₦airaland Forum

My parents (like most Igbo parents) did not tell us much about the civil war, but my mom as a kid, with her little brother, (for some reason) had memorized Ojukwu's speech, the Ahiara declaration, and whenever my mom would recite it, her voice will change and she tries to sound like an orator and all for effect lol, then i didn't even know what the war was about, but (thank God for the internet) i started reading up on the war, and because i personally have experience being treated differently, i can't stand seeing someone or a group of people being oppressed, discriminated against and such. That Ojukwu stood up in the face of chaos and trouble, death and an attempt of Igbo cleansing in the north, i admire and am inspired by such bravery, his vision was not myopic either, he meant well in my opinion, whether we fought (resisted the tyrants) ready or not, made some tactical blunders here and there, he still stands as my hero, and as someone that inspires me. (Probably how i got really interested in the military and was so excited when my lil brother got into NMS).

Obama, kinda. He's falling my hand these days.

seconded.

Bad papers, is this nigerian live TV up and running or they're still working on it? the facebook page doesn't say much really, i like it but then what? @topic, Globim is handling quite few projects in nigeria and even Iraw, was discussed on nairaland a couple years ago. i love it that Chime doesn't make too much noise but lets his work speak for itself, am really happy about this rail in Enugu and Anambra, hopefully the rest of the country will be on network.

Hello Mr. Moderator, any idea what happened to an old poster lady, Babyosisi? and Mckenzy? and sleezy8 or something like that, nairaland used to be fun back in the day. i just wish there is somethinglike an ignore button that will make all posts from a user to be invisible, cause for sure some people don't disappoint - garbage through and through each single post.

Maybe they're just doing it for fun? cause its hard to believe the amount of panadal one would be taking for someone elses head ache, albeit a perceived headache! haha i laugh in , don't even know what to laugh in lol.
I have a feeling that even after Ojukwu dies, some people would still shiver and begin barking at the sound of his name.
E mere ya unu eme? We're all one y'all. The same dignity and respect you have or want, is applicable to the other person no matter his tribe or ethnic group. Being vicious and extremely tribalistic ain't healthy at all. Don't hate, appreciate One love

@Delpee, why was Benjamin Adekunli replaced?

i type this huge response and it all disappears! is somebody out to get me or something? anywho, in summary of my lost post, or in memory of it:

OP: Its okay to hate Ojukwu, or the Igbos, or both, but no need making a comparison.

First Citizen: Way to go previously seperating the issues - ethnicity versus the question of an act of cowardice, wish everyone can  be that way. However, your stance is weak becausethe paradime you chose to define who a coward is, someone who starts something he can't finish, or more succintly, someone who runs away to save his life, as someone had rightfully said, has not been examined in concrete defining contexts of cowardice.    

I won't belabor this by differentiating a bonafide coward (naturally) to a cowardly act. Since the only reason you're associating the term 'coward' with Ojukwu is cause he left for Ivory Coast,  we can now debate if that gives him such label.

I say no, it doesn't, it shouldn't because:
- As the Biafran leader, he still have powerand respect no matter where he was.  He didn't resign or quit. So whether he's in a house in West Africa/Cote D'Ivoire, or in a bush or a hole in Uzuakoli, the main objective is to avoid capture by the enemy, by all means, and that is what he did, rather successfully.  Good man
So,  fleeing  to Ivory Coast, does not make him a coward.

- Secondly, do you know how the decision was reached that he should leave for Cote D'Ivoire?You've seen how Gadafi's body (with his "balls of steel" as the OP puts it)  was in public display; Saddam Hussein, when he was caught,  how  his humiliating pictures were floating the internet; its on record that the Biafran commanders pressured Ojukwu to leave, because they knew, as much as you and i know, what they would have done, had they caught this heart of a lion that had given them hell for 3 years.    
No, sir. Nigeria wasn't gonn' get that 'trophy' they wanted.

it might not have been an act of heroism either, i agree with you on that one, for that particular act; but if you go back in context, and look at the whole picture, an objective mind would not deny Ojukwu the priviledges of a hero because he fled to Ivory Coast.

good night everyone.

