Permit me to state the case for why I think that the introduction of sharia, with all its attendant criticism, is indeed the Pandora’s box that will ultimately unleash the canon balls of the rebirth of the Biafra State.
As usual, Obasanjo’s ineptitude as a leader, coupled with his deep seated resentment of Igbos, forestalled any attempt to reign in these northern religious zealots, camouflaging as political leaders.

The proponents of sharia have always stated that, if one doesn’t like it, they should stay away from its boundaries of enforcement. I certainly agree with them, and ironically, that is also part of the fueling argument for the creation of a Biafra state. Sharia is no where enshrined in the laws governing the federal republic of Nigeria, but rather an affirmation of the religious aspirations ala “ideal way of life” that its cohorts are unwilling to compromise. Obasanjo’s failure to clamp down on this brazen assault on the Nigerian constitution, is in effect a tacit endorsement of the rights of groups to seek and adopt religious freedom, freedom of association and autonomy.

By the same token, Biafran nationalism is the culmination of the systemic frustration and neglect with which the Igbos have had to endure. Hence, we seek the cherished ideals of human sanctity and self determination, that only a Biafran state can provide. Any compromise would be seen as capitulation and cowardice.
To dismiss this hell- bent political and systemic castrations as mere mishaps, is the equivalent of believing that if the country’s oil wells were located in the north, that the only refinery would be situated in the south, with the full blessings of the northerners.
Furthermore, if the Biafran states were arid, barren and without a drop of oil in its bowels, we would be besieged by taunting provocations to go away. Which begs the question to be asked: would the Igbos be clamouring for an independent nation if it had no oil deposits?

I have bounced this question around to quite a few Igbos, and the overwhelming, resounding, unequivocal and emphatic response is yes, yes and YES !
Prompting my next question- why haven’t the so called Igbo “intellectual leaders” come to grips with this realization?

I have a few questions for you.

Welcome, it looks like you are going to like it here. You said
"Indeed I am at a loss of what an "Igbo intellectual leader" is. Perhaps, it can best be summed as one who swapped education at the expense of common sense and integrity and gumption."

Couldn't have said it better

YOU ARE A GODDAMNED SON OF.....'B' AND A SATANIC/BASTARDIZED PUNK. I say go to hell, go directly to hell and do not pass go and do not collect One hundred Naira.Biafra Nigeria civil war was a defense against genocide and Islamization of Nigeria. To suggest sharia in Biafra is indeed a double tragedy to what I fought for. How dare you suggest a bastardized religion with no room for humanity is good for the children of Isreal. I know the Mallams not dare make a move pass Benin. There will be war, sweat blood and tears. If they think Allah would be on their side let them think again. It is the Yorubas that will succumb to sharia for they are the weakest link in the south.There comes a time when the buck stops some where.The check point is the Yoruba land, any extra mile would be uncivilized and possibly catastrophic.

Hail Biafra

After reading your thread in its entirety, I came away with the feeling that (from your point of view) if not for the introduction and imposition of sharia in northern Nigeria which affected the Igbos, the Igbos has no reason to secede from Nigeria. Only now that the north's sharia has affected the Igbos, they can go ahead and declare Biafra Republic. As you may have realized, it didn't leave a good taste in my mouth. We didn't start agitating for Biafra because of sharia. MASSOB was born in May 1999...way before sharia introduction. All the Igbos and other Biafrans are cognizant of the reasons why we want Biafra Actualized ASAP. The blood of 3.5 million Biafrans spilled for the quest for freedom of Biafra is not, and will never be in vain.

Teddy I don't know the heck who u are but were u born yesterday or did u just wake up from a long coma?
Are u trying to tell me that u don't know what started the war?
Are telling us that the Igbos and their Eastern neighbors have not been suffereing in that damn bloody cursed nation called Nigeria?
Teddy if u want to be a slave please go ahead be a slave for the Hausa/Fulani masters.
Do u want to tell us that the 50,000 Easterners and thousands of Igbos, Biafrans who have been killed by the those bastard Nigerians shouldn't be a reason for us to beleive in Biafra?

