₦airaland Forum

Musrataman:
Igbo are migrants in Delta state

It doesn't matter Ifeanyi Okowa is still your governor

AlexBells:
What Is south South please, Igboland is one, just face your part of South south and we good

There's no Igbo parts in the south six states of the Niger Delta people

AlexBells:
It doesn't matter Ifeanyi Okowa is still your governor

That's why we are more wiser and intelligent than you guys just as the American allow Barack Obama to be president,we don't discriminate in our region because it is not Igbo horrible region

Musrataman:
That's why we are more wiser and intelligent than you guys just as the American allow Barack Obama to be president,we don't discriminate in our region because it is not Igbo horrible region

Oh really, the capital of Delta is also Asaba lol, core Igboland lol

Musrataman:
Igbo are migrants in Delta state

It doesnt mstrer if they are migrants, what matters is if they own the land

AlexBells:
I just love Kaduna Nzeogwu
1. He didnt drink alcohol
2. He was an ardent Catholic
3. He prayed a lot
4. He didn't quite have a girlfriend
5. He didn't speak much
6. He was principled, believed in courage, honour and dignity
7. He died fighting

He sure did make some mistakes but my love for him remains unshaken, if I'm in a bus trip with Nzeogwu let's say we would travel to Kaduna together, that would be like a dream come true, I really wish it happened in an alternate universe and it would be March 1966,

I would ask him loads of questions like how he felt the night before the coup, many things to really ask, seriously, I honestly wished Nzeogwu avoided the war, I want to ask him why he fought with Biafra despite being from Midwest, I know Nzeogwu was long dead before he died, he really felt he caused the war, I try to understand he must be depressed at some point along the line.

You must have read a thing or two about Nzeoqwu and his coup. In chinua’s account, the coup was countered in Lagos; where did his coup take place then? Nigeria at that time was divided into regions. Which region did Nzeogwu usurp power?

AlexBells:
Yes, the discussion is purely academic, I love that Ojukwu stood his ground and fought even though he was not the best to lead the war and every odd was against him,

I'm also happy that the war happened in 1966-70 and not today and regrettably, it is much recoverable that the war happened to the Igbos becuase any other nationality could have been a sort of annihilation, perhaps the war happened to the North at the receiving end, the West could have used the opportunity to decimate them same is applicable if the war was on the West, the North could not have looked back at blowing them up to debris.

Ojukwu was extremely stubborn which I liked up to a point the resistance was surprisingly beyond the initial perception, the fact is this most people think the war was between Biafra and Nigeria but it was a war between two factions of Nigeria, only that one retained the name and capital,

Most weapons even at then was in Kaduna of which Nzeogwu told Ojukwu that the best place to match was Kaduna, it was quite unfortunate that the Northern border defence was so weak and Nsukka would be the first area to fall

Everyone had something good from them, Ojukwu fought and that had saved us from another full scale war and it had helped forge a new identity of the Igbos as people who are not scared to fight, all in all, every war would always have a fault to it, we look at the past and figure out what was done right and what was done right, we really don't pray for another war, the last one had curtailed any further full scale war but you never can tell perhaps we fight again, people need to make right decisions in time to reduce cost

Would it have been easier if they headed north to kaduna? What would have been the objective, to seize Nigeria armory in Kaduna? But Nigeria had a good supply of arms from Britain.

Did they (Biafran forces) have the required man-power to face north to Kaduna and the hostile community who viewed the war as ethnic (Hausa versus igbo)?

owagbeba:
You must have read a thing or two about Nzeoqwu and his coup. In chinua’s account, the coup was countered in Lagos; where did his coup take place then? Nigeria at that time was divided into regions. Which region did Nzeogwu usurp power?

