posted
The changing political climate fills me with great joy. Here we have a situation where the clamour for fairness in the calculation of the derivation to producing states has presented the possibility of disintegration without the Igbo being the main cause (of sorts). I wonder if the Biafra of the late sixties is however viable in today's political climate. Would the other ethnic groupings opt for such an arrangement or rather go off and create their own nation states? Do we as Ndigbo really want such an arrangement? By all means we shall have a brotherly relationship with our neighbours cos 'they are us and we are them' to a large extent. However, are our destinies joined?
___________________ Free Uwazurike Now!
Now is the winter of our discontent...made glorious summer by this [rising] sun of York. Posts: 325 | From: London | Registered: Jul 2005
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You raise an interesting question, but I think that the enterprising spirit of Igbo people will make Biafra great regardless to whether our South-South neighbors are a part of it.
Even without oil(but Biafra has oil), the standard of living of the Biafran people, if left to themselves, I think, would attract foreigners to the point where a quota on immigration might have to be adopted. Of course this is conjecture, but it is based upon characteristic values of a people. For instance, Israel has no oil but it is quite prosperous in the midst of enemies; not to say that the peoples of the South would be enemies, but rather that whatever the opinion of others, a hard-working, capable, and dilligent people will rise above all others in an atmosphere of freedom and enterprise, even if others are blessed with fortuitous and gratuitous abundance.
___________________ The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves... Posts: 660 | From: Valle del Sol | Registered: Nov 2004
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I'm with you on that Greg. The prosperity of Nd'igbo in a nation of their own is not at all in doubt. We only have to cast our minds back to the war years and the ingenuity displayed under those conditions.
Many have however raised doubts due to reasons of geography i.e Igboland is landlocked. This I consider an extremely small price to pay for freedom + justice. I believe that our cordial relationship with our southern neighbours will guarantee us access to the sea + even if they try to be 'funny' the indomitable spirit of the Igbo will find a way. After all, countries like Luxembourg + Switzerland are landlocked yet continue to prosper. Thus, being landlocked doesn’t necessarily translate to economic disaster. Indeed, Nigeria now has to ‘beg’ Switzerland to return stolen monies deposited in its banks.
My major concern however is that most advocates seem to be solely focused on the realisation of the Biafran dream as originally conceptualised + accomplished during the war years. I fear this idea, given current events, is outmoded.
___________________ Free Uwazurike Now!
Now is the winter of our discontent...made glorious summer by this [rising] sun of York. Posts: 325 | From: London | Registered: Jul 2005
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My understanding is that Biafra is not landlocked. Port Harcourt is an Igbo city. It's pre-colonial name is an Igbo name. The Ikwerre are an Igbo sub-group though they like many others may have renounced their Igbo blood for fear of being murdered and/or persecuted by the Nigerians. Port Harcourt(I understand) was handed over to the Ijaw as a spoil of war. This is not very much different from the Alsace-Lorraine being given to France after Germany's surrender in 1917; but it was German land. In the same way, Port Harcourt is Igboland. The following is from an article entitled CHIEF CLERK AND CHIEF ANTHONY ENAHORO OF OLD BENDEL STATE ARE NOW SHOWING THEIR TRUE COLORS by Vincent Onyenowe Erondu.
___________________ The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves... Posts: 660 | From: Valle del Sol | Registered: Nov 2004
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I found your post illuminating as I hadn’t previously come across the statements made by Clerk. He is of course entitled to his opinion however unsound. Moreover, one more enemy of Nd’igbo will not shake our resolve.
Concerning the Ikwerre, I discount them because, as you rightly pointed out, they have indicated a lack of interest in returning to the larger Igbo community. How do you propose this problem is addressed though? If they stick to their guns (pardon the pun) after the quest for an Igbo nation attains the level of fruition, do we forcefully reacquire said southern territories thereby forcing the Ikwerre to be part of the Igbo nation or do we just pencil it down to an unfortunate occurrence which we will do well not to stir up? I for one am in full support of self determination in whatever form. If they want to be on their own I think it would be wise to let them else we will be accused of the very thing we accuse others of.
___________________ Free Uwazurike Now!
Now is the winter of our discontent...made glorious summer by this [rising] sun of York. Posts: 325 | From: London | Registered: Jul 2005
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"Concerning the Ikwerre, I discount them because, as you rightly pointed out, they have indicated a lack of interest in returning to the larger Igbo community." - Igboblood
It is a shame that even at this late date, we continue to question the Igboness of some Igbo. I am reminded that this question even arose at a meeting last year while members of a coalition were preparing for the Igbo presentation to the UN in Geneva, when the name of the presenter came up. Thank God that most of the members of the coalition were not interested in division, and that most of them understand that, “if it quarks like a duck, looks like a duck and walks like a duck, it definitely is a duck!” Maazi Uche Okwukwu made the Igbo presentation of the Human Rights abuses of the 'British Birthed Aomination - Nigeria' before the UN in Geneva.
