₦airaland Forum

Fatimaade:
Are you comparing to what igbos faced where till date ikwerre has refused to return your properties llooool

I'm looking for the article where University of Ife out of bad belle refused to hand over some ancient Benin maps to Uniben after the Midwest got freedom. The maps that should have been kept at Benin were kept at Ife by force all in the name of Western region. Just imagine

I will soon post it

Fatimaade:
Ahaha we gave them independence when they wanted out

That’s yoruba for you
It took a civil war for igbos to lose their minorities

Big joke

Yorubas fought tooth and nail to stop them from leaving even tried to hunt down the activists.

http://edo-nation.net/nowao1.htm

"My father was the personal driver of Chief Omo-Osagie through out his political career and what both himself and B2 went through before, during, and after the creation of Mid-West is unimaginable and sometimes better than some of 007 epic films. My father once told me that the journeys to and from the Western House of Assembly in Ibadan was the type of journeys one makes to and from the battle field. Firstly, they never exceeded four people and they travelled by Bedford Lorry instead of a car to which his status demanded. The reason for this was security as his life was threatened openly by those enraged by his demands for Mid-West State. He said on approaching Ore, they would disembark and B2 would come out of the comfortable second row and climb into the back of the Bedford lorry and be covered with trampoline and that is where he would remain through the numerous roadblocks put out to hunt him down and, that is how he would remain until they arrive Ibadan. Sometimes, for the need to confuse his detractors, he would be hidden in lorries carrying plantain to Ibadan and guess where he would be sitting - buried among the plantain and that is how he remains until the outskirts of Ibadan and be transferred into the Bedford lorry again. On numerous occasions they escaped death with the skin of his teeth. My father indicated that when they are travelling, it usually was like preparing for a funeral at B2's house and those of his entourage and the worst is expected and, when they return unharmed, it was jubilation.� (Source: OJ Ebohon. Edo-Nation Egroup, July 5, 2002. RE: [Edo-Nation] The Last Edo Political Titan: Chief Humphrey Omo-Osagie)"

"In August 1942, the conference of traditional Obas and rulers in what was now the Western Provinces of Nigeria took place in Benin City. It is said that at that meeting, there was an attempt to speak Yoruba as the Lingua Franca, thus causing some irritation among delegates from the Benin and Warri provinces"

http://edo-nation.net/nowao1.htm

http://edo-nation.net/nowao1.htm

The Willinks Commission held public and private meetings in Benin and Warri from 8th - 23rd December 1957.

Three major sets of opinion were canvassed. The Midwest State movement was only interested in the creation of the Midwest (meaning Benin and Warri provinces en bloc) to which it wanted the Edo-speaking Sobe and Ijagba areas of Ondo province appended. The Action Group, represented by its lawyer, Fani Kayode, conceded that the Midwest might, as a last resort, be allowed to go (after all the legislative hurdles) but that Warri division and Akoko-Edo should join Ondo province, while the western Ibo should join the Eastern region and the western Ijaw should join eastern Ijaw. He even went further to suggest that Ishan division should be excluded from the residual Midwest for no other reason than because Ishan had a significant number of Action Group supporters. The government of the Western region, represented by Rotimi Williams, differed slightly from Fani-Kayode, by accepting that Afemai and Ishan divisions could join the proposed residual Midwest implying the Benin and Urhobo divisions, if they wished. [Willink Commission report. Cmnd. 505. London: HMSO, 1958]

1. The position of the MSM was based on fear of colonization by the Yoruba. Detailed testimony was heard from a broad range of witnesses, including Chiefs Ezomo, Oliha, Ineh and Osula. Other witnesses included the Chairmen of the Iyekovia, Uhunmwode and Benin City councils, namely Messrs Adonrin, Atohengbe and Ogbebor. Edo women made a submission through Madam Eweka. Complaints included lack of rubber markets and processing facilities, excessive local taxation, including head taxes which would then be remitted to Ibadan, poor infrastructure, and discrimination in the award of scholarships and opportunities for Edo women traders at Ibadan. More recently, Mr. Isaac Asemota recalled that, While Benin- City stayed in the dark with no electricity, running water, good roads, separate and unequal schools and grossly inadequate health clinics, there in Ibadan, Edo tax monies were being squandered in the construction of Cocoa House, Mapo Hall and Commercial Broadcasting Service Radio Station whose frequency we couldnt even pick up in Benin-City. The best we could hope for was Redifussion radio which had a very low frequency and could not be heard more than two miles away from the broadcasting booth. (Isaac Asemota: The last Edo Political Titan: Chief Humphrey Omo-Osagie unpublished manuscript, Edo-Nation Egroup, July 2, 2002.)

