₦airaland Forum

Katsumoto: See comments from the President of Ohanezee; I guess you are going to say that the Old man is a liar. LMAO

[b]'Again, in 1957 when the British Colonial Government, under intense pressure from Southern politicians pressing for independence, attempted to uncouple the union between the North and South forged through Lord Lugard’s Amalgamation of 1914, with the offer of independence to the three Regions individually provided any two accepted the offer, a political crisis loomed large on the national horizon. The Northern Region, led by the Northern Peoples Congress (NPC) took the position that the North was not ready for that level of political and economic independence. The Western Region, led by Chief Awolowo’s Action Group (AG) promptly, declared its readiness to accept the offer. It was the Igbo-led NCNC that held the balance. It was an issue that could make or break Nigeria if the three Regions chose to go their separate ways to independence.

The NCNC leader, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe took the stand that although the Eastern Region was ready to assume the responsibilities of Regional independence, its attainment without the North would lead, in his own words, to the ‘’Baalkanization of the Nigeria Nation’’ and conceivably a break-up of the country. The Eastern Region would rather suppress it’s appetite for independence and the obvious gains it would entail until the Northern Region was ready. That was how Nigeria Independence was delayed until 1960. In short, the Igbo-led Eastern Region would rather forgo the advancement of its own political economic interests than risk the break-up of Nigeria.[/b]

Had the Eastern Region opted for Independence at that time, the territory under its control would have comprised in today’s terms the following nine States with their enormous human and natural resources: Abia, Akwa-Ibom, Anambra, Bayelsa, Cross River, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo, Rivers state. It would also probably include Southern Cameroun with the oil rich Bakassi Peninsula. If not for Zik, by 1960, the three Regions would have become separate sovereign states and there would have been no question of Biafra’s attempted secession in 1967 from a non-existing Nigeria federation and the devastating civil war fought to stop it.
Similary, when Zik moved to the Federal scene as Governor-General and later titular President of Nigeria, the NCNC, under the leadership of Dr. Michael Okpara, of blessed memory, continued faithfully in his giant and indelible footsteps, the political bridge-building and nation building enterprise of the Igbo.'

http://www.nigerianbestforum.com/blog/?p=39715

The above nonsensical drivel is the reason I urge Nigerians to embark on empirical research and stop relying on the junks floated on the Internet. The Nigerian Constitutional Conference of 1957 was not to decide whether a region should be independence or not. The regional autonomy has been decided during the previous constitutional conference.

The issue of Nigeria independence in 1959 was the major business before the delegates at 1957 conference as evidenced when the three regional premiers submitted joint memorandum which demanded that the British Government should undertake to grant independence to the Federation in 1959. In this event, even Bello, the premier of northern region, was among the leaders that submitted the joint memorandum.

One wonders why Zik would oppose such move in 1957 when Bello of northern region agreed to both self-governing of northern region and independence of Nigeria in 1959.



I hate "copy and paste" but for clarity sake, I add this:


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

Katsumoto: Nigeria could have attacked Biafra through the North and Mid-west but it only attacked from the North and not mid-west. Why was that? Had the governors of the Mid-west and West not declared neutrality?

It is very apparent your act of trolling does not know boundaries. Nigeria launched attack on Biafra from north and south flanks using Mid-western region as a launch pad for southern operations. Gowon was still sitting in Lagos when ordered LGO to move to Escrvos, Mid-western region.

Katsumoto: They had been granted partial autonomy in 1954; 1957 was about staying together as one or forming as separate nations.

There wasn't anything political doubleface about that action. If indeed it happened as you described, then it was politicking. After the Tory government failed to get a clear majority in 2010, the liberal democrats opened communications with both Labour and the Tories to form the new government. You negotiate with both parties and try to ascertain the situation that suits you best. But you wouldn't understand that since you don't understand politics and you want to undermine the other guy (Awo)

Again, during the first constitutional conference in 1957 which was chaired by Allen Lennox-Boyd, 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.

I do not know where you pulled the crap that Zik voted to put off the independence for eastern region, preferring to wait for the North to be ready. It was the chairman of the occasion who rejected the demand from western and eastern region to grant Nigerian independence in 1959 during which he accepted Northern region demanded for self-governing. It must be recall that AG and NCNC have reached agreement in 1956 to forge ahead for independent for Nigerian in 1959.

When Allen Lennox-Boyd rejected the demand from both west and east while granting self-governing request from north, the AG and NCNC delegates walked out of the conference, As result of the walk-out, the conference was postponed to later month in 1957. However, Zik rasied objection to later date due to court issue and conference was postponed to 1958.

You can delude yourself with Tory and British political of transparency, the fact remains Awo and Action Group were caught in the act of double standard in 1959 and were rejected by both NPC and NCNC.

Katsumoto: Who betrayed whom? Lets look at a chronology of events to ascertain whether Awo or Yoruba betrayed Ndigbo.

It is important contextualize Awo’s actions before and during the Civil war. To do so accurately, one must scrutinize the actions of all parties pre-Independence, post-Independence, and pre-Civil war.

