please read the attched below:



Lancaster House London Conference (May 23 - June 26, 1957)
(Page 29 ff, Ojiako)

From May 23 to June 26, 1957 Nigeria took another step towards nationhood at the London Constitutional Conference held in Lancaster House. The Colonial Secretary, Mr. Lennox-Boyd, was in the chair.....

The three Regional Premiers and Dr. Endeley, leader of Government Business in the Southern Cameroons House of Assembly submitted, at the beginning of the conference, a joint memorandum which demanded that the British Government should undertake to grant independence to the Federation in 1959.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd rejected the demand when he refused to agree in advance to a fixed date for independence. He suggested that the conference should first deal with a number of other important questions.

He put it, “there was much unfinished business to be completed” before he or anyone else could foretell what would be the shape of Nigeria in 1959 the year in which the delegates had asked for independence.

Nevertheless, the conference decided on:

* A senate for the Federal Parliament and the enlargement of the House of Representatives.

* The abolition of the post of Chief Secretary and the creation of the post of Deputy Governor.

* Houses of Chiefs for the Eastern Region and the Southern Cameroons.

* A revised constitution for the Northern Region in view of its stand against regional self-government in 1957.

* An all-African executive council for Western and Eastern Nigeria.

* The retention of the police as a Federal subject, in order to insulate it from the influence of political parties.

* The setting up of independent Civil Service Commissions to protect the service.

* A Premier for the Southern Cameroons.

* Commissions to inquire into fears of the minorities and revenue allocation: a delimitation and electoral commission, in connection with the division of the country into 320 electoral districts and supervision of elections respectively.

Northern Changes

The conference held twenty-one plenary sessions. It accepted the granting of self-government to Western and Eastern Nigeria, with safeguards ensuring that the regional governments would not prejudice the functions of the Federal Government. Since Northern Nigeria did not ask for self-government, interim changes were proposed for the Region.

On the constitution of the self-governing regions, agreement was reached that power to amend the constitution should stay with Her Majesty’s
Government, as also the power of the same government to make laws for Nigeria including power to legislate by order in Council.

Governors were to be appointed by the U.K. Government on the advice of ministers, but the appointments of deputy governors would continue to be made by the Governor.

Governor's Duties

On the powers and duties of the Governors themselves, the executive councils of the regions, the reserved legislative powers of the Governors were also to disappear, and the advice of ministers was to be sought on executive matters.

The appointment of the premiers was however left to the discretion of the Governors, and that of ministers based on recommendations made by premiers. But Governors could still exercise powers of assent
of Bills passed by the self-governing legislatures, with the exception of certain Bills requiring the Royal assent.

The latter Bills concern those impeding the duties of the Federal Government, those which may prejudice the property of subjects outside Nigeria, or the trade or transport or communications of any of Her Majesty’s Dominions, and those affecting stockholders of a loan raised on behalf of a region.

But Governors could not dissolve a House except on the advice of Premier, unless the life of a House had expired, or a vote of no confidence had been passed on the premier and he had not resigned within three days, or if there were no premier and no person to form a government.

But a Governor could reject a premier’s advice to dissolve a House if, in his opinion, the government of the region could continue and dissolution would make its progress suffer. The Governor of the Eastern Region, the conference agreed, could no longer declare the seat of a minister vacant.

Governors of the West and Northern Regions could only intervene in deadlocks between Houses in each region over the passage of a Bill, on the advice of ministers.

Special Members

As regards special members, the conference noted the N.C.N.C. delegation’s wish to have them in the proposed House of Chiefs, but not in the Eastern House of Assembly. Similarly, the Action Group delegation did not want special members in the House of Assembly, but sought to retain them in the House of Chiefs.

The Northern Region wanted to retain the present arrangements.

On the question of Lagos, the conference agreed to let it remain a Federal territory, create a Ministry for Lagos Affairs, grant it proportional representation in the House of Representatives, appoint as Federal territory and allow the Governor-General to consider the transfer of further functions such as primary education from the Federal Government to the Lagos Town Council.

The conference also agreed to scholarships being granted to the children of Lagos residents, representation on all statutory boards for Lagos and on corporations and committees established by the Federal Government; that the Oba of Lagos should continue as ex-officio President of the Town Council; that the Oba, again with another chief and two members of the L.T.C., chosen on party basis, become members of the proposed Senate; that further study be given to representation of chiefs in the Town Council; and finally that both the Federal and Western Government jointly plan the development of the area within and without the Lagos municipality.

Senate Plans

The agreement reached on the composition of the proposed Senate was along these lines:

Twelve members were to be chosen from each Region on a provincial basis apart from the Oba of Lagos — two LT.C. members and another chief, four special members named by the Governor-General, non-voting members from the Council of Ministers, a president and a deputy president.