The most powerful and emotional testimony from Benin came from Chief H Omo-Osagie. He lamented the insidious cultural role of Ifa divination and Ogboni activities in inserting Yoruba values and ways into Benin society. He explained that Ifa divination required knowledge of Yoruba, while the Yoruba derived Ogboni society, was, according to him, more dangerous than freemasonry. In fact he openly stated that after independence, laws would likely be passed, making membership of the ROF compulsory. He went on to criticize the Western region Chiefs Law No. 20 of 1957 which was being used with effect to intimidate traditional rulers and influence the selection of chiefs and Dukes inside the Midwest. The Chief also went into additional detail about perceptions of Yoruba domination of the Police, government boards, the public service, and the use of scholarships as a tool for punishing separatist divisions. The Benin division, for example, had not, under the period of review, received any scholarships, while the Ijebu province (home to Chief Awolowo) had secured 17 such awards. Another complaint was that Rubber was being developed in the Ijebu province when investment in the promised Ikpoba Rubber processing factory for already established rubber plantations of the Midwest was being help up. A similar shenanigan affected the Koko port. He went on to use examples of the decision by the Action Group government to dissolve the Benin Divisional Council in 1955 as an example of arbitrary misuse of power. In conclusion, Chief Omo-Osagie opposed the new Welsh-type arrangement implemented by the Action Group through the establishment of the Ministry of Midwest Affairs and the Midwest Advisory Council, and demanded either the creation of a Midwest region or a return to a unitary government at the center with provinces at the periphery.
Supporting testimony from the Ishan division, where the Action Group had deposed the Onogies of Idoa and Ubiaja was also heard from G. Ebea, A. Ibhazo, Prince Shaka Momodu, and His Royal Highness, Enosegbe II, Enogie of Ewohimi. Similarly, the Commission heard from the Oba of Agbede who bluntly stated that the Oba of Benin, and not any of the Yoruba Obas, was his Oba. On their part, Messrs Utomi, Onyia and Odiakosa provided the views of the Asaba division. Interestingly, while scholarship complaints were commonplace in the Benin division, the Asaba division was doing very well with scholarships under the guidance of its representative, Dennis Osadebay, who was then the Chairman of the Regional Scholarships Board.

In Warri, there was a split among the Itsekiri. While Chiefs Arthur Prest and Festus Okotie-Eboh were in support, at this stage, of creation of a Midwest region, O.N. Rewane and the Olu of Warri were against it. In response to testimony of pro-Midwest witnesses, a shadowy organization called the Anti-Midwest State Movement was put forward by the Action Group. It asserted that Edos had more to fear from Igbo than Yoruba domination, and that creation of a Midwest region would expose Edos to Igbo domination.

Among its observations, the commission noted that actual expenditure on road development in the Midwest area up to March 31, 1957, was only 15% of the estimates, compared with 50% in the Yoruba West. It also made the following observation:

“What is feared is a permanent Action Group majority in the Western House of Assembly. The Action Group drawing its inspiration from a Yoruba society, the Egbe Omo Oduduwa expressing itself through the Ogboni Fraternity, controlling Boards, Corporations and Commissions, eventually even the Magistracy and Judiciary, aiming at the obliteration of all that is not Yoruba. That is what is meant by Yoruba domination.”

pazienza:
Eastern region major resources was palm oil and coal both of which were majorly found in Igboland.
Oil was first discovered in commercial quantities in Oloibiri in 1956, and it took time to develop the oil industry.
The Eastern region never depended on crude oil, it was Palm oil and coal.
So when you go about twisting history like this, it paints you and your Yoruba group as evil.
Even when coal and palm oil were the most important sources of income for Eastern region, Ndiigbo never wanted the division of the region and tried all her best to be fair and just with all minorities.

