reubenobi:
My Brother! Ajieh o. I'm from Utagbo uno as well.

Ajieh Nwene nmadu. Am from Umusadike Quarters

I have one small question for our Southeastern brothers. Is it possible for you guys to let this go? Like, just leave it alone and chill?

It's beginning to come across as sad. And this is coming from an Anioma guy who identifies as Igbo.

Riverville:
Ajieh Nwene nmadu. Am from Umusadike Quarters

Wow!! That's nice.

liberalchick:

We also wished he didn’t. Thousands of innocent Asaba young men and little boys wouldn’t have died for a war or a cause they pledged no allegiance to. Ojukwu got to live out his natural years, same can’t be said for the Asaba victims.

You see, admission class forgets something. It was not just killing of Bello, Balewa and others in January 1966 coup that led to the war. It was the aftermath.

Dr Nwafor Orizu had the chance to hand over to Balewa's de facto deputy Dipcharima. Orizu was senate president and acting president as Zik was in the Caribbean "convalescing". But instead Ironsi came to Orizu's house, left Balewa's cabinet members like Shehu Shagari in the parlour, went into another room to discuss. They emerged and Ironsi demanded power "to restore order". Meanwhile the bodies of Balewa and some others were still in the bush somewhere on Lagos-Ibadan road, not found yet.

So it became VERY suspicious to the North that Igbo used their "anioma cousins" to effect the coup and take power. Considering that Ahmadu Bello already openly voiced his suspicion of Igbo people when alive.

When the war began, Midwest that included Anioma decided to be neutral. But Biafra suddenly invaded Midwest, and declared Republic of Benin in Edo area. All against Midwest wishes. So Biafra lost the support of Midwest. Anioma suddenly found themselves under Biafra. Federal troops dominated by Northerners realising that the coup leaders that killed Northern leaders came mostly from what is now Biafra controlled area wouldn't have delighted them one bit. They took revenge.

Anyway you look at it, Biafra brought the carnage on Anioma. They should have remained across the Niger. A truce might have been easier before too many died. But invading Federal territory gave the war a new dimension.

Igbo need to critically analyse the errors made with the motives, timing and how they declared Biafra war. Igbo were the most vulnerable. They depended more and still depend now on being all over Nigeria than any other tribe. Even Zik was born in Zungeru, Niger State, as far back as 1904. Ojukwu too was born in Zungeru.

Nigeria has done a bad job of processing Biafra war reaching true reconciliation. On both sides really.

We should not force identity on anybody. If we believe in the Bible, we all came from Adam & Eve. But today we have thousands of languages and culture, even skin colours.

Cultures and identities evolve, always in motion, not static.

RedboneSmith:
I have one small question for our Southeastern brothers. Is it possible for you guys to let this go? Like, just leave it alone and chill?

It's beginning to come across as sad. And this is coming from an Anioma guy who identifies as Igbo.

You’re Enuani so why wouldn’t you identify as Igbo?

liberalchick:
OP please know your history. Biafrans invaded and occupied the region. They installed Igbo army generals to control the region. They needed that region to take the fight to Lagos. The region was not consulted and no allegiance was given. Biafrans were defeated at Ore, they retreated and blew up the bridge, essentially trapping Asaba people with the invading Nigerian troops. The massacre that ensued is the fault of Biafra and the Nigerian troops.

ANIOMA is not Igbo. We have a very different culture and lifestyle, “Delta Igbo” is a misnomer. Unfortunately, our fathers were not proud of our heritage so they gave their kids Igbo names to blend with a dominant culture. ANIOMA people have their own first names. We have names like and they sound nothing like Igbo.
Anupu, Isama, Otunniya, Okwanuzor, Ishicheri, Okwubiri, Ebinum, Egwenum, Osanebi, Ossai etc

Most ANIOMA languages and Igbo is not even mutually intelligible.

Some Languages in ANIOMA have Benin in them, phenotypically, ANIOMA look nothing like the Igbos, also River Niger would have made it much more difficult for the migratory trend to have been from the east. After migration and later trading is responsible for the Igboid in the ANIOMA group of languages.

Remember not to lump Enuani (Asaba/Oshimili people) with you Ika/Bendel/Ukwuani people. Most eastern Igbos understand Enuani better than a good chunk of Anambra state dialects because their dialect is as close to central Igbo as it gets.

