| Dr. Igietseme, You will not understand because your people were not massacred. Your lack of understanding here is the exclusive province of those who never faced the speaking ends of the guns simply for who they were. Why don't you go ask the Jews why they have a great holocaust memorial online filled with pictures of that gory experience? Why is that whenever those whose kith and kin were slaughtered tried to remember, others who had the privilege of the obverse position react with an insecurity that is incomprehensible. The pictures had nothing to do with the war. Those kids with blown up bellies were the victims of an act of wickedness planned by some Nigerians against Ndiigbo for whatever reasons they had. It had nothing to do with the war. The Geneva convention that was in operation since the end of World War II forbade that. Yet it was shamelessly applied in Biafra. And you are here telling us to take the pictures down. This is gross insensitivity in its most obscene form. Franklyne Ogbunwezeh
* ************** *************** ****************** *************** ***********
What constitutes a disservice to our faculty of judgment, however, is to place obstacles in the way of assembling truth's fragments, remaining content with a mere one- or two-dimensional projection where a multidimensional and multifaceted apprehension remains open, accessible and instructive.
Wole Soyinka, Between Truth and Indulgences
--- On Tue, 8/31/10, Igietseme, Joseph (CDC/OID/NCPDCID) <jbi8@cdc.gov> wrote:
From: Igietseme, Joseph (CDC/OID/NCPDCID) <jbi8@cdc.gov>
Subject: [NIgerianWorldForum] RE: On the Matter of Hatred, Dislike or Whatever by Ken Asagwara {Re: To Emeka-- On Zik Project: Re ON RESTORATION OF ZIK MEMORIAM.....
To: NaijaObserver@yahoogroups.com, UmuIgbo@yahoogroups.com, NaijaPolitics@yahoogroups.com, ianokute@yahoo.com, asa-usa@yahoogroups.com, umuanambra@yahoogroups.com, "IGBO WORLD FORUM IGBO WORLD FORUM" <igboworldforum@yahoogroups.com>
Cc: NIDOA@yahoogroups.com, nigerianworldforum@yahoogroups.com, talknigeria@yahoogroups.com, "USAAfrica Dialogue" <USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com>, afenmai@yahoogroups.com, "topcrest topcrest" <topcrestt@yahoo.com>, nnamulu82@yahoo.com
Date: Tuesday, August 31, 2010, 12:56 PM
Ladies and Gentlemen: Without attempting to minimize the incalculable carnage and despicable atrocities of wars and the Nigerian civil war in particular, I am not SURE OF THE VALUE of these gory pictures of the Nigerian civil war that are being painted in cyberspace. Many of us lost family members and experienced untold indignities and dehumanizing situations during the Nigerian civil war. People understood that it was a war experience, with all the unthinkables that can be associated with wars! There is a saying that there is no humane war, good war or justifiable war! War is DEATH and Suffering and what-have-you! However, like most other nations that have fought civil wars marked by these same deplorable experiences, Nigeria and Nigerians have committed to MOVING FORWARD and build a great modern nation for all Nigerians. Therefore all activities and preoccupation of Nigerians in the post-civil era (to this day) should be how to build a developed, modern and united nation, where all citizens are equal under the law and where civil liberties are optimally guaranteed and divinely protected. Anything else is a HUGE DISTRACTION from Nation Building. This is my CANDID OPINION on this matter. Joe Igietseme From: NaijaObserver@yahoogroups.com [mailto:NaijaObserver@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of topcrest topcrest
Sent: Tuesday, August 31, 2010 1:38 PM
To: UmuIgbo@yahoogroups.com; NaijaPolitics@yahoogroups.com; ianokute@yahoo.com; asa-usa@yahoogroups.com; umuanambra@yahoogroups.com; IGBO WORLD FORUM IGBO WORLD FORUM
Cc: naijapolitics@yahoogroups.com; NIDOA@yahoogroups.com; nigerianworldforum@yahoogroups.com; talknigeria@yahoogroups.com; NaijaObserver@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [NaijaObserver] Re: [UmuIgbo] Re: On the Matter of Hatred, Dislike or Whatever by Ken Asagwara {Re: To Emeka-- On Zik Project: Re ON RESTORATION OF ZIK MEMORIAM..... ".....the fact remains that most of the reasons for declaring this unnecessary war....... I am very sure that if your father was beheaded in the North; your pregnant mother disemboweled and the foetus that would have been your sibling brought out of her womb and smothered, you will not be writing this gibberish here. No? IF your answer to the above is yes, then all I can say is may it come true for you and when it does may you have the serenity to analyze whether you have enough ammunitions or not to defend your homestead.
