₦airaland Forum

I believe that as we look into the 1966 coup, both the January massacre and the July retaliation, deeply troubling as it is there is nothing as more profoundly shocking as the response from Yorubaland. To that end I will ask the following questions:

(1) what caused the grievance that subsequently triggered the violent outburst and what ideology were the coup plotters pushing when they unleashed terror in January 66?

(2) the Hausas were extremely offended and viewed it as an act of indignation on their political aspirations. Why did the Northerners retaliate and what became of their behind-the-scene consultations to seceed North from Nigeria?

(3) why were Yorubas unresponsive to either the January or the July carnage. . .there was a paralysis in Yorubaland, why and what caused it?

If you ask what form of government we should adopt, majority of Nigerians will choose the American style of democracy. If you ask them to explain American democracy they have no clue. I guess they figured if America is doing good leading the rest of the world in commerce and technology, then whatever it is they are doing we Nigerians should copy. I am troubled by people that default to what they perceive to be good without first analysing its merits . I admire originality and independence of thought. That's the true measure of intellect.


I am starting with the first query in my opening post.


[bold] A. What political parties did we have in the First Republic and who were the Leaders of the parties?[/bold]


Follow this link to get answer and also see results of the elections. Pay attention to the distribution in 1959.

http://africanelections.tripod.com/ng.html

First to all those calling for me to defend claims. I said at the onset that I will debate but I never said I will attack or defend anything,so I hope you get it right.  Read the article and mae use of it anyway you want but you are wasting time waiting and expecting a defense from me, you are not going to get one.   I will answer questions or give clarifications but I will not attack or defend.

I also want to believe that either Ironsi was at lost with what to do with the coup plotters of Jan since it's apparent that they were been looked upon as heroes in some part of Southern Nigeria or was overwhelmed by events immediately after the coup.

Either way he made some terribly bad decisions and his handlers did not help issues in the aftermath of the jan coup.

It's also possible that though Ironsi might have not been an active participant in the Jan coup, he nevertless gave a tactical approval of it just the way Gowon gave a tactical approval to  Danjuma in arresting Ironsi and eventual death.


Also, the undeveloped nature of communication unlike what we have today did not help to mitigate the spread of some insane rumours that were going on then.

Whatever any one might have against the body of the article, I think it gave an insights into what transpired during the dark period in our nation's history and some lessons therein should not be lost on us.

Ilugun,

It is claimed by many that Ironsi was amongst those targeted for assasination in Lagos. That is inaccurate.  That claim is an after-the-fact attempt to whitewash the trail of Yoruba and Hausa blood. They said the Lagos plotters went to his residence to get him and they did not find him at home and only learnt the next day that Ironsi had spent the night on a floating boat on the Marina.

Let's do an analysis of the circumstance to explore that possibility and leave the reader the decision to judge any accuracy in the claim.

1. In each and every occassion, whether in Lagos, Ibadan or Kaduna, where the plotters successfully made it to the target's home, they faced security personnels on guard.
2. In each and every occassion in any and all of the attack territories, casualties started at the entrance to the residence and continued on to the interior of the home.
3. If indeed they made it to Ironsi's home, as they claimed they did, why were there no casualties, even though it wasn't until they entered the interior that they discovered he was not home?

It's either they made it there and all the guards posted to secure the GOC immediately surrendered and laid down arms before any shot was fired, a very unlikely option, or the plotters never had Ironsi on their list and had no reason to go to his home. . .but must provide a whitewash for their stained hands.

If he himself declared them as rebels, then shouldn't he have done the right thing and tried them same way he quelled and tried the leaders of the Isaac Boro rebellion?

9ja,

Boro did not do half as much damage but he was tried, convicted and imprisoned. Enahoro did not do any damage but he was tried, convicted and imprisoned.  Awolowo did not do any damage but he was tried, convicted and imprisoned.  . . .but here are Igbo boys who went on an ethnic cleansing and Ironsi declared them rebels but yet were not tried.  Raises eyebrows doesn't it?

The reason for the failure of the assassination of Sir. Michael Okpara was the fact that the then leader of Greece Archbishop Makarios was a guest of Okpara and was in the same room with him when the squad sent to "off" caught up with him. Makarios reportedly stood between him and the assassins and stated that if Okpara was to be killed then he would have to be killed as well. The soldiers not knowing how to approach it beat a retreat to finish him off later. Feel free to research this

Russell,

I did research it, in fact I wrote an article on that a while back when I was looking into the claims and counter claims about this 1966 coup.  It's an after-the-fact attempt to cover blood tracks.  Use the same litmus test I stated above for Ironsi to clear Okpara's residence on why there were no casualties.  There is a signature to the killings.  The plotters did not spare anyone on their path to get to the targets. . . beginning at the gate. So if we would say they excused Okpara because of the clergyman which they only discovered in the interior. . . then their carnage should have begun atthe gate, with the security men.  So then if this claim is true, this would make the second targetd person to escape assasination and in both instances the killers broke their signature pattern of overpowering security violently and also in both cases. . . they were Igbo men.

