₦airaland Forum

bloodyBLOGGER:
individual Yorubas won the war but the Yoruba tribe didn't fight in it cos it was a north vs east war.

if an Igbo man eats human meat, does that mean all igbos are cannibals?

davodyguy:
By Uhuru Times on May 12, 2016 No Comment
https://i2.wp.com/www.uhurutimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Chief-Obafemi-Awolowo.jpg?resize=701%2C981
By Obafemi Awolowo

The aim of a leader should be the welfare of the people whom he leads. I have used ‘welfare’ to denote the physical, mental and spiritual well-being of the people. With this aim fixed unflinchingly and unchangeably before my eyes I consider it my duty to Yoruba people in particular and to Nigerians in general, to place four imperatives before you this morning. Two of them are categorical and two are conditional. Only a peaceful solution must be found to arrest the present worsening stalemate and restore normalcy. The Eastern Region must be encouraged to remain part of the Federation. If the Eastern Region is allowed by acts of omission or commission to secede from or opt out of Nigeria, then the Western Region and Lagos must also stay out of the Federation. The people of Western Nigeria and Lagos should participate in the ad hoc committee or any similar body only on the basis of absolute equality with the other regions of the Federation.

I would like to comment briefly on these four imperatives. There has, of late, been a good deal of sabre rattling in some parts of the country. Those who advocate the use force for the settlement of our present problems should stop a little and reflect. I can see no vital and abiding principle involved in any war between the North and the East. If the East attacked the North, it would be for purpose of revenge pure and simple. Any claim to the contrary would be untenable. If it is claimed that such a war is being waged for the purpose of recovering the real and personal properties left behind in the North by Easterners two insuperable points are obvious. Firstly, the personal effects left behind by Easterners have been wholly looted or destroyed, and can no longer be physically recovered. Secondly, since the real properties are immovable in case of recovery of them can only be by means of forcible military occupation of those parts of the North in which these properties are situated. On the other hand, if the North attacked the East, it could only be for the purpose of further strengthening and entrenching its position of dominance in the country.

If it is claimed that an attack on the East is going to be launched by the Federal Government and not by the North as such and that it is designed to ensure the unity and integrity of the Federation, two other insuperable points also become obvious. First, if a war against the East becomes a necessity it must be agreed to unanimously by the remaining units of the Federation. In this connection, the West, Mid- West and Lagos have declared their implacable opposition to the use of force in solving the present problem. In the face of such declarations by three out of remaining four territories of Nigeria, a war against the East could only be a war favoured by the North alone. Second, if the true purpose of such a war is to preserve the unity and integrity of the Federation, then these ends can be achieved by the very simple devices of implementing the recommendation of the committee which met on August 9 1966, as reaffirmed by a decision of the military leaders at Aburi on January 5 1967 as well as by accepting such of the demands of the East, West, Mid-West and Lagos as are manifestly reasonable, and essential for assuring harmonious relationships and peaceful co-existence between them and their brothers and sisters in the North.

Some knowledgeable persons have likened an attack on the East to Lincoln’s war against the southern states in America. Two vital factors distinguish Lincoln’s campaign from the one now being contemplated in Nigeria. The first is that the American civil war was aimed at the abolition of slavery – that is the liberation of millions of Negroes who were then still being used as chattels and worse than domestic animals. The second factor is that Lincoln and others in the northern states were English-speaking people waging a war of good conscience and humanity against their fellow nationals who were also English speaking. A war against the East in which Northern soldiers are predominant, will only unite the Easterners or the Ibos against their attackers, strengthen them in their belief that they are not wanted by the majority of their fellow-Nigerians, and finally push them out of the Federation.

