Concerning the article, I would have told you to ignore it. Reason being that it is obvious in the news link that the confused old man is just in their natural characteristics flying some false kites in order to keep on subduing his followers already held in bondage.

But then, I would not say that what the old man said is completely senseless, since the eventual break up of is unstoppable, and that the Yorubas would eventually have a country of their own is as a reality.
I am not privy to any such secessionist moves, but fact is that the Yoruba nation is something that exists far strongly than any confused nationalist or relioginist could ignore, and that is why someone like me kept appealing to fellow Nigerians to discard illusion and face reality, or to merge their perception of illusion with reality so that there could be harmony, from whence development would come.
Why and how does the Yoruba nation exist
1. The Yorubas (except the la butters of Ikoyi, V.I et al) all speak the same language, and as you may know, Yorubaness = speaking Yoruba language Qed.
2. Apart from the influence of christianity and Islam, the perception of Yoruba religion by the average Yoruba person is the relatively same. After any argument/debate, there is usually a way that Yoruba people tend to converge again at certain conclusions.
3. Of course everybody knows about the royal institutions and set-ups, whether one accepts them or not the fact is that they are in existence and well established too
4. The Yorubas have a distinct territory in you know where (the West of Nigeria) so the issue of territory is not a problem.
5. The Yorubas have a national colour that had been in existence since time immemorial, the colour is white - pure white, the sign of purity, associated with orunmila, the spiritual father of Ifa.
6. The Yorubas are spread all aroud the world courtesy slavery, but those in diaspora look at Ife and Nigeria as their spiritual (if not political) headquaters, and please note that, this is natural.
7. That brings us to history, all the Yoruba confederations accept that thhey have a common history, they accept Oduduwa as their father figure and they call themselves OMO IYA MI which literally means the child of "my mother child" or in short 'my brother'.

To cut a long story short, there are more things that unite them than divide, and what baffles me is how a very large cross-section of the Yoruba just accept these things with little or no questions. Hence the present artificial and perhaps psychological division, via ammalgamation would crumble sooner than later. All the Yorubas need for my this to hold is a gifted leader like Awolowo whose goal however is neither selfish not Nigeria rulership, but simply and clearly to lead his people out....

So Chiboy, I hope I have answered your queries concerning Flag, boundary and Obasanjo re-selection, which answer is implicit, i.e it doesn't matter, the movement transcend Obasanjo or the fools who created the African countries at the Berlin conference in 1887.

The status of Ilorin is the biggest headache, but then all historical facts acknowledge it as a Yoruba territory (no dispute about that), also all the people there accept their Yorubaness and apart from a few insecure people, majority of people would like to be with their kith and kin in mainstream Yorubaland. Even then, if the Yorubas decide to concede Ilorin and perhaps the entire Kwara, they still have enough land and people to form a country don't they? think about it - Oyo (3.4m people) people, Ogun (2.3m people) Ondo and Ekiti (3.8m people), Osun (2.2m people), and even if we decide to concede Lagos (5.6m people) there you got almost 12 million people (according to CBN statistical bulletin 1998). that is two and half time the population of Denmark, 10 times that of Botswana, Gambia, Guinea Bissau et cetera.

Chiboy, I hope you get the point I am trying to make, it is not a matter of whether i believe in all these things, they are just pure realities on the ground for any body interested to see. My question however is this, if it happens that the Yorubas suddenly have that leadeer who is ready to deliver, would the Biafran be prepared to help.

Thanks for your analysis and thanks to BiafraNigeria I am being educated on the alternative view in Yoruba politics.

I agree with you that Oduduwa republic may be inevitable, simply because following Biafran actualization the only options left for the Yoruba would be either to remain in Nigeria as vassals to the Hausa/Fulani (Adegbite would like this)or opt out and actualize Oduduwa republic (this would be the favoured path of the Soyinka's).