Probz:


You’re Enuani so why wouldn’t you identify as Igbo?

I see you're still holding on to this simplistic view that Enuani all identify as Igbo and the rest of Anioma doesn't.

RedboneSmith:


I see you're still holding on to this simplistic view that Enuani all identify as Igbo and the rest of Anioma doesn't.

Not so much that as the fact that Enuani people have less grounds for Igbo denial than Ika and Ukwuani people (linguistically at least) and that’s not something that can be readily denied.

Probz:


Not so much that as the fact that Enuani people have less grounds for Igbo denial than Ika and Ukwuani people (linguistically at least) and that’s not something that can be readily denied.

Identity goes beyond language.

Also you're managed to digress from the point of my initial statement on this post.

RedboneSmith:


Identity goes beyond language.

Also you're managed to digress from the point of my initial statement on this post.

But the point is Enuani people aren’t the same as Ika/Bendel/Ukwuani people.

.

Probz:


But the point is Enuani people aren’t the same as Ika/Bendel/Ukwuani people.

they r very much the same , the difference is there closeness in geographical borders with anambra people,, a typical asaba man can never call himself an Igbo man . Mind you I am from there . The language ain’t that understandable like u make it look

Probz:


But the point is Enuani people aren’t the same as Ika/Bendel/Ukwuani people.

This doesn't make much sense. Ika isn't the same as Ukwuani, either. All the three Igboid dialect blocs in Anioma are distinct from each other, even though they have all blended around the edge. What's your point?

Again, this is unnecessary digression, given that all I am interested in, as far as this post is concerned, is that the obsession of incessantly talking about south-south Igbo-speaking peoples by our SE brothers is becoming unhealthy

Liliantalks:
they r very much the same , the difference is there closeness in geographical borders with anambra people,, a typical asaba man can never call himself an Igbo man . Mind you I am from there . The language ain’t that understandable like u make it look

And how divergent is Enuani from standard Igbo compared to Nsukka or even some distinct Anambra lects (Awka, Nnewi)? Why isn’t Enuani classified as anything other than a simple dialect of nuclear Igbo unlike Ika, Ikwerre and even the Abakaliki ‘languages’?

Whatever about cultural affiliation but Enuani people have no grounds for Igbo denial linguistically. Compared to large chunks of southeastern dialects your dialect (and that’s really all it is) is as central as they come.

RedboneSmith:


This doesn't make much sense. Ika isn't the same as Ukwuani, either. All the three Igboid dialect blocs in Anioma are distinct from each other, even though they have all blended around the edge. What's your point?

Again, this is unnecessary digression, given that all I am interested in, as far as this post is concerned, is that the obsession of incessantly talking about south-south Igbo-speaking peoples by our SE brothers is becoming unhealthy

But the both of them are collectively separate from Enuani in the sense that the latter’s an indisputable dialect of Igbo proper and the first two aren’t even though they’re different in themselves. It’s like Igala and to a lesser extent Itsekeri being collectively separated from an Ijesha dialect if all three lects happened to be spoken in one state.

Probz:


And how divergent is Enuani from standard Igbo compared to Nsukka or even some distinct Anambra lects (Awka, Nnewi)? Why isn’t Enuani classified as anything other than a simple dialect of nuclear Igbo unlike Ika, Ikwerre and even the Abakaliki ‘languages’?

Whatever about cultural affiliation but Enuani people have no grounds for Igbo denial linguistically. Compared to large chunks of southeastern dialects your dialect (and that’s really all it is) is as central as they come.

linguistics got nothing to do with a person and identity or tribe , languages r influenced by geographical locations , and immigration. The fact they r close to each other is the only reason they can understand averagely understand themselves. Don’t mean they r the same.

.

RedboneSmith:
Identity goes beyond language.

Why is this such a hard concept for Igbo people to grasp?

RedboneSmith:
I have one small question for our Southeastern brothers. Is it possible for you guys to let this go? Like, just leave it alone and chill?

It's beginning to come across as sad. And this is coming from an Anioma guy who identifies as Igbo.

Only beginning? You’re giving people too much credit.

AreaFada2

You see, admission class forgets something. It was not just killing of Bello, Balewa and others in January 1966 coup that led to the war. It was the aftermath.