Because crude oil exploration by shell in the East started in Owerri province,Shell had its headquarters in the region in the Owerri city, but when they couldn't find much oil in Owerri area but struck alot at PH area, Michael Okpara the premier of the regionsuggested Shell moved her headquarters to PH to enable ease of operations and helped them move there.

But the first thing Awolowo did after the war was to move shell and all oil servicing companies to far away Yorubaland in Lagos. Isn't it Ironic that Yoruba like you have the guts of accusing Ndiigbo of coveting Eastern minorities oil, when that was exactly what you did.

Below is your people in Lagos already calling the oil your oil during the war. You couldn't even wait for the war to end to start your war spoils exploitation.



"With the war ended, and as a Commissioner in Rivers State, I soon found that the Rivers State for which I had fought did not end my nightmare. In the first place, oil money from Ogoni country (as well as Ijaw country) was being carted away to Lagos, leaving the Ogoni illiterate and backward. This is anti-federalism"

Saro Wiwa 1971

This was how Yorubas robbed the Eastern minorities of their oil wealth, while continuously telling them how Ndiigbo was after their crude oil, because they (minorities) couldn't rise above their Igbophobia.
Its a tragedy.

Till tomorrow the Yorubas dominate Shell and other international oil companies and keep the indigenes far from management on behajf of the northerners who own the oil blocs while they spread their foul propaganda and try to sow discord in the eastern region.

This thread is gold. Thank you OP. You have killed off propaganda like a nuclear bomb here. Damn! I don't know where to start.

omonnakoda:
Create a thread for Willinks if you want to learn.

This thread is about RUMUIZATION AND DEUMUIZATION

In summary...you have no proof that Igbos changed the names asides from an Ikwerre unknown clout chaser's article written to help promote his book. After claiming to be a professor of the willinks commission and knowing that the Ikwerre's petitioned the commission, you scurried away from showing what the Ikwerres told the commission when asked to prove it

This myth is played out

omonnakoda:
Stop ridiculing yourself.
This issue has nothing to do with Willinks
I have been talking about Willinks for years on Nairaland





I am the one to educate YOU about Willinks.

It is irrelevant here

How can a minority ethnic group's alleged marginalisation be irrelevant to the Commission created for them bikonu Educate me no be do or die matter. Did the Ikwerres complain of renaming of their communities at the Willinks Commission? That's the aim of this your thread abi? Where is the proof? I like to learn new stuff

omonnakoda:
One thing that did happen at Willinks in 1957 was Ikwerre said they are NOT IBO

Did Ikwerres tell the Willinks Commission that the names of all towns in their land were renamed? Stay on topic please

omonnakoda:
Speak about the fact tha the word Rumu is what is found in the Ikwerre bible NOT UMU

The Ikwerre position which also led to the Ikwerre bible was a protest against internal Ibo colonisation

You don't even know the meaning of the passages you posted bearing Rumu and you want to debate it

omonnakoda:
It is not a flow station. I know the area
That is located at the Industrial Area next to Rumuomasi. Today it is called Rumubiakani

The Ikwerre people are claiming Igbos renamed their towns and villages

That place gas been renamed to Rumubiakani for more than 40 years.

Like EVERY OTHER UMU.

So what exactly is the point you are making with that picture
Was this on the Agenda of Willinks Commission?

Is mentioning Willinks relevant here or a failed attempt to sound like you are knowledgeable

Ikwerres who want some clout and yorubas like yourself are the ones whipping this dead horse. So Willinks Commission knowledge is a big deal to you? Let me help you. If you don't know the Willinks Commission was set up to examine minorities and their concern about domination...so yes this would have been on the agenda if it was an issue of substance BEFORE the civil war caused people to deny their heritage to survive

omonnakoda:
Next thing you will say I wrote the IKWERRE BIBLE

Ok

Before independence this was the name of where this training school was located. As far as I know the Willinks Commission (I could be wrong though) did not report this forced name change that south west people are so desperate to prove for reasons best known to you

omonnakoda:
Cheap

I don't gave to do anything


The English bible is online
The Ikwerre bible is online https://ebible.org/ikwNT/
The igbo bible us too
So just compare verse for verse

Simples

But you "gave" the energy to post an unfounded hack piece as evidence I guessed as much

omonnakoda:
Actually what you have posted buttresses his argument.

Can you dispute the repeated occurrence of RUMU in the Ikwerre bible?

