₦airaland Forum

Young and ebullient Michael Okpara toured the whole of the region canvassing support for the creation of Mid-West .

His aura and glory were contagious! https://t.co/sTCvKyowQp

— Anambra 1st son (@UchePOkoye) October 16, 2026

FSBoperator:
All three regional leaders, (Awo, Zik and Ahmadu Bello) wanted to balkanize each others regions.

Yorubas did not oppose Midwestern region unlike how Ibos did everything to block COR region.

A Yoruba man at the regional house in Ibadan was the one who led the motion for a referendum to decide on the creation of Midwestern region.

The majority Yoruba house voted unanimously for such and when the final results were out, another Yoruba man at the Federal Parliament stood up to call upon the federal parliament to ratify the plebiscite.

The entire Midwestern project was conceived by the then Oba of Bini at the regional House of Chiefs from where the issue was quickly passed by a Yoruba dominated house in Ibadan.

The OP is being highly dissenginious in trying to claim Ibos were behind the Midwestern region creation.

Ezeama400:
You are a liar.. Eaterners came into picture when westerners were resisting the creation of the Midwest..

If you are sure of yourself, bring evidence and names of Yorubas that pushed for the creation of Midwest..

Pls don’t block me . Lets argue with fact because I know blocking is your next option when you don’t have evidence to proof your false claim..

I Am waiting..

Ezeama400:
. Eaterners came into picture when most westerners were resisting the creation of the Midwest..

Bring evidence and names of Yorubas that pushed for it and stop the lies..

Did you know that Samuel Ladoke Akintola opposed the creation of Midwest region, went to court and later supported it

BACKGROUND
In the late 1950s and early 1960s, minority ethnic groups in the Benin and Delta areas demanded a separate region from the Western Region, which was dominated politically by the Yoruba majority. Akintola as Premier of the Western Region (1960–1962) opposed the proposed region which would later become the Mid-West Region, officially created in 1963.

WHY AKINTOLA OPPOSED IT
➡️The Western Region would lose significant land and population.
➡️The Midwest area contained important resources and revenue sources.
➡️A smaller Western Region could become destabilised, weakened politically and in national influence.
➡️He also reportedly saw it as an attempt by his political rival, Obafemi Awolowo, to weaken the Western Region's territorial integrity and power base.

The Western Regional Government (under Akintola’s leadership at the time) questioned the legality of the federal action — particularly whether the federal parliament had the constitutional power to organise the referendum that would carve out the new region.
The case went up to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, which was Nigeria’s highest court of appeal before 1963. The court ruled that the Federal Government acted within its constitutional powers. That cleared the way for the 1963 referendum, after which the Mid-West Region was officially created.

HIS LATER SUPPORT

Interestingly, following his split with Awolowo, Akintola aligned with the Northern People's Congress (NPC) and Tafawa Balewa who had a vested interest in weakening the opposition-led Western Region by supporting the creation of the new region.
Ultimately, despite local opposition, the Mid-Western Region was created through a referendum in 1963.

Chief Akintola first became Premier of the Western Region of Nigeria in 1959. He took over the position following the transition of Chief Obafemi Awolowo to the federal parliament. Akíntọ́lá held this office during the First Republic, with his tenure lasting from 1959 to 1962, and again from 1963 until he was k!llēd in January 1966.

Ezeama400:
Yoruba man pushed for the creation of midwest ?

lol

. Eaterners came into picture when most westerners were resisting the creation of the Midwest..

Bring evidence and names of Yorubas that pushed for it genuinely. … Stop the lies..

Samuel Ladoke Akintola opposed the creation of Midwest region, went to court and later supported it


In the late 1950s and early 1960s, minority ethnic groups in the Benin and Delta areas demanded a separate region from the Western Region, which was dominated politically by the Yoruba majority. Akintola as Premier of the Western Region (1960–1962) opposed the proposed region which would later become the Mid-West Region, officially created in 1963.

WHY AKINTOLA OPPOSED IT
➡️The Western Region would lose significant land and population.
➡️The Midwest area contained important resources and revenue sources.
➡️A smaller Western Region could become destabilised, weakened politically and in national influence.
➡️He also reportedly saw it as an attempt by his political rival, Obafemi Awolowo, to weaken the Western Region's territorial integrity and power base.

