₦airaland Forum

Elusive001:
What was the benefit people like Odili, Amaechi, Ogbonnaya Onu, Uzor Kalu, Rochester, Nigeria, etc get? Tell me. You think that it is about politics? It's like saying that Israel needs to change her politics in order to be accepted by her Muslim-Arab neighbours.

What was the reaction of the other tribes afterIBB wrote that 1966 coup was not an Igbo coup.

Nwata na-amaghi ihe gburu nna ya, ihe gburu nna ya eguo ya.

You're very wrong in this submission. Even Israel play this politics that Pazienza is talking about here. You're unfortunately not following through with your thoughts. If you were, you'll understand him.
I know you're talking about voting the right candidate and all what not. It is the right thing to do IF majority of Nigerians actually want the right thing for Nigeria. Unfortunately, majority don't care about Nigeria hence they vote in criminals. His point is that Ndigbo must not care about Nigeria anymore but about the interest of our people. We should support a thief as long as the thief will negotiate and reciprocate our votes. If you're smart, you'll get the message.
Here's something to ponder about. The species of animals that will continue to survive are those that a capable of adapting to situations. Strength, morality, hardworking etc becomes of less importance to survive if they can't adapt to the situation confronting them.
I hope you get it now.

Will Benue (Tiv specifically) people learn? I very much doubt it.

The price of keeping Nigeria one by all means. Support it and wait for you own time. It will surely come if you're not fulani.

aswani:
Okpella and Estako West people claiming Ndigbo ancestry loading. Make una sha nor take di cement factory wit you bikonu.

Naah, that part of Edo state has no Igbo community among them. However, there are traces of Igbo influence there. Below are the few influences I could gather.
1. The masquerades at Agenebode surely has connections with masquerades from Igboland. The resemblance is too much to be a coincidence.
2. In the whole of the Edo area, only at Uzebba was the popular Igbo Oja was found by Europeans who visited there over 100years ago. The anthropologist even recorded tune of the oja at Uzebba with a device of those days. You can still listen to the sound today online.
The point is that people migrated back in the days to anywhere they found safe. Many non Igbos travelled and settled in different Igbo communities just as many Igbos migrated and settled among many other ethnic groups especially the Awka blacksmiths who settled even among Esans and Igalas.
Igbos only consider a community as part of the larger Igbo nation if they still speak Igbo, practice the Igbo traditions and culture and bear Igbo names. This shows they're proud of their identity.
If they lose these things, they are as good as lost.

Everywhere is silent. They can't talk anymore. What Mazi Nnamdi Kanu said 10years is unfolding before their eyes but the hatred they have for him in their hearts is too much that nothing else matters. Whatever is the case, we move.
Nnamdi Kanu was right.
Nnamdi Kanu is right.

Where's helinues? We need his comment on this issue.

motymop:
In some countries, the US ambassador can not meet with any social organizations or else they will be tried for treason

It is weird that the US ambassador is meeting with the cattle rarer group publicly.

It is either we are a colony of the United States or our security system do not care about foreign interference because they are incompetent

Nigeria is a colony of US, Britain and France. They can whatever they feel like in Nigeria without the approval of your president.

simpleseyi:
Bring it on oooo. It’s a good opportunity for Nigerian Army to reduce your population significantly

This is the mindset of an average Yoruba person when it has to be against any other group in the South. They're so eager to mention 'population reduction' of their perceived enemies. One will think they're on a population competition with others. See how many likes he got from such maniacal post.
It's well known the reason why most Yorubas are supporting Wike is certainly not for the good of Rivers State. It simply because they want to use Wike and control the state so Tinubu can again be rigged to win in the state plus other benefits that will accrue to them through such control. This is very very wicked and greedy.
Rivers people, know your enemies.

Gajagojo:
Shut up and naff off

Semi literate almajiri feeling funky. Away you scallywag.

Gajagojo:
Iboes do not score more
They have higher cut off marks because they seek to have more slots than their quota which is greed

The Iboes have Higher demand not higher scores

In the same year if the SE was given 2 more states the cut off off would be lower
If the SE was reduced to 3 states the cut offf would be higher . It does not mean they scored lower or higher

It is just demand and supply


That is too complex for an OMATA brain

I actually quoted you the first time. You used the words 'score higher' in that post. It's clear you're just blabbing and have nothing sensible to say.
You couldn't answer the simple question I asked you. Let me repeat the question again. Why are some states in the core north requiring only 2 marks (1%) to get admission into the unity schools?