As for helping you actualize Oduduwa, they say when a man has been foolish once he is no fool but on the second time he is a real fool. Ojukwu reached out once,and you know the result of that effort.As much as I agree with you that Awo was visionary for the Yoruba, if the new leader would be like Awo I don't think you can count on Biafran help in the struggle for Odua republic. However I don't see Biafra making any efforts to sabotage Odua republic actualization by aligning with the Hausa/Fulani, in which case you have nothing to fear in that regard.
We really wish you well but would not interfer in Yoruba internal politics for obvious reasons.

i have often thought of the future boundaries of Biafra, and I have come to this conclusion: It is inevitable that not all igbo speaking people will ever exist in one country. As of the present state of affairs I can predict igbos living in at least three different countries.

I personally see nothing wrong with the riverine peoples affiliating with the shariaists in an attempt to fight off igbo domination. Likewise, I think the igbos west of the Niger are up for grabs and more inclined to affiliate as subjects to the kingdom of Benin.

Is this necessarily bad? I dont think so. It is like you have german speaking people ( who also call themselves german, unlike our igbo brothers.) in germany. switzerland, and czechoslovakia, and austria.

Nothing new under the sun..

Long live Biafra, freedom and justice for all.

As for you my sweet Biafra, you are set in timelessness, you begin at infinity and you end at infinity."

Your take above is really mind boggling. I must confess my disappointment. Especially, after reading your fine contribution on the BBC provided link on Africa. Please do not get side tracked by the kind of analysis and beliefs that will hinder your political hope.

If you come to my neck of the woods in Anioma and make the kind of pronouncement you just made about us becoming a subject of the Benin Kingdom you will certainly be reprimanded and severely so.

I am glad that Chudi has provided you with what I consider to be a reasonable response. I was almost tempted not to comment further but that temptation was not strong to restrain my compulsion to do otherwise.

When Ojukwu said about Biafra being a thing of the mind I think we are sometimes wont to misunderstand that. The conclusion I draw from that statement is that Biafra remains a viability for all persons who share similar beliefs about the responsibility of a nation state to its people irrespective of where they happen to be in Nigeria. Prrofessor M.O. Ene wrote a fine article about a year ago about the meaning of Biafra within this context. When the Ogoni's fight for their rights which any reasonable state ought to grant they are articulating that Biafran vision. When the Tivs get massacred and protest against Hausa-Fulani, domination they retain that vision. THey may not know it or are too facetitious to acknowledge it but that is the message and significance of Biafra.

Some of you may not see this clearly. But, you are sadly mistaken if you think that the Igbo in the Igbo heartland of Owerri can ever look the other way when frontline Igbo from Asaba, Ika, Ikwere, Ogwashi Ukwu, or Anioma are persecuted, or vice versa. It is a blood thing. Even if you want to look the other way, you will not be able to do so. Any Igbo from anywhere who wishes to migrate into enemy territory is free do so on his own.

But, Igbo WILL not be minority in any country when Biafra is actualized. Having Igbo minority in the rump of Nigeria after Biafra is actualized will simply be a source of constant anguish for the so-called mainland Igbo. The blood-thirsty Nigerians will see to it. Those Igbos who think that they can distinguish between Asaba and Umuahia should start explaining why it made perfect sense to all Igbo that Ironsi was murdered for what was said to have been done by Nzeogwu, or why Nzeogwu himself was killed fighting for Ojukwu of Nnewi. While we have repeatedly argued that the Nzeogwu coup was wrongfully labeled an Igbo coup because there were Yoruba, Hausa, and others involved in its plot and execution, no Igbo has ever said that the coup would not be an Igbo coup if all the plotters and executors were from Ika or Anioma.

Amanda, RudeK and WayPoint,
You guys cannot be more right about the fact that the Yorubas are too compromised to be taken seriously concerning the issue of declaring a republic. But one of the things that I was trying to point out in the previous post is simply that
blood is thicker than water and that sometimes someone would definitely come along to set the record straight.
Me think however that you have to understand the Yorubas before you can dismiss them just like that. I am not an expert on Yourubas and I can't say that what I am going to say is true for all Yoruba people. But as one of them I can stilll beat my chest and say that yes I know my people.

