Saturday, June 10, 2017

USA Africa Dialogue Series - Re: Surrender message of Biafra warlords


Thanks for the reality check. Even Baghdad Bob should admit that whereas we cannot change the past we could at least try to create a better future. ( History ? I know the WW2 history best)

Re - your assessment of where the grass is greener : "Every day, we see bus loads of Igbos leaving Igboland and heading to other parts of the nation. Secondly, we do not see other Nigerians heading to Igboland to displace Igbo people and making it difficult for Igbos to build a viable economy of their own within that space. Today, Igboland has the least density of non-Igbos leaving within their territory. Almost all states in Nigeria have the Igbos as the second most populous, with the indigenes being the most.  In some non-igbo states within our country, the Igbos have even become the most populous to the discountenance of the original inhabitants."

Note also that for various reasons, Igbos are the largest diaspora group from Nigeria

In my view, the first stage to legitimacy could be another Sovereign National Conference - one that would have regional autonomy on its agenda , unlike the last Sovereign National Conference in which the "dissolution " of Nigeria was a non-starter, was anathema and not on the agenda. The question is, how are we going to solve a problem if we cannot discuss it? Would the Sovereign National Conference not be the best place to at least start resolving this long outstanding issue ?

The short-lived Biafra came to an end when landlocked, blockaded, bombarded and surrounded, besieged, incapable of putting up anything like an air defence, it's population on the brink of annihilation through starvation, its fighting force demoralised, toothless, on the run, on the road to Owerri, ill-equipped, no more weapons coming in, the international community unwilling to supply them weapons, the International Red Cross worried about the unsustainable humanitarian disaster that was already Biafra. All was lost and the only option in defeat , is surrender. All the toothless braggadocio that Biafra was " not defeated" and " did not surrender" aside - like Hitler still daydreaming in his bunker...

We should all thank the magnanimity of Gowon - no one was gunned down or lost - as collateral damage, no one was tried and summarily executed for treason - and done is done. Maybe that is why the leader of Biafra exiled himself to Abidjan?

"He who fights and runs away, lives to fight another day " ( Bob Marley - The Heathen )

A single paragraph from page 276 The story of Nigeria by Michael Crowder should suffice:

"By mid 1969 it had become clear that it was only a matter of time before Biafra would fall to the Federal forces. But Ojukwu refused to conceded defeat despite the very considerable suffering continued resistance was inflicting on his people. Only as the Federal troops closed in on his last strongholds in late December did Ojukwu begin to consider abandoning the fight. Finally,on 11th January 1970 Ojukwu and his top advisers fled to the Ivory Coast , leaving the head of the secessionist army, Lt. Col. Philip Effiong, to broadcast the end of secession"

We do not know how much of a ground support there is among the Igbos for the current agitation being led by Nnamdi Kanu and his I.P.O.B. - but a referendum would soon tell us. Would the Igbos that are scattered around the Federation and those far flung abroad, return " home" to vote?

As Baba Kadiri put it so succinctly, no bloodshed please, no generals no lieutenant-colonels, no civil war. In a democratic Nigeria,

" If Kanu wants an Igbo republic, he should just form a political party which would win majority of all the seats to the five Igbo states' house of assemblies as well as majority of the seats to the National Assembly. Thereafter he can withdraw the representatives of his party from the National Assembly and refuse to collect revenue allocations from the federal government. That is the best referendum and the easiest way to achieve an Igbo Republic out of the present day Nigeria."

Topical just now: The prospects of Scottish Independence has been considerably reduced - but maybe only temporarily, with Nicola Sturgeon's Scottish National Party being diminished by nineteen seats...

When Biafra's former leader the invincible and undefeated Emeka Ojukwu - the "We shall never surrender" Winston Churchill of Biafra contested the 1999 Presidential elections in Nigeria he won a mere, 3.29% of the votes cast. In 2007 he got a total of 0.44% . Apparently most of his Biafrans did not vote for him. No laughing matter either. In the case of Sir Winston , he won the war but lost the 1945 elections

- Armée Guinéenne



On Saturday, 10 June 2017 14:22:59 UTC+2, Kayode J. Fakinlede wrote:

 

I may be cockeyed, it seems to me that the Igbos are acting contrary to what they – some of them - say. Their behavior does not support the incessant assertion that they want to leave Nigeria. In making these pronuncements, they generate a lot of animus from other Nigerians. We all really need to shift the discussion to how we, as Nigerians can progress, economically, socially, technologically etc.

Every day, we see bus loads of Igbos leaving Igboland and heading to other parts of the nation. Secondly, we do not see other Nigerians heading to Igboland to displace Igbo people and making it difficult for Igbos to build a viable economy of their own within that space. Today, Igboland has the least density of non-Igbos leaving within their territory. Almost all states in Nigeria have the Igbos as the second most populous, with the indigenes being the most.  In some non-igbo states within our country, the Igbos have even become the most populous to the discountenance of the original inhabitants.

   This is reminiscent of a wife threatening to divorce her husband and leave his house, yet everyday, she invites her mother, father and distant relatives to come and live with her and the husband. 

If there are some Igbos wanting to leave Nigeria for whatever reason they may proffer, the conversation must begin among Igbos themselves. It is not by throwing blame everywhere that will result in the creation of their own nation. Let these band go and convince other Igbos that their lot is better within their own nation. And when they have succeeded, they must start migrating en masse back to Igboland.  Luckily, our constitution permits freedom of movement. This means that no one can stop them from going back home. Now, they can start building a very strong civiization within that area that is Igboland. One that will be the envy of the rest of Nigerians.

Now, up to this moment, there need not be any discussion with other Nigerians since all the steps they will be taking are presently permitted under our law.

Now, may be in about two decades, they can see if indeed it is in their interest to declare a seccesion from Nigeria.

Unless if seccesion is not the intention of the few rabble rousers among our Igbo brothers!!!

In all sincerity, most Igbos do not want to leave Nigeria. They, like the rest of us, are trying to figure out how to meet our daily needs, take care of our children and pursue happiness in our our way. If, however these majority does not unequivocally stop the noise makers, they risk the mistrust and consequent backlash from other Nigerians.

This should not be the case  

 

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