₦airaland Forum

@Nchara,
Your post is a tard insensitive and borders on gloating. Don't lose sight of the fact that what is happening in Jos has both ethnic and religious undertone. This certainly implied that the ubiquitous Igbo and certainly many southern tribes including Yoruba and Ijaws who are mostly Christians will certainly be affected. For every 4 Berom man downed in this crisis expect a one southern Christians to make up the number. Similarly expect one or two southern muslims (mostly Yoruba) in every 10 - 15 hausa/fulani killed.

What is happening in the North and Jos is a low intensity warfare, and because of the serious interconnect of ethnic groups in Nigeria, this asymmetric welfare is an ill wind that blows no one any good.

The killings must end!

@Emmke,
It is not about how many Hausa/fulani Berom people can kill in return, the real issue here is the idea of being massacred in your own country for flimsy reasons.

That is what the Biafran war was about. And this unfortunately has not changed. Nigeria is still stuck in the 60s; another war seems imminent if adequate care is not taken.

@Pukka et al
This is a very simple matter really. If the countries he desired his body to tour accepts to receive him so be it.

As for how the Nigeria government will receive it, that is for Nigeria foreign diplomats to worry about and twist to their own advantage . Frankly the Igbo nation is not worried about how Nigeria will receive it. What sacrifice has Nigeria ever made to Igbos, that should make them worry about how the country will receive their dead hero's wish. What is important for now is to honour the dead man wish, and not how Nigeria government will interprete it.

By the way, who is Nigeria government? GEJ, Ayim, Sambo, Tambuwal, David Mark, etc? Are they going to legislate against a dead man's wish?

The main concern here should be whether those countries accepts to receive his body, the rest is immaterial. After the tour if the Nigeria government refuses honour Ojukwu or participate in his burial what difference does it make? Who cares? Igbos will simply honour him as Biafran President, Nigeria will be the loser in this case for failing to douse the Biafra spirit in anyway.

The smartest thing Nigeria should do is to facilitate and take part in the tour, after which they try to bring a closure to the Biafra issue by giving Ojukwu a honourable burial as a Nigerian hero. Any attempt to frustrate his final wish will play into the hands of extreme groups.

^^^^
This man, quit spamming us with this nonsense that nobody is reading.

Buhari will NEVER, EVER, rule Nigeria.

In fact, Nigerians will vote for a[b] moderate Ghanaian[/b] before they consider Buhari.

@Emmke
I feel you grouse, but i don't accept that Igbo wish ill on the good people of Jos. However as humans it is not out of place for one to recall the misadventure of some minority tribe who gave their all in the war of attrition against biafra believing falsely in the propaganda against the new nation. Someone had once asked what others fought for and if they have been realised?
The bottom line is that many minorities tribes were goaded wrongly into the war against biafra and once in a while one can't help remembering.

that said, what is happening in Jos is sad, very sad. I am wont to say that the fulani/hausa campaign there is disgraceful. Berom people should ordinary be considered their allies along side other Northern minority tribes not the other way round.

As for Igbo, surviving and thriving has always being the primary agenda. You will never hear Igbo man attack any southern minority tribes.

Igbos are in living harmony with Idoma, Tiv, and as they have been with the yoruba from time immemorial. The only squabbles Igbo have with Yoruba is at the intellectual and bragging level (aside awo's betrayal which of course many Igbos have overlooked and perhaps forgiven)

furthermore Emmke, if and when this country implodes, I can assure you Igbos will no qualms sharing a country with the Idoma, Tiv and Berom. We don't wish you guys bad, only miffed by hausa/fulani treachery against their supposed ally, who wouldn't be?

Dear Sanusi, basking in your newly awarded honour of champion of fiscal discipline, baring more fangs on the issue of fuel subsidy removal is what we expect of you.

congratulations.

If power is to return to the North in 2015, it won't be going to Retardeen MumuNmadu Buhari, never.

