T9ksy:



Yeah, of course, he was trapped! Just google his letter to Banjo and then come back and tell me Ojukwu had no intention of ruling yorubaland.

Btw, after Ojukwu had invaded the mid-west, who was in control of the region?

WetinConsignMe:


My friend, why are you trying to be too clever by half? Here is the letter you keep talking about in it's entirety.
Where in this letter does Ojukwu even imply he wanted to rule the West? Quite the contrary. He and Banjo had the same rank. Do u think he was unaware Banjo would not be a yes man to him and would do whatever was best for his own people? Notice how he addressed himself as "Military Governor", the same title Banjo would have in the West - equals.

Here is the letter (note the bolded):

From: The Military Governor,
Republic of Biafra Enugu,
22nd August, 1967.
My dear Victor,

1. For some time now, you and I have been discussing the circumstances that have led to the current and inevitable disintegration of what was the Federation of Nigeria. We have been fully convinced that the aim of the Hausa/Fulani complex has ever been, and will ever remain, the total domination of every other part of what was known as the Federation of Nigeria. It is impossible to forget that the crisis which led to the army take over in January 1966, the coup of the Northern soldiers led by Gowon in July 1966, the wholesale and indiscriminate massacre of the people of what is now Biafra- and, to a less degree,the people of the Mid-West and West, including the Yorubas, were all the direct result of Hausa/Fulani attempt to subjugate and use as tools,the gallant people of Western Nigeria namely the Yorubas. We do not need to remind ourselves of the heavy losses in life and property suffered by the Yoruba people in their fight for justice and freedom during 1965.


2. Sharing our belief that the people of Yorubaland have a right to live a life of equality and self-respect and justice free of domination and dictatorship from any quarter, you have both identified with the cause of the Biafra struggle for survival and expressed your determination to see the people of Yorubaland freed from Hausa/Fulani domination.
We, the people of Biafra, for our part are willing and have decided to give you and the people of Yorubaland every assistance to achieve your aim.


3. After clearing the whole question with my Executive Council, I, as the Commander in Chief of the Biafran Armed Forces, have decided to place at your disposal Biafran forces, for the liberation of
Yorubaland on the following clear conditions:-
(i)You will have nothing to do with the Military Administrator in the Mid-West Territory during your sojourn there prior to your move to the West.
(ii)The willingness and preparedness of Biafra to assist any part of the former Federation of Nigeria wishing and willing to liberate itself from the Hausa/Fulani domination, does not in anyway whatever
imply any inclination on her part to compromise her sovereignty or preserve what remains of the defunct Federation of Nigeria. In other words, our sovereignty and break with Nigeria is irrevocable. Nothing must, therefore be said or done by you or any member of the Liberation Army to give a contrary impression.
(iii)Biafra is determined to maintain and safeguard her sovereignty and ensure that her integrity and safety are never again threatened.
(iv)Biafran troops will, after the liberation of the Yorubaland, remain in that territory only for as long as we in Biafra consider it necessary for the Yorubas to consolidate their position and sovereignty against any external threat.
(v)On the liberation of the Yorubaland, you will be appointed as the Military Governor of that territory.
(vi)The liberation of Western Nigeria will be a prelude to the liberation of all Yorubas up to the River Niger and the severance of all connections between the West and the North at Jebba.
(vii)During the period of Biafrans troops’ presence in your territory, all political measures, statements or decrees shall be subject to the approval, in writing by myself or on my authority.
(viii)Should our troops arrive and liberate Lagos, the government of the Republic of Biafra reserves the right to appoint a Military administrator for the territory. Such an Administrator will remain in office until a merger of that territory with Yorubaland is effected by Biafran troops.
(ix)As soon as possible after your appointment as the Military Governor of Western Nigeria and separation of that territory from Nigeria, you and I must meet to discuss:
(a)the duration of stay of Biafran troops in your territory;
(b)the areas and subjects of cooperation between the liberated sovereign states of Western Nigeria, or by what name it may call itself, and Biafra.


4. I do not need to remind you that Biafra regards all Yoruba as friends. As such everything should be done, to ensure that minimum force and loss of life are involved in achieving the objective of liberation.



5. It is essential, in order to avoid misunderstanding or confusion, that all subsequent requests for support be formally made to me by you in writing.



6. Will you please signify in writing, your acceptance of the above conditions so that you may leave for Western Nigeria and lead the army of liberation.



Yours very sincerely,
signed Lt. Col. Odumegwu Ojukwu,
Military Governor and Commander in Chief of Biafran Armed Forces.