The fact was that things happened too fast and there were serious propaganda, mostly anti Zik and anti Igbo, Zik was blackmailed to numbness by the media

Honestly Zik was the head of state, the coup happened mostly in the North yet and lets say the West and with the prime minister out, maybe if Zik did escape and come back later to fight, we could have still arrive at a riot but the media as at then did not do any justice to anything, first there was suspicion that Zik was part of the coup in a bid to takeover the government but Zik was the head of state and if he tried fighting based on his constitutional powers the media could have rubbished him further,

We can never be satisfied with the events of 1962 to 1970, the more you look at the situation the more you figure out that things happened the way they happened, the coup was partial in the most part of it, Military takeover could not even had been an issue but Zik was already boxed to a corner and he became docile,

owagbeba:
Would it have been easier if they headed north to kaduna? What would have been the objective, to seize Nigeria armory in Kaduna? But Nigeria had a good supply of arms from Britain.

Did they (Biafran forces) have the required man-power to face north to Kaduna and the hostile community who viewed the war as ethnic (Hausa versus igbo)?

They couldn't have reached Kaduna in the first 1 year and yes it could have been better to match North because a little beyond Nsukka is already Northern Region, the war could have raged in Kogi and Benue for the first one year if not for the most part of the war, both side have boundary there

Midwest could have remained Nuetral or even pro east, the issue with matching west is that there is a Nuetral region which you need to cross before reaching the enemies but if they matched Kaduna just an inch towards and you are in the North, the progress could have been slow but if we can't get to Kaduna they can't also get to Enugu and other Igbo heartland

Kogi and Benue could have suffered but it could have been better, yes if they continued a full match towards North they had enough weapons to hold the North away from Igbo heartland and once the Ogbunigwe would be in use much later, it could have been significant

AlexBells:
The fact was that things happened too fast and there were serious propaganda, mostly anti Zik and anti Igbo, Zik was blackmailed to numbness by the media

Honestly Zik was the head of state, the coup happened mostly in the North yet and lets say the West and with the prime minister out, maybe if Zik did escape and come back later to fight, we could have still arrive at a riot but the media as at then did not do any justice to anything, first there was suspicion that Zik was part of the coup in a bid to takeover the government but Zik was the head of state and if he tried fighting based on his constitutional powers the media could have rubbished him further,

We can never be satisfied with the events of 1962 to 1970, the more you look at the situation the more you figure out that things happened the way they happened, the coup was partial in the most part of it, Military takeover could not even had been an issue but Zik was already boxed to a corner and he became docile,

May be he (Nzeogwu) never thought out his strategy. He had a coup in the north, but it appears there was no strong attempt to gain control of the western region and the other regions. So the whole attempt to grab power was overwhelmed by media propaganda, lack of support from the other regions who viewed his coup as a power grab by igbos.

Reading through accounts of that episode, I find it so confusing. What was his strategy?

AlexBells:
They couldn't have reached Kaduna in the first 1 year and yes it could have been better to match North because a little beyond Nsukka is already Northern Region, the war could have raged in Kogi and Benue for the first one year if not for the most part of the war, both side have boundary there

Midwest could have remained Nuetral or even pro east, the issue with matching west is that there is a Nuetral region which you need to cross before reaching the enemies but if they matched Kaduna just an inch towards and you are in the North, the progress could have been slow but if we can't get to Kaduna they can't also get to Enugu and other Igbo heartland

Kogi and Benue could have suffered but it could have been better, yes if they continued a full match towards North they had enough weapons to hold the North away from Igbo heartland and once the Ogbunigwe would be in use much later, it could have been significant

I thought kogi and Benue were neutral lanes in the fight? Taking the fight to these places would make the residents resent Biafran’s attempt at taking the fight to the North.

But then making such a march to north would mean they are fighting like a regular army which as a strategy will fail since they didn’t have the numbers and arms to support such move.

Alex ... what was the man-strength of the Biafran forces? Upto 500k soldiers?

owagbeba:
May be he (Nzeogwu) never thought out his strategy. He had a coup in the north, but it appears there was no strong attempt to gain control of the western region and the other regions. So the whole attempt to grab power was overwhelmed by media propaganda, lack of support from the other regions who viewed his coup as a power grab by igbos.

Reading through accounts of that episode, I find it so confusing. What was his strategy?

