₦airaland Forum

Local champions are always delighted with beer parlor-styled discussion. This goofy thread is no exception. If Nigerians in Diaspora are bitter about the state of affairs in Nigeria, one can easily conclude without malice that the alleged bitterness is drawn from series of conspicuous dead-end behaviors from Nigerians at home. In addition, the so-called Nigerians in Diaspora have grown to appreciate orderly environment stuffed with social decorum.

In Nigeria, one can not enjoy a quiet moment in his\her ride without bumping into bad roads, wide eyed law enforcement agents, borderline crazies who use the road while blasting away the horn of their vehicles, hawkers on the roads, walking deaths on the roads that will not give right of way to vehicles, elected and non-elected individuals with incessant siren, encountering number of roadblocks by one government agency or another, the menace from idiotic weekend sanitation, loudmouthed dingbats who think they are right while awfully wrong, moronic ninnies driving on the wrong side of the road, unreasonably in hurry while going nowhere, traders taking over the passageways, junks of cars and lorries that could not escape from the gates of junkyards in civilized countries still ply the roads, constant lack of electricity, absolutely no running water, unforeseen menace of kidnappers, armed robbers, ritual predators and religious terrorists, rampant mosquito and snake bites, environmental hazards and social and political idiocy fueled by tribalism.

Certain bussiness enttities that bring people or drivers to Lagos State do not belong to the state. Every Nigerian has inalienable right to drive to Apapa Wharf or MMA through federal roads with or without Lagos State tag. If Fashola says that every registered company in Lagos State must operate vehicles only registered in Lagos State, then he has a point. I do not think Lagos State can unilaterally impose tag restriction on all Nigerians.

superior1: We suppose to be running a Federal System of Government, right?. I mean some states in the North even adopt Sharia law. FRSC has very little or no choice in this matter.

Even countries where practical democracy and true federalism are practiced would not attempt to institute such idiotic law.

PhysicsQED: You repeatedly mentioned Escravos and you even mentioned Boro in connection with the July invasion of Bonny as if to imply that the people trained at Escravos were trained there before the Midwestern invasion when there is simply no evidence of that. The point is, Boro's group was trained at Escravos after the Midwest invasion and there is no evidence that the 6th, 7th and 8th battalions or anyone that took part in the July invasion of Bonny was trained there (unless you are willing to supply actual evidence for your claim). If, soon after Boro's group left, even more people - non-Ijaw people - were trained at Escravos to join the force that was already at Bonny after having captured it, that is still completely irrelevant to my point as that would still have been after the Midwest invasion and we both know there was massive recruitment of non-Igbo Midwesterners after that invasion. As for the 7th and 8th battalions, I have asked you repeatedly to name names and to give evidence of the dates they joined these battalions and then I would accept your claims without hesitation. Also, a simple search shows that a battalion has a strength of anywhere from 300 to 1200 soldiers. If you are claiming that there were not 900 to 3600 non-Igbo soldiers already pre-existing in the Nigerian army besides those under other commanders and those directly under Gowon that could have been used to form the 6th and to create the 7th and 8th then why don't you provide some actual evidence in terms of names and numbers of personnel in each extant military unit?

I guess you are too good to constantly pose question of proof on the training of Nigerian army recruits at Escravos, Mid-western region and the reason certain ethnicity supported Nigeria during the civil war. In fact, only a classified interloper would entertain a question about loyalty of Edo-Urhobo-Itsekiri-Esan during the period in discussion. In addition, it is unrepentantly disingenuous for person to stray into making comments such as Mid-western region was neutral or certain ethnicities in the aforementioned region joined Nigerian side due to inversion. If you really want to know which Nigerian soldier was trained at the training depot located at Escravos, Mid-western region of Nigeria in 1967, I suggest you approach Nigerian armed forces for answers.

One wonders why Igbo ethnical groups in Mid-western region failed to join Nigerian side of the coin if inversion of Mid-western region was the stroke that broke the dam. Or does it indicate that Igbo in Mid-western region were not bona fide indigenes of the region. There were indications that Mid-western region had joined the fight against eastern region before August 8, 1967. David Ejoor who was number one citizen of the region had joined Nigeria’s effort of the war through urging Gowon to usurp the position of Head of State, attending meeting in Aburi on the Nigerian contingent and gathering supplies for Nigerian army in Escravos. It has been alleged that Ejoor was smack in the middle of plan to invade eastern region through southern flank at Bonny.

From Ejoor, Ogbemudia (sorry case indeed), Innih, Isama, Eremabor, Isemede to Tomoye were front line field commanders of Nigerian army and few were especially 3MCDO.

Konmight: Nope Bro.....Ola Sa'ad Ibrahim was Course 25 while Onyabor Azubuike Ihejirika was Course 17 at DNA. Ihejirika seniors Ibrahim but it happens like that sometimes(1999 to 2003, VLS Malu and Ogohi). Everyone here at DHQ is surprised that C in C retains COAS cos it has never happened before, but it's The President's call......I wish them all best of luck. I pray that God takes control in Northern Nigeria...Long Live Armed Forces, Long Live Federal Republic of Nigeria.

If the alleged statements that the new CDS is of course 25 while the COAS is course 17 in NDA, I say there is something fundamentally wrong with Nigeria. Lack of policy, process and principles is the bane of the country. It appears Nigerians are always changing procedure to suit their political and tribal ends. It was not too long ago when seniority was the arrowhead in the appointment of NCJ. In the case of IGP, quota system and tribal colors kicked into the process. Even my perception of Nigeria worsened after watching Nigeria’s U-17 girls got knocked out of FIFA tournament.