From: Joseph Onuorah <nnamulu82@yahoo.com>
To: NaijaPolitics@yahoogroups.com; ianokute@yahoo.com; asa-usa@yahoogroups.com; umuanambra@yahoogroups.com; UmuIgbo@yahoogroups.com
Cc: naijapolitics@yahoogroups.com; NIDOA@yahoogroups.com; nigerianworldforum@yahoogroups.com; talknigeria@yahoogroups.com; NaijaObserver@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tue, August 31, 2010 5:35:05 PM
Subject: [UmuIgbo] Re: On the Matter of Hatred, Dislike or Whatever by Ken Asagwara {Re: To Emeka-- On Zik Project: Re ON RESTORATION OF ZIK MEMORIAM.....
.".A man who rushes into battle does (may) not realize that battle entails death!" [quote/unquote] And that, my friends, is the core issue and hopefully a key learning inherent in the Nigerian Civil war. We can argue, blame, threaten, cajole, etc all we want but the fact remains that most of the reasons for declaring this unnecessary war was personal, selfish, and ill-advised. Especially considering that the key players in the coup were not in favor of secession and the war! (of course many of them were later murdered). For where in history has a war being declared as a result of "approval from chiefs and elders" as was done in this case. Why not as a result of commanders especially those who were the backbone of Nigerian army then? But that mistakes were made is not always a concern, rather what is concerning is when many of us want to obscure the truth with lies, innuendos, and labels. Which means that given same or similar situation same or worse mistakes will be made! So, in talking about the Nigerian Civil War, which affected and continue to affect ALL Nigerians, answers to the following questions are needed: How can one declare war when all the ammunition for fighting the war were on the side of the opponent? (Do folks remember what happened at Onitsha to many Igbos who were sent there with only sticks and knives shouting: "Enyinba Enyi!' Is that how wars were fought in the 60s? Even those who went to world war had better ammunition!) Isn't it smartness knowing when one is not prepared for an event, especially when lives were at such a high stake? How can one declare war when the key commanders (who were trained on military tactics, etc both outside and within the country) vehemently opposed the war except a few whom C. Nzeogwu described as "soldiers ready to make money trading in the war" and boy, was he prophetic? How can one declare war amidst "chiefs and elders" who have no clue about wars? (Of course most of them woke up from sleep to shout "yes" after a dramatic presentation by a charismatic leader). I wonder how many of them truly understood what they shouted a yes to! How can one declare war against the side that has the full support of a supper power Britain and by default, US, etc? What war has been worn by praying and shouting "God is on our side'? Which God and when did he tell us that he was/is on our side? Please do not quote the bible for those who truly understand the bible would tell you that such was not true even for David, Saul, etc and they did not just pray! Neither does Israel just pray and go to war hoping that God would just have all the enemies die! (Oh, sorry, we had David's stone, right! Common!) There are many other questions that many of us would always want to avoid or ignore but these questions must always be asked by many of us despite the intimidation, false accusations, and other emotional outbursts and tactics used to silence (attempt to) dissent opinions. Our children would ask even harder and smarter questions and believe me, lies, innuendos and threats would not affect them as they apparently affect many of us who are still struggling to get out of the culture that uses such lies and innuendos to make decisions instead of diligently searching for the truth! Neither would being branded as anti-Igbo deter many of us or our children for we know that a measure of being "a true Igbo" is far different from that used by many in this and related media. It is also important to note that over 95% of the coup commanders and planners who opposed the war were also Igbos! Indeed Nigerians and the government has a responsibility to take care of all veterans of the civil war and more importantly use the learning from the war to teach our current and future generations about wars, peace and future of a nation. Doing has many benefits for current and future Nigerians. But to do so successfully, we must get out of this "victim mentality" for the true reasons for the war and all that happened in the war and since then do not support this tribal insinuations regarding the Nigerian Civil War! This anger and ethnic, tribal or religious hatred is not the right approach for handling something that affected ALL Nigerians and continue to affect ALL Nigerians! Finally let me remind those who often use this war and related issues to determine who is a "true Igbo, supporter of Igbo", etc that doing so is wrong since: A "true Igbo" should not hate other tribal, ethnic or religious groups for expressing their opinions! Hence, he/she lives within every ethnic, tribal and religious groups within the country more so than any other group in the country! A true Igbo should not condone injustice perpetrated by another Igbo while crying foul to same or lesser one perpetrated by others. A true Igbo works to change the society for everyone for he/she knows that in doing so, his/her children and future generation will live amicably. A true Igbo respects dissent opinions knowing that one learns more from dissent opinions and little from patronizing or acquiescing ones! A true Igbo knows that his/her future as a Nigerian is only limited by the sky or perhaps by his/her own weakness and not by anyone else since he/she understands that if a Black American could be a president of USA in the 21st Century, could seat on the Boards of giant industries, could be president of top Universities, could be the chief law enforcement officer, could be the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, etc in a country that not so long ago told him/her that he/she was not "a true human deserving of human rights", every Nigerian could be a president of Nigeria if he/she works within and with the system. But will not get there by creating and/or perpetrating hatred among tribes, ethnic and religious groups! A true Igbo knows that by playing the "victim" in a victimless situation, he/she is predisposing his fellow Igbos to a mediocre aspirations and performance all of which further weakens the core of the same group he purports to endure. A true Igbo is proud of his/her tribe but also respects other tribes, ethnicity and religious groups for he/she knows that to create a strong nation all must work together! A true Igbo looks at the future and trends and knows that his/her ideas today will soon become old and if such are not changed his/her children who are more futuristic and progressive will completely reject them! Joe Udeaja www.nnamulu.com
From: Mobolaji ALUKO <alukome@gmail.com>
To: ianokute@yahoo.com
Cc: naijapolitics@yahoogroups.com; NIDOA@yahoogroups.com; nigerianworldforum@yahoogroups.com; talknigeria@yahoogroups.com; NaijaObserver@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tue, August 31, 2010 9:43:52 AM
Subject: [NaijaPolitics] Re: [NaijaObserver] On the Matter of Hatred, Dislike or Whatever by Ken Asagwara {Re: To Emeka-- On Zik Project: Re ON RESTORATION OF ZIK MEMORIAM.....
