₦airaland Forum

FourQu:
All these lagos - hebadan expressway revisionism sha

FxMasterz:
The history of the war as posted by the OP is the truth.

DaddyCoool:
I also support a united Nigeria, but you are telling a total lie in claiming the FG was not the aggressor.
FG reneged on Aburi that was painstakingly crafted and which they willingly signed. Also, FG forces were the first to actually attack (see below)

FxMasterz:
Yorubas are not the enemies of igbos. Neither are the igbos the enemies of Yorubas or Hausas. Our enemies are our bad leaders. We need to unite and fight the battle against bad leadership and corruption.

FourQu:
Truth to who?

First year history 101 students abi?

FourQu:
I'm not sure igbos need to fight off any bad leader with anybody . . . Especially seeing as the yorubas would love to support and elect another bad leader again just as they have always done

FxMasterz:
The Biafrians were the first to start raiding.

FxMasterz:
When we unite as one, tribalism will fall.

FourQu:
Nah, the federal were the ones to start with their renegade on a gentleman's agreement in aburi

Don't get it twisted

FourQu:
We are not one and tribalism has never failed YET so . . .

FxMasterz:
Even if we want to have separate nations, we can't achieve it by disunity.

FxMasterz:
According to the UN charter, an aggressor is the one party who was the first to take up arms. Not the party that reneges on an agreement.

FourQu:
Well in that case, the pogroms on igbos by the notherners is exactly what prompted the aburi accords that the federal government later renegade on . . .

So safe to say, the northerners caused the war right?

GothamCities:
The issue surrounding the causes of the Nigerian Civil War is complex, with multiple factors contributing to the conflict. The pogroms against the Igbos in the North in 1966 were indeed one of the key triggers that escalated tensions, leading to the eventual Biafran secession and war. These events, however, must be understood in the broader historical context.

The Pogroms and Ethnic Tensions

Following the first coup in January 1966, led by predominantly Igbo officers, which resulted in the assassination of several prominent northern leaders, ethnic tensions in Nigeria were exacerbated. Many in the North believed that the coup was an Igbo attempt to dominate the country politically. This led to a counter-coup in July 1966, led by northern officers, which resulted in the killing of the Igbo military head of state, Major General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi, and other Igbo soldiers.

In the months following the counter-coup, large-scale massacres (often referred to as pogroms) against Igbos living in the North took place. Thousands of Igbos were killed, and many fled back to the southeastern region. These atrocities further fueled the desire for secession in the East, as the Igbos felt unsafe and marginalized within the Nigerian federation.

The Aburi Accord

In January 1967, Nigerian military leaders, including General Yakubu Gowon and Colonel Odumegwu Ojukwu, met in Aburi, Ghana, in an attempt to resolve the growing tensions and avoid civil war. The Aburi Accord was reached, which called for a more decentralized Nigeria, with regional autonomy to address the grievances of the Eastern region and prevent further violence.

However, upon returning to Nigeria, the federal government later reneged on parts of the Aburi Accord. The disagreement over the implementation of the accord further deepened the divide, and in May 1967, Ojukwu declared the Republic of Biafra.

Who Caused the War?

While the pogroms were a major factor in pushing the Eastern region toward secession, it's an oversimplification to say that "the northerners caused the war." The Nigerian Civil War was the result of a complex series of events, including ethnic tensions, political instability, the coups and counter-coups, and the failure of peaceful negotiations like the Aburi Accord. The northern-led massacres of Igbos did contribute significantly to the war, but the war itself cannot be solely attributed to one side or event.

The decision by Ojukwu to declare Biafran independence after the failed implementation of the Aburi Accord was the direct catalyst for the war, as it led to a military confrontation with the federal government. Gowon, as head of state, acted to preserve the unity of Nigeria, which was his constitutional duty, even though this action led to war.