PhysicsQED: The Midwest was technically not neutral and did not have the means of achieving neutrality. However, if this idea that the Midwest was an "aggressor" is based on this Escravos stuff you've been repeating for more than a year now, then you might seriously need to have a rethink or recheck your facts. First, we both know that the force that captured Bonny in July was launched from Lagos, not Escravos as was discussed a long time ago although you seem quite convinced that they had been in Escravos prior to the Bonny invasion - probably because of your (incorrect) assumption that Boro and his group (who were gathered at and trained at Escravos) were among them. Second, we know that the training in Escravos of people like Boro took place after the Biafran invasion of the Midwest, not that he was just relaxing there or carrying out training while an invasion/occupation was going on there. So who was really trained at Escravos? Who led the training at Escravos? Some Ijaws, primarily from the Eastern region of Nigeria met up in Escravos and trained there briefly and from this you've built up all sorts of bizarre theories. And also, who authorized the training at Escravos? Midwesterners? There is not even any evidence of at least this (that is to say, there is no evidence that consultation was carried out and assent given before deciding that Escravos is where the training should occur) - and this is the only thing that could even be plausible.

"It is no use to repeat that Isaac Boro who was jailed by the Maj. Gen. Aguiyi-Ironsi government on recommendation by the supreme court of Nigeria was pardoned by Lt. Col Yakubu Gowon's government and later commissioned by the Nigerian Army as an officer to help liberate southern territories under Biafran control. He recruited Rivers men who volunteered to serve under him and gave them brief training at Escravos. According to Obasanjo on page 47 of [1], Boro's one-thousand Rivers men were "hurriedly and poorly trained with little or nothing in the way of training facilities and resources". His group was then attached to the 3 Marine Commando Division (then 3 Marine) under the command of Col. Benjamin Adekunle." - Hosiah Emmanuel, "Who Killed Adaka Boro"

http://www.onlinenigeria.com/people/ad.asp?blurb=129

http://www.adakaboro.org/resources/37-articles/56-whokilledboro?format=pdf

"First, I was among the hundreds of young and not so young Ijaw army of soldiers recruited and put under Boro's command that was sent to Bonny after some commando type training in Ogidigbe on the Escravos River. Boro left us soon after as he was sent to the Calabar theater. But before he left, he advised us not to commit atrocities nor loot from liberated towns and villages. And that was a very sobering advise and his greatest parting present to us. And it stuck with most of us." - Roy Tomo-Spiff, "Roy Tomo-Spiff' Recalls Boro's Death"

http://www.onlinenigeria.com/people/ad.asp?blurb=129


"The boys who were being trained by Boro and Owonaru on Escravos Bay when we passed through at the end of September had arrived in Bonny about October/November; though the then Commander was rather unhappy with them. . ." - Ken Saro-Wiwa, On a darkling plain: an account of the Nigerian civil war (1989), p. 159

"By the end of September a substantial part of the Mid-West had been cleared of rebels. What next? Col. Adekunle once again visited Lagos and secured permission to change the designation of his formation from 3 Infantry Division to 3 Marine Commando Division because of the particularly riverine and creek operations already carried out in the Mid-West, the Rivers State and a similar one impending in the South-Eastern State. From Warri, 3 Marine Commando Division moved once again to Bonny where the planning and preparation for Operation Tiger Claw, the Calabar landing operation started in earnest early in October 1967. At Bonny, Col. Adekunle got his men and materials together once again less those officers and men who had been absorbed into 2 Infantry Division in the Mid-West. He also gained some officers and men like Majors Afiegbe and Alabi from the Mid-West operation. Maj. Phillip Afiegbe was appointed General Staff Officer I for Operation Tiger Claw. Also at this time, Boro and his one thousand ill-disciplined, hurriedly and poorly trained Rivers men had joined the 3 Marine at Bonny. They were trained at Escravos with little or nothing in the way of training facilities and resources. Half of them were left in Bonny where such patriotic Rivers men as George Amangala, B.A. (History), Bodman Nyanayo, M.A. (Maths.) and Notthingham D1ck died. The remaining half with Boro himself went with the main body of the Division on the Calabar landing operation. With the planning, preparation and briefing for Operation Tiger Claw completed, a force of some one thousand men with poor logistics backing was left in Bonny with Lt. Bello as commanding officer while Maj. Abubakar joined the main force for Calabar." - Olusegun Obasanjo, My Command


Which comes first? August (the time of the Biafran invasion of the Midwest). . .or September (the time of the training of Boro's group in Escravos)? Which comes first, August. . .or October (the time the Ijaws trained in Escravos joined the 3 Marine Commando Division in Bonny)? I think the answers to these questions are obvious.

We have somebody who was actually trained in Escravos (Roy Tomo-Spiff) stating that the group trained in Escravos which later joined the 3rd Marine Commando in Bonny were of Ijaw extraction. The reason for this and the implications of this as far as their going to Bonny (a city with heavy Ijaw connections) should be quite clear.

