The article below is written by a Yoruba chap and in my view has a yoruba leaning. However, lets cast that to the back of our minds for a moment and discuss the matter more objectively.

My take on the matter is that a new understanding must develop between Igbos and Yorubas. And this new understanding must be initiated by our generation.

Perhaps, the "we" in the diaspora may join hands with our Yourba brothers and sisters in a true commitment to ridding our selves of the yoke, the shackles and chains of the Nigerian "slavery". And, open our eyes to a new horizon of independent black-African nations (e.g Igbo nation, Yoruba nation e.t.c) based on mutual co-operations (economic, polotical and otherwise) and respect for life.

Folks Any ideas?

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By Tunde Adenodi (EMAIL)
Newark, NJ, USA
Wednesday, October 17, 2001

Igbo and Yoruba: The unhealthy rivalry

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or the Igbo, take Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe. For Yoruba, who else, but his inimitable “running mate”, Chief Obafemi Awolowo? It looked like they were created for each other. One to be the nemesis of the other; and by extension, east the nemesis of the west and vice-versa.

Before independence in 1960, Azikiwe was the Premier of the East while Awolowo was the Premier of the West. Alhaji Ahmadu Bello held forte in the North in a tripodal political structure of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Remove one of the legs in this precarious tripod, then you have instability. Unfortunately, our leaders since independence, from Ahmadu Bello (the real Prime Minister) to Abdusalami Abubakar, reveled in always removing one leg of the tripod in the hope of maintaining their political control. The result is what we have today - a mere “geographical expression” which even at middle age, cannot be called a nation.

The British, as they are wont to do, handed over to the “weakest link” who preferred the title of the Sadauna of Sokoto to that of Prime Minister of the nation. He lurked behind in Kaduna in order to keep a watchful eye on Sultan Abubakar III and the Caliphate of Uthman dan Fodio. As Sadauna, he was in line for the post of sultan, Nigeria’s ayatollah. His parliamentary secretary, Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, a man cut in the mould of Shehu Shagari, whose working experience was no more than that of a grade II teacher, was saddled with the gargantuan responsibility of piloting the young nation from infancy.

Of the trio of Bello, Zik and Awo, Zik was the least ambitious; or more appropriately, least ready to work towards his ambition. He was like Macbeth without his lady. “ If God will make him king, God will crown him without his efforts“. And if he would be king, it had to be from the making of the other two. However, Awo was the most hard-working and most intensely ambitious. He was the most eager, followed by Bello, “to do the greatest good for the greatest number of people.” In order to realize his ambition, it was best, he thought, to earn it by working while others were content with just doing enough to earn their pay. He believed, and rightly so, that he had to start from his Yoruba base earning the respect and loyalty of his people before he could aspire for national leadership.

Bello’s dream, just like all his proteges since, was to turn Nigeria into an Islamic state and become the spiritual/political leader (call it “Caliph”, “Ayatollah”, “Sultan” if you like) of the nation. But he believed that it had to be done in an insidious way similar to the method of his revered progenitor, Dan Fodio whose forage into the south (especially the south-west) was interrupted by the advent of the British. He never forgave the British for this.

So, what Awo wanted so badly, and Zik less so badly - to be President of Nigeria, was Bello’s article of faith. He must lead the country politically through Islamic conquest, the Dan Fodio way and he was determined to use Zik and Awo to realize his ambition.

If both of these men knew Bello’s plan (and they had no reason not to know), they did not show it. They struggled individually to rule the country without the help of each other knowing fully well the futility of such an endeavor. Thus setting the stage for a lifetime rivalry between Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe representing the people of the east and Chief Obafemi Awolowo on behalf of the people of the west.

Born in Zungeru in what is today’s Kogi State, raised in Onitsha, Anambra State and working in Lagos most of his adult life, Zik was a perfect blend with all the major tribes. He was the most urbane and most eminently qualified to rule Nigeria. He spoke Hausa and Yoruba with the accent-less fluency of a native and even named his first son “Bamidele”. Zik took advantage of this and became the most fulfilled amongst the trio.

Awolowo, on the other hand, was a self - made man whose self discipline and hard work was unparalleled and rightly or wrongly believed that he deserved the post of Prime Minister of Nigeria. And with Zik presiding in the government of Tafawa Balewa, Awo went in for ten years for treasonable felony leaving the coast clear for the decimation of his area of influence.

In all the regions (east, west and north), there were strident calls for state creation. But, with Awo out of circulation, only the Mid-West region was carved out of Awo’s west. The Tiv people of the north and the Rivers people of the east did not get their states until Gowon’s administration in 1967.

With a little help from Awo’s erstwhile deputy, Samuel Akintola (Premier of the west), Bello’s NPC government penetrated Awo’s base and allied with Akintola’s renegade political party (NNDP) to fight the massively rigged 1964 Federal and 1965 western regional elections. Though Zik’s NCNC allied with Awo’s AG to form United Progressive Grand Alliance (UPGA) in order to fight for the election, he (when faced with the prospect of loosing the Presidency if he did not support Balewa as Prime Minister), balked and asked Balewa to form the government while he remained as President. Head or tail, Zik had to win while Awo remained in prison. Summary: Zik or the East has twice allied with the North to destroy Awo or the West, politically.