Question: How many Igbo are more Igbo than the true Igbo son below, an Igbo who continue to make Igbo proud?
The Director of CRIDO, Uche Okwukwu Esq. visited the said MASSOB Activists in detention on Monday September 23, 2002 at Owerri, and the same said Monday September 23, 2002, Uche Okwukwu filed a petition on behalf of the 20 MASSOB Activists and in the petition he demanded that the 20 Activists should be released from unlawful detention or be Charged to Court immediately.
Unlawful Detention of Massob Members September 30, 2002
"Even if they see you with a Biafran flag they charge for treason" Uche Okwukwu Massob's legal advisor March 17, 2005 Fury at Nigeria Football Treason BBC
Guess what? HE IS AN IKWERRE IGBO!
Posts: 166 | From: chicago | Registered: Jun 2003
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Originally posted by Oha ka: "It is a shame that even at this late date, we continue to question the Igboness of some Igbo."
You misunderstand my stance Oha ka. The Ikwerre are without doubt true Igbo sons + daughters. Their ‘Igboness’ is not in question nor has it ever been (if we limit our assessment purely to historical and cultural factors). You have to admit though that the debate (if we can call it that) began with the Ikwerre themselves denying their Igbo roots. The debate continues ‘at this late date’ because a number of them have to this day continued to deny their links to Nd’igbo. At ‘best’ some others acknowledge these links but clearly evince a refusal to have any part in an Igbo agenda. What do we do? Force them? If a sub-group wants to pull out I’d be one of the many willing to wave them goodbye - painful as that may be. This position is not limited to the Ikwerre. In fact, if any state/section/grouping in Igboland wants to pull out they are well within their rights to do so and that may indeed be expedient. Forcing them to remain with us will only retard our growth. We only need pple dedicated to the development of our nation.
In the end, deep down, I wish that when things change they would indicate a longing to return of their own free will. Within this desire of mine rests a sneaky suspicion that Ikwerre leaders are not necessarily espousing the views of their pple. Their return is my very fervent and sincere wish – it is my prayer. They are after all a part of us and our nation will remain incomplete as it were, without their inclusion.
___________________ Free Uwazurike Now!
Now is the winter of our discontent...made glorious summer by this [rising] sun of York. Posts: 325 | From: London | Registered: Jul 2005
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Our fore-parents have a saying that, “those who ask questions are rarely lost (not a very good translation)”, more importantly they solved the equation of life, “truth is life or (my interpretation – truth is the foundation of life)”, Ndeewo.
We know that the debate had ranged amongst Ndi Igbo about Ibo and Igbo (who is Ibo and who is Igbo), and probably continues to this day. When Babylon was at the height of its power, an Ibo (Igbo) by name “Abba (Arikha) Ben Ibo”, the founder of the “Babylonia Talmud Center”, was amongst the Ibo (Igbo) who surfaced in Babylon.
This debate would be considered minor compared to Igbo denying its root.
Why would any Igbo deny her root? Was the Ikwerre the only Igbo forced to deny her Igboness? Had other Igbo been afforded the opportunity at that time to deny their Igboness, would they have taken it? Why would any member of the Igbo nation deem it necessary to deny their Igboness?
Our fore-parents also have a saying that, “only a tree will standstill when its life is being threatened”.
Yes, it all goes back to the Biafra-Nigeria war. But why should losing a war bring about denial of one’s roots? Are Ndi Igbo the first nation to loose a war? Did other nations who were defeated change their identities? Is this about survival?
If the total Igbo leaders, starting with Mr. Ojukwu - who Ndi Igbo believed had left Biafra to carry Igbo/Biafra case to the world, had done what they were supposed to do, mobilize Ndi Igbo in diaspora and bring the attention of the world to the genocide and holocaust against Ndi Igbo, while seeking for relief of the Nigerian occupation of Igbo land amongst other things, would the persecution, killing, marginalization, humiliation of Igbo been so intensified to the point that the Igbo components would have no choice but to seek salvation for themselves, any why possible? If the ‘center cannot hold’, would the parts not fall off? If the head is rotten, will the body not die?
Umu Igbo, now you begin to understand the anger of some of us against this abominable leadership; a leadership that sold out completely and totally to the enemy; a leadership that continues to be sponsored by those who do not wish Igbo well; a leadership that has forgotten about the COLLECTIVE; a leadership that must be rejected if Igbo is to again redeem herself; a leadership that must be told in unmistaken terms that it is no longer needed; a leadership that turned against those it was supposed to lead; A LEADERSHIP THAT MUST BE REJECTED! ALL 1966 – 2005 SO CALLED LEADERS MUST REMOVE THEMSELVES FROM IGBO AFFAIRS. THEY ARE A FAILED AND ABOMINABLE LOT – TUFIAKWA!