For u to say that the reason why Ojukwu, Effiong, Madiebo, and other Easterners fought for Biafra was because of oil is mind boggling.

Teddy u are bang bang BANG out of order for u to come here spewing such lies.
Where is your proof that we fought against the genocidal Nigerians, British, Egyptians, Russians and other devils for oil.
My brother u should be smart enough to know that we are not that dumb.
Teddy, 50,000 Biafran civilians and 1500 Eastern soldiers were maliciously slaughtered by the Hausas, kanuris, Tivs, Idomas and other bastard ethnic groups.
Biafra was our only option and till today is our only option for survival.

Will u also say that the Southern Sudanese who are fighting for religious freedom , self detremiantion against the bastard bellicous muslims are fighting for oil.

The oil was discoverd just around the 90's but they have been fighting that battle for freedom before the oil was discovered.
It is a shmae that u will suggest to us to accept Sharia. To hell with sharia and it's not coming to the East at all. Not even in my wildest dreams will I accept sharia or Islam. That child molesting religion that only preaches of violence, retrogresiveness.
I assure u that no sharia will reach any land in the East, believe that.

If it is holy war, we will fight it with every single strength we have. Teddy the sharia that u want is in the North so u can go there and bow down to your muslim lords. The hausa muslims know us and will not dare come to our land to islamise anyone regardless of the ethnicity. Expect the headless torso of the gworo eating mallams in the streets 'cause we will viciously deal with every single one of them. They can do that in Yoruba land after all Oduas are known to be wimps and cowards who cannot defend thier own land where they are a majority that's why the hausas always have the upperhand in the west whenever they exchange blows with the yorubas. The fulanis are in control of Illorin, Ibadan and are forcing their servants theoduas to pay levies in Ketu and other parts of lagos.
But u will never see that in the East. The children of Isreal will never let the allah kubas islamise them or their neighbors.

The Igbos can survive without oil and u know that very well. Go any where in the world where the Igbos are staying and u'll see their progressiveness.

Are u saying that once u find oil in your backyard that u shouldn't fight for your freedom.?
Should the Ogonis, Ijaws, Ibibios, Ikwere (Igbos), kalabaris, and other Easterners not fight for their freedom becasue they have oil in their land?
U don't have any clue about what u are talking about.

The 3 million Biafrans that died during the war, died for our freedom and Biafra will be actualised no matter what.

Again, this was his response: I am at loss of what an Igbo intellectual leader is. Perhaps it can be best summed as one who swapped education at the expense of common sense and integrity and gumption .

Now, tell me, why is Teddy now the son of a b****? And what do you really make of common sense, to which evidently, you don't belong? Let me tell you, common sense is a useful tool for preserving and advancing the moral values society is founded upon, but to serve its purpose it must be anchored in those values.

In your own case, it is half education and mere common sense when Teddy was just saying the truth, and in that regard mere common sense is treachery.

"The proponents of sharia have always stated that, if one doesn’t like it, they should stay away from its boundaries of enforcement. I certainly agree with them, and ironically, that is also part of the fueling argument for the creation of a Biafra state."

What is it to read? when one writes "Why Sharia is good for Biafrans" as opposed to Is sharia good for the Igbos" He did not imply, insinuated or asked a question. He lectured us on why that satanic verses is good for Biafra.

Frankly, I don't have to read the whole goddamned garbage to be a smart allic. The headline tells us about the writer's thesis and his devil intent.

By the way Bature, have you read the Book Lady Biafra[Amanda] recommended?

Hail Biafra.

Hail Biafra

I think Teddy is been attacked here unnecessarily. I tend to agree with the crust of Teddy's article. keep the title aside and read the article you will understand what he is trying to say. Yes those who advocate sharia doesn't give a darm about one Nigeria they could careless about one Nigeria. As long as they are getting their allocations. They don't give a darm about your one Nigeria. That is why they did not consult Federal Government before implementing sharia. Contrast that with Gov Mbadinoju's action when he had to go to Abuja to seek permission from the Federal Government before allowing Igbos to use the Uli airport for Igbo day, and to Honor Biafran Soldiers.