Why have you repeatedly attempted to spin this Rivers state (primarily) Ijaw force that was briefly trained at Escravos into some fictitious Urhobo-Edo-Esan-Itsekiri-Isoko (you have mentioned all of these (non-Igbo) peoples before when making the claim about the training at Escravos) Midwestern force recruited to launch an attack on Bonny in Escravos along with Boro when it is easily verifiable that they were Ijaws and also mostly Rivers Ijaws (i.e. Easterners) that joined up with the parts of the (pre-existing) Nigerian army that were already in Bonny after having captured it? I asked you to give an explanation in a previous thread for your statements and instead you told me to go and ask the Nigerian army to confirm your claims.

I am not fazed by the posting of articles heavily influenced by malice and inducement from sense of denial. There are unbiased essays and eye witness accounts that helped built my social order on events that led to British\Biafra civil war. No amount of attempts by desperate revisionists will change a thing. I knew many peeps of Urhobo-Edo-Esan-Itsekiri-Isoko-Efik extractions that were trained at Escravos, Mid-western region training depot that fought at Bonny on July 1967.

The war was fought and lost as mortal enemies were made along the path of battles. It is arrant nonsense for any right thinking fellow to insinuate that only Ijo peeps, who did not number up to brigade strength, made up of the two brigades of the Nigeria armed forces which assaulted southern flank of eastern region of Nigeria, captured Bonny by July 26, 1967 and were mostly trained at Escravos, Mid-western region.

Danka7777: Yesterday was Oshiomole comfortably paddling a canoe to no where. Today is Peter Obi semi-submerged in flood water. Tomorrow would be Rochas Okorocha(the chief stunter), fully submerged in flood water. These people have an incredibly amount of humor in them.

If you want to score points, build proper drainage system and leeves.

I as much as I agree with you on the political stunts orchestrated by these clueless governors, natural disaster such as surging flood from overflow river can not be prevented by drainage system or levees. In USA where proper drainage systems and levees are very much abounded, surging flood due to overflow of rivers have caused serious damages and lost of lives.

Katsumoto: Again, introducing irrelevant information into a debate.

I read in your post the extracts from Max Siollun’s write-up where it indicated “the "Mid-West will not be a battleground". Ejoor had even refused to let federal troops cross through his territory. Hence it was regarded as neutral demilitarized territory”. There is nothing farthest from truth than this crap.

Escravos, Mid-western region was the training depot of the 3MCDO that launched attack on eastern region and captured Bonny on July 12, 1967. And by July 26, 1967, Bonny is securely in the hands of elements of 3MCDO of Nigerian army. If Max Siollun was not under the influence of author’s imagination, he was outright lying about the so-called Mid-western region's false sense of neutrality

Katsumoto: Quit being an annoying pedant. You were expecting a Northerner to go to Enugu? ? ? If Ojukwu couldn't go to Lagos, let alone Kano/Kaduna, why are you expecting a Northerner to go to Enugu? Please use your brain.

It is laughable to read the craps you post on this forum. I had waited for long time to read a post from you where the delegates of so-called National Conciliation Committee (Committee) led by Awolowo visited Gowon in Kaduna, no my bad I meant to write Lagos. Gowon made home and command post in western region yet Awolowo was busy fooling himself about National Conciliation Committee. Again, easterners were no fools.

Katsumoto: Yes, Gowon created states to undermine ojukwu but that was after ojukwu refused to accept decree 8 because it would have meant that ojukwu could be replaced by Gowon.


Is ojukwu a Hero or a Villain? by Max Siollun

January is a key month in Nigeria’s history. This January marks the 41st anniversary of the end of the Nigerian civil war, and the 44th anniversary of the Aburi accords – the debate in Aburi in Ghana which nearly pre-empted the war. The pivotal figure in both events is Chukwuemeka Odumegwu ojukwu.

ojukwu is a man that evokes conflicting emotions. To some he is a born leader and a hero. To others he is an ambitious man that tried to break up his country. Where ojukwu is concerned, no one is a neutral. The conflicting opinions on him are emblematic of his inconsistent personality and history. ojukwu is an educated man that entered a profession that many Nigerians regarded at the time as a profession for the uneducated. He is a southerner born in the north who fought a three year long war against the north. He is a man who once led an attempt to secede from Nigeria, but later ran for President of Nigeria.

A leader must be judged by what benefits or misfortune he has brought to his people. Has ojukwu brought anything positive to his people? His record is grim. The “accomplishments” ojukwu has brought his people include:

• Leading them in a brutal civil war they had no chance of winning, and which resulted in a million of them dying.
• Even when it became clear that his people were starving to death in massive numbers, he continued the war which was doomed from the start.
• He fled and left his people after the war.
• The civil war caused his people to be stereotyped as disloyal and led to an unwritten discrimination against them.


Yet he is still revered. ojukwu’s first official involvement in politics came after a group of young army Majors overthrew the democratic government in January 1966. Contrary to what has been written in some quarters, ojukwu refused to cooperate with the Majors – including Major Nzeogwu. ojukwu was appointed the Military Governor of the Eastern Region after the coup. This appointment was ironic as he had spent very little of his life in the east. ojukwu was the most politically active of the four military governors. By mid-1966 the army was imploding and another army coup was staged by northern soldiers during which hundreds of Igbo soldiers (including Ironsi) were killed. A central plank of this coup was the elimination of ojukwu. The ‘pointman’ who was to execute the coup in the eastern region was a young Lieutenant named Shehu Musa Yar’Adua (the older brother of Nigeria’s former President).