Then the coup-de-tat of 1966, which was executed in a manner that made the north and the west, question the reasoning of the soldiers. Civilians and soldiers of northern and western origin were killed. But no one of eastern origin was killed. Moreover, President Nnamdi Azikiwe was conveniently and safely out of the country for “medical check - up” just before this coup took place and was rumored not to be too unhappy at the developments.

It was not in the agenda of General Ironsi to release Awo or Zik to solicit for the release of Awo. It fell on Gowon who released him to become Vice Chairman of the Supreme Military Council from which position, Awo released his economic wizardry as Commissioner for Finance to prosecute the war economy. He has been blamed for the early collapse of the breakaway Biafran Republic because of his economic policies and has not been forgiven for the part he was perceived to have played by the people of the east.

Earlier in the rebellion, Zik was an ambassador for Biafra. By 1969, it was obvious that Biafra was losing out and Zik switched allegiance to the Federal Military Government of Nigeria. He believed (shouldn’t he?) that he was finished, politically. Therefore, he declared that he was beyond politics and would assume the role of “father of the nation”. That was before Obasanjo lifted the ban on politics and before Awo declared his interest in the presidency.

Then, Zik changed his mind and declared that he had the constitutional right to so do. He contested under the platform of NPP, Awo under UPN and Shagari under the NPN. Of course, Shagari won twelve states (122/3 if you wish to be mathematical) to become the president. Not to be left out, Zik’s NPP teamed up with NPN to form the Federal Government leaving Awo’s UPN in opposition. In fact, Zik felt no embarrassment at being called the “beautiful bride” of Nigerian politics. Thus, the Right Honorable Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe moved from “Zik of Africa” through the rank of “Zik of Biafra” to “beautiful bride” of the feudal predators and finally to “Owelle of Onitsha“!

In 1983, Ukaegbu’s Progressive Peoples Party was mooted by the so-called twelve progressive governors. But Shagari’s Ovie-Whiskey, FEDECO chairman, refused to register the PPP. Not that it would have mattered, as Awo had earlier said (in his desperate bid for the presidency) that he would have deferred to Zik had he been several years younger!

Had Zik and Awo been alive in 1992, there would have been re-alignment of political forces that would have made SDP’s victory absolutely impossible. NRC would have won. Babangida would still have annulled the election and the course of Nigerian history would probably have been different.

As it turned out, the only thing Zik was not capable of stopping Awo from doing was dying. Much as he did not want Awo as president, he did not want him dead at the time Awo died. Thus, death ended the lifetime bitter rivalry between the two men and by implication, between the two peoples of the east and the west. Or didn’t it?

Epilogue: There is the tendency to read “tribalism” into this article. This is the usual refrain: “Awo started tribalism in Nigerian politics when he prevented Zik from being the Premier of the West“. I have heard these one-zillion times. Question: Would it have been acceptable to the people of the East to have Awo or Ahmadu Bello or indeed, any respectable non-igbo as the Premier of the East at that time, or even at anytime? This is an unthinkable scenario. With all emphasis: it is unthinkable!

What you are proposing ( a new understanding with the Yoruba) is a waste of time and actually dangerous to the survival of Ndigbo as I see it. What type of new understanding are you going to cultivate with Obasanjo or Adeyinka Adebayo? Was the following said a by Hausa/Fulani, Kanuri or Yoruba ?
Biafran Soldiers are Traitors

Dupe Adelaja is the daughter of Adesanya the man who would lead the Yoruba in their hand shake accross the Niger with you. Where do you think Dupe got this opinion ? Let me guess, daddy , who happens to be a staunch Awoist. If you think Dupe's children will not have the same opinion, I have a bridge I would like to sell to you.

This is not the time to contemplate any distractions, we must squarely face the task at hand which is the liberation of ala Igbo not the forming of any deceitfull alliances. Let the Yoruba bear their own cross, we have already begun lifting ours and all our efforts should be in that direction.

Before I post my reply if I ever find the time, I'd like to post this stuff originally posted elsewhere by nobiorah. I'm sure it will aid our understanding of "ebe mmiri si banye n'opi ugbogiri" Enjoy!

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Address delivered by Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe at the meeting of the National Executive Committee of the NCNC, which was held at the Lagos City College, Yaba, on December 22, 1959.
We have summoned the National Executive Committee in order to report to our great party the role our members and supporters played during the recent Federal elections and to thank all who co-operated in
order to ensure that the NCNC and the NEPU standards were hoisted and kept flying aloft on all the battle fronts of the nation, during the most hectic election in our national history.

On behalf of our Holy Alliance, may I thank our rank and file scattered over our country for their devotion to duty. The youth and women's wings of our various branches played their parts faithfully and loyally.
The Zikist National Vanguard, the Dynamic Party, the Ghana NCNC, and the NEPU youth co-operated with the Alliance in all theatres of this extensive political conflict in order to reach the voters and persuade
them to vote for the NCNC-NEPU Alliance.

Our gratitude also goes to the Federal Electoral Commission for its efficiency and to the millions of men and women, young and old, throughout Nigeria, who silently and religiously supported us and prayed for
our ultimate victory. Although we did not win an over-all majority as we optimistically expected, yet our superior organization and our effective tactics
baffled our perennial critics and earned the respect of the world. This has enabled us to demonstrate convincingly the nation-wide nature of the NCNC-NEPU Alliance.

