₦airaland Forum

The Ikwerre the man spoke is a harder version to understand than the one they speak in Elele

fratermathy:
There is no need for the lengthy discourse you've just released. Here is how things are:

1. This is not 1914 when many of the groups were blind to what the British did.
2. Urhobo/Isokos and other minority groups have designated bodies to speak on their behalf.
3. If we no longer want Nigeria, there are a number of options we can take and these include:
i. Declare our own independence.
ii. Form a confederation with other MINORITY groups.
iii. Discuss a coalition with any majority group should the terms favour us.
iv. Agitate for the restructuring of Nigeria in order to suit our interest.

There is nothing that IPOB or any ethnicity can do to coerce us into any unwanted marriage. If we want a referendum, we would be at the forefront for the agitation. We won't be silent. Urhobo is the most populous ethnicity in Delta State and one of the oil producing areas in Nigeria. If we want anything, trust me, we know exactly how to make it known.

Laughable.

So you know that this is not 1914 but you are still thinking like someone in bondage. What designate body can speak for Urhobos more than Urhobos themselves via referendum?
Urhobos will declare their independence? How are they going to do that? No minority can declare independence, you simply dont have the numbers to enforce it. Only any one of the 3 majorities can do this.

As for forming a confederation with any other ethnic group, that is pipe dream while you are still in Nigeria. Same goes for restructuring. In simple terms, any ethnic nationalities that chooses to stay in Nigeria have the right to do so but they should be aware that the consequence is total Northern domination.

The Biafran referendum is coming and it will be conducted in the area known as SE/SS and some parts of the lower Benue.

This referendum will be a once in a life time thing, it is not likely to ever happen again. I have no doubt that my Igbo nation including the Western Igbos sometimes known as Anioma, will all vote to go. If you thought that the minorities have been unfairly treated, just wait till Igbos go.

fratermathy:
I came across this laughable plea from IPOB online and as an Urhobo, I found it laughable and delusional. I'll express my sentiments under the post.




My issues with this delusional plea include:

1. The writer couldn't even spell Urhobo well. What he spelt was Uhrobo, not Urhobo. I have met several Igbos lash on others who dared to omit the "g" in Igbo and spelt as Ibo. The fact that someone or a group that supposedly means us well do not even know how to spell the name of our ethnicity is definitely laughable.

2. Urhobos/Isokos HAVE NEVER been a part of Biafra at any point. In 1967, Urhobo/Isokoland was in Nigeria's Mid-West State (previously in the Western Region) and anyone who knows the history of the war well enough knows that the Mid-West was never part of Ojukwu's short-lived Biafra. In fact, the Biafran troops massacred a lot of Mid-Westerners, including Urhobo/Isokos, when they invaded Benin (only Igbos were spared).

3. In the current resurgence for Biafra, Urhobo/Isokos have always maintained their stand. Our apex socio-cultural unions, UPU and IDU, have stated emphatically that we do not want Biafra. We are not Biafrans. We do not want to be Biafrans! This cannot be overemphasised. Apart from our apex groups, many of us have rejected the Biafran cause in the numerous Urhobo-Isoko groups on the social media.

4. Urhobo/Isokos have never been sympathetic to the Igbo cause in any way. In fact, quite the opposite, we have maintained our independence and tilted more towards the West. The average Urhobo man is more at home with a Yoruba than with an Igbo. This doesn't mean we hate Igbos but we simply have more sympathy with our Edoid/Yoruboid kins. This explains the presence of many itinerant and settler Urhobos in Yorubaland, as opposed to Igboland where Urhobo/Isokos hardly venture to. How then can we share a country with people we have no historical, political or cultural ties with? Any Urhobo/Isoko that may be sympathetic to the Biafran cause does so at the personal level and represents his own interest. The voice of Urhobo/Isoko collective interest has been made known already.

5. Urhobos WILL NOT sit at home and do nothing because IPOB asked us to or because Igbos are doing so. It will NEVER happen, today or anytime soon. Such a plea is useless and antithetical to the Biafran cause. Biafrans should aim for an Igboid country and leave Edoid/Yoruboid groups out of it. Urhobo/Isoko is Edoid. Itsekiri is Yoruboid. Even the Western Ijaws which have always been with us tilt more towards the West than anywhere else. How can you want so many dissimilar groups in your "utopia"? Won't it amount to creating another Nigeria when you "drag" uninterested groups to your cause?