Aburi – ojukwu’s Finest Hour

After being dragged to the brink of an abyss by two military coups in 1966, and pogroms which followed them, ojukwu had refused to attend any meetings of the Supreme Military Council until the Ghanaian leader Lt-General Joseph Ankrah brokered a meeting in the neutral territory of Aburi in Ghana in January 1967. This was ojukwu’s finest hour. ojukwu prepared thoroughly and came armed with notes and secretaries. He managed to secure an agreement to devolve power from the federal government to the regions. This turned Nigeria into a confederation. In the words of one writer ojukwu “secured the signatures of the SMC to documents which would have had the effect of turning Nigeria into little more than a customs union".

The federal government attempted to implement the Aburi agreement in diluted form by enacting a modified Constitution (Suspension and Modification) decree (decree cool which turned Nigeria into a de facto confederation, but which did not incorporate ALL of the agreements reached at Aburi. Federal civil servants argued that to implement all of the Aburi agreements would lead to the dissolution of the federation. ojukwu declined to accept the initial draft of the decree and insisted on a full and complete implementation of the Aburi accords.

As the weaker party, could ojukwu still have showed greater pragmatism to spare further suffering for his people? Even with its flaws, decree 8 gave him 90% of what he wanted. The U.S. State Department was “impressed by extent to which decree 8 appears to meet many of East's fundamental demands for much greater regional autonomy. While recognizing that it stops short of granting everything ojukwu wants, Dept. considers decree represents genuine effort by FMG and other Mil Govs to implement Aburi agreements and to retain Nigerian unity in form which least objectionable to East…..Consulate Enugu has reported that some prominent and moderate Easterners may incline toward above view".

WINNER TAKES ALL – NIGERIA’S MALAISE

In the “winner takes all” mentality that is so symptomatic of Nigerian politics, ojukwu unrealistically held out for 100% of his demands and in the end, received 0%. His refusal to be tactically flexible by considering options other than secession, placed him and his people in a worse position than they started in. Rather than turning Nigeria into a confederation (which is what decree 8 did), ojukwu’s give no inch stance gave the federal government an opportunity to overrun the Eastern Region, carve the country into several states and concentrate massive powers in the central government. Forty years later many Nigerians now call for the restructuring of Nigeria, and for devolution of power to its regions. The opportunity to achieve this was squandered 45 years ago at Aburi.

Could ojukwu have achieved his objectives – albeit at a later date, had he been more patient? The old adage is that “the best comes to those who wait”. Could he have accepted confederation in the short-term, then waited patiently until such time that the Eastern Region had enough weapons and infrastructure to sustain a fully independent state in the future?

WAS SECESSION A MISTAKE?

When armed confrontation with the federal government was imminent, ojukwu knew that the Eastern Region had absolutely no chance of victory in an armed conflict with the federal government. Where did he obtain the confidence to secede nonetheless? It certainly was not from international opinion. Western diplomats warned him that they would not recognize a new state of Biafra. In a telegram from the US Department of State to the US Embassy in Nigeria dated March 24, 1967, the U.S. warned:

"East making serious mistake if it under assumption that international recognition of independent East would be easily obtained; our info clearly to contrary". This was the consistent US position as far back as July/August 1966. The US had previously noted that “Both US Ambassador Mathews and UKHICOM Approaching-Bruce have made strong representations in opposition to secession of any area of Nigeria. We consider such development would be major political and economic disaster for Nigerian people and severe setback to independent Africa."

Yet he declared secession, knowing full well that powerful countries would not recognize his new state, and that federal troops would invade immediately after secession. ojukwu doubtless possessed outstanding leadership and motivational skills which he used admirably to pull his people solidly behind the war effort. However, exactly how did he possibly believe that the Eastern Region (armed only with a few elderly World War 2 era rifles) could succeed against an enemy armed with limitless mortars, machine guns, tanks, armoured personnel carriers, trucks and air force jets. One does not have to be a military strategist to see the folly of this decision. [size=12pt]


THE MID-WEST INVASION – A MISTAKE?

Under considerable military pressure from the federal army, in 1967 ojukwu ordered Biafran soldiers to invade the Mid-West Region as a way to relieve military pressure on Biafra’s land, and to force the federal army onto the defensive. The invasion caught the federal government totally off guard and threatened a stunning military humiliation for it.


However, did the invasion of the Mid-West turn into a public relations disaster? The Military Governor of the Mid-West Lt-Colonel Ejoor had repeatedly stated that due to the multi-ethnic composition of his region, the "Mid-West will not be a battleground". Ejoor had even refused to let federal troops cross through his territory. Hence it was regarded as neutral demilitarised territory. However the invasion forced Ejoor off the fence he had been sitting on. He fled to Lagos, now firmly opposed to Biafra. ojukwu had alienated a potential figure of friendly neutrality. The Mid-West was neutral until that invasion and may not have joined the war but for it.

Additionally, the invasion gave the rest of Nigeria the mistaken impression that Biafra's cause was not only about survival, but also about territorial conquest. It escalated the conflict and gave the federal army a free hand to start using heavy weapons, artillery and punishing air raids. Lt-Col Murtala Muhammed's 2nd division of the Nigerian army carried out massive reprisals against Igbos and murdered several hundred as punishment.