Nzeogwu had a clean strategy only that the while situation was so badly done, Nzeogwu knew that once he had the North, he is already holding the Military grip of Nigeria, remember he was in Kaduna, it was the failure of the coup in the East and the fact that Nzeogwu had no real ambitions that made for the major blow,

Nzeogwu had already taken hold of the North and with the Coup in the West, only a perfect work in the East could have given Nzeogwu the control of the Nation, he didn't quite need controlling the west, he was not an ardent propagandist, Ojukwu was much better in the area of propaganda, otherwise with the North down, if it worked fine in the East, holding the West and Lagos military wise was not going to be an issue, the East loved Nzeogwu and an Nzeogwu rule would not have been resisted in the East if it got to that point

owagbeba:
I thought kogi and Benue were neutral lanes in the fight? Taking the fight to these places would make the residents resent Biafran’s attempt at taking the fight to the North.

But then making such a march to north would mean they are fighting like a regular army which as a strategy will fail since they didn’t have the numbers and arms to support such move.

Alex ... what was the man-strength of the Biafran forces? Upto 500k soldiers?

No, the people of Kogi and Benue could have been subjugated and the match from Kaduna could not have been able to save them, instinctively a fast allegiance or cooperation could have saved them from any form of Biafran Brutality, it is still easier to get to Kogi and Benue from Enugu than from Kaduna

If the minorities in Kogi or Benue views it anyway bad there could have been nothing they would be able to do, even if Biafra had 5K soldiers stationed in those two states, they would not have revolted and if they did suply would pour in from Enugu, they were North and thats what it was and if they cooperated then there would be no need for bloodbath, the match could have continued,

Yes Biafra can fight the North like a regular army, matching Lagos was what made it a federal war.

this shows you don't know history.you said he caused the war? please the war was caused by those hausas killing the igbos

oskopy:
this shows you don't know history.you said he caused the war? please the war was caused by those hausas killing the igbos

I think you read from your brain upside down, I said he felt guilty as he thought he caused the war, I did not say he caused the war, I'm only looking through what he must have felt, even a BBC interview with the sister she said Nzeogwu believed he must stay back to see to the end of what he started

Caboceer:
Na wa for you

Buhari no dey drink too and e no dey fu-ck. He's warrior too, for ypur information

you are a bloody liar, Mohammed Buhari don't drink nor smoke but never trust him with your wife, we even heard that Mohammadu Buhari will enter his Mom if she sit careless.

Musrataman:
What is SS and SE?
Why are you guys not ashamed to be alone with your evils supporters five states.

South south are not evil people just stay clear from us

When you talk about as,ijaws are the first tribe.
I'm an ijaw man so we rule ss.
Ss and se are brothers,if you don't like it join afonjas in their ewedu republic.
God bless the ijaws.

AlexBells:
Yes Biafra can fight the North like a regular army, matching Lagos was what made it a federal war.

You think western Nigeria would have viewed the war as North versus East conflict and urged western troops in Federal forces to not support the war if the Biafran forces had not attempted a march to the west? I don’t think so.

There was a palpable Anti -Nzeogwu/Igbo frenzy in Western Nigeria; and many from the eastern region left Lagos due to this frenzy. And there reports of killings but not comparable to the pogrom in the north.

AlexBells:
Nzeogwu had a clean strategy only that the while situation was so badly done, Nzeogwu knew that once he had the North, he is already holding the Military grip of Nigeria, remember he was in Kaduna, it was the failure of the coup in the East and the fact that Nzeogwu had no real ambitions that made for the major blow,

Nzeogwu had already taken hold of the North and with the Coup in the West, only a perfect work in the East could have given Nzeogwu the control of the Nation, he didn't quite need controlling the west, he was not an ardent propagandist, Ojukwu was much better in the area of propaganda, otherwise with the North down, if it worked fine in the East, holding the West and Lagos military wise was not going to be an issue, the East loved Nzeogwu and an Nzeogwu rule would not have been resisted in the East if it got to that point

Just wondering who did Nzeogwu assign the Lagos theater?

owagbeba:
You think western Nigeria would have viewed the war as North versus East conflict and urged western troops in Federal forces to not support the war if the Biafran forces had not attempted a march to the west? I don’t think so.

