₦airaland Forum

Modsenemy:
Those hauling insults at @ 989900 are either clueless , myopic , bias or has a very big problem with comprehension even in its simplest form .
The point is not whether Obasanjo appeared before his summoners or not , the main point that should be noted is "obasanjo was actually summoned "
So it is not sacrosanct for a past leader to be summoned.
It is left for the leader to come clear his name .

I think the representatives threatening fire are just trying to be loyal to their master even though he might be a thief .

You are definitely out of the loop on this, the dude you are defending wants Jonathan to honor the invitation when he knew quite well that Obasanjo never honored his own summon, when he realized he has been boxed into a tight corner he threw in the "red herring narratives" you just fell for! Read his opening comments on the first page of this thread (that is if he had not amended them sha) and understand.

CharlotteFlair:
Ywc bro! I hope you are happy also that your political arch enemy Saraki is still in the loop?

I hope you following the drama between Osinbajo and Saraki and I hope you know that Saraki will not survive this

30 More Days from now and he is still "enjoying London" then Nigerians can have a new President in Osinbajo to finish the last lap of this administration and I don't see Osinbajo achieving anything that will endear him into the yearning hearts of Nigerians except Saraki, Dogara, Audu Ogbeh, Kemi Adeosun, Fashola, Amaechi and other pretenders are weeded out! I can't wait.............6th August please come quickly because Nigeria must move forward >>>>>>>>>>>>>>

That was a coded insult from Falana to Saraki. I love this

This is what Nigerians need from the judiciary. Dino is a goner. Lawmakers are meant to make good, people-oriented laws and not to sing meaningless songs

compujyde:
No, he is not ignorant nor foolish as you think.
Do you want to learn, now listen:

See, this is a psychological/political war, and it is not even on Magu or even about him. And this war can not be handled legally, so forget about the law for now. Though legal options, up to the highest court in the land could be used to buy some time.

This war is strictly between Osibanjo and Saraki, as to who wield more influence for the presidency, since Buhari is presently incapacitated.
Magu is just a pawn in this political chess game towards 2019 and Saraki is using proxies (Dino and co) to garner support from both chambers and the masses.

Osibanjo is also smart by speaking up and using a known enemy (El-Rufai) as his proxy on this matter rather than saying it in person. This will reset Saraki's move and get him to re-plan and make another move. And I can assure you that he will meet his match in Osibanjo.

In case you still think Osibanjo is a dump fellow, find out who he was to Tinubu, who is acclaimed to be politically intelligent and why Tinubu would nominate an Osibanjo for VP in his stead. I can assure you, it is not because Osibanjo is a pastor.

Saraki is not afraid of Buhari, Magu or EFCC; Osibanjo is his greatest nightmare. And if the war ever becomes dirty, definitely Tinubu will help Osibanjo do the dirty fight either through proxies (SR and co) or directly, especially as 2019 draws near so that Osibanjo can remain clean (presidential).

Hope you got something?

You are good bro. You can think deeply.

As much as I don't believe this, I think Biafra is an idea whose time has arrive but needs to be handled gingerly. Nigeria is fast heading towards the rocks.

989900:
OBJ appeared before Oputa panel as President, was summoned by house of reps in 2008, was summoned in 2011 by the Senate.

Not an anomaly to summon a past president.




Don't be an emotionally challenged ret@rd.

Nigga the question the other guy was trying to bring to your face is very simple, "Did Obasanjo honour those invitations by the House?" Forget the Oputa Panel drama, IBB and Buhari were invited and never honoured the invitations. Correct me if I am wrong.

hush15:
The Vice President is ignorantly foolish, forget that he is a professor of law and a pastor. These is tyranny. Rather than go to court for interpretation, he is speaking like he wrote the law.

If he knows he doesn't need the senate for their appointees, then he should save Nigerians the hassle of sending names to the senate.

More so, the act establishing the EFCC is clear about it that the president appoint on who to be the substantive chairman is subject to the confirmation of the senate.

He is being deceived because he is getting confidence from somewhere but how hard their fall will be. The EFCC is a commission established by laws and the laws must be followed.

I pity him because at this rate, it's impeachment loading and all is required is 2/3 of the senate and it's easy cos many are on the cue waiting and he is giving them the very reason to go ahead. His boss is already goin on health grounds neway.