It is important we focus at the root problem – leadership! Solve the Igbo leadership problem and the Igbo nation will speak as one.
Thanks to the research that organizations like Ekwe Nche amongst others continue to do, even nations that were not Igbo, continue to find their Igbo roots. The solution again lies in the saying of those great geniuses – our foreparents, “Mara onwe gi – Know thy self”.
If you would like to help, get your organization (if you do not belong to an organization, join one or start one) to join the research to uncover the Igbo roots. As you can see from my mention of “Abba Ben Ibo”, Igbo roots are very deep. In fact I state that the Igbo is part of, if not the oldest and most advanced civilization the world has ever seen, a civilization that encompassed the whole world.
Oha Ka
Posts: 166 | From: chicago | Registered: Jun 2003
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posted
I appreciate your comments but must confess that I’m not sure of your position on the Ikwerre issue. It is no doubt useful to seek out other Igbo groupings yet ‘undiscovered’ but do we seek others outside the country when we have as yet been unable to demonstrate an ability to maintain Igbo unity within the country? I do not belong to any organization nor will I join or start one with the sole purpose of helping to uncover Igbo roots. That can be done later…there’ll be plenty of time after we return to a country of our own with clearly demarcated boundaries. Right now, our focus should be on liberating our nation so our brothers + sisters yet undiscovered can have a home to return to. To do this, forums like this are important because they serve to educate Nd’Igbo. As you aptly pointed out, “Mara onwe gi – know thyself” or as Socrates of old put it, “The unexamined life is not worth living” .
Under the pain of imminent death which they faced at the time, one may begin to understand at a fundamental level why the Ikwerre denied their Igbo roots. That situation has largely changed so why do they continue to deny their roots? This is something I cannot understand as it’s either they believe their lives are still in danger or they truly do not want to be a part of Nd’igbo. Both positions are worrying…particularly the latter.
As regards your condemnation of ALL Igbo leaders from 1966 to 2005, I share your position but hesitate to agree that all of them should be tarred with the same brush. Surely you do not believe that Ojukwu sold out? Or that Uwazurike is doing likewise. You assert that if our leaders did what they were supposed to have done, the attention of the international community would have been focused on the goings-on in Biafra, thus increasing awareness of our plight. But the world was aware. The world was aware because they were made aware by Biafran leaders, international reporters, NGOs and sundry church groups. Concerts were staged abroad where the likes of Jimmy Hendrix performed for free! Demonstrations were organised abroad culminating in the likes of John Lennon (member of the famous Beatles band) rejecting his MBE from the Queen because of Britain’s involvement in the war. All this was done for Biafra – for our people! Indeed, during the war Ojukwu was once on the cover of Time magazine. A magazine with a worldwide circulation comparable to very few others. Very many articles were written on the sufferings of our people. Articles written by foreign reporters who were on ground + so witnessed the atrocities visited on our people for themselves. Of course the argument can be put forward that our leaders could have done more. Such an argument may however be largely theoretical. The truth of the matter is that we were pitched against a godless and bloodthirsty enemy bent not on the touted ideal of the preservation of unity, but on a drive to systematically annihilate Nd’igbo. Below are some quotes that are salient. These provide a clear picture of the disposition of the enemies we were up against:
March 1964 (Northern House of Assembly debate)
MALLAM BASHARI UMARU: "I would like (you), as the Minister of Land and Survey, to revoke forthwith all Certificates of Occupancy from the hands of the Ibos resident in the region" (Applause)
MR. MEGIDA LAWANT: "In fact it is quite a long time that we in our part of this Region have known the Ibos and I do not think that at the moment there is any Ibo man owning a roof in Igbirra Division ... I am appealing to the Minister to make life more difficult for them ... "
ALHAJI YUSUFU BAYERO: "Mr. Chairman, I would like to appeal to the Minister of Establishments and Training if he will appeal to the Minister of Local Government about some employees who are Ibos and are working under some Native Authorities here ... I cannot see why they should be in our Region. We are all sure that they are the poorest people in the country".
ALHAJI USMAN LIMAN (Sarkin Musawa): "What brought the Ibos into this Region? They were here since the Colonial Days. Had it not been for the Colonial Rule there would hardly have been any Ibo in this Region. Now that there is no Colonial Rule the Ibos should go back to their Region. There should be no hesitation about this matter. Mr. Chairman, North is for Northerners, East for Easterners, West for Westerners and The Federation is for all." (Applause)
ALHAJI SIR AHMADU BELLO, K.B.E., Sardauna of Sokoto (The Premier): "It is my most earnest desire that every post in the Region, however small it is, to be filled by a Northerner." (Applause)
ALHAJI MUSTAFA ISMAILA ZANNA DUJUNA (Minister of Establishments and Training): "Mr. Chairman, Sir, since 1955 this Government had laid down a policy. First NORTHERNERS, second EXPATRIATES and third, NON-NORTHERNERS. Mr. Chairman, Sir, I have noted very carefully all the speeches made by all the Members in the Honourable House and I am ready to put up to my Government their views and I hope my Government will give them consideration ... I think these two things are the major things I have to answer now. One is on scholarship and the other is on how to do away with the Ibos."