We have been told that an act of secession on the part of the East would be a signal, in the first instance, for the creation of the COR state by decree, which would be backed, if need be, by the use of force. With great respect, I have some dissenting observations to make on this declaration. There are 11 national or linguistic groups in the COR areas with a total population of 5.3 millions. These national groups are as distinct from one another as the Ibos are distinct from them or from the Yorubas or Hausas. Of the 11, the Efik/Ibibio/Annang national group are 3.2 million strong as against the Ijaws who are only about 700,000 strong. Ostensibly, the remaining nine national group number 1.4 millions. But when you have subtracted the Ibo inhabitants from among them, what is left ranges from the Ngennis who number only 8,000 to the Ogonis who are 220,000 strong. A decree creating a COR state without a plebiscite to ascertain the wishes of the peoples in the area, would only amount to subordinating the minority national groups in the state to the dominance of the Efik/Ibibio/Annang national group. It would be perfectly in order to create a Calabar state or a Rivers state by decree, and without a plebiscite. Each is a homogeneous national unit. But before you lump distinct and diverse national units together in one state, the consent of each of them is indispensable. Otherwise, the seed of social disquilibrium in the new state would have been sown.

On the other hand, if the COR State is created by decree after the Eastern Region shall have made its severance from Nigeria effective, we should then be waging an unjust war against a foreign state. It would be an unjust war, because the purpose of it would be to remove 10 minorities in the East from the dominance of the Ibos only to subordinate them to the dominance of the Efik/Ibibio/Annang national group. I think I have said enough to demonstrate that any war against the East, or vice versa, on any count whatsoever, would be an unholy crusade, for which it would be most unjustifiable to shed a drop of Nigerian blood. Therefore, only a peaceful solution must be found, and quickly too to arrest the present rapidly deteriorating stalemate and restore normalcy.

With regard to the second categorical imperative, it is my considered view that whilst some of the demands of the East are excessive within the context of a Nigerian union, most of such demands are not only well-founded, but are designed for smooth and steady association amongst the various national units of Nigeria.

The dependence of the Federal Government on financial contributions from the regions? These and other such like demands I do not support. Demands such as these, if accepted, will lead surely to the complete disintegration of the Federation which is not in the interest of our people. But I wholeheartedly support the following demands among others, which we consider reasonable and most of which are already embodied in our memoranda to the Ad Hoc Committee….

That revenue should be allocated strictly on the basis of derivation; that is to say after the Federal Government has deducted its own share for its own services the rest should be allocated to the regions to which they are attributable.

That the existing public debt of the Federation should become the responsibility of the regions on the basis of the location of the projects in respect of each debt whether internal or external.

That each region should have and control its own militia and police force.

That, with immediate effect, all military personnel should be posted to their regions of origin….

If we are to live in harmony one with another as Nigerians it is imperative that these demands and others which are not related, should be met without further delay by those who have hitherto resisted them. To those who may argue that the acceptance of these demands will amount to transforming Nigeria into a federation with a weak central government, my comment is that any link however tenuous, which keeps the East in the Nigerian union, is better in my view than no link at all.

Before the Western delegates went to Lagos to attend the meetings of the ad hoc committee, they were given a clear mandate that if any region should opt out of the Federation of Nigeria, then the Federation should be considered to be at an end, and that the Western Region and Lagos should also opt out of it. It would then be up to Western Nigeria and Lagos as an independent sovereign state to enter into association with any of the Nigerian units of its own choosing, and on terms mutually acceptable to them. I see no reason for departing from this mandate. If any region in Nigeria considers itself strong enough to compel us to enter into association with it on its own terms, I would only wish such a region luck. But such luck, I must warn, will, in the long run be no better than that which has attended the doings of all colonial powers down the ages. This much I must say in addition, on this point. We have neither military might nor the overwhelming advantage of numbers here in Western Nigeria and Lagos. But we have justice of a noble and imperishable cause on our side, namely: the right of a people to unfettered self-determination. If this is so, then God is on our side, and if God is with us then we have nothing whatsoever in this world to fear.

The fourth imperative, and the second conditional one has been fully dealt with in my recent letter to the Military Governor of Western Nigeria, Col. Robert Adebayo, and in the representation which your deputation made last year to the head of the Federal Military Government, Lt. Col. Yakubu Gowon. As a matter of fact, as far back as November last year a smaller meeting of leaders of thought in this Region decided that unless certain things were done, we would no longer participate in the meeting of the ad hoc committee. But since then, not even one of our legitimate requests has been granted. I will, therefore, take no more of your time in making further comments on a point with which you are well familiar. As soon as our humble and earnest requests are met, I shall be ready to take my place on the ad hoc committee. But certainly, not before.

