Nnamdi Azikiwe Public Domain Image In 1953 when Northern Nigerians were beginning to consider secession from the Nigerian colony that would soon be a nation, Nnamdi Azikiwe gave a speech before the caucus of his political party, the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC) in Yaba, Nigeria on May 12, 1953. That speech, while not disallowing secession, suggested that there would be grave consequences if the Northern region became an independent nation. Ironically, fourteen years later, Azikiwe led his Eastern Region out of Nigeria and created Biafra, a move that prompted a bloody three year civil war. Azikiwe’s 1953 speech appears below.
I have invited you to attend this caucus because I would like you to make clear our stand on the issue of secession. As a party, we would have preferred Nigeria to remain intact, but lest there be doubt as to our willingness to concede to any shade of political opinion the right to determine its policy, I am obliged to issue a solemn warning to those who are goading the North towards secession. If you agree with my views, then I hope that in course of our deliberations tonight, you will endorse them, to enable me to publicize them in the Press.
In my opinion, the Northerners are perfectly entitled to consider whether or not they should secede from the indissoluble union which nature has formed between it and the South, but it would be calamitous to the corporate existence of the North should the clamour for secession prevail. I, therefore, counsel Northern leaders to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of secession before embarking upon this dangerous course.
As one who was born in the North, I have a deep spiritual attachment to that part of the country, but it would be a capital political blunder if the North should break away from the South. The latter is in a better position to make rapid constitutional advance, so that if the North should become truncated from the South, it would benefit both Southerners and Northerners who are domiciled in the South more than their kith and kin who are domiciled in the North.
There are seven reasons for my holding to this view. Secession by the North may lead to internal political convulsion there when it is realized that militant nationalists and their organizations, like the NLPU, the Askianist Movement, and the Middle Zone League, have aspirations for self-government in 1956 identical with those of their Southern compatriots. It may lead to justifiable demands for the right of self-determination by non-Muslims, who form the majority of the population in the so-called ‘Pagan’ provinces, like Benue, Ilorin, Kabba, Niger and Plateau, not to mention the claims of non-Muslims who are domiciled in Adamawa and Bauchi Provinces.
It may lead to economic nationalism in the Eastern Region, which can pursue a policy of blockade of the North, by refusing it access to the sea, over and under the River Niger, except upon payment of tolls. It may lead to economic warfare between the North on the one hand, and the Eastern or Western regions on the other, should they decide to fix protective tariffs which will make the use of the ports of the Last and West uneconomic for the North.
The North may be rich in mineral resources and certain cash crops, but that is no guarantee that it would be capable of growing sufficient food crops to enable it to feed its teeming millions, unlike the East and the West. Secession may create hardship for Easterners and Westerners who are domiciled in the North, since the price of food crops to be imported into the North from the South is bound to be very high and to cause an increase in the cost of living. Lastly, it will endanger the relations with their neighbours of millions of Northerners who are domiciled in the East and West and Easterners and Westerners who reside in the North.
You may ask me whether there would be a prospect of civil war, if the North decided to secede? My answer would be that it is a hypothetical question which only time can answer. In any case, the plausible cause of a civil war might be a dispute as to the right of passage on the River Niger, or the right of flight over the territory of the Eastern or Western Region; but such disputes can be settled diplomatically, instead of by force.
Nevertheless, if civil war should become inevitable at this stage of our progress as a nation, then security considerations must be borne in mind by those who are charged with the responsibility of government of the North and the South. Military forces and installations are fairly distributed in all the three regions; if that is not the case, any of the regions can obtain military aid from certain interested Powers. It means that we cannot preclude the possibility of alliance with certain countries.
You may ask me to agree that if the British left Nigeria to its fate, the Northerners would continue their uninterrupted march to the sea, as was prophesied six years ago? My reply is that such an empty threat is devoid of historical substance and that so far as I know, the Eastern Region has never been subjugated by any indigenous African invader. At the price of being accused of overconfidence, I will risk a prophecy and say that, other things being equal, the Easterners will defend themselves gallantly, if and when they are invaded.
Let me take this opportunity to warn those who are making a mountain out of the molehill of the constitutional crisis to be more restrained and constructive. The dissemination of lies abroad; the publishing of flamboyant headlines about secessionist plans, and the goading of empty-headed careerists with gaseous ideas about their own importance in tile scheme of things in the North is being overdone in certain quarters. I feel that these quarters must be held responsible for any breach between the North and South, which nature had indissolubly united in a political, social and economic marriage of convenience. In my personal opinion, there is no sense in the North breaking away or the East or the West breaking away; it would be better if all the regions would address themselves to the task of crystallizing common nationality, irrespective of the extraneous influences at work. What history has joined together let no man put asunder. But history is a strange mistress which can cause strange things to happen!
SUBJECTS: Global African History, Speeches TERMS: 20th Century (1900-1999), Gender - Men, Africa - Nigeria, Speech Time Frame: 1951-2000
Nigeria was not an independent country. It was still amalgamated territory of British Empire. Any action of divisiveness among groups contending for independent status for the amalgamated territory will lead to delay of independence from British. The secession crap from northern region in1953 was the handiwork of British colonialists. When the commercial quantity of crude oil was struck in eastern region about 1956, British position on the subject matter suddenly changed.