Let me say this. . . there is a list of the targets in all the regions where the plot was to happen.  Eastern region was not one of them and no Igboman is on the list.  Ironsi and Okpara definitely were not on it.

I also forgot to add that Lt.Col Arthur Unegbe (an igbo man) the Quarter Master General was shot by the plotters when he refused to hand over the keys to the armoury to them

So if Unegbe had handed over the key he would not have been killed. That was his offense.  What was the offense of the Yorubas and Hausas massacred. . . and in two cases, with their wives and in one case with an unborn baby?  What was these people offense?

From the little i've read so far from the article, it's apparent that so many things were not mere coincidences and should never be glossed over.

Why did Zik travelled out for medical check up just before the coup and never returned until after things had cleared up a bit?. Even his personal physician came back citing exhausted allowance as reason.

Allow me to add just two or three more wonders to that dissapearance by Zik. . .

1. Inspite the fact that they killed Balewa and Okotie Eboh in Lagos and Akintola in Ibadan, the coup plotters declared their plot in both Lagos and Ibadan a failure. What would it take for it to be a success, how many more people were targeted and who were they?

2. At Lagos they killed three Northerners and four Middle Belt ethnics, at Ibadan they killed one Westerner, at Kaduna they killed three Northerners (one was the wife of Ahmadu Bello) and four Westerners (one was the wife of Brigadier Ademulegun). The plotters did not take any action in the Eastern region, In all, not one military or civilian person of Igbo origin or of Igbo speaking culture was killed anywhere in the country. This should raise eyebrows!

3. The Deputy Prime Minister was Zanna Dipcharima and constitutionally should have been sworn in as the succeeding Prime Minister. Instead Ironsi took over power.

4. Why did Yorubas not strike back, what was going on in Yorubaland and why was their political leader, Awolowo, in jail?

There is load of questions. . .

Why was Jan 15 1966? Don't you guys think something instigated Jan 15.

Yes, it was not an impulsive move. It preceeded Independence but 1959 was an important mile post in Nigerian history and that's why I mentioned that I will start from there and work the way up to 1966.

People have questions. Many are wondering why I would bring this up in today's climate given that the political timeline is different. Yes, the timeline is different but we are beset by the same issues that the country faced back then and as was in 1966, the country is again going through a highly tense political culture.

. . .it should not matter what ethnic group our President belongs to. . .we desire to have a person of merit to lead. So why isn't the other two major tribes confident and trustful of an Igbo leadership? What is the past relationship between these three tribes where one is in disfavor amongst the other two and that one has been kept out of Presidential seat for so long?

Irrespective of what Ironsi did, how and why should that translate into hatred for igbos. Should Ijo's utter the same vituperations on Yorubas for the actions of Obasanjo at Odi?. I mean, what is our business with the military culture of the 60's?. Why didn't you express the same hatred you have for the entire igbos towards hausas for trying to exterminate the Yoruba race like Hitler. You still kiss their ass even when they butchered 100's of hard working and educated Yorubas in Jos last year, yet you prefer to hate igbos that are yet to butcher your brothers?. I bow for you.

Skewed analysis. You need to post a complete blueprint of the military statistics in the 60's so we can get the percentage proportions of each ethnic group in the army and not a partial promotional report. I know igbos dominated the academic sector in the 60's, so if it was something like the NUC, one may wonder why their names come out in geometric progression. A lot changed in Nigeria after Biafran war, so you need to provide a full assessment and their academic qualifications before you can prove to an extent that there was partiality besides, what has this got to do with igbos then and Now?.[/b]

Also, what was the origin of the queue? the power structure and what was the culture in the military then?. Check IBB's queue and tell me how many southerners that were there. IBB unseated his fellow northerner just like [b]Nzeogwu tried to unseat his fellow igbo man, there fore, it's the military and their culture has nothing to do with we civilians.

Somewhere here, someone had asked and said I gave hi fve to two people for reading the report and how would I know that other respondents have not. It's easy. . . by following the thought trail. Now, look at the regular highlight font, these are some examples of one who has not read th document in its entirety.


I like your challenge on the ethnic ratio of the officers by rank and qualification to the total population of serving officers on payroll. I have highlighted the reference in italics.


The top officer rank and command was a close reflection of the party coalition between NPC and NCNC. It had nothing to do with merits. . .even though the Igbo officers,on account of qualification, could have qualified on merit alone, still, this was not the case, politics was brought into military commands and tribal loyalty trumped every other criterias for promotion and command. In very few and a handful cases where Yorubas had excelled and were in senior ranks. . .they became targets and were marked for assassination in the plot which according to Nzeogwu was aimed at eliminating corrupted politicians. You should ask why it was only Yoruba military officers that were gunned down in the coup. . were they politicians?
The aim was to limit Yoruba's axis of control and command, both militarily and politically and force upon him a situation where he cannot move or act without first getting authority approvalfrom Igbo. It is evident everywhere in this report. . . follow the blood trail and you will see it.