I need not tell the writer, IPOB and any Igbo who cares to hear what the answer to this plea would be. The response is not farfetched. Ihwo r'Urhobo guoni Biafra a! Urhobo people are not Biafrans! We may be fed up with Nigeria but we can never leave the devil for the deep blue sea. Igbo is a majority ethnic group in Nigeria and as such contributes to the plights faced by minorities such as Urhobo/Isoko. The Igbo should not absolve itself from the "parasite" status! As far as minorities are concerned, all majority ethnic groups are a threat. Some are much more than some. In this case, Igbos have never done anything for Urhobo/Isokos to trust its motives. IPOB should stop adding us to its agenda or else it'll attract more insults to itself and the Igbo ethnicity. A word is enough for the wise!


Ihwo r'Urhobo v'Isoko, ke mavor owa mlo ota na vwa? Oshe phiyor? Biko vwa me ji tota kparemu me tare na!

It is understandable if you think or feel that the Urhobo/Isoko nation should not be part of Biafra. You are well within your right to express your opinion. I should point out to you that neither you nor the Urhobo nation had this priviledge with being 'Nigerians', you still do not have that priviledge.

You said that the Urhobo nation has never been part of Biafra, this maybe true. But that does not mean they cant be part of Biafra. If we are to follow your logic, it means that Urhobos should never have been part of Nigeria as Urhobos were for hundreds of years before Lugard came, not part of Nigeria

It is important to note that Biafra is not an Igbo cause. Igbos just happen to be the largest ethnic group in Biafra. As I say all the time, the last president of Biafra, General Philip Effiong, was not an Igbo man. The two most powerful men in the first Republic of Biafra, Philip Effiong (vice president) and Mr NU Akpan ( Chief Secretary to the Biafran Government) were not Igbos

One last thing that I want to say is that Biafran agitators are all united in agreement that before Biafra is declared, a referendum must be conducted to allow only those who are willing to join Biafra, to do so.

Before you say 'did Urhobos ask for referendum?'. Did Urhobos get referendum before they became part of Nigeria? The same Nigeria conducts referendum every 4 years in the form of elections to choose political office holders, wether Urhobos like it or not. You have not questioned Uhrobo sovereighty in terms of Nigeria that was 'by force' to even question that of Biafra that is yet to to exist and offers choice.

If you actually cared about Urhobos, you would support them getting a referendum (something they have no hope of ever getting without the Biafran agitation) so that they can reject Biafra and reafirm their allegiance to Nigeria as you believe they would do.

You have no point with this your thread, the only time most of you can even have traffic here about the Uhrobo nation is when the issue of Biafra comes up. Why is that?

I think the mum is number 2

I must commend the OP on the amount of work he put into write up. It is a near accurate description of Biafra. It is not easy to gather historical facts and present them in such a concise manner.

There are few mistakes such as Olutoye being the first graduate to join the Nigerian Army, he wasnt. Olutoye himself said that when he enquired about joining the Army as a graduate, he was told that it was very possible since another chap called Ojukwu had joined the same way.

On the whole, the tragedy of Biafra simply exposed the unworkability of the British colonial creation called Nigeria.

Nnamdi Kanu has often said that for a country to be a nation, it has to a situation where majority of the indigenous people share a common value system.

Not the case where Igbo/Hauasa/Yoruba are as different as day and night. So what are we together for? To uphold an outdated and discredited British colonial mantra called 'one Nigera'?

Makes no sense

Serendip:
I dream of a Nigeria where the use of words like Afonja, Igbos, will be a thing of the past.
Where Chukwuemeka will heartily call Adamu his beloved brother, where Olabisi will honestly call Ifeoma her true friend and sister.
Where we have a president called Adekunle Ifeanyi Ciroma.
Where we only see Nigerians and not a hausa or yoruba or an igbo man.

God bless Nigeria
God bless us all

If that dream has not happend after 103 years as country and almost 57 years of independence, it is safe to say it is time to quit dreaming and wake up to reality.

As an Igbo man, that dream has been a nightmare. That dream cost my fellow Igbos over 3 million souls.

Im no Lawyer but someone will have explain this crime called 'unlawful sensitisation'

yarimo:
That is very commendable from the nigeria police, please arrest anyone silly IPOB that want to disturb the peace of Nigerians.