I beg Ndigbo with every manner of decency to allow Fulani and Yoruba to completely destroy Nigeria. The job of pushing Nigeria to disintegration is almost completed by the goons. Please Ndigbo stay away from the so-called Aso Rock because I do not want the narratives to take a sudden turn. Ndigbo must have a grip on the fact that most of the goons who contributed to the destruction of the shithole called Nigeria are loudmouthed and colorful storytellers. They are capable of conjecture which could read "Fulani and Yoruba had turned Nigeria into heaven on earth now Ndigbo have taken over the country and turned it into shit on earth". I would like to shoot any Igbo person who would want to attempt to steer Nigeria to progressive direction.
Don't you find it annoying how Wellington Duke Umoh Bassey Of Calabar And his Army Career were almost destroyed to make way for his junior Officer Gen Ironsi to Emerge as the Head of Army
Azikiwe was supposed to have been fighting for all of Bassey's delayed Promotions since Bassey was from Calabar in Azikiwe's Eastern Region To add insult to injury they tried to eliminate Bassey during the Jan 1966 Coup
Ironsi Got to Power again only to make Ojukwu who was 11 years Basseys Junior Officer the Governor of the Eastern Region
But to be honest Azikiwe complained to Ironsi about that one
Just look at what Azikiwe wrote in his book " Origins of the Nigerian Civil War " on pages 1 and 2 admitting that Gen Ironsi had played the Tribalism Card on Wellington Bassey to make Ojukwu who was 11 years his Junior Officer the Governor of the Eastern Region
Cc gidgiddy,nku5
When Duke Bassey and Aguiyi Ironsi were members of British West African Frontier Force, Azikwe has no say in what the British did with the unit. Ugboma and Duke Bassey resigned their commission in 1953 before Nigeria became an independent country.
Christistruth00: Gen Ironsi’s name was on the list to deceive Ademoyega and Nzeogwu into thinking it was a National Coup otherwise they would not have taken part
When Ademoyega asked to be responsible for dealing with Ironsi because he wanted to make sure Gen Ironsi would not be able to. escape he was not allowed b
Instead Capt Oji who was from the same Hometown of Umuahia as Ironsi was given the Job of Eliminating Ironsi
Imagine !
Who does that
Is it any wonder that Ironsi was unscathed and ended up taking Power ?
Would the Coup plotters have asked Muritala Mohammed to Eliminate Sardauna or Balewa except because they deliberately wanted to Sabotage the Elimination of the target ?
You are either intellectually lazy or expertly copyist. The duty to arrest Ironsi fell in the hands of Major Don Okafor.
gidgiddy: The issue of Regionalism and who removed it is one of the reasons why they dont teach Nigerian history in schools, they dont want people to know the truth.
Ironsi was in power for 6 months. When Ironsi came to power, there 4 Regions
1. Eastern Region
2. Midwest Region
3. Western Region
4. Northern Region
These 4 Regions existed throughout the 6 months of the Ironsi regime right up to the 29th July 1966, the day Ironsi was killed
So how could Ironsi have removed Regionalism?
After the death of Ironsi, Gowon took over and the 4 Regions kept existing for another 10 months until May 1967 when Gowon issued Decree 14 of 1967, which abolished the 4 Regions and replaced them with 12 new states which were:
1. Northwestern State
2. kaduna State
3. kano Sate
4. Northeastern State
5. Kwara State
6. Benue-Plateau State
7. Western State
8. Bendel State
9. East Central State
10. Cross Rivers State
11. Lagos State
12. Rivers State
So it is clear to even a blind man that it was Gowon who removed Regionalism when he created 12 states. So why people are still arguing this after all these years is what I dont know
It was even Gowons removal of the Regions that made Ojukwu declare Biafra
Nigeria is not called basket of idiots for nothing. The people from US say, "A person cannot fix stupidity". Please do not waste your time educating the stones in Nigeria.
Deadlytruth: Only among Igbos do you find people dismiss hard facts backed up with documental evidence without providing superior contrary facts. This national broadcast is documented in a gazzete in the national archives. They are not conjectures or opinions at all. If you want a link to the original copy of Ironsi's national broadcast as reproduced below, you will gladly be furnished with it except you are just one of the lazy ipobians who hate to read.
The same moronic gazette and national archives which could not determine that Duke Bassey who was commissioned 2Lt into Bristish West African Front Force the same year with Ironsi, Ademulegun and Seyi, Ghanian, resigned his commission in 1953 the year Umoh Bassey was commissioned 2Lt.
SaudanaofSokoto: Hello mr crap,you dont know what you are typing about! There was a general election 1959 which was in prelude to the British granting us Independence in 1960 and in 1963 the country became a republic,so get your fact right MR CRAP!
Mr. Fool, this general election engendered coalition government however the position of Prime Minister existed. Equally, it determined who was appointed a cabinet minister. Mr. Fool, I do not need to expatiate.
SaudanaofSokoto: However,when crude oil was discovered in Oloibiri in the present day Bayelsa state,South South geopolitical region,suddenly,the good old,pan africanist and an advocate of one Nigeria,Dr Nnamdi Azikwe, started to fly the kite of the eastern region seceding from Nigeria,which was contrary to what he has been preaching all along,just because of greed and selfishness over oil!
