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EPILOGUE: In 1900 the area that was once administered by the British Niger Company now became the Protectorate of Southern Nigeria. Control of this area then got passed from British Foreign Office to the Colonial Office in Britain. In 914, the then separately administered Northern and Southern Nigeria were amalgamated by fiat by the then British Governor-General called Lord Lugard. Post 1914 Nigeria gained her independence from Britain on October 1,1960.
When some of us who are guided by history (both local and international) take on the neoBiafrans and other Nigerian sessionists by asking them to make their homework before asking for the breakup of Nigeria (by whatever name,) those like the Nwa Aros who could decifer from their writing that they (the neo-separatists) dont know (or must not have done the necessary homework) what they are asking for go on the offensive. But as post-indepence Nigeria's history has thought us, I can say without any fear of contradiction that it is one thing to gain "independence" or "self-rule" (which ever word you prefer) as Nigeria did in 1960, but a totally different story to make that right-to-self-rule really work and meet the basic expectation of the citizenry of the given entity. I have as a case study reproduced the dream of an 11 year old Nigeria pupil of what she, and I guess most Nigerians must have wished on October 1960 of what our country, Nigeria, could, should and ought to be. The question then is has Nigeria lived up to the expectation of its citizens and well-wishers? And most importantly, did our "founding fathers" namely Nnamdi Azikiwe, Tafawa Balewa, Obafemi Awolowo, etc. whom Nigerian history books still tell us that they "fought gallantly" to "save" us from British rule do their homework before embarking on driving the British out of power. Aren't the same Brits still ruling us today, albeirt through the back door? So are we truly independent economically, socially or politically as our Asian counterparts like Maylasia, Singapore and Indonesia who also got their independence almost same time frame as Nigeria did? Another question which ought to be asked as Nigerians look back on this day in other to see forward is did the likes of Nnamdi Azikiwe who fought and brought the so-called indepence to Nigeria leave any political or economic master-plan or writen road map on which the Nigeria they left behind can be worked on by those who came after them? Or was it just another hallow cry of "give us indepence" as done presently by the neoBiafrans, who also seem not to know or have not told the world how they are going to manage that indepence when it comes? History has shown that it is one thing to ask and get something, but more tasking to keep and maintain same. While some may attribute most of Nigeria's present dislocations to those who misruled it after the likes of Nnamdi Azikiwe and Tafawa Balawa left the stage, a careful review however shows that Nigeria's today's problems is deeply rooted in the unarticulted and badly planned manner the likes of Tafawa Balewa went about bringing what can best be described as "paper independence" to Nigeria than it has to do with what their successors did thereafter; a bad tree as they say cannot bear juicy fruits. As the saying goes, " a reward for a thing done is to have it done well."
Meanwhile, below is what Nigeria should have been as dreamt by an 11-year old pupil: ------------------------------- My Dream For Nigeria: An Essay from an 11 Year Old Girl By Onyi Anyadiegwu Forwarded by Banjo Odutola bromley121@ntlworld.com My dream for Nigeria is for a safe country. A country where there are no armed robbers, where one can safely walk around in the night; gather together with friends and family without being robbed: a great and corrupt-free Nigeria . Without corruption Nigeria would be a great country, where things will work. My dream for Nigeria is a country of hardworking and honest people - where its leaders do not enrich themselves with public funds: I dream of a Nigeria where politicians are not greedy or steal the country's money. I wish for a Nigeria where politics is not a moneymaking business. I want our politicians to love us and care for us. My dream is of a Nigeria where the leaders care about the citizens and have programmes for them. A Nigeria where the leaders are approachable and are not arrogant, nor disturb the citizens with their sirens! I dream of a Nigeria where leaders do not detain those who advise them truthfully. My dream of Nigeria is a country where electricity supply is uninterrupted. A country where I can watch movies, iron clothes - without fear of electricity outages. I dream of a Nigeria where streets are well-lit; and thugs and thieves do not harass innocent people: I dream of a safe country. My dream for Nigeria is to have a good transportation system. That is one of my dreams. A Nigeria with good roads, and good rail roads. A Nigeria where traveling is pleasurable and not dangerous: a country with good roads and fewer accidents - I dream of a nice train journey around the country. My dream for Nigeria is where being ill is not a death sentence - A Nigeria where hospitals do not dispense fake drugs; a country where hospitals are not for the rich only but for the poor on the streets as well. I dream of a Nigeria where universities are not closed half of the year; where the public school system still works, and where the children of the rich go to the same schools as the children of the poor. A country where children of the rich do not go to schools abroad, because of lack of books and teachers in the local Universities. In our schools today students cheat to pass exams. I wish this stops – so, that Nigeria will be known as a country with a high standard of education. My dream for Nigeria is for peace between all the religions - Christians loving their Muslim neighbours and vice-versa. A Nigeria where there are no religious riots, conflicts and hatred. I dream of a Nigeria where there is abundant food for everyone - beggars will not be on the streets and everyone is gainfully employed. I dream of a Nigeria that will be as developed as other countries like: United States of America , Great Britain , South Africa and Canada . These countries are beautiful, developed and that's the reason we visit them. My dream is for a Nigeria where Nigerians do not copy American music and behavior. For example there are some Nigerian groups like 'Styl Plus' who sound like Americans. That is why people buy them. I want people from other countries to copy Nigerians too. My dream is for a Nigeria where Nigerian actors are as well known as American actors like Bradd Pitt and Tom Cruise known all over the world. My dream is for our actors to be as well known and influence others. I dream of a Nigeria where the police is friendly - when on holiday in London , I noticed policemen were friendly and directed people the right way when they missed their way. But, in Nigeria - policemen stop cars to collect bribes. My dream for Nigeria is for a strong and developed democracy. I dream of a Nigeria where government provides better leisure facilities for citizens - in South Africa , there are lots of recreation centers, cinema, and lots of amusement parks where children play. But, in Nigeria all the spaces are used for houses. As a result the air is polluted. And, my last dream for Nigeria is for its citizens to be proud of it. Onyi Anyadiegwu, 11 Green Springs School , Anthony Village , Lagos . ------------------------------------------------
Ladies and gentlemen, the question I want us to address in this thread is DID NIGERIA'S "FOUNDING FATHERS" NAMELY THE TRIOKA OF TAFAWA BALEWA, NNAMDI AZIKIWE AND OBAFEMI AWOLOWO LAY A GOOD FOUNDATION ON WHICH A TRULY UNITED, ECONOMICALLY VIABLE, POLITICALLY STABLE OR A PROSPEROUS NIGERIA CAN BE BUILT BY THEIR SUCCESSORS, OR IS IT THE LATTER (OBASANJO AND CO) THAT SQUANDERED WHAT WAS LEFT TO THEM BY THE FORMER?
Please I want only issue-oriented imputs. Thank you in advance.