Dr Nwafor Orizu had the chance to hand over to Balewa's de facto deputy Dipcharima. Orizu was senate president and acting president as Zik was in the Caribbean "convalescing". But instead Ironsi came to Orizu's house, left Balewa's cabinet members like Shehu Shagari in the parlour, went into another room to discuss. They emerged and Ironsi demanded power "to restore order". Meanwhile the bodies of Balewa and some others were still in the bush somewhere on Lagos-Ibadan road, not found yet.

So it became VERY suspicious to the North that Igbo used their "anioma cousins" to effect the coup and take power. Considering that Ahmadu Bello already openly voiced his suspicion of Igbo people when alive.

I know you are an Edo and have big interest in Anioma even though you massacred them in Bini city during the war .
This is why I would not let your history revisionism slide.

See, the main cause of all events that led to the war was Nzeogwu coup. Everything else that came after was a cascade. No Nzeogwu coup, no Ironsi, no Nwafor Orizu, nothing else. Once Nzeogwu organized his boys and killed Northern leaders with Ironsi refusing to hand Nzeogwu and his boys over to blood thirsty North for public execution, everything else Ironsi or Ndiigbo did will be always interpreted with the bias of knowing that Nzeogwu a supposedly Igbo man murdered Northern leaders with his boys.
Nzeogwu was the trigger who opened the Pandora box. If we are looking for blames, it stops at his table, he is the SOURCE.

When the war began, Midwest that included Anioma decided to be neutral. But Biafra suddenly invaded Midwest, and declared Republic of Benin in Edo area. All against Midwest wishes. So Biafra lost the support of Midwest. Anioma suddenly found themselves under Biafra. Federal troops dominated by Northerners realising that the coup leaders that killed Northern leaders came mostly from what is now Biafra controlled area wouldn't have delighted them one bit. They took revenge.

Midwest was never Neutral. Midwest was part and parcel of the Nigerian delegation that came to Aburi for negotiations with Eastern region.
I don't know where you got the idea of Midwest being neutral from. There were also many Midwest soldiers in Nigerian military that attacked Biafra.
And we know that part of the grouse the non Igbo Midwesterners had with Biafra occupation was that Ojukwu removed Ejoor who was pro Nigeria( yet another proof that Midwest was never neutral)and replaced him with Okonkwo who was an Anioma person. Many non Igbo Midwesterners saw this move as imposition of Igbo domination on them. You see, when it pleases you lots, Anioma becomes Igbo, when it doesn't, they become Bini descendants. We are told by Edo people that Anioma are not Igbos but are Bini descendants, but when Ojukwu appointed a Bini descendant Anioma man to replace an Urhobo man in Midwest, Bini and Edoids forgot that Aniomas are Bini descendants, instead, cries of Igbo domination filled the air. Who is deceiving who?

Anyway you look at it, Biafra brought the carnage on Anioma. They should have remained across the Niger. A truce might have been easier before too many died. But invading Federal territory gave the war a new dimension.

More like the other way round. Maybe if Ironsi handed Nzeogwu, Ifeajuna to the North to butcher. Maybe there wouldn't have been any war to begin with. Maybe if Nzeogwu didn't start what he couldn't finish, they would not have been war to start with.

Igbo need to critically
Anyway you look at it, Biafra brought the carnage on Anioma. They should have remained across the Niger. A truce might have been easier before too many died. But invading Federal territory gave the war a new dimension. analyse the errors made with the motives, timing and how they declared Biafra war. Igbo were the most vulnerable. They depended more and still depend now on being all over Nigeria than any other tribe. Even Zik was born in Zungeru, Niger State, as far back as 1904. Ojukwu too was born in Zungeru.

Nigeria has done a bad job of processing Biafra war reaching true reconciliation. On both sides really.

We should not force identity on anybody. If we believe in the Bible, we all came from Adam & Eve. But today we have thousands of languages and culture, even skin colours.

Cultures and identities evolve, always in motion, not static.

[/quote]

Stop beating round the bush with your cheap divide and conquer tactics.
If you believe Ndiigbo needs Nigeria more than Nigeria needs Ndiigbo, we dare you to do to us like Malay federation did to Singapore when they were convinced that Singapore were a liability, they expelled them from the Malay federation.
Its only in Nigeria where folks claim Igbos need them more than Nigeria needs Ndiigbo, yet they die inside at the mention of Biafra. One would think they should be the ones pushing and helping Ndiigbo to achieve Biafra.