Thanks for your thoughts. When a man blatantly lies consistently that "Bolaji Aluko...has consistently denied that atrocities were committed against the Igbo..has consistently denied the genocidal war of 1966-1970 visited on the Igbo but now wants to champion the restoration of Zik's statue and Mausoleum project should also take the lead in rendering that apology.", then it is time to consign him to where he truly belongs. The record is there....see below......it is always the conflation of:
1. Pre-Coup Events (say 1933 - 1966)
2. The Coup (January 15, 1966)
3. The Pogroms (May 1966 - September 1966)
4. The Secession (May 30, 1967)
5. The War (July 6, 1967 - January 12, 1970)
6. Post-War (January 12, 1970 to date) ___________________________________ In response to Dominic Ogbonna, Joe Attueyi and Obi Nwakana (June 18, 2010) On the Matter of What I Would Do Wrt Certain 1966-70 Events in Nigeria Obi Nwakanma & Joe Attueyi: Thanks for your questions. Obi, first I did not avoid Dominic Ogbonna's questions. Rather, when his ilk start to inject MY father and my mother into THEIR pointed inquiries, I know they are simply trying to generate more heat than light. They want to insult because they don't respect their own parents. They exceed those cultural limits because historically they have learnt that generally I have a very thick skin, but that the only way to get my blood up is to gratuitously refer to my parents, especially my revered father, Prof. Sam Aluko, whose name they call upon with episodic impunity. But I oblige them because that is the only time I can abuse them if I want - for example I can call them knaves and idiots, that they are stupid and vile, almost bastards if you want - and feel justified even in the eyes of my admirers. :-) If they abuse me PERSONALLY, those who know how mild-mannered I am would say, "Aha, Bolaji, keep your cool, now! Abuse them back!" And I do when they abuse me. But when they abuse my father-mother, my upbringing which they apparently severly lack constrains me to respond in kind, and even my admirers say, "Only bastards abuse or refer to other peoples' parents gratuitously, and only bastards don't respond accordingly". I hope that I have made myself sufficiently clear on that score....so that you don't ask again why I avoided to respond to Dominic Ogbonna in the manner that he requeste. Moving on... I put concatenated both inquiries of yours as asking the following questions: how would I have handled: 1. #3 (the pogroms) 2. the state creation of May 27, allegedly the proximate catalyst for #4 (the secession); and 3. the beginning of #5 (the war). Note that I have done this exercise before, only to be told: 1. that hindsight is better than 20/20, which is true; 2. whether I think that I alone am wiser than the collective wisdom of the Igbo intelligentsia that came to certain decisions, which I am not. 3. that if Ojukwu did not lead what he did - ie secede and fight the war, even more people would have died in the hands of the apparently barbaric "Nigerians"; which notion I have contested. But I am constrained to answer to both of you again, knowing that all my efforts can be thwarted by those three criticisms. 1. On what I would do in response to the pogroms of May 29, July 29, and September 29, 1966, I would respond exactly the way Colonel Ojukwu then responded: call my people home since it appeared that the Nigerian government had not up until that point been able to ensure that come November 29, 1966, another orgy of killings would not occur. I would tell the entire world that we were "internally seceding" into our region, and would not participate in any further national endeavors until: - reparations were made; - internationally guaranteed assurances were given that repetition of the pogroms would not occur. I would call on the conscience of other Nigerians that did not participate in the orgies, as well as of the international community. 2. On May 27, 1967, General Gowon announced the creation of 12 states in Nigeria; on May 30, Ojukwu announced Biafra's secession. Your question was: what would I have done following the state creation? But the state creation was NOT an act in isolation: - no more pogroms had occurred since September 29, 1966; - efforts at National reconcilliation (interrupted in September 1966) were continued in Aburi in January 1967, even if there were accusations of reneging on agreements; - Awo, Mariere, Onyia and my father (Prof. Sam Aluko) had risked their lives on May 5-7, 1967, at the request of the Federal Government, to go to Enugu to urge Ojukwu and co. NOT to take any precipitate action, because drums of secession were already in the air. Now, as of May 27, 1967, when the states creation was announced, Ojukwu was STILL an officer of the Federal Republic of Nigeria's army, and he had accepted Gowon's military leadership, even if reluctantly, after Aburi. His attachment to the East Central State was a MILITARY posting, not a POLITICAL posting. So when an announcement of the administrative break-up of the country was made on May 