My point of bringing up the point of a Yoruba being involved in the Jan 15th was, that it looks like initially there was a common goal. But as soon as Ironsi got himself in power the goal post moved.

Im sorry to say he made it into an igbo thing he twiddled his little fat fingers while tribal tensions grew out of control. Him and his advisors made very shady decisions. The rumours/true events of Igbos singing insult songs etc to the Hausa can you imagine how that must of spread like wild fire. Tribal tensions expoloded. Evryone was out for him/herself. There was no brotherhood anywhere

I can see Negros point. As everyone here is rightly saying we cannot blame the whole of the Igbo people for the greed of a few army nutcases just as we cant blame the Yorubas for the actions of the few Yorubas in postions of power. Ironsi IMO diverted the agenda to himself and others selfish means. The retaliation was swift brutal and the scars wont ever heal becasue we keep picking them.

I do not believe that the Yorubas left the Igbos to their fate I believe what happened was the enigma known as the black man where a black man is only out for his own means.

T,

Over the next couple of days I will be sharing the chronology of what happened between 1959 and 1966.  Go back to that link and look , I think the first few pages, there is a list of promoted officers.  Do you see a single Yoruba in there?  If there was a coalition between Igbos and Yorubas would Ironsi not have honored thatt with the promotions?  So it's either there is a partnership as you said but Ironsi betrayed Yoruba officers. . . or there was never a partnership as strongly indicated by this list.  In addition, look at the following extraction on the event at Kaduna.


Exercise DAMISSA terminated at approximately 0130 hours on 15 Jan 66. Around
that time all officers engaged in the exercise with the exception of the officers of 1st Field
Battery NAA, were called by Major Nzeogwu to attend an "O" Group in the bush at
which, they believed, the success or otherwise of the exercise was to be discussed.
Identified as present at this discussion are the following:

(1) Major C.K. Nzeogwu )NMTC
(2) Major T. Onwatuegwu )NMTC
(3) Captain G. Ude ) NMTC
(4) 2/Lt. S. R. Omeruah )3rd Bn NA - "C" Coy
(5) 2/Lt. D.K. Waribor )
(6) Capt. B. Gbulie )at the time in command of lst and 2nd Field Squadron NAE
(7) 2/Lt. Ileabachi )
( 2/Lt. Kpera ) lst Field Sqn NAE
(9) 2/Lt. P. Ogoegbunam Ibik )
(10) Lieut. E. Okafor )
(11) 2/Lt. Ezedima ) 2nd Field Sqn NAE
(12) 2/Lt. H.O.D. EGHAGHA )

The officers of 1st Field Battery NAA were not called to the "O" Group for reasons
which are not altogether clear. No direct use in connection with the rebellion was made of
this Battery that night.

When all the officers were assembled, Major Nzeogwu addressed then on the
subject of the rapidly deteriorating political and security situation in the Federation. He
claimed that a stage had been reached at which the politicians should be told to quit. To
accomplish this, he announced, the army had decided to take over power by force of
arms.

He compared the incomes of the politicians with those of Nigerian workers and urged the
officers to support the rebellion. He further announced that the revolt was taking place
simultaneously in all regional capitals and at Lagos and that, therefore, they need fear no
repercussions as a result of the activities in which they were about to participate that
night. It would appear that none of these present raised a dissenting voice. In fact, their
subsequent actions showed, in most cases, enthusiastic support for the plan.

Major Nzeogwu then proceeded to issue set tasks to each officer present. Events
have shown that, subsequently, last minute changes in these plans were made. The tasks
allotted have been established as follows:
Occupation of Vulnerable Points

The officer in over-all charge of this part of the operation was Capt. B. Gbulie. He
claimed to have distributed tasks as shown below on the spur of the moment:

(1) Ammunition Service Depot (ASD) -2/Lt. Ileabachi
(2) P & T Telephone Exchange -2/Lt. P. Ogoegbunam Ibik
(3) N.B.C. House -2/Lt. Kpera
(4) BCNN Radio & TV Station -2/Lt. Ezedima
(5) State House -2/Lt. Okafor
(6) Road Blocks on Kachia Road near PMF Barracks -2/Lt. Eghagha
136. In addition, Capt. Gbulie was instructed to rouse the following officers to inform
them of what was taking place and to ask for support:

(1) Capt. P. Anakwe - 1 Bde Staff Capt. "A"
(2) Major A.A. Keshi - Brigade Major
(3) Capt. L. Dillibe - 1 Bde Staff Capt. "Q"
(4) Lieut. J.C. Ojukwu - 1 Recce Squadron NA (Not Odumegwu Ojukwu)
(5) Lieut. Ikeachor
(6} Lieut. Mohammed Eandiya

Capt. Gbulie has stated under interrogation that he complied with this order and caused
these officers to foregather at HQ 1 Bde where he informed them of the situation.
As far as has been established, the following officers were then detailed for tasks as
shown:

