₦airaland Forum

Happy Independence Day to the greatest nation in the world and the most feared and respected black people on earth.

To Keep Nigeria One IS A Task That Must Be Done: true in the 1960s and true today. May God bless our dear country.

The great Murtala Mohammed was one of the greatest commanders in the Nigerian Army during the civil war. Unlike the Biafran generals and their supreme commander, he never, at anytime, saw it fit to abandon his people and flee.

Revisionists, including their head honcho, Dede1, always try to deceive their readers with extreme lies and half truths. They are accusing Murtala Mohammed of the mastermind behind civilian killings in some parts of the Midwest, in a dishonest attempt to ruin the great soldier’s reputation. I am actually tired of opening the yansh of these revisists to expose them, but I will make an exception and set the record straight, once and for all.

To the credit of some brave biafran soldiers, many of whom died before the cowards left behind fled like chickens, substantial parts of the old Midwest were captured by biafran soldiers. The great Murtala, who was then a Colonel was charged with the duty of evicting the biafran traitors from the Midwest. Murtala literally built 2 Division from scratch.

Now, the biafran soldiers were as stubborn as a hungry goat that is determined to taste garri from a local garri trader setting. They pushed hard towards Lagos and when they were getting too close for comfort, the great Murtala used some ingenious and superior military tactics to drive the biafrans out of the Midwest in a blistering counter offensive which was so efficient that it earned Murtala the nick name “Monty of the Midwest” after Britain’s leading world war two commander: Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery. Murtala’s bravery and wins during the war were major factors which led to the defeat of biafran secessionists. Murtala is rightfully honoured on the N20 bill and in several other ways.

It is true that once the biafran forces in the Midwest had been overrun, some wayward members of 2 Division carried out a terrible killings of civilians as punishment for their sympathy for the biafrans. There is no evidence whatsoever that Murtala Mohammed had anything to do with these killings. Infact Murtala saw to the court marshalling of several perpetrators of the crime and those found guilty were summarily executed. Murtala himself was not even present in the area as he had gone to Lagos for consultation when these atrocities took place. Upon his return, Murtala personally saw to it that the mother of Major Nzeogwu was protected and not harmed.

Revisionists like Dede1 are on notice that their lies will be exposed promptly and they are well advised to stick to the truth.

It is a well known secret than Henry Orkah is one of the founding members of MEND and the brain behind most of MEND's activities. He was also the one behind the colourful emails to the media.  I ask those who are now shamelessly vilifying MEND: If MEND is fighting for your freedom, why are you now disowning one of your own. MEND had never been known to be a non violent group.

They've used kidnapping, murders, bombing of pipelines, and piracy as tools. As soon as they started killing innocent Nigerians beginning with their crimes in Warri and then Abuja, fools like you started running arround the web claiming that Northerners were behind the attrocities, You even shamelessly attempted to coin the phrase Aboki MEND.

You and other members of MEND belong in jail. You are nothing but common criminals. olodo

Onlytruth:
Every criminal in Nigeria belongs in jail, starting with those who wasted 40 years of a nation.
Those responsible for driving Nigerians away from their own country to foreign countries.
Those who are CURRENTLY sponsoring Boko Haram, and all the anti-Christian riots in Northern Nigeria.
Those who stole our future and that of our children.

They all belong in jail. .  with their side-kicks

I agree with you on this but must add that those of you who are encouraging this new terrorist group and giving them moral support here on NL should be investigated and probably jailed as well, for several treasonous offenses, if not for being dumb.

I'm afraid those of you, especially the ones who have run away and are living in a foreign land, jubiliating and offering moral support for this new terrorist group, belong in jail along with the members of this criminal organization. You people are cowards, unpatriotic, insensitive, and lawless.

Members of MEND, Boko haram, Akhwat Akwop, or any other terrorist organization and their sponsors, will end up where they belong, soon enough.

@Ekoile, Haba Malam!!!

One would have though that Security would have been the highest priority.