The Senate was to exist co-terminously with the House of Representatives, but would not be allowed to initiate or delay money Bills, although it might do so to others for more than six months.

Concerning the House of Representatives, the conference agreed that the new one to be set up after the dissolution of the present one, should be enlarged to a membership of 320 elected on a basis of one member for every 100,000 of the population, by universal adult suffrage in the East, West, Lagos and Southern Cameroon and by male adult suffrage in the North.

The present House has 183 members: North 90, West and East 40 each, Cameroons five, Lagos two and six special members.

The Commissions

Commissions to be appointed by the conference were:

* A Commission to propose means of allaying minority fears “whether well or ill-founded"

* a Delimitation Commission to divide the Federation into 320 electoral districts of approximately equal population,

* a permanent Electoral Commission to supervise and direct the preparation of the powers to levy tax, allocation of and functions between the governments of the Federation special problems of indirect tax in the Federal territory and the arrangements most appropriate for the Southern Cameroons.

The conference had to appoint various committees:

(a) to consider questions concerning the public services,

(b) to consider proposals for an electoral law for the Federation

(c) to consider proposals for a House of Chiefs in the Eastern Region, and

(d) the conference undertook to appoint a committee to inquire into the functions of the Central Marketing Boards and make suggestions for changes.

Regarding the public service, the conference endorsed recommendations in respect of lump-sum compensation to be adopted by the Nigerian Governments and special safe-guards for special categories of officers.

Public Servants

A special list of agreements between the U.K. Government and the four Nigerian Governments was signed at Lancaster House on June 2, in respect of officers desiring to leave any self-governing Region. The compensation was calculated according to age, length of service and pension.

The conference stressed the importance of protecting the Public Service Commission from politics. Appointments, promotions and dismissals were to be subject to the commission’s recommendations to the Governor. Similarly, it was resolved to maintain the independence of the Audit Service, through the Public Service Commission.

Regarding the judiciary, the conference insisted on the importance of ensuring its independence by protecting it from political interference. It was therefore decided that the Chief Justice of a self-governing Region could only be appointed by the Governor in consultation with the Chief Justice of the Federal Supreme Court. It ruled also that a Judicial Service Commission be set up, that the present High Court Judges be protected and that their removal could only be effected by an inquiry carried out by a judicial committee of the Privy Council.

Finally, the appointment, dismissal and promotion of magistrates were left with the Governor acting on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission. The office of Attorney-General was made political and provision was made for an office of Director of Public Prosecutions as a civil service appointment.

North Constitution

On the constitution of the Northern Region, since the North did not wish to be self-governing before 1959, it was recommended that the House of Chiefs should comprise all first class chiefs and forty-seven others, chosen from among themselves. Other recommendations were for the creation of a Council of Chiefs to approve appointments and depositions, the abolition of the posts of Civil Secretary and Financial Secretary, the composition of a House of Assembly of 170 elected members with five special members to be named by the Governor.

Regarding the proposed Eastern House of Chiefs, the conference took decisions that it should comprise sixty members, that a formula be adopted for the classification of chiefs before the House was created, that there should be five special members with special qualifications of benefit to the House, and that not more than two members should be on the Executive Council of the Region.

Regarding the Federal Council of Ministers, the conference created a Deputy Governor-General, abolished the post of Chief Secretary and decided that the Financial Secretary, who was to be replaced by a Minister of Finance, and the Attorney-General should both cease to be members of the council. It was also approved that not less than ten members should be on the Council of Ministers. It was placed on record that until independence, the Governor-General or his deputy should preside over the meetings of the council.

Federal Subjects

Concerning the division of functions between the Federal and regional governments, the conference made a number of changes and concluded, among other things that naturalization of aliens should be a Federal subject, as well as banking and allied matters, but pointed out that the Regions could own or participate in commercial banking concerns. On the pressing issue of the police, it was thought wise for it to remain a Federal responsibility in view of the need to check misuse by politicians.

Other matters on the exclusive list are marriage and matrimonial cases other than those under Moslem or customary laws, and commissions of inquiry arising out of the exclusive Federal list.

Placed on the concurrent list were administration of estates, dangerous drugs, electricity, gas industrial development, insurance, sanctioning of films and trustees. Commissions of inquiry emanating from subjects on the concurrent list were also placed in this section. Another important ruling was that in the event of inconsistencies between Federal and Regional laws, Federal laws should prevail.


Armed Forces

The conference also tackled the future of the Armed Forces.

A major decision was taken that as from April 1, 1958, the right of control at present exercised by the United Kingdom Army Council should end. It was deemed important that with the progress of Nigeria towards self-government, the country should gain the necessary experience in the administration of the nation’s defence forces.

