₦airaland Forum

For those who respect the truth, here are links from all sources on the telenovela that is the 2nd Niger Bridge- 16 years of drama on a project estimated by all contracts to take 4 years max..... how some people can be so gullible is unbelievable!


https://www.nairaland.com/55587/second-niger-bridge-awarded-gitto

http://allafrica.com/stories/200705250558.html

http://www.nigerianbestforum.com/blog/2nd-niger-bridge-chukwumerije-accuses-obasanjo-of-stiffling-s’east-development/

http://www.ocnus.net/artman2/publish/Africa_8/The-Dummy-Sold-by-Obasanjo-on-Second-Niger-Bridge_printer.shtml

https://www.nairaland.com/464148/2nd-niger-bridge-fg-orders
http://www.aka-ikenga.com/2014/03/long-road-to-second-niger-bridge.html?m=1

http://thenationonlineng.net/suspended-work-2nd-niger-bridge-minister/

http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/159540-apc-igbo-group-rage-suspension-second-niger-bridge-contract.html

http://saharareporters.com/2014/12/19/fraudulent-construction-2nd-niger-bridge-–-another-419-igbo-nation-obinna-akukwe

http://www.premiumtimesng.com/regional/ssouth-east/175127-weve-spent-n10bn-2nd-niger-bridge-far-jonathan.html

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/08/why-construction-of-2nd-niger-bridge-may-be-put-on-hold-for-now-icrc/

https://www.nairaland.com/3527449/senate-committee-works-inspects-2nd

Splashme:
Correction #Vanguardngr

Work on the bridge had started since 2013 with the financing arrangement well in place.

One tribal bigot from Daura actually stopped work on it because the
people of that region belong to 5% who did not vote him during the election

These shameless APC liars are trying to spin this project as theirs.
They should be a limit to propaganda.
Shame on vanguard for being a willing tool to Buhari/APC lies

#The picture below with Ben Bruce was taken from the site of 2nd Niger Bridge where Julius Berger had been working

Oga just keep quiet and shamelessly collect the bridge Buhari will build and finish for you.

No matter how much you lie, the truth remains this- OBJ promised you a bridge in 1999 if you and your brethren would vote for him. You did twice and got nothing. At the end of his term in 2007 when he wanted to install his 'stooge', he came again and promised you the same bridge, this time flagging it off and awarding a contract he told you his successors would complete. You foolishly voted a 3rd time again.

2011 approaches, Ebele who was part of the original lie, tells you how his grandfather named him 'Azikwe' and thus he must fulfill his destiny by building the bridge or face going into exile. As expected, you all sob and cry tears of stupidity with him and vote the 4th time. Ebele completes numerous federal projects in the North and continues his life while bearing his real name. With another election approaching in 2015 he hastily flags off the project early 2014 with new contractors and the same derided PPP initiative of OBJ where the FG contributes less than 30% of the total budget costs. 8 years of Ebele being in government and 6 years of him being at the helm and only 1year does the 2nd Niger Bridge appropriation enter the budget. Anyway work actually stops the next month after the project is commissioned under his watch.

Despite all of this, you and your brethren vote a 5th time for the people who continue to ridicule you.

I do not know or care if Buhari promised you the bridge or not. The fact remains you did not vote for him, so it is not his job to complete 16 years of a ludicrous agreement you have with PDP jesters.

But unlike the friends you choose to keep, "President Buhari" as you call him is a man of his word, and you will only get your bridge because other Nigerians knew better to entrust this country to a man of his word.

So keep quiet and eat your shame.

.

”The Judiciary and indeed the Federal High Court must continue to take credit for the success of the last election and the peaceful transition to the new government.
”It does not matter whether it is appreciated by other dramatis personae but I am sure that I am clearly understood by all stakeholders in the Nigeria Project.

And as for this threat- we all understand what you mean sir. We understand what you are telling your cult members. Yes, you people are the true kingmakers- you make and remove presidents. Shebi na you people give Amechi an election wey he no even de on ballot sheet for- a first in the world. Shebi na you people give Odili the immunity only the Almighty enjoys.

Please next time- exercise your discretion and forget about justice; cancel an election that reflects the will of the people and put a stooge that will not disturb you in place. At least I can guarantee you that my brethren in the West will show you how we got the name the wild wild west.

