₦airaland Forum

gidgiddy:
But it was not Ojukwu's fault. The war was not Ojukwu's fault. Ojukwu did everything he could to avoid war, even risking his life to go to Aburi, Ghana, to sign an agreement with Gowon that would prevent war

Blame Gowon breaking the agreement and causing war

PulaPower:
“Before the civil war, there was another local war between the people of Enugu-Ezike in the present Igboeze North Local Government Area, and its border town neighbour, Ofante in Kogi State. The war preceded the civil war. During that war, the Ofante people killed our war hero, Ogbu Nwugbabe from Aji, Enugu Ezike. Ogbu Nwugbabe had what we now call ‘Odieshi’, an antidote for dane guns which was in vogue then. It was used in fighting the Ofante war. He was our war commander.

Ogbu Nwugbabe had killed an Ofante man, whose son was a Nigerian soldier. So, the son of the Ofante man returned home with his military rifle and joined his native people in the battle field and shot several of Enugu Ezike people including Ogbu Nwugbabe who, it was believed, could not be killed with any gun. They later brought his headless corpse to the then District Officer, DO, at Nsukka, where it was confirmed that the bullet that felled him was from a military rifle. Shortly after his killing, the local war ended and the Nigeria – Biafra civil war started.

You’ll never see Igbos mentioning how they started killing Nigerians. They are always acting as if they didn’t kill Nigerians..

kettykin:
I read this and I weep for Nigeria. I read where soldiers were shooting at markets and innocent traders and I reserve my comments. It seems Hitler was a saint. Why is heaven still allowing a useless entity to still exist.

I have been wondering why despite the numbers of church goers why Nigeria has been drifting endlessly like a de orbited planet. Now I have a clue. I wish Nigeria all the shreds of luck

helinues:
The civil war could have been avoided if not because of Ojukwu's over bloated egos

gidgiddy:
Gowon broke the agreement, Gowon declared war. This has nothing to do with Ojukwu, you can only avoid war with someone who wants peace

Ojukwu proved he wanted peace by going to Aburi and signing a peace agreement with Gowon. Gowon showed he wanted war by breaking the agreement

The war was squarely caused by Gowon

Focusmind:
Most Igbo men in their 70s and 80s have stories of their respective civil war era. My own father, 80 now, trekked from Calabar to Umuahia and to Ogidi, in Anambra state, just to escape the federal troops that were indiscriminately shooting at young men. The war should have been avoided. I agreed that the Igbos felt unsafe after the 1966 counter coup but don't rule out Ojukwu's ego in the whole episode. If someone else was the military administrator of the Eastern Region, the war may not have happened. Leaders and their decisions are sometimes shaped by their personality and character. That war should not have happened. All peaceful options were not followed and ojukwu was in a haste to secede and Gowon was in a haste to thwart Ojukwu's plan.

Eastern region was grossly ill prepared for the war and under estimated the ability of the federal government to engage British and Soviet government to their side, ensuring regular supply of high- calibre munition. But Ojukwu was busy sending young men to battle field with three rounds of ammunition rifles, den guns and "cock and shoot" rifles to face people, armed to the teeth with the latest AK 47, backed by MiG fighter jets, the most sophisticated jet of that era. Sometimes, I wished that Majors Ifeajuna and Victor Banjo had succeeded in their internal plan to overthrow Ojukwu and restarted negotiations with Lagos. You don't fight wars with emotions, especially, when you are grossly under armed. Even the great negotiations Professors Kenneth Dike, Eni Njoku and Eyo Ita concluded with the French government for support to Biafra was trashed by Ojukwu as he felt that the agreement ceded the control of Biafra to the French, making him, Ojukwu, to loose his relevance. You have to be diplomatic to get what you want, even if it means conceding some grounds. When Ojukwu eventually agreed to certain proposals by the French to supply arms, the Biafran armed forces was already degraded and posed no major challenge to the federal forces. This is the reason why the Biafran army was more of resistant fighting force than an attacking fighting force.

gidgiddy:
God kept Gowon alive so he could see what his 'one Nigeria' would become today

PulaPower:
Did Biafra not killed unarmed defenseless Nigeria civilians?

gidgiddy:
But it was not Ojukwu's fault. The war was not Ojukwu's fault. Ojukwu did everything he could to avoid war, even risking his life to go to Aburi, Ghana, to sign an agreement with Gowon that would prevent war

Blame Gowon breaking the agreement and causing war

franchasofficia:
If you want to be fair in analyzing issues like this, just try and take away tribal sentiments or hatred and research the issue deeply.


Ojukwu did not start any civil war.

Ojukwu was the Military Governor of Old Eastern Nigeria which comprised of today's Southeast and SouthSouth (minus part of Delta and Edo).


After the counter coup that led to the killing of Nigeria's Head of State Gen. Aguiyi Isonsi, Northern soldiers saw it as a time to wipe off all Igbos, so they started a Pogrom (genocide) against Igbos living in The North.


Ojukwu called on Gowon the new Head of State to please use his power as the Head of State to stop the killing of Igbos in the North, Gowon did nothing and watched as Northern soldiers and civilians killed civilian Igbos living peacefully in the North.