In 1957, the Governor-General, Sir James Robertson, gave the three regions the choice of self-autonomy and independence but it had to be a majority decision. Awo voted for independence for the Western Region, Ahmadu Bello said the North wasn't ready for self-governance and would prefer to remain under British rule. Zik voted to put off Independence for the Eastern region, preferring to wait for the North to be ready. Zik had the choice of a country for the Eastern region but he wanted Nigeria at all cost. Similarly, at the same constitutional conference in London, Awo wanted a secession clause inserted into the constitution but Zik and Bello refused. Guess who would later want secession.

Now fast forward to the general election in 1959. The North won the most seats in the house. Awo offered to join a coalition with Zik, with Zik as Prime Minister (the PM had the real power) but Zik preferred to form a coalition with the North and accepted a redundant position as Governor-General with no real powers.

When Zik aligned with the North in 1959, guess who got most of the ministerial and administrative positions allocated to the South? Yes, you guessed it, the Igbos. The Yorubas and other Groups were left on the sidelines until Akintola broke away from the AG with the help of who? Zik and Okpara who thought that Akintola would defect to their party but played a fast one by preferring to form his own party and aligning with the North. Now when the situation of the Igbo changed with Akintola joining Balewa's government with positions held by Igbo now going to Akintola's supporters, what do you think happened next? Coup by Igbo officers.

In 1962, there were problems in the Western Region between Awo and Akintola who both belonged to the Action Group. Akintola was sacked but due to actions of NCNC (Zik's Party) members, the removal of Akintola wasn't effected. Balewa and Zik imposed a state of emergency on the West because of chair throwing in the Western House yet there were no states of emergency in the North and East for far more violent actions on the streets there (the TIV crisis and the Okrika riots). Awo was subsequently jailed on trumped up charges.

Now after the imprisonment of Awo, Zik thought that his party NCNC would take control of the Western region but Akintola decided to form his own party (NNDP) rather than join the NCNC. In the elections of December 1964, NNDP took control of the Western region. The NCNC cried that elections were rigged. According to Fazil Ope-Agbe (Akintola's right hand man), the ensuing mayhem in the West was sponsored by Okpara and Zik. With the AG in retreat, NCNC calculated that if Akintola's party fell apart, the NCNC would be in a position to pick the pieces. This is not far-fetched considering Zik's antecedents in the West.

With Akintola holding firm, NCNC didn't gain the advantage it sought. One year later, a group of officers who were predominantly Igbo, executed a coup that eliminated leading politicians and officers from the North and West. Despite the murder of these Northern and Western leaders, the Northerners, who were senior partners in the coalition with the East, picked another leader, Dipcharima, to replace Balewa. The East, even though it was the junior partner, had selected Madiwe. When the North refused to budge to this proposal, Nwafor Orizu, chose to handover to Aguiyi-Ironsi another Igbo man and in the process, Nigeria’s nascent democracy was truncated.

Awo was imprisoned on trumped up charges by the Balewa/Zik government and thrown in prison. Awo wrote to Ironsi in March 1966 requesting to be released from prison but was obviously ignored. Awo would later be released from prison by Gowon and driven home in Murtala Mohamed’s car. Despite his time in prison and his political difficulties with Zik/okpara, Awo would assume the role of a statesman and try to find a solution to the impasse between the North and the East. That speech by Awo to the Western regional house was a very noble one. Awo would also travel to Enugu to advise Ojukwu against armed conflict.
So putting all these into consideration, would any sane person expect Awo to simply just follow the East in a secession bid? Awo's loyalty was to his people. He did what he felt was best for his people concerning the circumstances. Despite all that, Awo advised Ojukwu not to go to war. When Awo offered to organise a meeting with Northern officers, Ojukwu replied, 'On the specific question of whether there is a possibility of contract with the North, the answer is at the battle field.'

Other than trying to play the role of an elder statesman and finding a solution to the problem, Awo owed no loyalty to the East. To betray the East, he would have had to have come to an agreement with the leaders in the East. How did Awo betray Ndigbo? Did he have an agreement with Ndigbo? Why should Awo be looking out for Ndigbo? Did Ndigbo have Awo's back?

I ask again, who betrayed whom? Ndigbo chose its own destiny; fair enough. But to blame the failure of the decisions taken by Ndigbo on Awo and Yoruba is downright cowardly and dishonest. Only a coward blames another for his own failures; real men take responsibility.

Before I join issues with the above balderdash and drivel, I would want you to be specific with dates of 1957 constitutional conference and the purpose. I demand these instances because by the time 1957 constitutional conference came around both eastern and western regions were granted self-governing.

In addition, tell me why Awolowo secretly sent Rosiji and Akintola to Bello to negotiate terms of coalition between NPC and AG while Awo and Adegbenro were in Onitisha trying to negotiate coalition terms. If this behavior was not a political double face, what else could be?

Katsumoto: You will bend the truth to suit your silly logic.

Is an association formed on the day the founders meet for the first time? Even if we agree that Egbe omo oduduwa was formed in 1945, Ibo union was formed in 1934.