Instead of us to seat here and attack Teddy I think we should read and understand what he is saying. Our anger here is missplaced more over by Brother waypoint1Biafra. We have many so Called Igbo intellectuals like his said parading around calling themselves detribalized Nigerian. You have many Igbos who think they are more Nigerians than Nigeria themselves. Do you think Awusa and shariaist give a darm about your brand of Nigeria. Awusa North is gradually becoming independent of Nigeria, and we are here saying that Sharia and Biafra is Not compatible. Brother waypoint I disagree, they are almost them same thing. The Awusa have declared a state religion in a non secular nation. That is like declaring a republic within a Republic. What Biafra is seeking is a complete republic out Of Nigeria. But Awusa want to be independent of Nigeria except when it comes to revenue allocations.

The only thing that is holding us and Awusa togather today is that same oil money. How can you live in your own so called country and you can't practice your religion. What is the difference between Saudi Arabia and Zamfra state, Nothing other than their geographical location. if an Igbo goes to saudi arabia today he will be subject to the same laws he will be subject to in Zamfra state. Then tell me how that is not independent within an Independent Nation.

What kind of critic are you?

You said, "Yes, I bought the book "Africa: Mother of Western Civilization" by Dr. Josef A.A. ben Jochannan, and, it is nothing to write home about. It is just another piece of propaganda and sensationalism. I will discuss its detail as time permits."

Teddy's is at best a demonstration of essay writting skills than substantive analyses of issues or thoughts.

Listen to Teddy:
"...Sharia is no where enshrined in the laws governing the federal republic of Nigeria, but rather an affirmation of the religious aspirations ala “ideal way of life” ..."

Wrong! The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria actually allows for the practice of Sharia and even creates a Sharia Court of Appeal as the a judicial pinacle of a long existing Penal Code of Nigeria.

Sharia is not a new phenomenon. I understudied the Penal Code and actually serviced that Code during a brief working tour in Sokoto State (1984/85). In my opinion, since Nigeria is a secular state, a Muslim Nigerian has equal rights of religious affiliation/practice as I do.

But the bastardization of that right comes in the forcible imposition of the fundamentalist approach to Sharia law against Christians and liberal Muslims in the North. That is what I hate with all my heart. Hence, we see two Sharia models at work:

(a) A long existing legal and peaceful model of Sharia enforced with the Penal Code; and

(b) A political and fundamentalist Sharia modelled and promoted by a certain oligarchy for the destabilization of Nigeria and sustainance of selfish status quo against the Christian South.

Again, Teddy wrote:
"By the same token, Biafran nationalism is the culmination of the systemic frustration and neglect with which the Igbos have had to endure. Hence, we seek the cherished ideals of human sanctity and self determination, that only a Biafran state can provide. Any compromise would be seen as capitulation and cowardice."

I do not agree completely. If the theory of cause & effect were to be considered based on Teddy's thought, then it will be justified for the Ikweres' and other Eastern minorities who justifiably suffered in the hands of Odumegwu Ojukwu's Biafra to demand "self determination" - both without patnership with Ndigbo and with other ethnic groups of Nigeria. So, Teddy's de-facto reason for "self-determination" is faulty - in concept and common sense.

Again Teddy wrote:
"Self determination is a derivative of confronting seemingly insurmountable obstacles and challenges in the midst of scant resources, and through it all reaching sustainability in defiance of the odds."

I have never in my entire life heard of "self determination" defined in this way. I ask Teddy to solve his complex equation of social variables for Nne Ngbeke to understand. The best I could glean from Teddy's intellectual equation is as below:

Self Determination = (Insurmountable obstacles + challenges)scant resources / odds

You see, fellows, I expect "intellectual leaders" to come up with intellectual models and templates for solving social problems than advocate microwave solutions of war and revolution as quick-fix antedote against any discomfort. Could it be that Nigerians who are quick to advocate war/revolution may have been so psycologically and subconsiously marred by 4 decades of military that they know no other methods of effecting changes or leading without "force"?

In my books, there is no importance of an "intellectual leader" for a social polity. Intellectual leaders are for intellectual communities (Academia, for short).

However, I understand