In closing, I have this piece of advice to give. In order to resolve amiably and in the best interests of all Nigerians certain attributes are required on the part of Nigerian leaders, military as well as non-military leaders alike, namely: vision, realism and unselfishness. But above all , what will keep Nigerian leaders in the North and East unwaveringly in the path of wisdom, realism and moderation is courage and steadfastness on the part of Yoruba people in the course of what they sincerely believe to be right, equitable and just. In the past five years we in the West and Lagos have shown that we possess these qualities in a large measure. If we demonstrate them again as we did in the past, calmly and heroically, we will save Nigeria from further bloodshed and imminent wreck and, at the same time, preserve our freedom and self-respect into the bargain.

May God rule and guide our deliberations here, and endow all the Nigerian leaders with the vision, realism, and unselfishness as well as courage and steadfastness in the course of truth, which the present circumstances demand.

——————–

Speech by Chief Obafemi Awolowo made to the Western leaders of thought, in Ibadan, 1 May 1967 (quoted in “Crisis and Conflict in Nigeria (Volume 1), January 1966-July 1971” by A. H. M. Kirk-Greene.

——————–

Culled from: http://ihuanedo.ning.com/group/wazobiaisalienotnigeria/forum/topics/complete-1967-awolowo-mapo-hall-speech-and-north-intimidation-of-

Olabestonic001:
Yes, the opportunistic Yoruba's so much hated the Innocent Igbo's that they wanna wipe them away from the surface of the earth. The innocent Igbo's neither encroached their lands nor attempted to turn their soil to a theater of war. The Innocent Igbo's wanted to make the lands of the betrayal -Yoruba's a paradise of sort and not a monument of fools who died for their Angelic brothers in the now famous Biafra.
The betrayers Yoruba's never warned the ever pious and humble Ojukwu not to go to war and the humble Ojukwu heard. The Angelic Igbo's were so much at the receiving ends because Yoruba's hated them so much decided to kill over 3million people. The Igbo's didn't blow up innocent Yoruba's at a cinema in Yaba in 1967- No, they were innocent of that. Guy, wake up! Bcoz d Yoruba's didn't allow themselves to be used as sacrifices in the Biafra civil war is the greatest regrets of folks like you. Yoruba will always chose what is best for her and a million blackmails as you guy laments daily wont change them much.
Unless you enter a league with Yoruba's, we are not obliged to accede to your sentiments.

ihitenansa:
guy,the more u try to paint n white wash theyoruba motives of going to war against the east,the more u tend to cast earth upon ur ethnic group . So,awolowo adviced ojukwu not to go to war(mind u,ojukwu neva fired the first shot,let me keep hammering dis in2 ur ears till hopefully it permeates ur brain) so what was his suggestions to easterners who could not go back to their placces of residence for fear of getting killed like their kith n kin,earlier? How do u explain that we are one nigeria,but cannot stay peacefully without getting klled in our choisen places of residence? Wot then is the bases of co existence?? So the reason yoruba went to war against igbos was because awolowo warned ojukwu to accept his present fate and the one that was bound to befall him?
My goodness! U guys are simply unbelievable I must tell u

ihitenansa:
guy,the more u try to paint n white wash theyoruba motives of going to war against the east,the more u tend to cast earth upon ur ethnic group . So,awolowo adviced ojukwu not to go to war(mind u,ojukwu neva fired the first shot,let me keep hammering dis in2 ur ears till hopefully it permeates ur brain) so what was his suggestions to easterners who could not go back to their placces of residence for fear of getting killed like their kith n kin,earlier? How do u explain that we are one nigeria,but cannot stay peacefully without getting klled in our choisen places of residence? Wot then is the bases of co existence?? So the reason yoruba went to war against igbos was because awolowo warned ojukwu to accept his present fate and the one that was bound to befall him?
My goodness! U guys are simply unbelievable I must tell u

Olabestonic001:
. Ojukwu tried to provoke a war in the hope that Yoruba's will follow the bandwagon.

