You have lnow argely agreed with me, so we should both quit while we are ahead.
Zik's denial of his Igbo-ness - or at least denial by his immediate family which made him to wonder why when he was growing up - did not prevent him from eventually ;being an Igbo leader, just as Oduduwa, not originally Yoruba, was not prevented from being a Yoruba leader. Ditto for my Onitsha lawyer-friend. My Anioma engineer-friend with an Igbo family surname says it was a nickname given to his grandfather (abi na father set?) which stuck.
Bottom line is that Nigeria is at the same time complex in many ways but simple in others.
I became a teenager during the war (having left Biafra at age 12 with my family on the eve of the war when the life of non-Igbo could no longer be guaranteed ), son of a father who worked in academic and political circles in the East before, during and after the war - including being on an official delegation with Awo to try to dissuade Biafra from declaring secession. I also toured the East in 1971 - traveling from Ado Ekiti all the way to Port Harcourt and back - within a year that the war ended before becoming a university student in September 1971. I saw some destruction, but life has picked up substantially in one of the faster post-civil-war recoveries recorded in modern times.
I write because I was involved - at least in some visceral manner. These are things that happened in our lifetime.... And already they appear fuzzy to some?
Mba nu!
So let us remain engaged.
And there you have it.
Bolaji Aluko
On Saturday, July 1, 2017, 'Nebukadineze Adiele' via naijaintellects <naijaintellects@googlegroups.com> wrote:
Bolaji,Even though I was a kid in Biafra, I still remember so many things that we were told. The belief of every Biafran was that if Nigerians defeated us, everyone one of us would be summarily executed. Everyone in Biafra believed that because we witnessed the indiscriminate massacring of poor civilians, including children and the infirm. It was a shock to all Biafrans when the conquering Nigerian soldiers were not killing us as they passed by -- a few even said hello to us and gave us "sweets" (candies).
The point to the above is, anything done or said to avoid being Igbo, was once a noble act right through and after Biafra. Since the end of the war, lots of Igbos deny being Igbo in order to fit in or to not be mistreated by the Nigerian state. Some denied being Igbo because they claimed to hail from states outside of Igbo land and were benefiting from such claims (I had a childhood friend who went to federal government college under Sokoto state's allocation, went through university without paying a dime under Sokoto state's scholarship and bursary allowances, etc). A person like that, who is a big shot in Nigeria of today, will deny being Igbo, even though he hails from Whafsnake's hometown. Remember when president Obasanjo talked about Igbos of that ilk -- who would call him an Igbo hater in public only to bow down to him at night when no one was watching?
Onicha people are Igbos but an Onitsha person will do anything for a buck, including denying or sacrificing his mother. Wherever you see people denying Igbo, it is always a negligible percentage of such people. Now, it is no longer fashionable to deny Igbo or Biafra and that's why folks who hitherto denied Igbo are now making about faces.
Yes, there are, and there have been, Igbos who deny being Igbo but such was for survival purposes (black people in America who could pass for white, like J. Edga Hoover, did pass for an easier life). You will not find an Igbo community where the majority denies being Igbo. Ozodiobi Osuji of Umuohiagu periodically denies being Igbo, does that mean that he is not Igbo? All those big shots who deny Igbo to you have some skeletons they don't want revealed. The Nigerian government, after the war, made Igbo to even not want to be Igbo. Luckily, that plot began to thaw during the second republic. The military brought it back when they returned to power but it has been dying since the civilian area. Not identifying with Biafra today is a political death sentence in Igbo land; the reverse used to be the case. If we live in the next 20 years, we will witness the Igbo deniers of today claiming back their Igboness.
--
Nebukadineze Adiele
Organized religion sired irrationality.
-----Original Message-----
From: Mobolaji Aluko <alukome@gmail.com>
To: naijaintellects <naijaintellects@googlegroups.com >
Cc: NaijaPoliticsForum <NaijaPoliticsForum@yahoogroups.com >; nigerianworldforum <nigerianworldforum@yahoogroups.com >; igboworldforum <igboworldforum@yahoogroups.com >; anambraforum <anambraforum@yahoogroups.com>; naijaobserver <naijaobserver@yahoogroups.com >; umuanambra <umuanambra@yahoogroups.com>; info <info@africabusinessworld.com> ; pache.chiedozie <pache.chiedozie@gmail.com>
Sent: Sat, Jul 1, 2017 5:11 am
Subject: Re: [Naijaintellects] #3:We Are Asking For Referendum, Not War" – IPOB
Nebu:
I am always amused when I am flattered by a phrase like "someone of your caliber" - even when I am displaying my "caliber" in my contribution!
Please come with me....