27 - leaving him in place as the Governor of the East Central State, and creating the Cross-Rivers and River States out of the old Eastern Region - he had two choices: - resign his commission, telling his people that he could not in good conscience serve the Nigerian Army under those terms. If they wanted him back, he would come back as a civilian, or re-decorated as an officer of the secessionist state. - remain as Governor within the Federal Republic of Nigeria, but continue his "internal secession" on behalf of those within his reduced domain, and urging the new Governors of Cross-Rivers State and Rivers States to join him in the interest of their own victimized people. By refusing to obey the Nigerian government that appointed him in the first instance as Governor of the East Central State, he was in open rebellion as an officer and a gentleman, even if he felt he was serving a high cause, which had alternative ways of service as I mentioned above. By leading a secession - he moved from a passive activity to an active move, and I am befuddled as to why he thought the Nigerian Army would not act - unless he was deceived either by the apparent superior military power of the New State of Biafra, the readiness of the international community to support Biafra over Nigeria, or by the the alleged cowardice and weakness of the Federal Army - or all three. 3. Having seceded, the third question was: What would I had done in place of Ojukwu and the East when attacked from one , two or one hundred points on July 6, 1967? I believe it is an Igbo proverb that says only a tree does not move if attacked to be cut down, so defence was natural. But don't two brothers or sisters fight? The fight between two brothers is usually the quickest to stop, especially when a third sibling - or a parent - steps in. I notice that you said Gakem and Nsukka - both North of Biafra - implying that the attacks were initiated from the Northern flank - it is really irrelevant here who attack, although many of our Biafran compatriots often make a point that it was the Nigerian side that attacked first, as if it really mattered. Siblings here might be the Western and Midwestern Regions - or the successor states. "Parents" here might be individual politial and cultural elders of Nigeria, as well as the international community. By seceding, Biafra had shown that it was sorely vexed. By attacking, the Federal Government had shown that it would not take the secession lightly. Both sides had made their points, and that war, to my mind, should not have lasted one more week before a disengagement was reached, and serious re-negotiation commenced. I sincerely believe that the region called Biafra would have come out winners, and the nation would have been psychically better than it is now. I really think so. Finally, let me end with some Ngwa-Igbo proverb say: (1) Oji ösö aga ögüh amagh na ögü bü önwü! - A man who rushes into battle does (may) not realize that battle entails death! (2) Ma nwata akpachagh anya achö ihie gburu nna ya, ihie gburu nna ya egbuokwa ya. - If a young man is not prudent in seeking what killed his father, what killed his father may also kill him (We have this in Yoruba too) If 60,000 Yoruba are killed over some matter, I would not wish to do anything that would cause the death of 1 million more Yoruba. I would studiously avoid it. (3) Amara akagh ngburu oke madu. Akaa anugh ngburu onye ogbede. - Knowing (the truth) but not telling it is what kills old men. Hearing (the truth) but not heeding it is what kills young men. Ozugo kwa nu! I shall stop here, hoping that I have not further violated any sensibilities. Maazi Bolaji Aluko Ode-Ekiti
--- In NaijaPolitics@yahoogroups.com, Rex Marinus <rexmarinus@...> wrote:
>
>
> Professor Aluko:
>
> I have asked you these questions before, but let me repeat them:
>
> A) If you were Odumegwu-Ojukwu on May 27 as the Governor of the East what would you have done?
>
> B) If you were Odumegwu-Ojukwu on July 6, 1967 when your region is attacked from two points - Gakem and Nsukka and an armada coming from the sea, what would you do? Will you surrender and run away, or give up your command/position willingly and become Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy under a junior officer like the other Bolaji, yes? Perhaps retire and make the most of your father's wealth? I'd like to know your perspective, because it seems to me you carefully avoided Dominic's questions.
>
> Obi Nwakanma
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> _____________________ "If I don't learn to shut my mouth I'll soon go to hell, I, Okigbo, town-crier, together with my iron bell." --Christopher Okigbo
>
>
>
>
>
> To: NaijaPolitics@yahoogroups.com; asa-usa@yahoogroups.com; NIgerianWorldForum@yahoogroups.com
> From: topcrestt@...
> Date: Fri, 18 Jun 2010 14:21:04 -0700
> Subject: [NaijaPolitics] (unknown)
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> "Imagine that 60 thousand Yoruba > > men and women were beheaded in broad daylight, for no crime other than
> > being > > Yoruba;.."