The results of the Federal elections have been announced and no one party has emerged with an over-all majority. The final state of the Parties is as follows: NPC 142, NCNC-NEPU Alliance 90, Action Group 73, Independents 7.

Analysed in detail, the NPC won 141 seats in the Northern Region and one seat in the Eastern Region. The NCNC-NEPU Alliance won 58 seats in the Eastern Region, 22 in the Western Region, 8 in the Northern Region, and two in Lagos. The Action Group won 33
seats in the Western Region, 26 in the Northern Region, 14 in the Eastern Region, and one in Lagos. The remaining seven seats won by the Independents are in the Western Region, the others having declared for
one or other of the major parties.

TABLE 1. 1959 Federal Elections: State of the Parties
NPC NCNC- NEPU Action Group Independent
Totals
East 1 58 14 0 73
West 0 22 33 7 62
Lagos 0 2 1 0 3
North 141 8 26 0 174

Before the final position of the parties became crystal clear, the Governor-General committed a faux pas by prematurely appointing the leader of the NPC
Parliamentary Party to become Prime Minister of Nigeria,apparently but wrongly assuming that his party would win all the remaining seats. Ultimately, the Governor-General's miscalculation created a disturbing
situation which made Nigeria's political pendulum swing from oneside to another, thus placing the whole nation in a state of suspended political animation.

On Monday evening, December 14, an accredited
spokesman of the NPC had the courtesy to apprise me of the invitation of the Governor-General. On Tuesday morning, December 15, three emissaries of the Action Group paid me the compliment of a visit at Zungeru
Haven, where I temporarily sojourned at Onitsha. Through its representatives, the Action Group invited the NCNC-NEPU Alliance to form a coalition Government with it. In accordance with the conventional practice
in parliamentary democracies, the Alliance was offered the privilege of appointing the Prime Minister of Nigeria and the other matters discussed were postponed for determination by the Alliance.

I thanked the Action Group emissaries and assured them that I would convey their message to the appropriate quarters of my Party to enable me to be more categorical in my reply; but I made it clear that
whilst I appreciated their good intentions in offering me the Prime Ministership, that post had not necessarily been my goal in the national struggle. I emphasized that all I personally desired was to see my country free from British rule andit made no
difference to me what role I might play in the future political history of Nigeria, so long as I had the spiritual satisfaction of having associated myself with others in exacting from the British our sovereignty
and independence without violence. They thanked me and after cordially exchanging greetings, they returned to Ibadan.

That night, the Alliance was invited by the NPC to exchange views with its hierarchy on the possibility of our forming a coalition Government with it. I accepted the invitation and the venue was mutually
agreed to be Kaduna.In the meantime, our intelligence service revealed that during the visit of the NPC leaders to Lagos, on the very Tuesday morning that the three Action Group emissaries were conferring with me at Zungeru Haven, at Onitsha, a certain leader of the Action Group was also conferring with the NPC leaders at Lagos offering to form a coalition Government with the NPC. This report was subsequently
confirmed by both the AG and the NPC.

A strategic meeting of the Alliance took place at Onitsha on the same Tuesday night, and it was decided to return the courtesy of the Action Group by despatching three NCNC emissaries to Chief Obafemi Awolowo atIbadan to convey the message that, the
NCNC-NEPU Alliance was studying the proposals of the Action Group and would contact it in due course, after the Party had taken a definite stand.

On Wednesday, 16th December, the Alliance despatched its emissaries to Kaduna, where frank exchanges of views were made on the possibility of forming a coalition Government. It was agreed to defer further
discussion and to reconvene on Saturday at Lagos. Our aim was to be able to report progress and give adequate consideration to the proposals placed before us.

On Friday, 18th December, I and my colleagues arrived in Lagos and all the relevant issues were given impartial analysis. Two schools of thought emerged
after prolonged discussion. One school conceded that a coalition between the NCNC-NEPU Alliance and the Action Group would no doubt produce an efficient Government, but it was stressed that majority opinion
in the Western Region would frown against such a coalition. Moreover, it was obvious that if the Alliance agreed to a coalition with the Action Group,then there might be a crisis within the Party with the Westerners probably breaking away and disorganizing
our great Party. The other school agreed that a coalition between the Alliance with the NPC would also produce an efficient, but with it, a stable Government; yet a strong body of influential opinion severely criticized such a coalition. Warnings were
given that the NEPU might feel frustrated in view of its traditional struggle with the NPC. It was feared that this might create a schism in the Alliance.

On Saturday, 19th December, the issues were carefully reviewed and it was agreed that since the fundamental human rights had been entrenched in the Constitution, its denial or contravention could lead to litigation.
The final factors which out weighed all other
considerations were analysed and embarrassing
questions were asked the rostrum of the Alliance to answer:

Was it the NPC or the Action Group which confiscated the landed property ofthe National President of the NCNC and refused to pay him compensation on the pretext that a third party claimed the land, whilst in
fact twelve parcels of land, formerly belonging to nine owners, were involved?

Was it the NPC or the AG who financed the lawyers who represented Mr E. O. Eyo
during the Foster-Sutton tribunal? Was it the NPC or the AG who financed the lawyers who, when they advocated for the C-O-R State before the Minorities Commission, insulted the Ibo people?

