WetinConsignMe:

Ojukwu himself called him a hero, and Nzeogwu and co picked him to be president. You don't get all that if u r not a great man.

WetinConsignMe:

You are funny. Do you know any regular people who analyze things like that? All the average man heard (and I'm sure what headlines said) was that Awo said Yorubas would secede if Biafra seceded. Maybe he forgot headline writers and most people are not lawyers, like himself.

WetinConsignMe:

I beg to differ. The North was not planning to secede at all because by then it was already known that there was trillions of dollars in Niger Delta in the form of oil. That was also a major part of what the war was about: oil.

Gowon rhetorically asked Murtala how he intended to pay his soldiers wages reminding him that all the money is in Lagos.

The Christian minority officers like Domkat Bali were also not interested in having northern Nigeria seccede as they felt that they will be dominated by the Hausa fulanis.

Vivere:


Name calling is not going to help your case. T9ksy and logica have done a great job of refuting your allegations. Now go and play with your toys in the backyard.

WetinConsignMe:

2) Awo's words led to the general understanding that he
promised to make Yorubas secede if Biafra seceded.

logica:

This may lead to a long line of argument; but Ojukwu was being sarcastic; and please stop repeating the lie Ifeajuna sold to Ademoyega.


Apart from Awolowo being an erudite speaker, his actions clearly showed he was not in support of secession; rather in negotiation to prevent war. He had tried talking to Ojukwu only to learn about the push to Lagos; and he quickly beat a retreat. Ojukwu should've worked towards a confederation arrangement, rather than try to secede and get outsmarted politically by the Federal Government (an example being the creation of 12 states which immediately created cracks amongst the Biafran ranks). Now you said it yourself - Awolowo was not a regular person. You do not go listening to an "irregular" person with regular ears. Capisce?

Also, it takes clear and calm minds to form plans when millions of lives are at stake. From this tiny gaffe by Ojukwu, I can imagine the gargantuan ones that naturally followed. Granted, he was under a lot of pressure, but to miss the tiny nuance of a message, and then fail to listen to the voice of reason?

Please read more about Nigerian History; especially about the Counter Coup of July 1966. After the July 1966 coup and the Northerners had power, they did not even have a clue where to take the country! They had to consult with the British through the High Commission before actually deciding. The (Muslim) North was initially not driven by the quest for oil; but were simply unhappy being in the same country as Easterners. Recall that even the Sardauna (along with Awolowo) were not so enthusiastic about keeping the Nigerian structure during the push for independence - it took Nnamdi Azikiwe to convince them.

Here is a thread where this was mentioned (not properly discussed in my opinion).

https://www.nairaland.com/3169093/murtala-leader-july-1966-mutiny

I quote what Gowon was said to have asked Murtala here:



And Domkat Bali:



You need to have a full understanding of the complexity of the country you find yourself before you can appreciate that it requires complex solutions.

logica:
Wrong. "Do not blame me for misunderstanding what I said; but blame yourself." That should be your policy.

WetinConsignMe:


"Be careful what u say as a public figure, people don't analyze words like lawyers, and newspapers sensationalize things" That should be your policy.

diadem10:


You're unintelligent!

Are you forgetting your ancestor, Zik joined Yoruba into 1 Nigeria against Awolowo cries? How is stating that Yoruba would secede if Nigeria grants Biafra secession equating to promising to join Ojuwkwu in his quest for secession?

If your brain can't work it out, let me spell it out to you.. Awolowo simply means if Nigeria govt grant secession to Ojukwu, they should count Yoruba out as well because Ibo joined us into 1 Nigeria hence, we're either in the shite together or out. It didn't mean Awolowo would fight with Ojukwu in his stupid quest. Awolowo's statement was directed to the government, not Ojukwu nor Ibo.

And nope, Ojukwu never released Awolowo. He was released by Gowon who immediately flew him to his house. He didn't even get to change into a dress.

WetinConsignMe:


Mumu, did you see articles posted where experts were giving reasons why Awo COULD NOT secede. Even Ojukwu said he told him they were constantly on his trail and monitoring his movements. Do you really believe Awo would not secede from the North if he could? HE COLUD NOT.

Only u now believe Gowon released Awo from Calabar.
Everybody else now know only Ojukwu could have done that.

diadem10:


Dummy, the fact is Awolowo wasn't planning any secession in the first place hence I wonder what stupid analysis you keep spouting about.. The man was just out of the prison and needed his peace first and foremost. He only made a fact known to the government that Yoruba will also leave "per adventure" the govt grants the Ibo secession! Check the word "per adventure".

I think the hausa govt understood him well unlike clogged-brain Ibos.