The Western Regional Government (under Akintola’s leadership at the time) questioned the legality of the federal action — particularly whether the federal parliament had the constitutional power to organise the referendum that would carve out the new region.
The case went up to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, which was Nigeria’s highest court of appeal before 1963. The court ruled that the Federal Government acted within its constitutional powers. That cleared the way for the 1963 referendum, after which the Mid-West Region was officially created.

HIS LATER SUPPORT

Interestingly, following his split with Awolowo, Akintola aligned with the Northern People's Congress (NPC) and Tafawa Balewa who had a vested interest in weakening the opposition-led Western Region by supporting the creation of the new region.
Ultimately, despite local opposition, the Mid-Western Region was created through a referendum in 1963.

Chief Akintola first became Premier of the Western Region of Nigeria in 1959. He took over the position following the transition of Chief Obafemi Awolowo to the federal parliament. Akíntọ́lá held this office during the First Republic, with his tenure lasting from 1959 to 1962, and again from 1963 until he was k!llēd in January 1966.



Don’t forget to your evidence , don’t bore me with jargons..

FSBoperator:
Pls be decieving yourself with your own lies

The entire process was started and concluded at the regional house in Ibadan with all Yoruba MPs voting unanimously in support of the creation of Midwestern region.

The north and Ibo vehemently opposed minority agitation.

Sardunna saw northern Nigeria as his grand father's estate to reclaim under the Fulani Sultanate.

Ibos saw eastern Nigeria as their bequeathed inheritance from the British.

Only Yorubas wanted to reclaim their ancestral lands and not an inch more.

So continue lying to yourselves.

plessis:
Awo took proceeds of their resources to build ibadan and left the people of delta and edo with absolutely nothing. Lies and propaganda from those people did not start today.

You cannot point to a block of classroom built by Awo in delta or edo state. But there are several projects of opara outside igboland such as Obudu Cattle Ranch (Calabar Province), Presidential Hotel, Port Harcourt (Port Harcourt Province), Trans-Amadi Industrial Layout, Port Harcourt (Port Harcourt Province), Calabar Cement Factory (Calabar Province), ibom oil palm plantation.

Infact, the reason we starved during the war was because opara built the agricultural projects outside igboland.

FSBoperator:
This one has come with his lies.

It is on record that Enugu was built from scratch using resources from minority people.

Enugu was the very first Abuja.

What was the rationale from moving the capital of Eastern Nigeria from Calabar to one desolate water barren land that is Enugu?

Go and read up on why western Cameroun people wanted out of Nigeria and you will see where they condemned the severe marginalisation of the minority enclaves in preference to developing Enugu.

You do know that Enugu became the capital of Eastern Nigeria in 1960 by a majority Ibo house ruling.

You do know that Enugu was dubbed the fastest growing city in the world because every resource was being channeled to building it from scratch.

As per the economy of western Nigeria, cocoa was the mainstay which Yoruba provinces dominated.

And Ibadan was already a cosmopolitan city long before independence .

There was no talk of marginalisation as a reason for wanting to have their own region by the minorities in western Nigeria.

The motivation was to have their own cultural identity which the Oba of Benin used in highlighting as a major grievance.

Did the Yorubas oppose the minority aggitarion?

Capital No.

The Yorubas instead stated that they who led the independence movement will be the biggest hypocrites to oppose the agitation of their own co Africans.

Was this the case in the East and northern Nigeria ?

Hell no.

Ezeama400:
No, you are very ignorant.. Make your research, Port harcourt was developed with Coal from Enugu in the early 20’s.. The British constructed their first railway from there to Ph. For economic purposes..
Oil was discovered recently when the British were almost gone..

There is a reason Enugu was made the capital just like Ibadan was also capital of the west because of Cocoa

FSBoperator:
Calabar was the first capital of southern Nigeria and became the capital of Eastern Nigeria in 1951 .

In 1960, the first thing the Ibo dominated house did was to move the capital to that barren desolate Enugu.

If is from there the marginalisation of coastal provinces became extreme as all resources from the coastal provinces were poured into developing Enugu

I don't know why you are bringing PH here which was already a well established commercial city dealing in oil palm and timber before the British built railway to bring coal from Enugu .