Translate what you posted so we can understand the meaning and context

omonnakoda:
http://247ureports.com/beyond-chimamanda-and-the-rumu-umu-controversyby-okachikwu-dibia/

Also recall that during the Eastern Regional Government, Igbo language was the second official language used to teach in schools throughout the region, to worship in churches and used in offices. Some Ikwerre who dared to use Ikwerre language in the church for example were punished by the Igbo who were in charge of the churches in the first place (see page 145 in my book titled: The Challenge of Ikwerre Development in Nigeria 2011).

This unknown writer makes a ludicrous point and then cites his pamphlet as a reference if the man wants to sell more copies he for talk. Arrant nonsense. Na the kind awada keri keri wey dey give our south west brothers joy as they maintain their grip on the Niger Delta oil companies and marginalise the indigenes

Adekamkpe23:
Below are the states at the bottom of Corona virus in Nigeria.
I was wondering why the SE have very few cases, then it occurred to me no one visits the SE. I mean these people are either in the SW, the SS or the North.
There you have it, sense no go kee me.


Please no tribalism on this thread you will be reported. let's discuss it.

When una dey laugh us when Buhari close Enugu International airport una no know say na God plan am

Efezik007:
some days ago there was a topic about which region is capable of becoming a country among the six Geo political zone, there were sentimental debate mostly blw the west and the east region, anytime a person from the Niger Delta try to defend his region concerning the topic, someone from the east will tell him that, there is nothing like Niger Delta republic. meaning Niger Delta is under Biafra.

Nobody said you should not form your republic. We said there is nothing like South-South Igbos. Igbos are Igbos. Simple

No long thing we go build dam If you want to be passing through we go first discuss am and sign agreements. Lugard no dey around again...

Sammy07:
Well, it was probably called Igbo group, maybe because there is nothing like South south then or so

So Ademoyega, Gibson Jalo, Fola Oyewole etc are from South-South? The plotters of the coup that took out Murtala were 99% angas (Gowon tribe) but no one called it Angas coup. Why is that?

Sammy07:
Can you explain to this forum why decree 34 was a controversial decree while gowon decree isn't

Its called cognitive dissonance. Same reason why Nzeogwu, Ademoyega, Ifeajuna, Gibson Jalo coup is called an "Igbo coup" but Dimka, Parwang and Bisalla coup is not called a "middle belt/angas coup"

Sammy07:
You can't just escape it that Irosin abolished it.

Abolishing is a gradual process.
He stated it
Gowon finished it.
Just accept the fact.

If he didn't started it, gowon won't be able to create more states.
In fact, he might not think of it.

But he stated by issuing Decree 34, abolishing Regionalism / federalism and then becoming A republic.

Why is it that among everyone of them, only Ojokwu accepted the decree

Why do u think its of the disadvantages of the North then?




The Supreme Military Council met on 7 and 8 June 1966 and issued the following statement:

“The public must not be led to confuse the Military Government with government by a civilian regime under a constitution approved by the people. Nobody will expect the present Military Government to cease to function until new constitution has been approved or to be compelled to operate the old system of government with its obvious weakness. It cannot be too seriously emphasized that the Military Government while in office can only run the government as a military government under a unified command. It cannot afford to run five separate governments and separate services as if it were a civilian regime.

Final decisions on the territorial structure of the country and the public services will be matters for the Constituent Assembly and the referendum.

What do they mean by

1. 5 separate governments and separate services.

2. Military government while in office can only run the government as military. Remember the regions were operating on their own.

3. .......as if it were a civilian regime.
What does civilian regime means?
By abolishing the regions and making them come together?
By using resources of other regions?
By making the centre powerful?


It's even clearly written in the pics I showed to you.
It's either you accept the fact that
Ironsi started it and gowon finished it
Or
Ironsi Abolished it.
You cannot tell is ironsi doesn't have hand it

Till today, if you goggle who destroy regional government in Nigeria, it will always bring Ironsi b4 gowon.

Lol @ "Abolishing is a gradual process". A military dictator does not need to do anything gradually because he has absolute power. Gowon did it in one swoop and took the regions out of existence. He created states, gave every state a governor and put them all 100% under his control. Something Ironsi didn't do. You are displaying cognitive dissonance (Google it ) So it will be hard for you to accept the facts. Google searches lead you to information and you form an opinion after analysing what you read.