You sounded very much like a Yoruba. Please do not rant on my suggestion. The need for self-determination had kicked off within the areas known as Colony and Amalgamated territory of the British Empire before crude oil was struck. By the way, crude oil was not first discovered in Oloibiri as you may foolishly want us to believe.
SaudanaofSokoto: of Sokoto made the comment, he made because as at time the people from the eastern region who were majorly Igbos dominated the civil service,the top millitary echelon and the ministries! Even selfish enough when there was a vacant post of the chief of the Army staff the fill,Dr Nnamdi Azikwe of one Nigeria,kicked against a Yoruba man from the western region,who was the most senior Nigeria officer after the British, to occupy that post because of their game plan. He rather convinced then prime minister,Sir Tafawa Balewa, of blessed memory,to allow the drunk called Agu Ironsi to become the chief of army staff. So this and many more made the northern political elites decided to move a motion to do away with the Independence constitution for a new consttution called the republic constitution,which was to curtail the powers of the governor-general and to prevent foreigh interference in our domestic affairs. In effect,Dr Nnamdi Azikw became a lame duck ceremonial president and which never go down well with him.
The above post declared the writer an ignoramus. There was no Yoruba or any member of ethnic groups in Nigeria who was senior to Aguiyi Ironsi in Nigerian Army after October 1, 1960. Equally, I cannot recall if any position such as Chief of the Army Staff existed in Nigerian armed forces during or after Nigeria's independence. The British occupied the position of GOC and other relevant command positions in Nigerian armed forces.
SaudanaofSokoto: Many Nigerians have been fooled by some of the writers of the 1966 coup d'etat that was led predominantly by the millitary officers of Igbo ethnic estration. The reason behind the coup that many Nigerians may not be aware of was the discovery of crude oil in a place called Oloibiri, if I get the spelling right,in the present day Bayelsa state which was at that located in the eastern reglon then. Shortly,after independence,with Dr Nnamdi Azikwe becoming the Governor- General in a coalition goverment, in effect reporting to the Queen of England directly. He was the arrowhead of this,as the then Governor-General as at time he was so powerful that he threaten to report anyone that suggested the inclusion of move motion for a secession clause inside the constitution the Queen was the country head of state claiming one Nigeria even when the other two are not on the same page unknown to them it was because of the poor economic state of then eastern region. The genesis of the whole crises started when,the Saudana
This is ranting of an ant. Most of positions held by so-called Nigerian politicians were based on appointment including Governor-General and Prime Minister. There was nothing such as coalition government until 1964 general election. In 1958, Owaza oil fields reduced Oloibiri as mere oil well. Till this date, Oloibiri is capped and dried while Owaza oil fields are pumping crude. You should have limited your crap to the fact Nigeria decided to fight Biafra because of the crude oil fields in eastern region not the need to keep Nigeria one.
SATANICALLY: The spate of abduction and murder of traditional rulers in Imo State has become a threat to the traditional institution itself. For example, gunmen on December 14 kidnapped the traditional ruler of Umuezeala-Ama ancient kingdom in the Ehime Mbano Local Government Area of the state, Aloy Igwe.
On December 13, two traditional rulers, Acho Ndukwe and Paul Ogbu from Ihube communities in Okigwe Local Government Area were kidnapped and their palaces razed. While Ndukwe was rescued 24 hours later, Eze Ogbu was later found dead when security operatives raided a criminal den in Orlu Local Government Area.
On December 9, the traditional ruler of Mbutu ancient kingdom in Aboh Mbaise LGA, Damian Nwaigwe and his counterpart from Atta ancient kingdom in Njaba LGA, Edwin Azike, were kidnapped separately. While Azike was kidnapped and his corpse dumped at the market square in his community, Nwaigwe was freed two days later.
On November 19, the traditional ruler of Achi Mbieri in Mbaitoli LGA, Henry Madumere, was kidnapped at Iho in Ikeduru LGA while on his way to a public function. The octogenarian, who is the father of a former deputy governor of the State, Eze Madumere, was released six days later.
Earlier on October 19, gunmen invaded Njaba LGA council headquarters located at Nnenasa and opened fire at traditional rulers. While two died on the spot, two others went into coma and were taken to hospital where they were resuscitated.
Traditional leaders play useful roles in mediating between the people and the state, enhancing national identity, resolving minor conflicts and providing an institutional safety-valve for often inadequate state bureaucracies.
And in a multi-stakeholders’ approach in the fight against insecurity, they play prominent roles in canvassing and mobilising grassroots’ support for peace efforts and their institutions are employed for conflict management, resolution and prevention of crisis.
Nigeria’s National Security Strategy 2019, a working document of the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), stated that traditional rulers are critical to national cohesion and stability as they act to preserve our cultures, traditions, values, morals and beliefs. They serve as first-line vanguards in handling communal conflicts and crises thereby advancing peaceful coexistence amongst our diverse citizenry.
Unfortunately, especially in Imo State, they are now an endangered species.
These spate of abductions and killings and other spiralling violence erupted in South East with the launch in December 2020 by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) of its armed wing, Eastern Security Network (ESN). We condemn this taboo of harassing, kidnapping and murder of traditional rulers. They are not just custodians of tradition, they hold the symbolic ‘Ofo,’ which signifies authority and intermediary between man and God. To contemplate these reprehensible acts against them portends danger for the future.