Why are the Yorubas so compromised?
This is simply because of the individualistic nature of the Yoruba people. Remember also that each Yoruba town/city is autonomous (from ancient times).This implies that individuals just like the towns they come from are free to chose their 'foreign relations' and align with 'whoever'. But like I pointed earlier, after all is said and done there are some things that cannot and will never be compromised. Such things include the OGBONI CULT which I would not be discussing here.
Again, the Yorubas as a matter of fact do not consider the Hausa/Fulani as much of a threat as you guys do; as a matter of fact the mainstream Yorubas consider the you guys (the Biafrans) to be of more threat than the Northerners (perhaps until recently). This is not not based on hatred, but pure misunderstanding. You see, the Yorubas can wait forever to get what ever they want (just like one big man from the north said recently), while they consider you guys to be too damn impatient. The Yorubas prefer more tact and stealth move, whereas you guys are considered to be aggressive and too confrontational. this explains why many Yoruba expression for stubborness, aggression etc. commonly refer to the Igbos as examples. Check this out O k'agidi bori bi odoo yibo etc.

But more importantly, the Yorubas believe they can take care of the Hausa Fulanis, while they consider you guys as spoil-sport rivals - this is clear from the voting pattern from the east and other political alliances. But all that is changing now aint it? Anyway, this points to the fact that we really need to dialogue more. We need to open up more to each other, we need to work real closely together ORwe should just go each others way without any contact or synergy whatsoeever. That may however be very well counterproductive again.

The attempt by any one to suggest any form of division between all Igbos be it in east or west is unacceptable. It should not even cross anyones mind that Igbos across the Niger are different from those in the east.

We are one and same people, and are in this whole thing together. I can say from my experience that Igbos across the Niger are more Igbo than some Igbos from the east of the Niger.

LIVE FREE OR DIE

quote:

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Originally posted by K. A:
Way point
c. The mainstream Yorubas have a wrong impression of the Igbos.
3. I tried to say that we need to work more closely. Dialogue more...bla bla
Hope this makes it clearer

---

As Chief Eleyhinmi of Village Headmaster fame would say "I am flabberwhelmed and Overghasted".

I dont mean to be too harsh but every time I have read KA's postings I have been simply amazed by his candor. This is a Yoruba brother afterall.

You would ask; what do you mean by
"afterall"?
let me explain:
Like the man said, the Yoruba have certain stereotypes about Igbo. Some common ones are that:
1.Igbo's are too direct
2.Igbo's are too uncouth(unpolished)or unsophisticated
3.Igbo's are too naiive
4.Igbo's are too ungraceful and aggressive
5.etc. along same lines

On the flip side as a result of these same stereotypes there are beliefs held by the Yoruba which are motivated by the very stereotypes mentioned above, they are:

1.Igbo's are too direct;
Translation: therefore they are capable of telling the British or Hausa's What we Yorubas cannot dare to tell them.
Summary: These guys have balls and can outcompete us.

2.Igbo's are too uncouth(unpolished)or unsophisticated.
Translation: they do not worship status ie they have no guile.
Summary: These guys will blow past us.

3.Igbo's are too naiive;
Translation: they are honest and straightforward.
Summary: we can easily sidetrack, deceive and confuse them at will.

4.Igbo's are too ungraceful and aggressive;
Translation: they are ready to put their money where their mouth is.
Summary: Fear their assertiveness and do all you can to hold them down by hook or by crook.

5.etc. along same lines

While Yoruba have their stereotypes about Igbos, Igbo equally have their stereotypes about Yoruba, Instead of attempting to go into too much detail,about Igbo stereotype of Yoruba's I would simply point to some Exemplifications to make my point;

1.The behaviour(either flee or join in the killings of innocents) of high level Yoruba officers in the Nigerian army(other than Fajuyi)after an illegal coup by a comparatively junior officer like Gowon.

