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.

cjrane: Please did anyone read that long crap from Sahara reporters? I couldn't waste my life reading what i know will be a jaundiced analysis, but i wanted to know what the APC goons were thinking.

My Comment is reserved until someone reads the long crap and tell us

It was a good read actually, 3 minutes max actaully- surely you can spare that as service to your people??

staggerman: Such thing cannot happen in Nigeria

Maybe it should once in a while; maybe then our "revered" institutions would be capable of producing a First Lady who won't be assassinating the English Language everytime she speaks.

Well done Liberia for showing that the Black Man still has "standards".

infobiz9ja: Tales by moonlight.

You didn't have to comment on this matter.

Justice,the Rule of Law and common decency are still beliefs that are important to some of us in this country.

farous:

Below are Okafor’s words:

FEMI AND HIS SEVERELY IGNORANT LIES:

•Femi Lies About the Yorubas Being Nigeria’s Earliest Graduates:

From his myopic bubble Femi FaniKayode claims the Yoruba were the first to acquire Western education; the first ever known record of a literate Nigerian in the English Language is the narrative of an Ibo slave who regained his freedom and documented his life history as a slave from the time he was 11 years old in present day Ibo land till the time when he gained his freedom in the middle of the 18 th century. He later married an English woman and had 3 children. He died in 1795.

Femi, a basic Google-research will do you good here; check out the name, Equanoh OLAODAH. Further Femi claims that the Yoruba were the first lawyers and doctors in Nigeria. This is again a big falsehood. The first Nigeria doctor was an Effik man Silas G. Dove who obtained a medical degree from France and returned to practise medicine in 1840 in Calabar. This fact can also be verified from historical medical records in Paris.

I would also ask that you google the name BLYDEN – Edward Wilmot BLYDEN – an educated son of free Ibo slaves who by the mid-19th century had acquired sound theological education. He was born in Saint Thomas in 1832. He is one of the founding missionaries that established the Archbishop Vining church in Ikeja. Before the next time you succumb to your long-running battle with logorrhoea, Femi please do some research.

http://www.newsexpressngr.com/news/detail.php?news=2547

Ok, corrections dear Dr. Okafor

As a "historian", he ought to have made it clear that it is still heavily disputed whether Equiano Olaudah was Igbo (some mention Gambia/Guinea), let alone taken from Africa at all. He claims he was taken by the age of 10 yet puts no Igbo words in his memoirs and paints a typical postcard image of his african village. Then there is that baptismal certifcate that says he was born in South Carolina, so we have proof he (oladuah) is a man who take his liberties with the truth.

Then this same authority asks us to google Blyden, who for him is probablly Nigerias first graduate. In fact his case is the most interesting. A poor man's look at google will say his parents were former Igbo slaves (well done Raph Uweche) but looking at his life and works says far more. I mean this is a man that championed Islam being more African than Christianity and tried his best to promote it (something a typical Igbo would do). A man whose only visits of Nigeria never seemed to go past Lagos, probably it was Igboland at that time too. A man who was very prominent among the Aku in Freetown. A man whose decendants always seem to have Yoruba names, something a typical Igbo loves doing.

Infact his most prominent descendant named after him is Edward Blyden III, or fully named Edward Wilmot Abioseh Blyden-Taylor. This same descendant would later be invited by his "Igbo cousin" Zik to come and be one of the pioneer lectures in UNN when it opened, something he excelled at till eruption of the Nigerian civil war. He then does what any full blooded Igbo man would do when his nation faces extinction, he flees and goes back to his actual people in Freetown Sierra Leone. By the way he does this with his young kids who have Igbo names like Edward Walter Babatunde Blyden, Isa Jeanette Blyden, Bai-Bureh Kendrick Blyden, Dr. Fenda Aminata Akiwumi, Henrietta Cleopatra Blyden, Dr. Eluemuno Richard Blyden, Edward Katib Blyden, Dr. Nemata Amelia Blyden-Bickersteth- one would have thought after seven years reunited with his kindred he would have heard of names like Ngozi and Obinna.

Anyway he could probably correct the naming aberrations when his grandchildren are born, but wiki suggests no- a Dr. Sylvia Olayinka Walmina Oreshola Blyden (born 1 October 1971, after Nigeria has successfuly subdued the rebels).

