₦airaland Forum

Umunne m na umunna m,

My name is Onlytruth

Ikenga dike 1 of Anaedo (Nnewi)

Ndu di n'eziokwu 1 of Igboland

I am truly humbled by all your nominations!
Umu Igbo, you never let me down.
Nke a gosiri na uche unu nile di ya! Daalu nu!
Thank you very much.

Win or lose, I promise NEVER to change.

I also promise to give MAXIMUM support to the winner(provided he is a true Nwa afo),because following is as important as leading .

OP, you are the true star of this thread because you have demonstrated depth and true genuis in your modus operandi here.Believe me, you are a true talent and ezigbo nwa afo Igbo. Whoever wins should have you as "Prime Minister" of Ndigbo Nairaland (whether you want it or not).
Kudos!

My ideal candidate for this position should:

*NEVER compromise the interest of Ndigbo, NO MATTER WHAT.

*Be bold, fearless and tenacious.

*Should have a firm understanding of Igbo political situation in Nigeria.

*Should have a firm grasp of the history of Ndigbo in Nigeria.

*Should understand the core beliefs of Ndigbo.

*Have a NL history of commitment to Ndigbo and Eastern Nigeria (our neighborhood in Nigeria).

*Should be wise and open minded.

*Be a visioner with a strategic view of the future.

*Above all, he should be a good listener.

Here I stand.

Thank you once more.

It is well with Ndigbo!

Toaskarity:
Good idea but money!

secondly you know how we dont trust ourself(dont preach me on this and be real), apart from the govt it will be too hard to come to pass why?

Assuming you tries to bring up such idea, the whole petty traders in onitsha and aba alone can fund it instead they will disagree on the ground that the project wont see the light of the day giving excuse that you will run away with the money same thing to igbos here infact there excuse will be worst!!

I almost stopped reading when I got to the bolded, because it is the opposite of what the project is trying to achieve. I don't believe in sweeping faults under the carpet, but I really don't think such "problems" can stop this project. A single individual can even build it (if the government cooperates with him), and make it a for-profit tourist location. Believe me, it would be profitable.

Though you said I shouldn't preach, I still have to warn you about your ("you know we don't trust ourselves" mindset. IMHO, it is perhaps the worst belief any Igbo should adopt. The tower is particularly envisioned to help fight such self defeating mindset.

Honestly, this tower will go up, just wait and watch!

Relax101:
^^^^^Enyia, which one is Ojukwuism?

hehe!   

If you have ever read the Ahiara Declaration, then you have read most of it.
In the document, apart from few things which were time specific as of 1969, Ojukwu lived the rest of his life preaching, talking, sometimes slapping ( lol), and acting out the rest. The man was bold, courageous and childlike in his beliefs. He had innocence of convictions. He never wavered. He faced situations the way they were.
All that made him to be extremely loved and extremely hated.

^^
For folks who can't understand Hausa, "kuturu" means leprosy.

ndu_chucks:
@Onlytruth, something tells me that you will not live up to the hype you are displaying here on NL. I'm sure I will not see you anywhere close to Enugu or Nnewi on Feb 2 2012. That is if you know of the event which is scheduled to take place on that date, olodo.

You still don't understand, do you my aboki friend ndu-chucks?. You think this is about any single individual's actions or ego?

Yesterday I was at a meeting somewhere in a very remote part of USA. Before the meeting could even start, everyone stood up for some minutes in complete silence to pray for the repose of Ikemba's soul. These were Igbo people, and if you know Igbo people very well, you would know that they stand up for NOBODY.

This meeting was completely "foreign" (completely withdrawn from Nigerian politics) , and very much detached from Nigeria and Eastern Nigeria. The participants were not even politicians; they were ordinary Igbo folks (academicians, lawyers, doctors, nurses, engineers, taxi drivers, etc). I was completely shocked and awestruck that the conveyers of the meeting found it so necessary to remember Ojukwu that way. Igbos don't have time for nobody if you know us well. The MC (a Uni professor who is completely apolitical) spoke for some minutes about Ojukwu, before the event began. These were Igbo folks, and that is how they see Ojukwu. The whole Igbo nation is mourning in ALL parts of the world. They didn't need to travel home for it.