>
>
>
> Prof Aluko,
>
> I am interested in hearing your view of how #3 should have been handled by the igbos--preferably situated in the example quoted above by Dominic.
>
>
>
> Joe
>
> PS: Up Algeria!!!
>
> --- In NaijaPolitics@yahoogroups.com, "Bolaji" alukome@ wrote:
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Dominic Ogbonna:
> >
> >
> >
> > Honestly, if we discuss 1966 to 1970 under four headings:
> >
> >
> >
> > 1. Pre-Coup Events (say 1933 - 1966)
> >
> > 2. The Coup (January 15, 1966)
> >
> > 3. The Pogroms (May 1966 - September 1966)
> >
> > 4. The Secession (May 30, 1967)
> >
> > 5. The War (July 6, 1967 - January 12, 1970)
> >
> > 6. Post-War (January 12, 1970 to date)
> >
> >
> >
> > It is when some of you and your ilk try to conflate all these issues
> > together - and make the unreasonable attack that lack of support for one
> > is support for another- that is when intelligent discussion suffers.
> >
> > My position always is that while the arrow of time flies in only one
> > direction, it was not INEVITABLE that #1 led to #2, or #2 to #3, or #3
> > led to #4, or #4 led to #5. For example, I make a serious distinction
> > between the pogrom, which was inexcusable, and the secession, which was
> > also inexcusable. The only inevitability was #6 AFTER #5 occurs,
> > because all wars eventually come to an end. Some would want to add that
> > $5 was inevitable after #4, but I still think that saner heads could
> > have prevailed to avert a war and still keep the territorial integrity
> > of Nigeria, which was non-negotiable.
> >
> > With that, I say, let us move on. I am watching the England-Algeria
> > match.
> >
> >
> >
> > Bolaji Aluko
On Tue, Aug 31, 2010 at 9:08 AM, Ikenna Anokute <ianokute@yahoo.com> wrote: You continue to exchange words with these fools . Why ? Especially this CHIMP of a Prince who looks like a Taliban scholar in Kandahar ....Thank God you are now consigning him to that Club of Idiots that also include the self-styled Vicious animal in Seattle and the tattered illiterate Odera in China....... Subject: [NaijaObserver] Re: [OmoOdua] On the Matter of Hatred, Dislike or Whatever by Ken Asagwara {Re: To Emeka-- On Zik Project: Re ON RESTORATION OF ZIK MEMORIAM.....
To: ibk@usa.net
Cc: "NaijaPolitics e-Group" <NaijaPolitics@yahoogroups.com>, "NIDOA" <NIDOA@yahoogroups.com>, "OmoOdua" <OmoOdua@yahoogroups.com>, NaijaObserver@yahoogroups.com, "NigerianWorldForum" <NIgerianWorldForum@yahoogroups.com>
Date: Tuesday, August 31, 2010, 5:17 AM I shall try very hard to ignore Ken Asagwara henceforth, and consign him to a club of four or five. Venom, hatred and animus seem to wrack his psychological constitution; it cannot be healthy living because of psychosomatic seepage.
PS: Yes. I read through Asagwara's disclosure. You never called Dr. Val "Old Fool" in anything that I read. You called him worse though - and that is part of the false witnessing that I was talking about.
On Tue, Aug 31, 2010 at 7:58 AM, Ibukunolu Alao Babajide <ibk@usa.net> wrote: Why bother about that spitlickle (apologies to Communist Comrade Lil Joe Bonanza) Cpzee called Kenneth Asagwara the Prince of Okigwe shrine! His hobby is bearing false witness against people. He recently accused me of writing "Dear Old Fool Valentine Ojo'' and I asked him to bring up where I wrote just that. He went digging inside the Ogbunike caves and came back with dust all over his unkempt beard with a lot of trash that did not have the words "Old Fool" from me. He began to congratulate himself by scratching his unsightly beard and scratching his scrotum. While at it Wharfworm joined him and they are both in delightful and blissful euphoria over failure! Ignore the useless busy body who speaks from both sides of his beard (since we cannot see his mouth). Your write-up far below refers, the one to Paul Oranika with starts out with "Please, allow those that have chosen to remain blind to what the real issue is all about to remain in their popularity contest and self-serving trail blazing rubbish. I said from the get go that the involvement of Bolaji Aluko in leading or championing the restoration of damaged statue of the Great Zik constitute a gross insult to the Igbo given his antecedents in which he consistently demonstrated despise and condescending attitude to the Igbo." Now five days ago, in private conversation with me, and two other persons, you also wrote (in conclusion to a thread): Bolaji Aluko:
Whatever disagreements you and I have in the internet forums re national and ethnic issues is not personal. It's just like you do not accept rubbishing of your Yoruba ethnic nationality and leaders, so have I refused to accept you rubbishing of the Igbo and their leaders, especially, when done in bad faith.
