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Nairaland Forum / Nairaland / General / Politics / Awolowo Never Betrayed Igbos During Nigeria’s Civil War – Bode George (1779 Views)
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Awolowo Never Betrayed Igbos During Nigeria’s Civil War – Bode George by bennybuhari: 11:40am On Apr 10 |
Chief Olabode George, former deputy national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has said those accusing late Obafemi Awolowo of working against the interest of the south-east during the Nigerian civil war are saying rubbish. Speaking in an exclusive interview with worldviewafrica, George said rather than castigate the late premier of the western region, Igbos should be grateful to him and other leaders who made sacrifices to ensure that Nigeria still remains a united nation today. George who said everything is acceptable in war, added that Awolowo as Finance Minister and deputy to the then Head of State, Yakubu Gowon made a proposal that the country’s currency be changed. He said the proposal was adopted and this contributed to the swift end of the civil war which had killed millions of Nigerians . “That Awolowo betrayed Igbos and made them lose the war? That is absolute rubbish. Baba (Awolowo) was deputy to Gowon and not only that, he was controlling the economy. He then decided to change the Nigerian currency at that time. Everything is acceptable in war”. "What happened during the war was that the Biafra agitators had their Central Bank in the south-east and they have kept currencies there. Awolowo believed that if the currency is changed, all the monies they have stacked up will be worthless”. George, a former military governor of Ondo state said Awolowo’s policy was that Nigeria’s continued unity must be discussed and that if the south-east are allowed to secede, the people of the south-west will also follow them". “Awolowo’s position was that we must sit down and talk. That was the policy he adopted during the war. He did not do anything to negate the chances of our brothers in the South-East. In fact, he said if the Igbos are allowed to exit the Nigeria union, the Yorubas will follow suit. That was his belief”. “When they declared Biafra, they took control of all the South-South, especially Rivers and other places where we get crude oil. Awolowo then advised Gowon that if you want to have a full control of the economy, change the currency. He made the proposal to the Council and it was adopted”. “When that was done, all the currencies in the Central Bank in the south-east became useless and that also contributed to the end of the war. So, why should some people blame him for that?” “We should thank God for the lives of those leaders at that time, especially Papa Awolowo. It is an example of the love he had for Nigeria. He doesn’t want Nigeria to break-up and he doesn’t want our brothers in the south-east to leave. He believed so much in Nigeria’s unity”. https://worldviewafrica.com/awolowo-never-betrayed-igbos-during-nigerias-civil-war-bode-george/ 5 Likes 3 Shares
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Re: Awolowo Never Betrayed Igbos During Nigeria’s Civil War – Bode George by AlexBells(m): 11:45am On Apr 10 |
It is not very accurate to blame Awolowo, Ojukwu knew from Aburi that the West had been defeated. However Awolowo did take some mischievous steps afterwords like advising the Eastern blockade and taking Igbo money in the bank but we rose from the Ashes and became the best 10 Likes |
Re: Awolowo Never Betrayed Igbos During Nigeria’s Civil War – Bode George by valentineuwakwe(m): 11:57am On Apr 10 |
Old wounds should be buried! 3 Likes |
Re: Awolowo Never Betrayed Igbos During Nigeria’s Civil War – Bode George by obawinner(m): 12:02pm On Apr 10 |
AlexBells:Which West was defeated? They simply did not have a common ground for seceding. Awolowo argued for secession clause earlier to be included in the constitution. Who rejected it? Nnamdi Azikwe. In the case of banks, Why did Ojukwu loot the Nigeria central banks in the eastern region? Thus having illegally obtained Nigerian money so he could buy more ammunitions to fight the same Nigeria. In the case of Eastern blockade, You are fighting Nigeria, and you expect them to open their borders to feed you so you can continue the 'friendly' war? The planner that Orchestrated the misunderstanding at aburi had to escape overnight to ivory coast. Yet the west keep getting blamed for it non aligned stance. 13 Likes 5 Shares |