What Party always gives support to those who wish to destroy the NCNC and its leadership -is it the NPC or the AG? What Party hires and employs literary hacks to attack the persons of NCNC-NEPU leaders regularly, in
and out of season? When an alliance existed between the NCNC and the Action Group in I953, did the Action Group have the courtesy to apprise the NCNC that it had planned to walk out of the Constitutional Conference,
as a result of its failure to make Lagos remain part of the West, whose views were opposed to the NCNC?

Did not the Action Group unilaterally publish the text of a secret alliance which was solemnly negotiated by it and the NCNC in 1953? Did not the Action Group do
the same thing in I953 in connection with its secret correspondence with the NPC? If these are facts, what guarantee has the Alliance that, like a lame dog helped over a stile, the AG will not revert to type as
soon as it suits its purpose to do so?

These suspicions and apprehensions gripped the imagination of majority opinion of the NCNC-NEPU meeting and it was thought that in view of the cordiality which exists in the personal relationship of NCNC leaders and the NPC leaders, coupled with the fact that goodwill and mutual respect are very important to the successful existence of a Cabinet, especially in a coalition Government, the NEPU leaders should be persuaded to modify their attitude and give
the NCNC leaders a fair chance to work out a modus vivendi for the three parties, namely: NPC, NCNC and NEPU, in the interest of national solidarity. I am happy to report that the NEPU leaders gave useful
co-operation in this respect.

On Sunday, 20th December, the agreement constituting the coalition Government of the Federation was signed by the leaders of the NPC and the NCNC-NEPU Alliance
and the conditions are regarded by both parties as satisfactory. The coalition Government will enable Nigeria to move forwardwith hope and confidence
towards the date fixed for our independence.

It remains for me to allay the fears of our supporters regarding my personal role in this coalition. Of my own volition, I made it clear that I did not intend to
serve my country in any official capacity in this coalition Cabinet for personal reasons. I begged my colleagues to respect my feelings in this regard and not press me to change my decision on this issue, which is one of the very few irrevocable decisions in
my life. They have been so understanding that they have given me full co-operation.

Every item in the Coalition Agreement was drafted and approved by all contracting parties with my full knowledge and consent. Satisfactory arrangements have been made about my present and future political status
inthe scheme of things, and I am quite satisfied with them. From time to time, these arrangements will unfold themselves publicly and, in my humble opinion,
the people of Nigeria will have reason to be proud and not to regret. Honestly, we have done our very best in the circumstances to establish a coalition Government which is based on good faith and goodwill.

I would like to appeal to all men and women of goodwill in Nigeria to rally round this coalition Government and give it a fair chance to survive. If we believe in democracy as a way of life, then we must
respect the will of the majority as collectively expressed at the polls, so long as such elections are free and fair; otherwise, our professions of belief in
democracy will be a sham.

Chief Awolowo was right to say that all that was humanly possible and honourable was done by the Action Group to enter into a coalition Government with us; but our members had no faith in the leaders of this
Action Group and so they opposed this coalition. May I humbly appeal to the Action Group to have second thoughts over the events of the past eight years of its
existence in general, and the last three months in particular. I hope that its officers and members will agree with me that it is imperative that we give a healthy tone to the strategies and tactics of partisan
politics in this country, if we are not to leave a legacy of mutual suspicion and distrust to our children. All political parties had spent large sums of
money and expended a lot of energy in order not only to thrive but also to prosecute the Federal elections. In spite of this titanic effort, in spite of dissipation of our manpower and intellectual energies,
no one party has emerged with an over-all majority. A coalition, therefore, becomes imperative and 'horse trading' has emerged as the order of the day, whilst
the failures are consigned to the political wilderness.

I do not say that it is bad to form coalitions but it is my humble view that in forming them circumstances beyond the ken of man oblige one to pick and choose his
friends mainly upon the human factor.

Is it possible that learning and professional skill can be blended with the milk of human kindness? Is it possible that the instruments of public opinion can be
used to build goodwill and fellowship among
Nigerians,instead of their being used to exacerbate feelings and wantonly to attack the persons of our revered leaders, in our young country? Is it possible that the organs of political power may be used
by our leaders to bring happiness to the inhabitants of our country, irrespective of their political affiliation or tribe or religion or station in life,
instead of being used to persecute political opponents?
These are the first essentials in the building of a nation. To win friends we must be friendly. To retain friendship we must demonstrate our good faith. And to
prove our good faith,we must be charitable in our disposition. Bitter recrimination can onlyre-open old wounds. The wounds may heal but the scars will remain.

I mean't building in-roads within the Yoruba community in the diaspora. Disregard the Nigerian "paid sevants" for a moment.

We must realise that many young Yorubas are equally frustrated with their "one-Nigeria".
We must tap into that. We can in future organise loose/informal networks to exchange
views and opinions. At the same time we continue with our quest for self-determination.

Lets not make Adeyinka Adebayo and Dupe Adelaja more relevant than they actually are. Today they are here, tomorrow they will be gone, remember the are among the Nigerian "paid servants".

OU

Thank you for the posting. The betrayals of the past still lives with us today. What we ought to do is study these events and wise-up even further.