Posts: 997 | From: Germany | Registered: Mar 2001
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Submission to the UN Human Rights Commission Regarding a “consistent pattern of violations “ and “ war crimes”, “genocide” and “holocaust” Violations of Article XIII, Resolution 3074 (XXVIII), Resolution 2200A (XXI), Resolution 2200A (XXI), Resolution 36/55, Resolution 1803 (XVII), Resolution 39/11, Resolution 41/128, Resolution 1514 (XV), Resolution 2200A (XXI), Resolution 53/144 Convention (No. 122), Convention (No. 168)
To: Centre for Human Rights United Nations Office at Geneva OHCHR – UNOG 8 – 14 Avenue de la Paix 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland Telephone Number (41 – 22) 917 – 9000
From: Coalition of Igbo and Biafra Organizations c/o Ekwe Nche Organization P. O. Box 408250 Chicago, IL 60640 E-mail: ekwenche@hotmail.com Phone # (773) 206 – 9401
Dr. Justin Akujieze (Member Committee on Genocide)
THE VIOLATIONS OF HUMAN AND CIVIL RIGHTS OF NDI IGBO IN THE FEDERATION OF NIGERIA (1914 – 2004)
"Tanzania has recognized the State of Israel and will continue to do so because of its belief that every people must have some place in the world where they are not liable to be rejected by their fellow citizens. But the Biafrans have now suffered the same kind of rejection within their state that the Jews of Germany experienced. Fortunately they already had a homeland. They have retreated to it for their own protection, and for the same reason - after all other efforts had failed - they have declared it to be an independent state. In the light of these circumstances, Tanzania feels obliged to recognize the setback to African unity, which has occurred. We therefore recognize the State of Biafra as an independent sovereign entity, and as a member of the community of nations. Only by this act of recognition can we remain true to our conviction that the purpose of society, and of all political organization, is the service of Man." Biafra, Human Rights and self-determination in Africa. By President Julius Nyerere
Coalition of Igbo and Biafra Organizations:
Biafra Humanitarian Organization – Germany; Biafra National Union (BIANU) – Washington D.C.; Ekwendigbo – Lagos; Ekwendigbo – Imo; Ekwendigbo Anambra, MASSOB – Port Harcourt; Eastern People’s Congress (EPC) – Aba; BLM/Ekwe Nche – Africa; Ekwendigbo Youthwing – Lagos; Igbo Canadian Community Association (ICCA) – Canada; Restoration of Igbo Pride and Dignity (RIPAD) – Canada; Anambra Association of Canada, Ontario Branch; Ekwe Nche Asia – Japan; Ekwe Nche – Chicago, etc. (This submission was made possible in part by the work done by Ohanaeze Organization).
A CALL FOR RE-ESTABLISHMENT OF IGBO SOVEREIGNTY, REPARATIONS AND APPROPRIATE RESTITUTION
A Submission to THE United Nations Human Rights Commission
By
The Coalition of Igbo and Biafra Organizations For and on behalf of the Entire Ndi Igbo
March 26, 2004
THE VIOLATIONS OF HUMAN AND CIVIL RIGHTS OF NDIIGBO IN THE FEDERATION OF NIGERIA (1914 - 2004):
There can be no compromise! There can be no excuses! There can be no apologies! Lies will not suffice! The debt can never be repaid! The world must not be allowed to forget! The guilt of the world will remain from now to eternity.
(In memory of all Igbo and other easterners massacred from 1914 to present in Nigeria; over 500,000 in 1966, over three million from 1966 to 1970, and hundreds of thousands since 1970 to the present.) "Over half a million Igbo were killed in Northern Nigeria following the 1966 January 15 coup d’etat led by Major Chukwuma Nzeogwu an Ibo, accused of killing the Northern leader Sir Ahmadu Bello. This later resulted in the Biafran secession and the Nigerian Civil war July, 1967 – 1970 January (Paden 1973; Luckham 1971; Depress 1975; Harris 1972; Wolpe 1974 Salamone 1975, Smock 1971)." An Anthropologist’s View of Ethnicity and Ethnic Conflicts in Africa I.V.O. Modo Department of Social Anthropology/Sociology National University of Lesotho P.O. Roma 180
A CALL FOR INDEPENDENCE, REPARATIONS AND APPROPRIATE RESTITUTION
*************
The Unquestionable Right of the Igbo to Actualize Biafara ************* Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name: And deliver us, and purge away our sins, for thy name’s sake. Wherefore should the heathen say, where is their God? Let him be known among the heathen in our sight by the revenging of the blood of thy servants which is shed. Let the sighting of the prisoner come before thee; According to the greatness of thy power preserve thou those that are appointed to die; And render unto our neighbours sevenfold into their bosom their reproach, wherewith they have reproached thee, O Lord. So we thy people and sheep of thy pasture will give thee thanks for ever: We will shew forth thy praise to all generations. Psalm 79: 9 – 13 **** In the course of my investigations, I came across witnesses who testified to methods of extermination which I found so gruesome and barbarous that it is difficult to describe in any detail. These are :- (i) Execution in the Market Places. This involved the slitting of throats and the chopping of heads in the market place. (ii) The killing of unborn babies. In this the stomachs of pregnant women were slit open, and the tiny unborn babies slashed with matchets. (iii) The plucking of eyes out of their sockets. One of the witnesses who testified to me had his left eye plucked out and he mentioned that he was the last of a queue of Biafran Prisoners-of-war who were having their eyes plucked out, and that he was able to run away with one eye because when it came to his turn, an alarm was given of a Biafran advance, and the plucker had to run for his gun, thus making it possible for him to escape with one eye. Other barbarous methods, too indecent to discuss in detail, were also mentioned by eye-witnesses. These included chopping off of the male genital organ and plugging it into the mouths of the victims. There was also testimony regarding the ravishing of virgins, which consisted of slitting open the female organ by means of broken bottles or bayonets. Eight witnesses who testified to me of this had survived this barbarity, but they mentioned a great many other women who had died as a result of it. (iv) The skinning of life Biafrans. Witnesses who testified to this method of extermination, mentioned that they were eye witnesses, and that invariably all the victims of this died as a result of the skinning. The method of “skinning alive”, as was testified to me, was by means of broken bottles. This incident occurred in Ishagu. Twenty-two males were “skinned” in this manner, as per the testimony of one witness who mentioned witnessing this process. Dr. Mensah An International Commission of Jurist Find Prima Facie Evidence of Genocide **** Only the uninformed and those in bed with the perpetrators, can deny the survivors of a pogrom, genocide, holocaust, and planned marginalization designed to finally accomplish what they were unable to accomplish in war, the final solution – extermination, the only possible relief – an independent state (country). We the members of the organizations that make up the coalition, “Ndi Nche”, a pro “Igbo Biafara” coalition, believe that any emerging Igbo Nation State must be built solidly on truth (Eziokwu bu Ndu – Truth is the foundation of Life), on the philosophy and “Omenala” of our fore-parents, that OHA must always remain supreme, and the ‘Rule of Law”, must never be compromised, nor must any elevate himself/herself above the law. We give thanks to Chi Ukwu (The Supreme One), the Mighty Yah, for making it possible for Igbo to continue as a viable nation despite the continuing holocaust, genocide, marginalization, and all the harrowing impediments placed on the path of the Igbo to bring the Igbo nation to her knees. Yes, our heads have been bloodied; Yes, the world did turn her back on us; Yes, our kin and kindred were massacred in their millions; Yes, our land continue to be laid waste; Yes, a planned marginalization continue to be enforced against Ndi Igbo; Yes, traitors continue to be anointed as our leaders; Yes, our properties continue to be looted; But “Ama Ama Amasi Amasi – The Unknowable and Unfathomable One”, the Mighty Yah, has not forgotten the promise He/She made to our ancestors, including Abiama (Abraham) – All praise and glory to Chineke, the Mighty Yah. We are reminded of the prophesy of a very special elder-statesman, Maazi Frederick Forsyth, who even as the destruction of Biafra was no longer in doubt, was convinced that defeat was only a minor set back. He knew that the crimes committed against the Igbo was so inhuman and brutal that the leaders of Nigeria had consciously pushed Igbo out of Nigeria: “What had started as a belief was transmuted to total conviction; that they could never again live with Nigerians. From this stems the primordial political reality of the present situation. Biafra cannot be killed by anything short of total eradication of the people who make her. For even under total occupation Biafra would sooner or without Colonel Ojukwu, rise up again.” The Biafra Story By the Elder-statesman Maazi Frederick Forsyth (1968)