ALHAJI IBRAHIM MUSA GASHASH, O.B.E. (Minister of Land and Survey): "Mr. Chairman, Sir, I do not like to take up much of the time of this House in making explanations, but I would like to assure Members that having heard their demands about Ibos holding land in Northern Nigeria my Ministry will do all it can to see that the demands of Members are met. How to do this, when to do it, all this should not be disclosed. In the course, you will all see what will happen." (Applause)
"In the light of all this it is obvious that the factors usually suggested to explain away the Nigerian genocide of 1966 namely, the Revolution of January 15, and the Unification Decree of May 24, 1966 - are, to use the words of Lord Stonham ‘vicious pretexts’ merely put forward to justify ‘evil motives’. ..."
Culled from: The Genocide Papers, by: Political Action Committee Ekwe Nche Organization P. O. Box 408250 Chicago, IL 60640 , U.S.A. Phone: 773-206-9401
Now fast-forward to the war years:
"Until now efforts to relieve the Biafran people have been thwarted by the desire of the central government of Nigeria to pursue total and unconditional victory and by the fear of the Ibo people that surrender means wholesale atrocities and genocide. But genocide is what is taking place right now - and starvation is the grim reaper. This is not the time to stand on ceremony, or to go through channels or to observe the diplomatic niceties.. The destruction of an entire people is an immoral objective even in the most moral of wars. It can never be justified; it can never be condoned." Mr. Richard Nixon, September 9, 1968 (During the Presidential Campaign). *Pray tell what receives more worldwide attention than an American Presidential election?*
"Federal troops... killed, or stood by while mobs killed, more than 5000 Ibos in Wari, Sapele, Agbor..." (New York Times, 10th January, 1968).
"I want to see no Red Cross, no Caritas, no World Council of Churches, no Pope, no missionary and no UN delegation. I want to prevent even one Ibo from having even one piece to eat before their capitulation. We shoot at everything that moves and when our troops march into the centre of Ibo territory, we shoot at everything even at things that do not move... " ( Benjamin Adekunle. Commander, 3rd Marine Commando Division, Nigerian Army).
"...it (mass starvation) is a legitimate aspect of war..." Anthony Enahoro, Nigerian Commissioner for Information at a press conference in (New York, July 1968).
"Starvation is a legitimate weapon of war, and we have every intention of using it against the rebels..." (Alison Ayida, Head of Nigerian Delegation, Niamey Peace Talks, Republic of Niger, July 1968)
"All is fair in war, and starvation is one of the weapons of war. I don't see why we should feed our enemies fat in order for them to fight harder." Chief Obafemi Awolowo (Nigerian Minister of Finance)
" ...the Ibos must be considerably reduced in number" (Lagos Policeman quoted in New York Review, 21 December, 1967)
"One word now describes the policy of the Nigerian military government towards secessionist Biafra: genocide. It is ugly and extreme but it is the only word which fits Nigeria's decision to stop the International Committee of the red Cross, and other relief agencies, from flying food to Biafra ...." Washington Post (editorial) July 2, 1969.
The above quotes serve a dual purpose. They give an insight into the true desires of our enemies and confirm the awareness of the international community. The world was aware Oha ka, they just chose to do nothing…while we died!
___________________ Free Uwazurike Now!
Now is the winter of our discontent...made glorious summer by this [rising] sun of York. Posts: 325 | From: London | Registered: Jul 2005
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I am enjoying this tete atete for a change we are having a debate here instead of a shouting match. This a classic gentlemen debate who can agree and disgree and still get their points accross. Bravo to you my brothers, Greg, Igboblood and Oha ka.
When Babylon was at the height of its power, an Ibo (Igbo) by name "Abba (Arikha) Ben Ibo," the founder of the "Babylonia Talmud Center," was among the Ibo (Igbo) who surfaced in Babylon.
Nothing at all intended. Where in heaven's places did you get this bizarre story from?
My name is Mota Ogallala Tekumseh, the proud native American!
___________________ The greatest thing about America is the right to disagree with the power structure without fear of torture or death at the hands of the government Posts: 217 | From: Ogallala, Nebraska, USA | Registered: May 2003
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“Nothing at all intended. Where in heaven's places did you get this bizarre story from?” - Mota Ogallala Tekumseh
Mota, there was a time when researching a topic might have been time consuming, but nowadays, most answers are at the touch of a button.
This is all you need: “Abba Ben Ibo”, now look it up and stop being lazy. If you want more information, the Talmud is a good place to start.