In Ikwerreland, that (many, most?) Igbo claim to be part of Igbo Homeland, even to be Obi Igbo (heart of Igbo) there is serious controversy about that claim. In Anioma Delta where there are self-identified Igbo people, there are some Igbo-named persons who claim not to be Igbo, even directly to me. Even in Onitsha, there are "Igbo" who claim not to be Igbo but Bini assimilated into Igbo. (Zik was one. and I can tell you of others who told me personally, to my consternation, top persons too who I see their names on the Dailies.).
So in order to make progress, it is best to identify where there is almost 100 percent no controversy as Igbo Homeland. You do not need to take my suggestion.
And there you have it.
Bolaji Aluko
On Saturday, July 1, 2017, 'Nebukadineze Adiele' via naijaintellects <naijaintellects@googlegroups.com > wrote:
Bolaji,Please read up on Igbo to understand that SE is not the only Igbo homeland. As a matter of fact, Igbos of Delta state will be offended that you categorized them as Igbos in Diaspora. An Igbo from Asaba, Ogwashiukwu,Ukwuani, Agbor, etc are as authentically Igbo as the next Igbo in the SE and they are not in diaspora, they are in their native lands. Igbos of Rivers state are not in the Diaspora, they are in their native lands; the same thing applies to Igbos in the other neighboring states. They are not merely identifying as Igbo, they are authentic Igbo and their native lands were ceded to states outside of the SE. Bear in mind that this SE was a construct that came into use in 1996, and that it was arbitrarily and stupidly conjure up.
I am shocked that this is what you believe -- I could excuse those born after Biafra for holding this false belief but not a teacher of your caliber.
Na wa o!
Nebukadineze Adiele
Organized religion sired irrationality.
-----Original Message-----
From: Mobolaji Aluko <alukome@gmail.com>
To: naijaintellects <naijaintellects@googlegroups.com >
Cc: NaijaPoliticsForum <NaijaPoliticsForum@yahoogroups.com >; NigerianWorldForum <nigerianworldforum@yahoogroups.com >; Uwa ndiIgbo <igboworldforum@yahoogroups.com >; anambraforum <anambraforum@yahoogroups.com>; NaijaObserver@yahoogroups.com <naijaobserver@yahoogroups.com >; NIgerianWorldForum@yahoogroups .com <NIgerianWorldForum@yahoogroups.com >, Cc: Anambra-WorldForum@yahoogroups.com <Anambra-WorldForum@yahoogroups.com >, NIgeriaworld@yahoo.com <NIgeriaworld@yahoo.com>, NaijaObserver@yahoogroups.com <NaijaObserver@yahoogroups.com>, talkhard@yahoogroups.com <talkhard@yahoogroups.com>, Okonkwonetworks <OKONKWONETWORKS@googlegroups. com >, anambra forum <anambraforum@yahoogroups.com>, UmuAnambra@yahoogroups.com <UmuAnambra@yahoogroups.com>, Omo Oodua <omoodua@yahoogroups.com>, NaijaBusiness <NaijaBusiness@yahoogroups.com >, kazaudu@gmail.com <kazaudu@gmail.com>, CISA-GC CISA-GC <cisa-gc@yahoogroups.com>, ob mona <ob.mona@gmail.com>, obowuUSA obowu <obowu-usa@yahoogroups.com>, ICAM ICAM <igbonine@yahoogroups.com>, QS QS <kanzi@netzero.com>, Wilson Iguade <iguade@hotmail.com>, Wale Adedayo <adedayowale@g <umuanambra@yahoogroups.com>; info <info@africabusinessworld.com> ; pache.chiedozie <pache.chiedozie@gmail.com>
Sent: Fri, Jun 30, 2017 8:23 pm
Subject: Re: [Naijaintellects] [NIgerianWorldForum] Re: [UmuAnambra] We Are Asking For Referendum, Not War" – IPOB
Nebu:
As of today, the incontrovertible Igbo SE states are Abia, Imo, Enugu, Anambra and Ebonyi. The states Rivers and Delta - and even Benue - are known to have some self-identifying Igbo people within them, as minority populations.
In short, the SE region is the Igbo Homeland, and those other places hold Diaspora Igbo. We can even add you and others in the Americas and Igbo as Diaspora Igbo. In a Referendum, should we allow you to vote too?
As a person who supports Diaspora voting in Nigeria, I would not mind that, but as of now, that is not allowed unless you return to Nigeria. So if the Igbo in Delta, Rivers and in the Far Diaspora wish to participate in a Referendum, then they should return to SE Homeland and vote......if and whenever a Referendum is allowed in our Constitution.
What do you think?
Bolaji Aluko
On Fri, Jun 30, 2017 at 11:25 PM, 'Nebukadineze Adiele' via naijaintellects <naijaintellects@googlegroups.com > wrote:
Pastor Okala is being silly, and also pandering to intransigent One Nigerianists, who are certainly in the minority. If the Igbo portion of the people of South South vote to exit Nigeria, how is that Okala's business, after all he said his ancestry is Bini?