Again, I can't help but think hope there is no agreement between Osinbanjo and Magu on this matter for his insistence and doesn't want to fault the agreement.... neway, time will tell

You spoke like an egghead I like that bro. However I am of the opinion that Osinbajo knows what he is talking about. EFCC chairmanship appoibtments does not solely resides in the hands of the senate for confirmation, this is Osinbajo's position

Kondomatic:
Why are you this wicked?


People exposed their breast for the public to see and you're censoring it. Is it your breast?



I am giving you 2 minutes to give us a link to this video or the anger of the gods will fall on you.

I swear u don kolo finish see as u dey serious on top this thing

Another set of smart and fake SANs are about to be rolled into the system again

This is how I want Osinbajo to be talking because we are already deep in this corruption shiiit for too long and these crops of demonic Senators are not helping matters, time to use EFCC now to kick corrupt asses in that horrible chamber of rogues.

For wiz kid eye now he is Michael Jackson someone not yet known worldwide probably he thought singing hooks with international
artiste makes him international...

I have studied over the years the political and social tempo of my Country, Nigeria over the years and I have discovered that Nigerians are one of the most miserable set of Homo sapiens on Earth and yet the most hopeful even against all odds. Yes, most miserable because their leaders over the years have subjected them to a state of squalor and unimaginable poverty and hardship which they don't deserve going by the economic potentials of Nigeria coupled with the intellectual potentials of Nigerians yet like a dumb sheep taken to the slaughter house to be killed they (Nigerians) allow these "useless things" they called leaders to make mincemeat of them in broad day light without a reasonable resistance to prove that they are fed up with the daily torments they are loaded with by these "wicked looters and demons in power"!

As much as they (Nigerians) enjoy being trampled upon by their tormentors in power,  they still show rays of hopes even in the face of these hardship that seems to defy reasonable logic in the law of Nature as endorsed by Providence that when pushed to the wall the next thing is to face that enemy pushing you to the limit. In Nigerians case, they are not only pushed to the limit but pushed beyond limit yet radiates "self-generated hope" just to wish away the physical and damning pains they don't deserve in their imaginations. 

History as we are told, is Prophecy! History is the Station we all can tune into to predict the Future and this is how the topic, "The Real Buhari In Perspectives" came about. Buhari is not lettered in economic issues and definitely a die-hard fundamentalist too typically bent to accommodate brighter minds in his fold but prefers people from his "side" and their "cronies" from another particular tribe. These are flawless qualities of a man blind supporters are bringing into the mainstream of modern day political designs and true to type, we all are in a deep mess for bringing a retired General who is not in tune with the current political situation of a jet age to rule over us. As it stands, if by reason of his illness Buhari can no longer continue, Osinbajo will go through hell to emerge as President based on the fact that his political foe, an egotistical, mean, ambitious Saraki is the head of a Senate that needs to back Osinbajo up in his bid to emerge as the President in case of eventualities on Buhari, however stiffer challenges await Osinbajo if he is eventually sworn in as the cabals are already in his government and the Herculean task of weeding them out or emasculating them so as to deliver on his electoral promises will be firmly resisted since their "boy", Saraki, is ready to do the dirty jobs for his masters (the cabals)!

Lest I deviate from the purpose and aim of this piece, let me state here that going by my assertion on the power of history and prophecy, it is very clear now that the Biblical question on, "Can a Leopard change its spots?" deserves a resounding capital NO as an answer on Buhari! Going by what I was able to scoop out below from the ECONOMIST WEBSITE on the man, Buhari, I think your guess on the man is as good as mine. Happy reading friends.........

Background
Godwin Emefiele, the governor of Nigeria’s central bank, has been criticised in recent weeks for attempting to prop up the value of the naira, the country’s currency, by restricting access to foreign exchange and banning imports of certain goods. In the absence of a clear economic strategy from the country’s new president, Muhammadu Buhari, Mr Emefiele is taking an increasingly central role in determining Nigeria’s industrial policy. His tactics sound familiar. As this article from The Economist archives shows, Nigeria has pursued a protectionist policy like this before, in 1984—under Muhammadu Buhari, a young general who had won the presidency in a coup on December 31 1983.



Nigerians reluctant to tighten their belts for their former civilian leaders were ordered by the soldiers this week to take in another notch. Nigeria's central bank announced a sharp cut in foreign ex­change available for imports.

At 287m naira ($380m) a month, the new limit is less than half as much as Nigeria spent on merchandise and invisi­bles last year. It is almost a third lower even than the tough target set by ex-President Shehu Shagari in the budget presented two days before Major-Gener­al Muhammadu Buhari's coup.

