₦airaland Forum

LegendHero:
I always laugh at folks trying to end tribalism or hiding under the usual “Politician are dividing us” jargons to blame Nigeria issue on politicians.

All tribes are tribalistic. Both minority and majority, but the problem is that those that are somehow independent of another tend to be bold in showing their own tribalism.

Those that are dependent are always scared of showing their tribalism which explained why some tribe will say they are less tribalistic and some are more tribalistic. There is nothing called less or more tribalistic, you can either be tribalistic or not.

If we divide Nigeria today into major tribes and let’s say we have 10 countries for example. People within those tribe will then fragment themselves into clans and the struggle of clannish continue. Check state governorship election, it’s always a game of clans within a tribe.

You can only have peace if you divide Nigeria totally by clans. Then at that stage, you’re looking at 5k individual states.

However, dividing Nigeria into major zones with tribal realignment to their zone will help a bit. At least we will have the clan problem which will be at a lesser impact compared to tribe issue.

The English, French, Dutch, Boers are all tribalists -- what I'm trying to say is that these things happen everywhere in the world. The fact that I'm the type of a person who doesn't give a fvck about someone's ethnicity doesn't mean I'd expect others to be like me. It takes a crazy amount of hard work to be like me, I understand, as long as nobody tries to think they're special because of their ethnicity.

Just because people have car accidents doesn't mean people should stop driving cars! Once you begin to see things from a "default perspective", them you'd understand that humans will always fight, kill, and hate, regardless of where they come from!

South and North Korea are the same people genetically, even though they fought off the Japanese again and again in the past, that didn't stop them from killing each other in the Korean war. Even Germans were divided by a wall just over 30 years ago.

Look, the earlier we start accepting reality, the better for us. As for me, as long as I am unable to give my kids a better country or future, I'm not going to bring any child into this part of the world to experience our madness.

God bless this guy, everything he wrote is the absolute truth! I wonder why we keep deceiving ourselves while the enemies laugh at our stupidity.

There are many countries in the European Union but they are more united than the nations that make up "Nigeria." I find myself lost in thoughts of a great life for my people but honestly I don't think they deserve any pity at all.

Even the British that created this country wouldn't wish the same for themselves, this is why they got like 3 countries under the United Kingdom! Even if we separate, it would never stop us from working together to make Africa great again -- which is what we all want, or maybe I'm wrong...

Why do we keep deceiving ourselves for Christ's sake? Why? Why? Is this the legacy we're going to leave behind for our children? So, they can hate and kill each other while Europeans and Asians make progress?

We only got one life to live, and one day, when you're lying on your dying bed, your children will spit on you because you did nothing to better their lives.

I can relate 😔.

illicit:
People u see coming out of that cemetary are normal people

When I was at uni, na inside cemetary at Alalubosa, Maraba, Ilorin. we dey smoke Igbo, the guy selling the Igbo is there almost 24/7

Sometimes we smoke till 10pm inside darkness nobody dey pursue us, we sit on the graves, Drink, play music...

So if u see us coming outta dat side, what will u think?

I don't believe in ghosts cos I have smoked in their house and dem no show face

🤕🥴

AlaafinOfOyo:
Check all the wars fought during the cold war. The Soviet Union would oppose any side the US supported, except in Biafra. That was the only war that both the US and Soviets backed one side, Nigeria. They knew that a Biafra would herald the liberation of Africa. That's why a writer wrote a book titled "In Biafra, Africa Died".

Hello boss, can I get the PDF version of that book from you?

I wonder what Ojukwu and Chinua Achebe would say 😢.

Raheeqilmaktoom:
I honestly think to many non-ibo readers, he was biased, heavily. Other books tend to put a big hole in his book.

I appreciate your honesty and totally understand what you're saying. For example, not a lot of people have nice things to say about Mr. Steiner whom Achebe painted as a great guy that fought for Biafrans.

Again, Achebe was just a civilian like my grandparents. He was just a writer who wrote about what he witnessed and heard during one of the darkest years of his life. Losing his mother during the war and almost losing his family must have been devastating...

The purpose of that book is to prove that it is possible for Africa to rise, if only we're ready to pay the price.

Raheeqilmaktoom:
I mean there are tens of books written about the events leading up to and after the war.

Achebe's book focused solely on making every action taken by the secessionists and glorifying it, even in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary.

You can call the Achebe book a book of self consolation and self victimization.

While I understand what you're saying sir, but I think Achebe's book is an important piece of history. He wasn't trying to paint himself or the others good but writing from his own point of view.