Please see the link below from Richard Sklar's book 'Nigerian Political Parties: Power in an Emergent African Nation'. You are a lying old man who refuses to verify facts before launching into embarrassing tirades. I continue to educate you by always backing my position with facts. Soon you will come back to tell us that you were there when Ibo union was formed after Egbe omo Oduduwa.


http://books.google.ca/books?id=Oi0aVR4YkmUC&pg=PA65&lpg=PA65&dq=igbo+union+formed&source=bl&ots=xls8F0N0oJ&sig=a5-BhLWs4i5YmzESiWo3ux6AVtI&hl=en&sa=X&ei=BNmPUMSlD4jBygGzpIHYCA&ved=0CCwQ6AEwAjgK#v=onepage&q=igbo%20union%20formed&f=false


Last bolded item - Zik thought it was an act of tribalism. Read the links that have been provided just like he used tribalism as an excuse for his loss in 1951.

Again, I had to advise you to quit supporting your head with obscure publications. There was an era in the protectorates that trade unions were fad and people joined to protect their interest against colonialist skewed interest. The Igbo Federal Union was formed in 1944 among numerous unions of that ear which include Calabar Mercantile Employees Union and Ajijaawe Native Herbalist Union. Also, by 1940, Awolowo had formed Ijebu Ode Cocoa Traders Union and Nigerian Motor Transport Union- Agboro.

It was in 1948 that Igbo Federal Union changed to Igbo State Union with Zik as the president. Even as the picture stands, Igbo State Union did not morph into any political party as did Quadriyya\Tijaniyya Sects and Pilgrim Association and Egbe Omo Oduduwa into NPC and Action Group respectively.

naijababe: Bros na, struggling to comprehend? Ok, imma help you out again.

In 1934, some elite Nigerians, Dr. Kofo Abayomi, H.O. Daniel, Ernest Ikoli, Samuel Musanya, (later Oba), J.C Vaughan, among others, formed the Lagos Youth Movement, later Nigerian Youth Movement, NYM, (1936) and by 1938, it was so popular that it was beating Herbert McCaulay’s NNDP to second position in the Council elections of the Lagos ownship and the Nigerian legislative Council. Came February 1941, when its member, Dr. Abayomi, had to resign for further studies abroad. This created an opening for a fresh election in which Ikoli and Akinsanya expressed interest to become the flag bearer of the Movement. Obafemi Awolowo’s group solidly supported Ikoli, an Ijaw; while Azikwe’s gave its backing to Akinsanya, an Ijebu Yoruba like Awolowo. Not much of tribal politics in those good old days even as the Movement was largely Yoruba dominated. But not when Ikoli won the flag. [size=16pt]Zik and Akinsanya charged that they lost because their candidate was Ijebu not minding that so was also Awolowo[/size]. They walked out along with some Igbo members. According to G.O. Olusanya, non-Igbo members became suspicious. "They reasoned that if the Igbos continued the policy of closing ranks on issues while the others remained divided, it was only a question of time before the Igbo dominated the rest." (Groundwork of Nigerian History - Obaro Ikime). "Azikwe’s defection virtually destroyed the multi-tribal character of the Movement" (Nigerian Political Parties- R. L Sklar) .

It is only in the idiotic mind of a dingbat that Zik’s support of a Yoruba candidature in the person of Samuel Akinsanya could be regarded as tribalism. Alleged accusation credited to Zik and Akinsanya, about a candidate being Ijebu or not, was arrant nonsense and figment of the author’s imagination. If did not know that Awolowo was Ijebu which I seriously doubted, Akinsanya, fellow Ijebu of Awolowo, should know. I wonder why the Igbo’s policy of closing ranks on the issue of supporting Obasanjo to the Nigerian presidency when the Yoruba did not support his candidature has not being branded tribalism.

Katsumoto: The fact remains that Egbe Omo Oduduwa became a political party which had a number of non-Yoruba amongst its ranks. All political start has ideas and then morph into something else. Abraham Lincoln was the Republican party elected president who fought to end slavery. The Christian Social Union of Bavaria is a Bavarian party that is the current coalition ruling Germany.

The question is ,'how did Awo start ethnic politics?'

Bear in mind the following

1. Egbe Omo oduduwa was formed years after the Ibo state union was formed with Zik as president.
2. The Nigerian youth movement of which Awo and Zik were members was dissolved as a result of the fallout of an election in 1941 between Samuel Akinsanya (supported by Zik) and Ernest Ikoli supported by Awo. Ikoli won said election and Zik's accusation at the time? That it was an Eko conspiracy against Ijebus! never mind that Awo was Ijebu.

You lot keep repeating these lies against the person of Obafemi Awolowo. They said he started ethnic politics with cross-carpeting, produce the results which says so, you can't. ACM10 is still on his way to his grandmother's library in her village riding a tortoise. Maybe he will produce the results by 2062.

I can not fathom where you pull some of the craps you post on this forum. I guess it makes you happy to feel you had monopoly on Nigerian history. What actually urged you to conjure a thing such as “Egbe Omo oduduwa was formed years after the Ibo state union was formed with Zik as president”?

This is not first time you have audaciously stated that Christmas comes in the month of November. In 1945 in the house of one Mr. Okunn somewhere in London, Egbe Omo Oduduwa was formed. One wonders how Igbo State Union, inaugurated in 1948, was formed several years before Egb Omo Oduduwa.