Alokendra:
You expect us to be neutral when you had brought the war to our doorstep. We would not watch and allow you bring the war to the Yoruba land. The same thing is playing out today. You guys are happy that the SS is bombing pipelines and destroying their lands while you preserve yours. You encourage them to blow more pipelines because of your hatred for the Yoruba and Hausa. Why don't y'all blow up pipelines in your own regions? IMO state and Abia state have oil fields. No, you wouldn't, but would rather advise the SS to destroy their own lands.

Forget about who fire the first shot. Declaring Biafra then was an act of treason because there's no provision for a secession clause in the constitution. So, Gowon only did his constitutive duty by protecting the territorial integrity of Nigeria then.

Ojukwu and the FG had their eyes on the SS oil. This was why Gowon separated the minority regions from the core ibotic states. This was a brilliant chess move by Gowon. Ojukwu, seeing that he'd lose control of the oil regions declared Biafra immediately to retain control. There are videos of Ojukwu on youtube where he was boasting when he was asked if he was prepared for war. Don't blame the Yoruba for Ojukwu's over bloated ego

Breakaway
On 27 May 1967, Gowon proclaimed the division of Nigeria into twelve
states. This decree carved the Eastern Region in three parts: South
Eastern State , Rivers State, and East Central State. Now the Igbos,
concentrated in the East Central State, would lose control over most of
the petroleum, located in the other two areas. [55][56]
On 30 May 1967, Ojukwu declared independence of the Republic of
Biafra - Wikipedia

The civil war was all about the oil, and if are to go by the constitution, Gowon did the right thing.

ihitenansa:
ur v silly for insinuating that igbos are supporting south south to destroy pipelines. It shows how evil and low u and ur ilk hav sunken in ur quest to assassinate the igbo character! Wot proofs do u have that igbos are in support of blowing up pipelines??

I won't engage a misanthropic slowpoke like u in any form of argument. I'd suggest u get lost from my mentions henceforth( oh! After u must have worn urself out trying 2 reply this one,wich by the way I won't evn see).

ihitenansa:
pray,can u explain this sentence to me,incase am getting it all mixed up? How did ojukwu provoke a war?
By pleading with his ppl 2 forgive and go back to north and parts of west where they were earlier massacred in tensof thousands,..and subsequently getting massacred in even greater numbers this time. By goin 2 aburi to seek political solutions to the problems bedevilling his ppl? Pls explain to me

Olabestonic001:
No, by seceding and collecting oil Royalties from Royal Shell. Sincerely, had Ojukwu been interested in Biafra without oil, he would have gotten it on a platter of gold.

Ariani:
You mean the Eastern region should have allowed Yorubas and Northerners to continue collecting royalties on resources of the region from Royal Shell?

Makes sense why you expect the Avengers to operate without demanding that you stop profiting from the oil of their region, by stopping the flow of oil, like Ojukwu did in the East.

This Yoruba protesters placard in Lagos 1968 says it all.
Your greed will be your end.

Olabestonic001:
You just exposed your hypocrisy.
Didn't Adaka Boro rebel against Ojukwu and his cohorts prior to d Civil War?
Why did he did dt? Igbo only wanted a Biafra made up on oil in the Oil Rich region but they detest Nigeria for wanting dt. Your hypocrisy is legendary! So, your Biafra can't exclude Oil Rich Niger-Delta but Nigeria must exclude it right? Hear dis clearly: AS LONG AS IGBO SPEARHEAD A BIAFRA THAT INCLUDES OIL-RICH DELTA, THEY'LL BE SEVERELY RESISTED!
Come up with a secession that excludes Oil-Rich Delta and get Biafra in 7days. Its obvious, Neither FG or Igbo's loves the people of Niger-Delta but Igbo's are coming with their lies of being lovely to cajole them. When Niger-Delta truly rebel, maybe we can disband Nigeria (Lugard's corporation) but definitely not Igbo would be allowed to corner what could be for all.
Enjoy Nigeria while it lasts.