“I appreciate your comments but must confess that I’m not sure of your position on the Ikwerre issue.” - Igboblood
I could have sworn that I had made my position clear. Maybe you might want to re-read the write-up. At times it takes years to understand what I write (it must be my grammar), no insult meant. You might want to go back to what I wrote at least eight years back. What I now write are mostly repetitions, at times with minor modifications if any, of what I wrote eight years ago, either under my name, “Nnaemeka Mene Onumonu” or my praise name, “Oha Ka”.
While we are at that, tell me how many Igbo in Diaspora, excluding Igbo at the boundaries of Igbo land, are in support of the Biafara Movement? The Igbo who continue to sellout and are ready to do anything for money, where are most of them from? Most if not all the organizations that have sold out, what part of Igbo land are they from? How many Biafara Organizations in Diaspora were informed of the UN presentation in Geneva, how many of them stepped forward? Why is it that Igbo in USA who number close to a million (a very conservative figure) distance themselves from the suffering of their brethren at home and continue to preach ‘one Nigeria’ even as their brethren continue to be marginalized out of existence.
Maazi, Ikwerre is not the problem, Igbo excluding Igbo at the boundaries, are the problem! This is where most, if not all, the major Igbo traitors come from. This is where all those who have nearly destroyed Igbo come from. This is where all those who consider themselves “The Messiah”, and are ready to crown themselves god over Igbo if given the smallest opportunity, come from. This is where most of the dictators, sellouts, those without backbone, spineless, who speak out of both sides of their mouth, who have all the answers and know it all, come from.
Maazi, it is not about pointing fingers, Ikwerre, is not the problem. The problem is that Ndi Igbo have no knowledge of who they are. Ndi Igbo have bought in completely into the Western way of life, a way of life based on lies, to the point that we are now told that there are shades of truth. Tell me when our fore-parents told us that “Eziokwo bu Ndu – Truth is the foundation of life”, what truth were they talking about, Shades of truth? Can a woman be half pregnant? We now have so called Biafara Organizations that exhibit selective amnesia. They are ready to drag a so called leader through the mud as long it is not their god. Their god can steal, lie, kill and send their brethren to their death, commit every, and all abominations against Ndi Igbo and as usual they have excuses for them. To the point that they even know what their gods are thinking or what their gods meant. Their gods are greater than OHA (The Collective) and even above the law. Not only do they now worship money, they have even bought into the heathen way of life and have made a man god over themselves. Forgetting that our fore-parents told us that, “No man is god”. Even in your ‘Old Testament’ reads – “Thou say have no other God besides me”, it did not say, “Thou shall have no other God besides us”. Ndi Igbo have placed self above OHA (the Collective).
This Maazi is why Igbo must go back to find itself! This is why we must continue to research to find out who we are. If the founder of the center of the Babylonia Talmud was Igbo amongst other Igbo and if he was from the roots of David, what was David? Was he Igbo? What was the so called god ‘Jesus Christ’, was he also Igbo? What was Moses, was he Igbo? If Igbo gave the world, ‘One God’, why have Ndi Igbo turned away from the true God to worship manufactured gods – the Greek and Roman gods? Why does Igbo now talk about shades of truth, when our fore-parents knew that either it is the truth or it is a lie.
“It is no doubt useful to seek out other Igbo groupings yet ‘undiscovered’ but do we seek others outside the country when we have as yet been unable to demonstrate an ability to maintain Igbo unity within the country?” – Igboblood
How do you get a people, who had lost all confidence and trust in themselves, to regain that confidence that made them unique, a people who were ready and did deny themselves, a people that were now the butt of jokes in Nigeria, a people whose leaders had sold out completely to those that had conquered them, a nation without a head or heads, a defeated nation, a nation led by traitors who had been imposed over them, a nation that believed that their God had turned His/Her face away from them, a totally confused nation?
That Maazi was the dilemma two brethren faced in Chicago, more than eight years ago, I should know, I was one of them. We knew there was more to Igbo than met the eye. A decision was made to follow the path trod by our fore-parents, for from the little we knew, they had all the solutions. So far this Movement based on the true truth (Eziokwu bu Ndi) and the philosophy of our fore-parents continue with a batting average of 100%! The first order of the day was, “Mara onwe gi – know thyself”. We have still not scratched the surface about what Igbo is. But the little we have uncovered, have finally given Igbo course to re-examine herself. Even nations that are not Igbo in Nigeria are suddenly discovering their Igbo roots. It is the doing of “Ama Ama Amasi Amasi”, the Mighty Yah. All Praise and Glory to Mighty Yah, who in Igbo greatest hour of need did not forget His/her promise to Umu Chukwu! Maazi, Chineke, the Mighty Yah, does not need any ones help to do what has to be done, if you or any refuse to step forward, Chi Ukwu will bring those who will move Yah’s agenda. So far, only a handful of brethren continue to move the Biafara revolution in Diaspora, but a few with Yah is uncountable – All Praise and Glory to the Mighty Yah.