Now, how can anyone think that "Ojukwuism" is a personal opinion of one man (ie moi) ?
I will only say this to you; there are MILLIONS of "Ojukwuists" ALL OVER THE GLOBE.

I invite you to join if you promise not to bring along "political kuturu". 

executinal:
@onlythruth you are truly the son of soil. Nwa Afo ka ibu, your idea is so wonderful.

Thank you my brother.

We really need to start honoring our fallen heroes from the Biafra war. The statue is for visual effect/focus, while the memorial wall should bear names of those who died in Eastern Nigeria during the war.

I strongly believe that if we don't honor our heroes POWERFULLY, two things would inevitably happen as a consequence:

(1) Other regions would never take us serious again in Nigeria (they would simply ignore our rights, concerns and  views in Nigeria)

(2) No Igbo or Easterner would EVER AGAIN want to take the risk to initiate actions which empowers us to survive.

Either of the above two is BAD for us.
We shouldn't let it happen. 

Limaoscar:
I don't belief a darn thing Prof Aluko has said. Especially all this long story potraying Ojukwu as a man who didn't have a mind of His own. Bouncing off his thoughts/decisions on a man who waited till His death (when He can't challenge the Article) to push-out a an article on the war.

If It turns out most of His accounts here are not true or that He actually betrayed Ojukwu then He'd probably lose all the respect I had for Him.

I am not Ibo, I am from Cross River but my Dad was close to Philip Effiong and Ojukwu  and left Lagos to fight on the Biafran side. He returned after the Civil war in 1970 .

Of all the stories my Dad 's told us and books and some very confidential memoirs He has about the war at our home. I didn't see any with reference to Prof. Aluko playing the role of a confidant or private adviser to Ojukwu or even reference in passing saying the Prof was as relevant to Dim  Ojukwu  as He's claimed here, damn!!!

To  even infer that Ojukwu was forced into leading Biafra, that Biafran Soldiers didn't want to fight, that He helped Ojukwu chose Aburi, that He told Ojukwu this and that, and how He was a mediatotraitor is all too wooly for me jare, kilode de?

Thank you my brother!
I am so grateful to you because there are people in Nairaland who are hell bent on not giving credit to valiant and pro-Biafra people in Cross-River/Akwa-Ibom and Rivers states parts of the 1967 Nigeria.
Some of them revel at the lie that Biafra was only an Igbo affair. It is deeply painful, knowing that ALL Easterners were targets of massacres in Northern Nigeria.

All Easterners collectively decided (through their Eastern Assembly) to secede from Nigeria. Smart folks from non-Igbo parts of Eastern Nigeria have since figured out that the only thing that gives them true respect in Nigeria is when they acknowledge with pride what their people did in support of Biafra. All those who distance from their Biafran legacy are treated with ignominy in Nigeria because Northern Nigerians know the truth about that era.

The war has been fought and lost, but I know that those who fought against Biafra have some deep respect for ALL BIAFRANS. It is something we should all be proud of and always identify with. Only then are we accorded our due respect in Nigeria.

Thank you once more.

Pifa:
I am sorry to see this man go. Everything I know about him is from history books on Nigeria and scholarly articles about the Nigerian civil war. He might still be alive today, if Nigeria had a hospital that could adequately deal with the cerebro-vascular condition that contributed to the decline of his health. Who knows what damage he might have sustained to his organs, when they had to fly him for over four hours to the UK for treatment?

RIP.

 
 
Question for you guys:

1) What does Ikemba mean?
2) What does "Dim" translate to in English? Is it a title?

"Ikemba" is standard Igbo which literally translates to "the power or might or strength of a nation". However, being a title given to him by the Igwe of Nnewi (Igwe Orizu III), it means much more than that literal definition. If I attempt to define it, I would say it translates to "the mystical power by which a nation defends itself or fights a war".