For a referendum to be valid and binding, it must involve South South because its population is at least 40% Igbo. If those Igbos vote to not leave Nigeria or to remain in any new nation spearheaded by Ijo, then the mainland Igbo will allow them to whatever fate visits them, assuming Ijo does not vote alongside Igbo for Biafra or whatever name the new country bears. But the truth is that a referendum to exit Nigeria will pass in both the SE and SS -- the SS of Okala's mindset is dying off and ushering in a generation that understands the game played by the Nigerian state in dividing the SESS.
My concern is not whether a referendum will pass, my concern is what to make of the outcome. With Anambara constantly pulling a Fulani, I cannot see how we will not become South Sudan once we break off from Nigeria. That's what Chukwuemeka Okala should be concerned about, not this foolishness of holding onto the dead idea that what constitutes Igbo is only the SE.
Nebukadineze Adiele
Organized religion sired irrationality.
-----Original Message-----
From: Philip Achusim ezeana1@yahoo.com [NaijaPoliticsForum] <NaijaPoliticsForum@yahoogroups.com >
To: Nigerianworldforum <nigerianworldforum@yahoogroups.com >; Igboworldforum <igboworldforum@yahoogroups.com >; anambra forum <anambraforum@yahoogroups.com>
Cc: Naijapoliticsforum <naijapoliticsforum@yahoogroups.com >; Naijaobserver <naijaobserver@yahoogroups.com>; UmuAnambra@yahoogroups.com <umuanambra@yahoogroups.com>; Africabusinessworld Info <info@africabusinessworld.com> ; Pache.Chiedozie <pache.chiedozie@gmail.com>
Sent: Fri, Jun 30, 2017 2:54 pm
Subject: [NaijaPoliticsForum] Re: [NIgerianWorldForum] Re: [UmuAnambra] We Are Asking For Referendum, Not War" – IPOB
What boundaries? IPOB owns the whole shebang. From Sokoto to Calabar, the refrain is the same. Biafra.
And I am
Ezeana Igirigi AchusimOdi-IsaaNwa Dim Orioha AKA Onyeukwu
Emekna Oknala,Biafra and its boundary is in the books at UN and map of the world, not the map corrupted by Nigerian army backed by corrupt Brits.Your parents are not Biafrans, and you do not have the citizenship either. Plus, you nowcall Britain home as you clearly stated. So why foment acrimony in Biafra from your home in Britain? Folks know better now thanks to this new and improved communication medium handed to everyone by www. ; It is not 1967 when many of you sabos hide in darkness to herd people to Hausa/Fulani to slaughter for your personal gain. And you must have heard that the whole South and Middle Belt are together now against injustice in Nigeria. Even your hate and sabo partner, Aluko, has no idea what is happening now.
BTW, I told you to give us detailed unbiased report about your visit to Biafra. And did you poll our Ikwerre Igbo to know that it is brand new day now? We are waiting for your report.
Sent from my iPad
On Jun 29, 2017, at 10:45 PM, Chukwuemeka Okala reukal@yahoo.co.uk [NIgerianWorldForum] <NIgerianWorldForum@yahoogroups.com > wrote:
"We would like to use this opportunity to clarify once again that IPOB is asking for self determination as recognised in both United Nations charter on the Rights of Indigenous People and the African Union Charter on Human and Peoples Rights" -IPOBComment:I personally see nothing wrong with IPOB or any other group asking for a Referendum or self determination for its people for as long as they would limit such agitation within the confines of the five Igbo states of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo. If by that referendum, the majority of the Igbo people agree to pull out of Nigeria, good luck to them, but if they vote to remain in Nigeria, better for them. But what IPOB or any other Igbo oriented group should not do is to paint the picture before the eyes of the world to look as if the area covering their so-called neo-Biafra also includes their neighbouring areas like Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states. These areas have NOTHING to do with the agitation. And as long as IPOB respects that, no problem!
Emeka Reuben OkalaLondon, UK"Faith [Religion] and reason are not necessarily opposed. But when reason won't take you another step, faith keeps on going because it connects you to God."
On Tuesday, 27 June 2017, 14:24, "Paul Oranika oranika@yahoo.com [UmuAnambra]" <UmuAnambra@yahoogroups.com> wrote:
We Are Asking For Referendum, Not War" – IPOB
We would like to use this opportunity to clarify once again that IPOB is asking for self determination as recognised in both United Nations charter on the Rights of Indigenous People and the African Union Charter on Human and Peoples Rights-IPOBWe also understand that such levels of stupefying ignorance about what IPOB is demanding is totally the reason why Nigeria cannot produce and distribute electricity and job opportunities in Nigeria despite the abundance of coal, Palm oil, gas and crude oil........Read the full release on ABW link below__._,_.___
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