(1) Assassination of Alh Sir Ahmadu Bello
Major C.K. Nzeogwu
2/Lt. K.D. Waribor
2/Lt. S.E. Omeruah
Capt. G. Ude

(2) Assassination of Brigadier S. Ademulegun
Major T. Onwatuegwu

(3) Assassination of Colonel R.A. Shodeinde
2/Lt. K.D. Waribor

(4) Abduction of Sir Kashim Ibrahim
Major T. Onwatuegwu

(5) Abduction of Makaman Bida - Regional Finance Minister
Major C.K. Nzeogwu

After the officers had been briefed they were sent to join their men and to proceed
immediately with the execution of the tasks allotted to them. It is not clear whether or not
Major Nzeogwu instructed the officers to inform their men of what was afoot. It is certain
that the men of 3rd Battalion who were to be used for the attack of the Premier's Lodge
were not briefed. It is equally certain that Capt. Gbulie addressed all the men of the
Engineers under his command and spoke to them along the lines in which Major
Nzeogwu had briefed the officers.

Immediately after the "O" Group, senior NCOs of all units represented were sent to
the 3~Tonner containing the ammunition and order to draw ammunition for their men. In the case of the "C" company this raised a problem. The men believed the exercise to be
finished and a number of them queried the reason why they should be issued with live
ammunition. This was explained to them by 2/Lt. Waribor who told them that they were
proceeding on Internal Security Operations.

After the issue of ammunition had been completed, the entire force left the exercise
area and proceeded to its allotted targets.
141. The following officers and ORs have been identified as having been involved in the
attack on the Premier's Lodge:

Officers
(1) Major C .K. Nzeogwu - NMTC
(2) 2/Lt. K.D. Waribor - "C" Coy, 3rd BN NA
(3) 2/Lt. S.E. Omeruah - "
(4) Capt. G. Ude

Other ranks
(1) NA 18147406 Sgt. Husa Kanga - NMTC
(2) NA l8149900 Sgt Yakubu Adebiyi - NMTC
(3) Sgt Duromola Oyegoke . NMTC
(4) NA 5888 Pte. Ogbole Agwu - 3rd Bn NA
(5) NA 2405 Pte Bello Mbulla - 3rd Bn NA
(6) NA 18151763 L/Cpl . Samuel Amajo - 3rd Bn NA
(7) NA 18151319 L/Cpl Danyo Mbulla - 3rd Bn NA
( NA 5684 Pte. Abu Odiedier - 3rd Bn NA
(9) NA 18148998 Pte Lekoja Gidan-Jibrin - 3rd Bn NA
(10) NA 163287 Cp1. Bako Lamundo - 3rd Bn NA
(11) NA 5860 Pte. Joseph Wadu Goji -3rd Bn NA
(12) NA 1982 Pte. Alexander Agbe - 3rd Bn NA
(13) NA 18151864 Pte Lagwin Goshit - 3rd Bn NA
(14) NA 18266006 Pte Augustine Oguche Agbo - 3rd Bn NA
(15) NA 634212 Pte Effiong Atkinson - 3rd Bn NA
(16) NA 18147284 Cpl. Tunana Bangir - 3rd Bn NA
(17) NA 18l49368 Cpl. Abibo Elf - 3rd Bn NA
(18) NA 18151873 Pte. Uguman Monogi - 3rd Bn NA
(19) NA 1562 Pte Felako Kwa - 3rd Bn NA
(20) NA 18149363 Cpl. Reuben Nwagwugwu - 3rd Bn NA
(21) NA 502542 Cpl. Yakubu Kaje - 3rd Bn NA
(22) NA 505092 L/Cpl. Mamis Hundu - 3rd Bn NA
(23) NA 18151861 L/Cpl Thaddens Thamyil Tsenyi1 - 3rd Bn NA
(24) NA l8148269 L/Cpl Issna1m Tayapa - 3rd Bn NA
(25) NA 18148272 L/Cpl Ali Shendam - 3rd Bn NA
(26) NA 18151771 Pte. Usuman Gabure - 3rd Bn NA
(27) NA 18149613 Pte Emmanue1 Ekwueme - 3rd Bn NA
(28) NA 4887 Pte Erastus Nakito - 3rd Bn NA
(29) NA 3659 Pte Jonathan Anahiri - 3rd Bn NA

When this force left the DAMISSA exercise area, it was led by Major Nzeogwu who
was travelling in a landrover accompanied by a driver and two OR's. He was followed by
another landrover containing Sgts. Adebiyi, Manga and Oyegoke who were armed with
two 84mm Carl Gustav Anti-Tank Guns and 6 projectiles.
Following this were a number of other vehicles, landrovers and 3-Tonner containing
2/Lts. Waribor and Omeruah and troops from "C" Coy 3rd BN NA. On arrival at the main gate to the compound, Major Nzeogwu found 4 PCs on guard
in front of the gate. They were the following:

(1) No.8301 L/Cpl. Musa Nimzo
(2) No. 10674 PC. Akpan Anduka
(3) No. 18913 PC Hagai Lai
(4) No. 18920 PC Peter Attah

145. Major Nzeogwu, who was armed with a sterling SMG, ordered the constables to
face the wall. Attah complied with this order but the three others refused. Without further
ado, Major Nzeogwu immediately opened fire on them with his SMG killing all three on
the spot. Immediately after the killing of the policemen, Major Nzeogwu ordered the two men
with the guns and the 3 NMTC Sergeants to follow him into the compound, bringing with
them the Carl Gustav guns and the projectiles for these weapons.

