₦airaland Forum

This piece was written in response to Naptu’s thread. First and foremost, Naptu is someone I see as an elderly Uncle. He has seen it all and always shows objectivity and maturity when analysing issues. His thread on the south-south creation is timely, educative but not conclusive. Hence, I felt a burden to write this reply.

Now for the record sake, Ekwueme was never in a position to create a geo-political zone. The idea was his as reiterated by Naptu during his incarceration in prison. And in 1998, he suggested the idea to Abacha during the constitutional conference hosted that year. Therefore, the drawing of boundaries and creation of the regions was Abacha’s. Abacha was the Head of state and acted independently by decree without following democratic inputs.

To be candid, looking at the creation of the geo-political zones, one will feel it didn't reflect the true position of situations on ground. If so, the likes of southern Kaduna, southern kebbi and zones in Adamawa have no business in the North-West and North-East. Kwara and Kabba should be in the South-West, while Igbos in Kogi/Benue should be in the South-East. But Abacha’s geo-political zone creation made sure that it didn’t reflect minority consideration, most especially in the north.

Because in reality, if we should apply the principle of using the geo-political zones to douse minority fears, then it failed in that purpose. The fears of an Edo man can not be equated with the fears of an Anioma man. If an Ijaw or Ogoni man wants a Niger-Delta or south-south to be independent of the Igbos, an Etche and Egbema man will never entertain the idea to be cut off from his kinsmen. So how then is the south-south as created by Abacha a true reflection of the people’s choice?

WrittyWritter:
south south people.. I don't know y people feel the need to make us be under one of the three major tribes...We don't speak Yoruba..we don't speak Igbo..We don't speak Hausa..We all have different culture.

I feel the creation of the south south region was actually a good thing..we can be different together.. Because we till have different cultures and speak different languages..Na pidgin be our common language

As someone said earlier you should learn not to use “We”. That's one thing that pisses me off with some of you. Are you speaking for my people who have never hidden their intention to join the South-East. Are you aware that we clamoured different times for Port-Harcourt state from the 1980’s to 1990’s but when it wasn't feasible our fathers began clamouring for Orashi state to be added to the South-East. The same applies to the Anioma who's intention was to add them as the 6th South-East state.

While Naptu might be firm with his analysis of the geo-political zone creation, he wasn't upright with his description of how Ekweme envisaged it.

Abacha created the zones and fine-tuned it to favour the north only. Assuming Ekwueme was in position to create the geo-political zones, I bet he’ll do the following.

1. Add Anioma, Orashi / PH, Benue/Kogi Igbos to the South-East.
2. Add Ilorin, Kabba and Itshekiri to South-West
3. Add Kaduna south, Kebbi south and Adamawa, Taraba to Middle belt
4. Add Ijaws in Ondo to South-South and all that.

Everyone would have been homogeneous to their region and peace would reign.

Emyogalanya:
once they want to tell a comfortable lie they will attach an igbo man's name to help market it. How can someone in a prison battling for his life will thinking how to create a region, instead of how to free himself from illegal detention? So ekwueme created SS region and ceded his own igbo people into it along with oil communities that should be under control of SE ? At what point did he command such executive powers.

Ekwueme might have suggested the idea but only for minorities. He never asked for his people to be added to the south-south. This one is clear.

BabaOneChance:
Do not be misled, the møron behind that handle is none other than Mekaboy aka Ojiofor, Deltafire, OyigboUpdate, JulisMUMUman or Malena, Ablejesus and a whole lot of others. He's neither Igbo nor Yoruba nor Hausa and attacks all 3 tribes like they all stole something from him.

You don come again. So Ojiofor is now Oyigboupdate? I dey laugh una. Old pattern where everyone against Kanu's tactics is labelled afonja.

Well, the bounty won't hold water as it's simply a rant from a daft northern group. Are they saying that the federal government don't know where Kanu is?

I think it's time Igbos sit down and decide this gas matter. Most of the gas are obtained from my community with nothing to show for years of gas extraction.