Igboid:
AreaFada2



I know you are an Edo and have big interest in Anioma even though you massacred them in Bini city during the war .
This is why I would not let your history revisionism slide.

See, the main cause of all events that led to the war was Nzeogwu coup. Everything else that came after was a cascade. No Nzeogwu coup, no Ironsi, no Nwafor Orizu, nothing else. Once Nzeogwu organized his boys and killed Northern leaders with Ironsi refusing to hand Nzeogwu and his boys over to blood thirsty North for public execution, everything else Ironsi or Ndiigbo did will be always interpreted with the bias of knowing that Nzeogwu a supposedly Igbo man murdered Northern leaders with his boys.
Nzeogwu was the trigger who opened the Pandora box. If we are looking for blames, it stops at his table, he is the SOURCE.




Midwest was never Neutral. Midwest was part and parcel of the Nigerian delegation that came to Aburi for negotiations with Eastern region.
I don't know where you got the idea of Midwest being neutral from. There were also many Midwest soldiers in Nigerian military that attacked Biafra.
And we know that part of the grouse the non Igbo Midwesterners had with Biafra occupation was that Ojukwu removed Ejoor who was pro Nigeria( yet another proof that Midwest was never neutral)and replaced him with Okonkwo who was an Anioma person. Many non Igbo Midwesterners saw this move as imposition of Igbo domination on them. You see, when it pleases you lots, Anioma becomes Igbo, when it doesn't, they become Bini descendants. We are told by Edo people that Anioma are not Igbos but are Bini descendants, but when Ojukwu appointed a Bini descendant Anioma man to replace an Urhobo man in Midwest, Bini and Edoids forgot that Aniomas are Bini descendants, instead, cries of Igbo domination filled the air. Who is deceiving who?



More like the other way round. Maybe if Ironsi handed Nzeogwu, Ifeajuna to the North to butcher. Maybe there wouldn't have been any war to begin with. Maybe if Nzeogwu didn't start what he couldn't finish, they would not have been war to start with.



Stop beating round the bush with your cheap divide and conquer tactics.
If you believe Ndiigbo needs Nigeria more than Nigeria needs Ndiigbo, we dare you to do to us like Malay federation did to Singapore when they were convinced that Singapore were a liability, they expelled them from the Malay federation.
Its only in Nigeria where folks claim Igbos need them more than Nigeria needs Ndiigbo, yet they die inside at the mention of Biafra. One would think they should be the ones pushing and helping Ndiigbo to achieve Biafra.

Good that you admit that Nzeogwu didn't face the law as failed coup plotters do. Like Dimka 10 years later. A Northerner who wasn't spared. That Nzeogwu was spared came from the fact that Orizu and Ironsi connived to give power to an Igbo man.

If Okotie-Eboh, Bello or Balewa was your kinsman how would you interpret that move by two Igbo leaders and transferring Nzeogwu to a South Prison subsequently? Be honest with yourself.

Nzeogwu knew the consequences of failed coup as a soldier so why should he not face being butchered after butchering other people?

Since you justify invasion of Midwest as an enemy territory, you have just also justified whatever happened to Igbo in Midwest after Biafra invaded.

What you forget is that Southern military governors supported Ojukwu position at Aburi. Only Hassan Katsina, governor of North Central opposed it. The memos are there to see.

Midwest vouched for Ojukwu's safety and organised post Aburi conference between FG and Ojukwu at NIFOR near Benin City. Even though Ojukwu visited Benin a day earlier he didn't come to NIFOR. To later say "on ABURI we stand" without coming to an agreed conference to officially hear whatever changes or give and take FG wanted was insincere and costly.

Go back to my posts years ago and you will see the following I have always said: that my family was one of the first to welcome Igbo back after the war, that Igbo kids my relatives midwifed that perished in the East were mourned like family when their parents came back, that poor handling of POST Biafra by FG and marginalisation of Igbo has led to the poor state of Nigeria and that 50 years on, with Nigeria not making any progress, Igbo should be allowed to go peacefully. In fact various people should have the chance to choose.

That way the question of who needs the other the most will be finally out to bed.

But Biafra war pre-empted any meaningful reorganization as it's used as a warning whenever any restructuring is touted.

When Benin faced Britain in 1897, we didn't get the support of neighbouring tribes including Igbo. Even though many of the soldiers Britain used to attack and burn down Benin were from across West Africa including what is now Nigeria, but we do not blame other Nigerians for our fate.