P.s. Oh by the way, one of my new admirers  and heros of the Nigerian/Biafran war is Col. E.A. Etuk, google him and read about his role in the war, very awesome man or check my post where i made reference to him today on the 'Who is scared of Igbos -  an interesting article' thread.

its understandable if people are scared of Igbos, i think the Nigerian/Biafran war shook this country to its foundation, actually more than i thought as i've just been doing some more reading. i had always thought it was a one-sided war, lost before it was begun as some people insinuate such sentiments, and that they (Biafra) were pretty much on defence as they were "overpowered" with superior amunition from the get-go - not at all!

The Nigerian army did suffer some serious losses of their soldiers too!

i was reading on this website (Noah Omoigyi's) that was narrating accounts of military blunders during the war, and its not once, twice nor thrice that towns were taken by federal troops, only to be retaken by Biafran troops. Over and over again!

its classic that Benjamin Adekunli said he'll round up operation OAU (Owerri, Aba, Umuahia) in 2 weeks!), , but its one thing to talk, its easy to talk, when pooh hits the fan, , someone got called back to Lagos and replaced by Obasanjo (i believe it was Obj?).

Still on this Black Scorpion of a guy, i think he was one heck of a character, the fascinating story of Col. Etuk being trapped in Owerri and how his amazing courage and leadership successfully helped his unit escape, got me cracking up when i read that Adekunli had over the phone said to Etuk, "You bastard son of a bitch, do you think you're the only commander i have?"
I dunno if Nollywood have started making movies about Nigeria's history, but the encirclement of the 16th Brigade of the Nigerian army is a very interesting story and could be a good plot for a movie, a good lesson on leadership, courage and survival. (Noah adds the humorous parts too and that makes it more interesting).

Back to who is fearing the Igbos and how i thought Nigeria had only a handful of casualties, i am now wondering if its possible to know estimates of military casualties on each side? like how many Nigerian army personnel died compared to Biafran personnel. Killing civilians through indiscriminate air raids is very unjust and an act of cowardice. it appears the Nigerian military did that out of frustration, you think you can conquer these people just-like-that and when you start getting a beating, you begin hitting below the belt, is what it appears they did. (Could be out of similar frustration that Benjamin Adekunli said he'll shoot anything that moves? he wasn't having it easy fighting the troops, so turn your gun on women and children, how brave.)

Here's to those brave Biafran soldiers that fought galliantly from their hearts, with their lives, here's to the Ikemba Nnewi, Col. Odumegwu Ojukwu that led these troops,and here's to my new (other) hero of the war, Col. E.A. Etuk! Though he fought on the Nigerian side, i am really impressed with his leadership and valiance in Owerri in 1968.

If anyone is interested in reading the account (perhaps again? Noah Omoigyi seems pretty popular with history stuff on Nigeria's military etc) here is the website where i spent my Sunday evening! the Etuk escape is in Part 7 i believe, or just read it all! its pretty interesting, http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/showthread.php?25442-Nigerian-Army-blunders-during-the-civil-war-Part-1

One last question, if war breaks out in this modern day and time, what do you guys predict? how would things be different this time around compared to 1966 and a lil prior?

Would the West declare their Sovreignity? , i think so.

Minorities in the East and Midwest? , i have no idea, i think they'd wanna play neutral to begin with.

Other allies? NATO and co? OAU (that opposed Biafra in '66) i think there's lots of Igbos in China today than in '66, so could that play a role?

The war fare itself? i think this time around, it'd be more tough, cause the Nigeiran army now knows they can't use police action to stop even a group of militants, less an entire region lol, and that you can't take Owerri, Aba and Umuahia in 2 weeks even if Russia and Britian have armed you to the teeth.