If Igbo leaders and youth groups can make this a focal point. Imo seems to be doing better by negotiating a good deal for their indigenes. But Rivers state have never gotten a good deal for us. It has been raping upon raping from day one. Only Bonny seems to be getting something favourable compared to my community where much of the gas pipelines are connected from.

If any tribe can compel the federal government to revisit the derivative sharing formula, it's only Igbos and Ijaws. We must make sure that we negotiate a favourable deal this one that the federal government is looking at connecting Nigeria gas pipelines to west-Africa and Morroco.

Ayo2004:
After city wins this season,the EPL should be changed to Etihad premier league

You mean local champions? Chelsea for Epl crown.

All hopes are on Chelsea to do well next season. The Super Cup and Club World Cup are there for grabs. Trophies, trophies and trophies should be the motto next season.

Roman's Army on the move again.

Chelsea the club, blue the colour!

nigerianrevolut:
Lol. You're funny sir. I saw it on a Facebook page called "Igbo Republic". I don't think those Igbo Republic people are members of IPOB because I've seen a few comments of IPOB members calling them saboteurs.

Anybody spearheading the star of David as flag for a future Igbo republic is a brainwashed urine drinking IPOB clown. Many of them, realizing their multi-ethnic folly in Biafra, now want to take cover by designing a star of David flag for Ndigbo. No true Igbo man who understand his culture and traditions will use a Jewish insignia. Zik, Okpara, Ikoku, Achebe and Ojukwu will be turning in their graves seeing how IPOB Jews are making mockery of the Igbo nation.

makemoneywbsite:
I wouldn't say that I am sure why IPOB wants to bring the minorities on board, but we just cannot deny Igbos that have been harangued and harassed into denying themselves and their heritage by the Nigerian state. Most of their behaviour is simply survival strategy in a nation that being Igbo puts anyone at a disadvantage. I think that most of those peripheral Igbo, especially in Delta, Rivers and Edo went through a lot to have reached the consensus that survival comes before heritage. Reminisce what Igbos in the heartland must have gone through after the war to understand what those that were isolated from the mainland may have gone through. This is why I do not support any notion that they should be abandoned. Southern minorities are free to reject Biafra, but our own people should get all the encouragement they need to understand the danger of being lefty behind.

5 Stars. Now, it's left for the South-East to start strategizing. First thing, is to form a new group that understands tacts, diplomacy and charisma. IPOB lacks all of these. The most useless group in the history of freedom fighting. When all is put in place, then we can begin to reason with you, afterall whatever pinches the South-East pinches us too.

mrvitalis:
Any igbo man still investing outside south east is a big ..very very big full

No body is asking u to build in your vilages ...your state have capital ...build in the east ...use the rent to pay for your rent in Lagos n Abuja

Keep doing your business where u are doing it but send your profit home

And the investment in the South-East how did fare? Are you people not destroying it with your UGM/ESN. How many houses did you burn today MrVitalist IPOB Owerri branch Chiarman?

BigSarah:
Igbos aren't zionists, what's the star of David for

Help me ask the fake Jews. Is IPOB telling us that they've already sold us to Isreal even before leaving Nigeria?

Igboid:
I'm in most Ijaw forums.
Their thought is that once Igbos open the floodgates of seccession after years of sacrificing our own blood, they(Ijaws) will use that window of opportunity to declare their own independence too.
And if the Igbo fails, they would rekindle their relationship with the Gambaris and try to expand more into Igbo territories.

IPOB must be aware of these lots plans and make sure to thwart them.

Which IPOB are you hyping? Is it the see-finish clowns or another one. IPOB have nothing to offer. We don see them finish. UGM, noise and toutism are what they bring to the table.

It's simply a law of nature. You can give what you don't have. From top to bottom, are simply bands of school dropouts and illiterates. If an illiterate can give you UGM as gift from London, what do you think he'll give you next?