Ariani:
What are you going on about?
How can Igbo not love people of Niger Delta, when Igbos ( Etche, Ogba, Ikwerre, Asa,Ndoki,Ika, Ukwuani, Oshimili, Aniocha, Egbema, Ekpeye) are Niger deltans themselves? Why should we exclude Igbo speaking and non Igbo speaking territories in Eastern region , if they choose to be with us?

For every Boro in Ijaw, there was the king of Bakana that was behind Biafra, Dokubo's father was an Ijaw man that abdicated his thrown because he supported Biafra, and there were Men like Opigo, for every Saro wiwa, there was Kogbara, a genuine Ogoni leader who wasn't anti Biafran, and Ojukwu was more than open to UN supervised plebiscite in non Igbo speaking minority areas to determine their allegiance, which Gowon already knew was not favourable to him and declined.
Biafra was Eastern region, and it's funny that your greed wanted it divided to enable you leech on it's the newly discovered wealth.

Igbos never allowed the division of Eastern Nigeria before the discovery of crude oil, when coal and Palm oil were the main stream of incomes of the region, they were willingly to let justice to reign to accommodate all and sundry, but your greedy selves now believed that Igbos should let the region be divided at your own whim and caprice, when crude oil was discovered, just so that you get your filthy hands on it? okwaya?

You need to get your eyes off people's wealth. How can Niger Delta wealth be for all?

Look at the extent greed for other people's wealth got your ancestors? With placards calling other people's wealth, "our oil".
Little wonder why everything was siphoned to Lagos the moment you got the chance.

Greedy people.

Ariani:
What are you going on about?
How can Igbo not love people of Niger Delta, when Igbos ( Etche, Ogba, Ikwerre, Asa,Ndoki,Ika, Ukwuani, Oshimili, Aniocha, Egbema, Ekpeye) are Niger deltans themselves? Why should we exclude Igbo speaking and non Igbo speaking territories in Eastern region , if they choose to be with us?

For every Boro in Ijaw, there was the king of Bakana that was behind Biafra, Dokubo's father was an Ijaw man that abdicated his thrown because he supported Biafra, and there were Men like Opigo, for every Saro wiwa, there was Kogbara, a genuine Ogoni leader who wasn't anti Biafran, and Ojukwu was more than open to UN supervised plebiscite in non Igbo speaking minority areas to determine their allegiance, which Gowon already knew was not favourable to him and declined.
Biafra was Eastern region, and it's funny that your greed wanted it divided to enable you leech on it's the newly discovered wealth.

Igbos never allowed the division of Eastern Nigeria before the discovery of crude oil, when coal and Palm oil were the main stream of incomes of the region, they were willingly to let justice to reign to accommodate all and sundry, but your greedy selves now believed that Igbos should let the region be divided at your own whim and caprice, when crude oil was discovered, just so that you get your filthy hands on it? okwaya?

You need to get your eyes off people's wealth. How can Niger Delta wealth be for all?

Look at the extent greed for other people's wealth got your ancestors? With placards calling other people's wealth, "our oil".
Little wonder why everything was siphoned to Lagos the moment you got the chance.

Greedy people.

ihitenansa:
guy,the more u try to paint n white wash theyoruba motives of going to war against the east,the more u tend to cast earth upon ur ethnic group . So,awolowo adviced ojukwu not to go to war(mind u,ojukwu neva fired the first shot,let me keep hammering dis in2 ur ears till hopefully it permeates ur brain) so what was his suggestions to easterners who could not go back to their placces of residence for fear of getting killed like their kith n kin,earlier? How do u explain that we are one nigeria,but cannot stay peacefully without getting klled in our choisen places of residence? Wot then is the bases of co existence?? So the reason yoruba went to war against igbos was because awolowo warned ojukwu to accept his present fate and the one that was bound to befall him,but ojukwu refused?
My goodness! U guys are simply unbelievable I must tell u.
No matter how peeps try 2 justify the murder of over 3million souls,it just won't stand , cos truthwill always prevail.
Well, the goodnews is that igbos have since moved on ,but wot we don't likeis trying 2 rewrite history,...