Buhari is not, never has been, and will NEVER be the saviour of Nigeria. He has too much blood of the innocent on his hand and head. Buhari excuse me to say is accursed. Blood letting and injustice, bigotry and fanaticism follows him wherever he goes. Nigeria does not need his type again in 21 century. That is why we rejected him severally. He is a relic of the past and belongs to museum of Nigeria history.

His promoters should look for somebody else and stop hyper ventilating with a badly damaged goods. Enough said.

^^^
That guy Okija_juju is alh harem, pay no heed to his ranting.

@topic,
Obj should be discounted. He is senile old man. When a man grow old and senile, he becomes a child.

bump

Ojukwu Memorial Park/Theme would not be out of place. Would love to visit such place.

Gbawe:
You are such a 'suwegbe' totally blinded by bigotry. When can those in the numerical minority, as per representative legislative law making, ever get their way against those in the numerical majority , in our upper and lower legislative houses, who also happen to control the office of President, Vice President, Senate President, Speaker house of rep et al? 

You are simply a blind bigot. PDP , if it wants what is best for Nigeria, has the majority (at executive and legislative level) to deliver the transformation Nigeria really needs. What bigots like you will never admit is that your "brother" is part of the scam to keep a few folks in control of the commonwealth that should belong to all Nigerians wherever they may hail from.

Just tell us what part ACN played in propping the bill or not, and cut that your stu.pidity of seeing bigotry in every comment. Not every one is like you.
What role did ACN play in the PIB bill, or jumping on the Tambuwal bandwagon is what ACN is all about? Even if ACN has a single member in the NASS, what role did that member play, that is the question.

Cut the crap and answer, Mr suwegbe!

FG Considers State Burial for Ojukwu

28 Nov 2011

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Ikemba Nnewi, Chief Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu

By Chuks Okocha and Christoper Isiguzo

The Federal Government is "seriously" considering holding a state burial for the late Ikemba Nnewi, Chief Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, who died on Saturday in London, THISDAY has learnt.

Presidency sources said last night that although some hardliners might be opposed to the idea because Ojukwu led a rebel army that almost broke up the country, "the fact remains that at the end of the civil war in 1970, the Federal Government declared a 'No Victor, No Vanquished' stand".

The source revealed that President Goodluck Jonathan is further persuaded by the fact that President Shehu Shagari granted full pardon to Ojukwu which enabled him to return from exile and run for the Senate in the 1983 general election.

“After the unfortunate civil war and his return to Nigeria, Ojukwu clearly preached a message of one Nigeria for the rest of his life. He was a patriot till his death,” a presidential adviser said Sunday night.

A state burial entails full Federal Government presence at the ceremony while his coffin will be draped in the national flag. It is symbolically a celebration of how important a deceased person is in the nation’s history.

In his tribute last Saturday, Jonathan said Ojukwu’s place in history “is assured”, noting that he left behind “a record of very notable contributions to the evolution of modern Nigeria”.

He said Ojukwu’s immense love for his people, justice, equity and fairness “which forced him into the leading role he played in the Nigerian civil war, as well as his commitment to reconciliation and the full reintegration of his people into a united and progressive Nigeria in the aftermath of the war, will ensure that he is remembered forever as one of the great personalities of his time who stood out easily as a brave, courageous, fearless, erudite and charismatic leader”.

Meanwhile, Ojukwu’s associates said he joined the ruling National Party of Nigeria (NPN) in 1983 because of his love for the Igbos and his desire to reintegrate them into the national politics after the war.

Alhaji Tanko Yakassai, who was then the Presidential Liaison Officer to the National Assembly, said Sunday: “We, the former Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Ibrahim Dasuki, Igwe of Ogbunike, John Ume-Enyiora, myself and late Chief C.C. Onoh were instrumental in convincing Ojukwu to join the NPN when he returned to Nigeria after 13 years of self-exile.