There was a palpable Anti -Nzeogwu/Igbo frenzy in Western Nigeria; and many from the eastern region left Lagos due to this frenzy. And there reports of killings but not comparable to the pogrom in the north.

How much Soldiers does the West really have, Ogundipe ran away, Fajuyi was executed alongside Ironsi and the west was mute, worst of all they spread the narratives that Fajuyi was killed becuase he wished to go with Ironsi that's a total fabrication, just like today, the west had never been a top military force, every side mapped out the west as a subjugate specimen

owagbeba:
Just wondering who did Nzeogwu assign the Lagos theater?

Lagos is never a concern and hopefully never will be, West would remain the easiest to defeat

AlexBells:
Well Awo was significant to Wrsterners but I will prefer Zik if the trip would be twice or if I have a choice of two companions then it shall be Nzeogwu and Zik

Zik is the reason regions cannot separate in peace.

mp3ree:
Zik is the reason regions cannot separate in peace.

There is no serious country where region separate in peace

AlexBells:
Akintola was supposed to be arrested but he opened fire

It was still a Murder

Because it was Pre planned and he was killed in his home

Akintolas reaction was Self defense

Remember that Officers and Sardauna had already been murdered in Lagos earlier that morning and the Prime minister was already Missing


Akintola opened fire to defend himself and his family from Killers

Akintola already knew there was a Planned Coup and he discussed it with Sardauna in Kaduna the Previous day who put his mind at rest

AlexBells:
I know that this question was not directed at me but I find it interesting and would want to answer, Ojukwu was not quite a soldier, he was born with silver spoon, extremely intelligent as a person and as an orator but a total failure as a soldier.

Ojukwu could have deployed counter command at first similar to what IPOB is doing today, launch an ardent civil disobedience mechanism against the North/Western faction and move to work with the Midwest, he could have deployed gorilla tactics while tasking the RAP (Research and Production) team to produce the weapon (Ogbunigwe).

He could have needed time to get some weapons and take the war to the sea, there could have been no need to match to Lagos on land and rattling the situation of the Midwest, but what could have happened, whoever won that war, Nigeria could have won because Ojukwu was not primarily about secession but about command and control

I feel Ojukwu wanted the war over and done with quickly, same as Gowon.

christistruth01:
It was still a Murder

Because it was Pre planned and he was killed in his home

Akintolas reaction was Self defense

Remember that Officers and Sardauna had already been murdered in Lagos earlier that morning and the Prime minister was already Missing


Akintola opened fire to defend himself and his family from Killers

Akintola already knew there was a Planned Coup and he discussed it with Sardauna in Kaduna the Previous day who put his mind at rest

I'm not saying that it wasn't a murder, there was a particular sentiment that I responded to, it was q murder as anything can be, the tension was high so yes he acted on impulse but how do he really think he can take on a team of soldiers just with a sub machine gun, hopefully he thought it can act as a distraction until help arrived but then, it happened the way it happened, absolutely regrettable

Usonkwu:
I feel Ojukwu wanted the war over and done with quickly, same as Gowon.

Ojukwu was virtually traumatised throughout the war period, he was just acting on impulse even Gowon was scared, until he got Awolowo who is power hungry and knows better how to weild it to his side, when you listen to him in Aburi you would see an Arrogant but virtually shaken Fellow in Gowon

I so much hate major Kaduna. His killing of Sardauna and Akintola is ethno-religiously motivated. Had it been it was only Tafawa Balewa they killed it would have been excused but killing Premiers of North and Western region and sparing his region's premier is questionable.
Zik knew about the planned coup and left the country, he was supposed to come back but extended his stay for another time to ensure they perpetrated their act when he was away.
Why did they killed Sardauna's wife too?
Major Kaduna was well taken care of by Sardauna but he still killed him!
The coup and killings are motivated by extreme ethno-religious fanaticism!