I do not hate or dislike you because it is not in my nature to do so. As I already said, it is your cants against my people, the Igbo I resent.
By the way, everything and anything I have written or said about you are in open forums. It is because the one addressed to the duo of Dr. Igietseme and Mazi Okey was captioned private that made me copy you in that you may read it as had been the case in previous others.
Mazi KC Prince Asagwara
Now, if you don't hate or dislike me - and we have NEVER met - or there is NOTHING PERSONAL about all of this, I wonder what the words "hate", "dislike" or "personal" mean. You must have a whole new dictionary to yourself. You exude hatred, one that debilitates and makes you live less than a wholesome life. Eschew it, and you will see how more full your life will be, if you feel that you live a full life now. Let me repeat this: I reject - and throw back at your face - all the many lies that you have repeated both above and below, and I STRAIGHTFORWARDLY accuse you of the Christian sin of bearing a false witness against me. Understand this: I don't ask you to revise your priors. If you believe that it salves the deep psychological wounds that you seem to bear so intimately, if it is a catharsis, please carry on. As I wrote to you earlier inter alia:
You have NEVER met me face to face, and yet you have boldly and consistenly borne false witness against me, simply because I have boldly and consistently made my views about certain Nigerian issues known over the years. Those are MY PRIORS, and I make no apologies to you or any one else, so for you to ask that I REVISE MY PRIORS before you consider me favorably is arrogant, since I too who can ask you to REVISE YOUR PRIORS have not asked you to do so. There are those who share your views about me; there are many others who don't, and that is enough for me. And there are a few of you who I should NEVER bother to try to change their minds about me - and you are one of them.
Let me end with Our Lord Jesus Christ. Part of the reason He was crucified was a band of otherwise holy people who wrongly accused Him of saying that He would tear down the Temple and re-build it in three days. They bore false witness against Him, the Holiest of Holy Men. So who am I to be borne false witness against, a sinner?
Again, I repeat the Gamaliel advice: no enterprise favored by God will fail no matter what a human being does. No enterpirse disfavored by God will succeed no matter how much a human being tries to succeed.
I will continue to do what I have to do.....
Bolaji Aluko So let me repeat to your reading once again - and for the record: 1. I have NEVER stated anything general or specific about the Igbo - either their character or lack thereof, with regard or out of regard of the Civil War. Never. You will NEVER be able to produce a document to that effect. 2. I have NEVER stated anything general or specific about Igbo leadership - either their characters or lack thereof. Never. You will NEVER be able to produce a document to that effect. 3. If I have criticized any Nigerian leaders, including those who happen to be of the Igbo ethnic group, it is BECAUSE of my perception of their role in office, not because of their being Igbo. There are many Igbo in office who I have not criticized; there are many non-Igbo in office who I have critiicized. It has absolutely nothing to do with their Igbo or non-Igboness. I always NAME NAMES, not their ethnic affiliations per se. 4. If you, Asagwara, think it is because of their being Igbo, despite my denial of that, that is your bloody personal business. 5. Whether you or your ilk believe the above, at this point, I could care less. I am not going to lose absolutely any sleep over your ilk who perch with hate and live their lives as such, thinking that they are supporting some cause, and not asking whether that is helping their cause. Absolutely not. 6. Neither you or some of your ilk represent all the Igbo - or even most of the Igbo. I am 100% sure that you don't. Finally, I commend to you and to all our readers what Obi Nwakanma recently wrote, especially his first and last paragaphs: What therefore seems quite clear to me with this Zik drive is not that Nigeria is really broken according to "ethnic lines" but along the lines of reason or distemper. The trouble with this generation of Nigerians is that it suffers PSYCHOSIS. Nigerians are afflicted with a national cultural psychosis. The evidence abounds: Very many Nigerians have embraced extremism and the abstraction that comes from spiritual dissonance: extreme religion, extreme hatreds, extreme hapinness, extreme ignorance - a lack of serenity that suggests that most Nigerians, from the evidence of these internet fora, show signs of borderline personality dissorders, some show signs of multiple personality disorder. It is serious and we must find some solution. There are a number of theories that I'm prepared to advance in this regard as the cause of Nigeria's national cultural psychosis: it has to do with "historical trauma." I have made this argument that nations attempt to heal from years of affliction through certain national rituals that drive their collective efforts against violence and crisis. From, let us say, the 19th century, the cultures and peoples within Nigeria have been subjected to extreme forms of mind-bending trauma: slavery, civil wars, political wars, colonization, liberation movements, military rule/dicatorship, all resulting to what the formidable critic Biodun Jeyifo calls "arrested decolonization" - a sign of unfinished or unresolved modernity. Jeyifo's terms lead me to the conclusion that Nigeria dwells more in the purgatory of history - a double space of time of a nation - which like the Yoruba Esu is one leg here, another leg there. Its indeterminacy comes therefore from these expepriences