Trying 2 paint murderers and opportunists as saints and statesmen will always draw ire

ihitenansa:
pray,can u explain this sentence to me,incase am getting it all mixed up? How did ojukwu provoke a war?
By pleading with his ppl 2 forgive and go back to north and parts of west where they were earlier massacred in tensof thousands,..and subsequently getting massacred in even greater numbers this time. By goin 2 aburi to seek political solutions to the problems bedevilling his ppl? Pls explain to me

ihitenansa:
The nigerian scenerio was an exact opposite!

The opportunistic yorubas witnessed what befell the igbos in the country right from 1966 jan military reprisal killings/pogroms on inncent populations,...to the start of hostilities proper. Their sage awolowo gave deceptive and misleading speeches of solidarity,..only for them 2 waitin the wings to weigh who is likely to win,b4 shamelessly pouncing on an already traumatised but studious populations in the east!











D

Ovamboland:
Since 1970, Ibos have been massacred in the North a number of times, why was a new republic not declared again?

Ariani:
Can someone get us that Bishopmagic thread with pictures of Yoruba protesters in Lagos in 1968, with placards that read: " France leave our oil for us".



https://www.nairaland.com/1352306/fought-oil-not-nigerias-unity

omonnakoda:
HE did not separate it. That was the constitutional order. Those old enough would know that he was the Premier of the Western region and his jurisdiction did not extend to "LAGOS"

"LAGOS" did not mean Lagos State. Lagos ended somewhere around Fela's House. It did not include Ikeja (developed by Awo) Epe Ikorodu or Badagry Divisions as they were then called which were ALL part of the Western Region . Places Like Orile,Agege, Mushin Onipanu Ketu were ALL Western Region

Lagos had a Municipal authority under a Federal Minister one of whom was Yar'adua's father/
"Lagos" was Lagos Island,Victoria Island,Ikoyi Lagos Mainland up to just before Idi-Oro

Olabestonic001:
Awo definitely saw the minds of the North and East during that rumble and he subtly supported Regionalism while not over-committing to any of the Gladiators then. Some misinformed youths always lampooned a man who from the word "go" made it clear that his region has no "military" might to get its hands soiled in a war and would rather follow events than commit blindly to either parties. He also affirmed his support for diplomacy and self-determination, the yearnings of IPOB and its sympathizers. The question is "why is he still despised by these folks?".

medpren:
The proper question should be -between Awo and Ojukwu region which one is in perpetual servitude to the fulani?

Chiwude:
Let me cut you short here. Lagos as FCT never ended within the confines of the mainland. Infact Badagry division has always been part and parcel of the crown colony of Lagos from time immemorial. Ikorodu and Epe division used to be part of the western region, but Badagry division! (part Apapa, Ajeromi/Ifelodun, Amuwo-Odofin, Ojo and Badagry LGA were always part of Lagos.
Consult your history book.

TheFreeOne:
Afenifere and other genuine progressives are still saying same today but politicians/elites whose daily cloak are selfishness and greed will not have any of it.

Nigeria can't develop as it should with our present structure of 36 states.

https://www.nairaland.com/3073217/nigeria-north-yinka-odumakin

macof:
this is all true but I assume you get the point he was trying to make; Lagos state of today is not Lagos - the former capital of Nigeria

Chiwude:
I understand bro. Lagos is the former capital of Nigeria and part and parcel of the larger Yorubaland. But, we should also accept the status of Lagos as a shared heritage for all Nigerians. It's our uniting factor, just as New York has become a shared heritage for all Americans and Rome for all Italians.
So Lagos can never become a complete whole if you take out the unique substance that makes Lagos what it is.
The moment you take out the diverse appeal of Lagos, it's people, attitude, culture and vibrancy, then am afraid you've killed Lagos.
Lagos is a national symbol and has come to stay just as the naira.
Accept my greetings egbon, seems you've been on sabbatical for a while.

macof:
you are right brother.


I only wish one day Lagos can be used to truly unite the entire South at least

MasterofNL:
Interestingly he always separated Lagos from Western Nigeria.

[size=16pt]Western Region and Lagos[/size]