Remember he started from the very beginning, which is the circumstances that laid to his birth... he wasn't a main actor in Biafra so I think he had a good intention. I love how he was blunt, also, he also admits his people's shortcomings (if I'm not mistaking, he agreed he might be biased... I don't know)


The country he was referring to might be the old Nigeria of his time and maybe a little bit on Biafra achievements.

anungangampu:
No one expected Ojukwu to step down. As a matter of fact, Ojukwu had more leverage than Gowon when the war started. He had almost all intelligencia from Southern Nigeria on his side. Nnamdi Azikiwe and Effiong were far intellectual than him but they all allowed him to flourish.
Till he began, the Biafra or death mentality. As on 1968, igbo have dominated control in places in the North and Lagos.
Whether Biafra existed or not, Igbo will always travel out. But my concern was that leaders of his Kind who came to power didnt do well. I dont think he will be an exception.

Ojukwu would do better than leaders like Mugabe. That Biafra or death mentality must have been as a result of the death caused by war.

Anyway, I will making a part 2 of this thread and dig into this topic.

Purvan:
In order to combat insecurity


I believe that every farmer should be allowed access to a long rifle



After this , nothing Fulani herd men again because they won't dare come close



Farmers should try secure themselves and their properties



Farmers nowadays are mostly illiterates and need proper enlightenment


I have a farm and secured mine by implementing land mines and Bobby traps for Intruders

I agree.


These idiotic fulani herdsmen are painting us bad, they wouldn't exist in a place like Southern US.

XerXers:
Those who are not in Igboland will never understand how things work there. They love their sit at home and have taken over agriculture from northerners

Is this real or just propaganda?


I'm happy to see this, a serious nation ought to invest heavily on agriculture.

MICHEALADEX:
If they can't come near imo on election day, after all the no election in Igbo land then all the noice is just a flash in the pan

What election? I don't follow Nigeria politics.

skj1377:
They want other people's state as well including Lagos. Have you forgotten they were stopped at ore in ondo state on their way to takeover Lagos. Am sure after taking over Lagos in order to keep it they have to take over Ogun and ondo state as well for obvious reasons. They will equally need portharcout and some surrounding oil producing states. Anyways all that is history now. But I doubt if anyone can fight to keep Nigeria together a second time around.

Attacking Lagos was the right thing to do! Had they succeeded, the war wouldn't have been fought in just Biafra land where the civilians were targeted.

I mean why would Biafrans attack Lagos? It's a war, for God's sake! Lagos was the capital of Nigeria at that time and that was the location of the government's 'house.'

Raheeqilmaktoom:
Before reading Achebe's book, what other books did you read?

Achebe is an amazing writer, but 'there was a country' was just off the mark, It achieved one thing though - introduce the reader to ibo mindset and pains, not to others who at times were victims of same ibo mindset and views.

Other books about the war? None yet, just Achebe's...

anungangampu:
I think you need to Read Madiebo account of the war inorder to predict what Biafra could have been if it was won.

Achebe focused on the bright side of Biafra intelligence and accomplishments while Madiebo accounts were about the Egos and what made the war a huge casualty.

If Biafra exsited as a country, we could be another DR Congo in the making. Ojukwu as of then was a sit tight leader and hated consultation. He was seen as a god like human and he tried to maintain that view throughout the war to a point, Biafrans were divided into two group. One fighting for Ojukwu while another was fighting for a country. At the end Ojukwu sided with those that think he is morthan who he is.

This is my cry againt Nnamdi Kanu. We have seen liberators exalted to prophet and god like position, and it always fail. Nnamdi Kanu started like Ojukwu but at a point exalted the whole Biafra thing to himself. Thats where he failed and thats where Ojukwu failed.

I might sound pessimistic, but i think Igbos are far better off now than Ojukwu Biafra. We have only one problem now, and the issue is we are yet to see Nigeria as a farm where we cultivated anyhwere but take the proceeds home. The day we start thinking like that, we would be more valued in the country while Biafra states become far better than any place in Nigeria.

Hmmm, I understand you sir.


That's why I believe Ojukwu would certainly try to remain in power, Achebe even wrote that both Ojukwu and gowon's advisers were all trying to make them feel good about themselves.

I now see why MNK refused to be president and I also agree exalting liberators to prophet like position is foolish. But I disagree, Igbos would be better off in Biafra.