Re: Awolowo Never Betrayed Igbos During Nigeria’s Civil War – Bode George by WorldRichest: 12:17pm On Apr 10 |
Who are Igbos? Awolowo doesn't know them. I don't know them either 7 Likes 3 Shares |
Re: Awolowo Never Betrayed Igbos During Nigeria’s Civil War – Bode George by flokii: 12:31pm On Apr 10 |
Where I knew Awolowo was free and fair to all was in his free education policy for Westerners which even the Igbos born and bred in Yorubaland enjoyed. Indeed all is fair in love and war.. na who get tactics pass go win war. 6 Likes 3 Shares |
Re: Awolowo Never Betrayed Igbos During Nigeria’s Civil War – Bode George by Christistruth00: 12:42pm On Apr 10 |
You cannot betray those who were never loyal to you This is the Equivalent of Saying prime Minister Churchill of Britain betrayed the Germans They were never his Loyalists in the first Place Ojukwu would have done far worse if he was in Awolowo's position and even emptied the Midwest of its food Supply after his soldiers invaded Biafran Soldiers Broke into the food Stores and shoos in the Midwest and Cargo the food back to the East They didn't give a damn whether the Midwest eat or not It was Gowon that made arrangements to quickly resupply the Midwest with food 16 Likes 3 Shares |
Re: Awolowo Never Betrayed Igbos During Nigeria’s Civil War – Bode George by Christistruth00: 12:49pm On Apr 10 |
AlexBells: Aburi was rejected by the Niger Delta people and they made sure it failed because it gave them and their Ancestral Homeland over to Ojukwu to control forever Is that a lie? If it is tell us what Aburi gave the Niger Delta people 12 Likes 2 Shares |
Re: Awolowo Never Betrayed Igbos During Nigeria’s Civil War – Bode George by festacman(m): 12:51pm On Apr 10 |
Why is it so difficult to accept that Awolowo wanted to secure economic advantage for his people. It might not have worked as he anticipated due to the survival instinct and innate mercantile capabilities of Igbo people. Yes, from hindsight, it looks heartless but from ethnic competition and rivalry points of view, the policy was logical as a war tool to gain advantage. It is the same with Ikwere people seizing properties of Igbo in Port Harcourt as abandoned property to get even while properties of Igbo in Lagos and Northern Nigeria remained untouched. Today, Ikwere estate fortunes in Port Harcourt remain inferior to those of Igbo. Mean things happen during wars. Crazy things happen in the history of every nation. Even the Pope had to apologize for certain things the Church did in the past. The fact is that events of yesterday are supposed to guide us today dealings as we march into Tomorrow. Forward ever, backward never! 5 Likes |
Re: Awolowo Never Betrayed Igbos During Nigeria’s Civil War – Bode George by flokii: 12:58pm On Apr 10 |
AlexBells: You're not being truthful.. After Aguiyi Ironsi was killed in the Northern counter coup barely 6 months into his Military rule as Head of State, politicians sat down and decided to hand power over to North to pacify North not to exit Nigeria.. then the Northern elites back then settled for Yakubu Gowon to become Head of State at barely 31years of age (still the youngest ruler in Nigeria's history till date). Ojukwu of course kicked against this move and refused to recognize the Federal Government under Gowon, instead was finalizing plans to exit Nigeria together with oil rich Niger Delta region including Port Harcourt (without the consent of Niger Deltans). The meeting at Aburi was to call Ojukwu to order and remind him that declaring biafra would amount to treason (as Nnamdi Azikiwe and his fellow Igbos had kicked against secession clause earlier, claiming Nigeria's unity was non-negotiable). Ojukwu still went ahead regardless to declare Biafra with hope that France and co. he promised crude oil would support him. Little did he know that there was more to world politics especially when oil is involved. The Igbos started attacking Lagos first, infact Pen Cinema then was attacked with bomb killing Yorubas in large numbers.. As if it wasn't