In 1979, more than quarter of a century ago, Olusegun Obasanjo, then General Olusegun Obasanjo, was head of state, and the country was gearing up for elections which would return it to democratic rule. When the BBC's senior correspondents failed to get visas to cover the election, a junior producer, Elizabeth Blunt, was packed off to Lagos and told to do her best. Twenty seven years on and a senior correspondent herself, Elizabeth has been back to retrace that journey. Each day we will hear her reports on how Nigeria has changed.
Part 1: Nigeria Lagos Abuja
One of the more memorable moments of that first trip was the day Elizabeth was presented to the Emir of Zaria, one of northern Nigeria's senior traditional rulers, and in those days a figure who inspired considerable awe. In the second part of this extraordinary series she goes back to the royal court in Zaria to see whether that is still true.
Part 2: Nigeria Emirs
In the third of the series, Elizabeth travels to the south east, the region which in the nineteen-sixties had made a doomed attempt to secede.
Part 3: Nigeria Biafrans
One change that has been widely remarked is that Nigeria has become more religious. In the muslim north that has meant a much wider use of sharia law. There was an international outcry when women were sentenced to death by stoning for adultery. But how has it changed women's everyday lives?
Part 4: Nigeria's Women
Elizabeth was sent to report on the elections which replaced General Olusegun Obasanjo's military regime with a civilian government led by President Shahu Shagari. For a novice reporter it was a crash course in the history of African's most populous nation, and the beginning of lasting fascination with Nigerian politics.
Part 5: Nigerian Politics
First Broadcast 08th - 12th May 2006
Posts: 166 | From: chicago | Registered: Jun 2003
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___________________ 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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“The Worldwide Coalition of Biafran Organizations, the quintessential Biafran all-in-one Solidarity Alliance, is pleased to sponsor the 2006 International Conference on the political status of Biafra in partnership with MASSOB (USA) Incorporated. The Extraordinary Conference will be followed by a special Biafra Memorial Ceremony in remembrance of Biafran fallen heroes, Biafran victims of the Nigerian genocide, Biafrans butchered for Christ by hordes of fanatical Northern Nigerian Moslem Fundamentalists, and MASSOBIAN martyrs slaughtered by Nigeria’s infamous SSS à la Gestapo.”
The recent events that continue to unfold in the “British Birthed Abomination” christened “Ni gger Area” by her founders or Nigeria, continue to buttress the plan put forward, nine years and counting, by Ekwe Nche Research Institute/ Organization on the way forward to the actualization of the Super Power – Biafara.
A recount will help point us in the right trajectory:
The TOTAL rejection of ‘Ni gger Area’ by Ndi Igbo; The unyielding quest and demand for the actualization of Biafara by OHA Igbo; The marginalization of Ndi Igbo, which started at the so-called end of the Biafra-Nigeria; The continuing imposition of traitors as leaders over Ndi Igbo; The destabilization of Igbo states by agents of the Nigerian government; The continuing massacre of Ndi Igbo; The continuing massacre of members and the jailing of the leaders of Biafara organizations in ‘Ni-gger Area’; etc,
Biafarans in Diaspora and their organizations now have a chance to be counted! Do you have a solution or a plan on the way forward? Now is your opportunity to present it!
There is no excuse for not attending.
You now have an opportunity to make news and help OHA realize her dream, will you step forward or continue to sit on the sideline? Will you let petty disagreements keep you away from this important conference? THE CHOICE IS YOURS.
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THE INDISPENSABLE SELF-PRESERVATION RENDEZ-VOUS: AN EXCLUSIVE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON THE POLITICAL STATUS OF BIAFRA
The Worldwide Coalition of Biafran Organizations, the quintessential Biafran all-in-one Solidarity Alliance, is pleased to sponsor the 2006 International Conference on the political status of Biafra in partnership with MASSOB (USA) Incorporated. The Extraordinary Conference will be followed by a special Biafra Memorial Ceremony in remembrance of Biafran fallen heroes, Biafran victims of the Nigerian genocide, Biafrans butchered for Christ by hordes of fanatical Northern Nigerian Moslem Fundamentalists, and MASSOBIAN martyrs slaughtered by Nigeria’s infamous SSS à la Gestapo.