Today you are begging for access to the sea after moving the capital from Calabar to that desolate Enugu that up till this day has no ground water.

FSBoperator:
Calabar was the first capital of southern Nigeria and became the capital of Eastern Nigeria in 1951 .

In 1960, the first thing the Ibo dominated house did was to move the capital to that barren desolate Enugu.

If is from there the marginalisation of coastal provinces became extreme as all resources from the coastal provinces were poured into developing Enugu

I don't know why you are bringing PH here which was already a well established commercial city dealing in oil palm and timber before the British built railway to bring coal from Enugu .

Today you are begging for access to the sea after moving the capital from Calabar to that desolate Enugu that up till this day has no ground water.

Ezeama400:
No you lied!!

The British colonial administration—specifically under Sir Bernard Bourdillon and the regional administrative evolution of the Southern Provinces—shifted the administrative focus and capital of the Eastern Provinces to Enugu around 1938/1939 (following its earlier role as the headquarters of the Southern Provinces starting in 1929).

FSBoperator:
Liar.

Enugu became capital of Eastern Nigeria in 1960.

Why do you lie ?

Ezeama400:
It seems you are under 20?
Even JS students that are not upto 20’s learn this in their social studies

Now let me teach you

Enugu served as the headquarters of the Eastern Provinces from 1939 to 1951, became the regional capital of the Eastern Region from 1951 to 1967, and formally continued as the regional/administrative hub through independence in 1960.

Period Administrative Status
1939–1951 Headquarters of the Eastern Provinces
1951–1967 Regional capital of Eastern Nigeria / Eastern Region
1960 Retained as the capital of the Eastern Region following Nigerian independence


I am done with you because you are a master of lies, deceits and above all, your ignorance is unbearable..

FSBoperator:
Calabar was the capital of the Eastern Region from its creation in 1954 until 1960. In 1960, it was replaced by Enugu as the capital of the Eastern Region.

Enugu served as an adminstrative capital of Ibo provinces from 1938 but Calabar was the capital of Eastern Nigeria.

Try and understand that the British colonial officers used Enugu as an adminstrative outpost for Ibo provinces just as PH served for non Ibo provinces.

The real capital of Eastern Nigeria was Calabar and never Enugu.

Enugu became the capital in 1960 after Zik and his Ibo majority decided on their own majority whim to move the capital to Enugu .

At no time had an adminstrative provincial outpost of the British over Ibo land ever served as the capital of Eastern Nigeria until Zik moved the capital from Calabar to Enugu.

Liars

FSBoperator:
This one has come with his lies.

It is on record that Enugu was built from scratch using resources from minority people.

Enugu was the very first Abuja.

What was the rationale from moving the capital of Eastern Nigeria from Calabar to one desolate water barren land that is Enugu?

Go and read up on why western Cameroun people wanted out of Nigeria and you will see where they condemned the severe marginalisation of the minority enclaves in preference to developing Enugu.

You do know that Enugu became the capital of Eastern Nigeria in 1960 by a majority Ibo house ruling.

You do know that Enugu was dubbed the fastest growing city in the world because every resource was being channeled to building it from scratch.

As per the economy of western Nigeria, cocoa was the mainstay which Yoruba provinces dominated.

And Ibadan was already a cosmopolitan city long before independence .

There was no talk of marginalisation as a reason for wanting to have their own region by the minorities in western Nigeria.

The motivation was to have their own cultural identity which the Oba of Benin used in highlighting as a major grievance.

Did the Yorubas oppose the minority aggitarion?

Capital No.

The Yorubas instead stated that they who led the independence movement will be the biggest hypocrites to oppose the agitation of their own co Africans.

Was this the case in the East and northern Nigeria ?

Hell no.

Ezeama400:
Stop fabricating stories that never existed



Igbo man was not even the first regional head of Eatern region.. It was Britsh and he operated from Enugu


The first governor and colonial master of the autonomous Eastern Region of Nigeria (established in 1954) was Sir Clement John Pleass, and he operated from Enugu, which served as the regional capital.


Give it a break lovely.. Stop spreading lies with confidence…

Hahaha..