enough, Ojukwu ordered his biafran soldiers to march into Mid-West with the motive of taking over the region and subjecting it to Igbo rulership which they did. An Igbo Military officer was appointed President over what he (Ojukwu) later termed Republic of Benin (including present day Edo State and Delta State). It was after that "success" that the biafran soldiers marched further into South West hoping to take control as they did in the Mid West but met fierce resistance from gallant Yoruba soldiers at Ore in present day Ondo State where scores of the biafran troops were killed and they had no option than to retreat back into the Eastern region. That marked the beginning of the 3 long years civil war which Yorubas got involved in seeing all the moves of Ojukwu that he didn't have genuine intentions about secession. The rest is history. 12 Likes 6 Shares |
Re: Awolowo Never Betrayed Igbos During Nigeria’s Civil War – Bode George by LegendHero(m): 1:03pm On Apr 10 |
AlexBells: Igbo money in which bank? Most people withdrew their money because the war don’t just start instantly. People prepared and there was gradual mass exodus. You should rather cry to Ojuku who took your money to give you worthless Biaflan pounds. Mugu advertise, maga buy am. When is the East going to return the money they looted from the central bank in the Mid West? 18 Likes 3 Shares |
Re: Awolowo Never Betrayed Igbos During Nigeria’s Civil War – Bode George by LegendHero(m): 1:04pm On Apr 10 |
Bode George waking up late. We don’t need him to tell us this. We all know before. 13 Likes 2 Shares |
Re: Awolowo Never Betrayed Igbos During Nigeria’s Civil War – Bode George by gidgiddy: 1:11pm On Apr 10 |
Outside his South West, nobody has any regard for Awolowo. There's a reason behind that 5 Likes |
Re: Awolowo Never Betrayed Igbos During Nigeria’s Civil War – Bode George by SeeWahala: 1:15pm On Apr 10 |
The only thing I know awolowo accomplished during the war was to invent RATAK kill & dry. He tested it on himself too a very meticulous man he is 3 Likes |
Re: Awolowo Never Betrayed Igbos During Nigeria’s Civil War – Bode George by flokii: 1:20pm On Apr 10 |
SeeWahala: Stale.. Awolowo died peacefully at his Ikenne home at the age of 78 years and was laid to rest in same Ikenne. He died a happy and fulfiled man. Stop peddling lies and falsehood around. 10 Likes 6 Shares |
Re: Awolowo Never Betrayed Igbos During Nigeria’s Civil War – Bode George by SeeWahala: 1:29pm On Apr 10 |
flokii: RATAK RATAK RATAK 3 Likes
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Re: Awolowo Never Betrayed Igbos During Nigeria’s Civil War – Bode George by Melagros(m): 1:39pm On Apr 10 |
COMRADES are speechless at this news |
Re: Awolowo Never Betrayed Igbos During Nigeria’s Civil War – Bode George by Christistruth00: 2:07pm On Apr 10 |
6 Likes |
Re: Awolowo Never Betrayed Igbos During Nigeria’s Civil War – Bode George by DMerciful(m): 2:22pm On Apr 10 |
I have never heard Awolowo's name mentioned by a non Nigerian. Even in Nigeria, mostly SW talk about him. He was a regional champion that committed suicide. Inspite of the coup and war, Nzeogwu and Ojukwu were given national burials LegendHero: 1 Like |
Re: Awolowo Never Betrayed Igbos During Nigeria’s Civil War – Bode George by DMerciful(m): 2:23pm On Apr 10 |
He committed suicide, everybody knows this flokii: 1 Like |
Re: Awolowo Never Betrayed Igbos During Nigeria’s Civil War – Bode George by AlexBells(m): 2:56pm On Apr 10 |
Christistruth00:What was Niger Delta |
Re: Awolowo Never Betrayed Igbos During Nigeria’s Civil War – Bode George by AlexBells(m): 2:57pm On Apr 10 |
flokii:That text is too long please and I didn’t see any sense in the first paragraph 1 Like |
Re: Awolowo Never Betrayed Igbos During Nigeria’s Civil War – Bode George by T8ksy(m): 3:02pm On Apr 10 |
DMerciful: You mean, "every hate-filled igbos concoted, propagate and believe this fallacy". 3 Likes 2 Shares |
Re: Awolowo Never Betrayed Igbos During Nigeria’s Civil War – Bode George by rinzaugustine: 3:06pm On Apr 10 |