Do you also commend the Nigerian Police this way when Herdsmen are killing and raping people?

Madu said that the suspects were arrested for unlawfully sensitising the public to stay at home on May 30, in observance of the group anniversary.

Nna, the Nigerian Police have lost their minds. How can someone be charged to court for the above? Which crime is unlawful sensitisation?

Interesting

The zoo must fall!

This video shows the same thing many of us have said over the years. That the Aburi agreement was supposed to bring peace in dark times. An agreement was agreed in Aburi. We now know that the then president of Ghana, General Ankrah, even asked all parties if they are happy with the agreement or wanted an admenment. They saud they were happy


They last words of the video says why the war was fought.

Any amendment to the agreement had to be done by all 4 Regions

In other words, Gowon had no right to abolish the 4 Regions unless all 4 Regional Military Governors gave him the permission to do so.

Gowon unilaterally abolished the Regions on the 28th of May 1967, thereby, contravening the Aburi agreement he signed. Ojukwu was left with no option but to declare Biafra.

When people say Ojukwu caused the war, check historical facts first.

What would you do when someone breaks a signed agrreement?

ItsTutsi:
No,what his trying to say is that the only reason SE is impeling the SS region is bcuz of oil even tho the elites from that region have rejected and distance themselves from their agitation,its not for any legit concern but an avenue to out number the SS and divert their oil wells,one is agitating for resource control while the other is campaigning secession..i dont know what their struggle have in common that the SE keep soliciting and lobbying the SS if not for any harmful intend

Biafrans do not recognise anything called SE/SS and neither does the constitution of Nigeria. What Biafrans recognise are tribes or ethnic nationalities, Ijaw, Ogoni,Efik,Igbo, Ibibio etc. All these tribes are in an area of Nigeria called the 'lower Niger'. Biafra is about which of these tribes are tired of 'one Nigeria' and want to go. It should be noted that the way Nigeria is, only any one of the 3 major ethnic groups can secede. A minority has no chance at all, not even 1% chance. Of the 3 Major ethnic groups, only Igbos have shown any seriousness about seceding. Hence, Biafra is about those minorities who wish to leave with Igbos and this will be decided in a referendum. If there are any minorities who feel that Igbos are after their Oil, they should vote in the referendum to remain part of Nigeria. It is serious business leaving Nigeria and we have no time for 'our oyel' people.

In terms of Biafra, it has always been a multi-ethnic thing. The proof is in the first Republic of Biafra.

Last President of Biafra- General Philip Effiong (Annang)

Vice presedent of Biafra-Philip Effiong

Chief Secretary to the Biafran Government- Mr NU Akpan (Ibibio)

Deputy commander of the Biafran Airforce- FLT Commander Bruce- Ijaw

Commander Biafran Navy- Commander Anuku (Ika)

Biafran Foreign minister- Mr M Mbu (Ogoja)

The man who suggested "Biafra" to Ojukwu as the name of the new country- Frank Opigo (Ijaw)

MrAlfa:
I understand where you are coming from but the Zoo doesn't work like that. Zoo people don't understand diplomacy.
Ojukwu used diplomacy and tact to free Awolowo and made Banjo commander. See where that got us. You cannot trust these people. Our nature is strightforward and face to face and that's what we do. We can't go stabbing in the back just to prove we are diplomatic and sophisticated. Aru!

So, if Osibanjo doesn't like the responses from Igbos, maybe he should steer from Igbo matter. Igbos say that he who brings home ant infested firewood must accept visit from Lizards. They cannot betray and back-stab us with their controller masters and not expect consequences.

I agree as well. The Nigerian government does not understand the language of diplomacy or peaceful conflict resolution. There is only one language the Nigerian government understands..................

ElsonMorali:
So Let me get this straight.

You want your own country, But you don't want to stay there.

Theres a large population of Yorubas living in America and Britain. If you truly believe the trash above, you should question why any Yoruba should be in America or Britain when they have Nigeria. Having a country does not mean you must be resident in it.

You hate the Yorubas, but you love their region because it is conducive.