Though the cut may turn out to be less swingeing than it sounds—senior officials told commercial bankers in London this week that a little over 4 billion naira will be made available for the year—there is no doubt that the new government means to cut imports heftily. Foreign bankers and creditors are happy. They see it as a sign that Nigeria is serious about living within its shrinking means.

Export earnings from oil dropped from $25 billion in 1980 to just under $10 billion in 1983. Though a swift rise in imports from $11.8 billion in 1979 to $18.4 billion in 1981 was checked in 1982, Nigeria amassed a current-account deficit of some $16.5 billion in the three years from 1981.

A deep cut in the import bill will free foreign exchange to service Nigeria's ex­ternal debt. This is likely to take 30-40% of export earnings in each of the next few years. But a big fall in imports could ruin the new regime's reputation at home. It is popular at the moment. Though General Buhari has promised no free lunches, people expect him to bring down prices and increase supplies of essential goods. They were beginning to grouse that he was moving too slowly—but cutting im­ports was not the step most had in mind.

Many consumer goods, including ba­sics such as detergents andcooking oil, are already scarce. Import restraints since April, 1982, and the growing reluctance of foreign suppliers to finance trade with slow-paying Nigeria have combined to reduce both the volume and the dollar value of imports in 1983 to below their 1980 level. Attempts by over-zealous sol­diers in the first weeks after the coup to impose bargain prices in the shops have made shortages worse as traders hoard now what they managed to hide then. Even black-market champagne and French perfume are vanishing as soldiers patrol the borders for smuggling.

Manufacturers are feeling the pinch the most. Nigeria buys about 75% of its industry's raw materials abroad. More than 100 businesses stopped production in 1983 because they could not get foreign exchange for imports. Many employees are taking next Christmas's holiday now. Registered unemployment, up by more than 40% in 1982, is still rising. So is inflation, conservatively estimated at an annual 20%.

Food supplies are affected too, though so far in towns high prices are a bigger complaint than shortages. Nigeria spent some $1.5 billion in 1983 on food im­ports, including 2m tons of grain. It is likely to need $2 billion this year. Drought in the north may have reduced the grain harvest by up to 50%, and there is an outbreak of rinderpest in cattle.

Under still imprecise new rules, 58% of imports will be raw materials and indus­trial spare-parts; 12%, food; 18%, con­sumer goods; and 12% for invisibles, such as foreign travel and management-fee remittances. This is in sharp contrast to the pattern of the past few years; when consumer goods accounted for 40% of all imports and raw materials only 25%.

The new government says it will keep prices of essentials down by cutting out middlemen who used to take a cut on each of five or six transactions between ship and shop. This sounds optimistic, but the true level of Nigeria's imports has long been inflated by overinvoicing and false pricing. Kicking out the crooks at home and buying more competitively abroad should reduce the fall in the volume of imports, officials hope.

Previous attempts to order Nigeria's foreign-exchange priorities have foun­dered on corruption and inefficiency. Will General Buhari and his powerful number two, Major-General Babantunde Idiagbon, do better?

On corruption, modest improvement is likely. Many of the biggest suspected wrongdoers have already left. General Buhari has said there will be no witch-hunt. He probably cannot afford one.

http://www.economist.com/news/middle-east-and-africa/21666090-can-nigerias-buhari-take-import-monster-and-win?fsrc=scn%2Ftw_ec%2Fcan_nigerias_buhari_take_on_the_import_monster_and_win_

Cc: Lalasticlala

In as much as he went too far in publishing those pix of the randy lawmaker and former Governor, I think things of this magnitude are common scenes across the globe so Sahara Reporters did not owe him any apology for that. The Mallam ought to bea role model and not a careless sex maniac.

This is deep, so so deep!

Virtually every books of history ever written or pass on to generations by words of mouth have been distorted sort of and this is how the "convoluted media matrix" comes into play to alter the moods of the human minds in order to control and influence. The story I read here about Banjo is not new to me (except for the "I am not dead yet" ajasa), Maj Ademoyewa of the "Why we Struck" said something related to this.