of violent history and trauma - and in Nigeria - the trauma of civil war and the failures of a national process of truama healing has produced the fractility that characterizes many Nigerians and the fragility of their holds on reason. Most educated people are taught the virtues of politeness - indeed, it is the polite culture and the polite regard for the other that shows that individuals have been properly educated and are therefore to be admited to what is euphemistically called "polite society" by their conduct, comportment, speech, reasoning, deportment, and so on. Polite disagreement takes the form of a calmlness of spirit that makes it possible for both debate and resolution. On this Zik matter, as in many matters around Nigeria, what we witness is not calm reasoning - we have been assailed with evidence again that points to the psychiatric conditions, possibly excercebated by the situation of the internet that gives people a false and virtual sense of the world. A dissonant moment. Some of these fierce quarrels, love bites, enemities, coalitions, mutual-inebriations are carried on by people on the internet who do not really know each other and who may never meet. Anonymity creates its own form of infirmity. Virtual reality makes everything virtual - that false 3D moment of quarrels. There are many Nigerians who are suffering from depression, who get to load-off with these seminal quarrels. They have no social life, just internet life, and they wait unhealthy anticipation for "enemy attacks": I say we should all occassionally take a deep breath, go to a movie, eat out, go to a theatre or bookshop; there are usually free summer concerts in the park; have sex, drink wine; last weekend I went sky diving from a plane with a friend of mine, it is exhilarating, I recommend it. We should heal at both the national and the individual levels. Zik ought to be the basis for national healing. Of any other politician of his generation he was the one that was the unifying spirit. The idea of Nigeria as a potentially powerful, rather than this neo-colonial basket case it has become, was the product of the Zikist imaginary. The idea of the possibility of the Nigerian spirit; of cross -ethnic collaboration that would fashion the nation, stimulate competition, create industry, and bridge the divide and chasm of time and forge a "renascent Africa" that would startle the world were Azikiwe's idea retailed powerfully in the West African Pilot from 1937. It was Zik who called Nigeria "the giant of Africa" - Africa's greatest hope for restoring what he called the "dignity of man." It was powerful myth-making. Zik's idea about Nigeria was bold and idealist. It startled his colonial adversaries and their internal collaborators. Those who came after Zik, intent on dismantling his ideas and proving him wrong have reduced Nigeria - this bold and powerful experiment - to the enclave of non-entities. A nation sweating small stuff - incapable of translating dreams; or of the kind of historical action that defines a great people. Nigerians quarrel over the slightest things while they get thoroughly screwed over by those things they call the "invisible hand of the market." Nigerians are too overwhelmed by the burden of history - and it is not because they are multi-ethnic or that they have fought a war. It is because they have recieved a terrible heritage - one that makes them afraid/disdainful of the other and unwilling to confront the murkier aspects of their national history, boldly, truthfully, and ideologically. I personally saw an opportunity to prove the healing power of collaborative action in the initiative of restoring Zik's' statue (not "statute" and certainly not an "effigy"). I'm afraid that this commendable move has, like many things in Nigeria suffered from the little-mindedness of self-serving internet politics. Those, pro, have been pressured in the defence of their motives, to begin to personalize the initative and create the same kind of "personality cult" that undermines ventures of the public kind, rather than let the idea be its own self-justification. Others, contra, have been pushed mostly by, I fear, a certain ignorance of strategy. As I have argued, to associate the idea of the restoration of Azikiwe's memorial to an individual or a narrow ethnic line is the ultimate insult on Zik. The man transcends - or ought by now to transcend the narrow politics ethnic and personality cults. I'm afraid I still miss the point of those who are opposed to those leading the initiative. Even if Bolaji Aluko opposes Zik's political philosophy; his politics, and critiques him - he has his rights to political opinion. What he has proved in my estimation is that he may disagree with Zik, but he keeps him in proper esteem. That is enough for the likes of me. I think those who oppose Aluko on this matter show only the politics of zero-sum games. It speaks to a certain ignorance of staretgy, for pray, where is the money for the repairs of Zik's statue intended? It is Onitsha of course. Those who honour Azikiwe honour themselves. Azikiwe himself would have felt absolutely tolerant of this move, even if it came from his opponent, for as long as it is socially beneficial: that was the fundamental essence of his politics - for the broader good, the idea of a permanent political enemy is both blind and impractical. Zik demonstrated this philosphy of the dynamics of political action with his usual example of the fine game of pugilism, which demands constant strategic motion. The Igbo ancestors themselves say "anaghi ano otu nga ele mmanwu" - one cannot watch a masquerade rooted in a spot. It requires motion; shifts in positions; an awarness of nuance. The idea of a permanent adverssary in politics - the urge to maintain permanent dissent - is the rightful domain of extreme religion and