Ojukwu told Gowon that if this continues that Eastern Nigeria will have no option but to secede from Nigeria. From there Ojukwu started telling Gowon that from the look of things that the only way for Nigeria to return back to peace is for every Region to be completely independent, controlling their resources, security, etc to protect their people. Ghana's Military Leader then invited Gowon and Ojukwu to Aburi Ghana for a peace negotiation.


They both went.


They both agreed on full regional system or confederation whereby every region controls their security, resources and remit a certain percentage to central government to be headed by Gowon. Gowon agreed and they signed it and had a toast that peace will be restored in Nigeria.


Ghana's Military Leader personally drove Gowon and Ojukwu to the airport as both leaders held hands together with joy.


On reaching Lagos, British government through their agents told Gowon not to accept the Aburi Accord that it favors Eastern Nigeria more than any other region since they have the newly discovered crude oil in Eastern Nigeria. So Gowon refused to announce the Aburi Accord agreement to Nigerians and to implement it.

Ojukwu waited for him weeks, sent him Telegram he ignored it and after more weeks he claimed he had Malaria. Ojukwu still waited and Gowon after several weeks refused to announce the Aburi Accord agreement to Nigerians, Ojukwu told Gowon that if he refused to announce it that he would have no other option but to announce it, Gowon ignored him and continued to run Nigeria same way while the persecution of Igbos continued.


Ojukwu then announced the Aburi Accord agreement and Gowon rejected it.

Ojukwu summoned Old Eastern Nigeria elites, artisans, market women, men, students, traditional rulers, etc at Nsukka to ask for a way forward. They told Ojukwu that they are tired of being in the same country with people that despise them and killing them, that they want to be on their own.


That was how Ojukwu declared Eastern Nigeria an independent nation called Biafra.


Again Gowon wanted to let Biafra secede but Britain came again and told Gowon not to allow them go because British Petroleum with Shell were the ones mining the crude oil found in Oloibiri Bayelsa then which was being used to run Britain and Dutchland then because they were exploiting Nigeria's crude. They promised Gowon that they will fully back Nigeria if Biafra resist and use military force to force Biafra to surrender. That was how Gowon declared war against Biafra in what he called "Police Action" to forcefully return Eastern Nigeria back to Nigeria. And that was how Gowon mobilized Nigerian military to invade Biafra and Ojukwu quickly formed Biafra Resistant Soldiers to resist Nigeria's invasion.


That was how the war broke out,and Ojukwu mobilized newly formed Biafra Elite soldiers to match to Lagos the then capital of Nigeria to force Gowon to flee to North and allow Biafra to secede.


So Ojukwu did not start any war please, instead he saved Igbos from complete annihilation through Northern Pogrom and reason Igbos celebrate him cos his bravery saved Igbos a lot

Softmirror:
God saved you then and may God Almighty also protect you from the hands of 'unknown gunmen' who Governor Soludo already disclosed who they are.

bodeyX:
MANY OF US HAVE FAILED TO UNDERSTAND THE SIMPLE REASON FOR THAT WAR. OJUKWU WAS GOVERNOR OF EASTERN REGION AND NOT IGBO REGION. HE DECLARED THE ENTIRE EASTERN REGION AS BIAFRA AND THAT WAS THE SINGLE ACT THAT BROUGHT ABOUT THAT WAR. IF HE HAD DECLARED IGBO-LAND AS BIAFRA, THE FMG WOULD HAVE LET HIM GET AWAY WITH IT. IN DECLARING THE ENTIRE EASTERN REGION AS BIAFRA, HE UNDERMINED THE AUTONOMY OF THE OTHER ETHNIC GROUPS RESIDING IN THAT REGION. THAT WAS HIS ERROR. READ "THE TRAGEDY OF VICTORY BY ALABI ISAMA" , YOU WILL UNDERSTAND OJUKWU'S BLUNDER. OJUKWU (AND BY EXTENSION THE IGBOS), WANTED TO TAKE THE ENTIRE EASTERN REGION AND MAKE IT THEIR OWN. IF YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT I MEAN BY EASTERN REGION, GOOGLE "OLD EASTERN REGION" TO UNDERSTAND IT'S TERRITORY. YOU WILL KNOW WHY THAT WAR WAS INEVITABLE. IN ACTUAL FACT, NIGERIA DOES NOT OWE THE IGBOS ANY APOLOGIES FOR THAT WAR. IF THE FMG HAD ALLOWED OJUKWU TO HAVE HIS WAY, BIAFRA WOULD HAVE BEEN A COASTAL SUDAN.

Goo0dHardDick:
I don't understand how you people reason. Ordinarily Gowon wouldn't have been the head state as he was a junior to ojukwu in ranks. Would you have allowed your junior to climb ahead of you?

To make matter worse, the same Gowon came back from Ghana and broke the agreement. Ordinary agreement for him to keep he couldn't. Of course that warrant ojukwu to declare his region independent, having seen that Gowon has broken the agreement.