I agree with the so called “Honourable” CJ of the FHC that there is nothing to celebrate- but not for the ridiculous reasons he has given. In fact reading his comments has made me so incensed but has clearly allowed me to see we are in serious trouble in this country and it will take Herculean effort to get us to get to where most sane and civilised societies in this world are at present.

Simply put the man’s sole complaint and argument seems to be they should not be harassed and allowed, like the “Lords” they are, to do whatever they want . The masses don’t have the right to peacefully protest their decisions, the executive don’t have the right to enforce our laws on them- they are the “untouchables”, the only arm of government in a civilised society who should not be subjected to any form of checks/balances and this benefits democracy.

One would have expected that the “Honourable” CJ would be more worried about how their reputation has been sullied by his fellow cult members in cloaks. How a supposedly literate Supreme Court Justice can have 4 valid international passports and claim to have signed an evidence form without knowingly understanding the implications of what he was signing. How this same man cannot be seen as a flight risk by his fellow cult member and granted bail. How his Justices have been collecting bulk allowances in cash- with no paper trail. How Abang is being ridiculed by his peers for not allowing the basic condition of ”fair hearing” which even village people are aware of. Or even how the executive feels no need to honour their utterances and orders seeing them as a compromised bunch of nitwits.

Long story cut short, these are the kind of developments I would expect a Public Servant to be more worried about and not that they are facing mere intimidation which every Nigerian faces in every aspect of our life. I put it to the “dishonourable” Chief Judge that no one can force any of them to give judgements that they are not comfortable with. I as a “bloody civilian” have been faced with police, army, lastma intimidation severally and no one has ever forced me to do let alone sign anything I would not agree with. Let the man resign and give us peace if he knows he cannot bear initimidation and is not bold enough to hold the scale and wield the sword without being a respecter of men

Please read

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri ABUJA—
The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta, has maintained that recent clampdown on Judges made 2016 a gloomy year for the Judiciary.
According to him, ‘’other than thanking God for sparing our lives, there is, indeed, not much to celebrate.”
Justice Auta stated this in a speech he presented at the end of year/ retirement and merit award ceremony the High Court held in Abuja on Monday.
He said unlike previous years, the court resorted to having a low-key ceremony to mark the end of the year, in view of recent developments in the court and the judiciary. The CJ, however, implored Judges across the federation to rise to the occasion and ensure that the independence of the judiciary was not traded for harassment and intimidation.
Insisting that Judges were being unnecessarily harassed, including gathering of rented-crowds to protest against valid court rulings, Justice Auta said he had the hope that someday, “our society and people will realise the extent of destruction that they have done to the system”.
He said: “One happy thing though is that only those who have lost their cases in court are the ones complaining. There is therefore the greater need for the Judiciary all over the country to strengthen its information services so as to help the helpless judicial officers and the courts.
”This is apt because the moment the independence of the judiciary is completely eroded and judges are no longer courageous to dispense justice without fear or favour, then the society is doomed.
”We must ensure that we protect that which the constitution has given us and insist that the business of governance is done in accordance with the law.
”The Judiciary and indeed the Federal High Court must continue to take credit for the success of the last election and the peaceful transition to the new government.
”It does not matter whether it is appreciated by other dramatis personae but I am sure that I am clearly understood by all stakeholders in the Nigeria Project.
”I, therefore, urge you not to be shaken in your resolve to build a strong and dependable judiciary whose pronouncements will be appreciated by all who go through the portals of our justice administration system.”

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/12/judiciary-2016-theres-nothing-celebrate-justice-auta/

If this Lady is real, she is easily the most beautiful creature I have seen this year.

cindylaw:
Pls I am confused sir, Can you give me more details

We saw in the evening, 6ish on Saturday, you said you would get back to me?

Madam, you have not responded to my offer ?

I don't know why people rate this Reno whatever he calls himself...... this fake pastor is as much a scam as his Messiah with a PHD in Zoology that does not know stealing is corruption!

Anyway, for people who can read, the table does not indicate the worst university in the UK- as it clearly states , it indicates the percentage of graduates from that univerisity who were able to find a professional job ("professional job" being recognised mainstream professions) after a specific amount of time . 1 in 2 is not the end of the world as those of us who are familiar with that part of London know that most students will be into art & music and the foreigners will go back home. Again, just imagine someone putting a Univeristy in Surulere and being surprised that most people who finished become Wizkids, Sidds, Oristefemi's etc.