This is the time for the police and Department of State Services (DSS) to rise up to their responsibilities in stopping this reckless and mindless desecration of our traditional institutions and values.
These killers reside in communities, interact with people and even communicate via phones or social media. Security operatives must up their ante and root out, through actionable intelligence, these hoodlums before they unleash their heinous activities further. The fact that this has not been done is a failure on their part.
It is also important for the governors in the region as well as the Igbo umbrella organization, Ohanaeze Nd’igbo to come out and speak against this dastardly act.
In the interim, additional security should be provided for the traditional rulers and all citizens with vital information on the perpetrators or potential gunmen should provide such information to reliable agents of the state.
As holders of traditional and spiritual authority of their different communities, the blood of the innocent must haunt the killers and abductors. And as Nigerians rise up in condemnation of these pathetic, brutish and inhuman acts, the police and DSS must ensure that their investigations are swiftly concluded and the perpetrators brought to justice. This is to serve as deterrent.
For the families and relatives of the abducted or slain traditional rulers, we sympathise and condole with them. It is the duty of all Nigerians to ensure that the traditional, spiritual and symbolic voices and authorities of any of our traditional rulers are not silenced again.
I need to read the background information of the traditional rulers, killed or alive, in Imo State. Have some of them crossed path with the elements in the corridor of power in Imo State? Was there any business, finished or unfinished, with the empty heads that lead Imo State?
SUFFERInSMILIIN: I have to tell myself the truth the IQ level in Nigeria is 171 in the world, the illiteracy in Nigeria is so much that 85% of the population are brainless and cannot think. I was just coming across an article the helicopter private companies and airlines are relocating to countries like Ghana and Cameroon. The next thing the Nigerian government says and the Nigerian people they are selling helicopters to Ghana. This is the type of illiteracy in Nigeria with the Citizens. The law of Nigeria States anything imported cannot be re-exported only if the company goes bankrupt or rule relocating. So now a lot of the aviation companies are now relocated and Nigerians are happy
If you deduced the actions in the bold amount to illiteracy, I could safely say you are illiterate. You replicated what you accused Nigerians of doing. The ability to read and write has nothing to do with the level of enlightenment or stream of thought. Most Nigerians do not cast their votes based on ideology or philosophy but idiotic pressures such as ethnicity or other selfish ends.
nairavsdollars: Edirin Okoloko, a judge of the Snohomish County Superior Court in Washington DC, USA has emerged as the overall best in a members rating conducted by the Snohomish County Bar Association.
Okoloko, a native of Delta state came ahead of six other judges with an average result of 4.12 in press release by the Snohomish County Bar members newsletter.
The release reads “Introducing our top two Superior Court judges per member ratings in 2021. Judge Langbehn and Judge Okoloko”. “Those pictured here had the highest averages. An honourable mention also goes out to our highest scoring commissioner, Patricia Nelson. A special thank you to the fearless SCBA board for tabulating these results”.
Okoloko’s results is as follows: Decision making Average 4.03, median 4.00; Efficiency average 3.81, median 4.00; Demeanour average 4.47, median 5.00; Impartiality average 4.15, median 5.00. overall performance average 4.12 median 4.00. Judge Okoloko was appointed by Governor Jay Inslee to fill a vacant seat on Snohomish County Superior Court bench in January 2020 after the retirement of Judge Linda C. Krese. The governor previously appointed Okoloko to the Snohomish County Superior Court in September 2018 and he took office in October. He lost a close retention election in November 2019.
Prior to his judicial service, Okoloko served for 13 years as a Snohomish County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, where he prosecuted cases involving homicides, sexual assaults, child abuse, elder abuse, and other violent and property related crimes. He also represented the office on the Snohomish County Multiple Agency Response Team, which investigates county wide incidents involving law enforcement use of lethal force.
Before working as a prosecutor, Okoloko served as a judicial law clerk for former Snohomish County Superior Court Judge Michael Downes
DSS are too smart to allow her to make phone calls.
And this photo is a camera shoot not phone shoot.
Lies/propaganda perceived from afar
She was dumped in a hospital in Nger State where she made a phone call on the boxing day, thus a day after Xmas. Nigerians and comprehension are sworn enemies.
Christistruth00: Gen Ironsi was the head of the Army but the most Senior Officer was supposed to be a Calabar man called Wellington Duke Umoh Bassey who had been parked by Gen Ironsi’s kinsman Governor General Azikiwe and NCNC into a Captains posting in Zaria depot in order to make way for Gen Ironsi to emerge as head of the Nigerian Army
All Wellington Basseys Promotions were delayed until after Gen Ironsi had emerged as head of the Army and Ojukwu head of the Eastern Region
Wellington. Umoh Bassey was already a Major in 1954 when Gowon joined the Army Ojukwu joined in 1955
In 1960 when the British left it was Wellington Umoh Bassey who had also lead the Independence Day is Parade that they were preparing to take over leadership of the Nigerian Army
Wellington Umoh Bassey whose nickname was Duke of Wellington was Gen Ironsi’s Senior Officer in the Army by more than 3 years
Can you believe that the same Wellington Bassey who was Ironsi’s Senior in the Army was almost assassinated during the Jan 1966 in the Zaria depot where he and his Army Career had been frustrated and dumped by Azikiwe and NCNC for Gen Ironsi’s sake but had just managed to escape at the last minute
Wellington Umoh Bassey’s only offence was that he was from Calabar and was Ironsi’s Senior Officer in the Army
Because of that Azikiwe took it upon himself to destroy Bassey’s Career
Wellington Bassey had joined the Army 7 years before Ironsi in 1936 and was an Officer three and a half years before Gen Ironsi
Another crap posted by a lazy Nigerian. If the so-called Bassey was commissioned in 1946 as the junk would want us to believe, then Bassey was equally senior to Ugboma who was commissioned in 1948. What a goofy author.