Beaf:
The military messed Nigeria up and Murtala will always be remembered more for the massacre of all males above 10 in Asaba, Delta state during the civil war than for sacking DG's.
Murtala ran a dictatorship. In any event, the ministries are not the fundamental problem with Nigeria. Our problems are societal and structural.

The societal problems are to do with breakdown of communal relations, morality, responsibility, patriotism and out of despondency a tendency toward crime and extreme religion (Christian, Muslim and Okija / Jankara brands). These things can only be addressed by the strengthening of our institutions as GEJ has correctly concluded, they cannot be beaten into people or helped by the sacking of DG's. In fact, it is because we have been a militarised and deeply abused people used to the degrading shock tactics of past military dictators that we instinctively reach back to them, because thats all we know. Well, that is wrong, no developed country is run with brute force (not even China), it is always soft power. A nations success is built on the quality of its people and dictated by the strength of its institutions.

Our other problem is structural, again it cannot be solved by applying mere plasters with the sacking of DG's. It can only be solved with a National Conference and GEJ has got Anyim working on that.

I will ignore your attempt to rewrite history with your Asaba reference and misinformation. I hope you are right about the national conference bit, time will tell sha.

Very few of Nigeria’s former military leaders are spoken of with any great affection.  There is on notable exception: General Murtala Muhammed, a man who was recently vilified by NL youths who are ignorant .  The time of his regime is recalled with nostalgia by Nigerians of both civilian and military persuasions as a golden age.   Murtala gave Nigeria a glimpse of the principled and dynamic leadership that its citizens crave. He would appear at ministries unannounced and sack employees including ministers who were not on sit at 8am.  After sacking a couple of Ministers, the rest of them sat up and actually began workint.

GEJ may want to set an example by sacking a few DGs and ministers found to be lacking as GEJ himself admits. The Presidency is powerful enough to cause a dramatic change in the attitudes of these DGs and ministers who only know how to steal from their ministries year in year out!

[quote author=South-East link=topic=769880.msg9238133#msg9238133 date=1317225407]But this (boldened) cannot be discussed in isolation. Has crime reduced in other parts of Nigeria where you want Igbos to develop less? What is the employment situation in those places compared to Igboland? We need to get the big picture before we can conclude. On other points, yes you are largely correct. I am also fully aware of the moves for improved power generation by some Igbos. But note that Nnaji is not working for Igbos; he is working for Nigeria whose president is not even Igbo. So he can only do so much. Unless you are insinuating that people in power should work for their people and disregard others.[/quote]The focus of my first post was not crime reduction and as I stated earlier, potential criminals who are employed tend not to act out their criminal objectives.

Note that, in a democracy, interest groups are well advised to lobby agencies because those agencies, ideally, must allocate those resources based on subjective priorities in many cases.  If Ndigbo refuses to lobby Nnaji, one way or the other, to allocate some of the resources in his disposal, towards projects in the East, I'm afraid those resources will be allocated elsewhere, including into the pockets of known rogues who, hitherto have been doing all the lobbying.

Dede1:
I am not a business man by any stretch of imagine. However, I have hung around business men in New York who do not think about Port Harcourt or any facility in eastern region when talking about shipping.

Even casual travelers would have more readily available tickets minimal rates to Lagos or Abuja than Port Harcourt. To secure seat on Port Harcourt bound flights from the only two major air lines sectioned to touched down in eastern region of Nigeria without mid-trip transfers is so difficult and not suited for frequent flier precipitate business person.

It will amount to deliberate waste of time and bandwidth talking about lack of federal responsibilities of network of roads and other social amenities in the east.

Ezeokwu!!!  You have said nothing but the truth. What you described above is a complete failure and disgraceful if not criminal, act by federal government agents. The sad part about it is that, even when Igbo men were in charge of the ministries which could make a difference in the matter, nothing happened.  Those in charge simply continued with the customary theft of our resources without doing their duties.  

I do believe that the Eastern/Southern  governors can work hand in hand with deep pocketed national and international investors to change the situation in just 3 -5 years time. The time to act is now.