I pray God continues to expose this charlatan who has nothing better to do than attack a woman who might not even know he exists. Disgusting.

pchukwudi:
[size=18pt]DUMB. Simply mention just ONE PERSON that was sent to prison for political reasons or for criticizing GEJ or you should simply keep mute forever. [/size]

And who is the person sent to prison solely for criticising Buhari?

Or name that person under Yaradua??

When you are tired, try giving us the people who went to jail for criticising OBJ.

As usual their nonentity of a hero beating his chest over non-existent achievements.

Great decision.

This is the way we need to start behaving in this country to get ourselves back on track.

Another good read.

StOla:
Bukola Saraki claims his grandfather was an immigrant from Mali who settled in Ilorin as an Islamic scholar. If we are to tag along with that story line, then the only thing that makes Bukola a Nigerian is his Yoruba blood.

That same Malian immigrant married a Yoruba woman that bore his father Olusola Saraki, who also married Yoruba women that bore Bukola and Gbemisola and their other half siblings. Bukola too married Tosin Ojora the daughter of Lagos royalty Adekunle Ojora.

The Sarakis ensure to always marry Yorubas but claim they are Malian Fulani settled in Ilorin. Going by the narrative of the Sarakis, Bukola Saraki is 7/8 Yoruba Nigerian and 1/8 Fulani Malian.

However, not a few doubt the Fulani Malian immigrant story.

Like I said, the elder Saraki has a lot to answer for:

www.nairaland.com/564090/saraki-egba-man

but a more complete story can be found from this link from sahara copying the original The News article:

www.saharareporters.com/2010/12/09/saraki-not-kwara-alhaji-abdulganiyu-folorunsho-abdulrazak

Honestly their tale is just another typical story of GREED and AMBITION..... like I said "bastards" ( for lack of a more suitable word) are a phenomenon of all humankind- we have just been smart enough not to glorify one.

tomakint:
Check it Op, you are not a right-thinking Yoruba man.....are you trying to be a funny man or what? Imgine you creating this type of thread like Saraki gives a damn about you....Saraki doesn't even see himself as a Yoruba man and besides we are talking of corruption in the magnitude of billions of dollars all to one arrogant man that can die anytime. Firefire must see this.....total crap. Saraki must kiss the canvas I trust Danladi Umar.

PLEASE- let's make it clear Bukola Saraki has no other NIgerian blood in his veins but YORUBA blood. His Grand father was 100% from Ogun state, his father is from Ogun state and was not born in Kwara- and though we may not 100% accurately be able to confirm who is mum is, there is no credible theory that she was Hausa/Fulani. His wife is YORUBA, his children are YORUBA.

The only thing we can say for certain is that he clearly did not grow up with the VALUES we YORUBA are known for, as he as always been fraudulent despite being born with a silver (or should I say Golden ) spoon and more importantly masks his heritage..... which is abhorrent and unthinkable to any true son of Oduduwa. TBF his father was the one who started the madness and the result is the Bukola we have in front of us.

Anyway as the English say "some mothers do have them" and our ethnic group is no different.

NOTE :TO FELLOW NIGERIANS and neighbouring biafrans

If you are dumbfounded by the unanimous response of the YORUBAMEN above me, always remember that the epitome off being YORUBA is reflecting our VALUES...... that's why the term OMOLUABI means more to us than a 1000 variations off Ezego titles !

These guys above made my day- may all Nigerians always find the truth in their culture.

Tosadel:
Well I don't see anything wrong in asking out whoever you have feelings for, employee or whoever. It is the lady that has issues. It's a very simple thing. Say yes or no and continue with your work and act as if nothing happened. It happened to me thrice and my answers were all no. But that never changed anything. In fact, my Yes Sir! Increased such that they never felt bad about my rejection, it only made them like me more.

Sacking her for now is very immature and unprofessional. Pretend like nothing personal happened between you both. Deal with her professionally. Give her warning letter and/or query(ies). If she loves herself she should change. IF not, FIRE her sharp sharp.

This is a smart girl and is exactly what the lady should have done if she cherished her job. Things cannot remain the same so she ought to have put in more effort into her job and pretend to double her respect for you, not less. In my cases, everytime I said no to them they became sulky and rude afterwards..... young Nigerian girls take rejection like personal humiliation. I pitied them and bore it for a while but it soon started affecting other employees and I just had to let them go.