“I do not belong to any organization nor will I join or start one with the sole purpose of helping to uncover Igbo roots. That can be done later…there’ll be plenty of time after we return to a country of our own with clearly demarcated boundaries. Right now, our focus should be on liberating our nation so our brothers + sisters yet undiscovered can have a home to return to.” – Igboblood
Ndi Igbo are not a linear people, in fact if you wait until as you say, after you return to your country to rediscover who you are, it will be too late. Ask your Yoruba brethren who fought for their ‘June 12’. Where are they now? Who are enjoying the fruits of their labor? Is this what they had in mind? What happened to their revolution? If you have nothing in place, since nature abhors vacuum, the leadership role, will be filled in by those who have nearly destroyed Igbo, and there is nothing you can do about it. If you think Nigeria is an abomination, wait until these traitors and sellouts are entrenched in you Biafra, a nation that will become a dictatorship, where some will consider themselves above the rule of law and money can buy anything, where lies or shades of truth will rein supreme and the poor will continue to be oppressed, a nation that will be worst than what Haiti has become.
”As regards your condemnation of ALL Igbo leaders from 1966 to 2005, I share your position but hesitate to agree that all of them should be tarred with the same brush. Surely you do not believe that Ojukwu sold out? Or that Uwazurike is doing likewise.” – Igboblood
I have written enough about the Igbo leadership, and expressly about both Mr. Ojukwu and Mr. Uwazurike. Since you were able to locate the ‘Genocide Document’ a document that was prepared by the UN and presented to Ndi Igbo through the efforts of Ekwe Nche, you should have no problem locating my write-ups on both Mr. Ojukwu and Mr. Uwazurike. So far, I have not been given any reason to change my views about them, in fact events continue to show the rightness of my views!
“You assert that if our leaders did what they were supposed to have done, the attention of the international community would have been focused on the goings-on in Biafra, thus increasing awareness of our plight.” - Igboblood
Why is the Biafran genocide and holocaust one of the few ever mentioned? Maazi, go do your research, if you refuse to continuously remind the world that you have been wronged, why should the world care? Go talk to your Jewish brothers, it is not rocket science, there is nothing to reinvent, you learn from others!
Nigeria is in the shape it is now, because a few brethren finally decided to open their mouth and shout at the top of lungs that enough is enough! Imagine what would happen if Ndi Igbo finally develop the backbone to take Nigeria to court for the genocide, holocaust and many atrocities against Igbo.
“The above quotes serve a dual purpose. They give an insight into the true desires of our enemies and confirm the awareness of the international community. The world was aware Oha ka, they just chose to do nothing…while we died!” – Igboblood
Of course, the world was aware, the question is, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?
May Chi Ukwu, the Mighty Yah, open our eyes – ISEEEEEEEEEEEEE!
Oha Ka.
Posts: 166 | From: chicago | Registered: Jun 2003
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This thread concerns itself with the future of an Igbo nation. Specifically it aims to ascertain if Nd’igbo + the others that formerly made up Biafra would be willing to enter into a similar arrangement 40 years on. Following from this, it has been noted that the Ikwerre, by their utterances, do not want to be part of an Igbo agenda. The question is, ‘how do we handle this development?’. None of your posts has addressed this issue.
Let’s review some of your statements:
Oha ka wrote:
quote: I could have sworn that I had made my position clear. Maybe you might want to re-read the write-up. At times it takes years to understand what I write (it must be my grammar), no insult meant.
When + where exactly did you make your position on whether the Ikwerre should be forced to pull out with us or left to their own devices clear? Please humour me. No insult meant? Could have fooled me but then again, yes, it must be your grammar. If it takes years for one to understand what you write then you must be a generation ahead of your time. Given that the nature of this discourse is not esoteric, that’s quite a feat. For that I salute you.
Oha ka wrote:
quote: While we are at that, tell me how many Igbo in Diaspora, excluding Igbo at the boundaries of Igbo land, are in support of the Biafara Movement? The Igbo who continue to sellout and are ready to do anything for money, where are most of them from? Most if not all the organizations that have sold out, what part of Igbo land are they from?
Again you are not addressing the issue. That we have Igbo efulefu is not news. Those you speak of have not denied their Igbo roots but have simply affirmed a belief in one Nigeria. Indeed, there is no ethnic grouping in any part of the world that does not have its fair share of self-serving opportunists. It is the nature of man.
Oha ka wrote:
quote:This Maazi [Igboblood] is why Igbo must go back to find itself! This is why we must continue to research to find out who we are.
Yes we must do that but I do not need to trace my ancestry back to the Garden of Eden to know that I am being marginalised in present day Nigeria.
Oha ka wrote:
quote:If the founder of the center of the Babylonia Talmud was Igbo amongst other Igbo and if he was from the roots of David, what was David? Was he Igbo? What was the so called god ‘Jesus Christ’, was he also Igbo? What was Moses, was he Igbo? If Igbo gave the world, ‘One God’, why have Ndi Igbo turned away from the true God to worship manufactured gods – the Greek and Roman gods?