Well, Gowon stated that he released Awolowo. How come he was flown to Gowon's house as soon as he was out of the prison. The only Yoruba Ojukwu released was Banjo, not Awolowo. It's only a dead brained eediot that would think Awolowo was relaesed by Ojukwu. It's no surprisng though considering the several propaganda brandished by your lying uncles and recently, Kanu.

diadem10:


Dummy, the fact is Awolowo wasn't planning any secession in the first place hence I wonder what stupid analysis you keep spouting about.. The man was just out of the prison and needed his peace first and foremost. He only made a fact known to the government that Yoruba will also leave "per adventure" the govt grants the Ibo secession! Check the word "per adventure".

I think the hausa govt understood him well unlike clogged-brain Ibos.

Well, Gowon stated that he released Awolowo. How come he was flown to Gowon's house as soon as he was out of the prison. The only Yoruba Ojukwu released was Banjo, not Awolowo. It's only a dead brained eediot that would think Awolowo was relaesed by Ojukwu. It's no surprisng though considering the several propaganda brandished by your lying uncles and recently, Kanu.

T9ksy:



And which "Yoruba" were ready to support Ojukwu' liberation force? Was that before or after Ojukwu's biafran babes had dropped bombs in lagos killing the same "yaribas" in yaba and apapa area? Initially (August 9th 1967), Biafran plane dropped "warning bombs"-leaflets in ikeja and palmgrove areas “calling on the people to overthrow Gowon’s government and the Hausa imperialists.” However the following week,seeing that the people failed to his bait, Ojukwu dropped real bombs killing innocent "Yoruba" residents in yaba and its environs.

As for the agbekoya uprisings- that had nothing whatsoever to do with Ojukwu's BLF. Among other issues they rebelled against, the high fixed tax rate of $8 in western region of nigeria was their main grouse with officials of that region in particular and nothing to do with the federal govt of gowon (hence the slogan "oke mefa laosan-We are only paying 30 shillings!" and which Awo was able to quell with some negotiation. Your usual obfuscation tactic, am afraid will not work here, oga dede.

The bottom line is that Ojukwu sent Banjo (as a Trojan horse) on a "mission impossible" to wrought havoc on his ancestral land which Banjo must have taken cognizance of, hence his attempt to seek safe passage through yorubaland which necessitate the delay. Ojukwu simply had the man killed 'cause his gamble failed and he needed a fall guy for his gross military incompetence. There was no way Ojukwu ill-equipped rag-tag liberation front could have taken lagos and hang on to it when even his rear axis -the mid-west region was still been harangued by ogbemudia's resistance force.

In fact, the whole excursion was a futile attempt by ojukwu and a sheer waste of vital human resources.

logica:
Guy, I'm.stating the obvious but something is wrong with you. We have read from the actual transcript of Awolowo's speech yet you keeping spamming the thread with secondary sources of information. Na wa o!

WetinConsignMe:


Prophet Mohammed left Medina with a rag-tag, untrained, ill-equipped group of men to go and attack the army of a country. BUT on the way people joined him and by the time he got to Mecca he had such overwhelming army that Mecca simply surrendered.
Fidel Castro did same. Che Guevera, many other revolutionaries overthrew a government with a rag-tag group of people. Even Charles Taylor here in Africa.
So just because it did not work for Ojukwu does not mean it is not possible.

WetinConsignMe:
This is from "America's secret files on Ojukwu"

Why Ojukwu Killed Banjo, Ifeajuna and Others



When the American consul asked Ojukwu for evidence, Ojukwu replied: “Banjo is a very meticulous man, who kept records and notes of everything he did. The mistake of the plotters was they talked too much, their moves too conspicuous and they made notes which came into my hands. As a result, the conspirators came under surveillance from the early stages of the plot’s existence. Their plans then became known and confirmed by subsequent events.”

WetinConsignMe:


"Mumu" is descriptive, it is not name calling
They have refuted nothing. Quite the opposite.
I have proved:

1) Only Ojukwu could have released Awo because he had custody of him and he never took orders from Gowon.
2) Awo's words led to the general understanding that he
promised to make Yorubas secede if Biafra seceded.
QED

T9ksy:




Where is the flippin' EVIDENCE that came into Ojukwu's hands? You guys are very good at relying on "word of mouth" evidences.

Same way the Jan. 15th coupist were going to force Awo out of prison and make him the PM, whether he likes it or not.

Same way, Awo and his close associates were jailed in 1962/63 for treason.

Same way, zik claimed he won the regional govt election in western nigeria in 1951.


Meanwhile, past experiences has lent credence to the FACT that INTEGRITY is an alien concept in your culture.

lawani:
Did Awo promise to give lagos to invading Igbos? because ojukwu's letter via Banjo made mention of that. Then What you can say is that ojukwu was obliged to free Awo because Awo never committed any crime against the Eastern Region.