“The basic aim of persuading him to join the NPN was to reintegrate the Igbo to the mainstream national politics after the civil war. Then the Nigeria Peoples Party (NPP) was the ruling party in the South-east states of Imo and Anambra and we believed that Ojukwu should no longer play regional politics. We met and went to him and convinced him to join the NPN, at least for the sake of the Igbos and it eventually paid off when the NPN won Anambra governorship election with Onoh as the governor.”

For this “singular love” for his people, Yakassai said, Ojukwu was a man of courage “because it was rare for anyone having declared war on his fatherland to turn round and canvass the unity of the same country that he fought against”.

There were indications Sunday night that the funeral ceremony would hold in February next year as the family members consider the options ahead of them.

A senior government source told THISDAY Sunday that “the burial cannot hold until February next year, although January is still a possibility. The family will eventually decide, but Ojukwu was an international figure so they will not take the decision in isolation of that fact”.

THISDAY gathered that Sunday, two South-east governors were locked in a meeting with the family members in London. At the meeting were Ojukwu’s son, Chukwuemeka; widow, Bianca; and the governors of Anambra and Imo States, Mr. Peter Obi and Owelle Rochas Okorocha, who were both elected on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

Ojukwu was the national leader of the party and was its presidential flag bearer in 2003 and 2007. One of the major issues discussed at the meeting, according to a source, was when the remains of the departed Igbo leader would be returned to the country.

Bianca, who is the Presidential Adviser on Diaspora Affairs, had returned to London shortly after Ojukwu’s 78th birthday which was held at his GRA residence in Enugu and put together by the Leader of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra, Chief Ralph Uwazurike.


http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/fg-considers-state-burial-for-ojukwu/103804/

Yorubas are the Problem with Nigeria - By Sanusi Lamido Sanusi

http://elombah.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&catid=57%3Asanusi-lamido-sanusi&id=868%3Ayorubas-are-the-problem-with-nigeria-by-sanusi-lamido-sanusi&Itemid=65

In sum, the Yoruba political leadership, as mentioned by Balarabe Musa, has shown itself over the years to be incapable of rising above narrow tribal interests and reciprocating goodwill from other sections of the country by treating other groups with respect. Practically every crisis in Nigeria since independence has its roots in this attitude.

i. The Yoruba elite and area-boy politics;
ii. Igbo marginalisation and the responsible limits of retribution; and
iii. The Yoruba Factor and "Area-boy" Politics.

See also The Adulteress' Diary by Lamido Sanusi

My views on the Yoruba political leadership have been thoroughly articulated in some of my writings, prime among which was " Afenifere: Syllabus of Errors" published by This Day (The Sunday Newspaper) on Sept 27, 1998. There was also an earlier publication in the weekly Trust entitled " The Igbo, the Yoruba and History" (Aug. 21, 1998).
In sum, the Yoruba political leadership, as mentioned by Balarabe Musa, has shown itself over the years to be incapable of rising above narrow tribal interests and reciprocating goodwill from other sections of the country by treating other groups with respect. Practically every crisis in Nigeria since independence has its roots in this attitude.
The Yoruba elite were the first, in 1962, to attempt a violent overthrow of an elected government in this country. In 1966, it was the violence in the West which provided an avenue for the putsch of 15th January. After Chief Awolowo lost to Shagari in 1983 elections, it was the discontent and bad publicity in the South-West which led to the Buhari intervention.
When Buhari jailed UPN governors like Ige and Onabanjo, the South-Western press castigated that good government and provided the right mood for IBB to take over power. As soon as IBB cleared UPN governors of charges against them in a politically motivated retrial, he became the darling of the South-West. When IBB annulled the primaries in which Adamu Ciroma and Shehu Yar Adua emerged as presidential candidates in the NRC and SDP, he was hailed by the South-West. When the same man annulled the June 12, 1993 elections in which Abiola was the front-runner, the South-West now became defenders of democracy.