One thing about my own argument is that I call names, year and location. But yours come with no name, no date and fabrication full of lies and deceit..

You guys can never change with your propaganda..

FSBoperator:
Onitsha first served as the provincial administrative outpost of the British before moving it to Enugu to oversee the coal mining operations.

Outside regional capitals, the British had administrative outposts.

Anywhere you have a GRA know that it used to serve as the exclusive reserve of British colonial officers.

Enugu was a mere provincial administrative center and never a regional capital.

Kaduna was the capital of colonial northern Nigeria, but there were several administrative centers like in Kano, Lokoja, Minna, etc.

In Western Nigeria, Benin city was an administrative center .

At no time ever was Enugu a regional capital of colonial eastern Nigeria.

It only became one in 1960 passed by a resolution of the majority Ibo .

Ezeama400:
Ohh, you have now shifted to Onitsha?


Onitsha was not the first British provincial outpost, but it served as one of the most critical early economic and administrative hubs for British penetration into Igboland.


I give up Yoruba man, your argument is getting weak and boring and it’s reducing my IQ..

FSBoperator:
Provincial Administrative centre and not Regional capital.

Well. let it be known that you lied that Enugu had always been the capital of Eastern Nigeria.

plessis:
TESTIMONY AT THE WILLINK COMMISSION

It has been said that the Midwest State Movement flew the two expatriate counsels that led the testimony of the pro-Midwest witnesses at the Willink Commission, into the country. In point of fact Chief Omo-Osagie paid for their round trip fares and expenses out of his own pocket. Money was not forthcoming from the NCNC. The more senior of the pair was George G. Baker.


The position of the MSM was based on fear of colonization by the Yoruba. Detailed testimony was heard from a broad range of witnesses, including Chiefs Ezomo, Oliha, Ineh and Osula. Other witnesses included the Chairmen of the Iyekovia, Uhunmwode and Benin City councils, namely Messrs Adonrin, Atohengbe and Ogbebor. Edo women made a submission through Madam Eweka. Complaints included lack of rubber markets and processing facilities, excessive local taxation, including “head taxes” which would then be remitted to Ibadan, poor infrastructure, and discrimination in the award of scholarships and opportunities for Edo women traders at Ibadan. More recently, Mr. Isaac Asemota recalled that, “While Benin- City stayed in the dark with no electricity, running water, good roads, separate and unequal schools and grossly inadequate health clinics, there in Ibadan, Edo tax monies were being squandered in the construction of Cocoa House, Mapo Hall and Commercial Broadcasting Service Radio Station whose frequency we couldn’t even pick up in Benin-City. The best we could hope for was Redifussion radio which had a very low frequency and could not be heard more than two miles away from the broadcasting booth. “ (Isaac Asemota: “The last Edo Political Titan: Chief Humphrey Omo-Osagie” unpublished manuscript, Edo-Nation Egroup, July 2, 2002.)

plessis:
we are waiting for the projects awo built in delta and edo state during his time(1954 to 1959) as premier of the western region.

Every Progaganda has its expiry date.

plessis:
Awo took proceeds of their resources to build ibadan and left the people of delta and edo with absolutely nothing. Lies and propaganda from those people did not start today.

You cannot point to a block of classroom built by Awo in delta or edo state. But there are several projects of opara outside igboland such as Obudu Cattle Ranch (Calabar Province), Presidential Hotel, Port Harcourt (Port Harcourt Province), Trans-Amadi Industrial Layout, Port Harcourt (Port Harcourt Province), Calabar Cement Factory (Calabar Province), ibom oil palm plantation.

Infact, the reason we starved during the war was because opara built the agricultural projects outside igboland.

FxMasterz:
I don't know why you guys like lying like this?

As at the time of Awolowo, Oil wa not the source of income for Nigeria. Awo funded projects majorly through agriculture - specifically cocoa exports from Yorubaland.

PulaPower:
[s]The free education Awolowo started for all is way more than any project ever existed in Nigeria till today!

What about the TV & Radio? Make I no even go there..

Even your fore-fathers that were not from Delta or Edo benefitted from the free Education and they had to troop into the western region to watch TV or listen to Radio[/s]