Christistruth00: According to Azikiwe , 6 Senior Officers from the East were skipped over in order to make Ojukwu the Governor of the Eastern Region Wellington Bassey Of Calabarwas again the most Senior among them, he was about 10 years Ojukwus Senior Officer and about 20 years Ojukwus Senior in the Army
Bassey and Ogundipe had both fought the 2nd world War, but Ogundipe had left after the War and re-enlisted to the Army 3 years later
Wellington Bassey had Served as ADC to the Queen of England when she visited Nigeria in 1956
The Queen of England awarded Wellington Bassey an MBE for his Army Service
Wellington Umoh Bassey was not of Calabar and never Efik. Wellington Umoh Bassey was commissioned in 1953. He was NOT the ADC to Queen Elizabeth II of UK during her visit to the amalgamated territory of British in 1956. The ADC to the Queen Elizabeth II was Major Aguiyi Ironsi who was the only African with the rank of Major in the British African Frontier Force. Wellington Umoh Bassey was commissioned in 1953. However, Wellington Duke Bassey of Calabar who was Efik got commissioned in the 1949, the same year Ironsi, Ademelogun and Seyi, a Ghanaian, were commissioned. Unfortunately, Ugboma and Duke Bassey left Queen's Royal Regiment in 1953 before the amalgamated territory known as Nigeria gained independence. Ugboma and Duke Bassey were not members of Nigeria armed forces during or after 1960. Most Nigerians are deceitfully foolish and intellectually lazy. The goons cannot separate a person who was commissioned in 1953 and another who resigned his commission in the same year. It is completely idiotic to have a soldier stand in one rank for 12 years as the jackasses seemed to want us believe Wellington Umoh Bassey did.
Umoh Bassey was commissioned in1953 and Ojukwu was commissioned in 1957 and backdated to 1955 with seniority. Bassey and Ojukwu were trained at Eaton Hall in UK. However, Ojukwu had a master's degree from Oxford and converted to regular infantry with loss of rank. Ojukwu would have outranked Umoh Bassey if he had remained as DSS.
jmoore: Ikwere: Igbo or Edo; An Insight into the History of Ikwere People
By
Maazị Ogbonnaya Okoro
The issue of identity is personal. Devoid of political sentiments, this article is an academic research conducted and carried out for the purpose of knowledge and preservation of historical information. Interviews in form of participate observation, were conducted. Different opinions were put into consideration. So, by no means, anyone's throat is forced with an identity neither this research is recruiting people to join any tribe or group.
Now let us make the move...
Are the Ikwere Igbo or Edo?
Before we go into this, the first question we would like to ask is this: what year did Ikwere become a recognised separate group in Nigeria?
1979
9 years after the genocidal war ended. That means, prior to this time, Ikwere had been an Igbo group, undoubtedly. The fictional works of Elechi Amadi, the characters and characterizations depict Igbo society. This group separation is political.
Afigbo (1980, p. 122) opined that: "the links which bind the peoples are as ancient, deep and varied; and therefore, as important as the links internal to each state". With this in mind, this research is more of discussing the yesteryears and not today. We want to research on how things were, life as it was before war and politics played their own game.
About the origin of Ikwere, many scholars regard them as southern Igbo tribe. This is as a result of migration and settlement that took place prior to the time foreign authorities arrived.
The people we know as Ikwere today migrated from different places and settled there. Some migrated from Ọka (Awka), Ọlụ (Orlu).
Even before the civil war, which its after effect changed everything, there was still a widespread belief, even amongst the Ikwere and still those historically informed now, devoid of political motivation that Ikwere is made up of migrants from Owere, Ọrata, Ọhaji, Ngwa, Echie (Etche), Arọ, etc.
The Arọ formed many communities. Any Ikwere man who is historically conscious and aware know about a man called Okpo Ngwagidi. Okpo Ngwagidi was the leader of the Ikwere tribe, an Arọ man for that matter.
The first Arọ settlers migrated through Ozuzu-Echie (Ozuzu-Etche) and settled at places we now call Isiokpo, Igwuruta, Ọmagwa, etc.
Have you asked yourself why all these places speak Igbo language, even when they deny being Igbo? Their dialects are mutually intelligible.
Let me not go into today. Let's still dwell in the past.
Ahịa Oshimini was a major market along the Sombreiro River and New Calabar River were in the past, the Ikwere exchanged goods with people from Okrika, Ụbanị (Bonny) and Kalabari.
There was Ahịa Ụzọ/Apa where the Ikwere traded with the Ekpeye, Etche, Abua etc. Both markets—Ahịa Oshimini and Ahịa Ụzọ served for the purpose of slave trade, also.