[quote author=South-East link=topic=769880.msg9237908#msg9237908 date=1317223402]Okay!! Practice what you preach by not calling anyone olodo. Anyways, I will like a direct response to my point above. Ignore the name-calling for now. Thanks

Some of us have been hammering along this line in the past, here on NL and in real life.
You may well contribute to this point which is somewhat similar https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-770063.0.html[/quote]I did not intend to insinuate that Igboland is the most criminal part of Nigeria by any means, I’m afraid that your own bias implanted that notion in your mind. The relevant point is that, crimes are reduced when potential criminals are employed.
Your point as to the reason why Igbos invest far away from the East is well taken, after all an investor should naturally be attracted to areas where his profit would be maximized so that he/she can significantly increase shareholder value.  All I am say is that some of Igbo investors need to start aggressively investing in the East and partner with state governments to develop the region.

Some Igbo friends I know are currently working to invest in the power generation industry and possibly power distribution as well, with their base located in the East.  Nnaji is in charge of power, enough pressure and lobbying should be applied on him and his office to ensure that some of the power generation capacity is located in the East. No one will develop the East but Ndigbo, its time to shine eyes very well. Pressure should be applied on Madam Ngozi as well to ensure that she not only take care of the needs of our debt holders but those of Ndigbo.  Ati be be lo – etc etc

P.S. olodo is a term of endearment  from my perspective.  Trust me, if I want to abuse you, you  it will be very clear.  Surely you skin is thicker than this, we call you people, aje’kuta ma munmi (person wey fit eat stone without drinking water) , don’t disappoint me with this wusie fear of a harmless word like olodo.

ChinenyeN:
I don't like ndu_chucks because of the way he talks 'One Naija' as if I'm supposed to care, but he speaks the truth. It's time Igbo people stop being dumb. Return home.

By the way, I cannot lie, that Anam project looks real nice on paper.

nwannem, how is it possible not to like Ndu_chucks, ehn? Anyway, me I have nothing but love for you people.

[quote author=South-East link=topic=769880.msg9237819#msg9237819 date=1317222637]Ndu Chuks (fake Igbo man):

Except for your mention of crime (because Igboland is not the most criminal part of Nigeria- other areas that you want Igbos to stop ''developing'' are also kidnapping and ritual infested), I find it hard to argue with your initial post. However, I think there is far more than meets the eye on the penchant of Igbos to invest almost anywhere else except in Igboland. This has been happening even before crime or unemployment became an issue. Recall that Ojukwu's father, the first Nigerian millionaire had most of his investments outside Igboland. Many notable Igbos were born outside Igboland where their parents resided and did business even when there was no competition from other Igbos. I believe it has to do with some[b] kind of culture[/b] that crept in when Nigeria came together as a country and Igbos began exploring far-flung places. That culture must be reevaluated at this time.[/quote]What is the matter with you people and juvenile name calling? I forgive you sha, since the rest your contribution as shown in the above post is not juvenile as well. ma fi iso kinkini ba'idi je (make you no take fart reduce the glory of yansh) olodo

To Keep Nigeria One Is A Task That Must Be Done, so that we no go kill ourselves finish. shikena

@Beaf, you are either ignorant, illiterate, foolish, olodo, or a combination of all of the above. To be honest, I will jubiliate at the demise of any of these thieving governors and ex-governors, but the charage of the current Tinubu's trial is truly a joke. You along with the corrupt political elite of our country provide the fuel that power the said corruption.

You come here and post a motion filed by the a US attorney, for the forfeiture of funds in an account sowned by Tinubu, and then you use this motion as a basis of claiming that he was involved in drugs. Mallam Beaf, please confirm my suspicion and provide us with the final adjudication of the case you referenced. Was the motion grated or thrown out and dismissed? I dey wait.

You people need to do better than this, get real evidence and let's throw these people in jail already!