WetinConsignMe:


Ojukwu was relying on Awo to do far more than Awo was ever capable of doing. Northern soldiers surrounding Awo had their eyes on him as he had already telegraphed Yorubas would secede if Biafra did, as they understood it.

T9ksy:



And who were the people following Ojukwu's BLF? No one. In fact, the mid-west people went into the bush to harass his occupational force whilst the yorubas quickly rallied round their boys to stop him at Ore.

It might have been possible had Ojukwu went north to avenge the death of his people at the hands of the hausa/fulanis who incidentally, had been killing the ibos long before independence but stepped it up a notch after ibos soldiers had killed their GOD in a horrific manner and then went for the jugular after their own successful counter coup.

But smart(sic!) Ojukwu decided to go looking for northerners to kill in yorubaland.

lawani:
Ojukwu had no business invading the midwest or the west that were tactically supporting Biafra. That is the issue.

WetinConsignMe:




Zik's party did win majority in the western hose. Google that too.

T9ksy:



"The taste of the pudding is in the eating"

Until you and your fellow liar mofos can present us with election result which shows conclusively that NCNC won the election in question, all na wash.

diadem10:

You're unintelligent!

Are you forgetting your ancestor, Zik joined Yoruba into 1 Nigeria against Awolowo cries? How is stating that Yoruba would secede if Nigeria grants Biafra secession equating to promising to join Ojuwkwu in his quest for secession?

If your brain can't work it out, let me spell it out to you.. Awolowo simply means if Nigeria govt grant secession to Ojukwu, they should count Yoruba out as well because Ibo joined us into 1 Nigeria hence, we're either in the shite together or out. It didn't mean Awolowo would fight with Ojukwu in his stupid quest. Awolowo's statement was directed to the government, not Ojukwu nor Ibo.

And nope, Ojukwu never released Awolowo. He was released by Gowon who immediately flew him to his house. He didn't even get to change into a dress.

WetinConsignMe:

Ojukwu was relying on Awo to do far more than Awo was ever capable of doing. Northern soldiers surrounding Awo had their eyes on him as he had already telegraphed Yorubas would secede if Biafra did, as they understood it.

WetinConsignMe:
This is from "America's secret files on Ojukwu"
Note the bolded.(Shows the general/public impression of what Awo said would happen if Biafra seceded)

...On the other hand, Strong continued: “AG (Action Group) activists and the man in the street are convinced Awolowo made the statement under duress…They say Awolowo’s true position was indicated in the Leaders of Thought resolution in May, which said if any region seceded or forced out, the West would automatically become independent. The activists feel that Awolowo missed the opportunity to bring the present conflict to close by coming to Ibadan and make a Western Declaration of Independence speech supported by Victor Banjo and his National Liberation Army.”

Mr Strong provided another dimension. “Since ‘there are no secrets in Yorubaland,’ it is very likely Awolowo was aware of coup talk here and issued the statement to forestall Western coup attempt and try and keep the tenuous peace in the West,” he wrote. On the night of 11 August, Mr Smallwood, British Deputy High Commissioner, came to inform his American counterpart that “decision has been taken by a group of AG activists to support efforts to stage a Midwest type coup here in the West. Timing uncertain but could happen anytime from 12th. Planners supposedly do not include top members of AG hierarchy, but certain young activists who hope to present AG leaders with fait accompli consistent with their own sympathies.”

T9ksy, diadem10, logica, vivere, Dedetwo, CeterisXVII
lawani, omonnakoda, oladeebo
omenka
omenkalives
alcatraz005
t9ksy, zenmaster

Vivere:

Guy, Nigerian govt NEVER granted secession to Ojukwu. Instead, they fought to keep Ojukwu's region within the federation. And since there was NO secession, how would Awo's words have come to pass??

WetinConsignMe:

Prophet Mohammed left Medina with a rag-tag, untrained, ill-equipped group of men to go and attack the army of a country. BUT on the way people joined him and by the time he got to Mecca he had such overwhelming army that Mecca simply surrendered.
Fidel Castro did same. Che Guevera, many other revolutionaries overthrew a government with a rag-tag group of people. Even Charles Taylor here in Africa.
So just because it did not work for Ojukwu does not mean it is not possible.

WetinConsignMe:


He did not mean it as an invasion. It was.meant to turn into a mass movement of people heading to Lagos. Remember they dropped leaflets in Lagos urging the people to topple Gowon. He overestimated the popularity of his cause.

WetinConsignMe:

Prophet Mohammed left Medina with a rag-tag, untrained, ill-equipped group of men to go and attack the army of a country. BUT on the way people joined him and by the time he got to Mecca he had such overwhelming army that Mecca simply surrendered.
Fidel Castro did same. Che Guevera, many other revolutionaries overthrew a government with a rag-tag group of people. Even Charles Taylor here in Africa.
So just because it did not work for Ojukwu does not mean it is not possible.