My last case, where I gave in was even worse personally for me....but that is a long story.

The post above should make you feel that the whole sad case is not your fault alone.

It's funny but I 100% understand you.

I ran a few hospitality businesses and dealt with this scenario over and over again ie. attractions between me and the female workers I had. In most of my situations, the grils were the ones who made moves on me and most of the time I had to let them down gently...but it was never the same and it affected their work. In one particular situation, actually the last sistuation I faced before I left the job, I made the move and I was successful....but again it affected her work.

The truth is when the cat is let out of the bag... things can never be the same...and young Nigerian girls don't take it well.

You have to sack her and unfortunately you are and have to be the bad guy in the story.... I learnt it the hard way in all my situations, even when I didn't give in and tried to let them down gently. Your guilt just means you are human and is the price you have to pay for being a boss who allowed temptation to flourish.

At the end of the day you will find out it is the best decison for you and more importantly, her too.

As we debate whether Audu is dead or alive it has me thinking seriously about how long we expect God to keep sorting out our mess in this country?

On a serious note I am scratching my head trying to think of another country on this green earth in the last 20 years where the Almighty has had to intervene severally and so directly on the political stage. Look at these 2 major things:

1. He ended Miltary rule, not Nigerians: Abacha's death, he being succeeded by the most unambitous man to ever rule Nigeria (not forgetting that Abdusalami retirement was supposed to have been announced the next week) and then ending the fear of the oligarchy with the death of Abiola.

2. The story of our minority President: Though this is a man I am so glad to see the back of, his story remains the most important story under our democracy because it finally made Nigerians believe this country belongs to all of us; and even if some section of the country feel this country is theirs alone, the Almighty intervened directly to clearly show us all HE does not and will never agree to that. GEJ's rise was divine and his fall was even more spectacular and biblical ( so reminiscent of kings in the book of Kings who would openely lose their way and mock God after he had put them on the throne).

When I think of what we as people have achieved ourselves ( ending OBJ's 3rd term bid etc.), they don't really come close.

Well going back to Audu, did we really need God to tell us a man that publically agrees he will give back the money he stole if elected; is not Govenorship material? Do we need him to tell us 20 years of Igala rule is not fair? I guess we are still waiting for God to sort out our useless Supreme Court, Sylva, Boko Haram,Fayose and so on..... Well I just feel for the people of Libya, Iraq and Syria who would love some divine interest.

Happy Sunday.

I will try and keep this short.

55 years.

It has taken us 55 years before we could come to a day like this. If you still don’t understand me let me put this in perspective

It took the original Nigerian generation just 3 years to inflict on us :

1.corruption
2. nepotism and the spirit of entitlement
3. large scale rigging,
4.military coups,
5.ethnic cleansing
6. and the culmination, a highly regrettable civil war.

It took the original golden generation just a space of 6 years to inflict all these ills on a young naive impressionable Nigeria.

Unfortunately the patient has not fully recovered from any of this and has generally just limped through , some may say getting sicker and sicker.

But I believe generation X should be recognised for what we have seen in the last 16 years.
Some real positives that the golden generation should be ashamed they could not instil in us.

I believe the first major democratic achievement was the unity of us all in frustrating Obasanjo’s 3rd term bid (when some old school politicians were telling us there was nothing wrong with it). But it has gotten better since then:

1.Ensuring the Rule of Law prevailed and that GEJ became president even when the timid one could not stand for himself when Yaradua was sick
2.After the success of 2009, finally de-mystifying the born to rule mentality when the man with no shoes overwhelmingly received the support of most Nigerians and won the elections of 2011.
3.Despite the provocations ( and the provocation from Boko haram has been far worse than what led to the civil war IMO), remaining ONE fully united and unified country.

And the big one- the one that the greats (the Awolowos, Kanos, Ojukwus,) would be green with envy.

I mean if you think about it, it is crystal clear that it is NOT Buhari that is uniting us.

He may unite the North but not the rest of Nigeria who voted him in majority.

In fact we have no great Politician or idealist in this day and age left to inspire the youth yet we have all bound together to EFFECT the Tsunami.

CHANGE

Well done generation X. Well done.

PhysicsQED: @ Samstradam

Equiano was not Edo. I don't see where you're getting that idea from. The text makes it quite clear that he was Igbo.