When it seemed Sani Abacha was sympathetic to Abiola, the South-West supported his take-over. He was in fact invited by a prominent NADECO member to take over in a published letter shortly before the event. Even though Abiola had won the elections in the North, the North was blamed for its annulment. When Abdulsalam Abubakar started his transition, the Yoruba political leadership through NADECO presented a memorandum on a Government of National Unity that showed complete disrespect for the intelligence and liberties of other Nigerians.


Subsequently, they formed a tribal party which failed to meet minimum requirements for registration, but was registered all the same to avoid the violence that was bound to follow non-registration, given the area-boy mentality of South-West politicians. Having rejected an Obasanjo candidacy and challenged the election as a fraud in court, we now find a leading member of the AD in the government, a daughter of an Afenifere leader as Minister of State, and Awolowo´s daughter as Ambassador, all appointed by a man who won the election through fraud.

Meanwhile, nothing has been negotiated for the children of Abiola, the focus of Yoruba political activity. In return for these favours, the AD solidly voted for Evan Enwerem as Senate President. This is a man who participated in the two-million- man March for Abacha´s self-succession. He also is reputed to have hosted a meeting of governors during IBB´s transition, demanding that June 12 elections should never be de-annulled and threatening that the East would go to war if this was done. When Ibrahim Salisu Buhari was accused of swearing to a false affidavit, the Yoruba political elite correctly took up the gauntlet for his resignation.

When an AD governor, Bola Tinubu, swears to a false affidavit that he attended an Ivy League University which he did not attend, we hear excuses.

For so many years, the Yoruba have inundated this country with stories of being marginalised and of a civil service dominated by northerners through quota system. The Federal Character Commission has recently released a report which shows that the South-West accounts for 27.8% of civil servants in the range GL08 to GL14 and a full 29.5% of GL 15 and above. One zone out of six zones controls a full 30% of the civil service leaving the other five zones to share the remaining 70%. We find the same story in the economy, in academia, in parastatals.

Yet in spite of being so dominant, the Yoruba complained and complained of marginalization. Of recent, in recognition of the trauma which hit the South-West after June 12, the rest of the country forced everyone out of the race to ensure that a South-Westerner emerged, often against the best advice of political activists.

Instead of leading a path of reconciliation and strong appreciation, the Yoruba have embarked on short-sighted triumphalism, threatening other "nationalities" that they ( who after all lost the election) will protect Obasanjo ( who was forced on them). No less a person than Bola Ige has made such utterances.

To further show that they were in charge, they led a cult into the Hausa area of Sagamu, murdered a Hausa woman and nothing happened. In the violence that followed, they killed several Hausa residents, with Yoruba leaders like Segun Osoba, reminding Nigerians of the need to respect the culture of their host communities. This would have continued were it not for the people of Kano who showed that they could also create their own Oro who would only be appeased through the shedding of innocent Yoruba blood.

I say all this, to support Balarabe Musa´s statement, that the greatest problem to nation-building in Nigeria are the Yoruba Bourgeoisie. I say this also to underscore my point that until they change this attitude, no conference can solve the problems of Nigeria. We cannot move forward if the leadership of one of the largest ethnic groups continues to operate, not like statesmen, but like common area boys.

iii.The Igbo Factor and the Reasonable Limits of Retribution.

The Igbo people of Nigeria have made a mark in the history of this nation. They led the first successful military coup which eliminated the Military and Political leaders of other regions while letting off Igbo leaders. Nwafor Orizu, then Senate President, in consultation with President Azikiwe, subverted the constitution and handed over power to Aguiyi-Ironsi. Subsequent developments, including attempts at humiliating other peoples, led to the counter-coup and later the civil war. The Igbos themselves must acknowledge that they have a large part of the blame for shattering the unity of this country.

Having said that, this nation must realise that Igbos have more than paid for their foolishness. They have been defeated in war, rendered paupers by monetary policy fiat, their properties declared abandoned and confiscated, kept out of strategic public sector appointments and deprived of public services. The rest of the country forced them to remain in Nigeria and has continued to deny them equity.