**** Assuming it is necessary to make a case for Biafara Actualization, what better elder-statesman than Maazi Julius Nyerere (President), can Igbo call on to make her case! The Case for Actualization of the Sovereign Republic of Igbo Biafara By the Elderstatesman Maazi Julius Nyerere
"Tanzania has recognized the State of Israel and will continue to do so because of its belief that every people must have some place in the world where they are not liable to be rejected by their fellow citizens. But the Biafrans have now suffered the same kind of rejection within their state that the Jews of Germany experienced. Fortunately they already had a homeland. They have retreated to it for their own protection, and for the same reason - after all other efforts had failed - they have declared it to be an independent state. In the light of these circumstances, Tanzania feels obliged to recognize the setback to African unity which has occurred. We therefore recognize the State of Biafra as an independent sovereign entity, and as a member of the community of nations. Only by this act of recognition can we remain true to our conviction that the purpose of society, and of all political organization, is the service of Man." Elder-statesman Maazi Julius Nyerere **** "The Declaration of Independence by Biafra on the 30th May, 1967 came after two military coups d'etat - in January and July 1966 - and two major pogroms against the Ibo (Igbo) people. These pogroms, which also took place in 1966, resulted in the death of about 30,000 men, women, and children, and made two million people flee from their homes in other parts of Nigeria to the tribal homeland in Eastern Nigeria. These events have been interspersed and followed by official discussions about a new constitution for Nigeria, and also by continued personal attacks on individual Ibos who have remained outside the Eastern Region. The basic case for Biafra' s secession from the Nigerian Federation is that people from the Eastern Region can no longer feel save in other parts of the Federation. They are not accepted as citizens of Nigeria by the other citizens of Nigeria. Not only is it impossible for Ibos and people of related tribes to live in assurance of personal safety if they work outside Biafra; it would also be impossible for any representative of these people to move freely and without fear in any other part of the Federation of Nigeria. These fears are genuine and deep-seated; nor can anyone say they are groundless. The rights and wrongs of the original coup d'etat, the rights and wrongs of the attitudes taken by different groups in the politics of pre and post coup Nigeria, are all irrelevant to the fear which Ibo people feel. And the people of Eastern Nigeria can point to too many bereaved homes, too many maimed people, for anyone to deny the reasonable grounds for their fears. It is these fears which are the root cause both for the secession, and for the fanaticism with which the people of Eastern Nigeria have defended the country they declared to be independent. Fears such as now exist among the Ibo people do not disappear because someone says they are unjustified, of says that the rest of Nigeria does not want to exterminate Ibos (Igbos). Such words have even less effect when the speakers have made no attempt to bring the perpetrators of crimes to justice, and when troops under the control of the Federal Nigerian authorities continue to ill-treat, or allow others to ill-treat, any Ibo who come within their power. The only way to remove the Easterners' fear is for the Nigerian authorities to accept its existence, to acknowledge the reason for it, and then to talk on terms of equality with those involved about the way forward. When people have reason to be afraid you cannot reassure them through the barrel of a gun; your only hope is to talk as one man to another, or as one group to another. It is no use the Federal authorities demanding that the persecuted should come as a supplicant for mercy, by first renouncing their secession from the political unit. For the secession was declared because the Ibo (Igbo) people felt it to be their only defence against extermination. In their minds, therefore, a demand that should renounce secession before talks begun, is equivalent to a demand that they should announce their willingness to be exterminated. If they are wrong in this belief they have to be convinced. And they can only be convinced by talks leading to new institutional arrangements which take account of their fears. The people of Biafra have announced their willingness to talk to the Nigerian authorities without any conditions. They cannot renounce their secession before talks, but they do not demand that Nigerians should recognize it; they ask for talks without conditions. But the Federal Authorities have refused to talk except on the basis of Biafran surrender. And as the Biafrans believe they will be massacred if they surrender, the Federal authorities are really refusing to talk at all. For human beings do not voluntarily walk towards what they believe to be certain death. The federal Government argues that in demanding the renunciation of secession before talks, and indeed in its entire "police action", it is defending the territorial integrity of Nigeria. On this ground it argues also that it has a right to demand support from all other governments, and especially other African governments. For every state, and every state authority, has a duty to defend the sovereignty and integrity of its nation; this is a central part of the function of a national government. Africa accepts the validity of this point, for African states have more reason than most to fear the effects of disintegration. It is on these grounds that Africa has watched the massacre of tens of thousands of peoples, has watched millions being made into refugees, watched the employment of mercenaries by both sides in the current civil war, and has accepted repeated rebuffs of its offers to help by mediation or conciliation. But for how long should this continue? Africa fought for freedom on the ground of individual liberty and equality, and on the grounds that every people must have the right to determine for themselves the conditions under which they would be governed. We accept the boundaries we inherited from colonialism, and within them we each worked out for ourselves the constitutional and other arrangements which we felt to be appropriate to the most essential function of a state - that is the safeguarding of life and liberty for its inhabitants. When the Federation of Nigeria became independent in 1960, the same policy was adopted by all its peoples. They accepted the Federal structure which had been established under the colonial system, and declared their intention to work together. Indeed, the Southern States of the Federation - which includes Biafra - delayed their own demands for independence until the North was ready to join them. At the insistence of the North also, the original suggestion of the National Council for Nigeria and the Cameroons (the political party which had its centre in the South) that Nigeria should be broken up into many small states with a strong centre, was abandoned. The South accepted a structure which virtually allowed the more populous North to dominate the rest. But the constitution of the Federation of Nigeria was broken in January, 1966, by the first military coup. All hope of its resuscitation was removed by the second coup, and even more by the pogroms of September and October, 1966. These events altered the whole basis of the society; after them it was impossible for political and economic relations between the different parts of the old Federation to be restored. They meant that Nigerian unity could only be salvaged from the wreck of inter-tribal violence and fear by a constitution drawn up in the light of what had happened, and which was generally acceptable to all major elements of the society under the new circumstances. A completely new start had to be made, for the basis of the state had been dissolved in the complete break-down of law and order, and the inter-tribal violence which existed. The necessity for a new start by agreement was accepted by a Conference of military leaders from all parts of the Federation, in Aburi, Ghana, in January, 1967. There is a certain difference of opinion about some of the things which were agreed at the Conference. But there is no dispute about the fact that everyone joined in a Declaration renouncing the use of force as a means of settling the crisis in Nigeria. Nor does anyone dispute that it was agreed that a new constitution was to be worked out by agreement, and that in the meantime there would be a repeal of all military decrees issued since January, 1966 which reduced the powers of the Region. There was also agreement about rehabilitation payments for those who had been forced to flee from their homes, and about members of the armed forces being stationed in their home Regions. The Aburi Conference could have provided the new start which was necessary if the unity of Nigeria was to be maintained. But before the end of the same month, General Gowon was restating his commitment to the creation of new states, and his determination to oppose any form of confederation. And on the last day of January, the Federal military authorities were already giving administrative reasons for delay in the implementation of the Agreements reached at Aburi. It was the middle of March before a constitutional decree was issued which was supposed to regularize the position in accordance with with the decisions taken there. But unfortunately this Decree also included a new clause - which had not been agreed - and which gave the Federal authorities a reserve power over the Regions, and thus completely nullified the whole operation. Nor had any payment been made by the Federal Government to back up the monetary commitment for rehabilitation which it had accepted in the Ghana meeting. In short, the necessity for an arrangement which would take account of the fears created during 1966 was accepted at Aburi, and renounced thereafter by the Federal authorities. Yet they now claim to be defending the integrity of the country in which they failed to guarantee the most elementary safety of the twelve million peoples of Eastern Nigeria. These people had been massacred in other parts of Nigeria without the Federal authorities apparently having either the will