The "ichi" marks that some Igbos had and which Equiano directly referenced by name are not the same as the Edo tribal marks by any means - they look quite different. The ichi marks were many small lines/grooves all over the forehead in diagonal and vertical patterns, while the Edo tribal marks were generally a few small marks above each of the eyebrows. The two big vertical marks which one can see on the queen Idia mask and on several other pieces of art from Benin are not depictions of tribal marks but an artistic emphasis/exaggeration of the two biggest creases/lines in the area between one's eyebrows when a person makes a very serious expression on their face. The purpose of those marks in the art was to show that the person represented was a determined/serious person.

Having fights, skirmishes, or full-blown wars, etc. was not exclusive to any ethnic group in the past, and with the likely exception of queen Idia, women generally did not take part in actual physical combat in the past among the Bini - at least there's no evidence of that which I know of.

Esu was never considered the main God or creator God of the Edo or any other group in Nigeria. Wherever that "pipe smoking god as the supreme deity" idea came from, it's doubtful that it was obtained from an Edo person.

Thank you PhysicsQED for coming to tell me everything I already knew! I don't know how many times I have to repeat this, but we seem to be struggling with English in this section- so I will try this line by line

I am not trying to argue he was Edo, Igbo, Hausa or any other tribe native to Nigeria
For now I continue believe he was born in South Carolina as he stated pre fame
My argument has remained that his story of being born in Igbodom seems inconsistent based on his descriptions of his early life
I believe that to be a myth thus why I keep pointing out the inconsistencies with generally recognised Igbo tradition and customs- pointing out that I see things Edoid in his descriptions goes with my theory (and that of others) that he formed his best selling biography from the account of various slaves (from different cultures)
Simple

So far only Radoillo has given me helpful responses and actually put doubt in my mind that this man's descriptions were majorly consistent with Igbo culture/history and not my theory (of an assortment of cultures) by actually considering my actual objections and not the Myth that I said he was Edoid when I have repetitively made my stance on his African birth clear.

I will forgive you Physics this time, but back to the question I actually asked you- how did the Bini empire refer to the Igbos? Was it with the same name , I mean were they all grouped under one nomenclator in one province as Equiano suggests at that time?

Ichi marks below

The only part that worried me in the whole original post was when I saw something like "we the Yorubas". I almost fainted because I thought I had more in common with Insincere9gerian than bearing the unfortunate tag Nigerian- but before the heart attack could set in I skipped to the end of the article and noticed it was culled from Sahara reporters written by someone bearing another name. So rejoice with me omo odua "O se o Jesu a o ma yino..... "

BTW, are you contradicting yourself here?

Radoillo: Olaudah said the strangers who came to trade in their village were called 'Oye-Eboe' and means 'red men trading at a distance'. Before the 20th century, an Igbo-speaking stranger was derogatively called 'onye Igbo' by his host Igbo-speaking community. (That was before 'Igbo' came to be accepted as a generic name for all who speak related Igbo dialects).

So are you saying a typical Nri man captured from his village in lets say the 18th century would have not identified himself as Igbo, let alone the Province of Igbo, but from his village- just like a typical Ijebuman captured at that time would not have described himself as Yoruba?

Radoillo: Thanks.

I'm still curious though. What aspects of the culture he described are more Edoid than Igbo?

Again, I cannot claim for another tribe, my default position remains "He was not born in Africa", simple.

But when he starts mentioning east of the Bini empire, tribal marks, the warlikenss of his people, their weaponry, he watching his mother in battle (reminds me of Queen Idia) etc........ I associate this with Edoid people, especially ethnicities subjugated by them in the ND not Igbos. FOR the sake of bigFrancislike people, I do not believe he was Ijaw or anything like that, I believe he borrowed storys, words and an identity from real slaves born in Africa (Igbos, Edoid etc):

samstradam: Unfortunately, personally I continue to share the view (that other scholars do to) that this man was a fake. The reason is that which such an apt recollection, especially at this time, we should easily be able to fully identify his ethnicity with both the etymology and cultural descriptions he wrote down those many years ago.[/b] Everytime I read his so called recollections, it just sounds like he cherry picked something from all the major ethnicities in coastal west Africa. It seems like mumblings, incoherent hearsays from real life slaves he probablly lived with while he was serving with them.[/b]

I do not think this man was Igbo (his customs sound more Edoid) let alone Nigerian. He just seems like a good story teller to me.