Did Igbo State Union morphed into a political party as did Egbe Omo Oduduwa into Action Group? Please, if you know any political party Igbo State Union preceded, I am all ears.

If Zik had supported an Igbo candidate instead of Samuel Akinsanya, a Yoruba, then the silly insinuation of tribalism on the part of Zik would hold water. Nobody thinks Awolowo’s support of Ernest Ikoli, Ijo, was as act of tribalism.

Who made a criminal such as Gowon the C-in-C of Nigeria? He claimed a none precipitant in the July 29, 1966 coup and yet he criminally assumed th position of C-in-C against the backdrop of rejection and opposition from certain quarters. He was not the most senior army officer in Nigerian armed forces on July 30, 1966. Though Gowon was Chief of Army Staff, there was a living 2/ic to C-in-C when Gowon and his fellow criminals took over Nigerian governemnt through coup de'tat.

It is funny a criminal such as Gowon has the audacity to claim he was defending the constitution of Nigeria and fighting to keep Nigeria as one entity. Who gave this fool, Gowon, the mandate to defend the constitution and keep Nigeria as one entity?

[quote author=9ja_I_hail]You see one of the reason this guy call okija juju will never lead any group in igbo land both online and offline. 90% of igbo's don't believe that Nigeria is one until injustice melted against the civilian igbo's is addressed, but here is our aspired eze is telling us to swallow the injustice unaddressed and welcome those who championed the agenda to wipe us out of the earth with open arms. What an Eze in making. Stupiid chameleon[/quote]I guess it was a matter of omission on the part of Okija_juju because it is very difficult to fathom what spurred Okija_juju to conclude Igbo are raised to distrust/dislike Yoruba.

I would want Gowon to come to ICC to explain why the need to live independently from other group of people tantamount to declaration of war. If Biafrans sue of independence equates war, why did British fail to shoot all the nationalists who sought independence for Nigeria since such action was declaration of war?

[quote author=Okija_juju]If Ndi Igbo can grow pastthe following;

- Biafra

- Awolowos alleged Betrayal/genocide


Then Yes.. We and the Yorubas can be friends and get along..

However, its engraved in the psyche of ndi Igbos not to trust a Yoruba person.. I wonder if its all about Awolowo or if there is more. And itt seems the Yorubas have sensed this and are reciprocating..

I wonder if Yorubas are also raised to dislike/distrust Igbos?! [/quote]It will be nice if you can cut your fixation on Biafra and Awolowo’s alleged betrayal/genocide and concentrate on the contributing factors that led to Biafra and Awolowo’s alleged betrayal.

Probably, you were raised to distrust/dislike Yoruba which made you to insinuate that every Igbo person was raised in the same manner. It was while in Lagos as a very green Nigerian that a Yoruba told me to “go back to my country”. I wondered aloud what this goofy fellow meant by “go back to your country”. Anyway, I did not pay any mind to the lapper.

Igbo and Yoruba can never forge a sociopolitical unity. It is not only between Igbo and Yoruba but other ethnicities in the cesspit called Nigeria that would want Igbo diminish in every human endeavor or possible die because Igbo had gained slight advantage on certain fields over them when the playing ground was set at equilibrium.

I personally want and will continuously advocate for the Republic of Igbo Land. It will be better we go our different ways than parked together in retrogressive entity such as Nigeria.

aribisala0: The bolded is quite true and your display can only be described as an apotheotic exemplar.

Must you write in English

Where does it leave a dullard such as you that indulges in deification?

Obinoscopy: That was the motive behind my volunteering to argue against the motion that it was a historical mistake. I know it would be difficult to argue against the motion but I chose to do it nevertheless. I did it not to win, after all even if I had won the debate that won't make Nigerians believe me, neither will it make 1914 amalgamation not to be a historical mistake. If you ask me, whether its a historical mistake or not is purely subjective. Its a thing of the mind. We are what we chose to believe.

I know Nigeria is really backward and I know one of the reasons is due to ethnic bigotry and nepotism. However I'm of the view that these ethnic bigotry is masterminded by corrupt leaders whose sole aim is to cling to power either by hook or by crook.

I believe Nigeria can work if we choose to make it work despite our ethnic diversities. If our leaders can give us good governance and enshrine social justice and if tolerance can be preached among Nigerians, Nigeria will be great. We need to be progressives and not retrogressives. The earlier we begin thinking in this direction, the better for all of us.

Obi, I have celebrated your attempt to convince Nigerians from the driest corner of the exercise centered on 1914 amalgamation of the protectorates was good hence Nigeria. The citation of USA and Somalia was typical example of the object that stood immovably against your plank. The British folks who joined forces with other Europeans to found USA were determined to customize USA with British culture and way of life. For example in 1882, Swedish Premier visited Maine, USA and was shocked to the bones his folks can no longer utter a word in Swedish. Somalia is even worse than Nigeria because of the irrevocable differences among the ethnic nationalists.