However, I am of the view that the writer omitted two words sacrosanct in this write up, which are; "insight and foresight" on the part of the major players during the war. Banjo owed Ojukwu unalloyed loyalty for freeing him and not handing him over to the hostile and blood thirsty Northern officers while Ojukwu owed Banjo an unalloyed trust for willing to work with Ojukwu at the end of the day the lack of intellectual ability to articulate well the gifts of insight and foresight capabilities of Banjo by Ojukwu (which was not totally his fault being the General here who must be obeyed and not questioned as obtained in any military establishment at the battle front any where in the world) led to the death of Biafra and what a pity, power fell in unmeasured capacity into the hands of the core North (the tormentors of yesterday's and today's Nigeria)!

My submission is, Biafra was hurriedly plan by over ambitious youths of that era and the Nigerian side was far worst because going by the supports and back ups for the Nigerian troops they still bungled many of their military operations and shows lack of well trained commanders as detailed by Alabi Isama in his book, "tragedy of war" especially talking about Division 1 and 2 commandeered by Northern officers. Biafra to me was necessary but Ojukwu should have chosen his battles carefully well and strategies with the best of the best brains while buying more time. Those chanting "we are better of united than divided" are poor students of history and saboteurs and profiteers in this rudderless contraption called Nigeria. They are revisionists who glory in failure and gross darkness.

Nigeria was a mistake and mistakes need correction to fix things right. If Biafra will not be allowed to be then we all as a people need to sit down and chart a new course that will swerve this direction of empowering a particular region (Northwest especially) from being too powerful above other region. The presidential system is too expensive to run in this country. The igbos must be given a chance to aspire to emerge future president of a united Nigeria. Diversification of means of income in Nigeria must be roundly exploited and bit just existing on pages of dailies and many more anomalies. These are not too much to ask for! Thanks

“For daring to take such a course of action, Lt.-Col. Victor Banjo, Major Emmanuel ifeajuna, Samuel Agbam and Major Alale were labelled as traitors, accused of wanting to overthrow the Biafran administration, court martial, and executed (Ottah 1981).” At the end, these four men were right. Biafra lost the war because it was ill prepared and because one man, Ojukwu, was chasing a pipe dream.

Banjo had told his wife that that whatever happens, he would let her know of his well being. One morning, following Banjo's death, Banjo's wife woke up in far away Sierra Leone with a dream on her heart. A bird had come into their home and after flying about a bit, it flew out of the window into the blue skies. Mrs. Banjo knew instinctively that that her husband was dead. She would eventually relocate to Nigeria and bring up her children as Nigerians, as her husband had wished.

A few months after Odumegwu Ojukwu died, following a prolonged illness, I was in the office of Prof. Olayinka Omigbodun (nee Banjo), the second to the last daughter of Victor Banjo, at the University College Hospital, Ibadan. I had come to see her on the book she wrote of her father. Among a few things we discussed I remember her saying this and I paraphrase: "the man who caused all these is today being buried as a national hero, while my father lies somewhere buried in an unmarked grave". The bodies of those four men were never found. Many of their families have found it difficult to reach closure on them.

Chris Ngwodo has rightly pointed out that the civil was wholly unnecessary. It was a war that was the result of the youthful exuberance and pride of 36 year old Ojukwu and 31 year old Gowon. Unfortunately those beating the drums of secession and war today are the same youths who have refused to learn from our history. Banjo fell out with Ojukwu from day one when he refused to support his secession course. However they both needed each other and they rode on themselves until the ride could no longer continue. Prof. Wole Soyinka, in his Memoirs, You Must Set Forth at Dawn, said when he met Banjo in Enugu, he saw a man who bought into his idea of a Third Force.

While the Nigerian and Biafran course was the first and second forces, set at warring against each other, Soyinka and a few others saw themselves as The Third Force. The Third Force aimed simply at stopping the war. They did everything to delay it. And if the youth leadership we had then were listening to them, there would not have been a war and the over three million lives lost would not have occurred. Gen. Alabi Isama, in his book on the civil war, "The Tragedy of Victory", wrote about so many gallant officers lost needlessly to this war. For his efforts at trying to broker peace between Nigeria and Biafra, Wole Soyinka was imprisoned by the Gowon government without trial all the war. He was refused permission to even bury his father. Gowon would however apologize personally to Soyinka for this years later.