2.The complete (power seeking at all cost) political life and total comportment of Awo in Nigerian politics vis-a-vis Tribalism, in juxtaposition to One Nigerianism.( being fraught with betrayal, doublespeak, and heartbreaking bitterness to his end)

3.Olusegun Obasanjo, vis- intense jealousy of Igbo's, his infatuation with being seen as a world leader in the Image of Nelson Mandela, and his anal retentiveness in misreading who his real oppressors (British and Hausa)are, instead of Igbo.(it makes me wonder that Igbo and South Eastern officers in those days must have really induced inferiority complex on him which he still cant seem to shakeoff till today)

I need not say more. KA's downright humility is very Yoruba like and very appealing and charming, however his un-Yoruba-like candor tells me that stereotypes are not a good thing at all since as God's children, all of us, Biafrans or Nigerians alike are bequeathed with a mysteriousness which only bigots would always choose to ignore through their myopic belief in stereotypes.

This awakening not withstanding, and given the facts of Nigerian history and our current predicament I would say to my fellow Igbo's that when dealing with the Yoruba in the context of Biafra, USE A VERRRRYY LONNNG SPOON. If you're going on a jewel heist with a Yoruba as your getaway driver you might as well give it up before you start. The road to Igbo downfall is always paved with Yoruba good intention.(apologies again to KA) This is not stereotyping I'm just stressing what my brother KA says about the complexity of Yoruba internal politics(not to talk of external)

NO BIAFRAN SHOULD WAIT ON WHAT THE OODUA WANT TO DO OR COORDINATE ANY ACTIVITY WHATSOEVER WITH THEM. THEY'RE TOO COMPLICATED EVEN FOR THEMSELVES.

Ours is a righteous and moral battle which can only be fought seeking the guidance, deliverance and and blessing of God and only he alone.In this we must only look forward, and forward only.

As for my brothers west of the Niger, I will never forget a story that my dad told once, and I might add, that this hurt him very much, for my dad was never one to complain or find ill intentions in anyone:

It was just some years after the war, and he was returning to the east from the west, and in his usual custom, when he arrived in Agbor he would stop and buy yams, and plantain, as they had much better yam than we do. So, he spoke to the lady in the roadside market in igbo and told her what he wanted. To his utmost surprise, she answered him in english the whole time. Anyway, when he had finished his purchase, he told her off: " I spoke to you in igbo, and you answered me in english, you should be ashamed of yourself."

What we are asking of all, is that
to deny your tribe is to deny your very own self and your ancestors; no worse fate could befall a man than to be ashamed of who he is.
Victor, or Vanquished, I am igbo, and I will never deny that fact. Denying who you are will only make you a subject of ridicule and disdain to all: your own peolpe will despise you, and the foreigners will look at you with no respect. Immediately, you deny who you are, you are a set up for failure: because no man with self confidence or self esteem would ever particpate in such antics.

I see some clerity in your analysis though defensive. But I am still lost about the lack of patience by the Igbos as a group compared to the Yorubas. That comparison still puzzule me unless KA can show with originality and events the Igbos lack of patience, I will remain lost.

Waypoint,
Sorry, I don't have anything to prove, a stereotype is a stereotype because it is a stereotype, I did not manufacture it, you have the choice to either ignore it or work with it.

I do not believe that you owe me an apology. All I did was to call your attention to a fact that that I thought you should be aware of. But it would appear you have chosen to follow your own wisdom. Take for example your statement about your father stopping in Agbor to buy yams and the woman he bought the yams from would not speak Igbo to him despite his effort to converse in Igbo language. Your father came home, took the time to explain this event to your family and now it has become a legend. And for you, a measure to calibrate the character of the Igbos of Anioma. Interesting!

Didn't it occur to your father that this woman he spoke Igbo to may not have been an Igbo person and thus incapable of speaking the Igbo language? Agbor, for a long time, has been and still is, a commercial city with a significant population of non-Igbos. This was so even before Asaba began attracting its own share of other Nigerian and non Igbo population. And this despite the long established textile mill in Asaba and the large number of non-Igbos who work there as they must.

Further, did it ever occur to your father that this woman may be Igbo from Agbor but does not understand the Igbo your father spoke?. Listen, I grew up in Kano, Benin and Warri. But my father insisted I must attend high school in Anioma. I hanged around Agbor a lot though I attended St. Anthony's and later St. Pius in communities far from Agbor. And for the amount time I spent in Agbor it was difficult for me to understand their language. I suspect you will find this characteristic in a lot of Igbo communities in the West or East of the Niger. So what should we do about this? Have a language police because we have decided to use language as a barometer for measuring citizenship? This is why I counsel restraint and pragmatism in the pursuit of your goal.