May his gentle soul rest in the bosom of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen
May his abductors and killers get a proportionate reward for what they've done. The Church of God will continue to march on and the gates of hell will never prevail.

Gajagojo:
Listen I have zero patience for idiotic talk and have no qualms about being banned

Where and when did I talk about Obi?


If you do not know what is involved then keep quiet

Unity schools were set up on day one as a quota system enterprise
No state is entitled to more than its quota

To come out now saying we are scoring more and they are cheating us is dishonest and greedy



If we do not want unity schools we can scrap them

They were never set up as a centre for the best and brightest

That is not the purpose
They were supposed to have quota for disabled people and also for those children whose parents served abroad in Embassies or other government business

Why then bring up this lie and nonsense about Iboes scoring more? Was it ever a competitive thing

The reason Iboes score more I repeat is their greed
They saw that the Federal government spent money on these schools and had more demand per capita than their quota.
Are their no secondary schools in their states why must they be so desperate to dominate schools that were set up FOR UNITY

Since the reason 'Iboes' score more in the school entrance exams is due to their greed, what is your reason for the core northern states scoring very low and requiring as low as just 2 or 4 marks to gain admission into secondary schools?

ResidentSnitch:
So after warning Ojukwu against the war, what later happened? Ojukwu now went ahead and declared war against Nigeria?
Some of you need to go for exorcism.

Can you show any proof whether in print or video where Ojukwu declared war on Nigeria? If you can't, ensure to apologize on this thread for lying against him.

lawani:
How Chief Awolowo did not betray Biafra.

Earlier today, I was involved in an online discussion where an Igbo commentator insisted that Chief Obafemi Awolowo betrayed Biafra by agreeing to join General Gowon’s government after assuring the Biafrans before leaving Calabar that the west would secede if the East secedes.
I explained that inside General Gowon’s government, Chief Awolowo was working for Biafra by insisting that all Northern troops be evacuated from the west. They left and stationed themselves at Ilorin. Colonel David Ejoor of the Midwest was also working for Biafra by insisting that the Midwest will not allow an attack on Biafra from her territory. The FG did not try to counter the position.
The path by which the west and the Midwest would secede was not necessary to be known to Biafra. Chief Awolowo had said if the matter can not be resolved, the west would also secede and that was enough. Him joining the Gowon government does not reduce anything from his position.
Then the Biafrans invaded the west and the Midwest with their Liberation army led by Colonel Victor Banjo, a Yoruba that Colonel Ojukwu released from prison in the East. Colonel Ojukwu wrote in a letter to Colonel Banjo that he would choose the governor of Lagos.
Chief Awolowo did not bargain with Colonel Ojukwu that the Yoruba will embrace a Biafran invasion with open arms when even civilians in the Midwest attacked the Biafran soldiers and killed many. The Yoruba can not move from British overlordship to Igbo overlordship. That was the issue. They therefore entered the civil war to defend their land and it ended as it did.
The war, meaning the Nigerian civil war, however painted, was originally a war between the East and the North and Lagos just happened to be the federal capital.
If the East had respected the territorial integrity of the Midwest and the West, then their only challenges would have remained attacks from the Northern direction and insurrection by Eastern minorities at home. The end result may have been Biafra, meaning total breakup or a renegotiation of Nigeria.
Chief Awolowo and Colonel David Ejoor did their best for Biafra and it is definitely wrong to continue labeling Chief Awolowo as a betrayer. There was nothing wrong in Chief Awolowo joining General Gowon’s government because if he did not join hands with them, how would it have been easy for him to get the Northern troops out of the west as easily as he did?. He had his own strategy and battles are won with strategy. He did not betray Biafra. .
On the issue of twenty pounds given to all Biafran bank account holders after the war. There was a need to solve the problem of people having deposits in Biafran currency. Chief Awolowo solved it by closing all the accounts and giving every account holder twenty pounds each including those who had only ten shillings in their accounts. The total sum given out probably surpassed the total sum the Igbos had in the banks initially. Twenty pounds was a lot of money in 1970.
On the issue of the blockade, we must also remember that the war may have been going on till today if not for the blockade. A short brutal war is better than a long war. There is no right way in war and there are no rules. May God not position our nourishment in the hands of our enemies. May the souls of the dead rest in peace.
Any further questions?.