No country is perfect, in times of wars, things like that happens -- expecting Ojukwu to step down when the war was ongoing wasn't the wisest thing to do.

mrvitalis:
Having relationship with France is why we would never have developed

Ojukwu would not have been able to hold power for too long because the South South would revolt and igbos would be the last people to support a sit tight president

China is a socialist only on paper they are capitalist in practice

Yeah, France is a vampire.
Have you read the Ahiara Declaration? Bro, Ojukwu might stay long in power but would certainly leave! Dude was just a rich kid who wanted to see Africa rise.

nairalanda1:
South Korea had very limited resources, and no oil, so they had no choice.

Biafra would have a lot of poor people demanding that 'they get some benefits now'...which makes a import dependent, resource dependent economy inevitable. And it took SK a long time to develop.

I understand you but South Korea did it in just one generation so it is possible with the right people in charge.

Biafra had a powerful story that is strong enough to hold nations together for centuries, this story made it possible to create this "us vs them" mentality that unites a group of people against another.

It's either they develop weapons and build themselves up or get annihilated by the enemies, what happened in Biafra is enough to build a strong detest for failure. You know how powerful state propaganda is...

Remember I said 2 years into the war (which is 1969), by 1969, Biafrans were already overwhelmed and hundreds of innocent children were already dying weekly because of starvation caused by the blockade of the Nigerians.

You think Jonathan Uchendu, Ojukwu, Achebe, and the others would let that go? No matter the corruption there, it wouldn't be close to what we have here today plus it would not stop them from investing in science.

nairalanda1:
Biafra, would have been a oil dependent, broke resource dependent country.

The only reason why Biafra went into weapons development was simply because the Nigerian government cornered the oil receipts. That left Biafra with limited money to pay for weapons from abroad.(The Brothers war gives a good description of how that happened). Should Biafra have won the war, they would have become a massive importer of stuff using oil money.

The problem with most African countries is simple. Independence was sold based on the idea that everyone would enjoy the good life. An industrialization project means a long period of suffering before the benefits come in. That is a effing tough sell to the populaiton. So, what many African countries did on independence was mass welfarist projects ...based on money that was not there. To sustain those projects, more and more raw materials had to be sold...and when the population grew too large, loans were taken.

That is the reason why Biafra would never have been a super power, and Nigeria and most African countries are broke. It is also a part of the reason why South Africa is regressing.

All it would take is to adopt South Korea's five year plan! Ojukwu had this pride in what Biafrans were able to achieve and wouldn't let that just fade away with all the enemies they already had.

The oil would be used to develop Biafra while they would invest in scientific research especially in weapons. My only fear is that Ojukwu would have stayed longer in power which I have no issue with, as long as they do exactly the same thing that happened in South Korea.

You seem to underrate the Biafran leaders of that time.

teamoneline:
Christianity happened simple. Christianity's job is to keep you waiting for spirits to come and solve all your problems and if you are not solving your own problems like Thomas Edison then you won't be inventing anything

Most of these guys in charge of Biafra at that time were all Christians!

mrvitalis:
I don't think so ojukwu was in the Awolowo socialism school of thought that has kept Nigeria backward till date

If the war hadn't happened the eastern region would have been most developed because Micheal okpara was already doing magic


Of if Michael okpara and Eyo ita was allowed to govern biafra then we would have developed

If Zika, imoke and akpabio still controlled biafra it would have failed

My only fear is that Ojukwu would likely stay in power for long time but Biafra would certainly develop especially technologically. The only world power that would have a very good relationship with Biafra would be France.

China is a socialist state (if I'm not mistaking) but better than Nigeria!

helinues:
Who would they be having war with? With themselves ?

Anyways, swlf inflicted pain started for a while now

Sorry, I don't understand you. Maybe, you didn't read the original post.

Kafirbigot:
This is epic and lovely...

I want this thread to BREATHE...

Keep updating it

Thanks.

I will write extensively on this topic in the part 2, I just wanna see what others got to say.

Kafirbigot:
While the whole Nigerian state with their support from allies used ' refined weapons'.

The ingenuity of the BIAFRAN..was able to

Refine fuel in a chaotic war situation
Manufacture weapons in the same situation
Improvise defence and attack strategies
Built runways and hangers that served their purpose.
Built marine equipment that empowered and supported land battles.

NIGERIA as a State used 3 years and external backing of super power Nations to subdue the BIAFRANs.

But now, they don't have that backing because the world now sees them for what they are.

NIGERIA is An unworkable union that breeds antiquated kleptomaniacs. Who their foolish Supporters worship out of Generational bigotry and ethnic profiling.

They can't afford a major Military offensive because WAR is money and they have embezzled everything. Moreover their Military has been infiltrated with people that have obvious sympathies for renowned terrorist groups.