Dede1:
@POST


I do not know the motivating factors that spurred the author to write the piece. However, I tend to agree with the author on certain issues raised. If the author is genuinely real, he or she would have highlighted major economic infrastructures painfully missing in Alaigbo that leverage business activities in other regions. Ndigbo would have stayed home in the east if there were functional gateways out of Nigeria in the region. Since such economic amenities are pitifully lacking in east, Ndigbo had no options but to swim along the deceitful jargon such as One-Nigeria.

I agree with you that some major economic infrastructure may be missing in Alaigbo, but we cannot continue to use this old copout as an excuse. I have seen my Igbo brothers build huge shopping malls in places that have less economic structures and resources than in Alaigbo. Additionally, the governors of the area have received nothing less than $100billion in allocation over the past few years, could they not have earmarked just 10% of that money for infrastructure. We can’t keep passing the buck to the federal government, after all the federal government pays the governments of the region $billion every year.

I mean, the feds have ignored their responsibilities of maintaining and constructing ‘federal’ roads in the region for years. Is that not enough signal to indicate that our state governments must tell the feds to get lost and do the needful themselves?

It is time that Igbo Investors partner with state governments and do the needful. BTW there is nothing deceitful about what you call ‘jargon’ such as one Nigeria. I declare to you today that, Insha Allah, our dear nation will be great once again. Regardless of what naysayers and awon olote believe.

PS. the motivating factor which made me open this thread is Love for the country and Ndigbo.

[quote author=dem_people link=topic=769880.msg9234774#msg9234774 date=1317195099]@Ndu_chucks,

Guy, its not that I think you're wrong though I think its inappropriate and offensive for you to describe ndigbo as been "killed like animals" in the north. I don't think you're wrong in the sense that if I have my way, no Igboman will live in your north. Going by your preferences, I would've preferred ALL industries belonging to ndigbo to be positioned in the SE but regrettably, it isn't possible.

But If I may ask you again, are ndigbo not Nigerians? Should they not, as Nigerians, choose to live anywhere in the country without the risks of being targeted just cos of their ethnicity?

We're all better off going our separate ways cos One Nigeria would always be an illusion, as you've rightly justified.[/quote]Why is it inappropriate to state that Igbos have been killed like animals? Do you find that truth inconvenient?  We should never  shy away from the truth because the truth will always set us free. BTW, I was not calling for Igbos to pack up and return to the East en mass, I only stated that if 10% of Igbo owned businesses in the North were based in the East, the East would be better off. You know it and I know it.

I have more than a casual interest in the East, I have business interests and partners in that region and I weep for the condition of the region, a condition which could improve drastically by the action I am suggesting.

I disagree with you that we are better off going our separate ways. Let me add here that the vast majority of my business partners in the East, Igbo leaders, and Igbo youths do not subscribe to the idea of  going our separate ways. You, my friend, are in the minority.
Finally, I have to admit that without the resourcefulness of Igbos, evident in every region in Nigeria, Nigeria will be done for. By the same token, without the North, the Eastern region would have been decimated by expansionists, land grabbers, and head hunters from the East alike. The Ijaws, and other minority groups would have probably become extinct by now.  We all need each other,  I fervently believe that To Keep Nigeria One  Is A Task That Must Be Done. shikena

@FACE, try not to be still skeptical about my intentions because of what you erroneously believe to be unfriendly antics. I’d recommend that you read my post without any strings attached.

@Onlytruth, get your fat A$$ out of America and come and implement these great development ideas of yours, olodo

This news cannot be accurate, there mjust have been a typo in the online report. 92.4 assistants, while excessive is probably the accurate figure.

@Alh-harem, many of our people have been programmed to see national issue only through tribal lenses and I feel sorry for them because they've been victimized. This is why I do not respond to them with abuses or curses. The fact that they know that what I've written is truthful is good enough for me.