WetinConsignMe:


My friend, why are you trying to be too clever by half? Here is the letter you keep talking about in it's entirety.
Where in this letter does Ojukwu even imply he wanted to rule the West? Quite the contrary. He and Banjo had the same rank. Do u think he was unaware Banjo would not be a yes man to him and would do whatever was best for his own people? Notice how he addressed himself as "Military Governor", the same title Banjo would have in the West - equals.

Here is the letter (note the bolded):

From: The Military Governor,
Republic of Biafra Enugu,
22nd August, 1967.
My dear Victor,

1. For some time now, you and I have been discussing the circumstances that have led to the current and inevitable disintegration of what was the Federation of Nigeria. We have been fully convinced that the aim of the Hausa/Fulani complex has ever been, and will ever remain, the total domination of every other part of what was known as the Federation of Nigeria. It is impossible to forget that the crisis which led to the army take over in January 1966, the coup of the Northern soldiers led by Gowon in July 1966, the wholesale and indiscriminate massacre of the people of what is now Biafra- and, to a less degree,the people of the Mid-West and West, including the Yorubas, were all the direct result of Hausa/Fulani attempt to subjugate and use as tools,the gallant people of Western Nigeria namely the Yorubas. We do not need to remind ourselves of the heavy losses in life and property suffered by the Yoruba people in their fight for justice and freedom during 1965.


2. Sharing our belief that the people of Yorubaland have a right to live a life of equality and self-respect and justice free of domination and dictatorship from any quarter, you have both identified with the cause of the Biafra struggle for survival and expressed your determination to see the people of Yorubaland freed from Hausa/Fulani domination.
We, the people of Biafra, for our part are willing and have decided to give you and the people of Yorubaland every assistance to achieve your aim.


3. After clearing the whole question with my Executive Council, I, as the Commander in Chief of the Biafran Armed Forces, have decided to place at your disposal Biafran forces, for the liberation of
Yorubaland on the following clear conditions:-
(i)You will have nothing to do with the Military Administrator in the Mid-West Territory during your sojourn there prior to your move to the West.
(ii)The willingness and preparedness of Biafra to assist any part of the former Federation of Nigeria wishing and willing to liberate itself from the Hausa/Fulani domination, does not in anyway whatever
imply any inclination on her part to compromise her sovereignty or preserve what remains of the defunct Federation of Nigeria. In other words, our sovereignty and break with Nigeria is irrevocable. Nothing must, therefore be said or done by you or any member of the Liberation Army to give a contrary impression.
(iii)Biafra is determined to maintain and safeguard her sovereignty and ensure that her integrity and safety are never again threatened.
(iv)Biafran troops will, after the liberation of the Yorubaland, remain in that territory only for as long as we in Biafra consider it necessary for the Yorubas to consolidate their position and sovereignty against any external threat.
(v)On the liberation of the Yorubaland, you will be appointed as the Military Governor of that territory.
(vi)
(vii)During the period of Biafrans troops’ presence in your territory, all political measures, statements or decrees shall be subject to the approval, in writing by myself or on my authority.
(viii)Should our troops arrive and liberate Lagos, the government of the Republic of Biafra reserves the right to appoint a Military administrator for the territory. Such an Administrator will remain in office until a merger of that territory with Yorubaland is effected by Biafran troops.
(ix)As soon as possible after your appointment as the Military Governor of Western Nigeria and separation of that territory from Nigeria, you and I must meet to discuss:
(a)the duration of stay of Biafran troops in your territory;
(b)the areas and subjects of cooperation between the liberated sovereign states of Western Nigeria, or by what name it may call itself, and Biafra.


4. I do not need to remind you that Biafra regards all Yoruba as friends. As such everything should be done, to ensure that minimum force and loss of life are involved in achieving the objective of liberation.



5. It is essential, in order to avoid misunderstanding or confusion, that all subsequent requests for support be formally made to me by you in writing.



6. Will you please signify in writing, your acceptance of the above conditions so that you may leave for Western Nigeria and lead the army of liberation.



Yours very sincerely,
signed Lt. Col. Odumegwu Ojukwu,
Military Governor and Commander in Chief of Biafran Armed Forces.

(iv)Biafran troops will, after the liberation of the Yorubaland, remain in that territory only for as long as we in Biafra consider it necessary for the Yorubas to consolidate their position and sovereignty against any external threat.

The liberation of Western Nigeria will be a prelude to the liberation of all Yorubas up to the River Niger and the severance of all connections between the West and the North at Jebba.