The man Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), is asking Nigeria to go back to this painful lane again. Someone has said that a call to secession is not the same as a call to war. I have however reminded him that history has equated most calls to secession to a call to war. If it were not so, why are IPOB members armed to the teeth today? Why are they brow beating their people to obey some sit at home order? While this country can very well call for a referendum to decide on the question of Biafra, the mere fact that free and fair elections cannot hold in the Eastern part of this country is proof that no free and fair referendum can hold in the East. Besides, what states in this Federal Republic will call themselves Biafra? The last I heard, the people of the oil rich Niger Delta are averse to secession. And Kanu needs to get his elders involved in his course. He needs to respect his state governors, Senators and Rep members. As long as he treats these people as thrash, he cannot get their support. And government will not listen to a rabble rouser. When all these is done, we will then settle the matter of the thousands of intermarriages between Biafrans and other parts of this country. As far as I can see with all these matter on ground, Biafra is a dead agenda.

Victor Banjo, though dead, yet speaketh. His last words that he is not dead rings true. As a member of the Third Force, who did everything to avert war, he was calling on the people of this generation to sheath their swords. A united Nigeria is better than a splintered one, he's saying. He's telling us that if Nigeria divides, there will be no end to its division because every region of this country are still made up of people groups. If we cannot live together now, we will not live together in splintered groups. He's calling on us to jaw jaw, rather than war war. He's asking our young men to redirect their energies to more fruitful endeavors. He's saying that if we do not do the hard work of living together, the easy path of secession, which we think is better, will only be littered with the body and blood of our best minds.

The motives of those calling for secession today is even more insincere than those who called for it years back. If Biafra of Ojukwu days was born out of the genocide perpetrated against lbos, who is killing IBOs today? Let this Biafra cry cease. Let the legitimate claims of IBOs be looked into. Let us live together happily ever after. We are better off together than divided.

This write up is dedicated to my friend across the Niger: Chidi Iloegbu. Thanks for reading my articles.

Copied From My Facebook Page!

“When he decided to declare an Independent Republic of Biafra, l pleaded with him to postpone it as both the people West and Mid-West wee not ready or at that stage, sufficiently strong militarily to take the same stand, even though they would wish it.

“I pointed out to him his declaration of Biafra at the time was not consistent with our plans and agreements. I told him that the people of the West who were acting on the basis of the fact that l would bring assistance to them from here, would consider the decision to declare Biafra at that time a betrayal of our arrangements. I tod the military Governor that l would leave Biafra for the West or for the outside world after his declaration of Independence.

“However, when l discovered the emerging trend that followed the declaration of Independence of Biafra, it became clear to me that a war with the North was imminent. I decided to stay behind and assist in the prosecution of the war, both for the sake of my friendship with Colonel Ojukwu and in the hope that having assisted to fight back the Northern threat to Biafra, he would assist me with troops to rid the Mid-West and Lagos of the same menace.

“I came into the war at a moment of temporary collapse of the Biafran fighting effort, when it became quite clear to me that the fighting effort of the Biafran Army was not only being incompetently handled, but also being sabotaged. Since then, it has been my fortune to command the Biafran troops on their successfull exploits.

“On the whole, l had in private, told Col Ojukwu that l could never be made to stand charged for having plotted against his office and his person. There was no plot against him.”

The highest authorities of the Biafran government did not believe Banjo's story. The officers hearing the court martial of these four officers found them guilty of plotting to overthrow the government of Biafra which Ojukwu headed. They were sentenced to death. Banjo's last moment reels with poignancy. It was said that all four men walked to the site of their death with head high. Banjo, without his glasses, stood erect as he was tied to the poles. Their executors took position and opened fire on them. After the first round of fire, all three men were dead except Banjo. Defiant till the end, he let out a cry "I'm not dead yet... I'm not dead yet..." This time all executors directed their rifles at Banjo alone. After the second round of shots, Banjo is still screaming defiantly: "I'm not dead yet..." However the third rounds of shots silenced him.

Kunle Ojeleye in his book commented on how ill prepared the Biafran army were and that Banjo and the three others were killed because they dared to request better equipping for the soldiers. Hear him:

“Indeed, it was at the behest of this feeling that four Biafran military officers wrote a memorandum to the Biafran administration requesting for a review of the war effort. among others, their memorandum requested: that Biafra should have its own currency; there should be an immediate re-organisation and appropriate equipping of the Biafran army; the admittance of civilians into the Biafran decision making body and the decentralisation of the Biafran government; the mortgaging of Biafran oil in exchange for urgently needed military aid and equipment; and in the absence of all the preceding four requirements, immediate negotiation with the federal forces for a peaceful settlement of the crisis.

This action jolted Gowon from his sleep but incensed Ojukwu. Ojukwu recalled Banjo to Enugu and placed on house arrest. Ogunsheye reports that Banjo was so popular with the troops in Benin that Ojukwu had to trick him back to Enugu. Subsequently the invasion of the mid West began to suffer disorder and Ojukwu was forced to return Banjo to command the Benin front.