Some people still fall into the erroneous assumption that USA is diverse society. But closer look will definitely inform the undiscerning onlooker that USA mere outwardly look of Yellow, Blue, Black, White, Green and Red is artifical the main engine that drives the country is English or British acculturated way of life. Even the Italians, Germans, French and Spaniards lost out to the English or British culture. The 1914 amalgamation which gave rise to Nigeria had no good intentions toward the inhabitants. There is no dominant culture within the geographical expression known as Nigeria to pull everybody onboard. Nigeria is akin to a public house.

kingoflag: 1. So, wait, how much did you expect the Govt to give in exchange of worthless currency?

2. Next you claim all the Igbos during the war had "millions" of Pounds, yet in the same breath you say they were all "ravaged with intense poverty and hunger". How is this possible? How does a Millionaire starve except the currency was worthless in the first place a la "Zimbabwean Millionaire" syndrome?

3. OK, lets agree that the plan was to wreck havoc on Igbos for 30yrs, what about 30yrs later? Dont your Governors collect Billions of Dollars from Abuja every year? Where does the money end up or are we to blame Awo for your thieving, irresponsible, divisive and crooked Governors too?

4. Do you know that this same Awo gave millions of pounds immediately after the war to resuscitate ACB (African Continental Bank), the largest Igbo bank at the time. WHERE IS ACB TODAY?! Do we also blame the thieving officials that ran it into the ground on Awolowo? Tell us what happened to Cooperative Bank of Eastern Nigeria, you do know Awolowo gave them Millions of Pounds too so that they could lend to Igbo traders immediately after the war? What happened to all the money?

5. Did or didnt Awolowo ensure that Igbo savings (subvention)--- 990,000 Pounds/month for the duration of the war--- was given to the South Eastern states after the war COMPLETE WITH INTEREST?! Tens of millions of Pounds (incase you dont know the equivalent in todays currency, we're talking Billions of Pounds) given to the South East as their share of revenue that was saved up for them during the course of the war. Why dont you ask your leaders what happened to the monies instead of listening to the fo.olish propaganda they keep feeding y'all?

African Continental Bank (ACB) was a property of defunct eastern regional government. It was not and never a sole property of Ndigbo. The state governments of Enugu, Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Imo, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Rivers and Bayelsa have decided to liquidate the assets of the bank. Half education is one of the most serious handicaps inflicted on a human being.

kingoflag: Chinua Achebe, lest you forget, was Biafran Minister of Communication during the war. His Ministry was given the task of spreading Propaganda on behalf of Biafra. He was also in charge of Radio Biafra. So, it wasnt for selfish reasons alone that he decided to unleash all this confusion.

Kingofool,

You are a consummate fool as you moniker suggested. All you need to do is embark on empirical research about what transpired in Nigeria from January 15, 1966 to July 6, 1967. The coups did not lead to session rather usurpation of position of C-in-C, mockery of Nigerian military parlance by Gowon and pogrom in northern region of Nigeria led to the war.

I derive joy watching a dullard such as you make fool of him\her self in public with respect to the foolish comments such as “Chinua Achebe, lest you forget, was Biafran Minister of Communication during the war”. I shall let you to continue wallowing in your intellectual stupor for a while, olodo.

Katsumoto: Some of you don't try to learn and verify facts for your yourselves; you just accept whatever you are told.

In the 1959 elections to decide the first government, AG won 35 seats in the West, 5 in the mid-west, 25 in the North, 14 in the East, and 1 in Lagos.

NCNC won 58 in the East, 21 in the West, 2 in Lagos, and only 2 in the North.

If AG was a regional party, how come it won more seats outside its base in the West? Yet NPC won most of its seats in the North and NCNC won most of its seats in the East.

If we look at the origins of the NCNC, one will realize that it was a National party started by Lagos Yoruba but was turned into an Igbo party by Zik (just look at the results). The seats won in the West are as a result of the groundwork of the original members of the NCNC. The 'national' party had no showing in the North.

NCNC founding executive: Herbert macaulay - President, Azikiwe - General Secretary, Oyeshile Omage - Financial Secretary, Dr Olorun-Nimbe - Treasurer, Onojobi and Ogedengbe - Auditors, Akerele and Odunsi - Legal advicers

I believe sometimes you know the facts but tend to obfuscate. The introduction of sectarian and tribal politics in the protectorates and later Nigeria hangs in the corners of Bello, Balewa and Awolowo.

The principal cornerstones of NPC and AG were both religious and tribal. However the first tribally and religiously organized political party to cross the finish line was NPC judging from the date of its official formation. In 1949, NPC rose from Quadriyya\Tijaniyya Sects and Pilgrim Association to a political party. In other hand in 1951, AG rose from Egbe Omo Oduduwa to a political party.

As you alluded in your post, NCNC was formed by a group of would-be Nigerians\Cameroonians who cut across all the ethnic and religious groups in Nigeria\Cameroon. Do you realize your good friend Zanna Dipcharima was an NCNC card-carrying member before defecting to NPC?

aribisala0: For me sudden demise is welcome and preferable to your drooling, demented, prolonged and putrefying passage. You are literally rotting before our eyes. Only evil men fear death.

You will never get to an old age.

inufele2: If only you're God!