FLIGHT TO IVORY COAST

During the war, there was a widely held belief (propagated by ojukwu and other Biafran leaders) that defeat for Biafra would be met by mass genocidal massacres by the federal government. If ojukwu believed this, then his escape at the end of the war is deplorable. After over a million Igbos were killed (90% of whom were civilians), ojukwu fled in the last days of the war when his people were at their lowest ebb, despite repeatedly promising throughout the war that he would never leave them to the mercy of the federal troops. If he believed that all his people would be massacred, then his flight to a exile abroad and refusal to stand side by side with them to finish a war he led them into, cannot be applauded.

http://www.pointblanknews.com/Special_Reports/os4390.html

I have no illusion that Max Siollun is a good historical entity but he still succumbs to author’s imagination and hyperbolism. Please stop quoting Max because his words are not gospel. I have to categorical say that Max’s explanation about Midwestern region debacle is completely flawed with view to chronological order of events.

I guess Max forgot that the force that attacked eastern region and captured Bonny on July 26, 1967 departed from the Nigeria’s training depot at Escravos, Mid-western region of Nigeria. It is clearly that Mid-western region of Nigeria had joined the war on the Nigerian side before the August 8, 1967 inversion by Biafran forces.

Katsumoto: You can read Soyinka's "You Must Set Forth At Dawn".


Here is the true account of what took place as taken from scripts of the discussion between Papa and Chief Ojukwu (the Ikemba). The discussion was taped by the Ikemba and the recorder was captured after Enugu fell.

On Saturday, May 6, 1967, at 5.15 pm, a meeting began to take place, at the State House, Enugu, between the then Excellency, Lt. Col. Odumegwu Ojukwu (the Ikemba) and a delegation of the National Conciliation Committee (Committee) led by the most Honorable Chief Obafemi Awolowo. The Committee was represented by Professor Samuel Aluko, Chief Mariere, Chief J.I. Onyia, while the Eastern Region was represented by Lt. Col Imo, Lt. Col Effiong, Lt. Col. Kurubo, Mr. C.O Mojekwu, Mr. N.U. Akpan, Professor Eni Njoku, Dr. Nwakanma Okoro, Dr. P.N.C. Okigbo, Mr. C.A. Onyegbale and Mr. Ndem with the Ikemba presiding over the meeting. The names are listed for the purpose of verification of facts presented herein below with those of them who may still be alive,

Papa: The main concern of these delegates is to ensure that Nigeria does not disintegrate, and I would like to see Nigeria bound together by any bond because it is better than breaking the whole place up because each unit will be the loser for it. Th[b]e economy of the country is so integrated that it is too late in the day to try and sever them without risking the death of one or both of them. So we have come, therefore, to appeal to you to let Eastern representatives attend the meeting of the Committee (ON-GOING NATIONAL CONCILIATION MEETING) I do not want to put myself in a position where I will be treated as an advocate of the Eastern cause. Let the Eastern delegates go there, make their case and then as a member of the Committee I will get up and say I support this entirely. If at the meeting the East and West present what they want for a new Nigeria whether temporarily or permanently, and the North says "no, we are not going to have it", I will go out and address a World Press Conference and send our case to that body and say this is what we have done and the North has turned it down.[/b] I will then take any step that is necessary to bring into effect what we want. The North needed to be in a position of being presented with the United front of the South.

Ikemba: I started off this struggle in July with 120 rifles to defend the entirety of the East. I took my stand knowing fully well that by doing so, whilst carving my name in history,[size=16pt][/size] I was signing also my death warrant. But I took it because I believe that this stand is vital to the survival of the South. I appealed for settlement quietly because I understood that this was a unclothed struggle for power and that the only time we can sit down and decide the future of Nigeria on basis of equality will always be equality of arms[b]. Quietly, I built up. If you do not know it, I am proud, and my officers are proud, that here in the East we possess the biggest army in Black Africa.[/b] I am no longer speaking as an underdog, I am speaking from a position of power. [SEE NOTE 3a] The only way for the South to present a united front is for the South to meet and hammer out that united front. It is a point which must be cleared first before proceeding to make a statement of whatever it is. That is why to my mind, at the present stage of the crisis the ideal thing is for the Southern people to meet in any platform and discuss and hammer out any difference they might have because I will have nothing to do with the North. Then going further, it would then mean that to do this the South to meet; because if we wait for their permission, we will wait for ever. On the specific question of whether there is a possibility of contact with the North, the answer is at the battle field.[size=26pt][/size]

You have still not denounced the apprenticeship you entered with Nowa Omoigui? I had thought you were smarter than this shameful act of “copy and paste”. If the so-called National Conciliation Committee (Committee) led by the most Honorable Chief Obafemi Awolowo was national indeed, one wonders why there was no single northerner among the delegates. Or was the major issue of discord existed between eastern, western and mid-western regions?

Please I urge someone to tell Kats and his\her idol Nowa Omoigui that easterners are no fools.

[quote author=ekt_bear]Did this same military governor not successfully remove all the northern soldiers from the eastern region, or not, prior to the Aburi accords?

So, essentially all of the soldiers in the Eastern region at the time of the Aburi accords were under his command, yes?

If it were me in that position, then I would be in no rush. I would take my sweet time.[/quote]I suggest you check your facts before blowing your empty horn in the public. Usurper called Gowon had already ordered members of Nigerian armed forces to return to the region of their origin.