or the power to protect them. When they retreated to their homeland they were expected to accept the domination of the same people who instigated, or allowed, their persecution in the country which they are being told is theirs - i.e., Nigeria. Surely, when a whole people is rejected by the majority of the state in which they live, they must have the life to life under a different kind of arrangement which does secure their existence. States are made to serve people; governments are established to protect the citizens of a state against external enemies and internal wrong-doers. It is on those grounds that people surrender their right and power of self-defence to the Government of the state in which they live. But when the machinery of the state, and the powers of the Government, are turned against a whole group of the society on the grounds of racial, tribal, or religious prejudice, then the victims have the right to take back the powers they have surrendered, and to defend themselves. For while people have a duty to defend the integrity of their state, and even to die in its defence, this duty stems from the fact that it is theirs, and that it is important to their wellbeing and to the future of their children. When the state ceases to stand for honor, the protection, and the wellbeing of all its citizens, then it is no longer the instrument of those it has rejected. In such a case the people have the right to create another instrument for their protection - in other words, to create another state. This right cannot be abrogated by constitutions, nor by outsiders. The basis of statehood, and of unity can only be general acceptance by the participants. When more than twelve million people have become convinced that they are rejected, and that there is no longer any basis for unity between them and other groups of people, then that unity has ceased to exist. You cannot kill thousands of people, and keep killing more, in the name of unity. There is no unity between the dead and those who killed them; and there is no unity in slavery or domination. Africa needs unity. We need unity over the whole continent, and in the meantime we need unity within the existing states of Africa. It is a tragedy when we experience a setback to our goal of unity. But the basis of our need for unity, and the reason for our desire for it, is the greater wellbeing, and the greater security, of the people of Africa. Unity by conquest is impossible. It is not practicable; and even if military might could force the acceptance of a particular authority, the purpose of unity would have been destroyed. For the purpose of unity, its justification, is the service of all the peoples who are united together. The general consent of all the people involved is the only basis on which unity in Africa can be maintained or extended. The fact that the Federation of Nigeria was created in 1960 with the consent of all the people does not alter that fact. That Federation, and the basis of consent, has since been destroyed. Nor is this the first time the world has seen a reduction in political unity. We have seen the creation of the Mali Federation, the creation of a Union between Egypt and Syria, and the establishment of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland. And we have also seen the dissolution of all these attempts at unity, and the consequent recognition of the separate nations which were once involved. The world has also seen the creation of India and Pakistan out of what was once the Indian Empire. We have all recognized both of these nation states and done our best to help them deal with the millions of people made homeless by the conflict and division. None of these things meant that we have liked these examples of great disunity. They meant that we recognize that in all these cases the people are unwilling to remain in one political unit. Tanzania recognizes Senegal, Mali, Egypt, Syria, Malawi, Zambia, Pakistan and Egypt. What right have we to refuse, in the name of unity, to recognize the fact of Biafra? For years the people of that state struggled to maintain unity with the other peoples in the Federation of Nigeria; even after the pogroms of 1966 they tried to work out a new form of unity which would guarantee their safety; they have demonstrated by ten months of bitter fighting that they have decided upon a new political organization and are willing to defend it. The world has taken it upon itself to utter many ill-informed criticisms of the Jews of Europe for going to their deaths without any concerted struggle. But out of sympathy for the sufferings of this people, and in recognition of the world's failure to take action at the appropriate time, the United Nations established the State of Israel in territory which belonged to the Arabs for thousands of years. It was felt that only by the establishment of a Jewish homeland, and a Jewish national state, could Jews be expected to live in the world under conditions of human security. Tanzania has recognized the State of Israel and will continue to do so because of its belief that every people must have some place in the world where they are not liable to be rejected by their fellow citizens. But the Biafrans have now suffered the same kind of rejection within their state that the Jews of Germany experienced. Fortunately they already had a homeland. They have retreated to it for their own protection, and for the same reason - after all other efforts had failed - they have declared it to be an independent state. In the light of these circumstances, Tanzania feels obliged to recognize the setback to African unity which has occurred. We therefore recognize the State of Biafra as an independent sovereign entity, and as a member of the community of nations. Only by this act of recognition can we remain true to our conviction that the purpose of society, and of all political organization, is the service of Man." President Julius Nyerere-led government of Tanzania offers Recognition to the Republic of Biafra. Published by the Government printer in Tanzania's capital, Dar es Salam on April 13,1968.
**** And for those who still doubt the war crimes, genocide, holocaust, and planned marginalization committed against Biafrans, below are a few reports that make it impossible to deny Ndi Igbo the Actualization of the Sovereign Republic of Biafara. The Brutality, Inhumanity, Planned Marginalization, Genocide and Holocaust
“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 which they had fled for protection. Until recently, there was a juvenile of about sixteen lying critically ill in a ward at the Enugu General Hospital who had been raped repeatedly by several Northern soldiers. These soldiers had thereafter proceeded to savage her genitals with a sharp object, then filled it with sand, and finally, almost completely gouged her right eye with a dagger!" NIGERIAN POGROM & JANUARY 15: BEFORE AND AFTER. **** “We do not want, Sir, our Southern neighbours to interfere in our development.... I should like to make it clear to you that if the British quitted Nigeria now at this stage the northern people would continue their interrupted conquest to the sea.” Mallam Abubakar Tafawa Balewa (1947) Later to become Prime Minister of Nigeria
1945 Northern Moslems kill HUNDREDS of IGBO civilians in the Northern city of JOS and loot their properties worth hundreds of millions of dollars! 1953 Northern Moslems pounce on IGBO civilians in the Northern city of KANO, HUNDREDS of IGBO men and women are killed and their property worth in the hundreds of millions are looted! “The seeds of the trouble which broke out in Kano on May 1953 have their counterparts still in the ground. It could happen again, and only a realization and acceptance of the underlying causes can remove the danger of recurrence.” Official Report of the 1953 Massacre in Kano British Administrative officer “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 Mustafa Ismaila Zanna Dujuna (Minister of Establishments and training) AN INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION OF JURISTS FIND PRIMA FACIE EVIDENCE OF GENOCIDE 1966 * MAY * JULY * SEPTEMBER * (The worst pogrom in all of Africa up to that time!) “It is pertinent to observe that the Atrocities Tribunal found as a fact that the Northern Nigeria authorities with their collaborators had devised a seven point program aimed at a complete extermination of the then Eastern Nigerians (now Biafrans) in Northern Nigeria and other parts of the federation. The program is outlined as follows: 1. (a) to kill off the Major-general and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, T. J. T. Aguiyi-Ironsi; (b) to kill off all Yamiri (Igbo) Army officers; (c) and subsequently purge the Army of Yamiri by killing the rest in the ranks. 2. With the aid of the Westerners in the army, to take complete control of the Armed Forces, the Police and the Navy and to purge off the Yamiri in these forces too. 3. To kill off and dispossess all the Yamiri domiciled in the Northern region. 4. To use the control of the Armed Forces to take control of the country’s Government. 5. To revenge Sarduana’s and Abubakar’s death by killing Dr. Zik, Dr. Okpara, Ojukwu and Major Nzeogwu. 6. To destroy Port Harcourt, Enugu and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. 7. To kill all (a) Yamiri in top civil service posts; (b) all wealthy Yamiri - male and female; (c) all Yamiri educational giants; (d) all grown up males and females of Yamiri; (e) to leave out only sucklings in yamiri land. (Tribunal Report pp. 133 - 134)” AN INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION OF JURISTS FIND PRIMA FACIE EVIDENCE OF GENOCIDE