No, never showed disdain for an old age.

nagoma: Japan was defeated in the second world war after the dropping of 2 atom bombs on some of their largest cities, Germany was severely defeated and no city in the world not even iraq has taken the kind of destructive bombardment carried out by the allies on Dresden and other German cities. We are only talking about recent history , this has happened though out history . War is an adventure and could be a misadventure as it turned out to be for Ojukwu. Would they be talking like this if Ojukwu won the war? Gowon should just ignore these people whining and moaning about what they don't know. If they can't take a defeat gallantly like other lands why did they start the war?. War is not a football game please.

Fool, was it a crime to allow Biafra to enjoy number of years Japan and Germany experienced as countries before the war? At least, Germany and Japan decided to initiate the war unlike Biafra whose crime was just to express the need to live separately from cesspit called Nigeria.

aribisala0: And you are the personification of what .Old man ?

You are very prodigal, monkey. Believe me, sudden demise awaits you.

Katsumoto: On one hand some say I provided way too much information, on the other hand another is saying I missed out on some information. My opponent did not even provide a rebuttal to my opening statement.

Dede1

It is not essential to provide information on EVERY incident and expatiate on EVERY example. I believe I provided a chronology of events and examples to support my position.

If I did not know the cradle of the bases of your plank, I should have quit reading at the first epistle you posted as introductory. Believe me, you could have spared us the exigencies of skewed formation of political parties in the amalgamated Nigeria and stress sociopolitical interests of concerned principal players such as British and ethnic nationalists in the protectorate. Nigeria\Biafra civil war, Bakassi and retrogressive nature of Nigeria are foremost examples of the ills brought about by the 1914 amalgamation of the protectorates.

At least, you did me proud.

[quote author=haka_nai]Gowon hits Achebe on civil war, says: He wrote out of ignorance
http://www.osundefender.org/?p=50284

Gen. Yakubu Gowon, Nigeria’s Ex-president.
War time Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, has criticized renowned author, Professor Chinua Achebe, over his new book on the Nigerian civil war, saying he{Achebe }does not know the issue he was writing about.
Gowon said he was ready to face the International Criminal Court (ICC) at the Hague on the matter if necessary.

“What role did Achebe play in the secessionist plans? Achebe must have been outside the country during the war and probably did not know what happened during the period otherwise he would not have written on what he was not sure of “, he remarked.

The erstwhile Nigerian leader, who was answering questions from journalists courtesy, visit to Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu at the Presidential Lodge, Minna, Niger state, yesterday, said Achebe must have been talking out of ignorance, adding that he and the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo had no regrets over their roles in the civil war, pointing out that if there was no secession, there would not have been civil war.

“In fact , if there was no secession by the south eastern part of the country, there would have been no civil war because right from the beginning of the crises, the war would have been averted if not for the secession . It was something I believed we could have stopped,” he stressed.

Gowon also debunked the claim by the author that his administration embarked on the mass killing of Igbo, adding that the federal troops did not also use hunger as a weapon to dislodge the dissidents.

“It was the Igbo that objected to the creation of corridor for movements of medical aid and food supplies to the civilian population at the period; on this, I am ready to face the International Criminal Court of Justice at the Hague for prosecution over the role played by me during the war and, fortunately, some Nigerians are still alive to bear witness to the roles played by both the leadership of the secessionist group and the then Federal Military Government under my leadership, “the war-time leader stated.

He also recalled that during the war, a ship named “Josina” and owned by the secessionist group, which they claimed was carrying agricultural implements, was captured by federal troops and it was subjected to a thorough search and the cargo turned out to be a collection of arms and ammunition.

Gowon, who was in Minna for a 2-day prayer organized by Nigeria Prays, a group he leads, said that the massive deaths recorded by the Igbo during the civil war was caused by their own propaganda machine which claimed that the northern invaders were coming to their camps and that caused panic and pandemonium among their people because some people were trying to move from one location to the other out of fear of imaginary attacks by the so called northern invaders and without food.


^^^^^^So much for Igbo propaganda and fairy tales.The same crap that goes on and on leading this folks to spew lies about the civil war and all that is Nigeria and Nigerians.Now its become clear that there leaders starved them out of pride and also chased them up and down out of propaganda.[/quote]Gowon is a personification of the saying that a fool at 40 is a fool forever. This man is one of the bad news 1914 Amalgamation of the protectorates brought to Nigerians. If this egghead did not usurp the position of Commander in Chief of Nigeria armed forces, there would not have been any secession. The dumb azz in Gowon, after shedding crocodilian tears, denied being a percipient of July 29, 1966 counter coup yet did not insist that Ogundipe should be C-in-C in the absence of Ironsi.

Gowon, Robert Adeyinka Adebayo and cohorts of idiotic fools in military uniform made the mockery of Nigerian army. This dingbat, Gowon, was a Lt Col when he appointed Col Adebayo the military governor of western region. Such scenario is akin to Lance Corporal appointing Sergeant-Major as a Regimental Sergeant Major.

If the Gowon thought Biafrans would allow the bloodthirsty Nigerians the easier way of poisoning the children and women of Biafra than fighting with cutlasses and clubs, I deduce Gowon’s essence of wearing military uniform has everything to do with the nepotistic attitude of northern regional leaders of the era. The relief organizations offered Nigeria the opportunity to send observers to Fernando Po, Equatorial Guinea to inspect the cargos before being flown to Biafra but Gowon, Awolowo and Nigerians wanted the foods and medicine poisoned before shipping into Biafra.