OU

Remember, the late Dr Michael Okpara used to say: "first fool no bi fool, na second fool bi proper foolish."

You still don't get me, the Yoruba community in diaspora are descendants of Adelaja, Adebayo and Obasanjo.A snakes descendant will always be long, the real foolish thing for Ndigbo to do here would be to assume otherwise.

An opinion poll conducted by their own guardian showed that the SW does not share the same aspirations as the SE and SS when it comes to vital issues such as resource control talk less of the creation of an independent state for Biafrans.Unless of course you are still seeking a compromise Nigeria,the struggle for freedom cannot be enhanced by such an alliance, and I do not know that most Yoruba's want out of Nigeria. This has been evident since Obasanjo became king.

Perhaps you were not on this forum during Aluko's brief stay here and how he sought to peddle misconceptions manufactured by the Ngbati press, or you did not visit egbeomo.com where Toksok once suggested Nzeribe should be murdered in the middle of the night just because he sought to have Obasanjo impeached. I don't know of which r young Yoruba's you want to align with,is it Ajibola Robinson, Kunle or walekuku ? I guess Abati would also be considered the young generation Yoruba too ?

I have no problem with having a good relationship with our western neighbours, the first question though is do they support the idea of Biafra for the east ? I think the answer is no, so what use then would this alliance be when there is no common agenda ?

It is time to do deep critical thinking to decide what we want.

Do we want to hang on to Yoruba and Hausa and at the same time cry for "self determination"? It is either one way or the other. We cannot cry rape and continue to daydream about alliance with our rapists.

Now, if we want self determination, we MUST address the stumbling block preventing us from a united front/progress. That stumbling block are (1) our saboteur "leaders" known as the Ohaneze, governors, ministers, etc. (2) Our so called Igbo rich business men.

We must start looking deep into their modes of operation to find out how their behavior has affected the development of Igboland. Once we determine what role any of these people played against the development of Igbo grassroots, we have to take steps to prevent them from inflicting further damage to our people. They should cease to matter in relevance of Igbo affairs.

We must embark on self-education on events that has happened and continue to happen around us and the world that adversely affects our sovereignty and development. We must open our minds for reception of the truth, no matter how strange,uncomfortable or unconventional.

Further, we must make it a point of dutiful campaign to get the Igbos living in Yoruba and Hausa lands to relocate back to Igboland to assist in its development. This will in turn make us realize the urgent need for constant power provision, safe road construction/repairs, portable water, erection of adequate and affordable housing, cum up to par telecommunication systems. The erection of these infrastructures will naturally spur industrialization.The sum total of these will put pressure on the Nigerain govt to open up our airports, waterways, and strategic cities for for international business activities. We would then have our international airports, sea/river ports, foreign embassies, and consulalar offices in place. All these would aid and quicken our Biafra nationhood.

On the other hand, if some of us here, including our "leaders" and "rich" businessmen want a romance with the Hausa/Fulani and Yoruba, then we should cut the crap and start looking for ways to be accepted by these tribes without being killed by them at whim.

It means that we have accepted that we cannot make it on our own without the aid of these tribes. Inter-marriages with these tribes will also make them have pity on us and dilute the scourge of our Igboness. It also mean our acceptance of third class citizenship in Nigeria in order to gain employment and shelter from Hausa/Fulani and Yoruba.

We would also ask them for help in the development of Igboland. They'd have to directly award the contracts for Igboland/road development to the foreign contractors (Julius Berger, et al) who built and developed the roads, housing, industries in Hausa/Yorubaland...instead of our contract-chasing "leaders" and "rich" businessmen who embezzle for their selfish greed.

We'd further ask their assistance in flushing out and punishing our Igbo "leaders" mired in 419 rip-offs, and gangsterism against fellow Igbos.

Finally, we'd ask them to erect functional banks for us, make us managers and supervise them for us.

So, if they agree to do the above for us and succeed in it, many closet one-Nigerians masquerading as secessionists will not be able to contain their joy at 'this fortune" that smiled upon them.

However, if we say it is Biafra we want, we have to be prepared to massively, constantly, and actively fund and participate in the struggle for Biafra. Lip service is not enough. Bemoaning our injustice by the Hausa/Fulani/Yoruba will not cut it. It is a sheer carp out. The rehearsal of the evil visited upon us by these people while clutching unto these same people is a disgraceful flaw on us. This hypocritical harping has begun sounding like a broken record.

Researching and questioning the deeds of our "leaders" and "rich" businessmen, including making them accountable, are great starting points. Before we speak about certain issues that border on covert and not-so-covert engineerings of international relations matters, let us get to the library, internet, and other useful sources of such information, and arm ourselves first, with the facts. Once we do, we'd find out that truth can be stranger than fiction. When we do so, we will appreciate the real issues facing Biafra. This in turn, would allow us to make the appropriate decision and modes of operation regarding Biafra.

If we cannot do this, I'm afraid that it's mere rhetorics we will continue to engage in. It serves no purpose than to expose our myopic ignorance which we'd still be wallowing in, in the next thirty years...should we fail to get our acts together. We are known for excessive and segregative meetings that yield nothing. We have adopted blind "elder-worship." We've also adopted a "see no evil, hear no evil, do no evil" behavior. They gotta stop.