“The army was even more deeply involved. The following graphic report was given to the Atrocities tribunal by Paul I. Okwawa, the teacher we mentioned earlier, should silence the argument as to whether or not Nigerians had the intention to exterminate Biafrans: “At 6.30 p.m. on October 1st we arrived at the (Kano) Airport and to my greatest surprise I saw a sight that drove fear into my heart. Literally all the Northern ex-politicians had gathered at the airport in their immaculate white gowns. I saw Aminu Kano. I saw Maitama Sule, Inua Wada. Many Europeans also came to the Airport. Exactly at 6.50 p.m. soldiers in green shirts and trousers invaded the Airport. “I had a presentiment that something bad was in the air, and as we sat near our luggage we wondered whether these ex-politicians and their European, Asian and Arab friends had come to witness the final liquidation of our people. Soon shots were heard everywhere. That day was declared a public holiday, and as usual many Ibos came to the airport .... “one soldier ordered me outside and asked me where I came from. When I told him I was a Mid-Westerner he told me I was lying because he knew where I came from. What I heard was: “About turn! Quick march!” I heard a shot behind me and I fell down and passed out. “How long I was there before I came round I could not tell. But when I became conscious, a heap of dead men was on me. Some still breathing but others stone dead. It took me some time to extricate myself from the dead bodies heaped upon me. I crept over other dead bodies as I tried to hide because soldiers were still shooting people in their hiding places at the airport. ...” AN INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION OF JURISTS FIND PRIMA FACIE EVIDENCE OF GENOCIDE
“Bestialities and indignities of all kinds were visited on Biafrans in 1966. In Ikeja Barracks (Western Nigeria) Biafrans were forcibly fed on a mixture of human urine and feaces. In Northern Nigeria numerous Biafran house-wives and nursing mothers were raped before their husbands and children. Young girls were abducted from their homes, working places and schools and forced into sexual intercourse with sick, demented and leprous men. Mr. Erif Spiff (Eye witness) Atrocities Tribunal AN INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION OF JURISTS FIND PRIMA FACIE EVIDENCE OF GENOCIDE “Finally, the monstrous atrocities which accompanied the groesome massacres of 1966 bore testimony to the fact that the perpetrators were religiously intent on genocide. There were numerous cases of torture and humiliation, maiming and mutilation, gouging out of the eyes and tearing out of the womb, slaughter and decapitation - atrocities which can only be explained by the determination of the perpetrators to destroy Biafrans in every conceivable way. A witness, Dick Iwobi, described to the Atrocities Tribunal an outrageous method of murder which Northern Nigerians practised on Biafrans: “This punishment is one of the most dreadful way of crucifying a person. A heavy rod is tied across the back of the chest of the victim with his hands stretched and secured firmly on the rod. While the victim may still be standing on his legs, he is as helpless as a man nailed to a cross. In this position they then proceed to torture the victim by plucking his eyes, cutting his tongue or cutting his testicles ...” AN INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION OF JURISTS FIND PRIMA FACIE EVIDENCE OF GENOCIDE Band of killers, mostly Moslems, in all Hamlets, Villages, Towns and Cities in Northern Nigeria carried out one of the most barbaric pogroms in contemporary history against the Igbo living in Northern Nigeria. At the end of three waves of all-out massacres, FIFTY THOUSAND IGBO (and other Easterner Nigerians) were slaughtered. Among the dead were men and women of all ages, as well as children. Unborn fetuses were not spared during these three months when armed marauders prowled everywhere outside of Eastern Nigeria, hunting Igbo people down like animals: Pregnant Igbo women were captured, their bellies ripped open and their unborn children hacked to death. 1967 - 1970 (Nigeria - Biafra War) “Let us go and crush them. We will pillage their property, rape their womenfolk, kill off their menfolk and leave them uselessly weeping. We will complete the pogrom of 1966" The theme song of Radio Kaduna, government-controlled, is the above chant in Hausa. “There has been genocide, for example on the occasion of the 1966 massacres ... Two areas have suffered badly [from the fighting]. Firstly the region between the towns of Benin and asaba where only widows and orphans remain, Federal troops having for unknown reasons massacred all the men.” “According to eyewitnesses of that massacre the Nigerian commander ordered the execution of every Ibo male over the age of ten years.” Monsignor Georges (sent down on a fact-finding mission by His holiness the Pope) Le Monde (French evening newspaper) April 5, 1968 THE BRUTALITY OF NATIONS DAN JACOBS “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 Awolowo (Minister of Finance) THE BRUTALITY OF NATIONS DAN JACOBS “Unfortunately this [Gowon’s] enlightenment at the top level does not penetrate very deep: a lagos police officer was quoted last month as saying that “the Ibos must be considerably reduced in number” Dr Conor cruise O’Bien 21 December 1967 New York review “The same UNICEF representative went on to convey something of what lay behind this intransigence: “Among the large majority hailing from that tribe (Yorubas) who are most vocal in inciting the complete extermination of the Ibos, I often heard remarks that all Nigeria’s ills will be cured once the Ibos have been removed ...” THE BRUTALITY OF NATIONS DAN JACOBS
“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 having one piece to eat before their capitulation. We shoot at everything that moves.” Asked what his forces would do when they overran the center of Ibo territory, Adekunle replied, “then we shoot at everything. Even things that don’t move.” Colonel Adekunle (Commander of the 3rd Marine Commando) THE BRUTALITY OF NATIONS DAN JACOBS Comments: General Obasanjo (current President of Nigeria) continued with the above policy after he replaced Adekunle as the commander of the 3rd Marine Commando. “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 ...” Mayer Washington Post (editorial) July 2, 1969
In July, a Northern led army declared war on the Igbo/Easterners in their homeland in Southeastern Nigeria who, out of utter shock at the pogrom unleashed against the Igbo, had concluded that Easterners/Igbo were not wanted in the Nigerian Federation and had declared the Eastern Region the independent Republic of Biafra. By the time the war ended in January 1970, more than THREE MILLION IGBO people, including over a million children had died. Many of the dead, especially children, had died of starvation, a result of the deliberate policy of the Nigerian government, which had imposed a total land, sea and air blockade of Biafra, prohibiting even food and medical deliveries to the war zone! “The war seems to be reaching its conclusion, with the terror of possible reprisals and massacres against defenseless people worn out by deprivations, by hunger and by the loss of all they possess. The news this morning is very alarming ... One fear torments public opinion. The fear that the victory of arms may carry with it the killing of numberless people. There are those who actually fear a kind of genocide.” Pope Paul VI THE BRUTALITY OF NATIONS DAN JACOBS “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 “The loss of life from starvation continues at more than 10,000 persons per day - over 1,000,000 lives in recent months. Without emergency measures now, the number will climb to 25,000 per day within a month - and some 2,000,000 deaths by the end of the year. The new year will only bring greater disaster to a people caught in the passion of fratricidal war.” Senator Kennedy appeals to America’s Leaders for greater humanitarian aid to Nigeria - Biafra and efforts to end the civil war. Sunday, November 17, 1968 “However, Richard Nixon got a very different sense of the situation when he met Rogers and officials of the African Bureau. Following their briefing, he telephoned his National Security adviser and said: “They’re going to let them starve, aren’t they, Henry.” President Richard Nixon THE BRUTALITY OF NATIONS DAN JACOBS Since 1980 thousands of Igbo have continued to be attacked and massacred! 1980 Northern City of KANO! 1982 Northern City of MAIDUGURI! 1984 Northern City of YOLA! 1985 Northern City of GOMBE! 1986 Northern Cities of KADUNA and KAFANCHAN! 1991 Northern Cities of BAUCHI, KATSINA and KANO! 1992 Northern City of ZANGO KATAF! 1993 Northern City of FUNTUA! 1994 Northern City of KANO! .... 2000 (Feb.) More than 3000 CHRISTIANS which included more than 2000 IGBO were slaughtered in cold blood by Northern MOSLEM FANATICS in the Northern City of KADUNA! 2000 (Apr.) Northern City of DAMBOA! AT PRESENT SECRET KILLINGS OF IGBO CONTINUE IN THE NORTH! As we write, a well-designed plan is being carried out throughout Nigeria. The Igbo people are the largest single ethnic group of Christians in all of Africa. As usual the current plan targets the Igbo for subjugation, even destruction. The Igbo nation continues to pay a heavy prize for their religious beliefs and ethnic background! Before we continue on this subject, we ask that you look at the map below: As shown in the map above the following states: SOKOTO, ZAMFARA, KATSINA, KEBBI, NIGER, JIGAWA, YOBE, BAUCHI, BORNO, KANO, GOMBE are now Islamic states. These states have unilaterally adopted Islam as their state religion and legal/criminal code, in direct and flagrant violation of the constitution of Nigeria. They have even gone further to stop and confiscate the assets of legitimate businesses that belong to law abiding citizens, mainly Igbo.