Anyway nice "tying up" of the Diety thing Radoillo, but its funny how you say we should give allowances for his inaccuracies (pointing out his age) yet you clutch on the same straws supplied by this 11 year old to make your argument that he is Igbo. Funnily the only prominent Nigerian deity I know that is associated with smoking a pipe is Esu- who also has his like and adherents in Edo culture.

And on a lighter note, I am posting a picture of Equiano next to his true mother, our warrior Queen Idia:

@ Radoillo

How is this tied up with current/ancient Igbo beliefs?

As to religion, the natives believe that there is one Creator of all things, and that he lives in the sun, and is girted round with a belt that he may never eat or drink; but, according to some, he smokes a pipe, which is our own favourite luxury.

bigfrancis21: I find your argument quite amusing.
[b]First, @Bold... . Suddenly, linguistics isn't cogent evidence of one's tribal group again baa? . So an Igbo speaker with Igbo names from Southern Igboland is no longer Igbo but Yoruba or Edo, right?

Second...how does Nas bearing a Yoruba name relate to this? The last time I checked, Nas father was given the name by a Yoruba native priest!

Third...you claim we bear westernized names. Yet if he wasn't Igbo or he was Yoruba or Edo, then why would he want to adopt an african name? For what reason? He was even given a westernized name, Gustavus Vassa, which he didn't quite accept and rather preferred his native Eboe name which he preserved.

Because of the 'Bight of Benin' that was mentioned, you suddenly call him an Edo man? You'd rather choose to ignore a thousand and one other identifiers that proves he's Igbo and instead cluelessly hold on to 'Bight of Benin' as your evidence.

Your claims of Olauda Ikwuano being an Edo is a completely new fabrication. Unprecedented and never speculated by any renowned researcher or history specialist. If at all he belonged to any African tribe, the last possibility would be Edo or Yoruba.[/b]

Don't worry, go and rest a bit. I have found someone "on the level" to answer my questions.

Radoillo: Yes, there's a chance Olaudah wasn't born in Africa. There's evidence that he told people he was born in Carolina. But we must understand that there are good reasons why an African-born black would want to pass himself off (or be passed off by his owners) as America-born. American-born blacks were believed to be more acculturated and less rebellious than those born in Africa. I've read his autobiography severally. I even own a copy. The book has its failings. His 'recollections' of his life in Africa is brief and not at all detailed. And there are some things that don't seem to stick. But then, if he was really sold into slavery as a kid (according to him he was 11 or 12 when he was sold, then its plausible that he was sold before he was mature enough to understand his society, and that much of what he knew he later forgot.

Personally I find some inner consistency in his work despite it limitations, and I don't think its wise to dismiss his story offhand.

Your theory that he might be Edoid is gonna need some back-up 'evidence' to even be considered. LOL.

First, you claimed that the tribal marks on the forehead is Edoid. Obviously you haven't heard of the ichi marks made on the foreheads of men within the Nri cultural complex. In some parts of Igboland, the chiefs who bore these Ichi marks were called 'Ndi Gburu ichi' or 'Mgburuichi'. Olaudah told us that the men were called 'Embrenche'. I don't know about you, but I see a connection between 'Mgburuichi' and 'Embrenche'. U have to understand that this guy was writing in the 18th century before anyone ever thought of an orthography for writing Igbo language.

You said he didn't mention kolanuts. So I'm wondering how that strengthens the Edo hypothesis. Kolanuts were ritually important not only among Igbos, but among Edos and Yorubas. His mentioning it couldn't have been proof he was talking about an Igbo society. And like I've already said Olaudah's recollections isn't exactly details, because he probably didn't know much or forgot much of what he knew.

Then you mentioned javelins and two-edged swords and shields. Now I don't understand. Are u saying Igbos didn't have these things? 'Cause you are wrong if that's what you are saying. I know of at least two Igbo clans that took their names from the shields of their warriors. Otanchara ( brown-red painted shields) and Otanzu (kaolin-white painted shields). In the 19th century, Awka warriors fought the warriors of Ukpo who were known for carrying big shields.

Did women in igboland take active part in warfare. Well, not really, I have to admit. However, Mr G. I. Jones, a scholar who worked in Igboland recorded that in some Isuama ibo areas the women were encouraged to fight alongside their husbands in defence of their farmlands.