As the egotistic Nigerian line goes, who do you think you are?

i really really miss reading Babyosisi's posts on nairaland, especially  in the politics section. i don't know why she left, and don't know how to stalk people lol.   so if by any chance you see this, Babyosisi, just wanna let ya know that i always admired ya, several years back, at the end of a long day at college, this young man looked forward to coming back to his computer and have a good laugh, cracking up cause of your wits, humor and crazy talk! if you've moved on to another forum, let me know and i will be there right away! or just come back here, please!
With love,
Remark D
(Phew! i almost signed my real name lol)

Those saying 42 years is too long etc, how long has the monarch in England ruled? is it a family business? why the hypocrisy and double standards? eh? why? oh why? it takes a real defiant man to stand up to the west and US the way he did, that's why the hated him, that's why they've killed him. lets hope it doesn't take another 42 years for a visionary leader like Gadafi to rise to eminense again

Abegi, you guys should free Seun. I've seen lots of times people post that "oh i heard this and that, here and there, someone should confirm this please"i do find most of them annoying for some reasons, so/but wanting to nail Seun to the cross for this, is not necessary, y'all.

Odunnu, how are you doing? any plans this weekend?

indulge me, you in an IV league school? or? what's ya backgroundd? You have bragging rights, so go for it!

, and i am sure Beaf's response would be along the line that if a Naija lady complains her man aint doing it and doing it well, then its Beaf's fault again! Ask Beaf!

lol that's funny, (although its a serious issue), and by the way, just curious, do you know these nairalanders personally? cause when they (maybe) change their screen name, you still call them by their former ids. Also what do you study at college (and which one)? cause i like the perspective you bring to a topic no matter what it is (contrasting from those that s.tupidly spew trash, void of logic, reason and simple common sense!)

@Diligence, i couldn't have said it any better.  i just shake my head seeing people say non-sense about Ojukwu, when the very principles he was fighting for (The abuoury accord etc) would have taken Nigeria as a country to greater heights; what progress have we made as a country since independence? those who know will tell how better off we were under our colonial lords (compared to our present state).

Did someone just say Igbos were set back a hundred years by the civil war?  lolz ethnocentricism, i'm beginning to believe, can have mental effects, seeing what goes on around here on nairaland.

A group (merely) states that they want X, and heads begin to roll from left, right and center. (for 4 pages!) make una no wound o!

na wah for this megaman87, i commented on your post cause of the way you contradicted yourself. You should have completely left out the first phrase of your initial post, and carried on with the bashing which is nothing new. its a little too sly when you want to make yourself look like you arent tribalistic, but it only takes a few seconds, a few sentences to show your true color of hatred. Carry on, mister, nothing do you, hate is not a new thing, as you teach your kids your language, pass on the hate of igbos on to them as well, eh.

@megaman87, your post tire me o! i want to respond, but just don't even know where to begin lol so lemme just ask you what is it exactly that you're trying to say? is it that there are things igbos do that you don't like, that your own people don't do? you go home (from London) all the time, good for you. You teach your child your language, good for you, but your neighbors who happens to be igbos doesn't do the same things and you hate them? coupled with the fact that they're the sole scammers in the world, a thorn in the flesh to many as you put it. i real trie for you o, my brother.

1. You're reading stale news from 2009. 2. You're unnecessarily bringing his ethnic group into it (check the comments and see how many people identified him as 'Yoruba'). 3. You should be given 10 years of house imprisonment.

"He sucks, " he's this he's that, we've heard it all before. That this man unwrapped the tight grip of OUK and his mother, given how they wanted to run that state six feet under, makes me tip my hat for him. Again, as he said, his enemies have used the media to paint him in bad light, so that's why people that live far away and haven't been to the state at all can read articles and conclude that Abia is horrible etc, i've learnt not to make conclusions based on what the media says, cause its all skewed one way or another, you never know who has an agenda these days, hmm that's more than i wanted to say lol

I think his number one enemy is his former boss. its been said before, although selective development is not always a good idea, he's been doing good things to develope umuahia.