To understand the implications of what the Igbo and other non Moslem nations face in Nigeria, we have included the map of states in Nigeria showing the unfolding ISLAMIC REPUBLIC. Muslim extremists and their political and religious leaders now believe that, for Nigeria to remain one country, it must now become an Islamic nation. The people of Southern Sudan, for more than 30 years, have been involved in a life and death struggle with the Arab, Islamist Northern Government in Khartoum, in a total rejection of the Islamization of their area. We the Igbo people totally reject the TALIBANIZATION and ISLAMIZATION of Nigeria. The Igbo people do not want to live in an Islamic republic. We want to live in a nation in which the law makes a clear separation between church and state, where the law respects the rights of all citizens to follow the religion of their choice, where government can not make policies favoring one religion over another.
It is important that we stress the following:
Islam is a great religion and we have nothing against Islam or Moslem, whether such Moslems live in Nigeria or else where. We recognize the right of Moslems in Northern Nigeria, or else where, to practice and live by the Islamic principles in their own NATION. They have now declared that right and we support them. Since the Igbo and other non-Moslems have every right to practice whatever religion they choose and live by whatever principles they choose, it is important that the free world recognize and accord this equally very important right. This threat to Islamize Nigeria, and in fact West Africa can best be illustrated by the two articles below: #1 Post Express Category: News Date of Article: 06/05/2000 Topic: Libya to Build Islamic Varsity in Kano ... Signs N30b contract Author: Bassey Inyang, Kano Full Text of Article: To further promote Islamic education in the country, the Libyan government, over the weekend in Kano, signed a contract of $300m (N30 billion) for the construction of an Islamic university in the city. The $300 million school is to be known as Moumar Gaddafi Islamic University, Kano, a name borrowed from the Libyan strongman Col. Moumar Gaddafi. Addressing newsmen in Kano over the development, the Director of the World Islamic Call Society (WICS), Mr. Mohammed Ali, said his organization is handling the project on behalf of the Libyan government, adding that the school project would be financed from the "Jihad Tax" paid by Libyans. Ali disclosed that the decision to set up an Islamic university for the propagation of the faith in Nigeria was informed by one of the five pillars of the faith which provides for the prosecution of a Jihad (holy war) to spread the religion, first championed by Holy Prophet Mohammed."Whatever we are spending is from the pocket of the Libyan people called "Jihad Tax" it is one of the Islamic pillars that you have to do it with your money or through any other means" Ali, who spoke through an interpreter stated. According to Ali, the idea behind the university was to ensure that the Islamic knowledge was preached throughout Nigeria and other sub Sahara African countries. He stated that the idea behind the university was also aimed at checkmating the influence of European imperialists in Nigeria and Africa at large, adding that at the fullness of time, the project will facilitate the formation of the United States of Africa (USA). Ali said the move by Gaddafi to propagate the teaching and learning of Islam in Nigeria was not new as the leader of the Jamahariah was only following the footsteps of his forefathers who helped in bringing Islam to Western Sudan. Ali, who also spoke on the conflicts in parts of Nigeria as a result of the introduction of the Sharia said the conflicts wee not borne out of the Sharia but external forces from outside the country who were bent on splitting Nigeria. He asked Nigeria to resist foreign powers with all resources at their disposal so as to keep the country united. Ali disclosed that the WICS was enjoying every amount of support from the Kano State government and the Federal Government as well, saying "President Olusegun Obasanjo and Gaddafi are very good friends." The Gaddafi University which is to be cited along Gwarzo road in Kano city, will be constructed by Messrs AG. Ferrario Ltd. The school will cover all landscape of 137 hectres, and will teach all conventional subjects ranging from medicine, sciences, agriculture, engineering, arts and a host of others. The contract papers were signed on behalf of the construction firm by Mr. Constantino Ferrario while Mohammed Ali signed on behalf of the Libyan government. ************* #2 The Guardian Online http://www.ngrguardiannews.com Tuesday, June 6, 2000 Nigerian Moslem leaders to attend Sharia summit in Niger NIGERIAN Moslem scholars and leaders will attend a Sharia summit scheduled for Niger Republic's city of Madawa alongside their counterparts from Togo and Republic of Benin this week, British Broadcasting Corporation said yesterday. The summit is to promote Islamic law in the sub region. ************* These two articles above and others that we can provide if needed, will definitely point the trajectory to an unfolding Islamic conquest if permitted. Remember that since 1945, Southern Sudan has been in a death struggle against this impending conquest. We are told that “Nigeria has taken steps towards a fairer, more democratic government, that the elections held in February represent a positive sign for Nigeria’s future.” But does this also extend to the Igbo? Below is a verifiable track record of the so called fair democratic Obasanjo’s regime. New Heights in Marginalization (Obasanjo regime) “A conversation with one of the most impressive ministers provided significant insight into the political aims of the federal Government .... The Minister discussed the question of the reintegration of the Ibos in the future state .... The war aim, and solution properly speaking of the entire problem, he said, was ‘to discriminate against the Ibos in the future in their own interest’. Such discrimination would include above all the detachment of those oil-rich territories in the eastern Region which were not inhabited by Ibos at the start of the colonial period (1900), on the lines of the twelve-state plan. In addition the Ibos’ freedom of movement would be restricted, to prevent their renewed penetration into other parts of the country ... Leaving any access to the sea to the Ibos, the minister declared, was quite out of the question.” The Biafra Story Frederick Forsyth If the history of skewed appointments since independence leaves any one in doubt about the emergence of a pattern, the Obasanjo regime has cleared such doubts. No regime has betrayed so much disdain for the rights of the Igbo in its appointments as the Obasanjo regime. We review the appointment so far. It is important to stress that no Igbo has attained the position as executive head of state of Nigeria since the end of the Nigeria-Biafra war in 1970; also glass ceiling has been created to limit Igbo from attaining ministerial positions in the following departments: Defense, Foreign, Petroleum, Internal Affairs, etc
Posts: 166 | From: chicago | Registered: Jun 2003
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This your new found pro One Nigeria and everybody else who advocate seperate view is your enemy lacks credibility. It lacks creditibility because all of sudden you seem to be defending the status quo in Nigeria. One look at the first paragraph of your thread I got sick. First of all if are going to use History to defend one Nigeria get the History correct.