CONFERENCE DATES
Friday, June 2 – Sunday, June 4, 2006 The weekend of Seminars, Workshops, Celebrations, and Special Events will, in addition, feature as guests of honour for the twin events much sought-after speakers and Biafran sympathizers whose identities will be unveiled on the conference floor.
CONFERENCE LOCATION
The Delta Toronto East Hotel, 2035 Kennedy Road, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M1T 3G2. Driving Directions: From Niagara Falls and Bufallo: (1) Follow QEW North to Hwy 427; (2) Travel North on Hwy 427 to Hwy 401; (3) Take Hwy 401 East to Kennedy Road (Exit 379); (4) Travel North one block to Sufferance Road and turn right. From Hwy 401 East or West: (a) Exit at Kennedy Road (Exit 379); (b) Follow step (4) above. From Pearson International Airport: (i) Follow directional signs to Hwy 401 East; (ii) Repeat steps (3) and (4) above. For Public Transportation (Subway/City Buses): Take the Subway from the nearest station to Kennedy Station; From Kennedy Station, take Bus No. 43 (Kennedy Road North) or No. 43 (Kennedy Road South) to 2035 Kennedy Road. From Toronto VIA Train Station: Take the Subway from Union Station to Kennedy Station and Bus No. 43 from Kennedy Station to Delta hotel.
HOTEL ACCOMMODATION
Same as the conference venue above. Reserve NOW to join us and benefit from an exclusive room rate of $139 CAD, single (one queen-size bed) or double (two double beds) occupancy, for Biafran International Conference participants who reserve no later than May 15, 2006 and mention Igbo/Biafra Conference! Reservation Line (Delta): 1-800-663-3386 (toll free); Fax: (416) 299-8959. Because of time-zone differences, we strongly recommend that Biafrans outside North America book their reservations by e-mail: dte_reservations@deltahotels.com. For additional information on Delta, visit www.deltatorontoeast.com.
REGISTRATION
To register for the Conference, call the International Conference Hotline at (514) 369-0361 (Canada), at (718) 300-5934 (USA), or send e-mail to BiafraConference2006@yahoo.com. Although the registration fee is $100 USD, we always appreciate donations of any amount from conference participants and non-participants to help offset the costs of hosting the twin (conference and commemorative ceremony) events.
Please register as soon as you can. For more information, help with reservations, voluntary donations, assistance upon arrival, brief paper presentation proposals, or questions regarding the Conference, call the International Conference contact lines above or send e-mail to BiafraConference2006@yahoo.com.
THERE ARE NO MORE IMPORTANT EVENTS TO THE BIAFRA NATION TODAY THAN THE PROVIDENTIAL GATHERING OF BIAFRANS FROM HOME AND AROUND THE WORLD AND THE POLITICAL STATUS OF BIAFRA!
Posts: 166 | From: chicago | Registered: Jun 2003
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I smell another Amanda Wekson here. The Canada number is a disconnected number and the USA number says the subscriber is not receiving call @ this time.
At least if you are going to have a 419 "Conference of this Magnitude" you should invest some little amount knowing how gullible the Biafran wannabees will suck into such euphoria. We all remember the Biafran House, which brought men of timber like the warlord and the shortie guy who is cooling his feet off in OBJ dungeon together in Washington. It turned out to be a big 419 scam.
I agree with you intoto, the conveners should be bold to display their real names and traceable contact numbers and a clear cut agenda of what they want to achieve.
Oha-ka has been very vocal in his attacks on MASSOB so it's a bit of a surprise to see him advertising a meeting with MASSOB boldly written on it.
Go On With One Nigeria O jare!
___________________ God bless Chukwuma Nzeogwu! Posts: 104 | From: Utrecht, The Netherland | Registered: Dec 2002
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According to you we should "Go On With One Nigeria O jare" where some parts of the country have doctrines and traditions that are incompactible with Oneness and incompactible with an open society.
I'd rather suggest that Nigeria should be restructured into the existing six zones and that each zone keeps 50% of what it produces and pay taxes to the center. And, also, power should rotate among the six zones starting from South-east or South-south. These two zones must serve 8 years each before power moves to the Middle Belt and from there to core North and back to Southwest to stat the cycle again.