Immediately inside the compound, Major Nzeogwu stationed the Carl Gustavs some
10 yards apart facing the lodge. The gunners were Sgts. Oyegeke and Manga, whilst Sgt.
Adebiyi acted as ammunition number. As soon as both guns had been loaded, Major
Nzeogwu ordered the NCOs to open fire at the Lodge. Both fired their projectiles
bursting inside the ground floor rooms of the building. Sgt. Adebiyi stated that he then
ran towards Sgt. Manga to help this NCO reload.

Whilst he was with Manga he heard Major Nzeogwu shouting repeatedly "Fire you
bastard, fire". Immediately after this both Manga and Adebiyi heard a burst of SMG fire.
They turned round and observed Sgt. Oyegoke slumped on the ground bleeding from
multiple wounds. It was clear to both that their colleague had been killed by Major
Nzeogwu either for refusing to obey or because he attempted to run away.

After the killing of Oyegoke, Major Nzeogwu ordered Sgt. Adebiyi to take over
Oyegeke's gun and to continue firing at the house. Both Adebiyi and Manga, frightened
by Oyegoke's killing, continued to fire as ordered. They used a total of 5 projectiles. As a
result the building caught fire.

You can see that the planning and exection were designated to an ethnic group with a sprinkle of Yorubas and MiddleBelt to mke it appear as a national cause.  Look atthe list of tareted assasination, do you see a single Igbo in there?  Sgt Oyegoke refused orders or attempted to run away after discovering that their mission was not internal security but assassination of the Premier. . . and Nzeogwu pumped bullets into him.  

Please let me know if after reading this small caption you still believe that that the Yorubas who participated did so under their free will and thattheir mission was of a co-conspirator and not an instrument of propaganda by Igbos.  If we will call Sgt Oyegoke a co-conspirator, then we might as well conclude that Igbo are correct in their assertion that Yorubas are cowards.

So much for your false claim that this is not a true account.  Do not mislead people here with more Igbo falsehoods okay.  The cat is out of the bag, when I'm done talkin everyone here will know what kind of leader Azikiwe was, what plans Ironsi had for Nigeria and why he insisted on a unitary government and more improtantly what a coward Ojukwu was. . .abandoning command to save his neck.  In all, we shall see beginning in 1959 and culminating in 1966 how the three of them colluded to own Nigeria and dominate every tribe in it.

In a military offensive, no woman, except she is in combat gear and armed should ever be targeted.  Then to add that Ademulegun's wife was pregnant and her situation was known ahead in the plan and these people had no human feeling at all to spare her and her unborn child is beyond barbaric exhibition.  I dont care if its done by Igbo to Yoruba or Hausa to Igbo. . .it is despicable and cannibalistic.  But it is very insulting that the one who ivented the method should complain about the pains and agony of his pregnant sister in the hands of a dagger man.

This talk is not about intelligence. . . that's whiteman's brainwash to silence your voice and prevent you from exposing his atrocities, this is about enlightenement and TRUTH.  There is need for a counter voice to your falsehoods.  This is that voice.  People should read and make up their own mind independent of your solicitous opinion.   Besides I have a lot more information to share than you can imagine and I am not eve on the offensive yet.

Igbos said Awolowo is a betrayer, we are going to see who trully is a betrayer.  You call Yorubas cowards. . . we are going to see who is truly the coward. You call the Ijaws your brothers in the struggle. . . we are going to see how much you assisted their struggle when they declared independence and self rule under Boro.  We shall see how much hatred Zik had for Enahoro and Okotie Eboh. We shall understand why Awolowo was falsely accused and the motive behind his imprisonment. We shall see why Ojukwu opted for secession rather than participate in a Federation.

You just wait. . .we shall see.  I am not letting up steam on this issue.

Dede,

Stop your lies! Please give the date and location where you talked to Dr Nowa. This is not Dr Nowa's fantasy. . .he is sharing what was indeed investigated by Federal Government and reported. Dr Nowa researched, obtained the facs and shared the report. If you want to contest the facts you go to Federal Government. But if you look closely you will notice that the report is substantiated accurately by many mouth sources who themselves were principal players in the coup or in unifrm at the time. So it is not a reserach document using one source. . . it sampled recollections and information from variety of people and sources and all were corroborated as accurate before it was published. Anyway, I still want to know what date you spoke with Dr Nowa, you shameless liar.