ArewaNorth:
I so much hate major Kaduna. His killing of Sardauna and Akintola is ethno-religiously motivated. Had it been it was only Tafawa Balewa they killed it would have been excused but killing Premiers of North and Western region and sparing his region's premier is questionable.
Zik knew about the planned coup and left the country, he was supposed to come back but extended his stay for another time to ensure they perpetrated their act when he was away.
Why did they killed Sardauna's wife too?
Major Kaduna was well taken care of by Sardauna but he still killed him!
The coup and killings are motivated by extreme ethno-religious fanaticism!

The situation was as bad as anything can get, it was terrible, however Not only Zik learnt about the coup, both Akintola and Sarduana knew about the coup,

Like I said, Nzeogwu as a person made mistakes but even at that, during the time I believe he did what he thought was in the best interest of the nation, I can't justify anything but Sarduana"s wife ought to be out of the situation but then, these things happened in the long past, neither you nor I could change it today,

I'm also not quite okay with Sarduana's view of some certain issue as he took Northern self preservation to a whole Xenophobic level but that could not have warranted his assassination, also we should not downplay the violence and instability that was instrumental to the coup, it feels really unfair to assume that there was entirely no need for the intervention of the January 15 boys, I honestly regret that Zik was spared

AlexBells:
No, the people of Kogi and Benue could have been subjugated and the match from Kaduna could not have been able to save them, instinctively a fast allegiance or cooperation could have saved them from any form of Biafran Brutality, it is still easier to get to Kogi and Benue from Enugu than from Kaduna

If the minorities in Kogi or Benue views it anyway bad there could have been nothing they would be able to do, even if Biafra had 5K soldiers stationed in those two states, they would not have revolted and if they did suply would pour in from Enugu, they were North and thats what it was and if they cooperated then there would be no need for bloodbath, the match could have continued,

Yes Biafra can fight the North like a regular army, matching Lagos was what made it a federal war.

Alexbells you don't have a Clue about Benue do you

Not only did the Tiv Warriors defeat Usman Dan Fodios Jihad but they actually defeated the British Soldiers in Battle too the agreement that brought the Tiv nation under the British was a Peace agreement Like with the Alaafin of Oyo


Or is it the Igala who Colonised much of Igboland and the fearsome Warrior like Idomas that you think Ojukwu's Biafran Army would have just walked over in Benue

It was because of the excellent fighting abilities of the Benue Tribes that Igboland didn't even know there was a Fulani Jihad going on

Or do you think fighting Fulanis on horseback with Arab War advisers was Akpu and Oha Soup

christistruth01:
Alexbells you don't have a Clue about Benue do you

Not only did the Tiv Warriors defeat Usman Dan Fodios Jihad but they actually defeated the British Soldiers in Battle too the agreement that brought the Tiv nation under the British was a Peace agreement Like with the Alaafin of Oyo


Or is it the Igala who Colonised much of Igboland and the fearsome Warrior like Idomas that you think Ojukwu's Biafran Army would have just walked over in Benue

It was because of the excellent fighting abilities of the Benue Tribes that Igboland didn't even know there was a Fulani Jihad going on

Or do you think fighting Fulanis on horseback with Arab advisers was Akpu and Oha Soup

Be feeling yourself, you really want to compare the Tiv, Idoma and Igala to Eastern region, if Biafran forces overrun midwest, what is Tiv and Kogi, when we are talking about Entire Northern region you are talking about Two state, we are not talking about even South East here, we are not talking about tribal fight here and Fulanis had never dared to fight Igbos, we do get situation of their terrorists but Fulanis had never fought Igbos as a people,

If Ojukwu matched to Benue and you resisted, you could have seen a bloodbath that would make Asaba Massacre look like a childs play, honestly either of Kogi or Benue could not have even resisted, with what, even today how much national weapons are in Kogi or Benue, forget the only challenge is Kaduna abd if Ojukwu matched North highest your land could have been the theater of war