it is unenlightened, and it is anti-Zik. In the end, it is also a manifestation of a particular kind of psychosis - that powerful urge to mainatian a permanent enemies list. Those who must speak for Zik must at least be aware of his politics: it is accommodation, compromise, alliance-building, and nationalist. It is the politics of ideas. It is larger than the individual. This generation of Nigerians must learn from the masters of teh art of politics. They have been too much under the influence of the military and its end-game ethic and scorched-earth ideas. These serve little gainful purpose. Let the pledges roll in - based on each person's conscience - provided they are redeemed before preferably November 1, 2010, not 2011! ------- Ken Asagwara Wrote...... Please, allow those that have chosen to remain blind to what the real issue is all about to remain in their popularity contest and self-serving trail blazing rubbish. I said from the get go that the involvement of Bolaji Aluko in leading or championing the restoration of damaged statue of the Great Zik constitute a gross insult to the Igbo given his antecedents in which he consistently demonstrated despise and condescending attitude to the Igbo. Whether what we now see is a new Bolaji Aluko vis-à-vis his known penchant for despising the Igbo, his epiphany needs greater convincing than using the name of the Great Zik to hide his Igbo cants. Even a few Yorubas that know his record on Igbo issues and leaders in the geo-politics of Nigeria have in their own way said that he, Bolaji Aluko should end his posturing arrogance in leading this project. He should be removed or remove self from its leadership or co-leadership. Those who want to hang their hats on "pettiness" as the motive for the dissenting voices in Bolaji's involvement in this project can continue to wallow in their ignorance. But for folks like me, what I have continued to state is what my dissenting voice is all about. Near thirty-six months (1966-1970) war of genocide was visited on the peoples of the old Eastern Region, particularly the Igbo that saw the deaths of 3 million Biafran lives, mostly, children, old men and women, pregnant and nursing mothers (through starvation and embargo on medical supplies); rape of women and girls, including peoples wives in some cases in broad day lights and presence of their parents and husbands; atrocities that till now, make folks that witnessed them choke in sobbing and tears each time they are recalled or remembered. For me personally, what is more gratuitously insulting is that the man, Bolaji Aluko who has hijacked the restoration effort of Zik's damaged statue which has now morphed into completion of Zik's Mausoleum has consistently denied that atrocities were committed against the Igbo. In his most sober and reflective arguments, it is that whatever the Igbo, nay Biafrans suffered was because they brought rebellion to selves and as such, deserved them. Such reasoning condones the bombing of churches, market places, hospital, school, private homes/houses, refugee camps, etc., all civilian targets that had nothing to do with military weapons and hard wares. Forty years later, the gory and nauseating photos and images of the carcasses of bombed victims, stomach bloated Kwashiorkor victims, strafed and bombed out civilian and private homes, etc. still bring tears to our eyes each them one sees or remembers them. Please tell me how one who as we argue, denies that genocide was visited on the Igbo would in good conscience except arrogant mockery tell us he is fit and right to lead or champion the restoration of any project in Igbo land, be it that of the Great Zik? Not long ago, none other than Ozodi Osuji took him to task for his arrogant and negative opinion that an Igbo shouldn't be President of Nigeria yet. Besides, tell me one Igbo man or woman that has served in public office at the federal level that he, Bolaji Aluko did not find fault with. And in each case, his perceived short-comings in the leadership quality or lack thereof of the one Igbo person are a reflection of the Igbo leadership ability. Please take this bit of digression. In the "Ikwerre is Igbo" and "Ikwerre is not Igbo" hogwash argument in the forums, most non-Igbo have remained silent or restrained in the comments on this issue. But Bolaji Aluko made self virtual spokesman for the Ikwerre folks in this issue; a reason for his latter-day found friendship with the likes of Mazi Chukwuemeka Okala who would bat extras in support of whatever Bolaji Aluko says or writes. As I have continued to say, I don't care who initiated or is leading the project on the restoration of the Great Zik's Mausoleum; be the person Igbo or Yoruba, Hausa/Fulani, Edo, Ijaw, Efik, etc., man or woman as long as the person is not Bolaji Aluko. It is for the reasons articulated above and more deliberately left out due to space and time constraint that I pledged my contribution to Mazi Paul Oranika's list. One more time as I stated previously, if some of you ethnic irredentists have now awaken to building bridges across Nigeria's ethnic nationalities, please, please start by rendering apology to the over 3 million Igbo children, old people and, pregnant women, etc. that your fathers' "starvation is a legitimate weapon of war policy" starved into Kwashiorkor and killed. Bolaji Aluko who has consistently denied the genocidal war of 1966-1970 visited on the Igbo but now wants to champion the restoration of Zik's statue and Mausoleum project should also take the lead in rendering that apology. Anything else is as uncivilized as most of you are. It Shall Be Well with Ala Igbo, the odds not minding. Mazi KC Prince Asagwara – Nwafor Igbo and Proud of my Igbo Heritage __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ | |
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