Gowon who took away regionalism, resource control and created useless states and feeding bottle federalism is your hero but Ironsi who retained regions under a different name but with all the perks like resource control is who you want to label a villain? Enjoy your tribalism, some of us will always use our brains and form objective opinions

gidgiddy:
So in other words, you dont have anything practical that Ironsi abolished Regionalism and removed true federalism except that Ironsi said "All Nigerians want an end to Regionalism"


Well if you dont know it, know it now. Ironsi never abolished the Regions. In fact, all 4 Regions were existing and functioning even up to the day Ironsi was killed.

The person who abolished the Regions was Gowon. Gowon came in after Ironsi and enacted decree 14 of 1967 that abolished all 4 Regions and replaced them with 12 states. The decree is below

Gowon was a fantastic puppet o damn This is the origin of all our issues today

Sammy07:
Explain what us written in the pics below b4 we continue.

It means Ironsi criticised "intense" regionalism and enacted a decree and changed the names from regions to provinces but still retained administrators over those regional spaces. The question I ask is did he appoint governors for all the provinces? No! Did he abolish resource control? No!

Was the western region still collecting the bulk of revenue from the Lagos ports? Yes! Eastern region collecting bulk of income from oil and palm? Yes!

Sammy07:
How will you see it when you're blinded by hate.

Go and Google it, who abolished regionalism in Nigeria.
It WILL and ALWAYS bring irosin


In a speech to the nation on January 28 1966, he denounced the evils of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa regime and outlined necessary reforms. ”All Nigerians”, he declared,” want an end to regionalism.


in a speech to the nation on January 28 1966, he denounced the evils of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa regime and outlined necessary reforms. ”All Nigerians”, he declared,” want an end to regionalism

Google will bring up ignorant opinions like yours so don't go there So Ironsi criticising the weaknesses of regionalism under Tafawa Balewa = to abolishing the regions

I thought you had something real to offer. Now read carefully...Ironsi until he died, had regional governors who could make laws for their regions. He felt he could strengthen his govt by enacting decree 34 and unifying the civil service (ministries etc) . Gowon created states not Ironsi!

Is it clear now or do we have to connect your brain to a server before you can learn the facts

Sammy07:
Read and re read, then comprehend what is being said here..


In a speech to the nation on January 28 1966, he denounced the evils of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa regime and outlined necessary reforms. ”All Nigerians”, he declared,” want an end to regionalism.


in a speech to the nation on January 28 1966, he denounced the evils of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa regime and outlined necessary reforms. ”All Nigerians”, he declared,” want an end to regionalism.

I still didn't see where Regionalism was abolished by Ironsi in this your copy and paste. Or you don't even understand what you posted

nairavsdollars:
A guest on national television today said the great Dim Emeka Ojukwu contested senatorial election and lost. I find it hard to believe because I thought Igbos love him so much. Can Nnamdi Kanu win a councillorship election with his popularity?

Igbos don't vote along tribal lines like others. It's always about the national interest. Igbo amaka

Sammy07:
It seems you can't read Or comprehend

Didn't you read Ironsi speech??
I even bold it.

Did his speech say that he had abolished regions? Please help and paste the part you are referring to

Sammy07:
Sir, it seems you don't know how decree no 34 came about
For your info, it's the most controversial decree.

Let me explain it down here.
Pls, read with open minded.




On assumption of power, General Aguiyi-Ironsi promulgated the Constitution (Suspension and Modification) Decree 1966. Decree No 1 dated January 17, 1966 but not published in the Official Gazette until March 4, 1966. He then issued Public Order Decree No 33 dated May 24 1966 which dissolved eighty-one political associations and twenty-six tribal and cultural associations.

At the early stage of his tenure, he appointed a three-man advisory team made up of Chief Francis Nwokedi, a Permanent Secretary, Dr. Pius Charles Nwabafor Okigbo (1924-2000) and Colonel Patrick Anwunah, who later became Chairman and Head of the Orientation Committee at that time.

He replaced the then Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Dr. Taslim Olawale Elias (1914-1991) with Chief Gabriel Chike Michael Onyiuke (SAN), former Director, Public Prosecution, Eastern Nigeria (1960-1965) from Nimo in the present Anambra state.