The Ikwere would later have contact with the Kalabari in the business of fishery and buying and selling, especially in the Ikwere part of Iwofe, Choba, Ọgbakịrị, Emohua, Ndele. The contact yielded intermarriage and concubinage. The same go with Okrika and Ikwere contact through Diobu and Ụmụokwurushi.
There was still Ahịa Elechi.
It was in 1913 that Igweọcha became an economic hub. That territory was originally known as Igweọcha and was named after a British man known for all vices, by name Lewis Harcourt. The Port there was named after him, hence Port Harcourt. The name automatically changed from Igweọcha to Port Harcourt.
The Obio is another Ikwere clan, one of the Ikwere Esaa (7 clans that made up the Ikwere land) The Ikwere Esaa include: Elele, Isiokpo, Rumuji, Emohua, Akpọ, Aluu Igwuruta and Obio group. The Obio traced their orijin to Ozuzu-Echie (Etche)
The markets the Ikwere and Echie (Etche) trade include:
Ahịa Ọdụnwe-Etche in Igwuruta, Ahịa Igweọcha in Port Harcourt, Ahịa Ozuzu in Ozuzu, Ahịa Nwonti in Ụmụechem, Ahịa Eke in Egwi, Ahịa Inim in Elelenwo, Ahịa Eketa in Igbodo, Ahịa Aluu and Ahịa Rukpokwu.
Why originally, these markets were known as Ahịa and not anything else related to Bini dialectal word for market?
Let me not digress...
Back to an aspect of origin and Arọ influence, the Arọ traded in palm oil centuries before the arrival of the colonists. Also during the slave trade they migrated and settled in Ikwere through Ozuzu Etche. It could be said that some Obio who claim Ozuzu-Etche origin have Arọ blood. The Arọ who came through Ozuzu-Echie settled in Igwuruta, Isiokpo, Elele, Rumuekpe, Ubima and Aluu.
During the colonial government era, Nwocha Amefule and Osundu Oyo were made warrant chiefs representing Ọmagwa, Ozuaha, Omademe and Ipo at Choba. They were both Arọ men.
In the side of Obio, Okorie Mbeke became the first headman of Ụmụ Evo Aros and Iburaikwu Apara became the head of Ụmụapara Aros. In Elele, there are communities named: Arọ-Omuodu, Arọ-Omodukwu, Arọ-Omuma, Arọ-Ogbogbu, etc. The historical presence of the Arọ cannot be written off.
Let us consider the following names of some towns and villages under Ikwere and also check how they sound: Edoid or Igboid?
Some places in Port Harcourt such as Ụmụeme, Ụmụokoro, Ụmụokwuta, Ụmụibekwe, Ụmụigbo, etc are now written as Rumueme, Rumuokoro, Rumuokwuta, Rumuibekwe, Rumuigbo, respectively, with the belief that they are rewriting their history which the Igbo bastardised when they dominated and colonised them.
Did Igbo colonised Ikwere?
In the history of mankind, the Igbo have never for once colonised anybody, impose his culture or history on anyone. How can Chukwuemeka whose language is Igbo claim that he is not Igbo but Bini, when asked why he has no Bini name or language, the only lame excuse turns out to be that the Igbo dominated him? Did they force you to take their names, culture and language? Did they do that by using guns and bombs? Can we also say that the names of these markets that existed centuries before the white man came were forced down by the Igbo, to the throat of Ikwere by calling them Ahịa Ụzọ and Ahịa Oshimini?
When Igweọcha was still under Eastern Region, Micheal Ọkpara industrialised the city we know as Port Harcourt today. Trans Amadi Industrial area was the brain child of Dr. Micheal Ọkpara. The Hotel Presidential also. Port Harcourt was built by the coal dug from Enugwu. The Government of Eastern region developed the region, massively.
When the colonists documented everything, and by that time, the Igbo had no infuence over anything, the Ikweres recognised themselves as ndị Igbo. Take for instance in 1957, the Ikwere leaders met before Sir Henry Willinks Commission to present their case before him, Wobo—an Ikwere leader stated that the Ikweres are Igbo and Port Harcourt to Ọnịcha are Igbo land. Prior to 1979, the Ikwere remained the Igbo until the constitution gave them as different group, following the state creation of Rivers, hence the denial which of course is as a result of politics, instead of fact. Colonial documents till date present Ikwere as Igbo. The dialect of Ikwere is an Igbo dialect just as we have Nsụka, Abakaliki etc. There is mutual intelligibility.
Why is it that there is no trace of Bini in the name, language and culture of the Ikwere despite the power old Bini kingdom wielded? Isn't it laughable to say the least, that the Ikwere migrated from Bini? Isn't that a rhetoric, devoid of historical, academic and oral traditional presentation? Why is it no cultural semblance between the Ikwere and Bini? Till date, one bears Amadi, Chijioke, Chibụike, Amaechi and still stretches that he's Edo.
Like I said from the outset, the issue of identity is personal. Having that in mind, the following notable personalities are of the Ikwere origin, they never for once denied their Igbo origin and identity. They were/are Igbo nationalists to the core. See them:
1. Barr. Uche I. Okwukwu— Secretary-general, Ọhaneze Ndị Igbo.
2. Dr. Obi Wali— First Ikwere man to hold PhD, minority rights activist, distinguished senator, literary scholar. The only Ikwere man in the 1978 Constituent Assembly and one of the 50 Wise Men to draft the 1979 constitution. Until death, he fully indenfied himself as onye Igbo and defended it at all cost.