Dont flatter your self Igbos are everywhere from Kilimanjero to Togo.While there is still 'one Nigeria', it remains my right to go anywhere I like in Yorubaland and I dont have to like anyone. If you dont like it, support Biafra

[You dream of the day you'll get Biafra But loathe and fear the day you will have to leave Yorubaland

On the realisation of Biafra, this area you call 'Yoruba land' will still be under Nigeria. Any one of us can then apply to the Nigerian immigration for settlement visa, business visa, investement visa, etc. and if granted, we will free to roam Yoruba land as we want. You guys dont seem understand that Yoruba land has no sovereignty, they gave it up to Nigeria. For Biafrans, there is no where called Yoruba land, only Nigeria.

The Lebanese in Nigeria knows he's a foreigner and doesn't claim that Lagos is a no-man's land

He has obeyed Nigerian immigration laws, that's why he's in Nigeria.

He understands that the Yorubas are the indigenous owner of the Southwest states so he respects them

When we get Biafra, we shall do the same.

You want a country. A country you have no intention of staying in. A country you intend to visit only at Christmas period to show off the "wealth" you've acquired while working in Afonja land.

There was a country indeed.

How many times did you ask any of the many Lebanese businessman in Lagos the last time they went home? Never? So why do you have to question the Igbo about when he will visit Biafra?

GenBuhari:
Did you know Nnamdi is not his real name?

So has fake name.

I dont care if his name is Kunta Kinte, I here for Biafra not his name.

Judaism is not his religion at least some months ago, he said his religion is Biafra.

So fake religion

Biafra and Judaism, Biafra and Catholicism, Biafra and Bhudism, who cares? I here fir Biafra

He wants to fight for Biafra independence yet he is settled in UK with his wife and family and acquired British citizenship.

So fake Biafran

What has his British citizenship got to do with this? Even when Biafra comes, there will still be dual citizens. He lives in London? Is he still there? Did he return like he said he would?

He claims Nigeria is a ZOO and he can never recognise it's authority, yet he has apparently followed bail conditions that required him convert to Judaism which must mean revoking his Biafra religion.

Fake principles

Is any thing real about this clown

Guy, you have no point. What people like you dont understand is that the message is always more important than the messanger. Kanu is but a messanger, the message of self determination is what we care about. So while people are digesting the message, others are busy focusing on the messager, thereby missing the point.

Rossikki:
Why don't these people just be honest and call a spade a spade?

They simply want to seize the whole oil and gas income the country is currently sharing. If there was no oil and gas in that region...If for instance, the oil was in the west, and all the south grew was bananas, does anyone seriously think we would be seeing this secessionist agitation from Biafra? I seriously doubt it. And the hilarious thing is how Ipob tries to rope in the south-south into their scheme - no doubt because of their oil fields, since they have disdain for every other ethnicity..... And the south south say "na...we're not in".

So what you are trying to say is that the unity of Nigeria is based on oil?

Alcatraz005:
INDIFFERENT TO ANY THING THAT CONCERNS IGBOS.


IGBOS, PLEASE LEAVE YORUBAS ALONE AND FACE YOUR HAUSA TORMENTORS.

Selah!

"NDI MMA IRU ABUA" NA "NDI-OSOCHI-EGBU"

OkoNDOoBo:
Relocate their business back to south east-- just like Scotland relocate their business from england back to their country.

recall your lawmakers in the red and green chambers - if truly the biafran agitation is sincere not of a victim card ,the lawmakers re instrumental for the actualisation for Biafra. they can either raise a motion or boycott sittings in the national assembly to pass the message.


governors should stop receiving allocations from federation purse and halt the culture of remitting their revenues to federal govt.


the igbos in civil services should resign voluntarily from Nigeria

the top rank military and para military Igbo officers should mandate every Igbo officers should all return back to south east

top Igbo personalities like emeka anyaoku, Alex ekueme, should lead Igbo delegations to united nations to seek for self determinations.


igbos must boycott any made in nigeria goods and flood the markets with their indigenous goods.

all Igbos in every part of Nigeria must be mandated to return back to south east


take Nigeria to international court and provide the evidences of genocides and marginalisation against the Igbo race.
they must also provide the proofs that they meet up with the considerations for a sovereignty country as stipulated by the laws of united nations

if igbos can be bold to do these then other countries will stand up to fight their battle

And how much of this criteria did Lugard meet in other to make you a Nigerian?

Ngige is a disgrace to the Igbo nation. The man has always been an opportunist since the days when he went to Okija shrine to swear an oath to hand Anambra state treasury over to the Ubah brothers in return for them making him Governor.