The Nigerian 3rd Marine Commando led by Benjamin Adekunle with many Yoruba soldiers attacked Bonny on 25th/26th July, 1967. Biafran soldiers only got to Ore on the 17th August of 1967. That's three weeks after Yorubas have shown their allegiance to the north and committed to fighting Biafra. Mind you, a Yoruba naval officer also led the naval attack of Bonny same time.

Awolowo was released from Calabar prison in August 1966. 10months later after witnessing the pogrom against Ndigbo mostly in the North including some instances in the West decided to join Gowon’s government in June 1967 shortly after Ojukwu declared Biafra on May 30th of the same year.
He was credited to have said "All is fair in war and starvation is one of the weapons of war. I don't see why we should feed our enemies fat, only to fight us harder."
I guess Awo's statement has spoken much about his view of Igbos. He was fighting a war of unity with his enemies. He's no different from Gowon who declared "no victor, no vanquished" but refused to rehabilitate and reconstruct the East after the war. Gowon even arrested some of the Biafran soldiers and put them in jail after the war had ended. You can verify this by listening to Ben Gbulie when Chinedu Asuzu had an interactive session with him.

What goes around surely comes around. The millions of innocent lives starved to death by these men and the Nigerian contraption will continue to call out for vengeance.

ChiefJusticeFuc:
If the manuscript stated that Awo was behind the coup , do you think Achebe will hesitate to publish it?

I believe the real reason it was suppressed was to save Zik who had condemned Biafra and switched sides to the Nigerian side following the chasing out of Biafran forces from both the Midwest and the minority coastal provinces of the defunct eastern region

The reason those on the Nigerian side would have not wanted to the manuscript published was most probably because of Zik and Gowon's reintegration policy.

Achebe refusing to publish it is because of the above and more condemnation of ojukwu and the Biafran declaration by ifeanjuna .

After all, ifeanjuna was quoted on saying that "Biafra was never the plan" with regards to Ojukwu declaring Biafra.

Same Ifeanjuna and Nzeagwu were once stripped of any command position by Ojukwu and even issued a General Order to all officers and men of the Biafran army not to accord both men any salute or be seeing mingling with them .


Lastly , it's very suspect why the career propagandists and Biafra apologist in the form of Achebe won't have seized on any information in the manuscript that indicted Awolowo as the brains behind the coup. Rather , Achebe refused to do the needful because it's most likely that the manuscript inducted the likes of Zik and other Eastern Nigerian Ibo politicians as the ones behind the coup.

First of all, no one involved ever claimed Awolowo was the brain behind the coup. It wasn't reported to have been in the manuscript either. What was and is still being said is that they all agreed to hand the government of Nigeria to him after the coup have succeeded. If it had implicated him as the brain behind the coup, would he have considered using it for campaign in 1979 elections? Commonsense is rare when hate dominates the mind.
Nzeogwu, Ifeajuna and a couple of others disagreed with Ojukwu on Biafra because they didn't anticipate things to go the way it went. Remember, Ojukwu knew about the coup just like everyone else did and ensured to prevent it from succeeding in Kano where he was in charge. The pogrom that began in the North including the northern officers coup of July 1966 and the inability of Gowon to stop the further killings of easterners in both northern and western Nigeria forced Ojukwu as the Governor of the Eastern Region to provide leadership and protect his people the best way he could.
He wanted things to be well defined and pursued it to the later. His key questions were these.
1. Is Ironsi still alive? If he was, then they needed to see him and iron things out as it should be.
2. If he wasn't, then the next in line who was Brigadier Babafemi Ogundipe should take over. This is if the coup plotters were genuine in saying it was a Nigerian coup and not the north trying to dominate Nigeria. If Ogundipe was given the position and he stopped the massacre of Eastern civilians, Ojukwu would have fallen in line and let him lead.
3. After seeing and confirming it was purely a northern coup and Yoruba officers weren't part of it, only the East was the last line of defense. Remember that some Yoruba soldiers also ran to the East for safety. Ojukwu then believed he had a duty to stand up for the South which he did.
4. Recall that the possibility of Nigeria dividing at that time was very high with the north screaming 'Araba'. This also could have encouraged Ojukwu to stand his ground believing that the north will declare the disintegration and he would provide guidance alongside other Yorubas for both the East, West and Midwest to stand as separate countries. Awolowo was also in the East at the time.
5. Things took a dramatic turn when Gowon and the north changed direction and didn't go for 'Araba'. This was when Ojukwu now insisted on number 2 above. When it was clear that that won't happen either, he asked for a return to regional government that culminated in the Aburi Accord.
After Aburi agreement, Ojukwu felt at least, he had gotten something from which the East and other parts can use to look out for themselves against the north.
6. It was very disheartening when Gowon reneged on that accord and went on to act unilaterally especially as it concerned the creation of states and balkanizing the East. Ojukwu unprepared for war but felt he had to act because he couldn't trust Gowon anymore had to declare Biafra.
Under Nigeria, Ojukwu couldn't defend Igbos and other Easterners from being slaughtered but under Biafra, he could do that and he tried his best.