@Onlytruth, This statement from you "I admit you are spot on that at least "10%" Igbo business should be located in SE.
If I had my way, I would say at least 50% should be located in SE" is good enough for me. The rest of your post is noise. For the said noise I say the following to you:  Okwute Palestinians piafuka gi blokos. olodo

@PROUD-IGBO, all the name calling was unnecessary, just remember that I can respond in kind, olodo

Please read the post of your intellectual superior, igbo2011, above. You'll learn from it.  BTW I probably have more Igbo blood in me than your efulefu self.

@ekoile, spot on.

igbo2011:
Us igbos should let some of the locals run the business (if they are competent enough) then we should go back to our homelands and give people jobs there. Factories, Shopping centers, roads, education, healthcare, etc. Then we can be making money twice with our old business and new business. or we can sell our old business and just start a new one.

Agriculture, manufacturing, and tourism is the future in Nigeria. We can get the investments from financial firms in Lagos, Abuja, or PH.

nwannem, you got my point. That's all I was trying to tell these people but their bigotry will not let them see reason.

tunnytox:
"Aye gba tapa o n kole fun igunnu! t'eru ba pe nile epe alajobi ni o ma se"

Wrong again, olodo that should be Aye gba tapa o n kole fun igunnu! Than word 'fun' does not belong where you put it. You need to develop very thick skin if you want to hang out here buddy!

FACE:
Ndu_Chucks, maybe you should be advising your people to stop killing people who are adding value to your economy/environment.

Did it occur to you that those people you want to depart from the north are merely exploiting business gaps in the country you forced them to belong to ?

How are you going to make them to return to the east and still want one Nigeria ?

You know Igbo land very well, so do you think your land is more developed than ours ?

You have been to or passed through Igbo villages, how many mud houses did you see ?

Igbo land is in dire need of further development, true dat, but are we not ahead of others in terms of poverty and literacy ? Why do you not remove the tree in your eyes before looking at the dust in another's ?

Did you not live in Igbo land ? Did anybody ask you to go back to the north to develop the north, because you could add more value to the north than the east ?

A lot of your people also live in Igbo land and elsewhere in Nigeria (you are the next biggest migrant population in any place in Nigeria behind Ndi Igbo), has any one asked you to go home or killed you at the drop of a hat ?

The difference between your people and Ndi Igbo is that Ndi Igbo believe in being comfortable where ever they live and wont hesitate to own properties where they live because it makes more sense to own a home than to rent. Those that live in the north know the risk they are taking, but you do not go into battle with the fear of death at the back of your mind. He who dares wins.

It's either you want one Nigeria and the perks that come with it or not.

Maybe you have written this in good faith, but I am skeptical about your intentions.

I’ve  always believed that you were above the tribal fray which typify many discussions in this section of NL but the fact that you missed my main point which I restate here:  I submit that if only 10% of those Igbo businesses were located in the East, development in the area would have improved significantly and millions of youths would have employment instead of resorting to kidnapping and get-rich-quick rituals. makes me wonder whether I have been wrong about you.

My submission was meant to be constructive criticism and I doubt that you disagree with the bolded text above. I have to admit that you made many valid points which unfortunately have no bearing whatsoever on my initial post.

Beaf:
And what do we do with people like you who promised there would be bloodshed and pogroms (your exact word), because GEJ won? Now there was a pogrom after the election and there is now boko haram operating from the North with the help of al qaeda. What do we do with your kind of mindset? Blood is not cheap in the South and middle Belt.

Even a blind man could have predicted the pogroms that followed the elections. If you could not predict it, I'm afraid you had your head buried in the sand. That is why the label Rakumin daji fits you well.

tunnytox:
If you live in a place where everybody is a fisherman it is obvious you can only sell your fish elsewhere. most Igbo people are traders and everyone seem to understand the tricks very well so trading in igboland could not be as profitable as it will be elsewhere. So OP don't expect that to happen for a very long time, Igbo people will not return to the east and that's the a good reason why your clamour for Biafara will never see the daylight. Sorry but truth hurts

They are not all traders. Many Igbo investors have build huge shopping complexes in Sokoto that would be just as profitable if built in Aba. You are as wrong as your statement in italics which states "Igi ti a feyinti ti o gba ni duro bo wo luni ko le pani!". You may be slightly confused buddy, when a storm comes through that tree will crush you up! Was that not the same kind of lie you were told which states "Anything that goes up must come down", abi?

jason123:
I repeat!_{[size=5pt]Let me play the devil's advocate [/size]}
In the WEST, if you are not Edo/Edoid or Yoruba/Yoruboid (even these two are family). YOU ARE A "SETTLER"!!!