The articles did not list all the political parties in the first republic. There were obscure parties such as Ibadan People’s Party and Niger Delta Congress.

There was no outright majority party in the first republic of Nigeria hence coalition government between NPC and NCNC. You might be surprise to know which parties were the coalition partners.

There was nothing such as North vs East political rivalry. It was more of political ideology than anything most people has insinuated. Awolowo was imprisoned by British MI6, Northern Nigerian political machine of NPC and Yoruba peeps.

You are jumping the gun here. . . look at questions A through E in the entry post, I already made it clearthat all these questions will be answered here.

Sit back and listen. . .I will tell you how why what and who went where. Take a deep breath my friend. . . IN. . . now, OUT. . .

The officers that carried out the coup were almost 100% Igbo, but it would have been balanced if the article had provided the reasons why they were disgruntled. Igbo's led by Ironsi also put down the coup.

The article offered the answer. To extractthe answer you must analyze the facts. Your analysis will give you the answers you eek. Do not be lazy and expect it to be done for you, this is not news article that is pre-manufactured and pre-packaged. . .what you see here is the output of a Federal investigation and report.

Lets forget the war and concentrate on what we are today

Tell that to the Igbos. When they yield I will stop uncovering their shameful secrets. As long they contiue their campaign against any tribe. . . Yoruba, Hausa, Ijaw, Tiv, Fulani. . . I will talk.

Aloy,

Of everything you said this is the only thing that went in my ears.  

Igbos have never said in their life before that Yorubas victimize them, they claim was that they betrayed them. There is a difference between the two words

Please share with me how that betrayal occurred.  . . .and is what you are about to share a fact or an hearsay rumor passed from one person to other to mock Yorubas?

To let you and other Igbos know right now. . .I am not letting down until we resolve this animosity and falsehood you guys have about Yorubas.  You go around spreading falsehoods, to the point that other groups are beginning to believe in your falsehood.  Yoruba silence has not helped either.  I have the facts from a very reliable source talking about what the Igbos had planned to do. . . not just to Yorubas and Hausas but to other minority groups in East as well. Now you guys are telling Deltans that Yoruba is their enemy but are you aware that Niger Delta was the first region to successfully ceceed from Nigeria? Though it was short lived but they had declared their right to self determination and independence and this occurred under Ironsi. What did Ironsi do? He unleashed terror using Igbo military men to recapture the region and Isaac Boro was arrested and imprisoned until Gowon released him after the July 66 coup. Hausa leaders treated them unfairly, Yoruba leaders treated them unfairly, far more than any one else. . . Igbo leaders treated them unfairly. So stop your nonsense about Ijaws are your rothers and Yoruba and Hausa is stealing from them. . .rubbish! Igbos didn't steal from them? Igbops didn't oppress them and killed off or imprison their leaders? Hausa and Yoruba are not denying their part in the exploit and harrassment of the Ijaws. . . but Igbos are mongers of falsehood. Before you tell Ijaws who their enemy is you need to first tell them what part you played in denying them their independence from Eastern Nigeria.


Lady T,

What do you mean Yorubas were part of the coup? Please clarify.

I thank you No2 and LadyT for taking time and spending effort to read the article.  No one can read this article, understand it and still come down hard on Yorubas for the way we have always kept Igbos at a suspicious and safe distance, not wanting any close intimacy with them.  Neither can one blame the Hausas, after reading this article, in the manner in which they lost their sensibilities and went on rampage to avenge the savage killing of their kinsmen. . . athough their own retaliation in some instances were quite extreme.

I came in contact with this document a while back. . . but I did not think it was appropriate for this forum.  However, recent events here have convinced me to believe that the Igbos are just as arrogant today as they were in the 60s.  God forbid that they should again assume control of key political positions as they did in 60s, then we all would indeed be history.  My children need to know who their fellow countrymen are and my grand children need to know too and their children. . .and down history lane I ned to pass it on.

Nuzo and Ibime,  I will respond to your points in due time. . . you know me, I have answers for you. . .but this is not it.  

Igbos are quick to point to the occassion in Kaduna where it was reported that in the counter coup of July 66, Hausa men murdered pregnant Igbo women cutting the baby out of the mother.  Hey, now we know where they learnt the tactic. . .from the Igbos.  We also know now why it was only done in Kaduna, even though the counter coup was nationwide.  The Igbo coup plotters sent to assassinate Ademulegun in Kaduna in January 66 were also instructed to kill his pregnant wife.  For months after the bloodshed, the room was left intact as evidence to show what the barbaric Igbos did to a woman with child in her womb.  So when the Hausas in Kaduna started their own carnage few months afterward they used that same method in an unfortunate and unforgiving way to murder pregnant Igbo women.  Very sad. . . very sad!!  So Igbos should never have no legitimate right to whine to yorubas about victimization.  No, you victimized yourselves, . . The Ademulegun's case is a good but one example out of many.

The saliva you spit up. . . its coming back down to hit you in the face!!