I concur with your points, I am inclined to believe that the Yorubas have more contempt for the Igbos than the Mallams. The word Biafra sends them into pannick attack. Some Igbos can go ahead and continue their friendships with Yorubas, but as a nation NdiIgbo should not make the mistake of that unholly alliance like in 1967.

Amanda,

Excellent points, be rest assured that some of our Igbo forumites are not as Politically adept as you are, you have continued to bring some of them to par through your incisive analysis of developements both global and parochial. You may not know this, but you have taught some forumites the art of deductive reasoning when reading highly and skillfully written articles. So I say many are reading and learning. Have you given a thought to an editorial contributor?

However, I do not think that there ever has been any consideration of including ooduaa territory in Biafra- in short, there is no hope of igbos and yorubas ever coexisting in the same nation.

Dont get me wrong, this does not mean that I hate yorubas, but rather that I appreciate, that historically and ethnically they are a people who are distinct from my people, and I think that there is little point in our staying together when it is quite clear that our peoples temparements are diagonally opposed to each other.

Whether or not they support Biafra is also a mute point---its not them we are going to poll at our referendum!!!

In short, my attitude towards them is. laissez faire-- they are neither here nor there, and that has been their history.

Let us not forget that if not for their great betrayals Nigeria would have seized to exist 34 years ago.

Now they want out---thats their PROBLEM, I am too busy minding my own buisness, getting my own people out of Nigeria, that I have no time to spare on the Yoruba struggle.

In any case, I am sure that when they do decide, they have many people to assist them.

However, I would always co operate with these people with extreme caution.

While you are at it, may I refer you to this link: dry port
Here is the cliche:

quote:

---

The Shippers Council chief executive, however, said that while states like Oyo, Kano, Plateau, Bauchi and Ogun had provided parcels of land and indicated their readiness to participate in the project, the Abia State government is yet to show interest and respond to the aspiration of the shippers in that zone for a dry port to be located in Aba.

---

Someone please tell Nobiorah that he is writing craps - with all due apologies.

I realised the article I pasted above had the first letter "F" of the first word "For" of the first sentence missing.

Amanda

Don't me wrong, I do believe in the right to Igbo self determination. I always have.

The mistake most african countries made when they became "independent" was to assume the independence of the fraudulent colonial
identities instead of negotiating and assuming independence of the authentic african nationalities.

Mr Kwame Nkurumah was aware of this, he change the name of his country from Goldcoast to Ghana. He knew the Brits saw and regarded the land of his various peoples as just the "Goldcoast". He sought to correct this by adopting a more authentic name relevant to the people.

His mistake was that his solution addressed the cosmetics without addressing the foundational issues of the "nation-state".

When the test came Ghana was weak structurally to counter the interference of the U.S/U.K. Nkurumah resorted to extreme centralisation and alienated his people further. His "Africa must unite" project never took off and Ghana was to face a tough time ahead.

I have diverged a bit, but not without reason. My seeking a less tense and to some extent brotherly relationship with the Yoruba in no way makes me less determined in my cause of self determination.

I have come to realise that the majority of Yorubas in my generation and to good extent the older generation do not really understand Igbos. Hence my use of term "new understand". They don't really understand our pain, frustration and aspirations. How else does one explain the outburst by the Obasanjo & co.? I say the ignorance has to be tackled.

My dear sister, we need to educate the Yoruba-Nigerians as much as we can. At the same time focus our energies on Igbo our self-determination. The Yorubas who are willing will learn those who are not will continue in their misconceptions and ignorance, that is life.

Again, my intention is not to advocate servitude for Igbos in Nigeria, far from it.
Rather, we must employ as much diplomacy as we can muster and put it to good effect (towards nationalities within Nigeria and states outside Nigeria).

For instance, I remember when the June 12 saga occurred many Yoruba people spoke openly and convincely about seccession from the Nigeria. Is it not time to remind Mr So and So of their utterances and the inconsistences. And ask why?

Regarding Nkrumah, he was the best leader and nationalist that Ghana and Africa ever had. If Zik of Africa was half Igbo nationalistic as Nkrumah, Ndigbo would have fared better that they are doing. Zik was in Ghana running a newpaper company until the war broke out. He packed up, left, and became pro-Nigerian. He looked the other way while his Igbos were being slaughtered and starved to death. I wonder when the Igbos would ever have a stiff-spined leader...like Nkrumah or Rawlings. Ghana is way too ahead of Nigeria. The grounding that Nkrumah gave to Ghanaians have served them well even till date. Please don't compare Nkrumah's Ghana to Ziks/Babangida/Obasanjo's Nigeria. We thumb our noses on the Ghanaians in empty pride while they know our history and problems more that we do.

You said, "They don't really understand our pain, frustration and aspirations. How else does one explain the outburst by the Obasanjo & co.? I say the ignorance has to be tackled."

The Yoruba do not need to feel our pain or feel pity for us. Success is the best revenge. Let Ndigbo exit Yorubaland en masse, move back into Igboland, develop it, and make it the successful/prosperous land of their dream. That is the way to earn a respectful brotherly relations with the Yoruba. Groveling before Yoruba as we are doing and asking them to understand our pains, frustrations and aspirations is very naive and unrealistic. They are our rivals, and every rival want to gain and maintain the upper hand. Ndigbo should learn the rule of the supremacy game. They will not learn it in subserviency to Yoruba.
This is why Obasanjo can make as much derogatory outbursts against Ndigbo as he could. Ndigbo's "leaders" grovel at his feet on a regular basis. They are feeble and cowed. I'm afraid, we are the ones who are ignorant, instead of Obasanjo/Yoruba.