Ojukwu was faced with just two options. Capitulate to the northern army masquering as Nigerian army or stand and fight for his people believing Yorubas also needed help and won't join the north. This was the reason he visited Awolowo frequently and discussed with him on the way forward. Although Awolowo never gave an express affirmation to not joining the north, his position was that the West will stand for itself which was characteristic of him. This was why Ojukwu told Awo the night before declaring Biafra that "Baba, a ti lo". Why will Ojukwu tell Awolowo a very critical information like that if he considered him an enemy or even a potential ally to an enemy? Shortly after the declaration of Biafra, Awolowo accepted to work with Gowon and thus Ojukwu and Biafra were to face an enemy they really never expected. It was later discovered that Awolowo and the West were coerced to join the North against the East otherwise, the West would have suffered lost of land and coast as the North would have claimed a one mile corridor from Offa to Apapa Wharf for their own usage.

As for why Ojukwu never engaged Nzeogwu and Ifeajuna to led Biafran divisions, it is crystal clear. He never wanted to associate Biafra with those who executed the coup. They could join in the fighting but won't be a face of the resistance for obvious reasons.

Looking back, one can't still tell if Ojukwu's decision to stand up for the East was wrong. Here are my reasons.
1. Gowon came into power in July 1966. He couldn't guarantee the safety of Easterners in the whole Nigeria for 10months... up to May 1967.
2. The first major decision he took was to divide the East and Igbos in particular in the pretext of creating states.
3. Before May 27th 1967, all the regions controlled majority of the resources they had. Gowon changed it on that day. He even created a new sharing formula to benefit the north more at the expense of the East.

Nothing showed the East and Easterners were to get any respite under Gowon. This remained the same even after the war as Gowon's three 'Rs' weren't seen on ground in the East. Money wasn't a problem as Gowon himself was credited to saying "The problem isn't money but exactly what to do with it". He eventually was kicked out of power by Murtala 1975.

4. Had Ojukwu accepted the offer of the Soviet Government, the situation would have been worst in my opinion as bigger guns would have been brought with more destruction and death on both sides. The suffering would have been terrible and might have lasted longer.

Conclusively, Ojukwu's inability/refusal to surrender the East for Gowon and his northern hordes to do as they please was what led to the Biafran war. Southern Nigeria lost and gained through the Biafran war at the expense of Ndigbo.
The north now knows that there are people that can dare and face them no matter the odds. If Ojukwu had surrendered without a fight, they won't have thought of needing the Yorubas. The whole Southern Nigeria would have been written off as truly a conquered area. The only reason why Yorubas were placated after MKO was denied his mandate was because of Biafra. They knew the consequence of fighting on two fronts.
Let me stop here.

ChiefJusticeFuc:
No matter how unpalatable that manuscript is, the fact that Achebe in his ever quest to demean Nigeria saw it as being too toxic to publish shows there was a lot of deep bitter truths in it.