It is insanely mind burgling and moronically disingenuous for lapper called Gowon to cite an imaginary marine vessel named “Josina” as an undisputable reason not to allow foods and medicine into Biafra during war. Nigerian MIGS shot down a DC4 freighting foods and medicines from Fernando Po, Equatorial Guinea to Biafra in Calabar and there was no single cartridge found among the wreckages of the DC4. There is no doubt that if the downed DC4 had any cartridge onboard, Gowon and Nigeria would have seized the opportunity to counter the so-called Biafra’s propaganda machine.

In my opinion, I think both debaters did marvelously okay especially Obinoscopy who did not have myriads of conjectural or factual information to throw at us. Obino’s presentation style was concise and straight forward. However, Obino failed to establish a common similarity between USA and Nigeria when he cited USA as an exemplary model. Obino appeared very evasive in his responses and seemed very interested in latter day achievements of USA.

It was either a matter of oversight or evasive method of debate when Obino yet again cited Somalia as monolithic society. There is nothing farther from truth than this postulation. Somalia consisted of more than five ethnic nationalists and primary among them are Samaal and Saab ethnic groups. As in case of Nigeria, foreigners decided who should be a Somali and delineated the common boundary with neighboring countries.

The Puritans, as in the case of USA, were determined to build a country through conquering, buying or annexing. In a 100M dash, how good a sprinter gets off the block has plenty to do in the outcome of the race.

As usual, Kats bored us with loads of “copy and paste” information and failed to be precise to the facts in order to help his plank. For example in Kats introductory epistle, there were citations of 1945 and 1953 riots in kano and Jos respectively. Howerever, Kats failed to use these incidents to drive home the idea why amalgamation of 1914 remains bad news to Nigerians. Both riots where incited by the British who scrawled at the nationalistic interests expressed by the southerners. What about 1949 riot in Enugu where the British commended a unit of riot police consisted mainly of Tiv peeps to shot hundreds of coal miners to death? I had expected Kats to capitalize and stress on issues that exposed the instances of base for unity and patriotism or lack thereof in Nigeria as rooted and pointed to attitude of uninterested agents of British government that amalgamated the protectorates without the fundamental interest of the people.

I think it is save to say the debate slightly went Kats way due to abundances of local information that support kat’s plank.

Paul John: At times, I wonder what some old Nigerians are up to.
Are these people thinking at all?! for goodness sake. Now because he has said "Igbo's started tribal politics", is that going to change anything? the best that can happen is more tribal bashing and advancement in hatred towards each other.
The same way the old prof some recent weeks brought up a baseless assertion from the pit of hell.
If we continue like this I wonder what the generation unborn would look like. Already, our generation has been compromised by the barbaric mind set of our elders who should have been the ones to set a solid foundation that would help us attain a greater height in the world at large.

The world is moving fast and we need to be at the same pace. Alas, we're still at logger head on who did this?, why was it done like that?.
The annoying part of it is that; we younger ones seem to be worse that those who passed this to us, just from the comments on this thread.
We can't continue like...

One of the most important aspects of 100M dash is good start off the block. Now, please I want you to correlate this 100M statement with “The world is moving fast and we need to be at the same pace.” The only reasonable comment I picked out of the balderdash from above post is “We can't continue like... “

Obinoscopy: Its a pity I'm no longer using my laptop but my phone so I'll be brief

The similarities is that of an abinitio selfish interest. The annexation in US was not to help the natives per se but to facilitate revenue generation for them.

The north was annexed to the south so that trade could get to the north. Agricultural produce and mineral resources from the north could be exported via the ports and thereby generate revenue.

You have failed to establish the simplest of the case. Again, who engineered the annexation of the north to south and for whose interest? Remember the puritans where buying the grocery and cooking soup in case of USA. In Nigeria, the grocery and soup were done by someone who was not interest and will not taste the soup.

@Obinoscopy


I shall appreciate if you could point out any similarity between amalgamated USA and Nigeria. In one instance, you wrote some places were bought while some other places were won as a result of war. There were desired energy and interest to buy or win something by the puritans in case of USA. Did you perceive such cherished and desired interest in the eyes of people who later became Nigerians as in the case of Nigeria?

helpee: [quote author=Ded. For example, there was nothing known as Nigeria from 1900 to 1960. False! Nigeria did not come into existence after independence. nigeria came in2 existence since almagamation in 1913. Lack of independence has nothing to do with existence.

During the indicated times in the article, the people of the protectorates were socio-politically identified through their ethnicity or provinces and rightfully so because there was no country named Nigeria. Of course, Zik was perfect in his choice of words in the phrase alluded by Femi. Did Femi expect Zik to say that God of Africa has created the Yoruba nation to lead the children of Africa from the bondage of ages ....'' in July 8, 1949?
to be honest, there was a country named Nigeria with constitution as far back as 1949. And what was the basis for ZIK saying the Igb o would lead. Zik was a nationalist not a tribalist. Are u saying Zik couldn't have said that the yoruba would lead simply because Zik was igbo? If that is your position then fani kayode is right that Zik was tribalist. I don't have to be igbo to say the igbo would lead if they have the attributes unless or otherwise I am a tribalist.