quote:
In 914, the then separately administered Northern and Southern Nigeria were amalgamated by fiat by the then British Governor-General called Lord Lugard. Post 1914 Nigeria gained her independence from Britain on October 1,1960.
quote:
First of all there was nothing like Northern and southern Nigeria before 1914. There was Northern and Southern Protectorate. The Name Nigeria did not exist prior to Mongo Park discovery of River Niger and before British colonization. The Patchwork British did doesn't mean that a country call Nigeria was there before. If you are going to knock or insult those you called neoBiafrans, what are you going to call western Cameroon who broke away to join there brothers 1957. Are you going to now wedge war against Cameroon to bring back that part that use to be part of Southern Protectorate.
When you say those advocating the break up of Nigeria should think twice or those of you supporting the status quo. All I say to you, when did we all got together and decide to form a country called Nigeria. Take United States for example which was also colonized by Britain. After the original 13 colonies dump that British Tea in Boston Harbor, the original 13 Colonies came together to form United States, they drafted their constittution did everything opposite to Britain. Now Tell me where Southern and Northern protectorate and Part of Cameroon came together to form a country called Nigeria. After the 13 Original colonies formed United States, other colonies that joined later went through a referendum so that their people would vote whether to join or not. Purto Rico have had two failed referendums on whether to become the 51st States of USA. Porto Rico still retain her independent and at the same time maintains her status as US territory.
Please brother Nwa Aro stop this your hollow argument to further your personal fight with people you disagree with. The issue of independence and self determination goes beyond your petty squable with you socalled percieved enemies. Get of the this everybody is after you syndrom, is not walking my brother. Since when did you became a one Nigeria advocate extraordinary?.
I agree with you completely. Everything the character Nwa Aro writes is tuned toward his own personal ascendancy over all and sundry. Whether his angle is One-Nigeria or Biafra Actualization, it's all the same to him, as long as he can provide a pulpit for his "Nwa Aro superiority" sermon, and pit himself against his perceived contenders to the throne of Nd'Igbo's cyber-champion.
All:
Nwa Aro appears to be somewhat psychotic. It's common knowledge in psychiatric circles that people who continually refer to themselves in the third person see themselves in superheroic proportions. Most persons, when referring to themselves, use first person pronouns like "I" or "me," and rarely if ever refer to themselves by using their own names, like as if I would say, "Greg will never do this or that," or "no one will say or do to Greg." Even giving these examples almost makes me feel psychotic, as if I'm talking about someone else instead of myself. Well, this is the normal fare for the character who calls himself Nwa Aro, constantly referring to himself in the third person and embellishing his own character as if he were somehow grandiose and towering above all others, a great and marvellous thinker, when nothing could be further from the truth, his logic and reasoning giving mediocrity a bad name.
I caution all readers to examine the underlying reasons for the nonsensical things Nwa Aro writes. It's not co-incidence that he has gone from one extreme to the other in his political convictions (if you can call them that). He was once a die-hard Biafran(see the archives) but now a One-Nigerian. How does one easily make such a transition...the history of Nd'Igbo in Nigeria hasn't changed, the mistreatment of Igbos is still evident, no new hope for Igbos in Nigeria has materialized...Could it be that Nwa Aro's opinions about Biafra and Nigeria have never really been about the well-being of Igbo people, but rather they were formed to give himself a soapbox on which to stand and stroke his own bloated ego??? And doesn't the trademark use of CAPITALS in his posts support my contention that he wants, above all, to be heard, listened to, and respected??? I dare say that if Biafrans would begin to give Nwa Aro the glory and greatness he desires(but quite undeserved), he would again be the most die-hard Biafran of all.
For Nwa Aro, it's not about Nd'Igbo, or Nigeria, it's about himself, his glory, his fame, his honor, his greatness, his leadership. This is the real reason why Nwa Aro has changed his political views. I rarely respond to what he writes anymore because he makes little or no sense, and I fear his case is hopeless.
posted
Greg, Oha ka, & biafra, Say what you guys want, one thing you guys have not yet answered are:
* Why Biafra of teritory?
* Have you gotten a blueprint better than that which Nigeria's past and present leaders have (if they ever had any) on which that Biafra will trive as a united, politcally viable and economically prosperous country?
* Which country(ies) in todays world supports or are ready to support and aid the actualization of your Biafra republic? Naming and quoting IRRELEVANT comments made by the then communist Julius Nyerere who was looking for an ally in a pro-socialist/communist Ojukwu which he, like most communist/socialist nations that supported Ojukwu's short-lived Biafra only did because they wanted to use Ojukwu's Biafra to fight their capitalist "enemies" thirty odd years ago as Oha ka childishly did makes no sense in 2005. Please tell us which African or western country in 2005 has indicated interest in your Biafra.
Coming to my change of position, all I have to say is to quote the words of Walter Lander when he said: " my thoughts are my company; I can bring them together, select them, detain them or dismiss them" Good enough Nwa Aro did not sign a binding contract with anyone or group on this board or anywhere that said that I must think in 2005 as I did before it or vice-versa.
The onus once again is on the neoBiafrans to tell the world, most especially the unconvinced Igbos around the world WHY BIAFRA REPUBLIC, AND HOW DIFFERENT WILL THAT BIAFRA BE, VIS-A-VIS THE NIGERIA OF TODAY? No amount of name-calling or blackmail will release you neoBiafrans from aswering that NECESSARY question. That is, if you guys want your cause to cross the traders' joint where it attracts its BLIND followers in Nigeria.
One luxury we ENLIGHTENED Igbos cannot afford is to let Nd'Igbo be moved from frying pan (from a disfuntional Nigeria) to fire (a Biafra republic which has so far not been sold and explained in details).
Meanwhile, let me say it for the uptenth time THAT NWA ARO DID NOT AND HAS NEVER SUBCRIBED TO THE CONCEPT OF "ONE NIGERIA." I have on the contrary always advocated for a restructured Nigeria. Even when I was forced to make aquitances in this vilage I made it clear that my interest in the Biafran thing starts and ends with it being a thing of the mind. Nothing more, nothing less. It's for that reason that I used a handle in dealing with the Baifra "die-hards" instead of using my real identity. Away from this cry over what Nwa Aro believes today or did believe yesterday, could the neoBiafrans for God's sake tell the world if/how your envisaged Biafra republic can/will be any different from the Nigeria of 2005? That, my dear friends is what people around the world want to know and not all this Nwa Aro this and Nwa Aro that.