From your statement: ..."we need to educate the Yoruba-Nigerians as much as we can. At the same time focus our energies on Igbo our self-determination. The Yorubas who are willing will learn those who are not will continue in their misconceptions and ignorance, that is life."

Again, we are the ones who need re-education. We are confused and misguided. What are we still doing in Yorubaland, helping them with maximum employment and development for their people, giving them daily ammunition to trounce us in their land, getting our goods looted and arsoned by their thugs, paying taxes for the continued development of their cities and propping up their leaders in office? In Alaba, Idumota, etc, markets, they extort exhorbitant money from the Igbo businesses, harass them, and often times deprive them of their goods and lives. Their police is also an accomplice in these crimes. Yet the Igbos dig in their heels over there and cower before the Yoruba. Where is the Igbo pride, positive ingenuity, courage, and commonsense?

With these ill-treatments, they are trying to educate us to leave their homeland and go to develop ours. The Yorubas are not having misconception and ignorance. They are spelling it out to us that we are not wanted in Yorubaland, that we should stop using the pretense of non-existent "one Nigeria" to infiltrate their land. The Hausa/Fulani are chanting the same mantra to us. We are the ignorant ones for not recognizing this handwriting on the wall and acting upon it. Have the Igbos started their exodus from Yoruba/hausa land(s) yet? We are not getting it, at all.

"...my intention is not to advocate servitude for Igbos in Nigeria, far from it.
Rather, we must employ as much diplomacy as we can muster and put it to good effect (towards nationalities within Nigeria and states outside Nigeria)." ~AfricaWest

If we insist on our servitude in Yoruba and Hausa enclaves by living under pressure and tension with them, we will only be employing diplomacy of the mind. Other nationalities/tribes of Nigeria will only respect us and pay attention to our diplomacy if (1) we vacate their lands to Igboland. (2) We take on to the task of developing Igboland. (3) Make our thiefy and fraudulent "leaders" accountable. (4) Thorough knowledge of the magnitude of our handicap and its solution.
Then, when we engage in diplomacy with others, we must have acquired leverage and the right rules of engagement.

"I remember when the June 12 saga occurred many Yoruba people spoke openly and convincely about seccession from the Nigeria. Is it not time to remind Mr So and So of their utterances and the inconsistences. And ask why?" ~ AfricaWest

It is disheartening that we are expending energy toward the action/inactions of the Yoruba regarding Yoruba's affairs. We must resist that temptation. We should, instead, channel our energy toward our betterment and development of Igboland. Let us concern ourselves with ways to move Ndigbo forward in our Igboland. The issues that touches us, ourselves nearer are best served when we invest our efforts toward removing the logs in our eyes first, that way, we can acquire a better vision in order to point out other tribes' flaws.

It is my hope that Ndigbo...in Diaspora, at home, educated, uneducated, literate, illiterate, skilled, unskilled, employed, unemployed, young, old, titled, and untitled would genuinely and unrelentlessly begin to quest for the knowledge about issues that has reduced the Igbos to a disgraced shell of a people. When they do, the quickening light will awaken wisdom buried deep within. With this wisdom, they'd finally acknowledge that their existence as a distinct people is at great stake, and that it is best to have freedom and dignity as a distinct people or nothing, at all.

I have pondered over your suggestion that Igbos return to Igboland and develop it.
This view has been proffered by some other people I have listened to beyond this forum.

However, lets look at this very carefully. No nation/state in the world has its entire population within its own borders. Even the advanced economies like the U.S, Germany, Japan, U.K, France e.t.c all have significant numbers of their citizenry outside their borders.

We should not allow the "one Nigeria" propaganda get to us. Its simply dishonest for they to tell us that in order for us to have the right to self-determination we all will have to live in Igboland. It is the very "big lie" that belongs to the corrupt and morally bankrupt "one Nigeria".

Even if the Biafran State is fully established tomorrow, there will be those who will prefer to live and work else where and perhaps remain in "one Nigeria".
That in no way negates our right to self determination.

Turning to the issue of developing Igboland, I say those who live beyond the borders of Igboland can still join whole-heartedly in developing and industrialising Igboland without actually living there.

With the artificial economy in "one Nigeria" today, many people converge upon the urban centres seeking jobs and improvements to their lives. If they were to stay at home or their locality, chances are they will reduce their chances to jobs and self improvement.

I believe we need the right approach, perhaps we in the diaspora can sponsor a professorial seat to focus on this issue at a respected university. Armed with objective information, we can co-ordinate resources to lift the Igbo economy and perhaps enthrone a parallel economy that will transend the "one Nigeria" economy.

I have mooted the Igbo Diaspora Bank idea several times in different threads. Given the industry of the Igbos, we can establish trade insurance, trade financing systems e.t.c that will not depend on the "one Nigeria" currency or banking system.