Pray tell, where did these Edoids and Yoruboids migrate from? The middle east, or did their predecessor fall from heaven?

Beaf:
^
Lol! Nobody is deceived about the fact that the core-North sponsored it. If you like bring in a ton of Jomo Gbomo quotes; everyone knows that even after he was jailed by the SSS, miraculously Jomo Gbomo kept right on sending emails. No one is fooled by aboki MEND.

You guys need your own country to practise sharia, the rest of us couldn't give a damn.

You are redeemed this time and off the hook because you seem to disavow violence by these terrorist groups. Join me in declaring once and for all that these violent terrorist groups are illegal and their members/leaders/sponsors belong in jail, regardless of what part of the country the organizations originate from. period.

Beaf:
It is you Fulani people that organised that. After aboki MEND was razzled and checkmated, you guy's started up the murderous boko haram.

I remind you of the contents of the email sent out by MEND in acknowledging the bombing of Warri.

Thinking of no better way to announce our continued presence in the Niger Delta to Mr Uduaghan, operatives of MEND today March 15, 2010, successfully breached the security at the Delta state government house in Warri and planted three explosive devices in and around this compound which is the venue of the Vanguard Post Amnesty Dialogue organised by the Vanguard newspaper.

Try that Aboki line elsewhere buddy. Aboki ko, Abodi ni.      

umechuma:
I know you are a Boko Haram Igbo man maybe the day you reconvert then we can talk

I was not expecting you to detail this thread. I know some people hate the truth - just remember that the truth could set, even you, free. olodo

Ngozi will soon give African countries debt relief after the countries pay the western organiations Billions and Billions of dollars instead of Trillions of dollars. Barawo banza.

umechuma:
At times I wonder "What is the economic value of Northerners to Nigeria".In my opinion they simply parasites

nwannem, what are your thoughts on the thread's topic? is it time for Ndigbo to start rethinking this issue?

As I drive through the streets of Kaduna, like Ahmadu Bello Way, or visit the commercial areas of Abuja, I  quickly realize that, these areas will not be bubbling with as much commercial activities without Igbo traders and investors.  Hotels, Shops,  factories,  not to talk of underground gun running companies, Restaurants, and yes necessary Ashawo trading,  Private primary/secondary schools, ati be be lo, could not be thriving as they do, without Ndigbo. I went to a small shop for quick stop during a trip for a drink of chilled Pito, in a small village called Ungwan Shinkata, and  to my greatest surprise, an Igbo man owned the place and was making the traditional drink!!

I submit that if only 10% of those Igbo businesses were located in the East, development in the area would have improved significantly and millions of youths would have employment instead of resorting to kidnapping and get-rich-quick rituals.

To make it worse, you read every now and then how Igbos are killed like animals in places other than the East- they are  first and ready target of any crisis be it religious or terrorist acts such as  Mend or Boko haram bombings.

Its time for Ndigbo to return to the East and develop that place, Araiara market for example should have been transformed into one of the biggest trading malls in Africa by now, instead, the same Igbo investors abandoned the place only to go and build huge shopping Malls from Abuja, to Kano, to Sokoto.

My question is Why Instead of writing Yoruba ronu, I’ll simply write Ndigbo Ronu (Ndigbo think)!!! Our people talk say: Okuko si na ihe ya ji-ele anya n'enu ma ya na añu mmiri bu na ihe na-egbu si n'igwe abia meaning (The chicken says it looks up when drinking water because what kills it comes from the sky).  Are my people so thirsty that they refuse to look up like the said proverbial chicken?  SMH