On the side of the West, there was mixed reaction in the minds of Yoruba people when news of the Biafran take over of the mid West reached them. On one hand, they saw the Biafran brigade led by a Yoruba, as a liberation army and they looked forward to their coming. But as news of the atrocities being wroughted out on the non Igbo's of the mid West by the Biafran army reached the West, the Yoruba's became less convinced that the Igbo were really coming to liberate them from the shackles of their colonizers - the Hausas. Banjo himself was reluctant to invade the Ibadan and Lagos without having at least 50% grass root support. Banjo’s sister wrote of her he called her requesting to know the feeling in town. Fact is that the Yoruba elders of that time were not decided and Awolowo as number two man to Gowon made matters more difficult. Soyinka wrote of how he drove around Ibadan, trying to convince Obasanjo to permit Banjo a smooth sail through Ibadan into Lagos. Obasanjo, the head of the military in Ibadan, would have none of it. Banjo could have rolled into Ibadan successfully but he would not invade Ibadan without the cooperation of his people. His sister reminded him of Afonja and the Ilorin emirate and he said he remembered. He would eventually be felled as another Afonja of the 20th century.

Banjo had also reached an agreement with Ojukwu to take over the government of Gowon and allow the Easterners to go their way, with a possible secession of the North too. But Ojukwu had reneged on an agreement he had with Banjo not to sack the government of the mid West. The mid West was meant to be a passage through and not a destination. The two of them argued over this matter for days on the phone in Benin, giving the Nigerian government sufficient time to recover from the take over of the mid West. Muritala Mohammed was sent by Gowon to recover the mid West and invade Biafra itself. The Nigerian army successfully pushed their Biafran counterpart out of the mid West. This was the period the famous "Ogun ore olekun" occurred. The Biafran army blew up a part of the Niger bridge, therefore impeding the Nigerian army's surge into Onitsha.

Ojukwu welcomed his defeated army back to Enugu with open arms. He had mended fences with Banjo and had promised him greater task ahead. But in a few days, trumped up charges of a coup were levied against Banjo. Banjo had made Ifeanyi Ifeajuna his chief of staff. Ifeajuna had acted as a go between with Banjo and Ojukwu at Benin. However the charges of plotting to overthrow the government of Biafra was levied against Brigadier Victor Banjo, Lt. Col. Emmanuel Ifeajuna, Major Philip Alale and Mr. Samuel Agbam. At their court martial, it was Brigadier Victor Banjo that stood as counsel for himself and the three others. His words, as recorded by Alexander Madiebo in his book, are these:

"My name is Brigadier Victor Banjo. I command the liberation army in Mid-West. Before then, l commanded all the operations in the Northern front.

“I know all the other three accused persons fairly well. The second accused, Philip Alale, l met for the first time on July 9, 1967 when there was a collapse of the Nsukka front among our troops. Neither himself nor myself was then an officer in the Biafran Army.

"We went to Nsukka together with Brigadier Philip Effiong to assist to watch Philip talk to the troops with vehemence and sincerity. That, to a great extent, helped to rekindle their sagging morale.

“His Excellency, Col. Ojukwu, was as well at Nsukka that night. I later found out from the Governor that Philip Alale has been his close friend and that the man was primarily instrumental in organising the support of the masses for the declaration of the Republic of Biafra.

“I know that Major Alale has been involved in settling some conflicts in the trade union movements, which might well account for the extraordinary hostility of one of the witnesses for the prosecution. I remember, in fact, that when l was about to return to the Western Command, His Excellency refused to allow Major Alale accompany me because he needed Major Alale for the task of preparing a political programme for the Republic of Biafra. It would be impossible to conceive of Major Alale being tried by this tribunal for the offence in this charge.

"I know Lieutenant Colonel Emmanuel Ifeajuna very well. He had been my colleague in the old Nigerian Army, although a junior colleague. I know about his involvement in the coup of January 1966. He was responsible for the deaths of a few people. He was with me in prison for quite some time.

“I have had opportunity of discussing the details of that coup with him. I know he regrets the bloodshed that took place on that occasion in fact, his aversion to bloodshed is in the nature of an obsession, which to a certain extent, militates against his efficiency as a commander of troops in the battlefront.