It's pretty much obvious that, Country is DEAD...all the shout of 1 NIGERIA will end immediately the pipelines are smashed to pieces. Then they will understand...

Achebe saw it all....

Honestly, it breaks my heart that we used our hands to destroy something that every black person on Earth would look up to... I'm heartbroken!

I can imagine the pain Achebe felt writing that book, all those dreams vanished all because of a shitty union that hasn't made any valid progress. Sometimes, I wonder if western leaders aren't corrupt because it's obvious they are! See all the wars they've initiated while brainwashing their citizens with propaganda... However when you look at their country, this "corruption" doesn't stop it from looking well better than ours.

Also, after reading that book, I was able to find out my grandfather was among those massacred by the Nigeria army in Calabar. My mother once told me she was told her father was killed in Calabar since he was nowhere to be found after the war.

I couldn't ask more questions because she was crying. with the help of this book, I realized that he was probably among the civilians massacred by the Nigeria soldiers in Calabar.

gidgiddy:
Even the 5 States, you unity beggars no go gree make them go

What do you think Biafra would have been like? I wonder the plan these guys fighting for her restoration has for Biafra... I trust MNK though

yommen:
If Biafra were to be all you Igbos boasted it to be, I see no reason why SE can't be a very good example of those things. At least, you get allocation and IGR too but your governors can't even proof otherwise. If not, all of you wouldn't keep flooding down to other parts of Nigeria.

If you read my other comments, I already explained this! Keep your "we vs them" mentality aside when you engage in a discussion with reasonable humans.

The men in charge of Biafra then were just "too good to be true", one of Africa greatest poet died in the battlefield! How many men are like Christopher Okigbo in present-day Nigeria?! Well, except for Mazi Nnamdi Kanu!

Have you read the Ahiara Declaration? Honestly, necessity is the mother of all inventions.

yommen:
Biafra that was being boosted by France is the only African country controlling. You and yeye white man, make unna sorry.

France didn't build Ogbunigwe or refine crude oil for the Biafrans, Achebe even said Europeans told them they'd never learn any of these things in the next 400 years but they did!

The Biafran pilots were once arrested in an African country because they thought the Biafran pilots successfully hijacked the plane since there was no "whites" on board.

gidgiddy:
Well, one thing is certain, 'one Nigeria' turned out to be an almighty disaster

The worst mistake ever made, built under the blood of innocent people!

Indeed, there was a country .

Rest in peace, Sir Chinua Achebe.
You were a great man and you fought well, when I first read the Ahiara Declaration as a kid in his early teen, it was mind-blowing! I didn't know those before us were so intelligent and had big dreams plus Ojukwu was always portrayed as a powerthirsty warlord.

I now agree that our generation might bring about the demise of the 'African' race.

Ibrahimcoomasie:
If that's the case, how come we are not seeing great inventions that will shake the Africa and the world coming out of the SE...

Centuries ago, China had the opportunity to control Asia and the world -- they had huge ships which enabled them to sail far across the other sides of the world.

But for some reason which I do not know, they destroyed these ships and went centuries backward!

Imagine if they didn't do that? The world wouldn't have been the same as it is now. The same thing happened with Biafra, those generation in charge at that time would have promoted the importance of technology to the younger generation!

Look, it takes a magnetic story to build a strong foundation of a Nation. Biafra had and still have a strong one!

Raskimonojendor:
Aslong as they take ONLY their 5 states, there would be wild jubilation will happen all over Nigeria.

Please read the original post, sir.

Ibrahimcoomasie:
If that's the case, how come we are not seeing great inventions that will shake the Africa and the world coming out of the SE...

There are a lot we don't hear about but I wouldn't delve into that. However, it is important to understand that those generation in charge of Biafra at that time were ambitious and exceptional!

These guys wanted to prove that we Africans were also humans just like others, this was at a time revolution was sweeping through the territories of Africans and those in diaspora.

I'm honestly heartbroken! 😢

I just finished reading there was a country by Chinua Achebe (yesterday) and I feel so much pain, regret, and hate for my own race. Inasmuch as I'd love to write my opinion about the topic, I'd love to hear some mature opinions from reasonable humans like me.

But one thing I'm sure of, is that Biafra would have been leading Africa technologically especially when it comes to weapons. The great Achebe quoted a European who confessed that Biafra was the only African country owned and controlled by Africans!

I'm in pains and scared I would die without witnessing that sort of patriotism and inventiveness in this part of the world. I'm in pains!