In a speech to the nation on January 28 1966, he denounced the evils of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa regime and outlined necessary reforms. ”All Nigerians”, he declared,” want an end to regionalism. Tribal loyalties and activities which promote tribal consciousness and sectional interests must give way to the urgent task of national reconstruction. The Federal Military Government will preserve Nigeria as one strong nation.”

He then went on to promise “administrative reforms” and referred specifically to several matters in which regional as well as personal interests were known to have had decisive influence. These were official appointments, public investments, and the universities. He promised that in the public services, efficiency and merit will be the criteria for advancement”. That industrial development would be “coordinated to avoid wasteful duplication of industrial projects”, and that the universities would be “re-orientated to serve the genuine interest of our people.”

Immediately after the speech two Governors kicked against the proposal. They were, Major General David Akpode Ejoor (83) from Ovu in the present Delta State, then serving as the Military Governor of the Mid-Western region and Major General Hassan Usman Katsina(1933-1995), who was then serving as Governor of the Northern region.

Lt. Col. Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu (1933-2011), Military Governor of Eastern Region welcomed the decree while Lt. Col. Francis Adekunle Fajuyi (1926-1966), Military Governor of Western Region never commented on the promulgation of the decree.

Lt-Col Ejoor was reported as saying that the ’National Government’ set up by the army was the prelude to ‘the reintroduction of a unitary form of government’ and insisted that it would create future problems. Shortly afterwards, the Supreme Military Council announced that a senior government official, Mr. Nwokedi, had been asked to consider and to report to the Supreme Military Council on the establishment of ‘an administrative machinery for a united Nigeria’ and the ‘unification of the Public Services and Judicial Services.’


In his own speech on February 19 at the Kaduna Airport, the Governor of Northern region, Lt-Col. Hassan Katsina said he was not aware as a member of the then Supreme Military Council of the modalities for the proposed National Government. ”I am afraid the egg is about to be broken”.

[b] On February 21 1966, General Aguiyi-Ironsi again addressed the nation on the issue. He said: “On the question of the political future of the country, the experiences and mistakes of the previous governments in the Federation have clearly indicated that far-reaching constitutional reforms are badly needed for peaceful and orderly progress towards the realization of our objectives. I have already touched on some of the major issues involved in recent broadcast to the nation. It has become apparent to all Nigerians that rigid adherence to ‘regionalism’, was the bane of the last regime and one of the main factors which contributed to its downfall. No doubt, the country would welcome a clean break with the deficiencies of the system of government to which the country has been subjected in the recent past. A solution suitable to our national needs must be found. The existing boundaries of governmental control will need to be re-adjusted to make for less cumbersome administration.’

As a follow-up on May 25, General Aguiyi-Ironsi promulgated the Constitution (Suspension and Modification)(No. 5) Decree 1966. Decree No. 34 (the ‘Unification Decree’). [/b]

After the promulgation, the country was thrown into turmoil which led to demonstration particularly in many parts of Northern Nigeria at that time. On his return to Kaduna on May 27, Col. Hassan Katsina was besieged with demands for an explanation. It was feared that in a unified service, Northerners would be at a disadvantage. It was no consolation that the Decree provided for the delegation of appointments and promotions, except the most senior, to Provincial Civil Service Commissions.

This copy and paste doesn't prove anything. Ironsi unified the civil service but there were regional governors (Katsina, Ejoor, Ojukwu, Fajuyi) who could make laws subject to the approval of the Federal Military Council

Dikebuka:
The fact is this

The day 65-70% of igbos backs Biafra, its all over.
The day 70% igbos unity both from SE and SS..it will be for Biafra
The day majority of igbos decides to go...even if all the political parties give them ticket and Nigeria get restructured, they will still go
When they leave, the will do dt with other ethnic group within the region.

In the East, 80% of the Igbos support Biafra. It's the Igbos outside the East (especially Abuja and Lagos) that are generally not in support of the idea

Ironsi was a professional soldier through and through. He was terrible at politics and painfully naive. The man surrounded himself with northerners and when his kinsmen tried to warn him that the Murtala led coup was coming he refused to listen.

A good man las las but too naive and should have been wiser. We can't judge him too harshly though because we are all speaking with the benefit of hindsight, same way future generations may speak about us