About that Biafran convention, I do not know what to say. Each individual should use their judgment. I smell rat.
Posts: 288 | From: California | Registered: Jul 2003
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Take Note of Phone Change for the 2006 Toronto Conference. The new number is 1-514-244-7727 We regret any inconveniences this change might have caused anyone. Thanks!
Posts: 19 | From: U.S.A. | Registered: Apr 2004
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“Oha-ka has been very vocal in his attacks on MASSOB so it's a bit of a surprise to see him advertising a meeting with MASSOB boldly written on it.” – Nwa Asaba
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Allow me to express my thanks to Maazi Ukaegbu for the correction below:
“Take Note of Phone Change for the 2006 Toronto Conference. The new number is 1-514-244-7727 We regret any inconveniences this change might have caused anyone.”
****
Maazi Nwa Asaba made an important statement that need be examined.
If Maazi Nwa Asaba equates Mr. Uwazurike to MASSOB, then I can only plead guilty as charged. But if Uwazurike = MASSOB, then Ojukwu = Igbo and Zik = Nigeria. Is this what Igbo has come to? We then begin to understand why Mr. Ojukwu crowned himself “King of Ndi Igbo worldwide”, and why Ndi Igbo have lost touch with reality and now look for the biggest sounding titles to award themselves – TUFIAKWA, a nation of fools!
Why did Ndi Igbo snatch defeat from the mouth of complete and total victory during the Biafra-Nigeria war? Why is it that Igbo is a nation in crisis? Why is it that traitors are now being crowned as Igbo leaders and Ndi Igbo say and do nothing? Why is it that the Igbo GENOCAUST is the only crime against humanity that the world know nothing about, although Igbo intelligentsia are in the halls of power all over the world? Why is it that those who committed these crimes against humanity are not being hounded all over the world? Why is it that Igbo continue to be massacred and Igbo marginalization continues unabated, while Ndi Igbo continue to preach ‘one Nigeria’?
Igbo is now in total denial because she long ago forgot who she is. If she has no idea who she is, how then can she judge her leadership – talk about the blind leading the blind. The nation that gave the world CIVILIZATION, RULE OF LAW, ONE GOD and DEMOCRACY, has become the laughingstock of the civilized world, an abomination.
“The servant-leader is servant first. It begins with the natural feeling that one wants to serve. Then conscious choice brings one to aspire to lead. The best test is: do those served grow as persons: do they, while being served, become healthier, wiser, freer, more autonomous, more likely themselves to become servants? And, what is the effect on the least privileged in society; will they benefit, or, at least, not be further deprived?”
The Servant as Leader Robert K. Greenleaf
Above is the definition by the Western world of leadership in OHACRACY, now lets look at the Igbo definition, remembering that the Igbo definition is thousands of years old!
“IN IGBO SOCIETY POWER BELONGS TO THE PEOPLE. Ndiigbo elect their own leaders and tell their leaders what to do and how to lead them. Ndi Igbo have never accepted "rulers", not even when the British imposed warrant chiefs on them”
Leadership Series – Ekwe Nche
If an Igbo leader from the above definition is merely a servant, why does any Igbo not have the right to critic his/her servant? Why should a servant elevate him/herself above his/her master by giving themselves titles or by behaving like thin gods? Why should servants elevate themselves to the status of thin gods? What gives the servant the right to make decision about OHA without consulting OHA? We now begin to understand why ‘Zik of Africa’ failed Igbo, why Ojukwu is a complete failure where Igbo is concerned, and why all those who try to elevate themselves over Igbo will continue to lead Igbo astray!
As an Igbo, I reserve the right to critic any so called Igbo leader that has no clue and is visionless. Never again will Ndi Igbo remain silent while 419’ers lead Igbo astray, at least Ndi Nche, will raise their voice in protest. Silence by those in the know, cost Ndi Igbo dearly, to the tune of millions of lives, it will not happen again, that is a promise.