Which useless flag is that one by the right. IPOB Jewish fools will destroy Ndigbo one day with their inferiority complex. Who did they consult before designing a flag for Ndigbo? But thank goodness Nnamdi Kanu don't speak for Ndigbo.

Where did you say you saw that Jewish flag from OP. In Jerusalem or in Enugu?

Igboid:
True.
They stopped the Igala and made a pact with them.
The Igala sold Hausa slaves to Aboh, who now sold to their Nembe affiliate, who sold to the Portuguese.

I’ve never heard this version before.

Igboid:
So Nwuche Chibudom is still active?
Ekpeye is coming up in news more these days.
That's good.

Nwuche is a close ally to the likes of Austin Opara, Celestine Omehia and Nyesom Wike. All are pals. Amaechi sent him on political retirement.

Nwuche might be gunning for either the Senate or Governorship. Something is fishy.

Igboid:
True. Obi Ossai of Aboh gave his daughter Adaeze to Nembe king in marriage.

A lot of people don't know that Aboh was a naval force whose Kingdom stretched from Nembe, the Oru’s, Ukwuani, Ekpeye, and up to Ogbaru. It was Aboh who stopped the Igala Jukun Kings from their usual movement down the Niger. This is why all Nembe Kings have their maternal homes in Aboh.

ivolt:
See them hypocrites trying to destroy Adaka Boro's image.
They are calling Boro thief, looter and insurrectionist while worshipping at the stable of the runaway coward Kanu.
Some are even saying that Boro's father did not support him when Kanu's father attributed his outbursts to mental illness.

Which yeye image. Come to Rivers state and listen to objective info about Boro. Isaac Boro was no hero, dude committed genocide against a lot of communities. From Bonny, Opobo, Okrika, Kalabari. I’m not even talking about his native Bayelsa, where the Nembe King had to flee to Ukwuani to escaped being killed by Boro’s marauding brigade. The Amanayabo of Opobo King Jaja 3rd and the Amanayabo of Kalabari King Amachree all ran to the hinterland as Boro came for them.

Like the Scottish would say, history is written by the victors. Boro’s war crimes were swept under the carpet by the victorious Nigerian army.

Ariani:
Stop writing nonsense.

When Boro entered Bonny and Opobo, the people were speaking Igbo and Boro got angry and lined up everyone of them who would not give up their Igbo affinity and wasted. Even Asari Dokubo spoke of the Massacre that happened in his native Buguma town when Boro troops arrived. His grandfather had to go on exile and vacate his throne because he was pro Ibo/Biafra.

No where in history before 1970 was Opobo or Bonny addressed as Ijaw towns.
If you say otherwise, bring colonial reports that addressed Bonny or Opobo as Ijaw towns.

The Boro story had to be revisited because recently some unscrupulous Ijaw elements has been going about writing stupid long essays about how Igbos betrayed and killed Boro.

When in truth, it was Boro who Betrayed Eastern region, a Region that gave him free education.
He connived with Gambaris to bring mayhem in the region and when his Gambari masters died in Nzeogwu coup, he became more desperate and started causing trouble in his hometown, looting and killing non indigenes and had to be arrested and sentenced to life imprisonment.
History had to be set right! Because when lies are left unchallenged for long, it starts taking the form of the truth.

You hit the nail! Nothing but the truth

EdoDefence:
And the most important thing I noticed is that he's carrying a Benin symbol in his right hand and his dressing is of Benin.

Wow it's good to notice things

It was gotten from Aboh and not Benin. The Obi of Aboh once had a mighty kingdom that extended from Nembe in the south, Ogba in the east and Ogbaru to the north. The Lander brothers met this great King called Obi Tsukuma during their expedition to the mouth of the Niger.

Ekepeye just like Ukwuani, Ndoni, and other Igbo communities uses elders called Okpala Ukwu, Okpara or Diokpa to govern their houses. Each head holds a title called Owor or Offor as a symbol of authority. Anybody linking Ekpeye to small Benin needs their head checked. Ekpeye is connected to Igbo in every aspect.

When did Eze Robinson die? This is old news.