IkediEbubes:
By seceding online and pouring smelly spits everywhere. You hate the SW and cant leave there, is that not a curse? You were all slaughtered like ram but your loudmouthed governor cried and told you all to fast, yet you chest beating online. You are a shameless being. Spits

Well if you think all this, what Im supposed to think of you people that are shouting to do 'one Nigeria' with the same Fulani slaughtering you? Instead of you people to come out and admit that you are slaves that cant agitate for anything like others are doing, you are here making noise.

Tell us how much you love to do 'one Nigeria' with the same Fulani slauthering you guys.

ElsonMorali:
Who did this to you bro?

Questions everywhere right thinking igbo should ask themselves:

1. Why do I hate the Yorubas so much yet live in their midst?

2. Why can't I stay in my region and make it there, why must I come to Yorubaland?

3. Why is it that whenever we hear the word Yoruba we develop high blood pressure, yet we load ourselves into luxurious buses and relocate our families everyday to Yorubaland to fend for ourselves and scrape a living?

4. Why can't I pack my families back to the east instead coming to Nairaland and beating my chest and wailing uncontrollably about being marginalized?

5. Am I chained to Yorubaland? If not, why can't I just leave?

6. Why do I feel inferior anytime I hear about the You're instead people?

7. Why do I hate the Yorubas so much?

Man stop asking childish questions. Im an Igbo man, I dont have to do 'one Nigeria' with you before I come to Lagos to do business. All the Lebanese businessmen in Lagos, have you asked them if they like Yorubas or if they are doing 'one Nigeria' with you?

So why ask me as an Igbo man? Because Lugard told you we are brothers? In business, I dont have to like your face.


When we get Biafra, you ate free to come and live in Enugu. I wont even ask you if you like Igbos or if you are in Enugu for 'one Biafra' as long as you are law abiding.

IkediEbubes:
Yet Fulanis are raping your parents in Enugu while killing many of you flat heads in Ebonyi plus Imo. You shameless lot troop to the SW and North daily and still come online to talk about biafuro. Dont you have shame?

Maybe true but at least we are the ones trying to get away from Fulanis by seceding. You guys on the other dont have the backbone to secede so all you can do is shout 'one Nigeria' while Fulani deals with you.

The fear of what the Hausa-Fulani Emirate of Sokoto will do to them should Igbos secede fightens them.

I have no doubt in my mind that within 5 years of Igbos seceding, the Alafin of Oyo, the Ooni of Ife and the Oba of Lagos will become Emirs

doctokwus:
I ask again.
How can a self anointed Jew intend to lead a 99% Christian dominated region?
It's either Kanu does not understand what Judaism means or the people that supporting him don't understand that Judaism and Christianity are parallel poles.

He has no plans to lead anyone. What he plans to do is lead a struggle for freedom. In that regard, religion becomes less significant than purpose

Other nations move mountains to save one life, but Nigeria slaughtered over 3 million Igbos in the name of 'one Nigeria'

ItsTutsi:
How are they not agitating? All those blowing of pipelines is to pass time right

Those blowing uo pipelines are looking for restructuring/resource control. That is not seeking independence

Qmerit:
What tells you SS can't stand on its own as a Nation?

They can but there is no agitation for that in that area which indicates no interest

simplycarro:
There was absolutely nothing no reason for those idiots to truncate that young democracy. For whatever it is worth, it was a misadventure that has led Nigeria to this crazy juncture it is, ever since then, it has brought nothing but mutual suspicion.

My point is that it was not like Nigeria was doing fine when struck. There was mutual suspicion amongst ethnic groups long before the coup. You think coups didnt happen in other countries around the same time? It happend Ghana, but Ghana got its act together and is now a beacon of democracy and prosperity.

If one act of a coup is what destroyed Nigeria, then it means that Nigeria should not be together. There are far more disasterous national calamities that have befallen other countries and they pulled together and got through it.

If we couldnt do this after the first coup, then the coup only exposed 'one Nigeria' as a scam.

simplycarro:
Nigeria was a three in one country and everything was fine, until some miscreants in uniform led by Ifejuna and Nzeogwu ruffled the delicate tripod in 1966 and by Ironsi later that year.

Really?

The 1945 Kano massacre
The 1953 Jos mssacre
The 1964 hostilities from the general elections and census
Opration 'wetie' in 1965.

You still think everything was fine when Nzeogwu and co struck in January 1966?