It is unfortunate Femi Fani-Kayode could not correctly spot the important dates in the history of Yoruba as it relates to the formation of ''Egbe Omo Oduduwa'' and the inauguration of Action Group as a political party in the protectorates later known as Nigeria talk less of deciphering who started tribal politics in the south.

If the protectorates were a country or nation, why did you accept that Zik was a nationalist with respect to the era in discuss? Do you know the meaning of nationalist? I am saying that Femi was wrong in attempt to paint Zik with tribal brush. Again, there was no Nigeria when the comments were made. From your postulations, there is no doubt you were fed a different history of the Protectorates and Nigeria from the one given to me.

Smooyis: The earlier igbos recognise d fact that something is fundamentally wrong with the race, just as it is with the yoruba or hausa or ijaw races, the better. No race is perfect. They should stop defending the iniquities of their kinsmen just bc he is their kinsmen. And we must not visit d guilt of single individual on the whole race. To me there are very many igbos who are of great integrity who i work with and have as friends. So am bothered and bored by d tribalistic tendencies of many nairalanders on various issues raised here. It is a pity that we can descend so low in this age.

The earlier you recognize your stupidity and start thinking there is one race on earth, thus, human race, the better for you. A good friend does not speak ill about another friend anonymously. Next time, shove the condescending craps about your Igbo friends who work with you and their integrity.

The silly antics of Femi Fani-Kayode is regenerating the troubling behaviors of his old man. Nobody switched political parties in the history of Nigeria like late Chief Fani-Kayode. The father of Femi was a consummate political love peddler. The above article allegedly accredited to Femi Fani-Kayode is riddled with innuendos and no fathomable or logical point. For example, there was nothing known as Nigeria from 1900 to 1960.

During the indicated times in the article, the people of the protectorates were socio-politically identified through their ethnicity or provinces and rightfully so because there was no country named Nigeria. Of course, Zik was perfect in his choice of words in the phrase alluded by Femi. Did Femi expect Zik to say that God of Africa has created the Yoruba nation to lead the children of Africa from the bondage of ages ....'' in July 8, 1949?

It is unfortunate Femi Fani-Kayode could not correctly spot the important dates in the history of Yoruba as it relates to the formation of ''Egbe Omo Oduduwa'' and the inauguration of Action Group as a political party in the protectorates later known as Nigeria talk less of deciphering who started tribal politics in the south.

I urge someone to inform moronic Femi Fani-Kayode that Francis Adekunle Fajuiyi never made the rank of Colonel talk less of a General. In addition, it is asinine to insinuate that a soldier could not defend him\herself was capable of protecting another soldier. What a fool.

I shall be reading with rapt attention and between lines during the debate to fish out goofiness of any debater in the same class as Negro_Ntns who thought “ Southetn protectorate ended up with three administrative capitals - Calabar, Warri and Lagos”. Warri was not even administrative capital of Ibru publishing company.

Nigerians and their level of education are terrible things. The writer of the original article Isa Sa’idu, which is titled “Police arrest Zaria ‘Boko Harm’ Killer”, should not have been allowed to touch a pen talk less writing for a major media house in Nigeria.

The suspect may have tried to fraudulently get money from targeted individual, he\she never made mention of any membership or associated with Boko Haram. The Boko Haram plank was the byproduct of idiotic Isa Sa’idu’s figment of imagination.

In fact, it would have been offensive statement if the moronic reporter or writer has titled the article as “Suspect posing as a Boro Haram arrested”. The Suspect never mentioned Boko Haram or represented him\herself as one during allaged conversation with the target as this article indicated.

The fact remains suspect never posed or insinuated he\she was a Boko Haram. Yet this dingbat made every effort to rope-in Nigerian(s) who have no connection with the silly madness known as Boko Haram. Why not captioned the article as “A suspect posing as a killer arrested in Zaria”?

ChinenyeN: I believe we may be derailing, and I wouldn't like to entertain the derailment too much, but I do feel I need to comment on the bold. Ngwa did not acknowledge or identify with "Igbo" until the mid 20th century. Before that time, Ngwa had always maintained that they formed a single, distinct people. As recent as the 60's, there were Ngwa who did not identify as "Igbo", and though you may not want to believe it, some still don't. Although, the Ngwa body now generally acknowledges "Igboness", but a strong sense of distinction and distancing between Ngwa and Igbo identity still actively pervades.

The above post is an arrant nonsense and a conjecture devoid of any historical evidence. Most people tend to foolishly forget that social groups comprising families, clans and slaves organized largely based on kinship gave raise to tribe. Sudden dispersal or unforeseen circumstances may have played role to the formation of larger group of families or clans or communities hence ethnicity.

I was born and raised in a place recently called Ukwa. In due course of my growth, I had interaction with many people who knew the cradle and history of the so-called Ngwa. As a matter of fact, I have never focus on the nomenclature known as NGWA in my understudy from person\persons who belonged to the Clans of Mboasi\Ihie\Ndoki\Asa. Apart from the aforementioned but severely abbreviated names of clans, these families\clans have some hidden names or aliases.