Yet not everybody is against Igbo. But Igbo also need to see the mistakes they made leading up to the war.

AreaFada2:

Good that you admit that Nzeogwu didn't face the law as failed coup plotters do. Like Dimka 10 years later. A Northerner who wasn't spared. That Nzeogwu was spared came from the fact that Orizu and Ironsi connived to give power to an Igbo man.

I don't actually think Nzeogwu should have been handed over to be butchered. I'm just playing along with the blame game and telling you where the buck of the blame stops and it's on Nzeogwu table.
Nzeogwu wasn't killed because of Fajuiyi who was Nzeogwu and his boys mentors and Ironsi right hand man. He was the one who advised Ironsi to save the boys and continually pleaded on the boys case. This angered the Northern soldiers and that's part of the reasons they marked him for death and indeed killed him. To cover up for why Fajuiyi was killed, the Lagos-Ibadan propagandan media machine spinned the lies of Fajuyi being killed because he was pleading for Ironi life.
I don't know what you meant by saying that Orizu connived to hand power to Ironsi. Ironsi was a military man with troops at his command and wanted power handed over to him. What did you expect Orizu to do? Say No to Ironsi and pay with his life or what? The sort of spin you lots give these narratives is mind blowing. Even Ogundipe a military man couldn't stand up to Gowon, but Orizu a civilian was expected to say no to military man with troops at his command, because he is Igbo. And he is being vilified for not defying a military man with troops to command?

If Okotie-Eboh, Bello or Balewa was your kinsman how would you interpret that move by two Igbo leaders and transferring Nzeogwu to a South Prison subsequently? Be honest with yourself.

Okotie-Eboh and Nzeogwu were Midwesters. How about that?
So how do you think we feel when Nigerians massacred Igbo military officers and went after civilians and still expect us to be country men with them since we are talking about feelings now.

Nzeogwu knew the consequences of failed coup as a soldier so why should he not face being butchered after butchering other people?

Since you justify invasion of Midwest as an enemy territory, you have just also justified whatever happened to Igbo in Midwest after Biafra invaded.

So there are now Igbos in Midwest. I thought they are all Bini descendants? You can't seem to keep your goalposts one place, can you?

What you forget is that Southern military governors supported Ojukwu position at Aburi. Only Hassan Katsina, governor of North Central opposed it. The memos are there to see.

So what happened when they reached home, why was the agreement reneged on?

Midwest vouched for Ojukwu's safety and organised post Aburi conference between FG and Ojukwu at NIFOR near Benin City. Even though Ojukwu visited Benin a day earlier he didn't come to NIFOR. To later say "on ABURI we stand" without coming to an agreed conference to officially hear whatever changes or give and take FG wanted was insincere and costly.

This is bunkum. Agreement is the end result of a negotiation. It's at negotiation table that you give and take. You can't come overnight and want an agreement to be changed again or amended, that's the aim of negotiations.
Nigeria was not safe for Ojukwu. Ejoor who was in control of Midwest was pro Nigeria. Ojukwu would have been stupid to accept any such stupid invitations after the Nigeria massacred Igbos a second time after they promised Ojukwu their safety and asked them to return back. Nigeria proved they don't play by any civil rules.

You reach an agreement on Aburi, you keep it. If you didn't keep it, then you have reneged on it, it's as simple as that

Go back to my posts years ago and you will see the following I have always said: that my family was one of the first to welcome Igbo back after the war, that Igbo kids my relatives midwifed that perished in the East were mourned like family when their parents came back, that poor handling of POST Biafra by FG and marginalisation of Igbo has led to the poor state of Nigeria and that 50 years on, with Nigeria not making any progress, Igbo should be allowed to go peacefully. In fact various people should have the chance to choose.

The thing I agree with you. Ndiigbo will never be comfortable existing in same country with Yorubas and the North after Biafra. It will never work. Our resentment of Nigeria will never stop until we are no longer part of Nigeria.

That way the question of who needs the other the most will be finally out to bed.

But Biafra war pre-empted any meaningful reorganization as it's used as a warning whenever any restructuring is touted.

Exactly. I don't think any of us need each other. We are totally different people. Separation and borders will make us good neighbors.

When Benin faced Britain in 1897, we didn't get the support of neighbouring tribes including Igbo. Even though many of the soldiers Britain used to attack and burn down Benin were from across West Africa including what is now Nigeria, but we do not blame other Nigerians for our fate.