My sister, it is possible and will happen in time. With the information technology systems on the market today and pace of business, the bankrupt "one Nigeria" or "biafraNigeria" is too slow, obstructive, ignorant and backward that we have to transend it in very creative ways. At present your option is a viable one to a limited extent, however, combined with Igbo-diaspora (including diaspora-Nigeria) energy/money, Igboland will in fact enter the post-industrial age in 10 yrs - 15 yrs.

And this can occur without massive investments from the thieving "one Nigeria" corrupt government.

What do you say?

What you fail to realize is that nations like the US, Germany, Japan, UK, France, etc., all have in common are that (1) they are developed nations. Before they gained their independence, their citizens abode within and collectively fought for independence and won. The US citizens didn't remain in Britain and wait till others in US fought it for them...same with the Germans, French, Italians, etc.
(2) These nations adopted nationalistic system of govt that helped them develop their national economy, security, and interests. Afterward, they adopted capitalism. Capitalism allows the flagging in of other developing nationals for exploitation as chreap labor for further development and enrichment of the above nations called the developed West.

Biafra, on the other hand, is un-developed. It is the mass relocation of Igbos/Biafrans back to their land that will spur its development. Nobody is using "one Nigeria" propaganda against us but us. We use the self-defeating pretense of "one Nigeria" to run away from our land to be in hostile lands instead of forging together to develop it. Our cheap labor and willingness to be exploited has enriched our persecutors.

Since Nigeria is practising crude capitalism, it is the Igbos that are availing themselves as cheap labor to Hausa/Fulani and Yoruba. You are being used to further develop and maintain the economies of these nationalities and (in the overall) Nigeria. Therefore, if some of you prefer to live and work in Nigeria, self determination will be elusive to Ndigbo.

The urgent need for a Biafra state will not be a priority...just as it is not as at now, to these same people. If this is the case, Ndigbo has no clouth to complain about their massacre and subjugation by Hausa/Fulani and Yoruba in Nigeria, and no nation would pay attention to their grouse.

To be serious about independence, Ndigbo must move back to Igboland and develop it. I cannot over-stress this. They must acquire the spirit of Igbo nationalism...I don't mean in mere rhetorics.
Even as we speak, the Hausa/Fulani has bought up land in Onitsha. The Yoruba and the Oyibo have started making inroads toward the purchase of Igbo land at strategic areas thru their front men....your "leaders and rich businessmen."

In the next ten to fifteen years, those of us "who prefer to live and work elsewhere" will be dispossessed, but are ignorant of it. Rather, we'd heap ignorant praise and echoes of Igbo success at the "development of Igboland and availability of affordable/up to par housing in Igboland. Igbo "managers" and "professionals" will be hired to manage these real estate properties and business investments. The trouble for Ndigbo will begin when they start experiencing discrimination in employment in Igboland where other nationalities are employed and approved for better/cheaper house rentals in preference against the Igbos, and when the Igbos want to own any of these real estates, only to discover that they are owned by Hausa/Fulani or Yoruba or Oyibo or the Arabs/other nationals...and that they are not for sale. Then, Ndigbo will begin to appreciate the meaning of occupation and slavery. However, it will be too late. I wonder who we would be crying out to regarding marginalization.

Your idea of Igbo Diaspora Bank will not work with our current disorganization, lack of trust and accountability and unwillingness to credible commitment. If Ndigbo in Diaspora cannot make a monthly financial commitment toward the Biafra Actualization cause, what yardstick is there to be utilized as proof of their commitment toward an Igbo Diaspora bank. Unfortunately, our leaders keep proving that they cannot be trusted with money. It doesn't bouy investor confidence.

We don't need a professorial seat at any university to begin implementing positive change in Igboland. We need to make the so called "Igbo leaders" who fraudulently embezzle the capital for Igboland development accountable. Their bank accounts must be frozen, business activities investigated, and diverted toward the development of Igboland. Even on this, Obasanjo, the Hausa/Fulani, and most Western countries would co-operate with Ndigbo to fish out a significant number of these hidden accounts which woud be used in the development of Igboland. It will also serve as a lesson and a deterrent to future un-nationalistic Igbo embezzlers.

Again, we'd proceed to extract the agreement from the Nigerian govt (this is easy to do) to keep all yearly fiscal allocations for development of Igboland in a trust fund, to be released to assigned non-Ohaneze/igbo leader contractors upon the satisfactory completion and inspection of their works by the Igbo grassroots/nationalists and appointees.

I believe that even Obasanjo, and the leaders of Hausa/Fulani are willing and able to work with the seekers of change and development for Igboland (us) if we employ the right approach. They know that Ohaneze and other "Igbo leaders" has usurped our birthrights. They have no respect or regard for our "leaders" and they exhibit it thru their senseless slaughter and dispossession of our people and their properties and open derision of our so called leaders, in public. This is not a secret.

These two procedures I've pointed out, if being implemented will revolutionalize the Igbo psyche for positive development and non-tolerance for lack of accountability, transparency, and development.

If we cannot stiffen our spines and start making these moves, we might as well shut up and enjoy our life of servitude wherever we escape to.

If we agree to this idea, some of us can go to work toward its effect.

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. If Ndigbo in Diaspora cannot make a monthly financial commitment toward the Biafra Actualization cause, what yardstick is there to be utilized as proof of their commitment toward an Igbo Diaspora bank.

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