Meanwhile, below is what a LEARNED IGBOMAN had to say (we cant be quoting illiterate Igbo taders and keep the educated oncee on the sidelines) the MASSOBIANS...And he did it right there in Nigeria and in the face of the neoBiafrans:
-------------------------------- Ohaneze Frowns At Massob’s ActivitiesFrom Chinedu Eze in Abakaliki , 09.29.2005
The President-General of Ohaneze Ndâ??Igbo, Professor Joe Irukwu, has dissociated the pan Igbo organization and the entire people of Igboland from the activities of Movement for the Actualization for the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and stated that Igbo will never leave Nigeria because they are part of Nigeria and the country also belongs to them. Speaking at a press conference at the end of this year's Igbo day celebration, in Abakaliki Irukwu denounced the activities of MASSOB, describing it as anarchic, urging the members of the organization to obey the laws of the land. We believe that alternative to the rule of law is anarchy and we think that all our youths should be disciplined; to respect all constituted authority. They should respect the laws of the land. The Ohaneze leader noted that the activities of the group is not at variance with what other similar groups are doing in other parts of Nigeria, but the name of their association indicate that it is agitating for secession, which no nation would keep quiet about, noting that the name MASSOB attracts attention to the activities of the group. We believe that if they are aggrieved they have the right to protest, but they have to protest in accordance to the provision of the laws of the land. Ohaneze is insisting that the activities of MASSOB should be within the provisions of the law. Our young men have the right to behave like other young men in Nigeria, but you cannot in an atmosphere in which you are charged to call yourself Movement for the Actualization for the Sovereign State of Biafra. If you call it that name you immediately invite attention to yourself. Irukwu, who said justice demand that an Igbo become the next president of Nigeria but will not agitate for it in a selfish way, stated that the Igbo will continue to be part of Nigeria because they have contributed immensely to the development of the country and therefore would not have anything to gain leaving Nigeria. I would like to inform you that Nd'Igbo have asked me to tell you that we are not leaving Nigeria for anybody. Nigeria is our own and we must defend our rights in Nigeria and the earlier we work towards that the better. We are not going anywhere. We are part of Nigeria and we have made more sacrifices for Nigeria than any other group in the country. The Ohaneze leader said that what the Igbos are asking from Nigeria leadership is a level playing field, that is justice and fair play, the moment we get that justice and fairplay you will find that there will be fewer agitation by aggrieved young men. The issue is that our young men finish from the university and they cannot find jobs, a situation in which there is no industries in Igboland; a situation in which we are not getting our fair deal in the country, but I must say that in recent time things are improving gradually and it is to the credit of the present government in Nigeria that for the first time we, Igbos are occupying some key positions. But we want more. We want our roads to be done; we want the gravities of the civil war to be wiped out and we want more benefits, so that we will have a sense of belonging. We want a situation where there will be justice, not only for Nd'Igbo alone, but for all Nigerians. In a welcome address, the Ebonyi state governor, Dr Sam Egwu, called on all Igbos to rededicate themselves to the cause of nation-building and re-orientation. In doing this, we are called upon to re-affirm and renew our support to Mr. President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo in his reformatory initiatives and commitment to the sustainable development of our great nation. ------------------------------
Ndi-Igbo want to move forward and not be drawn backwards.
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quote:The onus once again is on the neoBiafrans to tell the world, most especially the unconvinced Igbos around the world WHY BIAFRA REPUBLIC, AND HOW DIFFERENT WILL THAT BIAFRA BE, VIS-A-VIS THE NIGERIA OF TODAY? No amount of name-calling or blackmail will release you neoBiafrans from aswering that NECESSARY question. That is, if you guys want your cause to cross the traders' joint where it attracts its BLIND followers in Nigeria. --Nwa Aro
No, Nwa Aro. There is no onus on Biafrans to do anything but follow their hearts and avoid repellant pro-Nigerian propaganda of the Nwa Aro sort. And since you seem to be in the minority on this board, I think the onus is on you to answer this question...
WHY NOT A BIAFRAN REPUBLIC? The Igbo people have a common language, a common heritage, and a common homeland. So why not a Biafran Republic??? Tell us Mazi.
You seem to imply that Igbos are not capable of ruling themselves, and that they need the Awusa and Yoruba to govern them properly. You seem to want Igbos to exchange their chains of iron for those made of gold, as your hero Joe Irukwu has done. For my part I had rather be represented in government by honest traders who know the meaning of hard work and who love their people rather than by those who see themselves as high-and-mighty super-elites and whose agenda is their own belly and their allegiance to whoever lines their pockets with naira.
Education alone does not and can never confer quality or honesty on any man. Need I remind you that David, the king and sweet psalmist of Israel, was, in the beginning, a simple shepherd. So please stop this denigrating talk about hard-working Igbo men and women, who at least do not steal for a living, as do the educated but corrupt politicians and their cousins, the common armed robbers. But I digress...
so answer the question Nwa Aro. WHY NOT A BIAFRAN REPUBLIC? I don't think you can present a coherent argument supporting your position.
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DISCLAIMER: THE VIEWS BEING EXPRESSED ARE THOSE OF Maazi Nnaemeka Mene Onumonu and not the views of Ekwe Nche Organization.
Nwa Aro,
We will overlook your insults as we continue to educate the world on why the Actualization of the Sovereign Republic of “Igbo Biafara” is a must.
If you notice, I have not included Ndi Igbo in the above quote, an Igbo who turns his/her back on the Genocaust (Genocide and holocaust) against his/her people is not worth educating, nor are they to be trusted, you should research and find out why Dukakis, lost the American Presidential election a while back. Those who are not fanatical about Igbo, have no place in this movement.
If you also noticed I continue to use the term “Igbo Biafara”, this revolution is built on the premise that every nation must speak for her self, and must also make the ultimate decision by themselves and themselves alone on whether to continue as Nigerians or actualize their own nation state. One of the complaints of the Igbo neighbors is that Igbo continue to meddle in their affairs and this has created some unwelcome friction amongst them. These nations now have the opportunity to either succeed or fail on their own, and this time there will be no finger pointing! Each nation must now decide what is in her best interest.
China, a world power solved the huge ego of its people, by implementing a scheme where everyone bar none world be addressed as comrade. In Biafara, all men will be addressed as Maazi and women as AdaEze or any other term that is agreed upon.
Igbo Biafara territory:
The territory of Igbo Biafara will encompass every inch of Igbo land both East and West of the Niger, which of course includes Port Harcourt since Port Harcourt is Ala Ikwerre.
It is also important to note that from the research of Ekwe Nche Organization, one important point kept on coming up, “Every advanced or developed nation is built on the culture, tradition and philosophy of its people, that being the case, Igbo Biafara will be built on the culture, tradition and philosophy of Ndi Igbo, the rule of law, and of course OHA must be supreme, “Truth – Eziokwu bu ndu”, and not shades of truth will reign supreme in Ala Igbo.
Leadership: Collective Leadership will be the mode of leadership. Never again must Igbo allow herself to be ruled by some self-declared Messiah. Since no other nation exhibits the messianic complex as does Igbo, Collective leadership would be the only form of leadership to hold it in check. One then starts to understand the ingenuity of our fore-parents. One model would be a collection of semi-independent Igbo nation states, each sending a representative to the center, and this group will represent the presidential council. This way, no one section can impose herself on the other sections of Ala Igbo.
Our fore-fathers said beauty starts at home, it is not important to worry about what others think of you or if they will recognize you, get your Igbo house in other, and the world will have no other choice but recognize Igbo. One of the greatest states men that Afric has and will ever see, the Elder-statesman, Maazi Julius Nyerere has already made the Igbo case. I suspect Nwa Aro has no idea who this giant was, or he would not have insulted him. Nigeria still remains a country because Ndi Igbo continue to breathe life into that abominable copse.
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