.

Binis were not the only ones who fought British. Ekumeku of the west Igbos was even more fierce. And there was The Anglo-Aro war of 1901. A full year out and out war.
You don't see Ndiigbo blaming anyone for that one too.

Yet not everybody is against Igbo. But Igbo also need to see the mistakes they made leading up to the war

The only mistake I see leading to the war, was Zik shortsightedness in not realizing that Union between Ndiigbo and Yoruba /North is a destructive non feasible one. He had opportunity to fight for independence of Igboland as an independent country before Nigeria independence, but choose to fight for a United Nigeria.
That's the mistake present Igbo youths are hell bent on correcting. It was a life costing mistake.

Igboid:
AreaFada2:



I don't actually think Nzeogwu should have been handed over to be butchered. I'm just playing along with the blame game and telling you where the buck of the blame stops and it's on Nzeogwu table.
Nzeogwu wasn't killed because of Fajuiyi who was Nzeogwu and his boys mentors and Ironsi right hand man. He was the one who advised Ironsi to save the boys and continually pleaded on the boys case. This angered the Northern soldiers and that's part of the reasons they marked him for death and indeed killed him. To cover up for why Fajuiyi was killed, the Lagos-Ibadan propagandan media machine spinned the lies of Fajuyi being killed because he was pleading for Ironi life.
I don't know what you meant by saying that Orizu connived to hand power to Ironsi. Ironsi was a military man with troops at his command and wanted power handed over to him. What did you expect Orizu to do? Say No to Ironsi and pay with his life or what? The sort of spin you lots give these narratives is mind blowing. Even Ogundipe a military man couldn't stand up to Gowon, but Orizu a civilian was expected to say no to military man with troops at his command, because he is Igbo. And he is being vilified for not defying a military man with troops to command?




Okotie-Eboh and Nzeogwu were Midwesters. How about that?
So how do you think we feel when Nigerians massacred Igbo military officers and went after civilians and still expect us to be country men with them since we are talking about feelings now.



So there are now Igbos in Midwest. I thought they are all Bini descendants? You can't seem to keep your goalposts one place, can you?



So what happened when they reached home, why was the agreement reneged on?



This is bunkum. Agreement is the end result of a negotiation. It's at negotiation table that you give and take. You can't come overnight and want an agreement to be changed again or amended, that's the aim of negotiations.
Nigeria was not safe for Ojukwu. Ejoor who was in control of Midwest was pro Nigeria. Ojukwu would have been stupid to accept any such stupid invitations after the Nigeria massacred Igbos a second time after they promised Ojukwu their safety and asked them to return back. Nigeria proved they don't play by any civil rules.

You reach an agreement on Aburi, you keep it. If you didn't keep it, then you have reneged on it, it's as simple as that



The thing I agree with you. Ndiigbo will never be comfortable existing in same country with Yorubas and the North after Biafra. It will never work. Our resentment of Nigeria will never stop until we are no longer part of Nigeria.



Exactly. I don't think any of us need each other. We are totally different people. Separation and borders will make us good neighbors.

.

Binis were not the only ones who fought British. Ekumeku of the west Igbos was even more fierce. And there was The Anglo-Aro war of 1901. A full year out and out war.
You don't see Ndiigbo blaming anyone for that one too.



The only mistake I see leading to the war, was Zik shortsightedness in not realizing that Union between Ndiigbo and Yoruba /North is a destructive non feasible one. He had opportunity to fight for independence of Igboland as an independent country before Nigeria independence, but choose to fight for a United Nigeria.
That's the mistake present Igbo youths are hell bent on correcting. It was a life costing mistake.

First off, I do not really care what Anioma call themselves. All I care about is that neither you nor me should decide for them. Period.
You called them Igbo, I agreed with you that since Kaduna came from Anioma, the North saw a chance to avenge the deaths of Northern leaders on Anioma people. Simple.

After Balewa was abducted and feared dead, Orizu had the chance to swear in Dipcharima at least as interim prime minister. Dip was Balewa's deputy. Or at least consult with Northern leaders who they'd prefer. He didn't. He would have bridged that vacuum. It would be left to the military to overthrow Dip. IBB did it to Shonekan. The North wisely chose two Western presidential candidates in 1999. Choosing common sense over Braggadocio.