For whatever it's worth, that manuscript needs to be published so that we can all judge who the man ifeanjuna is and why he did what he did.

I've known you to be full of hate and rarely given to objectivity. Thus, I won't dwell much on this with you. I'll just respond a little for others with a clear mind to get the message better.

I did list most of those who got a copy of the manuscript. Achebe was just one of them. Why dwell only on Achebe? HATE is your reason.
Longmann publishers in Lagos and UK REFUSED to publish it. Daily Times of Nigeria did not publish it even when their staff Peter Enahoro had the original handwritten manuscript with him. He was instructed by most likely, his boss at Daily Times to burn it which he did.
Awolowo got it and almost published it but on a second thought decided not to. You didn't see this one but only focused on Achebe.
Odia Ofeimun has a copy and is still alive. He hasn't published it and it doesn't look like he will.
Olusegun Obasanjo has a copy and hasn't published it either. Is he in cahoots with Achebe on hiding its content? OBJ is still alive.
IBB and other subsequent Heads of state and presidents who cared had access to a copy of the manuscript. Non of them have thought it wise to publish it yet only Achebe is the one you're fixated on. The book Achebe wrote by himself which revealed what he saw, knew and witnessed you still have refused to believe. What then shows you'll believe the manuscript if he had published it?
The truth will eventually set the innocent free whether haters and envious people like it or not.

Counterigbolies:
u are even a yeegbobastard

I can insult you to the highest limits but that will be a waste of my precious time. Your fate has been sealed already because you allowed hate to guide you instead of the truth.
No rest in peace for your in advance.

Counterigbolies:
hmmmm

N that's u for sure

I will intentionally follow u for updates when u will stop coming online

Nothing more to add. Let the truth surrounding your claims be the judge of who dies. Enough said.
The clock has began ticking.

Counterigbolies:
go n read about dukeprince n how he wished me dead, the bastard is rottening in d hottest part of hell right now

I believe u know your fate by next month

It's a deal. Between you and I, no one can back away from it. One person must die next month.

Softmirror:
Another excuse. You blew a great opportunity.

Whatever your jaundiced opinions are, as long as it is hinged on wickedness, hatred and envy, it will catch up with you. Truth will ensure Nigeria never moves forward until it is addressed.

Counterigbolies:
reprisal happened because the Igbos were mocking the northerners

The ibb that is now your hero made it clear n an Igbo artist even sang a song titled "goat is crying" to mock d northerners

If Celestine Ukwu or any Igbo man did not sing any song to mock the northerners, may you die next month. May the death be violent because you're lying against an innocent man whose soul is suppose to be resting in peace.

Softmirror:
Not long ago, the Arewa gave an ultimatum that Igbos should leave the North. That was during the height of Nnamdi Kanu's inciteful speeches about Biafra when Buhari was President but what happened?!

I see your claim as a lame excuse because Igbos participated very well in the last election in trying to see that Peter Obi becomes Nigeria's president. So?

Leaving the North, Lagos or SW is not the same thing as leaving Nigeria. We want to leave Nigeria. Support our move to leave Nigeria for you people.

DrMB:
Medical sources involved in her care have confirmed that Folorunso Alakija, a Nigerian
billionaire, has lost her eyesight completely.
The 73-year-old founder and Executive Vice Chairman of Famfa Oil began experiencing
health issues after a near air mishap.
Sources revealed that she was travelling with her husband, Modupe Alakija, Chairman of
Famfa Oil, when the incident caused a spike in her blood pressure and affected her vision.

The source said, "She had a near air mishap with her husband on board and her blood
pressure reportedly shot up affecting her eyes. She has been having eyesight issues, but
instead of treating the illness, she chose to start a church to help her. Now she can't see.
Despite purchasing a new jet to avoid flying with her husband, her vision continued to
worsen until she eventually became completely blind.
https://saharareporters.com/2025/02/26/exclusive-nigerian-billionaire-folorunso-alakija-former-protege-babangida-loses-sight

DR MELCHISEDEC BANKOLE

Christianity has suffered. However, God can never be mocked.

ALTERNATEID:
He should publish the manuscript for all of us to read.

