₦airaland Forum

October 1, Nigeria’s Independence Day holiday has come and gone, but it is a day which reminds the Igbos of south eastern Nigeria of what I will refer to as an unfortunate fusion of incompatible cells.

This unfortunate fusion which began with the amalgamation of the northern and southern Nigeria protectorates in 1914, gave rise to a hurriedly put together independent nation with hardly compatible units on October 1, 1960, and a lopsided power arrangement which the Igbos still perceive as being against their ilk. Various grievances were put up leading to what was termed the “first Igbo coup” and a subsequent three-year civil strife that claimed millions of Igbo lives. Through all these yearnings and sacrifices, the Igbos of south east Nigeria till date, see themselves as a marginalized group unequally shackled as subordinates to an oppressive administration supposedly engineered by a Fulani led hegemony.

The Igboman never seems to forget what he sees as the annihilating torture by hunger of the Biafran population by the Yorubas. Since after the Nigerian-Biafran Civil War, with the growing disdain and derisive attitude meted to Igbos by their neighbours, an average Igboman does not cease to question the truth in the much pontificated unity, peace, progress, equality and justice in a one Nigeria setting.

The average Igboman does not just cherish his Biafran heritage, he is willing to fight for it. He wants a nation he can at last call his own. He agitates continuously wanting to breakaway from a country where he feels disadvantaged and under protected, believing he has a better idea for a new republic. He never stops to bicker about it.

However, Arua Okereke, a professor of construction technology threw light on his Igbo kinsmen’s strengths and weaknesses in the new book “The General's Orderly”. The author analyzes the questionable conducts of many Igbomen and women who would rather ridicule and betray a brother’s laudable visions to the enemy than have the same person to rule over them. He exposes the intrigues, betrayals and disregard for collective traditional leadership that characterizes the Igboman’s nature and how these all militates against the realization of a free state of Biafra.

In an emotion-laden narrative, Arua Okereke tells the story of an exceptionally gifted and lucky child who became soldier in the Biafran army and then orderly to the Chief of General Staff, Major Phillip Efiong. He describes in details the war experience from both the point of view of an other rank, and as a glorified houseboy in the state house. He tells the story factually and squarely, in such a way as have never been told.

While other Biafran war accounts have come from war-time administrators and officers, the 436-pages book which will be on Nigerian bookshelves soon brings to light the ugly experiences of ordinary Biafrans who were drawn into a war for which they were ill prepared, and how General Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu who having made huge sacrifices at the onset of the war, finally abandoned his devastated people to escape "in search for peace" after a highhanded administrative style that forced the likes of Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe’s to detach from the cause, ultimately leading to the defeat which Biafra suffered in the civil war. The university don in his writing also extolled the resilient spirit of the Igbo, but nevertheless exposed a backbiting, backstabbing nature that weighs his tribesmen down.

As an internationally recognized and nationally active academic, traditional titles holder, Igbo community leader, and one who had immensely benefitted from the post-war government administration, Arua Okereke whose exciting life adventures began at the tender age of seven, delved into details and revealing issues concerning the Igbo people that may appear controversial but true.

One cannot read The General's Orderly without believing with the author that the current pro-Biafran republic agitations may eventually remain a mirage. His history and reasons are quite convincing to the discerning eye.

Lifeless flatheader.

AmakaEzeonuogu:
[s]October 1, Nigeria’s Independence Day holiday has come and gone, but it is a day which reminds the Igbos of south eastern Nigeria of what I will refer to as an unfortunate fusion of incompatible cells.

This unfortunate fusion which began with the amalgamation of the northern and southern Nigeria protectorates in 1914, gave rise to a hurriedly put together independent nation with hardly compatible units on October 1, 1960, and a lopsided power arrangement which the Igbos still perceive as being against their ilk. Various grievances were put up leading to what was termed the “first Igbo coup” and a subsequent three-year civil strife that claimed millions of Igbo lives. Through all these yearnings and sacrifices, the Igbos of south east Nigeria till date, see themselves as a marginalized group unequally shackled as subordinates to an oppressive administration supposedly engineered by a Fulani led hegemony.

The Igboman never seems to forget what he sees as the annihilating torture by hunger of the Biafran population by the Yorubas. Since after the Nigerian-Biafran Civil War, with the growing disdain and derisive attitude meted to Igbos by their neighbours, an average Igboman does not cease to question the truth in the much pontificated unity, peace, progress, equality and justice in a one Nigeria setting.

The average Igboman does not just cherish his Biafran heritage, he is willing to fight for it. He wants a nation he can at last call his own. He agitates continuously wanting to breakaway from a country where he feels disadvantaged and under protected, believing he has a better idea for a new republic. He never stops to bicker about it.

However, Arua Okereke, a professor of construction technology threw light on his Igbo kinsmen’s strengths and weaknesses in the new book “The General's Orderly”. The author analyzes the questionable conducts of many Igbomen and women who would rather ridicule and betray a brother’s laudable visions to the enemy than have the same person to rule over them. He exposes the intrigues, betrayals and disregard for collective traditional leadership that characterizes the Igboman’s nature and how these all militates against the realization of a free state of Biafra.

In an emotion-laden narrative, Arua Okereke tells the story of an exceptionally gifted and lucky child who became soldier in the Biafran army and then orderly to the Chief of General Staff, Major Phillip Efiong. He describes in details the war experience from both the point of view of an other rank, and as a glorified houseboy in the state house. He tells the story factually and squarely, in such a way as have never been told.

While other Biafran war accounts have come from war-time administrators and officers, the 436-pages book which will be on Nigerian bookshelves soon brings to light the ugly experiences of ordinary Biafrans who were drawn into a war for which they were ill prepared, and how General Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu who having made huge sacrifices at the onset of the war, finally abandoned his devastated people to escape "in search for peace" after a highhanded administrative style that forced the likes of Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe’s to detach from the cause, ultimately leading to the defeat which Biafra suffered in the civil war. The university don in his writing also extolled the resilient spirit of the Igbo, but nevertheless exposed a backbiting, backstabbing nature that weighs his tribesmen down.

As an internationally recognized and nationally active academic, traditional titles holder, Igbo community leader, and one who had immensely benefitted from the post-war government administration, Arua Okereke whose exciting life adventures began at the tender age of seven, delved into details and revealing issues concerning the Igbo people that may appear controversial but true.

One cannot read The General's Orderly without believing with the author that the current pro-Biafran republic agitations may eventually remain a mirage. His history and reasons are quite convincing to the discerning eye.[/s]

You, your whole family and blood lineage is a mirage! Anumanu!

F

Toosure70:
Lifeless flatheader.

afonja greek first on a baifran thread