For Ironsi to take Orizu into another room first smelt very fishy indeed.

As for Ekukumeku, Banjo and a few other Yorubas fought on Biafra side but it doesn't mean Yorubas were on Biafra side.

Good that you recognise Zik as fighting for a united Nigeria while Awo fought against it before independence. Maybe Zik born in Zungeru, Niger State, made his career in Lagos and widely exposed, saw how much Igbo needed Nigeria as a whole. Maybe you are wiser than Zik.

Moreover, in Zik's book published in 1970, he clearly traced his origins to Benin.

As Nigeria stands, diversity is a massive curse now, we need to agree to disagree and go separate ways. Ideally like the two Koreas. We need another 60 years of total separation, since a peaceful separation will not be possible.

Fajuyi was given a chance to handover Ironsi and go free but he refused. His widow confirmed it. So Fajuyi wasn't marked for anything. Ibadan just happened to be an easier place to get Ironsi.

NIFOR meeting was meant to ratify Aburi Accord. Ojukwu had his copy. If FG changed the accord, he had the right to ask for time to decide as tactics to leave.

Well, maybe to you the life of Nzeogwu was worth more than the lives of millions of Igbo and Nigerians who died, your choice.

Nzeogwu died during the war anyway.

Nzeogwu killed even a fellow Midwesterner but no Igbo, so it sent a message that Igbo were in cahoots, rightly or wrongly. It compounded the whole thing.

AreaFada2:

First off, I do not really care what Anioma call themselves. All I care about is that neither you nor me should decide for them. Period.
You called them Igbo, I agreed with you that since Kaduna came from Anioma, the North saw a chance to avenge the deaths of Northern leaders on Anioma people. Simple

I didn't call them Igbo. Since Anioma and Nigerians have decided they can slide in and out between being Igbo when it suits and being non Igbos when it doesn't suit them. I being a clever Igbo man, have also learnt to play the game too. I choose when to refer to Anioma as Igbos and choose when to call them Bini descendants. Three can play this game, don't you think so?
In Igbo we say, Aka onye weta ka aga eji so ya!

After Balewa was abducted and feared dead, Orizu had the chance to swear in Dipcharima at least as interim prime minister. Dip was Balewa's deputy. Or at least consult with Northern leaders who they'd prefer. He didn't. He would have bridged that vacuum. It would be left to the military to overthrow Dip. IBB did it to Shonekan. The North wisely chose two Northern presidential candidates in 1999.

Just as Ogundipe had the opportunity to take over from Ironsi as the next in command, but declined and ran for his life.
You all knew Ironsi wanted the power. You would be naive or mischievous to believe Orizu just handed the power to Ironsi out of volition.
Especially when doing so meant that Orizu and all civilian government officials were retired from power indefinitely.
No one hands power to another just like that. We have seen cousins go head to head for power and even siblings with non backing down for the other.
You only think Orizu handed over to Ironsi without coercion, because you are blinded by Igbophobia to think deep.
With the scale of massive killing of public officers that went on there, what are the chances that Orizu was in daze and couldn't act fast enough? I read a script too that NCNC were scheming to replace Balewa with an NCNC man.
Either way the delay allowed Ironsi to pounce, but it's madness to claim Orizu handed over to him because he was Igbo. He handed over to him because he was a military man with armed troops at his command.

For Ironsi to take Orizu into another room first smelt very fishy indeed.

You smell what you want to.
Ironsi probably took him into room to tell him his choices. Hand over to me in peace or do so in pieces was probably the message indoors. Orizu saved his own life like Ogundipe did. It's that simple. But of course once an Igbo man is involved, nothing is ever simple in Nigeria.

As for Ekukumeku, Banjo and a few other Yorubas fought on Biafra side but it doesn't mean Yorubas were on Biafra side.
Good that recognise Zik as fighting for a united Nigeria while Awo fought against it before independence. Maybe Zik born in Zungeru, Niger State, made his career in Lagos and widely exposed, saw how much Igbo needed Nigeria as a whole. Maybe you are wiser than Zik. Moreover, in Zik's book published in 1970, he clearly traced his origins to Benin.