Gowon is so greedy knowing fully well that he is a junior but wants to overthrown his seniors in the military

kettykin:
I read this and I weep for Nigeria. I read where soldiers were shooting at markets and innocent traders and I reserve my comments. It seems Hitler was a saint. Why is heaven still allowing a useless entity to still exist.

I have been wondering why despite the numbers of church goers why Nigeria has been drifting endlessly like a de orbited planet. Now I have a clue. I wish Nigeria all the shreds of luck

christistruth01:
Do you know that Ojukwu was not only Junior to Gen Gowon in the office corps but to Col Victor Banjo too?

Col Banjo joined Army in 1953 ,Ojukwu humiliated him till he killed him
Gowon joined in 1954 and Ojukwu joined in 1957

bixton:
I couldn't get to read much but it seems like you're bending a narrative.

I do know that before the civil war broke out there all those who were regional heads were operating under regional/State resource control and giving a percentage to the then central government.

It all changed after the war when more States were created out of the regions to break the powers being enjoyed before by regional heads.

It was expected that POBJ would return it back to the old way of resource control but we now see all there is.


I do not know where you got your own account of Ojukwu not being the one who started the war.
I read an account where Azikiwe called Ojukwu and told him severally to drop those thoughts of his and let the country be. But Ojukwu thought he couldn't receive an order from Gowon, for he Ojukwu said that Gowon is his junior........I cant remember who got into the military before who.
There are very few people from the Igbo extraction whom I've come in contact that have not bent the narrative. I keep wondering why others do it to suit themselves and tribe.

In the entirety of all these, I find it funny and interesting that Ojukwu did not attend the burial ceremony of his second in command whom he handed over to when he went on self exile......

I really find it very interesting.

bodeyX:
MANY OF US HAVE FAILED TO UNDERSTAND THE SIMPLE REASON FOR THAT WAR. OJUKWU WAS GOVERNOR OF EASTERN REGION AND NOT IGBO REGION. HE DECLARED THE ENTIRE EASTERN REGION AS BIAFRA AND THAT WAS THE SINGLE ACT THAT BROUGHT ABOUT THAT WAR. IF HE HAD DECLARED IGBO-LAND AS BIAFRA, THE FMG WOULD HAVE LET HIM GET AWAY WITH IT. IN DECLARING THE ENTIRE EASTERN REGION AS BIAFRA, HE UNDERMINED THE AUTONOMY OF THE OTHER ETHNIC GROUPS RESIDING IN THAT REGION. THAT WAS HIS ERROR. READ "THE TRAGEDY OF VICTORY BY ALABI ISAMA" , YOU WILL UNDERSTAND OJUKWU'S BLUNDER. OJUKWU (AND BY EXTENSION THE IGBOS), WANTED TO TAKE THE ENTIRE EASTERN REGION AND MAKE IT THEIR OWN. IF YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT I MEAN BY EASTERN REGION, GOOGLE "OLD EASTERN REGION" TO UNDERSTAND IT'S TERRITORY. YOU WILL KNOW WHY THAT WAR WAS INEVITABLE. IN ACTUAL FACT, NIGERIA DOES NOT OWE THE IGBOS ANY APOLOGIES FOR THAT WAR. IF THE FMG HAD ALLOWED OJUKWU TO HAVE HIS WAY, BIAFRA WOULD HAVE BEEN A COASTAL SUDAN.

DrAkpa:
And yet, gowon is still alive and healthy while ojukwu is dead after being bedridden for a long time. This life, nothing like karma. Karma na scam

IGBOSON1:
This is the natural question any sane person would ask, but you have to remember we're not dealing with sane people here! They're blinded by their hatred to the point of insanity! Since they, the 'victors' have controlled Nigeria for the most part from the late 60s to date, it comes as no surprise that the country has spiralled downwards into the depths of iniquity, bloodletting, socio-economic rot and despondency!

Exceed15:
This is heart touching. Why were Nigerian army heartless like that , shooting at innocent civilians like chickens

bixton:
Please try not to insult the sensibility of those in the former eastern region who are not ibo speaking and of Igbo decent.

Till today Igbos are still laying claims to some villages in Rivers State and calling it their own.
But some streets in Aba bearing names of Anambra dailet is been changed.

A people who would not allow a non indigene full rights in their region but they want it given them in a region not theirs just because they claim to bring development to that place or they contribute to that place like the money they are using is not those who are true indigenous who patronize their businesses.

Goo0dHardDick:
What's this one saying

Gowon was junior to ojukwu in ranks and shouldn't have been the head of state. The northerners fixed Gowon there and of course you wouldn't expect other senior military rankings officers to be happy with that development

Christistruth03:
Ojukwu was Gowons Army Junior

Gowon joined in 1954 and Ojukwu joined in 1957


Ojukwu lied a lot

gidgiddy:
Are you aware that the place you are calling 'Rivers State' is made up of at least 60% indigenous Igbo speaking people?

Softmirror:
God saved you then and may God Almighty also protect you from the hands of 'unknown gunmen' who Governor Soludo already disclosed who they are.