The Northern Bourgeoisie and the Yoruba Bourgeoisie have conspired to keep the Igbo out of the scheme of things. In the recent transition when the Igbo solidly supported the PDP in the hope of an Ekwueme presidency, the North and South-West treated this as a Biafra agenda. Every rule set for the primaries, every gentleman´s agreement was set aside to ensure that Obasanjo, not Ekwueme emerged as the candidate. Things went as far as getting the Federal Government to hurriedly gazette a pardon. Now, with this government, the marginalistion of the Igbo is more complete than ever before. The Igbos have taken all these quietly because, they reason, they brought it upon themselves. But the nation is sitting on a time-bomb.

After the First World War, the victors treated Germany with the same contempt Nigeria is treating Igbos. Two decades later, there was a Second World War, far costlier than the first. Germany was again defeated, but this time, they won a more honourable peace. Our present political leaders have no sense of History. There is a new Igbo man, who was not born in 1966 and neither knows nor cares about Nzeogwu and Ojukwu. There are Igbo men on the street who were never Biafrans. They were born Nigerians, are Nigerians, but suffer because of actions of earlier generations. They will soon decide that it is better to fight their own war, and may be find an honourable peace, than to remain in this contemptible state in perpetuity.

The Northern Bourgeoisie and the Yoruba Bourgeoisie have exacted their pound of flesh from the Igbos. For one Sardauna, one Tafawa Balewa, one Akintola and one Okotie-Eboh, hundreds of thousands have died and suffered.

If this issue is not addressed immediately, no conference will solve Nigeria´s problems.


By Sanusi Lamido Sanusi

Pretty young girl. Just when she was just getting ripe. Death you are mean ooo.


RIP Yasmine!

alj_harem:
stop wiping sentiment against the north

the OP should tell us

1. Where the jubilation was ( the location)

2. Where is friend or whatever is

3. How his friend heard the jubilation on Ojukwu particular

if not there is no case here, stop spreading falsehood here

to what gain would it be if the north is jubilating over someone that is died ?

what profit ?

Shattap there my friend,
I am not whipping up any sentiment against the north; I am only inferring their capability based on their antecedent.
Is there any fallacy in what I wrote?

Did the north not kill innocent corpers and other civilians after the election?
What about the danish cartoon and miss world? What was the profit in these massacres and death?

What is the profit in slaughtering the Berom people? Since we are counting profit!

So if they can kill people in cold blood, what is the big deal gloating over a dead enemy?

CyberG:
It is obvious that Dede1, Macjive, Nchara, etc just want to perpetuate lies that cannot stand.

1. Ojukwu the principal actor on the Ibo side does not and did not blame Awolowo.
2. Awolowo gave his account in the full view of everyone including journalists from the SE
3. None of the existing main actors have disputed his account of what happened but in fact corroborated it.

Now, should we believe Ojukwu or you guys when the leader knows the blame is not where you insist it is. A lot of you live outside Nigeria because of better opportunities where you are, does your host country deserve to be vilified for their generosity, accommodation and the opportunities they have given to you? Does any of you pick a random fight with any of the citizens to impress on him you are now in his land and there is nothing he can do about it? I doubt none of you does that but you move to Lagos and all over the country, yet you abuse your hosts, why? The people who laid the foundations a long time ago before you were born, yet you abuse them. You curse them. Your fathers who fought and lost moved on, but the seed of lies and evil is germinating in you. Why??

Lagos/SW is hosting Nigerians and are not doing anyone any favour. Stop posting craps! If Lagos/SW does not wish to host non-indigenes, let it be written in the Federal constitution, until that quit sounding like anyone is being done a favour to live in his own country, it's very a boring nonsense. Quit smoking igbo, it's not good for your health.

Nonsense talk!