Ojukwu, as the military governor of eastern region, only ensued that those members of the armed forces serving in the eastern region who were not natives of eastern region returned home safely at the backdrop of massacre of easterners in other regions and overwhelming urge to perpetrate revenge.

It very shameful most Nigerians will rather turn into ignoramus than embrace simple truth when pressed by tribalism

stainless40: How can Bianca be fighting over the property her husband does not own. She should wait and allow for an equitable sharing of the property of late sir louis ojukwu or ask for a copy of sir ojukwu's will to know what the contents are. The properties in question are not owned by ikemba . Mind you. Ikemba is an illegitimate child of sir louis ojukwu. So, i see not how she can drag with the true born son's of their father. They the legitimate son's do not want to fight dirty because they accepted Ikemba as their true blood but the woman who came into the family by marriage is already fighting dirty. Mind you. The OJUKWU'S are neither cowards or illiterate and they are a special Igbo breed.NNEWI. So we are waiting for the masquerade. Let game or fight begin.How can Bianca be fighting over the property her husband does not own. She should wait and allow for an equitable sharing of the property of late sir louis ojukwu or ask for a copy of sir ojukwu's will to know what the contents are. The properties in question are not owned by ikemba . Mind you. Ikemba is an illegitimate child of sir louis ojukwu. So, i see not how she can drag with the true born son's of their father. They the legitimate son's do not want to fight dirty because they accepted Ikemba as their true blood but the woman who came into the family by marriage is already fighting dirty. Mind you. The OJUKWU'S are neither cowards or illiterate and they are a special Igbo breed.NNEWI. So we are waiting for the masquerade. Let game or fight begin.How can Bianca be fighting over the property her husband does not own. She should wait and allow for an equitable sharing of the property of late sir louis ojukwu or ask for a copy of sir ojukwu's will to know what the contents are. The properties in question are not owned by ikemba . Mind you. Ikemba is an illegitimate child of sir louis ojukwu. So, i see not how she can drag with the true born son's of their father. They the legitimate son's do not want to fight dirty because they accepted Ikemba as their true blood but the woman who came into the family by marriage is already fighting dirty. Mind you. The OJUKWU'S are neither cowards or illiterate and they are a special Igbo breed.NNEWI. So we are waiting for the masquerade. Let game or fight begin.

You have written from the position of a novice. Please do not write on subject you know nothing about its originality. Ikemba was not an illegitimate child of late Sir Louis Odemegwu Ojukwu. I guess what saved you from litany of law suits from this shameless act of defamation is secrecy of Internet

[quote author=ekt_bear]I definitely would not have done it the way Ojukwu did it. I'd have delayed, delayed, delayed...building up an army and resources secretly.

Declare independence in 1970 or 1975 from a stronger position rather than from a weak one.

I figure that if you want to confront someone much bigger/stronger than you, you need to be very prepared.[/quote]I had believed that the above postulation was born out of undue pressure from tribalism. Ojukwu was an appointed military governor of a region not country for goodness sake. Can even elected governor of state in Nigeria import weapon and raise secret army in hope to declare independence? It appears Nigerians are always confused and have issue juxtaposing events properly.

Rossikk: Achebe comes across as a tribalist to me. Why does he not criticise those who declared 'Biafra' and put the lives of millions of Igbos at risk in so doing? Other nations that declare secession/war, do they not prepare for it? How can you go into battle with cutlass and light weapons against a country like Nigeria? It makes no sense, and Achebe attacking Awo and co for taking advantage of the Igbo leadership's stupidity makes no sense. Can you believe the Igbo leaders were banking on FRANCE to assist them and send them weapons? France are like TWINS with the UK. The strongest of allies. Not surprisingly the French abandoned Biafra once the war started, no doubt after a few closed door meetings with the Brits in Paris or London in smoke-filled rooms over Brandy.

Where is Achebe's criticism of Igbo naivety in all this??

It is only in the world of moronic dingbats that nationalistic movement and agitation for self-governance are heartily criticized. It is unfortunate functional illiterates in Nigeria had difficulties discerning the differences between nation or country and a region. Biafra was a region which constituted integral part of Nigeria and never existed as a nation until the declaration of independence.

Danka7777: Statement like this exemplifies why our society is backward today. Some people are innately intransigent even when evidence are presented at face value and substantiated. Accept my tremendous sympathy!

In fact, you are the mortal entity to be sympathized. You willfully tutored us about the rightful sons of Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu. Since then, I have requested from you the names of "rightful sons and daughters" of late Louis Odumegwu Ojukwu but you seemed to draw blank on the subject matter. You have sublimely indicated you repressnted Nnewi and Igbo culture and tradition by pointing out who is or not “rightful son” of Emeka Ojukwu.

I had rather remain backward in pursuit of truth than forward in cultivation falsehood.

There is no doubt certain Igbo culture is at mercy of extinction. However, I do not think Igbo language has remotely come to level of extinction class. Most of Ndigbo are solidly behind the perilous path Igbo culture and tradition had discovered. For example, the marriage rites have reduced to one of two day thing morphed into the Igbankwu thing. What happened to Ije abali Anu, Ije abali asato and Ije idula nwanyi? These have been overtaken by modernization and unnecessary sense of hast.

Most so-called professors and educated Igbo in act of western civilization can not possibly state the correct market days in Igbo land. Even the presentation of kolanuts and significant of lobes of Kolanuts are alien to so-called high society Igbo sons and daughters. It is even laughable when insists on the dictate of culture and tradition among so-called Ndigbo who are under undue pressure of western civilization.