That manuscript will rarely ever be printed. This is because Nigeria has a history of hiding things they fear instead of bringing it out in the open for all to see, discuss and decide on. I've researched a lot to know about that manuscript and will say that though I'm yet to get a copy of it, I've been able to get some of its content through the reports of those who have copies of it with them. I'll list the names of those who I know have/had a copy and yet none of them have published it including the federal government of Nigeria under Yakubu Gowon. They all have their reasons for not publishing because it didn't fit the narrative they needed to prosecute what they wanted at the time. Obafemi Awolowo almost published it in the 1979 when he thought the contents of the manuscript will help him until it was realized that like a double edged sword, it could also destroy his chances.
Below are the names of those who had a copy of the manuscript.
J.P Clark ---- he sent it to Longmann for publication but they refused to do so citing that its content was incendiary. It was reported that he gave it to a brother in-law to give to Ifeajuna's wife known as Rose. What happened to the original handwritten manuscript thereafter wasn't known to him.

Christopher Okigbo---- a friend to both Ifeajuna and J.P Clark.

Chinua Achebe---- a friend and co-worker to
Okigbo who didn't believe the contents of the manuscript because he felt Ifeajuna painted himself as a hero.

Longmann publishers both in Nigeria(Lagos) and UK---- they gave it to the Nigerian High Commissioner in London to return to the Nigerian government under Gowon.

Brigadier Babafemi Ogundipe--- he forwarded it to Gowon's government in Lagos.

Obafemi Awolowo---- had access to it after accepting Gowon's ministerial appointment.

Peter Enahoro---- (not to be confused with
Anthony Enahoro who was his older brother). He got the original handwritten manuscript probably from government sources in Lagos and was instructed to burn it exactly on the 29th July 1966 when the northern coup plotters struck and killed Ironsi among other eastern military men. He was a popular journalist fondly called 'Peter Pan'.

Olusegun Obasanjo---- had access probably when he became head of state after the murder of Murtala Mohammed. Peter Enahoro believes that OBJ's copy from which he used in his work known as 'Nzeogwu' was a revised version and not the original he had read completely as he disagreed with certain claims from OBJ's quotes.

All subsequent Head of States---- probably through the same way as Obasanjo.

Odia Ofeimun---- got it from Obafemi Awolowo when he was his personal secretary.

These are the persons that I believe had access to it. Although, it appears that there might be two different manuscripts- the first being the one he wrote in Ghana and handed to J.P Clark as they flew back to Lagos shortly before he was arrested by Ironsi and another he wrote while he was in Biafra which might have been revised to polish it into something more presentable/soothing. Whichever it is, it was reported that Nzeogwu referred to it as lies chiefly because Ironsi was marked out to be killed which he listed out in his radio broadcast in Kaduna.
After all I've read, I have my conclusions about the content of the manuscript. Most people who have reviewed it have noted that it didn't really differ from the reports of other participants in the coup who wrote books. The person they wanted to handover power to was Awolowo.

Putindbutt:
Address IBB, to hell with you..

https://www.nairaland.com/8349423/babangida-northerner-soldiers-called-cowards

Thunder fire you there. If you don't have respect, don't ever mention me.

Putindbutt:
Why are ibos running away from this thread?. IBB is not done talking.

https://www.nairaland.com/8349423/babangida-northerner-soldiers-called-cowards

When you learn how to address me with respect, then I can dignify you with a discussion. For now, scram off.

Don't bother yourself Op. Bird wey say rope nor go rest, him sef nor go rest. Building is the difficult part but destruction is a much easier one.
Equity and peace is far cheaper than partiality and persecution. He who has an ear should learn today.

Yakubu Gowon will never write a book because he can't face the truth that will be expected of him in such memoir. This is why if I can certain of anyone going to hell, that person is certainly Yakubu Gowon. If you can't face the truth even as death draw closer to you, you shouldn't expect to make heaven.

Putindbutt:
Ipob cannibals, ijaws will vote for the President. You will cry fire in 2027.

https://www.nairaland.com/8329885/iyc-tompolo-lauds-tinubu-signing

Smelly yeriba cannibal. To hell with you.

You'll never hear anything from the terrorist Nigerian army on this killings of innocent villagers. What does it tell you? It shows they're complicit in the killings.