In the march to BIAFARA, our eyes must remain on the prize. Any Biafaran who can afford to attend both conferences in Canada, ‘the yearly Biafra Memorial’ for both Igbo Nigerians and Igbo Biafarans, and ‘the Biafara Conference’ and does not, has no one to blame. Any Biafara Organization that can send delegates to the Biafara conference but because of some petty quarrel choose not to, has lost an opportunity to present their vision about Biafara to Ndi Igbo, and can only blame themselves. Do you have a vision for Biafara? This is your opportunity to present it to your brethren worldwide.
The choice to become a relevant Biafara organization remains in the hands of each orgainzation!
Posts: 166 | From: chicago | Registered: Jun 2003
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In 2004, I attended the yearly Toronto Biafran day celebration and was totally disappointed when one Joy who was one of the organizers, she led a group of young kids (2 - 15) singing the traditional Igbo song: "ole ndi na abia na abia na abia o, ole ndi na abia umu 'nigeria' na abia o!! I was livid with rage and I let it be known that those are Biafran kids to no avail. What nonsense! Anything stopped this lady from taking appropriate corrective measure to ask the kids to substitute nigeria with Biafra? Either they get it right or don’t even dare, but to have a Biafran day with a nigerian theme is to say the very minimum moronic of whoever was responsible for that.
___________________ BIAFRA: The land of my ancestors now, yesterday and always. So it will be! Posts: 2482 | From: Ala Igbo | Registered: Apr 2004
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I will be livid too. It is sad that some of this Igbo ladies don't take the time to educate our Igbo kids about our history.
I was happy with Emeka Okafor of Charlotte Bobcats, and his parents. I listened to one of his interview. The interviewer asked him whether it was tough going to school and playing basketball also. He answered that it is a piece of cake. That considering what his dad went through during the Biafra-Nigeria war, that he appreciate his father for making a better life for them. He talk about all the horror stories his father told him about the civil war. Is there any doubt then why he graduated in 3 years with honors from UConn.
posted
“Any Biafaran who can afford to attend both conferences in Canada, ‘the yearly Biafra Memorial’ for both Igbo Nigerians and Igbo Biafarans, and ‘the Biafara Conference’ and does not, has no one to blame.”
I do understand the frustration of our Igbo Biafara brethren, but it is important that we understand that this is a battle for the hearts and minds of our people, it is a battle of ideas – ‘the vision thing’. In Ala Igbo, the battle is over and it has been won by Biafarans. The battle now is what type of Biafara that we hope to actualize. Will it be a Biafara that is based on truth, the rule of law, where there are no sacred cows and no one is above the law, a return to the well-tested path of our fore-parents, those geniuses that gave the world CIVILIZATION, THE RULE OF LAW, ONE GOD and DEMOCRACY, with of course modern day modifications. Or will it be ‘new wine in old wine skin’, another ‘Ni-gger Area’ with a new name, where everything goes.
In Diaspora, the battle is still on, change is not easy for those that are comfortable, they would rather prefer the status quo.
It might be important we differentiate between “Biafra Memorial Day” – where we remember our innocent dead, since we cannot mourn our innocent dead until those who were responsible for their death have had their day in court and justice and compensation been handed down. This is what brings Igbo Nigerians and Igbo Biafarans together. Hence our misguided sister, as an Igbo Nigerian was right, even if we might want to throw up, for the goal is not to sing to choir;
“Biafara Conference on the other hand is an only Biafara conference, an Igbo who does not believe in Biafara will be living a lie if he/she attends, for this is a conference of Ndi Igbo who are convinced that the only way forward for Ndi Igbo is the actualization of the first BLACK SUPER POWER - BIAFARA. If our sister were to show up with a Nigerian song, she would be wrong.
Posts: 166 | From: chicago | Registered: Jun 2003
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Give this "thing" up and pursue what you can get from a bigger Nigeria. Or fight to restructure Nigeria into zones where you will have Southeast zone as one of the federating units. Fight for the presidency to rotate among the zones. Fight for 50% derivation to each zone where each zone pays taxes to the center. The Igbo speaking group of the Southeast is better of with this structure than a separate independent Biafra.
Consider this: Pretend that the whole of the five States of the Southeast is an independent Biafra. Is anyone or the government of Nigeria preventing anyone from turning it into an advanced and bouyant economy? Is anyone stopping anyone from turning it into another Taiwan, India, Indonesia to mention a few of fast developing third-world economies?