This post is not tribalist. . . it is just the plain truth.  I did not challenge just Igbos to debate me on its merit, I challeged Hausa and Yoruba as well.  Anyone want to debate me on this topic, I am ready but you must firstread the article or I will defer your question or concern to an appropriate time out of the topic.

Again, No2. . . I watched and followed your responses. . . I am proud of you standing tall to the arrogance of barbaric souls.

Thanks Black,. . .but no need for it. Let individuals do their own replacements, but I will use "Igbo" going forward in the discussion.

It is time we put a cap on this Ibo/Yoruba thing and let everybody know how Ibos contributed to the destruction and failure of Nigeria and why other tribes keep distance from them.


I am bringing to you a link from a reputable source. There are two things I would like to say to you:

1. The article in the link is very lenghty, probably between 40 and 50 pages long. If you have problems reading, understanding and analysing lengthy documents, I advise you not to even attempt this one, stay out of this debate. For those who enjoy voluminous articles I encourage you to read the entire document before you post a comment. Print it if you can and notate points of interest. If you cannot print, use a note pad to markup references and notes and then give us your comment afterward. This is a requirement read for all those who would love answer to the following questions:

A. What political parties did we have in the First Republic and who were the Leaders of the parties?

B. Which party was in majority and what was the power sharing arrangement?

C. What led to the North vs East political rivalry and why was West not in the middle of their conflict?

D. In January 1966, Awolowo was in prison in Calabar. Why and who imprisoned him?

E. The coup of January 1966 targeted and killed Yoruba and Hausa politicians and military officers but spared Ibo and Ibo speaking Easterners. This was the first bloody political uprising in the history of post-independence Nigeria and the violence was ethnically targeted against West and North. What was Ibos motive and plan for Nigeria?

2. Understanding this article and obtaining answers to the above questions would help clear the mind and shed light on the primary reason why Ibos, following their tragic downfall from power became desperate. Fearful of reprisals, they turned to Awolowo and the Yorubas for solidarity against the North. Not getting a warm embrace, they became bitter and blamed the Yorubas for not sympathising with their plight and consequently costing them the war. The Ibos are not victims of betrayals, the Ibos are reckless arrogants who wanted nothing good for Yorubas, they are victims of their own treacherous plots.

I am available to debate this positions with anyone, Yoruba, Hausa or Ibo, but not until you have read the whole document and in a position to discuss it in entirety.

. . .the so-called minorities of former eastern region of Nigeria.

What the heck

My friend, assert yourself and speak up. They are either minority or the are not. What do you mean "so-called"! Tell them who they are. . .they are minorities in the Eastern region. You are the dominant group in East. . .so claim your position. You see this is why Igbos hate Yorubas. . . we tell it like it is, fu_ck whose feelings get hurt!

Becomerich

some Ijaws are Yoruba. Others are Bini. Yet others are Igboid. Some can trace their roots elsewhere.

However, in the long run its not about brotherhood or whatever- its about whose agenda are they following.

Tpia, I tip my hat off to you. The way you take discriminate and filter rice from sand. . . I suspect you have a dominant Yoruba gene in you.

Negro is watching to see how political savviness will play out in this joint.

while you are at it, remember this. . . it makes no difference who makes the law of a nation or who occupies the Presidency, the utmost power rest in the hands of the person that controls the currency. That's just a metaphor. . . something to think about!

There has been a shocking increase in the number of western casualities in Afghanistan over the past couple of weeks.
According to history the Afghan army has defeated many so called foreign powers over the centuries. Notably , BRITAIN AND RUSSIA
Why has Afghanistan been so difficult to conquer? First, there is its hostile terrain. Then there is the harsh weather - with very
hot summers and freezing winters. The Afghan people are fiercely independent and highly skilled in mountain warfare.

Can the Western Coalition ever hope to prevail in this wild, mountainous and strategically crucial nation?
What are they so desperately looking for

Yommy, I am interested in this topic. Can you give us your critical analysis of the situation if you have one please.

Una still dey here?

Look. . .you can voice your anger anyway you want to show it that you are upset at the way Yorubas have treated you. Few things are clear here. . .

1. Yorubas will continue to dominate over you for as long you remain part of Nigeria.

2. Federal asset or not. . . Fashola has dared MEND to repeat its attack in Lagos.

3. If you like use atomic bomb. . . FG will continue to sit on that oil for as long as there is a Federal system.

4 Neither Hausa nor Yoruba is interested in your story, we are just interested in the resource that we all jointly own.

5. If you like become an active co-owner in the resources, or if you like sit on sideline and whine about how Yoruba are cowwards and betrayers. . . oil continues to generate revenue and the money will continue to develop infrastructures in North, West, East and South, nothing changes.

Richy, abeg move this to Foreign.