Anyway let me round up on the great old Igbo man, Nigeria's first modern graduate according to Dr Okafor, by posting this article of how his greatgrand daughter tenders to his grave side- using Yoruba rituals.

http://lookingforblyden..com/2013/02/paying-respects.html

Very Igbotic!! Her father must have learnt that at Nsukaa!

Dear Dr Okafor, if you are writing a rejoinder and it is based on history, you have little reason not to be a bit more meticulous since you had all the time in the world to prepare.

FFK still awaits his challenger- this is sad.

Rhino.5dm:
^

You are simply naive! Do you think in your wildest dream that Obi will stand and watch Soludo pick the APGA ticket? He knew all along that Soludo is even a bigger threat than Ngige. This is what Obi did -

1 - Over blew the deportation scandal to "kill" Ngige's party in anambra. 70% succeeded

2 - Convince Soludo to join APGA so as to make it easy defeating him during party primaries or denying him ticket. 100% succeeded

3 - Play the politics of rotation to confuse the masses, by going around preaching that anambra north deserves it. 80% successful.


I made two conclusions the moment I read about Soludo leaving PDP. It is either he was too naive and foolish or his handlers are stupìd. In Nigeria, most governors would like their SSG succeeding them, cos that is the only time they are assured their secrets won't go public.

Soludo is about to die politically, cos he performed the plebeian harakiri.

Can an outsider know you more than you know yourself........... "NO", remains the logical reply. But reading their exchange (Rhino/Only[b]truth[/b] )shows only a proud fool ignores others and thinks he actually tells himself the truth everyday.

Our Nwafors have lost another battle, but hopefully for Nigeria's sake, you will start listening and then claim your war.

Abiyamọ: (

THE COUP & BECOMING HEAD OF STATE
Buhari is a seasoned coup plotter. He was involved in some of the most crucial coups in Nigeria (with Abacha, IBB, Jeremiah Useni, Shehu Musa Yar'adua, Ibrahim Bako, Joshua Dogonyaro and Aliyu Mohammed, they all plotted the downfall of Shagari)

I have a serious problem with the highlighted line, mainly because you provided no evidence to support this.

For anyone who has taken time to understand or appreciate military matters, plotting a coup and being involved in a coup are two entirely different things. In fact they can be mutualy exclusive in both ways. Take for example a simple foot soldier who is ordered by his superior officer to guard a location (which could be a politician's residence) and not let anyone in or out (which funnily was exactly how my admired hero Major CK Nzeogwu got Northern soldiers to kill and arrest popular Northern personalities). If you know anything about the military that soldier will not question his superior officer and do as he is told. Whether he likes it or not he has been involved in a coup which he did not plan nor plot.

Same can factually be said for so many leaders in our history, Ironsi did not plot his coup but was ultimately involved in it. Overwhelming evidence shows the same Great Zik of Africa was involved in the plotting of that same coup but was not involved in the execution. If I am right few historians have found any evidence to prove Buhari plotted his coup but I have heard some rumblings that he might have been one of those who plotted Murtala's coup.

Anyway I look forward to your rebuttal. Another great thread

99cent: In Nigerian Christianity, high rank and success is measured by how western you are ex. impeccable English, flashy cars and clothes, high western education and professional jobs etc. Where as in Islam, community leaders are more respected and valued rather than how flashy your car is.

In a christian church like RCCG, winners chapel etc, you will not be congratulated for being the local government chairman or a local politician. instead, the most respected persons in lagos churches are doctors, lawyers, federal officials etc.

In mosques on the other hand, local politicians are more valued. If you go to a mosque, the most respected members there are local govt chairpersons, local businessmen and women, mayor, community leaders etc.

so muslims are more motivated/ incentivized to involve themselves in local politics than christians.
if a christian did it, he might be accused of being illiterate or too local.

I know this because my uncle (christian) is a local politician and he is more respected by his muslim friends. most of his christian friends do not give him the same respect. they value more professional, western style successes. like doctors and lawyers.
the only exception to this are churches like Celestial church/ cherubim and seraphim etc. they have similar attitude in terms of respect for "local-ness" as muslims.

in pentecostal churches, u will be respected for not knowing how to speak ur native language or for wearing western clothes exclusively. where as in islam, that will be shameful.

More truth- funnily my Uncle (a muslim) is also a successful politician in Lagos and its the same experience we had in our majority Christian family with people looking down on it at first.

jjcbuthot: Muslim will always rule Lagos because they are more than xtians here. We are not in Anambra.