For you to understand the title of "Dim", you have to understand Nnewi culture, but it translates roughly to "a tested warrior". It is an "ozo" title. Nnewi is made up of 4 parts : Otolo, Uruagu, Umudim and Nnewi-ichi ( in order of seniority, each of which is big enough to be town of its own). Ojukwu is from Umudim.

You find that same title bearing different names in different Nnewi quarters.
In Otolo it is "Dala";  in Uruagu and Nnewi-ichi, I believe it is "Dunu"; in Umudim, it is "Dim".
Only FEW warriors are given that class of title. I believe Ojukwu is the only Dim I know in Nnewi. It is not a title you can buy with money. Elaborate rituals are performed before the title is conferred. 
Though I am from Otolo, I am not old enough to know more, lol 

I have not seen anyone bearing the title of "Dala" (Otolo) or "Dunu" (Uruagu, Nnewi-ichi) either. So, in essence, Ojukwu was the only one in Nnewi with that class of title.

I would wait till older Nnewi folks show up to correct me.   

Kc3000:
In all honesty, Aluko should have just payed his  respect to his 'good friend' Ojukwu, rather than emerging in Ojukwu's death to make all sorts of declarations. All these years that Ojukwu lived, he never took credit.for the Aburi meeting, so that we could confirm his claims from Ikemba. As soon as he passes, oh ' I taught Ojukwu how to tie his shoe laces, I taught him how to ride a bicycle'. How do we corroborate his tales now that he conveniently waited for Ojukwu to pass before making his revealations? Who told him he was the only one Ojukwu respected and consulted during those trying times?  I believe they were friendly but Prof seems to be a master of exaggerations.

. . .and Jipiti

alj_harem:
let me remind you that before the war, the political class and economic class was situated in such a way that the yorubas and SS (apart from ibibios) were marginalised in all things

from civil worker, oil, politics , military  you name it. They were margianlsised that did not mean they should declear secession.

So i don't still get this Ojukwu a hero thing. Maybe I would never get,because I have tried to put myself in your shoes and and don't still see the point.

Maybe you can explain to me more.

So, now Yorubas and "SS" were the victims of "Igbo domination" before the war?
I really pity any minority of the SS that falls into your dubious,snaky and treacherous hands.
I just saw the list of those benefiting from oil subsidy. It turned out they are 90% Yoruba companies.
I wish them (some SS folks) luck with you guys. lol

Aigbofa:
[b]What is the basis of this love? [/b]That millions died just to make a point?

Here is the basis of the love:

(1) There was the first round of massacre in Northern Nigeria
Ojukwu's response: He asks Igbos to return to the North

(2) Igbo are massacred again in the North
Ojukwu's response again: He asks Igbos to return to the North

(3) Igbo are massacred the third time in the North, this time the massacre continues. .

Ojukwu's response "If you return to the East, I will do my best to protect you".

Stalemate.

Ojukwu insists on seniority in the military.
Final attempts at peace and security: ABURI ACCORD signed

Gowon reneges on Aburi

Ojukwu -after resisting pressure from Easterners for almost 6 months- declare East an independent state.

That is what happened.

Our love for him is not for free.

Aigbofa:
I've never heard any American saying they love any leader as much as their own father, except North Koreans and some people on Nairaland.

So, you are waiting for them to say it? Your quarrel is that we are saying it. My friend action speaks louder than words.
A lot of people don't even cry when their own father died, but cry when a beloved leader dies.
Your attempts to drag North Koreans into this is simply idiotic.

alj_harem:
I guess you don't know my position.

Ok I would make it clear,

The killing of any Nigerian be it igbo or yoruba is very bad and I DO NOT SUPPORT it in any form or way.

Why do you think I would support any killing ?

Ojukwu just took advantage of the situation in my own opinion by saying genocide which never occured. Ok do your maths, killing in the north

30,000 = war 3 million only for the cause to be lost again

It is wrong.