Posts: 288 | From: California | Registered: Jul 2003
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"....Pretend that the whole of the five States of the Southeast is an independent Biafra. Is anyone or the government of Nigeria preventing anyone from turning it into an advanced and bouyant economy? Is anyone stopping anyone from turning it into another Taiwan, India, Indonesia to mention a few of fast developing third-world economies?"...rick
You are truly an embarrassment to your heritage and age. Like I told you before, in independent Biafra, juvenile, shallow thinkers like you will be arrested and deported to your ancestral land in western nigeria, where you will be happy to live among your kind -- those who continue to tout the Igbo with shallow, child-like thinking.
___________________ achieve Biafra and show the difference Posts: 642 | From: Los Angeles, CA | Registered: Nov 2002
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Why do you have to wait until achieving an indpendent Biafra to turn that land mass in question into an economic and an industrial machine of South of Sahara?
With federal allocations accruing to each of the five Southeat states plus abundant human and other internally generated resources, why not set up a model economy for Nigeria and by extension Africa to emulate? What and who are your obstacles?
Posts: 288 | From: California | Registered: Jul 2003
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The Idea you are voicing is a good, but you are forgetting that such idea is unattainable in the current Unitary system with power concentrated in the Center.
Remember that old Eastern Region and western Region did exactly the same thing you are now calling for. Those institions and economic mechanism created by the old regional government was distroyed once the Federal Government took, over. Remember that before the war many universities were automoous however today JAMB and NUC have distroyed those Universities. Read the other thread about M.I. Okpara and you will see my points. The current system in Nigeria is why there are kidnapping and violence in Niger delta.
Thanks for sharing more light. That "agadi" of Amadi is up there calling names instead of sharing lights on why my idea cannot be accommplished.
Posts: 288 | From: California | Registered: Jul 2003
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It's no use wasting time on that one-nigeria Igbo hater, who claims to be an economist. I just don't know what school of economics they mint these people. May be ajegunle "shoficated" school of economics. A real world economist would know there's such a thing as a conducive environment that fosters and supports economic development; the nigerian environment is certainly not one of them. In fact, nigeria under yoroba/awusa, is particularly an opressive, hostile system for any type of investment especially Igbo, with all the yoroba/awusa lawlessness, the dislike for the Igbo way and fear of Igbo competitiveness. For example, during Biafra, Igbo inventiveness stood out in the fabrication and manufacturing of military hardware, design and production of ballistic systems, including guided missile systems; petrolium refining technology, pesticide and food production. Businessmen and engineers were encouraged to be all they can be. The profit motive, respect for the rule of law, promoted and supported transparent business initiatives. The nepotism and patronage system of the yoroba/awusa that stifles creativity and risk-taking were kept at bay by deliberate government policies that promoted meritocracy. Biafran merit system exploited the Igbo know-how in technology and personal initiatives to build the most technologically advanced black nation of modern time.
It was a risk takers paradise. Encouraged by the reward system and supported by enforceable commonsense laws that respected commercial contracts, business people felt free to do what they did best: build things that made life more comfortable. It was short-lived, but while it lasted, commerce and the volume of business increased many folds. Now, constrast that with what has happened since 1970 under yoroba/awusa rulership. Igbo manufacturers and busiensses -- the main engine of economic growth for black Africa -- have been caged, particularly under olusegun obasanjo's scorched-earth economic policies targeted to scuttle Igbo leads in manufacturing, distribution and other services. Go to Aba today and see the results of these highhanded yoroba mismanagement. Shoe manufacturers, for example, can no longer find the resources to improve their products meant for export to other countries. Or read the import/export regulations of olusegun obasanjo and see how the Igbo businessman has been targeted.
Dr. Izuogu of Izuogu Motors, Owerri, has just created a new model of his automobile that has the potential to help the middle class in black Africa own their own cars at a price point of less than $2500. In an environment that encourages Igbo creativity and business, the government ought to extend cheap credit to Izuogu Motors to start the mass manufacturing of this product. No. Those afraid of Igbo competitiveness in nigeria government ie olusegun obasanjo himself, have decided that it makes more sense to stall this progress because they can't stand Igbo leading in product design and manufacturing.