“These considerations were primary in my mind when he was offered to me as a commanding officer for the Western operations. Instead, l chose to make him my Chief of Staff. As Chief of Staff, he discharged himself with such confidence that constituted in no small measure to the success of that operation.

“Lt-Col. Ifeajuna joined the group of young men who have been in the habit of giving advice to His Excellency on State matters. During my short disagreement with his Excellency on the MidWest political policy, he was himself personally instrumental in bringing to His Excellency, my point of view on the Mid-West operation. I am aware that he subsequently became a frequent member of this group.

“My stay in Biafra, after having been released from prison, has been due to my friendship with Col. Ojukwu. I clearly remember once telling him that l would return to the West. He told me that he needed me here because he felt he needed someone who could ta to hi without ceremony; someone in a position to give blame t him for his mistakes. Most of the political manoeuvres that Col. Ojukwu planned early this year in connection with achieving Southern solidarity against the North, were planned with me.

by Deji Yesufu

Victor Banjo was executed by firing squad by the regime of Col. Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, on trumped up charges of planning a coup against the government of Biafra, on September 22nd, 1967. I met Victor Banjo in 2008.

I had taken up a job as an A-level teacher of Physics in March 2008 at the Educational Advancement Center, Bodija, Ibadan. Among the children I taught in the set that wrote the May/June examinations of that year, was the grand child of Victor Banjo. His aunt, Prof. Mrs. Olayinka Omigbodun, had just published the book "Gift of Sequin: Letters to My Wife", which she wrote in her father's name. The book was a compilation of letters which her father, Victor Banjo, had written to their mother, while he was in prison. The young man, Banjo's grandchild, gave the book to the literature teacher in the school I was teaching in and I just happened to lay my hands on it. Through its pages, I met Brigadier Victor Banjo.

Victor Banjo was among officers arrested by the government of Aguiyi Ironsi after the coup of January 15th 1966, that led to the deaths of the then Prime Minister, Tafawa Balewa, Sardauna of Sokoto, Ahmadu Bello, the then Finance Minister, Sir Okotie Eboh, and a number of civilians and military officers. Banjo denied he ever was knowledgeable of the coup and many of the coup plotters attested to the fact that he was not one of them. But Ironsi left him in the gulag and Yakubu Gowon, who succeeded Ironsi, refused to heed the numerous letters of appeal Banjo wrote him from prison to be released.

The book "Letters to My Wife" was Banjo's various directives to the wife on keeping the family front in his absence. The brilliance of this Electrical Engineering trained senior military officer showed even in his private letters to his wife. He left directives on how money could be sourced to take care of the children, he planned when exactly the wife was to flee Nigeria in case war broke out (and she and the children did eventually), he instructed his wife that whenever peace returned he wanted his kids raised Nigerians (the wife was Serra Leone and she fled there afterwards), and many other such instructions. He didn’t leave out words of endearment either. Strangely enough, he told the wife that if anything was ever to happen to him, he would let her know about it. In the letters, Banjo refuted the claims that he was part of the January 1966 coup plotters. In a sense, the book was written to clear his name of that list and I believe it has succeeded in doing that.

Banjo was imprisoned in Ikot Epene in Eastern Nigeria. So when the whole brouhaha began between Ojukwu and Gowon over the secession question began, Ojukwu released all officers that planned the coup and had been imprisoned in the East. They all joined the Biafran rank - including Banjo. Banjo, as a Yoruba, was at first reluctant to work with Ojukwu. But Ojukwu urged him to join his government. At that time, the Nigerian crisis was mainly between the Ibos and the Hausas. The Ibos had accused the Hausas of carrying out genocide on their people in Northern Nigeria. The Hausas claimed the 1966 coup was an Igbo coup targeted at killing their Sardauna and other key Hausa leaders. The country was boiling. Killings were being carried out every day in every part of the country. The Ibos felt vulnerable and were returning in droves to the East. Ojukwu was playing with the idea of Secession. Banjo advised he delayed announcing it. Ojukwu announced the secession of the nation of Biafra on the 31st May, 1967. Civil War had broken forth in Nigeria.