Trying to be sensitive here

I hope the Igbo nation can forgive Nigerians and let us move on with Nigeria. I know majority of Igbos have moved on but some like Ezeuche (Bigot) still hold resentment for other Nigerian. Hope he can see reason.

I want to ask you a question, which other tribe in Nigeria has lost between 30,000 -100,000 in a period of 6 months in the history of Nigeria?
You want us to move on, but you keep blaming the man who stood between your knives/guns and the rest of us.
You must really think we are foools frankly.

Aigbofa:
Yes, there is. You need to visit North Korea.

I know you never knew that people were crying like babies when president JFK was killed. That is the type of love people can have for a beloved leader.

Aigbofa:
Calling someone papa in Yorubaland is a sign of respect. [/b]It does not translate to [b]loving them as you love your own father.
Papa Awo
Papa Ajasin
Papa Adesanya and so on, and we respect them all.

Now you are spinning! lol

In any case, you cannot force us to adopt your own ethos in the way you treat your "papas". You can choose to "respect" yours, while we can choose to "love ours like own father". Kapish?

DDN:
please, take a breath-how many Easterners were killed before Ojukwu declared the republic of Biafara?

Between 50,000 and 100,000.

Now shoot.

This subsidy must go! Some people don swallow naija put since!

Boyloaf:
Is anybody s[b]till wondering why
SW so desperately wants to hold
on tightly to one Nigeria, at the
expense of SS and some SE states.[/b]
Refusing to either go left or go
right. They just took a lopsided
stand at the middle. [b]Jonathan is
not a fool. He know his people
has been rode like a donkey all
these years. The more reason he
wants to end it all, No wonder GEJ said nigeria will crash if subsidy stays! [/b]Go ahead my president u hav my support! MEND/Boko HARAM here is a fresh list of new targets! So get to work boys, kill them all!

Chei I see your point bro!

^^

Your hypocrisy knows no bounds. It was okay for Awolowo to be your papa, but not okay for Ojukwu to be our own papa.

^^
What I said is the simple truth. Your guy was not a great soldier. He was more of a loud mouthed wicked man who targeted civilians for sport. He was severally defeated by poorly equipped Biafran brigades who ran round him in shear ignominy until he was removed from command. He would have even cost Nigeria the southern front if he stayed.
It may have [b]Pain[/b]ed you, but please learn to accept the truth.

EzeUche:
Nigerians from other groups, wonder why Igbos love the great Ikemba, and the answer is simple. He was truly the symbol of Igbo unity. Everything he represented was a manifestation of what Igbo unity entails. Through Iron will, this man forged the destiny of the Igbo people. Before Ojukwu and Biafra, the Ndigbo seen ourselves as a people of various clans. However, during and after the war, the Ndigbo had a type of unity that was never seen in our entire history. Instead of seeing ourselves as Aro, Ngwa, Mbaise, Nri etc, we seen ourselves as simply as IGBO.

Ojukwu is the manifestation of Igbo unity. That is why he will always remembered. It goes more deeper than simply him being the leader of Biafra. The Igbo unity that he helped produce will be his lasting impact for generations to come.

One Igboland, One Igbo people, for the greater glory of Ojukwu and his children. The father of our people has died, but he will be remembered for generations to come. I love you Ojukwu as a son should love a father.

Amen! Seconded powerfully.

The Ezekwelu guy is talking trash. Even in first world countries, people living in rural parts far away from municipal utility lines still use bore holes. What are they talking about? SMH

ndu_chucks:
Can you disprove the fact that Moslems make up 55% or more of the SW population and over 70% of the entire Northern areas?  Remember that there are Moslems in the SE and SS as well. I suspect that you are in denial of obvious facts.