Now there are some aspects of the culture a modern igbo man today may find a bit strange. But don't forget Olaudah was describing a 1750s society. Culture is dynamic, really. Things probably changed between then and the 1910s when ethnographers began writing about igbo society.

Have you read the part where he described the lay-out of the 'Eboe' compound? That was a perfect description of how a traditional igbo compound is laid out. To the letter.

Also, Olaudah spoke about a specie of big, thick snakes which they never molest. These big harmless snakes sometimes entered the houses. They were not killed, but gently carried outside and set on the highway. Anyone who has studied the history of Umunri culture-complex will recognize what Olaudah was talking about. The python, which was sacred to Idemmili deity (and the deity called Ulasi).

This entire Edo thing is completely new to me. Perhaps the origin of that theory is the fact that Olauda mentioned that his village was Benin's suzerainity. The historical fact is that Benin's influence was quite extensive and was felt by igbo-speaking groups on both sides of the Niger. Olauda told us that his village was very far from Benin, and that their subjection to Benin was little more than nominal. In fact, the elders and chiefs in his village conducted political affairs without Benin's interference. If he was Edo, I don't know why he would say repeatedly in his book that he was Igbo. If he was Edo, I don't understand how he came to bear two Igbo names. Even as a child, before I had really picked interest in Olaudah's story, I recognized his names as undoubtedly of Igbo. Olaudah Equiano is Olauda Ekweano, or Oluuda Ekweano. Both names are commonly-borne Igbo names.

Perhaps, the linguistic 'proofs' in his book are meagre, but unless you can prove that 'aa-ffoe' means year in any Edoid language, or that "Olaudah" or "Oluuda' means anything like loud voice in Edoid, then a theory of Igbo origin is more convincing than a theory of Edo origin.

PS: I'm not overlooking the arguments that he may have been born in Carolina (though I don't find it very convincing), but if he was born in Africa, its far, far, far more likely he was born in Igboland than in Edo. In fact, there's zero evidence to support an Edo origin for Olaudah.

Radoillo, I must say thank you again. This is clearly the kind of reply I have been looking for (in different circles) when discussing the Equiano story. i mean this is where I quarrel with black people- somebody can not be Igbo just because you say it. We live in a scientific age, knowledge is easily available everywhere and we need to prove it. A white professor did very good research to prove that Equiano identified himself as being born in South Carlonia, if he is indeed a Nigerian we should also do enough research and have a preponderance of evidence to show he his is one of us; and in this case an Igboman.

I never stated he was Edoid, I just felt some ot the things he described would be what I would assoiate with Edioid people. Thats another reason i beleive he is telling tales. If someone claims to be a Igboman and starts telling me about how his people use the talking drum to communicate- what am I suppose to believe? Again thanks for the reply, but I hope more study will be done into this case to tie up all the loose knots, so if indeed he was Igbo, we can celebrate him with 100% certainty, and not be laughed at by people who can prove otherwise.

^^^ So what is your point bigFrancis?? Because all you want to do is discuss linguistics (or specifically onomastics) which I already pointed out means little as to identifying his identity in this case. The American rapper Nas has a Yoruba name, does that make him Yoruba?? You and I seem to share Europeanised Christian names, does that make us Europeans? How does you correcting the whiteman's spelling debunk the claim that this man was a professional storyteller who listend to tales of true slaves (most likely Igbo and Edoid {and note Edoid does not mean diectly of Edo ancestry same way as Yoruba does not mean we share exactly the same descent}) born in Africa and told it as his own tale.

Or if you are Igbo, is there a history of the womenfolk in your village carrying javelins and shields and spilling blood on the battlefield?? Please answer I am interested. And the Mgburichi you mentioned, do they have a custom of facial mutilation??

How does anything you have stated debunk the fact that there are seperate official records that identify Equiano as being born in South Carolina?? You all can't even identfy where exactly in Igboland he comes from when we have two seperate documents mentioning "from South Carolina" alone (no contradiction).

Please come up with something better than the fact that words he used sounded Igbo.

Also a question I wanted to ask- how long has the term Igbo (and all its derivatives) been around?? And were all Igbo communities grouped/ identifed as Igbo (as Equiano claims) as far back as then? Any help (PhysicsQED) with the claim on the province of "Eboe"??