No matter the emotional urge and the need to "circle the wagon", you must make your argument on purely non-emotional grounds. Remember the people you are selling your ideas to are not interested in too much history. How many of them remember what happened in Kent, Ohio in the 1970? How many of them remember the ancestries of their grand parents?

The reason why Serbia is less of what it is today is because its leaders were too emotional in selling and packaging what they wanted from the international community. Instead of arguing facts they argued words. Who cares about what happened in Kosovo in 1450 or thereabout within the international community? Who cares that Kosovo was a sacred place to the Serbians because that was where their ancestors took a last stand against the Ottoman Turks and lost?

I suspect that you do not know much about the Aniomas. We are a very humble people. We will listen to all but when we act, we act on our conscience. We value character, intergrity and personal honor more than anything. It is not in our nature to show our emotion or to fight a fight we are not ready for. Also, because of the less respect we have for wealth when compared to honor, Nigeria does not have enough wealth to buy us or impose a leader who parrots what Ndianyi do not agree with.

Take the massacre at Asaba for example? How many times have you heard us mention it in a public forum including when Haruna went in front of the Oputa Panel and said the nonsense he did? It is just not in our nature. Does it mean we have forgotten and forgiven? Of course not. But we know come rain, come thunder, our way and our wishes will win. Look at what has happened or is happening to the perpetrators of that genocide starting with Murtala Mohammed?

In Anioma we see ourselves as Igbos. And that is all you need to know. We do not owe anybody an apology for following our conscience. Also, we cannot be stampeded into taking a decision simply because the gallery expects us. All I can tell you is when we do make a decision it will be one that our ancestors will be proud of. I hope I have been fair in my response to you? Enjoy

The Yorubas declaring Oduduwa? Please note that the Yorubas are the devil you must learn how to dine with a very long spoon. Did'nt they just have a "we are still partners" meeting with the Hausa/Fulani Arewa? Are they not cashing in well into the present situation in their fake Nigeria? Are they not the ones selling oil to the highest bidder at high sea today? Do you know that all the major problems(political or other) that ever manifested in the country, originated from the Yoruba west? And do you know that each time, they cleverly or cowardly, and in a chamelion fashion, withdraw their tentacles while others suffer?
It is time the Easterners wake up and realise the two tongued group of tribalists you call Yorubas. If you think they are people you can trust, check out these few cleverly or cowardise games they have been playing.
When T.Y.Danjuma and his gang murdered the then Head of State, Major General J.T.U.Ironsi; the most senior Army commander, Brigadier Ogundipe(a Yoruba), was expected to assume power and control the present mess. He ran away to London, cut a deal with the Hausa/Fulani to become Nigeria High Commission in exile. And you know very well that the Yorubas are group of exile seekers when the going starts getting tough.
Remember the first time the Yorubas sounded the Oduduwa horn? Obafemi Awolowo's slogan was; "Ones there comes a Biafra Republic, there shall arise at ones the Republic Of Oduduwa." That was more than thirty years ago. Did you not see how he went back and formed partnerships with the Hausa/Fulani/Middle Belterners to commit the second recorded holocaust history against humans(Igbos) by humans?
Hausa/Fulani, Yorubas, and Eastern Army officers participated in the January 1966 coup that was later branded an Igbo coup. Do you remember what the Yoruba officers did after the coup became a little bloody? They went into hiding, and few like Major Olusegun Obasanjo went to pledge his loyalty to the Hausa/Fulani to stay alive.
The question of June the 12th is very much fresh on anyone's mind. Did'nt the Yorubas vowed to break Nigeria if Abiola was not declared President?

My people! pounder these questions: Are the Yorubas cleverly playing all these games to maintain the status quo OR are they simply born cowards? Whichever question you choose to anwser I want you to know this; If they fool you again, then you are truly a damned fool. But shame on them for fooling you the first time.