My friend one of these days, international statistical experts will expose the truth about Nigeria's population.
You people cannot keep these lies going much longer. BTW there are not up to 1% of muslims in the East. 

buzugee:
LOL i guess we shall have to agree to disagree on the concept of 'objectivity'. i have no gripe against the man. but it cannot be overlooked that he was treasonous.
lets see the meaning of treason

trea·son   [tree-zuhn]  Show IPA
noun
1.
the offense of acting to overthrow one's government or to harm or kill its sovereign.  -Gowon/Murtala
2.
a violation of allegiance to one's sovereign or to one's state. -Gowon/Murtala (after killing Ironsi and allowing innocent Igbos to be killed in Northern Nigeria)
3.
the betrayal of a trust or confidence; breach of faith; treachery. -Gowon after signing Aburi Accord

Ojukwu never committed any of these, rather he "committed" SELF DETERMINATION which is legal in international law.

asha 80:
election in anambra state is jan 2014.ngige's tenure in the senate ends in may 2015.unless he resigns to contest?

I can only almost assure you that Ngige will never miss an opportunity to contest Anambra guber polls. I don't know the rest.

asha 80:
he will not be available

Says who?

Though he is from my town, I would not vote for him. He should face his business and grow it. His time is sometime in the future if he proves himself before then.
In 2014 Anambra guber race, my candidate is Soludo or Ngige. I would prefer Soludo though.

Aigbofa:
The prof. did not stab anyone, unless you read a different account from the one I read. You are free to interpret it whichever way you want, afterall, even [b]the man whose actions directly led to the death of 2 million people [/b]is being portrayed today a sort of a hero.

As a matter of fact the professor is indirectly responsible for the death of those people because he kept snitching on Ojukwu to Gowon. lol
However, the most important lesson is for Igbos, nobody else.
You would not understand because you are Yoruba. You never trust anyone, lol which is good for your survival.
I just want to borrow a little leaf, but frankly I wouldn't make some of Ojukwu's mistakes. My strategic view is phenomenal.

Aigbofa:
You are carrying so much animosity in you and it's blinding you from seeing reality. An Independent Biafra will not relocate to another place, it will forever remain within an earshot of your perceived enemies. You better get used to that.

lol, you see that is where you are WRONG my friend. If you say I am becoming more enlightened, I would say YES. hehe!   
These whole information is GOLD to discerning Igbo folks. It has nothing to do with love or hate. It has everything to do with REALITY or REALISM, ie, how others see us in Nigeria. We have to at least understand how groups operate in Nigeria, if we would ever stand a chance of getting a Biafra. Our failure began in not understanding that professors can lie and stab people who trusted them.
I bet you a lot of Igbo people didn't even know that professors can lie until Maurice Iwu showed up. lol
This is another professor lying through his teeth, but this one is far more dangerous because he is unrepentantly betraying someone who loved and trusted him till his death. Unprecedented.

At this stage I have to say that some Igbos who criticize Ojukwu's weakness as a leader, find their strongest points on his mindset towards Yorubas and Northerners. Ojukwu never really saw these people in raw terms.
I really doubt that an Igboman born and raised in the East would make all these mistakes.
Ojukwu was born in the North and raised in the West. His first time of living in the East was when he was appointed Governor of Eastern region. All these affected his strategic perspectives of Nigeria.
He was a rare leader, but like all humans, he had his faults, some of which were embedded in his upbringing.

Aigbofa:
So, Banjo could not have gone to any other country except Biafra or Nigeria? If Ojukwu had killed prof. Aluko, would it be hard to brand him a traitor to the Biafran cause?
The man did not become a respected prof by being silly, I wouldn't go back either.

Banjo can rot in hell for all I care, it is this professors treachery that Ndigbo must learn from. Of course he was not "silly", rather Ojukwu was "silly" by trusting him.
This lesson is very important because I still see Igbos today repeating the same mistake of trying to be fair and trusting of others when others don't reciprocate it.
In fact the lesson is more relevant TODAY than then.
Notice that the professor has not changed since 1967. lol

The most pertinent question here really is, why didn't this man say all these when Ojukwu was still alive?
Why did he wait until his death to come and start revising history through his heart of treachery?
Odikwa egwu!