As usual you have hijacked the discussion from MEND to BIAFRA very typical. Abeg move to your discussion board
Attention seekers. E dey pain you say u know see yorubas use as mugus

SATIRE to @bialegend, @Ikeyman00 and Co

Inspite of your 'Great Intelligence'
You pretend the Yorubas are irrelevant and yet he is the cause of All your Failures and Woes.
Yet Its taking you so long to do Away or Without the Yorubas the cause of All your Failures and Woes


Inspite of your 'Great Intelligence'
You cannot get rid of the Yorubas who is but a 'Speck '
how then can you deal with the region you have identified as the devil


Inspite of your 'Great Intelligence'
You cannot see that the ant eating the Spinach lives right there on the spinach where your
fellow tribesmen are looting state coffers and taking diabolical oaths in shrines and murdering their own.

Inspite of your 'Great Intelligence'
Its taking you so long to know the Yorubas cannot be trusted
Yet it took the Yorubas a short time to know 'You who cannot trust his brother cannever be trusted'
According to Igbo man saying
if you see an Mbaise man (Igbo man) and a snake, kill the Mbaise man 1st, another igbo man will rather trust the snake than Igbo Man So MUCH FOR TRUST IGBO MAN TO IGBO MAN how much more me stranger

Inspite of your 'Great Intelligence'
You cannot see that the whole of West Africa if not the whole world is waiting for NO Nigeria and birth of other states.From China to South Africa, to Libya and Italy including MOI all tired of Nigeria

Inspite of your 'Great Intelligence'
Grow up, take responsibilities for your actions, be a man and stop Moaning like a child
WHAT IS TAKING YOU SO LONG TO CREATE YOUR OWN STATE

The Queen has spoken. . . I concur!

May the Queen live long.

Acid, welcome bro. Hug that book no let am go o.

I'm letting you know that there isno bounce

wonderbra will change all that, .e go be like shock absorber. Im hungry, see you later

Jomo Gbomo spoke eloquently. I like the aspirations and I sincerely believe they can succeed with a few adjustments . . .political tweaking so to speak.

Na acid i dey see so? Wey you been man?

lmao. . .no mind me, that was my mischievious tongue.  But are you disputing that there is a consequential effect to your "bounce"?

. . .to celebrate the US Apollo landing on the moon as well as the undeniable heights our Love could reach

lol, the sky is not the limit anymore. . .

Congo, twice now ppl don mention say na LadyT. Na true? You dey mess with Lady T? I go spit beetle juice for ya eye.


Gator,

First let me thank you for sending your rainmaker to Atlanta, it did rain today. Now, wetin I talk na?

MEND attacks Lagos. Na where the money go come to take do repairs and compensate the victims? The house wey burn, na better go replace am.

What I will now like to see is for MEND to prevent FG from using oil money to do repairs and reconstruction. That will be a true measure of their might if they will sccessfully block FG from selling oil and shifting the revenue to rebuild Atlas Jetty.

This forum is a microcosm of the mindset in the society at large. The responses given here by some of the Deltans and some Igbos and some Yorubas serve quite well as an indication or a guage into where and which direction an average member of the respective ethnic groups is leaning on this issue of MEND and the equilibrium of power in the Federal system.

To sample social responses on policies, political scientists use focus groups. They collect people of opposing background and viewpoints and lump them together in a debate. No one has collected us together but invariably we have served as a very important focus group for the issue and hopefully someone is interested and making notes.

The Southerners have been graduating en masse from top ranking colleges while the Northerners were still struggling with a choice between arabic school and western education, and to say that Southerners are marginalised by a people who lag behind them in academic knowledge only goes to prove that in politics you ned more than academic excellence. You need raw strategy and know-how for competing against adversaries. Those who do not have gut for political assertion must be left to the side. Telling Yorubas and Hausas to make room for you on the table and to sponsor your inclusion is stupid. This is like the Hausas telling you to stop sending your children to school so their children can catch up academically, and I'm sure they probably made such demand. . . but did you take your child out of school for them?

Oh. . . the Youbas betrayed us,. . . oh, the Yorubas are not supporting us. . . oh, the Yorubas are colluding with North. . .

NEWSFLASH!!! You are playing victim. As long you keep claiming that Yorubas hold the solution to your destiny, then you are further legitimizing their hold on power and make it less likely that they yield power sharing to you. Explosives and terror is not going to change that. Its your approach and political strategy that will change it. You must learn to eliminate political adversary while securing the underlying relevance that the adversary possess. You have a long way to go.

MEND need to convert itself into a political movement.  They should drop their guerilla attacks.  They need to start fielding candidates for political posts and increasingly inch their wayto the center alongside negotiations and dialogue.  As you gain power the laws and rules change in your favor.  If you don't have the majority then you partner with a powerful majority for sponsorship.  

Remember, almajiri has a grievance too.  He has grievance against the inequities of a society that abandons his plight and fail to rescue him from squalor. How does he exert justice?  He sits on the sidewalk and question your conscience with his sullen looks. . . he does not take responsibility or make attempt to be productive, NO. . .he blames you for scre_wing up society and consequentially, his life.  Is that what South South has become, a symbolic almajiri?   Wake up and rise up . . . do the right thing!