The pogroms against Igbos in the North were a tragic and crucial factor in the lead-up to the Nigerian Civil War. They created a deep sense of insecurity and resentment among the Igbos, contributing to their desire for secession. However, the war itself was the result of a series of events involving political, ethnic, and military actions on both sides. Blaming one side exclusively for causing the war overlooks the complexities of the situation and the failures of all parties involved to find a peaceful solution. However, the Igbo.coup was what triggered the series of events leading to the war.

GothamCities:
The issue surrounding the causes of the Nigerian Civil War is complex, with multiple factors contributing to the conflict. The pogroms against the Igbos in the North in 1966 were indeed one of the key triggers that escalated tensions, leading to the eventual Biafran secession and war. These events, however, must be understood in the broader historical context.

The Pogroms and Ethnic Tensions

Following the first coup in January 1966, led by predominantly Igbo officers, which resulted in the assassination of several prominent northern leaders, ethnic tensions in Nigeria were exacerbated. Many in the North believed that the coup was an Igbo attempt to dominate the country politically. This led to a counter-coup in July 1966, led by northern officers, which resulted in the killing of the Igbo military head of state, Major General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi, and other Igbo soldiers.

In the months following the counter-coup, large-scale massacres (often referred to as pogroms) against Igbos living in the North took place. Thousands of Igbos were killed, and many fled back to the southeastern region. These atrocities further fueled the desire for secession in the East, as the Igbos felt unsafe and marginalized within the Nigerian federation.

The Aburi Accord

In January 1967, Nigerian military leaders, including General Yakubu Gowon and Colonel Odumegwu Ojukwu, met in Aburi, Ghana, in an attempt to resolve the growing tensions and avoid civil war. The Aburi Accord was reached, which called for a more decentralized Nigeria, with regional autonomy to address the grievances of the Eastern region and prevent further violence.

However, upon returning to Nigeria, the federal government later reneged on parts of the Aburi Accord. The disagreement over the implementation of the accord further deepened the divide, and in May 1967, Ojukwu declared the Republic of Biafra.

Who Caused the War?

While the pogroms were a major factor in pushing the Eastern region toward secession, it's an oversimplification to say that "the northerners caused the war." The Nigerian Civil War was the result of a complex series of events, including ethnic tensions, political instability, the coups and counter-coups, and the failure of peaceful negotiations like the Aburi Accord. The northern-led massacres of Igbos did contribute significantly to the war, but the war itself cannot be solely attributed to one side or event.

The decision by Ojukwu to declare Biafran independence after the failed implementation of the Aburi Accord was the direct catalyst for the war, as it led to a military confrontation with the federal government. Gowon, as head of state, acted to preserve the unity of Nigeria, which was his constitutional duty, even though this action led to war.

The pogroms against Igbos in the North were a tragic and crucial factor in the lead-up to the Nigerian Civil War. They created a deep sense of insecurity and resentment among the Igbos, contributing to their desire for secession. However, the war itself was the result of a series of events involving political, ethnic, and military actions on both sides. Blaming one side exclusively for causing the war overlooks the complexities of the situation and the failures of all parties involved to find a peaceful solution. However, the Igbo.coup was what triggered the series of events leading to the war.

FxMasterz:
The federal government retaliated Biafrian raids. Biafrian raids started long before.

DaddyCoool:
You have just been shown it clearly stated who attacked fiirst.
You agree things should make a little bit of sense, rught? What sense does it make Biafra attacking. On what basis would Biafra be attacking Nig??!

Arda1000:
so as a leader Ojukwu would have been dining and dancing while his people are been massacred?

FxMasterz:
If you're referring to the programs against the igbos in the north as an indication of who first attacked, you should also remember that the programs were the aftermath of the Igbo coup of 1966. Infact, the Igbo coup was the event that triggered every other event that led to the war. Hence, the igbos were the aggressors. Nevertheless, we must forget the past and allow peace to reign. We need a united Nigeria to overcome our common enemies.

DaddyCoool:
Which one be "programs" and "Igbo coup"?
Simple: FG ordered what they called a "police action" to quell the rebellion in the East