My people say “nku mba na eghere ha nri”

ballabriggs: How dare you ask if Danka is an Igbo man. This is a real Igbo man speaking. They speak the truth without blinking- no self deceit. Unfortunately the war changed all these and we now have m0rons like Dede1 all over the place living a life of deceit.

Ojukwu for all the good he may have done made some mistakes. There is no denying that, he is only human. This attempt to attach an infallibility sign on Ojukwu's head by some ignorant Igbo's is where the problem lies. Truth be told if he was a bit more mature than he was before and during the war, he would not have gone into that war. He admitted this in an interview but also says he had no regret.

I am not surprise at your display of idiocy by moronically embracing a conjectural crap as truth. It is a fact that you regarded anybody who throws dirt at Nidgbo as the best thing God had created after a slice of bread.

To say you are a lazy functional illiterate is a grossly understatement. Emeka Ojukwu was a mere mortal and can never be absolved of any blunder as his demise has proven. It goes to show the level of your imbecility if you remotely thought Ojukwu was above blunder and remained infallible. Again, only ninnies such as you use mistake in place of blunder.

It is only delusional dullard such you will term group of people who are known for their musical artistry as none industrious.

Danka7777: You all keep saying I am discrediting Ojukwu, I have asked you and many others a number of times, point out anything I said that is false? I am ready to debate it. If you can't point out one, I would advise you to remain quiet. I love Ojukwu more than you do for your information except that I love him in a different way than you do.

I have pointed out to you the comment you made about Ikemba’s first son and suddenly you remembered the phrase, rightful son. If you really want to go this path of rightful crap, I would want you to tell who are the "rightful sons and daughters" of late Sir Louis Odumegwu Ojukwu?

In my previous post, I chided you as Igbo culture authority but it seems you are a novice when Igbo culture and tradition are at play.

There is this saying that "wherever child comes into earth, may the child live". Also there is a cultural doctrine in Igbo culture and tradition that rigidly required that no Igbo man should leave his son or daughter in foreign land or culture regardless the relationship between the Igbo man and mother of his kids.

I guess you are grown enough to engage in this sort of political and cultural dance of macabre but I would want you to gauge the characters that seemed to cheer you for additional steps.

Danka7777: I never said Dr. Joseph Ojukwu came from the same mother as Ikemba Ojukwu. I never said that. Read all my comments; I never said such a thing. I am curious as to why you would want to put words in my mouth? This is a typical example of why people fail Jamb. Point out where I say that? Besides, I think you have a reading comprehension problem. Both men have different mothers.

Emeka Ojukwu jr. is Ikemba's rightful first son. Debbie Ojukwu, though older than Emeka came from a woman who wasn't rightfully married to Ojukwu.

I did not write about the comment you made on Dr Joseph Ojukwu’s mother but just letting the Chief Justice Danka7777 and Igbo culture authority to be prudent with facts. I guess what is good for geese are also good for genders with respect to Debe and Emeka Ojukwu jr. I hope you now understand the reason of different mothers of Ojukwu's sibling surfaced in my post. About the failing jamb statement, I suggest you check yourself too.

If certain Nigerians could publicly display sense of exhilaration on the hardship that had befallen fellow Nigerians as a result of natural disaster, I honestly maintain that Nigeria should cease to exist as presently configured. What bunch of jerks.

Danka7777: I don't understand why you are confused. This is pretty much self explanatory. What system of inheritance are you alluding to? If you are talking about the Igbo tradition, he(Ikemba) was not and was never the first son. The first son is Professor(Dr.)Joseph Ojukwu, a known scholar in medicine; a Cambridge University Alumni. You have to understand the complications and confusion in Ikemba's nuclear family, not the extended, his siblings' family. Let's get down to the basis here: He(Ikemba) had children from 2 other women besides Bianca. These children from these wives are now grown men and women in their 50s and 40s and they are the ones fighting Bianca and not Ojukwu's siblings. These wives need to be fed and looked after too, just like Bianca. So the children of these abandoned wives are fighting for this injustice, which is very reasonable and Ojukwu's siblings understand this. Tell me you wouldn't do the same for your mother if you were in their shoes?

This very complicated as one would think, extremely complicated. The fight is not between Ojukwu's siblings and Bianca, its between Bianca and Ojukwu's children. The move to have her evicted from the said property was not taken unilaterally, it was taken by the management of the company, of which Emeka Ojukwu Jr., is representing the family as the first son of Late Ikemba Ojukwu. What ever decision he takes on behalf of the Late Ikemba's family to the board management;(the board is represented by every child of the Late Louis Ojukwu's children; so all chime in), becomes enforceable. Back to your citing of the igbo tradition, if any body is in the position to take the property in Lagos of which Bianca is currently occupying is Ikemba Ojukwu's first son (Emeka Ojukwu jr.) and he is doing that but Bianca keeps pointing fingers at Ojukwu's siblings. Bianca fear is that Ikemba Ojukwu's children from other wives(first and second wives. Bianca is third) pretty much are in unison with Ojukwu's siblings. Ojukwu brothers are very educated and successful people(Professor, Dr.. Engr, Arch, lawyer), they have been transparent and just from day one in the handling of their Late father's wealth and properties; and Ikemba's older children know this and are fully behind them.