Was it not One Nigeria your fathers fought for, or you didn't expect non-indigene  population to grow? We are here to stay, in our own country and we will not kiss ass, if you are not happy jump into the lagoon!

booqee:
I wonder y u pple are quick to judge. . .at least give d poster a break.
there is every possibility dat it is true. The jubilation may not necessarily be in all of d northern states, it could even only be in one part, and d guy happened to serve dere. . .
So no need to chop d guy raw. . .d story could be very true, No be dis nigeria?
And if u really do know d story and history behind d nigerian civil war, and d biafra secession, then u should be able to believe dis post a lil bit.

What else would expect from abokis?
Are they not the same fellows who descended on innocent corpers for no just cause? Are they not the same people who slaughter innocent Nigerians for cartoons published in Denmark?

To expect more from them is to give them undeserved credit. We are in this country together; and we will work with them to implode it from the inside, if that is what they want.

^^^

. . . and the fuss?

Are Kwara and Kogi not Northern states? Whats the fuss about?

Chinedu Nlem:
Dim died laughing. @ nigeria of course. In gowon's state ethnic cleansing is the order of the day. The middle belt suffers from the marauding fulani. On oct 1 boko haram coughs and the presido hides inside the rock. The baba of treachery from ikenne died of frustration . What of boro and wiwa? both died like fowls by the same people they sided with against dim. Who laughed last, who laughed best? You choose.

And they 'winners' bequeathed us Lagos, Kano, in addition to our Onitsha very huge markets for our teeming population.

Come to think of it, this jungle Nigeria is very good for business. Just the way it is!

One Nigeria is indeed sweet!

^^^^
Is ACN not part of the NASS? What have they done on their on part?

Keep shedding crocodile tears.

^^^

Little wonder then. Thanks for the heads up

looks to me like someone want to vanish into thin air after collecting 25% mobilisation; otherwise I dont know why they are lamenting when they have only worked for just 2 freaking weeks!

[size=18pt]ROCHAS [/size]

If GEJ is not contesting in 2015, there is no way Nigerian will tolerate, let alone accept a despotic old man to rule her. We are not Zimbabwe!

Desola:
Hahaha, o ti jo!

O better. Ma bere nko ti o le pari. Daku mo be e.  

Let's dedicate creative writing to the fallen legend.




I start.


DEATH IS JUST THE BEGINNING

The light dims
On Dim
The Ikemba of Nnewi
The Lion of Biafra
The voice of federalism
The Oracle of Aburi

Who long ago
When the land was Unclad
Peered deep, and long
Into the soul of a Nation

Into Dark soul of of wretchedness
Draped in corruption
Garbed with nepotism and fanatism
Ravaged by bloodletting goons
Laying waste to his people
With bitterness, and callousness

"Not on my watch."
He roared.
Striking fear and awe
Into the heart of his adversary

Matching words, with action
To immortality he lead his people
Who like the phoenix
Rose from the ash
Of high treachery, and deceit
Reborn, rejuvenated, determined

Ikemba
Odumegwu
Ojukwu

The bearded General
The Bard
The Orator
The Warlord
The believer

A mythical figure
A stuff of Legend
Awed in life
Revered in death

A true son Igbo
The father of Biafra

There lies a true hero
Whence comes another?

Desola:
You see say I tok true. I sabi the winch wella! Na the same caucaus, me, your mama and she dey.

Leave mata, ike eba's broda's rod was waiting patiently for her to finish the interview to stroke her to relieve the stress of the interview.

See, the lady is looking hagard already. I tell am say this tin no be 3 square meals, she gasto take it easy. Ike eba's broda would not give it the tlc ike eba was giving it in his lifetime.

Anyway sha, long live the fo.ck.ing to her soul. Now

Was that what HID Awolowo did when her husband succumbed to self help rat poison?

Desola:
after all said and done and the press have carried their microphones and dictophones, she would sashay into her hotel room into the longing arms of ike eba's brother to have her congo shined.

Abeg, na today?

Coming from Nairaland confirmed prosti'tute, who would be surprised. Certainly not me.

30 pages of eulogies and counting, truly this was a great man!


RIP great one!