Number is not about noise... Muslims dont make noise.

Mr Man you are causing as much division as the fools who are trying to bring their backwardness to Eko, plus more importantly you are speaking untruths.

For the sake of clarity, the Christian population is undoubtedly higher than the Muslim population of Lagos and has been so since the first elected governor of Lagos, Alhaji Jakande.

If what you meant to say was that more indigenous Lagosians are Muslim, then that is quite plausible; but if you are insisting that that indigenous population of Yoruba muslims and some Northerners in Lagos outnumber the Christian Yorubas, Igbos, SS, Middlebelt and all other minorities who have now called Lagos home for about 50 years, then you are just as insincere as the original fools who started this brouhaha.

If still confused consider the last general election in Lagos where Fashola won one week in a keenly contested state election with 1.5m votes and GEJ with his Christianity fueled propaganda machine managed to get 1.3m the next week in the same Lagos in a less keenly contested election.

Why we have Muslim governors in Lagos state is because of Yoruba Christians refusing to compromise their Yorubaness, you should take their cue.

Well done

trustnobody01: What is the problem of the North?
Vice President -North.
**Senate President -North.
**Speaker House of Reps - North.
**PDP National Chairman - North.
**Head of Service - North.
**INEC Chairman - North.
**Inspector General of Police - North.
**CBN Governor - North.
**Chief Justice of federation - North.
**President Court of Appeal - North.
**EFCC Chairman - North.
**President Federal high court - North.
**National Security Adviser - North.
**Chief of Defense Staff - North.
**Controller, Customs Service - North.
**Controller Prison Services - North.
**Richest man in Africa - North.
**85% of Petroleum Marketers in Nigeria - Northerners.
**80% of Oil Block Owners in Nigeria - Northerners.
**99% of beggars in Nigeria - Northerners
**Boko Haram - North.
**Anti-Biafra - Northerners.
Yet, the Poorest states in Nigeria and Educationally backward areas in Nigeria are in the North.
Now ask yourself, what is the problem of the Northerners?

And they still want to cling on to the office of the chairman of the NGF................
.May God save us from the hands of this selfish Northerners...

Oga this is NOT a NORTH vs SOUTH matter... pls don't whip up useless jingoistic sentiments here!!!

The truth is as clear as day now, and only those spawned by the devil and Chaos herself would want to obscure it in any form.

I am guessing you are a southern Christian so here:

"For God is not a God of disorder but of peace--as in all the congregations of the Lord's people" 1 Corinthians 14 v33

Goodluck (the Ebele kind) to all GEJ/PDP appologists on this matter, Mark 8v 36-37 comforts me that you will enjoy your fruits in HELL with your similarly deluded Boko brothers.

FSU:

Hush!

Her father was a former gov of Oyo State, the most important of the traditional Yoruba states
She is educated, and raised with some level of silver spoon. She is not a push over, but an important Yoruba princess. She has spoken.

The emboldend clariffies that no "level Of spoon" was used in your upbringing, o mase ooo .

kaliphate: Ma favouratite villian is always patience ozokwor

My broda your head correct well well

A sad question that should never be wondered about.......

YES every tribe can

ZE: Kudos to Mrs Obianuju Joe-Okei Odumakin a true BIAFRAN woman. Ala Igbo will continue to produce the best.

Long live Biafra !!

You people make me laugh, claim claim claim (even foreigners that were never in your borders) when you have inputted nothing into anyones life

If you like call her Chichi and declare your Republic, lets see if she will join you

BORN on July 4, 1966, in Zaria to Delta Igbo parents, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin bestrides rights activism like a colossus. Christened Josephine at birth, she grew up in Ilorin, where she had all her education up to university level. In 1996 she earned her Ph.D. in History and Policy of Education from the University of Ilorin. Married to Yinka Odumakin from Osun State, her foray into human rights activism blossomed when Ibrahim Babangida-led military administration was locking up critical voices. She was arrested and detained over 17 times at different locations in Ilorin, Abuja and Lagos.
http://www.thenigeriandaily.com/news/2011/10/23/%E2%80%98no-make-up-no-bikini-no-perfume%E2%80%99/

We Nigerians, especially us Yorubas are proud of our well raised daughter.

jmslimx: Obafemi Awolowo is the undisputed hero of the Yoruba tribe of Nigeria whose wartime policy of starvation and currency change helped kill the Biafran dream. The post colonial era of Nigerian history was dominated by three actors, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Obafemi Awolowo and Ahmadu Bello. Dr Azikiwe was an avowed nationalist who

preferred one Nigeria above anything else. Sir Ahmadu Bello was a tribalist who initially preferred a balkanized Nigeria to enable his people live their religious and cultural life without external negative inluence and was later reluctantly convinced to seek an agenda for a united Nigeria. Chief Obafemi Awolowo from the onset did not hide his preference for an Oduduwa Republic.