So where's the incentive for the numerous Igbo industrialists to invent and create products and services for the underserved black African markets. Even Koreans and South East Asians would be hard pressed to create the tiger economies if they operated in the nigerian environment as the Igbo is forced to endure. Yet there are little rats like rick here always lecturing and touting the Igbo with shallow, child-like logic. Like I said, in independent Biafra, rick will be arrested and deported to live with his kind in western nigeria.
___________________ achieve Biafra and show the difference Posts: 642 | From: Los Angeles, CA | Registered: Nov 2002
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quote:Why do you have to wait until achieving an indpendent Biafra to turn that land mass in question into an economic and an industrial machine of South of Sahara?
With federal allocations accruing to each of the five Southeat states plus abundant human and other internally generated resources, why not set up a model economy for Nigeria and by extension Africa to emulate? What and who are your obstacles?--Rick
Rick, wake up and be realistic. Where is the power? Where is the steel? Where are the roads? Where is the infrastructure? Where is ordinary H2O? Where is peace? where is stability?
These are some of the basics. The perogative is on the goverment to provide these basics before anybody can "set up a model economy for Nigeria and by extension Africa to emulate".
___________________ Biafra is inevitable.Illegitimis nil carborundum. Posts: 760 | From: europe | Registered: Jan 2005
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Dr. M.I. Okpara started Mobile police the eastern Region was the only region that had Mobile police until 1970 the end of the war. It was Mobile Police from the east that Ojukwu sent to the North to rescue Easterner, because Mobile police was under his control as NPF was Federal outfit. Okpara started Mobile police fashioned like what you will called today in US as National guard. They usually go to dangerous zone where is too dangerous for regular police and too civilian for Military. The reason many Igbos survived the 1966 masacare in the North was because of Mobile police. Because Ojukwu had no army at the time to send and Nigeria police force was not under his control. Plus Mobile police was exclusively Igbos and Eastern Minorities, NPF was mixed. Until Nigeria government took over Mobile police their headquarters was at Enugu.
UNN Nsukka used to conduct their own Entrance and interview exam back then. Back then if you got admission to Nsukka you knew you got in there by merit. Not because you bought your way through. Back then UNN carried a mystic, many of the bright minds that did wonder during the war were all Nsukka products. Today UNN is a shadow of her past glory. You see we cannot build that model Economic you talk about if we can't control the flag University which will serve as catalyst for that model.
Now let me tell you why what you recommend will not see the light of day in the current system. That thing is called Eastern Nigeria oil. If the oil was discoverd in the North or Yoruba land, then what you recomend would have been implemented long time ago. Remember that before crude oil became the main economic stay, there was what was called Principle derivation. Back to when Cocoa in the west, ground nut and agricaltural product was the main cash crops. Chief Awo insisted on Principles of Derivation, because AWO didn't want to see the cocoa revenue from the west used for developing other part of Nigeria. The cocoa house in the west back then were doing bumming business. The groundnut pyramid in the nut were bustling. That made Dr. Okpara to focus the Eastern Region on Palm oil and palm kenel, that was how Eastern Region stated the Agricaltural development corporations in the East, which gave rise to Obubara palm plantation, Ohaji farm settlment, Crop research Umudike near Umuahia, Rubber Plantation Calaber. Okpara didn't want seat idle while the North and West preach principles of derivation.
Now oil was discovered in the late 50s may be two years before Independence. The first oil was discovered in Owerri and Umuagwo. That was why Shell first corporate office was in Owerri, until it was moved to Lagos after the war. Even till today there is a place in Owerri called shell camp. So you see brother Rick when we seek Biafra we have so many reasons for it. With Nigeria Igbos and the Easterner will not reach their God given potentials.
posted
I’m disappointed that Rick knows what time it is but chooses like other one-nigerianists to play dumb. Does Ibeato Cement (that was given a license then withdrawn after the company became operational due to that awusa cry baby – dangote’s whine) resonate with this fella? Does our brother Rick not know that whatever Ndiigbo go in
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
which brought men of timber like the warlord and the shortie guy who is cooling his feet off in OBJ dungeon together in Washington. It turned out to be a big 419 scam.