A welcome development

Revokes memories. I actually did my NYSC in KWHA at Asa Dam road in 2012. The Asa Dam road stands close to the Kwara parade ground and a host of industries within that axis. What a sight seeing the Asa Dam and it's magnificent water body.

Nice one! Kamaru making Naija proud.

SmellingAnus:
l am more Igbo than even Niger Delta however due to certain circumstances I prefer my Niger Delta roots while I still have my love for the Igbos... Take this to the bank... Nobody is forcing anybody to remain in South South... When you guys make your country with your 5 states, you can bring over anybody that wants to join your Biafra from the South South... Even South South is not so united that we will all want to be together... Maybe Edo and Delta may even form their own country .... But it will be very foolish to think that any state in the South will want to be part of Biafra... They will rather form their country... We know how the Igbos suffered and were heavily marginalized in Nigeria and we will not foolishly make the same mistake to be part of Biafra.... By the way, we love Biafra... Many of us in the South South are even related to the Igbos... I will always love the Igbos... Sorry for thr typos

You are not Igbo, keep kwayet. No rightly South-south Igbo will prefer to join Niger-Delta republic. We might dislike the Biafran idea, but Niger-Delta republic, God forbid.

EMMY76:
Nmk is not perfect no doubt but he is the only serious person in the east spearheading the biafran struggle right now the rest are just jokers or scammers. Buhari was actually the one that transformed Nmk and his ipob group into voilent orgernization when he sent his fulani jihadist nigerian soildiers to kill them like animals in the streets while protesting for a referudum and waving ordinary biafran flags.
You can't mercilessly beat up a child and at the same time ask him not to cry.

IPOB and nnamdi Kanu choose their battles wrongly. Even a madman will know that Buhari is a no nonsense person when it comes to leveling ethnic groups not named Fulani.
If Kanu didn't have ulterior motives, he should have held his peace instead of sending young youths to protest for Biafra as early as 2015. Didn't he know that Buhari came for vengeance? And was was ready to destroy anyone standing on his way.

EMMY76:
More than 40% of the so called niger delta or south south are igboid it will be a betrayal on the part of nmk and the entire igbos in the five eastern states to leave them behind in the hands of the evil fulani jihadists.

Oga you can use your movement as a pressure group fine. But IPOB/MASSOB Biafra is dead on arrival. Anything that has a fraudulent mission will fail. Imagine the way you glorify the London scammer. If he cannot save himself from Python dance, is it Ndigbo he'll save?

EdoDefence:
AdakaBoro8 watch how they will change it that (NDSDM) wants to be part of Biafra

The effort you dissipate in fighting Biafra should be used to pursue your own survival. When will you grow up Tonye? I expect you to reply me with your Adaka moniker, lol!

Ankio Briggs have always been a strong woman. Even though I don't support Kanu, IPOB or Biafra, I applaud her guts. Ride on Ma

Igboid:
Abua/Odual are never Ijaw.
These people speak an Edoid language.
They were never linguistically or ancestrally Ijaw.
I however understand they are currently politically Ijaw.

You are right on this one. The only thing that is skewed about you is your Biafra stance. I guess nothing matters to you but Biafra. Every Igbo world view must revolve around Biafra for you. But for me, I have no share nor inheritance in anything Biafra. Biafra does not represent my interest as an Igbo. Ojukwu's Biafra failed for many reasons, and that part is still leading it's modern agitators.

Neither do I have any identity in any so-called Niger-Delta republic nor Nigeria. That's the dilemma that I've come to accept. I know there are other Igbos (both South-South and South-East) out there who faced same dilemma as I. I believe in the fullness of time when IPOB might have phased out just like MASSOB, a new group with proper plans for Ndigbo will spring up.

Sometimes to get a better version of something, the worst ones will come first.

Igboid:
NIGERIA is the real mental and physical prison for all those who support her miserable existence.
Biafra is an escape from the NIGERIAN prison.
If NIGERIA remained a failure under better brains like Zik, Ekwueme, Awolowo, etc.
It would remain so under current poor quality rulers.