3. Chief Joseph Wobo— member of the Council of Chiefs of Eastern Nigeria. He's an Ikwere man and always proud of his Igbo heritage.
4. Chief Isaac Wonwu— An Ikwere man from Elele who served as Secretary-General of Ọhaneze Ndị Igbo.
5. Sir Jackson Mpi—the first and last Ikwere man to be conferred with Knights of the Order of British Empire, OBE by Queen Elizabeth II in England, 1960. He's from Isiokpo and identified himself as onye Igbo. He worked for the advancement of Igbo course.
6. Chief Jackson Womenazu— He's a member of the Elders of Council, Ọhaneze Ndị Igbo. From Rumukrushi in the Evo quarters.
7. Emmanuel Aguma— the former Mayor of Port Harcourt. The first Ikwere man to head a college. The first Ikwere man to be made a minister in 1979. He's a member of the Ọhaneze Ndị Igbo. Very proud of his Igbo Identity.
8. Okogbule Wonobi—the first Ikwere man to be a university registrar; first Ikwere man to be a poet and Paramount title holder of Eze Ohiaemeru. Hé remained a member of Ọhaneze Ndị Igbo and Nzukọ Igbo.
In conclusion: The Issue of identity is personal, but then, truth will never be swept under the carpet forever. The general truth of identity. Politics has brought about divide-and-rule system that has made people of the same blood look into their eyes and lie to themselves. Self-deceitfulness is the worst sickness on earth as well as identity crisis. The Igbo had never colonised or imposed their ideology on anyone. The British who colonised us did not zap everything in us. We still retain our culture, language, worldview and names. How can people said to have been colonised by the Igbo forgotten their original sense of self if there was any? They still bear Igbo names, speak the language and lie to themselves that they belong to another tribe where there is no trace of cultural semblances. That sounds ridiculous.
However, a handful of Ikwere people still know their root and stick to it, while some have decided to stick to the fallacy, living in denial of who truly they are because of political factor of Nigerian state. Just from 1979 of yesterday. Just after the genocidal war. The Igbo race was positioned for extermination in all angle. Physical war. Historical distortion and what have you. Rivers State was created and all the Igbo people in that axis carved to the new state. A new song of history was sung. For political gains, identity was bruised.
But till date, Port Harcourt speaks more Igbo than English— from the market, bus driver, keke. The Ikwere land speak Igbo. Bear Igbo names. Even the state creation couldn't change that. Even the ridiculous Bini rhetorics couldn't change that. Elechi Amadi, who was contracted to write off his people from Igbo couldn't also write off his name and his children. Still Igbo name. Elechi Amadi has no meaning in Edo language but Igbo. You cry domination and colonization where it didn't exist and still have no other identity than your identity—Igbo. How can you say you dominated yourself?
Christistruth00: After the Coup Ironsi embarked on a Misinformation Campaign to Cover up the True details of the Coup
Read let “ Truth be told “ by David Muffet”
Can you believe that Ojukwu was in Kaduna during the time Sardauna and Ademulegun and their wives were assassinated ?
Col Sodeindes Wife even said she saw Ojukwu talking to Soldiers on Ademuleguns Staircase when she had gone to Report her Husbands death to Ademulegun
She then hid herself because she found the scene to be very Suspicious
Little did she know that Ademulegun himself and his wife had already been assassinated too
The British declassified Papers also Confirmed that Ojukwu had returned to the Kano Battalion that he Commanded from Kaduna at 8 am on the Morning of the Coup
Ambassador Fafowora in his book “ lest I forget “even went further to say that on. his way to London that day when the Plane stopped at Kano to pick passengers , Ojukwu and his Soldiers went on Board and arrested a man who they thought was Prime Minister Balewa’s brother
What does that tell you?
Ojukwu and Ironsi were part of the Coup
Please can you tell the reason Nigeria should grow with people of intellect such as you? Ojukwu was in Kano and cannot be in Kaduna when a mutiny is underway. Any military commander who vacates his/her HQ at the time of such military situation should be shot.
Deadlytruth: Posers on Ironsi and abolition of federalism.