Interesting questions but they belong on another thread – one I’d be happy to make contributions to.
Oha ka wrote:
quote:How do you get a people, who had lost all confidence and trust in themselves, to regain that confidence that made them unique, a people who were ready and did deny themselves, a people that were now the butt of jokes in Nigeria, a people whose leaders had sold out completely to those that had conquered them, a nation without a head or heads, a defeated nation, a nation led by traitors who had been imposed over them, a nation that believed that their God had turned His/Her face away from them, a totally confused nation?
Some of our leaders may have betrayed us but the Igbo spirit maintains an innate confidence that remains unshakeable even in defeat. This spirit is one of a survivor. They tried to wipe us out completely but we are still here. They continually kill us + loot our businesses all over Nigeria yet we not only survive, we thrive! These actions are not those of a people confident in the total capitulation of Nd’Igbo. Sometimes you need to lose badly in order to learn how to win well.
Oha ka wrote:
quote:Maazi, Chineke, the Mighty Yah, does not need any ones help to do what has to be done, if you or any refuse to step forward, Chi Ukwu will bring those who will move Yah’s agenda.
Step forward to trace our lineage or step forward to participate in the wider agenda of our people’s liberation? We all cannot do the same thing. To guarantee victory, this war has to be waged on different fronts at the same time.
Oha ka wrote:
quote:Ndi Igbo are not a linear people, in fact if you wait until as you say, after you return to your country to rediscover who you are, it will be too late. Ask your Yoruba brethren who fought for their ‘June 12’. Where are they now? Who are enjoying the fruits of their labor? Is this what they had in mind? What happened to their revolution?
As I understand it, the Yoruba have a different agenda to that of Nd’Igbo. They want to remain in Nigeria + make the most of it, we want to pull out!
Oha ka wrote:
quote:I have written enough about the Igbo leadership, and expressly about both Mr. Ojukwu and Mr. Uwazurike. Since you were able to locate the ‘Genocide Document’ a document that was prepared by the UN and presented to Ndi Igbo through the efforts of Ekwe Nche, you should have no problem locating my write-ups on both Mr. Ojukwu and Mr. Uwazurike. So far, I have not been given any reason to change my views about them, in fact events continue to show the rightness of my views!
This may come as a surprise but UN papers are much easier to trace than those of individuals. I can only assume that your views were/are not very complimentary. What events continue to show the rightness of these views? Pray, tell.
Oha ka wrote:
quote:Why is the Biafran genocide and holocaust one of the few ever mentioned? Maazi, go do your research, if you refuse to continuously remind the world that you have been wronged, why should the world care? Go talk to your Jewish brothers, it is not rocket science, there is nothing to reinvent, you learn from others!
In your previous post you claimed that Biafran leaders did not ensure the world was made aware of our plight during the war years. In my reply I proved the exact opposite. You have now revised your position. You now accuse Biafran leaders of not continuously reminding the world of our suffering. That may be so. We are yet to have the power or international leverage - in the way the Jews + African Americans have - to push the case of Biafra as the holocaust that it was. I remain confident though that spilt blood will always cry out for justice + that cry (which is over a million strong) will be heard eventually. However long it may take.
Oha ka wrote:
quote:Of course, the world was aware, the question is, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?
I’m happy you now admit that the world was aware. What am I going to do about it? I’m doing it as I type. Civilised man seeks out good + intelligent company so that through learned discourse he may rise above the savage + closer to God.
Oha ka wrote:
quote:May Chi Ukwu, the Mighty Yah, open our eyes – ISEEEEEEEEEEEEE!
Open my eyes? So I can see things solely from your perspective? You shouldn’t get exasperated because my views differ somewhat from yours. This is quite healthy. The fact that our viewpoints may diverge on occasion reflects the seriousness of the issue. This is no time to hunt for simplistic answers to circumstances that are far from so. Ultimately we seek the same thing – the liberation of our people.
"Everyman should periodically be compelled to listen to opinions which are infuriating to him. To hear nothing but what is pleasing to one is to make a pillow of the mind." – St. John Ervine.
Igboblood.
___________________ Free Uwazurike Now!
Now is the winter of our discontent...made glorious summer by this [rising] sun of York. Posts: 325 | From: London | Registered: Jul 2005
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This is strange, and I'm really sorry you've taken your madness to another level.
___________________ The greatest thing about America is the right to disagree with the power structure without fear of torture or death at the hands of the government Posts: 217 | From: Ogallala, Nebraska, USA | Registered: May 2003
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¡La mismo guía!, ¡parece que estas saliendo desde de la chucha!.
In a nutshell, please don't try to derail this topic.