Such a transfer of power means that the Federal Government will have to assume primary financial responsibility for the Forces. And so within its terms of reference, the Fiscal Commission was to take this additional item into consideration. The United Kingdom Government gave the assurance, however, that it would be willing to consider financial aid on a diminishing basis, after the transfer of control. It also expressed its readiness to discuss the secondment of British officers and N.C.Os to the Nigerian Army, as well as the provision of training facilities in the United Kingdom.

The conference also agreed that the Governor-General should set up a defence committee, comprising the deputy Governor-General as chairman, the Prime Minister, two other ministers, the General Officer Commanding the Nigerian military forces, the Regional Premiers or their representatives.

The conference dealt in detail with the future position of the Southern Cameroons in the event of Nigerian independence.

Southern Cameroons

On the constitution of the territory, it was decided that the term — “quasi-Federal territory” should cease and that it should instead become known as the Southern Cameroons.

The Governor-General of the Federation would be styled High Commissioner for the Southern Cameroons in view of Britain’s trusteeship agreement. The Commissioner of the Cameroons, who would be the representative at the United Nations, would remain responsible to the High Commissioner.

The elected membership of the House of Assembly was increased from thirteen to twenty-six.

The three ex-officio members were to remain and provisions were made for two special members for communities of interests not adequately represented. No provisions were made for the representation of Native Authority members.

The commissioner could, after consultations, with the Premier, appoint a Speaker either from the House or outside it.

He would continue to preside until the Speaker was appointed.

On the issue of the proposed House of Chiefs, the conference agreed on a membership of twenty, on a basis of not more than three members for any division. The functions of the House would be to consider Bills, advise on any matter, and to advise on any question referred to it by the commissioner.

It would also consider legislation passed through the House of Assembly. Members of the Executive Council would be entitled to sit in the House but not to vote. The Executive Council itself would consist of the Commissioner as president, three ex-officio members, and five unofficial members, one of whom would be styled Premier and the others Ministers. The High Commissioner could increase the number of ministers following recommendation from the Commissioner after consulting the Executive Council.

Sub-Committees

Public officers would remain members of the Federal Public Service, but provisions would be made for the setting up of sub-committees in the Southern Cameroons to advise on certain appointments provided for by the territory’s estimates.

Although the conference agreed to the representation of the Southern Cameroons in the Senate, it resolved that the whole question of representation in the Senate would be subject to review if new states were created.

The delegate from the Northern Cameroons reaffirmed the decision taken by the territory in 1953 to remain part of the Northern Region.

On June 23, 1957, Mr. Lennox Boyd reopened further discussion on independence when he said:

“I understand that it is proposed that some time about January 1960 the new Nigerian Parliament will debate a resolution asking HM. Government to agree to full self-government within the Commonwealth by a date in l960 which will be mentioned in the resolution. In any case, the constitutional machinery would take time, and you (the Nigerian delegates) would no doubt bear this very much in mind in coming to a conclusion as to what date you should ask for.

It might therefore be (as many of you have urged) a good thing for there to be some informal consultation with us as to what sort of date was realistic. On receipt of your resolution H.M. Government will consider it with sympathy, and will then be prepared to fix a date when they would accede to the request. We could not at this stage give any undertaking that the date would be the same date as asked for in the resolution, though we would do our utmost to meet the resolution in a reasonable and practicable manner. Delegates, I hope, know H.M. Government well enough to be sure that they would not invent reasons for artificially extending the date. H. M. Government would, of course, be very much guided in their choice of a date by the way everything was going, by how the two Regions now about to enjoy self-government had taken the strain of this great step forward, and by how the country as a whole had faced up to the problem of minorities, on which a commission would already have reported.”

The Regional Premiers and Dr. Endeley replied on June 24 in the following joint statement:

"We feel bound to express our disappointment that it has not been possible
for H. M. Government to give an undertaking to grant independence to Nigeria on a date to be named in 1960 by the new Nigerian Parliament. The year 1959 has been unanimously proposed by the people of Nigeria, and we have given consideration to a date in 1960 only because we appreciate that the solution to the various problems that must be disposed of before independence will take longer than we had thought. Having gone thus far on the path of reason and realism, we had thought that the Secretary of State would accede to our united wishes. In the circumstances, we can do no more than take note of the Secretary of State’s statement, while reserving to ourselves the right to pursue the issue further with a view to impressing upon H. M. Government the
necessity for granting independence to the Federation of Nigeria not later than April 2, 1960."

END

Da infamous: No regrets for the Asaba massacre of Igbo -Haruna

(Wednesday 10th October, 2001)
By Sufuyan Ojeifo & Lemmy Ughegbe, Vanguard

[b]ABUJA — GENERAL Officer Commanding (GOC) Two Division of the Army during the civil war, Maj.-Gen. Ibrahim Haruna said yesterday that he had no regret for the Asaba massacre in which over 500 Igbo men were killed by his troops.