You missed out the part about the British role in the war and how awolowo advised Gowon to block food for millions of Biafrans . Gowon implemented and British enforced it with bombardment of food sources to Biafra .If not for British complicity, Biafra would have been a better nation today .Oji river coal power plant was generating power for SE/SS before they bombed it during the war, Most of the industries MI okpara did are still there today . Obasanjo did indigenization decree as president which basic took took ownership of local companies and handed it over to Yorubas , that killed industrialization efforts in Nigeria. Due to the policy Many foreign companies left while igbos that had industries then closed shops and went into importation. India and Pakistan were once one country but India decided to go there way when they saw Pakistan didn’t want to move forward and look at where India is today . 2 Likes |
Re: Awolowo Never Betrayed Igbos During Nigeria’s Civil War – Bode George by Slytiger: 3:13pm On Apr 10 |
AlexBells:LMAO. He did not take any money from any bank. The lies Radio Biafria fed you people
4 Likes 3 Shares |
Re: Awolowo Never Betrayed Igbos During Nigeria’s Civil War – Bode George by T8ksy(m): 3:16pm On Apr 10 |
festacman: This is the first time, am hearing that, the Northerners who unleashed pogrom on biafrans (during the war), returned their properties to them after, when conquered igbos went back to the north. So my question is, was there "Abandoned properties " in the north as it was in the mid-west after the gratuitous civil war? |
Re: Awolowo Never Betrayed Igbos During Nigeria’s Civil War – Bode George by Slytiger: 3:20pm On Apr 10 |
DMerciful:Awolowo was given a national burial. What is your definition of national burial? Who was supposed to be there that wasn’t there? Aikhomu as the No 2 citizen then led the federal delegation to the burial. Prior to that, Babangida and his wife led separate delegations to Ikenne. Public holiday was declared in the whole south west and the Parliament building in Ibadan was temporarily opened for his body to be received. At the liberty stadium Ibadan, his body was received by many military governors, military and police and public. His casket was carried on a gun carrier surrounded by soldiers.. Awolowo is well known abroad. He created the first TV station in Africa, help establish Obafemi Awolowo university whose graduates are doing outstanding things all over the world. Pictures: 1. News announcing Awolowo:a first tv station in Africa 2. Awolowo with British PM 3. Awolowo and other African and world leaders take a picture with Queen Elizabeth 5 Likes 1 Share
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Re: Awolowo Never Betrayed Igbos During Nigeria’s Civil War – Bode George by Christistruth00: 3:21pm On Apr 10 |
AlexBells: That's almost Exactly what Ojukwu said when their issue was raised at Aburi He didn't want to hear anything of Niger Delta 1 Like 1 Share |
Re: Awolowo Never Betrayed Igbos During Nigeria’s Civil War – Bode George by Slytiger: 3:24pm On Apr 10 |
gidgiddy:Only in the SE is he being disregarded. Ibos hate any Yoruba politician doing well for his people. You hate that man so much that Peter Obi, the tribalist and religious bigot, weaponized the hatred to campaign for elections in Anambra state. Peter Obi's tribalism and bigotry did not just start now. Same hatred has been passed on to Tinubu. 1 Like 1 Share
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Re: Awolowo Never Betrayed Igbos During Nigeria’s Civil War – Bode George by DMerciful(m): 3:25pm On Apr 10 |
National burial is not based on attendance but whether the state conducted the burial. A person that committed suicide cannot be given national burial obviously Slytiger: |
Re: Awolowo Never Betrayed Igbos During Nigeria’s Civil War – Bode George by kingsways: 3:25pm On Apr 10 |
Imagine How can any right thinking human being open his trap and say everything is acceptable in war? So Israel can go ahead and kill all Palestinians including civilians and kids since everything is acceptable in war according this demented fellow 1 Like |
Re: Awolowo Never Betrayed Igbos During Nigeria’s Civil War – Bode George by AlexBells(m): 3:26pm On Apr 10 |
Christistruth00:I didn’t say I don’t want to hear about Niger delta, I asked what was Niger Delta, an established region or a part of eastern region. Was borro not a rebel, what position did he hold in government |
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