The attention of Ndiigbo Generation 1960-70+ has been drawn to some 'serving my pocket, but that of Ndiigbo's interests' rhetoric credited to one Chief Martin Okeke, purportedly representing the Odenigbo Cultural Forum, in respect of the former Biafran Leader, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu's declaration of intent to contest the Presidency of Nigeria, come 2003. These rhetoric sought in the main to belittle Dim Ojukwu's stature, influence and relevance in Igboland and beyond, while dishing out undeserving credits to Rtd. General Mathew Aremu Olusegun Obasanjo, a man who is on record as the Chief Hater of Ndiigbo and whose well-known actions as a War Commander during the war of genocide levied on Ndiigbo (1967-70), as a former Military Dictator (1976-1979) and hate-ridden actions and utterances in the recent past as a selected President of Nigeria (1999-date), continue to mark him out as one man who should take more than 80% blame for the subjugation of Ndiigbo in Nigeria. The above are notorious facts that do not need any further elaboration.
We are a group representing a generation the likes of Odenigbo group claim to be working on behalf of its interests, we being the present and future of Ndiigbo. We had since made a declarative statement on this bogus claim under which the likes of Chief Martin Okeke hide to sustain board memberships and ministerial portfolios, at the detriment of the larger interests of Ndiigbo. We made our position known, when we stated in our debutante Press Release "Igbo "Leaders" Set To Further Rubbish Ironsi", that "Our Distinct Destiny IS IN OUR HANDS." In that Press Release, we factually dealt with the track records of one Rochas Okorocha, the convener of a 'Peace Meeting' in Umuahia. We appropriately situated his motivation for that move. Also, we warned every Igbo group or person(s) that the era of using Ndiigbo's name to garner and sustain crumbs of personal political and economic handouts from our oppressors in Abuja is over. This we insist is truly the position in our crusade for the interests of our generation and succeeding generations of Ndiigbo in Nigeria and around the world, now and in the years ahead.
We want to state that Chief Martin Okeke's statement falls within our assessment of the above. It represents exactly Ojo Maduekwe's statement of labelling the entire Igbo Nation as "idiotic" when the issue of a Nigerian President of Igbo extraction was discussed and a consensus reached on it by Ndiigbo in a summit in Enugu last year. It was evidently another Rochas Okorocha's act. Aptly Chief Martin Okeke, like Ojo Maduekwe, has spoken after some of the best of Igbo minds gathered under the banner of Ikenga, a group we perceive to be more credible than Odenigbo, bearing in mind that the likes of Professor Anya .O. Anya, Professor Joe Irukwu and several other Igbo sons we hold in very high regards for their towering leadership qualities and intellectual content, were at the function in which far-reaching pronouncements were made on the issue.
We state unequivocally, that the said Chief Okeke was not just demeaning Ojukwu in preference to his Slave Master, General Obasanjo, but issuing a veiled threat to Ndiigbo in general and in particular to all presidential aspirants of Igbo extraction.
Whereas our group is working assiduously with some other groups with similar ultimate objective such as ours: the establishment and sustenance of a Sovereign State of Biafra, we share whole-heartedly some of the sentiments the Ikenga group expressed through its lead speaker on the occasion, Achike Udenwa, the Executive Governor of Imo State. We whole-heartedly believe that Nigeria needs to be restructured along the lines of the historically vindicated vision of our former leader, the Oxford-trained, General Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu as contained in the "Aburi Accord." We will support with our full might and unwavering resolve any step in this direction.
At this juncture we wish to remind all for posterity, that it was Rtd. General Yakubu Gowon's recalcitrant and intransigent position and outright refusal to implement fully this Accord reached at Aburi Ghana, in a meeting in which both Northern, Western and Mid Western Leaders were in fully represented alongside their Eastern counterparts led by General Ojukwu, that resulted in the WAR OF GENOCIDE in which our generation bore and still bear its most wicked impacts.
Also, we wish to place it on record that General Yakubu Gowon being of poor education at the time and having a little mind of his own, acted out of the advice of the former colonial power, Britain. Our generation will continue to hold him (Gowon) directly responsible and Britain vicariously responsible for the Genocide committed against Biafrans during that war and some of the burden Ndiigbo, especially our generation continue to bear in a 'Nigerian Nation State' constructed by them (British) to sustain largely their economic interests and the interests of the feudalistic Core North. Ndiigbo Generation 1960-70+ will continue to hold Gowon directly responsible and the British vicariously responsible for the genocide committed against us till such a time they are able to make appropriate and acceptable restitution to our generation.
We strongly deplore the statements credited to that Chief Okeke as carried by Thisday Newspaper of 17/03/2002. We condemn it in its entirety. For the avoidance of doubt, we wish to state that our generation will not hesitate to take every step rooted in the conventional wisdom of our ancestors and in tune with civilised conduct and our peaceful disposition to our cause, to deal decisively with such people like that Chief Martin Okeke, if the need further arises beyond our position in this press statement.
We recognise everyone's right to freedom of expression. But such a right must be expressed with a clear conscience. It must not be expressed to the dictates of achieving and sustaining ephemeral personal advantages over Igbo National interests. Clearly, Odenigbo and that Chief Martin Okeke's position belongs to a right freedom of expression exercised to achieve everything, but Igbo National interests. It is as "IDIOTIC" as Ojo Maduekwe's position, who is part of this group. We know Ojo Maduekwe has been able to retain his position as Minister in the extremely unstable, violence-laden, inept and corrupt government of General Olusegun Obasanjo for maligning and ridiculing the entire Igbo Nation. We know that Chief Okeke's position will enable him keep his Board position. In the Igbo of our generation and future generations, this type of shameful, irresponsible, repulsive and highly repugnant behaviour has no place! It will not be tolerated henceforth!! A word is enough for the wise.