___________________ 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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Just came across a quote I thought I should share. Apologies if it has been presented earlier:
"My name is João Vidal, I'm Portuguese and live in Belgium where I am an airline pilot, flying as captain for SABENA, the Belgium flag-carrier. During the Biafran War, I was a military pilot in the Portuguese Air Force and met several Biafran Pilots. Two of my friends joined the BAF and I did not volunteer to join only because I was still in active service at that time. My friends were not mercenaries on the wrong way they are taken these days. In Portugal we were very much aware of the struggle of the brave Igbo nation to build a civilised country and many people were willing to help. Nevertheless there was a contract with payment foreseen for the volunteer pilots. Obviously, in the last three month of war, all the bureaucracy was disturbed and the due payment was not made to the volunteers. At that time, due to the misery and contrarieties the Biafrans were enduring, nobody cared if they would be paid or not. My friend Artur Alves Pereira, squadron leader on T-6G and Minicon, left Uga on the 9th January 1970 and flew to Gabon. After his arrival in Lisbon, although the war was over and all the Biafran offices in Portugal were closed, when he never could expect, the ex-Biafran Government sent him the correct payment to the last penny for all the war missions he had flown. This small example shows how special a people the Igbo are. Which country in the world, let alone in Africa, would bother to fulfil its commitments to this extent? Which messenger wouldn't fill tempted to keep part or even all of the money (quite a lot at that time), mainly when the future seemed so uncertain to everybody involved and obviously there would be no court to complain to?"
- ~ João M. Vidal
This goes to further confirm that the Igbo spirit, the Igbo sense of justice, remained + remains alive - even in defeat.
___________________ Free Uwazurike Now!
Now is the winter of our discontent...made glorious summer by this [rising] sun of York. Posts: 325 | From: London | Registered: Jul 2005
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posted
“I’m happy you now admit that the world was aware. What am I going to do about it? I’m doing it as I type. Civilised man seeks out good + intelligent company so that through learned discourse he may rise above the savage + closer to God.” – Igboblood
The so called debate ended when I read the above, that is if you call it debate. You make the mistake that most people continue to make even after more than 8 years on this project, to me it is about survival, it is ABOUT the erasure of a bad dream, IT IS ABOUT APPEASING OUR FORE-PARENTS WHO DEMAND JUSTICE, it is about MAKING SURE THAT NEVER AGAIN WILL ANY NATION BE TREATED AS BRUTALLY AS THE MASSACRE OF THE 500,000 INNOCENT CIVILIANS BECAUSE THEY COME FROM A PARTICULAR NATION, and after that a genocidal war against the survivors of that planned holocaust in which more than 3 million are either starved to death or slaughtered. Yet that was not enough for the monsters, enough Igbo blood had not been split, Igbo had not learnt her lesson, the killings must continue, a brutal marginalization policy is put in place, Igbo continue to be killed for any and all reason, ….
Yes, I talk peace, but by the time things have run their course, the perpetrators will wish it had been war. By the time things have run their course, we will finally understand what the ‘Hands of Yah has wrought”. Maybe you might then understand why I wrote that it will take some people years to understand what I write.
If I am not Igbo, from your reply above, I definitely will want nothing to do with Igbo, especially form a country with them, and if Igbo, I will cover my head in shame and call myself anything but Igbo. But thank God that a new generation of Igbo, led by the Igbo from the boundaries of Igbo land - Igbo West, …, and including Igbo Ikwerre, who now say enough is enough, who are ready to do what has to be done to appease our fore-parents, who do not speak out of both sides of their mouths or hide under the skirts of their wives, who are men and women with backbone and understand that OHA is supreme, who are not for sale.
Please type away, maybe your typing with wash away the abomination below!
“Easterners, those who were able, took flight and all the entry routes to the East were jammed. At their heels were hordes of Northerners shooting or clubbing down straggling women and children and hunting down those in the bush. The climax to the holocaust was reached on 29th September, as the Lagos Constitutional Conference was about to adjourn. At the Kano International Airport, Easterners waiting to be airlifted home were surrounded by armed Northern soldiers and civilians and massacred. Those who took trains ran into ambushes of Northern soldiers and civilians who looted their belongings and maimed thousands. Some of the extremes of savagery reached by our supposed Northern fellow- countrymen are so bizarre that they defy description. There were numerous cases of decapitation of living victims. A number of student- survivors from institutions of learning in Northern Nigeria were captured and all the fingers of their right hands chopped off before they were rereleased. That would help in curtailing, they were told, the educational lead of Eastern Nigria over the North. There are several eyewitness accounts of pregnant women of Eastern Nigeria origin who were ripped open and their unborn children hacked to pieces, and accounts (most of them given by the actual victims themselves) of women, some of them pregnant, who were forcibly held down by Northern soldiers or civilians while lepers raped them. Also, while hundreds of Easterners found genuine refuge from their predators in police stations in the North, several others were turned upon and slaughtered by Northern policemen in the very police stations to whic
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