My mom is from Umunneochi and had stories of Giant Alakuku when they were kids. I agree with the notion that people from that part of Abia are tall, cause all my moms siblings are standing at least 6 feet or so, i've not heard any other state/village claiming he had his roots elsewhere than Umunneochi, heard dude was scary, kids see him and flee!

I was excited when i found i could listen to Nigerian radio stations online, only to tune in to cool fm and find these broadcasters with american accents; terribly terribly disappointed; until i discovered wazobia fm dampens my spirit to also hear those jamaican accents (fake albeit) in naija songs, or sometimes the rap doesnt make me feel like i'm listening to Nigerian music, until i heard 9ice, Da grin (RIP), Mc Loph (RIP), and the golden voice of flavor nabania! (dude steals the spotlight from whoever features him lol). We outta true to ourselves, who we are, and be proud of it no matter what. nuff said.

Did someone just say he eats "Hausa fool"?  and someone else insults another's mother and father, and right away calls him "bastard"? lol@topic its sad when we can't all live together in peace, whether on land, on water or in the air, but as humans, even in this 21st century, subjugation and colonization  still lives within us, one way or another, the heart of man is , (gee i don forget my bible verses) desperately evil and continuously wicked? lo something like that!

Afro_blue, just wondering how you came up with your screen name? its not from the jazz tune, is it?

He got me with that claim that Awolowo deprived Ijaws of education, on the surface, man that's pretty hard to believe, knowing what Awo stood for; but if you do have any evidence,, then use it to back up an assertion like that as opposed to just believing anything and everything about how your people are hated etc and throwing it out on a forum like this

rofl chai! ", let the adults talk, "well, arrogance is not a crime, so carry go with whatever makes you phoop better. "Adults" now know everything smh.

Kobo, not sure i want kids, but i'm sure i want the best for Nigeria; I'm sure i want corruption gone from the country and not associated with Nigeria anymore - i was embarrassed within me when filling out a student visa application form and it asked if i had  another nationality , i left it blank, for fear saying Nigeria might raise eye brows, delay and possibly revoke the application.so wanting Nigeria to be a better place void of corruption (or at least, drastically reduced) doesn't mean i'll jump on anything anybody says without any facts, verification or whether its a brand new or old allegation.  You seemed to pick interest   in the fact that she admitted to the allegation being raised in the past. So?

Ms. Kobo, i'm sure you know how to read between the lines. By "they", she is referring to the people that are picking up this story, haven't verified it or anything - not as an allegation, but as to whether it is true or not, and are using it to attack her person. People like Sahara reporters (no surprises there as they are used to publishing controversial stories - I just have to say this here, they lost their reputation with me wehn i read on there website that Nduka Obiagena paid Beyonce a crazy amount of dollars to have a peek at her boobs! rofl) people like Kobojunky,and all those that have a problem, for whatever reason, for her being there to do her job.  

But though  you probably knew what she meant, and although i've explained it to you (you don't need to thank me, that's ok) i'm 100% sure that you still are going to argue, just for the heck of it! (thinki'm agreeing with the person on another thread that said you must be a law student or something, and you know what they say about lawyers abi? ehem, liars!

also having read both sides of the story, i'll give it to the governor. it seems the workers are being used without their knowing it; a good reason why the government should push more for its populus to be better educated/enlightened/informed.

(, and there are 36 governors in Nigeria, but for some reason, Beaf has chosen that of Osun to hound, there might be more to this attack than meets the eye; he seems to take it personal; so i wonder, lol)

splitnaija, i was not attacking anyone, dunno how you could deduce that from my original post to the last, i do wanna know what's going on, but dont want it to be one-sided; there is too much negativity on nairaland; which is why all i've said is that i'd like to see some constructive criticism. I quit, cause i can't say it any clearer.

Peace.

P.S. Goodluck in Nigeria. intending no (old) pun,