Nkem Ekeopara Co-ordinator, Ndiigbo Generation 1960-70+ SA, 18/03/2002
___________________ He likened the second coming of Christ to the realisation of the Biafran dream, stating that at a time people least expect, the much sought Biafra would be a reality..Rev. Fr. Cornelius Ezeiloaku Posts: 622 | From: santiago, chile | Registered: Jan 2002
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"At this juncture we wish to remind all for posterity, that it was Rtd. General Yakubu Gowon's recalcitrant and intransigent position and outright refusal to implement fully this Accord reached at Aburi, Ghana, in a meeting in which both Northern, Western and Mid Western Leaders were fully represented, alongside their Eastern counterparts led by General Ojukwu, that resulted in the WAR OF GENOCIDE in which our generation bore and still bears its most wicked impacts. - Ndiigbo Generation 1960-70+"
okwyonwuka,
Many thanks for this post. 'Anaighi agwa ochi nti na-agha esula.' Like you, We remain proud of being members of this well-focused and goal-driven generation.
I hope the world is listening.
I hope the Martin Okekes and Ojo Maduekwes are listening.
Our generation is set to return Igboland, to its glorious past. We are set to achieve Biafra for ourselves without firing a shot. All Hail Biafra, the Land of Freedom! On Aburi WE Stand!!
___________________ ON Posts: 136 | From: London | Registered: Mar 2002
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I think that Nd'Igbo Generation 1960 - 1970+ should adopt the position that Ekwueme should withdraw from the presidency and support General Ojukwu. If elections hold in Biafra in 2003, and if Biafrans are to produce the next president of BiafraNigeria, then that president must be a Biafran whose devotion to our people is unquestioned.
We have to produce the leader and present him or her to BiafraNigeria. A repeat of the Hausa-Fulani imposition of Obusonjo must not be tolerated. I will strongly oppose Ekwueme for president. Dr. Modotel has had his opportunity to show what he can do and he did nothing.
___________________ No Biafran will be permitted to play Mother Theresa to the Yoruba and Hausa-Fulani, but play Osama Bin Laden to the Igbo or Biafrans! Posts: 1182 | Registered: Mar 2001
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posted
Damian, I am personaly of the same view like you, Ekwueme can never serve our interest and we will not need those mallams to impose just any body on us. a real Biafran only or nobody. Biafra is our price.
___________________ He likened the second coming of Christ to the realisation of the Biafran dream, stating that at a time people least expect, the much sought Biafra would be a reality..Rev. Fr. Cornelius Ezeiloaku Posts: 622 | From: santiago, chile | Registered: Jan 2002
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"I think that Nd'Igbo Generation 1960 - 1970+ should adopt the position that Ekwueme should withdraw from the presidency and support General Ojukwu. If elections hold in Biafra in 2003, and if Biafrans are to produce the next president of BiafraNigeria, then that president must be a Biafran whose devotion to our people is unquestioned." - Damian
Damian and Okwy,
I think I share you views. My reading of that eloquent Press Release and arising from our deliberations with the Co-ordinator, the position of Nd'Igbo Generation 1960 - 1970+ is very clear on the issue.
A full-blooded Biafran like General Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu will certainly get the loyalty and backing of the group. The scenerio I foresee is Biafrans emerging as sole candidates of PDP, APP and any new party. They will then fight it out with an AD candidate. AD can only win elections in the West, Yoruba land. Constitutionally, that will not make anyone president. We wait. We watch. We remain eternally vigilant. And we see how things develop.
___________________ ON Posts: 136 | From: London | Registered: Mar 2002
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I concur with my fellow 1960 to 1970+ generation who have spoken. There are so many reason to oppose Dr Ekwueme's presidency, First and foremost Dr Ekwueme have a questionable Igbo credentials. Second when Ekwueme concided the presidency to Obasanjo, if Ekwuenme had the Igbo interets in mind he would have gotten some concrete promise out of Obasanjo. Third during shagari time Ekwueme was second in command yet Igbos and Biafrans did not fare any better.
Like Brother Damian said we have to support an Igbo who have unquestionable Igbo credentials, General Ojukwu is the only one who fit that mould and the only one who can deliver.
posted
Within the deep recesses of his mind, Ekwueme knows that he's nothing more than an impotent puppet that feels no affiliation to the Igbo. I acknowledge this wholeheartedly and would go so far as to say that any such Igbo that attempts to water down our demands on the entity Nigeria to desist from persecuting us, should be excommunicated from the tribe!
I firmly believe that a reintroduction of the Osu system with some modifications is our only way. Then arms dealers like Nzeribe, traitors like Azikiwe / Asika and perpetrators like Ekwueme might begin to come to their senses.
IT IS TIME TO EXCOMMUNICATE THE LOT! WE THE GENERATION OF NEW, EDUCATED AND ENLIGHTENED, UNBOUND BY WESTERN RELIGIOUS FALLACIES, ENDURING AND DETERMINED DEMAND OUR RIGHTFUL PLACE IN AFRICA, AND ESPECIALLY IN BIAFRA. NO MORE TURNING THE OTHER CHEEK MY PEOPLE.
BY ALL MEANS NECCESSARY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posts: 42 | From: Europe | Registered: Jan 2002
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