Testifying for the second day running for the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) at the Oputa panel sitting, Gen. Haruna also revealed that Nigeria’s late Prime Minister, Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa-Balewa had a foreknowledge of the 1966 coup that claimed his life.

He said the late Prime Minister even turned down an invitation from the British government to pass the night of January 14, 1966 at the British High Commission in Lagos to escape from the coup plotters.

Gen. Haruna who was under cross-examination by the Ohanaeze Ndigbo’s counsel, Chief Anthony Mogbo (SAN) said whatever action he or his troops took during the war was motivated by a sense of duty to protect the unity of the country.

"As the commanding officer and leader of the troops that massacred 500 men in Asaba, I have no apology for those massacred in Asaba, Owerri and Ameke-Item. I acted as a soldier maintaining the peace and unity of Nigeria," he declared.

"If Gen. Yakubu Gowon apologised, he did it in his own capacity. As for me I have no apology," explaining, however, that "it was as barbaric as the 1966 coup; it was as barbaric as the pogrom, if there was also any other atrocity, the Kano extrajudicial killing was as barbaric as that."

Gen. Haruna also recommended that Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, Gen. Yakubu Gowon and Gen. Ibrahim Babangida be charged with failure to investigate the 1966 coup during their different terms as head of state.

"Charge Buhari, Gowon, Babangida for not investigating the 1966 coup on the grounds of dereliction of duty," he said.

On the 1966 coup, Gen. Haruna informed the panel that the late Alhaji Tafawa-Balewa, among other prominent Nigerians, had a foreknowledge of the coup.[/b]

He said the late Prime Minister actually turned down an invitation from the British government to pass the night at its High Commission in Lagos as he believed the mutineers would kill him.

Called by Mogbo (SAN) to explain the rationale behind ACF tagging the 1966 coup an "Igbo coup in spite of Alhaji Balewa, M.D. Yusuf, then a police officer, Col. Maimalari and many others of Northern extraction having prior knowledge of the coup, the star witness declined response.

He, however, disclosed that the North had planned a jihad on the day of the coup, insisting that the statement "Igbo, Igbo, Igbo, you are no longer part of Nigeria," credited to the former Prime Minister (Balewa) was a misinterpretation of the actual intent.

On the Gideon Akaluka incident of 1994, Gen. Haruna said that it was wrong to say that the Kano State Government never punished the killers of Mr. Gideon Akaluka, saying 20 unnamed persons were victims of extra-judicial killings which were supposed to be a deterrent.

But he said the killings were not ordered by the state government.

"My lord, I do not know who ordered the extra-judicial killing, nor where they were killed. All I know is that the Kano State Government, killed 20 people linked to the barbaric act," he said.

Gen. Haruna said, "I don’t know what you mean, 20 people were victims of the extra-judicial killing, but I don‘t know who ordered it, I have not said it is Kano State that ordered it."

Also testifying, the Plateau State branch of NBA Chairman and son of late Lt.-Col. Yakubu Pam, Barrister Yusuf Pam demanded a public apology from Col. Ben Gbulie for alleging that the house which his father built was a gift from the then Northern regional government.

"We were taught to forgive, but it is only normal for us to demand that such a statement that is patently false should be retracted by Gbulie. He should also apologise to us for this further damage to the memory of a patriotic officer who served the country well with his life."


HOW CAN ONE TALK SENSE WITH PEOPLE THAT HAS BLOOD IN THEIR EYES

I can hardly believe a word from this fool since he failed to realize 2nd Division of Nigeria armed forces was under the command of Col Muhammad Murtala while 8th Brigade that supplied the soldiers that carried out the Asaba massacre was commanded by Lt Col Francis Ayisida.

Lt Col Ibrahim Haruna replaced Col Murtala as the GOC of 2nd Division when the later ran away from his command post after the Abagana debacle.

Ngodigha1: The rumours of the impending coup of Jan 1966 was relayed to Bello and Balewa. They knew about it so were other govt officials.
It is an outright stupidity to claim that Azikiwe and Ifeajuna are cousins. As Azkiwe and Ifeajuna are not cousins so was there no discussion between then about a coup.
Can someone claim that Obasanjo and Abiola are cousins because they are both Egbas.
Dude is always quoting the wrong articles, what a shame.

Kats relies very much on the conjectural craps floated on the Internet. It is funny to watch the act of “copy and paste” from Kats and how lazy contributors seem to clap moronically for the junks. Kats is so full of it even to the extent of mocking rigid nature of military parlance by insinuating Ifeajuna informed Zik about impending coup.

I can not believe a Nigerian at this stage did not understand the business of 1957 Nigerian Constitutional Conference.