The mid West, now Delta and Edo State, at first took a middle position as far as the crisis was concerned. Ojukwu sent Victor Banjo and an army of soldiers to take over the mid West. The mid West fell to Biafran soldiers in August 1967. It was a major military tactical move that many have credited to the intelligence of Banjo. Not a bullet was shot to take over Benin and it environs. But on getting to Benin, things fell apart between Banjo and Ojukwu. The plan had been that 24 hours after taking Benin, the Biafran soldiers were to be enroute to Lagos and Ibadan to take over those cities. Another account by Victor Banjo elder sister, Prof. Ogunsheye, in her book “A Break in Silence “, she said that Banjo invaded the mid West at his own initiative, leading a liberation army. The neatness of the invasion and take over took everyone by surprise. But Banjo may have made the mistake of announcing his presence in Benin by making a broadcast to the Western people, asking them to prepare to receive the liberation army.

luvinhubby:
Fashola is a smart thief.

Unfortunately, the smart rogue was outsmarted. Fashole

hodusglobal:
Nothing like K-leg, Osinbajo is a son to Baba Iyabo (OBJ) also a candidate of Ojuyobo (BAT)...With these two men, NO SHAKING!

With the Tinubu you mentioned you are even complicating matters for Osinbajo. If Osinbajo emerges, write it down he will go down in history as one of the worst Presidents in the history of Nigeria. Why? He will be teleguided throughout his remaining 2 years.

Osinbajo of course but e go get k leg afterwards!

chisco82:
Where are those people that trekked from Lagos to Abuja for President Buhari when APC won 2015 presidential election? .....we need them to trek to London to confirm something for us.
In Nigeria of today, things are hard o.. And we need to know the condition of our President.

This is not suppose to be a joke please.. Let no one tell me to move this to joke section.
*SHALOM*

OAM4J, Mynd44

My brother don't even bother with those mumus why not concentrate on those funny "Sai Buhari Chanters" who have since gone mute in serious shock and shame at the embarrassment their god, Buhari, is dishing out to their shameful faces. You know those I am referring to bro.

As much as I have always resisted and detested the politics of bitterness being played amidst the Yorubas I must doff my hat for these ones on this belated move at such a time a like this. A template that will pacify every aggressors in this contraption called Nigeria must be brazenly addressed. Restructuring that these unfortunate "Northerners" have been resisting for years will continue to haunt them till Nigeria is laid to rest. Imagine a so called Country concentrating her means of defence in the Northern part of the Country is that not bewitchment?.

We cannot go on like this, thank God for an Nnsmdi Kanu that decided to dare any maga in the face to champion a cause. Thank God for Governor Ayodele Fayose who will always look into the eyes of any maga up North (even their demigods) and tell them the bitter truth not minding whatever they felt about him. Thank God for our own Femi Fani Kayode who will not just keep quiet in the face of gross injustice from the rulers to the ruled. He revealed and still revealing the dark pages of our history to those who can afford to spare their time to read and be delivered.

It is very clear that with the way things are going, Nigeria is about to be polarised either through referendum, restructuring or unending crises should the North try to be funny. This moment is tense and it is better for Mr Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo to seek for divine wisdom from God on how to go and should stop his emotion-laden speeches of " Nigeria Must Be United" or snapping pictures with Buhari's son. He was elected for a purpose at such a time like this. May God teach us all how to make our coexistence tread the path of peace and honour as we are about to chart a new course far from the status quo. I have spoken!

This man (Oyegun) reminds me of the famous Yoruba ace Comedian, Moses Olaiya a.k.a Baba sala.......a real comedian. All of a sudden the word "Restructuring" now haunts these satanic APC goons. I dey laff

God bless Omoyele Sowore for remaining undaunted against the face of empty threat from Sarathief

Short man devil ranting like he owns Nigeria. Unfortunate bigot blabbing meaning the same well thought out decisions arrived at the 2014 National Conference having Nigeria's finest brains in attendance including his celebrated friend, Pastor Tunde Bakare is now fit for the thrash bin? This short man devil belongs to the gutter. He has no working conscience.

repogirl:
lol, that's the idea.

The what

repogirl:
It's still too early in the day for you to be drunk on stupidity. Rambling stupidly from your ASS as usual.

Hey beautiful one, quickly do something about your "old like" on your profile page....that digit is scary I repeat, that digit is scary do something now just one free like will cure it

priceaction:
This is what happened to cassava. Exporting to China, and remaining one here, are being enncoraged by the local industries like bakery, biscuit factories and the like to use it as their local production, then demand sky rocketed now especially for garri and amala eaters.
I wonder why federal government cannot invest massively thru mechanized famings to each senatorial district of the federation. At least there is a unique plant or crops both long term and short terms that will geminate massively and be useful both local and international, then we can talk of exporting.

You are a reasonable soul with a good working brain bro.