Radoillo: Some scholars believe 'Essaka' is actually 'Isseke', a town in Anambra state. And there are some details which support that he came from that general area (ie central Igboland, not too far north, not too far south.

As for whether Olaudah's Eboe is actually today's Igbo, I think Olauda himself left enough linguistic information for us to assert that it is one and the same people.

Olaudah said his people called year Aa-affoe. Igbos today still call year 'Afo'.

Olaudah said his name means'...loud voice...'. 'Loud voice in today's Igbo is 'Oluuda'.

Olaudah said the men who were in charge of the calendar in his village were called 'Aa-ffoe way-cah' or 'yearly men'. Aaffoe waycah is clearly 'Afo nwoke'. That's not d way a modern Igbo would say it, but the words are clearly Igbo.

Olaudah said the strangers who came to trade in their village were called 'Oye-Eboe' and means 'red men trading at a distance'. Before the 20th century, an Igbo-speaking stranger was derogatively called 'onye Igbo' by his host Igbo-speaking community. (That was before 'Igbo' came to be accepted as a generic name for all who speak related Igbo dialects).

My point is, there's no doubt that Olaudah's Eboe are ethnologically and geographically the same as the modern Igbo people.

Good observations, but is their really not enough doubt? I mean most of your argument seems to be based on linguistics ( none of them that compelling if you ask me) but what about more important things like the customs and behaviours he described?

He says things like the chiefs being prominently identified by tribal marks on the forehead- that I would easily identify with Edoid people's, not Igbos.

In his description of a marriage ceremony I see little Igbo about it- nothing much about the dowry or other things we'd normally ascribe to an Igbo wedding. He talks about a cotton string tied around the waist which is alien to my knowledge of eastern traditions. The significance of Kola is not mentioned in ANY of his ceremonies which is again shocking to me.

Then what really sticks out is his descriptions of the warfare culture of his Eboe people. The weapons he described, javelins, two edged swords and shields as big as medium sized people- are these Igbo? Women fighting, spilling blood and being prominent on the battlefield, is this heard of in Igbodom?

And let's not forget his loose description of their rituals and religion..... A main God who is tied down , can't eat or drink but just smokes a pipe- cant our Igbo brothers tie this to any of their dieties?? Just because he writes a few words that "sound" Igbolike, is that all it takes to identify him as Igbo, is a belief system not more sacrsanct?

Unfortunately, personally I continue to share the view (that other scholars do to) that this man was a fake. The reason is that which such an apt recollection, especially at this time, we should easily be able to fully identify his ethnicity with both the etymology and cultural descriptions he wrote down those many years ago. Everytime I read his so called recollections, it just sounds like he cherry picked something from all the major ethnicities in coastal west Africa. It seems like mumblings, incoherent hearsays from real life slaves he probablly lived with while he was serving with them.

I do not think this man was Igbo (his customs sound more Edoid) let alone Nigerian. He just seems like a good story teller to me.

BTW have my Igbo brothers seen a picture of this their kith and kin.... ugly if I may say and very unigbolike ( especially of someone born in the hinterlands of two supposed Igbo parents).

masu: MY BROTHER IT's TIME TO GROW UP.
most of you guys from SW part of this country does things the way it shocks a neutral mind.
hatred is a deadly poison.


So to you guys Olauda is a hero if he is not Ibo but a nobody when you notice he is ibo.
so if Olaudah emphasize on beni empire why should it surprise any body.
For more info During the period of 15century to early 18 century the most part of modern day delta ibo still pay tribute to benin empire.

Take your own advice and grow up yourself. I was really going to tear into you but Radoillo's more mature and educated response has saved your ass. You want to "claim" but you don't want to be questioned about it.... you should learn humility and just listen while your educated betters deliberate this matter.

Sincere 9gerian: If the report is true, then the positive is that atleast the govt of Kwara conducted free and fair polls unlike the thieves in Lagos, Tinubu and Fashola, who conducted fraudulent local council polls

And this PDP FOOL was saying......

FreeGlobe:
On the candidates, nothing has
changed. There are always the same
four candidates running for governor
in Anambra state: a trader pretending
to be a thug; a thug pretending to be a
trader; an intellectual pretending to be
a thug; and a thug pretending to be an
intellectual.

http://mobile.saharareporters.com/column/anambra-governorship-election-i-project-winner-rudolf-ogoo-okonkwo

This paragraph can't be quoted enough.... classic.