Those who contend that Ironsi's Decrees 34 didn't abolish the true federalism and resource control we started with at independence should in very simple language explain what exactly Ironsi meant with the bolded expressions in his May 24 1966 National Broadcast reproduced in part below:
Ironsi's Broadcast to the Nation banning Political Parties and introducing Decree No. 34, 24 May 1966. www.dawodu.com
Fellow Nigerians: During the past two weeks I presided over meetings of the Supreme Military council and the Central Executive Council at which many important state matters were considered. . . It is now three months since the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria was handed over to the Armed Forces. Now that peace has been restored in the troubled areas it is time that the Military Government indicates clearly what it proposes to accomplish before relinquishing power. The removal of one of the obstacles on the way is provided for in the Constitution (Suspension and Modification) Decree (No. 5) 1966 which was promulgated by me today and comes into effect at once. The provisions of the Decree are intended to remove the last vestiges of the intense regionalism of the recent past, and to produce that cohesion in the governmental structure which is so necessary in achieving, and maintaining the paramount objective of the National Military government, and indeed of every true Nigerian, namely, national unity. The highlights of this Decree are as follows: The former regions are abolished, and Nigeria grouped into a number of territorial areas called provinces. . . . Nigeria ceases to be what has been described as a federation. It now becomes simply the Republic of Nigeria. The former Federal Military government and the Central Executive Council become respectively the National Military Government and the executive Council. All the Military Governors are members of the Executive Council. A Military Governor is assigned to a group of provinces over which and subject to the direction and control of the Head of the National Military Government, he shall exercise executive power. In order to avoid any major dislocation of the present administrative machinery, the grouping of the provinces has been made to coincide with the former regional boundaries. This is entirely a transitional measure and must be understood as such. [The present grouping of the provinces is without prejudice to the Constitutional and Administrative arrangements to be embodied in the New Constitution in accordance with the wishes of the people of Nigeria. The National Military Government assumes the exercise of all legislative powers throughout the Republic subject to such delegations to Military Governors as are considered necessary for purposes of efficient administration. The public services of the former federation and regions become unified into one national public service under a National Public Service Commission. There is a provincial Service Commission for each group of provinces to which is delegated functions in respect of public officers below a given rank. This rather drastic change will probably involve a reconstitution of the existing commissions, and the National Military Government reserves the right to do so in the manner stipulated in the Decree. Until this is done, the present Commissioners continue to act in their posts. Every civil servant is now called upon to see his function in any part of Nigeria in which he is serving in the context of the whole country. The orientation should now be towards national unity and progress. I expect all civil servants to co-operate and to consult at all levels, vertically and horizontally, between groups of Provinces and between Provinces and the Centre.
The above conjectures are completely idiotic and ignorant. Only in Africa in general and Nigeria in particular where silly opinions become gospel.
The caption of the thread indicted the writer and Nigeria beyond pardon. "Nigeria: A Nation in Need of Another Chance" Has Nigeria flopped in the first chance as to be given another chance? Why another chance when the first instance was a colossal failure? Nigeria does not need another chance but should represent a historical event. Nigeria should be done away in anger.
mocey: actually i am not respectful and i am also rude as they come but i know history and i wont repeat the mistakes of 1967,i have been telling igbos leave niger delta tribes ,we have access to the sea the akwa ibom people cant stop igbos from getting to the Atlantic,it would be international waters and it would be freedom of navigation,so what are igbos waiting for?i just dont get it,we have oil and gas
the I am staunchly for Republic of Igboland. However, there shall be a provision which makes way for certain ethnic nationalities to join the powerful country based on cultural proximity with Ndigbo. This is one reason my support for Republic of Biafra as presently proposed is very shaky. There are certain goons in the so-called Niger Delta that will never qualify as compatriots except in the goofy shithole called Nigeria.
mocey: I was forced to write this because of the Ijaw boy that was boasting in the screenshot below that Ijaws can stop tribes in the Niger delta from joining Biafra and I was not shocked because you all know me I have written about Ijaw hypocrisy, how dare this Ijaw boy say Ijaws can decide for the tribes in the Niger delta I am pissed, time to choose so we can know where we stand and as if that was not enough look at what pandef said below
According to PANDEF: “It is a shame that they cannot differentiate between fact and fantasy. This stupidity would erode any sympathy they had hitherto received from the South-South geo-political zone.
“Let us restate, without any equivocation, that the Niger Delta Region is not part of Biafra and that no inch of the South-South Geopolitical Zone shall be part of any imagined “Republic”. It’s rather puerile for IPOB or any other group to consider that Niger Delta Region would be part of any arbitrary contraption. If it becomes necessary for the Niger Delta people to pull out of this country, we shall do so, on our terms
Tribes in the SS, Igbos, or Ijaws. Choose now, it is simple, just type anyone you choose in the comments section, I support 5 states of Biafra, but you have the right to choose what you what, Ijaws cant choose for you.
Those gun-toting dudes are from the government of Ozodinmgba and Buaria. Be mindful the masquerade's huts are known and cannot be painted with the same bush as UGM.
The elites from northern region of Nigeria especially the Muslims are focused and prepared to do anything to keep tight hold on the resources from southern Nigeria. I had wished certain goons from southern Nigeria belonged to plant family instead of human.
DuwaRepublic: But you are a worse joke and worse than a coward because you are serious about the actualization of Biafra that YOU don’t have the fortitude to actualize. You are serious yet begging everyday but we will never give you biafra or the presidency haha lol
DuwaRepublic: By eating your fellow Igbo? That’s primitive and barbaric.
Declare war against NAF and show us that you’re serious.
There is no doubt a lily-levered loudmouth has no place in revolutionary squad. Anybody Igbo person who speaks against the push to actualize Republic of Igboland or even Biafra must regret the day he/she is born. The need for self-determination is greater than 1000 heads. By the way, there is nothing more primitive and barbaric than Nigeria. The shithole called Nigeria gained the so-called independence in 1960 yet remains in 1900.
Politics › Re: Nnamdi Azikiwe's Speech In Against North's Seccesion: 2 Faced Ibo Man Blunder by Idiko1: 8:42am On Dec 31, 2021