Before you start salivating on the applause poured on you by the blind praise singers on this forum, I had to inform you that Emeka Ojukwu, Jr, is not Ikemba’s first son. In addition, Dr Joseph Ojukwu is not of the same mother with Ikemba.

It distorts my mental balance when I hear certain screwballs attempt to equate the idea of disintegration of Nigeria to act of tribalism. The best to happen to people who presently occupy the acreage called Nigeria is to go their separate ways. A simple call to have international airline operators in Nigeria to fully utilize the resources in airports other than Lagos and Abuja turned into tribal contest.

jadakiss213: No Sir..Iwanyanwu was FERMA chairman as @ the time South Eastern roads were in a state of Total Disrepair.

Do you honestly think that a monitoring agency is what it takes to build a village road? I thought you would alerted us that Emma Iwuanyanwu was the Minister of Works that inaugurates the board.

@OP

This thread is a classic display of inferior mentality. No wonder certain ninnies who are not Africans look down disdainfully on Africans

[quote author=Ricky_Ross]This bastarddd is from my place, he gat no respect back home, he is one of the greeddy bastardsss holding us back, including Arthur Nzeribe.

I wish its possible to smoke these set of monkeyss alive.

Iwuanynwu has occupied many important posts in Nigeria, but he is not useful to us, not even his own kindred. There is no single good road in his own village. He collects huge sums of money from the government to fix our roads, but no single road has been fixed for the last 10 years.

I dont know why God allow such wicked, heartless people like these to live long, this criminal should eat shiit and die fast. WE WILL NEVER MISS HIM, RATHER, ALL YOUTHS IN IKEDURU WILL CELEBRATE HIS DEATH[/quote]I am not qualified to hold brief or defend Emma Iwuanyanwu in public but it is pertinent that persons who make statements of fact in the public arena should make sure such endeavor is guarded by prudence.

Besides being a member of the inconsequential Peoples Democratic Party’s Board of Trustees, Emma Iwuaanyanwu has never held any position in Nigeria, not even LGA chairmanship.

I shall appreciate if you could expatiate on the “many important posts in Nigeria” Iwuanyanwu has occupied. To the best of my knowledge, Emma Iwuanyanwu is an entrepreneur who happens to struck it big according to Nigeria’s standard

ilugunboy: I know I will surely see your footprint here . Seems you are on auto-tune to search on any thread with Igbo in the subject.

While you are busy shouting and clamouring for the disintegration of the country...some of your age grade brothers are working day and night against such idea....come to Apapa and see the wonder-game some fast Igbo boys are playing in the Maritime industry and in the process smiling with millions to the bank everyday. Am sure those guys will curse you if you ever mention that your broken-record song of disintegration to their ears.

How do you expect such guys to cope in a landlocked region/country of yours.

My brother....pray for Nigeria to get it right.

I am not disappointed with your silly postulation because people with your mindset always think ghettoized environment is part of success. There are many Apapa wharfs in other countries. A disintegrated Nigeria will have, at least, four “Apapa Wharfs” probably pulling more dough than soon to be forgotten Apapa Wharf in Lagos.

Again, the delusional jackasses have settled in their most awkward and ignorant learning curve pitifully convinced Alaigbo is landlocked. One of the reasons I want Nigeria to disintegrate is the tutorial stuff it will unleash on stubborn ignoramus such as you.

By the way, the disintegration of Nigeria shall come as a spontaneous wave of change which will not consult the attention of the scallywags you mentioned in your post.

belovedaja: What do you intend to change nigeria to

I guess into more than four nation states.

The president does not make a nation rather a nation makes a president. Who in his\her right mind would want to listen to a crap coming from Nigeria? A country filled to brink by ninnies who would cut off their noses in order to spite their faces.

Sky Blue: Absolutely NO WAY. We can't keep using chloroquin to treat chicken pox and expect miracles. Zoning is two steps backwards. If anything we should be getting rid of all these archaic principles that sound good in some twisted logic but have only enabled lacklustre, treasury robbing despots rule. No to zoning, no to quota system. Yes to meritocracy and the popular mandate, even if one can appreciate that it is not the panacea to Nigeria's problems and can even be useless in the hands of a politicaly unsophisticated population like Nigeria has. If a credible candidate with LEADERSHIP quality and proven abilities comes to the fore and is better than the other offerings, and he happens to be Igbo, heck I'll even campaign for him/her for free! I can't wait to feel that passionate about a candidate in Nigeria, it would be about time.

A statement of this nature from a dilapidated mindset is the reason Nigeria has not progressed socially, politically or industrially. Personally, I hate quota system, federal character, zoning and any activity in Nigeria that draws bit from sectionalism. I want Nigeria to jettison ides of federal character bordering on military intake especially at officer’s cadre, appointments of any sort and what have you.
Anyway, I have consistently maintained that disintegration of the cesspit called Nigeria is the only path out of the dungeon.

The funniest aspect of this thread is the likelihood of ndu_chucks arrogating to him\herself the duty to pronounce leadership for Ndigbo. I have never agreed with Richard Akinjide on anything except when he argued that a party leader or president of Nigeria or governor of a state does not automatically become the leader of ethnic group that produces such a person. Based on the thesis, I think ndu_chucks is a confused entity on this subject matter.

Another misconception about Ijo is association of the people with any river in Nigeria. Ijo do not have any river or does any river in Nigeria trace its source to anything Ijo called its land, if any.