Zik was shortsighted and a bit selfish. He wanted to rule over bigger Nigeria than just Igboland.
Ndiigbo never needed Nigeria, not now, not in the past. We spent 3yrs in Biafra telling the world that we don't need Nigeria, nothing has changed.
Ndiigbo need the world, the world is our play ground, but we need a secure place free of envious and Igbophobic non Igbo groups to call home. That's a given.
Zik is not a historian. His book claiming Benin origins is another chapter of his selfish one Nigeria support.
Ain't no Bini man that ever went by the name Ezechima, not now, not in the 16th century.
You have to be retarded to believe a man named Ezechima in 16th century or thereabouts was anything but Igbo. And Zik was supposed not to be a retard.
Zik is a funny character and it's not news that he is very unpopular among current Igbo youths. His lack of foresight is bare before all, and we are paying the price dearly.

As Nigeria stands, diversity is a massive curse now, we need to agree to disagree and go separate ways. Ideally like the two Koreas. We need another 60 years of total separation, since a peaceful separation will not be possible.[

Whether by peaceful or non peaceful means. Ndiigbo will surely find a way out of Nigeria, as long as night and day exists.

Igboid:
AreaFada2:



I don't actually think Nzeogwu should have been handed over to be butchered. I'm just playing along with the blame game and telling you where the buck of the blame stops and it's on Nzeogwu table.
Nzeogwu wasn't killed because of Fajuiyi who was Nzeogwu and his boys mentors and Ironsi right hand man. He was the one who advised Ironsi to save the boys and continually pleaded on the boys case. This angered the Northern soldiers and that's part of the reasons they marked him for death and indeed killed him. To cover up for why Fajuiyi was killed, the Lagos-Ibadan propagandan media machine spinned the lies of Fajuyi being killed because he was pleading for Ironi life.
I don't know what you meant by saying that Orizu connived to hand power to Ironsi. Ironsi was a military man with troops at his command and wanted power handed over to him. What did you expect Orizu to do? Say No to Ironsi and pay with his life or what? The sort of spin you lots give these narratives is mind blowing. Even Ogundipe a military man couldn't stand up to Gowon, but Orizu a civilian was expected to say no to military man with troops at his command, because he is Igbo. And he is being vilified for not defying a military man with troops to command?




Okotie-Eboh and Nzeogwu were Midwesters. How about that?
So how do you think we feel when Nigerians massacred Igbo military officers and went after civilians and still expect us to be country men with them since we are talking about feelings now.



So there are now Igbos in Midwest. I thought they are all Bini descendants? You can't seem to keep your goalposts one place, can you?



So what happened when they reached home, why was the agreement reneged on?



This is bunkum. Agreement is the end result of a negotiation. It's at negotiation table that you give and take. You can't come overnight and want an agreement to be changed again or amended, that's the aim of negotiations.
Nigeria was not safe for Ojukwu. Ejoor who was in control of Midwest was pro Nigeria. Ojukwu would have been stupid to accept any such stupid invitations after the Nigeria massacred Igbos a second time after they promised Ojukwu their safety and asked them to return back. Nigeria proved they don't play by any civil rules.

You reach an agreement on Aburi, you keep it. If you didn't keep it, then you have reneged on it, it's as simple as that



The thing I agree with you. Ndiigbo will never be comfortable existing in same country with Yorubas and the North after Biafra. It will never work. Our resentment of Nigeria will never stop until we are no longer part of Nigeria.



Exactly. I don't think any of us need each other. We are totally different people. Separation and borders will make us good neighbors.

.

Binis were not the only ones who fought British. Ekumeku of the west Igbos was even more fierce. And there was The Anglo-Aro war of 1901. A full year out and out war.
You don't see Ndiigbo blaming anyone for that one too.



The only mistake I see leading to the war, was Zik shortsightedness in not realizing that Union between Ndiigbo and Yoruba /North is a destructive non feasible one. He had opportunity to fight for independence of Igboland as an independent country before Nigeria independence, but choose to fight for a United Nigeria.
That's the mistake present Igbo youths are hell bent on correcting. It was a life costing mistake.

Good morning sir.
I sent you an
email


on your igboid and parenza accounts. I look forward to receiving a response.

Of course Biafra will solve all these, because as long as their is the British Created Nigeria, some Igbo and others will not accept the truth about their history, largely out of fear and greed. Without Anioma and Ikwerre, Biafra itself on the battlefield would not have lasted as long as it did. Unfortunately Igbo leaders in the so-called SE zone have been cooning and have not provided an attractive reliance with their brethren and those brethren chose to cling to Yoruba and Fulani...



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgxeQKF9Cys