Chief Awolowo is idolized by the Yorubas because he was able to transform the South West into an educational and industrial hub in Africa and build a robust political climate. He so much understood the value of education that he made it free, affordable and offered a lot of scholarships to Yorubas to advance academically to the highest level. He ran a political system in Action Group whereby people have their say while the leader has his way. This is the system Bola Tinubu is unsuccessfully trying to emulate in Action Congress of Nigeria.

Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, a core nationalist, never received the level of hero worship Awolowo received in the South West because Igbos severally accuses him of not taking them out of Nigeria when Chief Awolowo and Sir Ahmadu Bello were angling for a balkanized nation. Chief Awolowo was the sage whose idea ended the Nigerian civil war. He advised the Gowon Cabinet to block all food supply to Biafra so as to end the war quickly and according to him ‘’ starvation is a legitimate instrument of war’’ This led to the starvation of over one million Biafran children. Thus Awolowo’s advice and actions led to the quick end to the Biafran dream. Therefore it is right to say that what the entire armed forces of Nigeria could not do, the wisdom of Awolowo did. Chief Awolowo also ensured that every adult Biafran who managed to survive the starvation was given #20 pounds to start life afresh irrespective of amount of money in anyone’s bank account before the war started. Another policy of his which frustrated Biafra’s ability to import food and arms was the change of currency which according to Awolowo ‘’ And it is on record that Ojukwu admitted that two things defeated him in this war, that’s as at the day he left Biafra. He said one, the change of currency, he said that was the first thing that defeated him, and we did that to prevent Ojukwu taking the money which his soldiers has stolen from our Central bank for sale abroad to buy arms…So I decided to change the currency, and for your benefit, it can now be told the whole world, only Gowon knew the day before, the day before the change took place’’.

Chief Awolowo has been variously accused of introducing tribalism into the Nigerian politics. He chased Dr Azikiwe out of the Ibadan in 1954 when the NCNC headed by Azikiwe won majority seats in the West Nigerian House of Assembly and through a palace coup called cross carpeting Zik was denied the Premiership of Western Nigeria, at a time when Professor Eyo Ita, an Efik was premier of Eastern Region and Alhaji Umoru Altine , a Fulani, was Mayor of Enugu. Dr Azikiwe, following the footsteps of Awolowo, had to frustrate Professor Eyo Ita out of Enugu. Chief Awolowo and Sir Ahmadu Bello seems to have a deeper understanding of the Nigerian complexities than Dr Azikiwe.

While Awolowo never trusted the Igbos, the north never trusted Awolowo and theYorubas. The northern oligarchy instigated crisis in Western Nigeria in the same manner President Obasanjo used the Uba brothers to instigate crisis in Anambra State. This crisis led to the trumped up charges leading to the trial and imprisonment of Awolowo . Reports has it that he was to be poisoned in prison before the military coup altered the state of affairs.

Awolowo was released from Calabar prison by Biafran leader Odumegwu Ojukwu and there was an agreement that while Ojukwu declares Biafra in the East, Awolowo would declare Oduduwa Republic in the West. The British establishment, sensing the dangers of Awolowo declaring Oduduwa Republic in the West, convinced Gowon and the north to checkmate Awolowo’s secessionist agenda by appointing him the Vice Chairman of Federal Executive Council. This strategy worked effectively and Awolowo was deceived that after Gowon’s tenure he would be given the opportunity of ruling Nigeria. Awolowo thus had to checkmate the Biafran dream to clear any obstacle to his ruling Nigeria while the north was looking for the right opportunity to throw him into the dustbin. In frustration, Awo resigned from Gowon’s cabinet when he realized he has been politically duped.