And what have your agitation to form a sovereign Biafra done all these while. Nothing but put Ndigbo in difficult situations. Blood, death and political alienation has been the achievements.

If you truly understand your African geographical landscape and not the faux European kind of liberation where everyone sings kumba ya ya and a referendum is allowed, you would know that Biafra will only come through war.

Besides Cameroon and the mid-west where referendum was allowed, have anywhere in Africa gotten a referendum to part ways? It has always ended in wars. And why did you think referendum was allowed? It was allowed in Mid-west and Cameroon because it posed no threat to the Berlin declaration and colonial map of Africa. Every other part of Africa that separated such as Eritrea from Ethiopia, South-Sudan from Sudan went through more than over 40 years of brutal civil war. Other unsucessful groups such as Somaliland, Puntland from old Somali are still fighting for close to 30 years now. Ojukwu's Biafra lasted 3 years because he was the wrong person to lead such mental and tactical exercise.

The only way Biafra will realistically gain independence is through a civil war. You'll never get a referendum to peacefully depart from an existing country. As a matter of fact, Nigeria restructuring or changing constitution is more feasible than Biafra.

Anybody feeding you Western fairytale of peaceful division is wasting your time and making you lose from every angle as years go by.

Igboid:
And who made you Nigerian? British and Gowon! Why should you be proud of a
Modern Biafra has nothing to do with Ijaws or minorities.
That's what IPOB and MNK are yet to understand.

Stop throwing the "emotional" word up and down.
I'm only being realistic.
We(Ndiigbo) are United already, you saw a proof of that in the recent sit at home order.

We are united, forget the sit at home scam. We've always been united but all we needed was more than that. I'm sorry bro, but everything about your mindset is painted in Biafra ideology.

One way direction to see Biafra as the beginning and end of Ndigbo. This is all you get when you forget that Igbo existence is not centered on Biafra. The Biafran war remains in our mind, but we cannot allow it to erode other historical advancement of Ndigbo. We were Igbos before Biafra and will remain Igbos even after Biafra. So while will I allow myself to be turbo charged by a one-way propaganda that doesn't allow me to see past Biafra.

That's mental imprisonment and you will never be free from it.

blues234:
You are too emotional bro. Thank God you don't stand in any position to make decision for Igbos. One thing I noticed about IPOB is anytime Igbos are on the verge of uniting, he comes up and scatters it. Recently, Southern Governors were on a united platform and spoke with one voice, for the first time, hell, Unknown Gun Men showed up, and here we are, instead of tackling the real issue, we are threatened with genocide. I have always believed in the unity of Igbos first, in both divides, including the Ikwerre, then we can negotiate our ways out of this contraption, but una no dey hear. Every time gra gra and gri gri wey dey tear shirt.

Remain blessed bro. The unity of Ndigbo should have been the prerogative. It took Zik 10 years to rebuild Igbo political rebirth after Ojukwu stubbornly and tactlessly destroyed it, under the guise of declaring Biafra.

Zik needs an apology by Ndigbo for allowing themselves to be used to denigrate all his effort. In one swipe we got back to political ascendency and ethnic unity from 1979 till when Zik died in 1996. The unity of Igboland was what many of our Father's were working towards before MASSOB came from hell to distract us with Biafra. Had we focused on strengthening our frontiers when democracy returned in 1999, now we would have commanded heights, won Presidential elections, had more Igbo states, had more allies and achieve a united Igboland of our dream. One where every Igbo group in the South-South is added to the South-East. But none of these was achieved?

I keep asking. Since the coming of MASSOB/IPOB what have we gained. Name one thing we've gained economically, politically, and socially. Rather we've been dragged back and derailed. Scammers, thugs, drug pushers, and illiterates have taken charge, dragging us to our end. If this not self-destruct mode, what else do we call it. And yet because you are blind to see it, following sheepishly. Yet, you call me saboteur or sellout if I dare disagree with you.