Awolowo quashed the Biafran dream while the northern establishment killed the Oduduwa dream and betrayed Awolowo’s presidential ambition thrice. This fact was aptly captured by a prominent Yoruba leader and Nigeria’s former minister of aviation Chief Femi Fani-Kayode while replying to a boastful statement by another prominent northern leader, Alhaji Usman Farouk on how the north dominated the Yoruba people and conquered the Niger Delta. According to Fani Kayode, ‘’... the north literally begged Awolowo not to declare Oduduwa Republic and go the way of Biafra even though that was his original intention…Fourthly it was the support that the south west gave to the north that allowed Nigeria to win the war. Fifthly it was the lie that Gowon and the northern leaders fed to Awolowo that he would be made President of the country after the war and after being effectively being made de facto Prime Minister under Gowon during the war that got Awolowo to support them’’, invariably, the Igbos and Yorubas were effectively dribbled, divided, manipulated and overpowered.

The ascension of Awolowo's kinsman Obasanjo as Head of State was another opportunity for him to realize his dream of ruling Nigeria. The 1979 election result was decided in the infamous judgement where the Supreme Court refused Awolowo’s plea that 2/3 of 19 is 13 states therefore declaring Alhaji Shehu Shagari the winner of the election. The north led by Generals Shehu Yaradua and Theophilus Danjuma convinced Obasanjo on why Awolowo should never be the president of Nigeria. Therefore, instead of a runoff election, which some believe could favour Awolowo,the Supreme Court declared Alhaji Shehu Shagari the winner.
Chief MKO Abiola at one point was used by the northern dominated NPN to oppose the presidential ambitions of Awolowo . He used his Nigerian Concord newspaper and enormous wealth to fight Awolowo and UPN and when they finished using him to deal with Awolowo, they frustrated Abiola's presidential ambition and he had to resign from the party in 1982. Alhaji Umaru Dikko, then transport minister, sent message to Abiola that the presidency is not for sale to the highest bidder. When Babangida annulled the election of Abiola in 1993, Yorubas alluded to a certain curse Awolowo released on Abiola, in the heat of the later's opposition to his presidency ‘’that even if Abiola was to be given the presidential seat, he would not sit on it.''
In 1999, after the suspicious death of Abiola, the northern establishment sensing that Chief Olu Falae was the choice of the Yoruba people, rigged the polls in favour of Obasanjo . It is obvious that the North had shown evidence of being deadly political strategists than their Yoruba and Igbo compatriots, having used the political suspicion between the duos to dribble them. Conclusively, the north is not as dumb as people assume; they used Awolowo to checkmate Biafra and then dealt with Awolowo and his ambitions.

Obinna Akukwe
profetobinna2@yahoo.com

You tried, but there are too many historical inaccuracies in your writeup coupled with astonishingly libelous use of quotation marks (false misleading quotes).

In short brother, keep your day job.

Though later rescinded by Awolowo when he heard of it overnight on 16 August 1967, the British Area Manager of Electricity Corporation of Nigeria (ECN) received an executive order from Governor Adebayo that he had 48 hours to round up ‘his Igbos’ and send them to the designated collection points. All Igbo in Ibadan were to be rounded up and sent to designated collection points as a matter of state policy. The collection point for ECN Igbo was, ironically, Liberty Stadium. Olunloyo College of Education and Government College were the collection points for the estimated 400 Igbos of UCH and 900 Igbos of UI. All 6,000 to be rounded up would then be transported by train to Apapa for onward movement back to the East. According to the American consul, Professor J.F Ade-Ajayi, acting Vice-Chancellor of University of Ibadan after Professor Kenneth Dike fled, had gathered his remaining Igbo staff and offered to repatriate them with three months’ salaries paid in advance.

At two o’ clock that sameday, Governor Adebayo met with the Leaders of Thought at the Parliament Buildings, Ibadan, to discuss Victor Banjo and the developments in the Midwest. Adebayo told the gathering: “He stands firmly by oath to join with colleagues in the federal government to do everything in our power… to work for reconciliation amongst various peoples of the federation.” Yet, on that same day, he signed a secret executive order for Igbos to be rounded up and deported from Ibadan.

The evidence for Baba's "cruelty" to the Igbo keeps mounting..........

Seriously, may God forgive them and continue to bless the wonderful man's memory.

It's just a matter of time before someone comes on this thread and points out that all the affected workers are IGBOS.