(vii)During the period of Biafrans troops’ presence in your territory, all political measures, statements or decrees shall be subject to the approval, in writing by myself or on my authority.

(viii)Should our troops arrive and liberate Lagos, [b]the government of the Republic of Biafra reserves the right to appoint a Military administrator for the territory. [/b]Such an Administrator will remain in office until a merger of that territory with Yorubaland is effected by Biafran troops.

VillageWinch:


Honest people, people with some honour don't make promises they can't keep.

T9ksy:



I already suspected my post wili be too much for your cerebral capability. No wonder, you call you gibberish.

WetinConsignMe:


So, my friend, Ojukwu's strategy was to do whatever was necessary to see to it that the West also seceded because he knew that was the only way his own secession could possibly succeed.

T9ksy:




For crying out loud, after reading the letter, how can you still maintain such an idiotic stance.?

For starters, who asked ojukwu or even Banjo to liberate us from the northerners? So, ojukwu decided in his (ulterior) magnanimity to release banjo from prison (where his fellow ibo officers had placed him on a trumped-up charge) to go and liberate we yorubas from the northerners. Who asked ojukwu for liberation? When did we ask ojukwu for succor? I thought he was seceding with his ibo people from the union his same ibo people pulled us into against wise consul to the contrary? Ojukwu should have just concentrated his effort and meager resources on taking his people out of nigeria first instead of going about "liberating" others (and imposing his will on them) who at no time implicitly or explicitly asked for his help?




So, in essence, we yorubas will only be replacing nigerian army of northern extraction for biafran troops? And you call that liberation? what kind of liberation is that? So, Ojukwu will be the one to tell us when he thinks we are ready to protect ourselves from external threat? Geez! what a bloody insult. We yorubas that have already created a massive and enviable empire and civilisation when ojukwu's forefathers were still roaming around in the jungle in animal hides will now have to rely on him to inform us when HE believes we are able to maintain our sovereignty? What a bloody cheek!! But Ojukwu is not power hungry o!





And who the Bleep is ojukwu to tell us yorubas- a proud race who we can pally with or not? But Ojukwu in your assessment, is not power hungry o?





So, after reading the above condition, you still believe Ojukwu is not power hungry? So, even our obas cannot even fart in their palaces without first getting approval from Ojukwu? And You think yorubas - a proud race with rich culture and history will agree to such a stipulation from ojukwu? Some "liberation", it is!!!






And who is the flippin' govt of RoB? Ojukwu! But Ojukwu is not power hungry o! what a "liberation" (sic).

Let me just stop here as analysing Ojukwu's prerequisite for our unsolicited so-called "liberation" is making me feel sick- need to go and throw up.

Oh before i go and retch, what about the carnage that will have befall our region and the great loss of lives to our young generation? Am certain that Banjo knew (and definitely did not sign his agreement to such a dumb stipulation) that his people will never consent to Ojukwu's megalomania.

At any rate, what is the guarantee that once Ojukwu's objective have been realised, someone from the biafran side wouldn't put a bullet into Banjo? None. And you have the temerity to tell me, ojukwu is not power hungry. My mother didn't raise me a fool and we are definitely not that dumb in yorubaland.

And, don't call me "friend" as am no friend of yours or your type. That's not how i was raised in my neck of the wood to treat someone i consider, a friend.

9jaDoc:


We are not blaming Awo for not seceding - something he clearly was in no position to do. We are faulting him for lying about something beyond his capability, as u just pointed out

9jaDoc:


Bros go to whoever taught u English and get your money back

T9ksy:



At their meeting in enugu, Ojukwu bragged to Awo that, "I started off this struggle in July with 120 rifles to defend the entirety
of the East", that almost a year but according to you, his strategy was to bring his war of secession to yorubaland where the people were
certainly not in the position to defend themselves as their region was already been occupied by the "enemies". what a warped strategy to predicate his secession bid on.

T9ksy:



At their meeting in enugu, Ojukwu bragged to Awo that, "I started off this struggle in July with 120 rifles to defend the entirety
of the East", that almost a year but according to you, his strategy was to bring his war of secession to yorubaland where the people were
certainly not in the position to defend themselves as their region was already been occupied by the "enemies". what a warped strategy to predicate his secession bid on.

VillageWinch:


Ojukwus plan was clearly that Banjo link up with Yoruba leaders and declare their own secession

WetinConsignMe:


Here is how a specialist of that era put it

If Ojukwu did not release Awo, I'd have no business disputing some people's attempts at crass revisionism. I'll simply accept it. But as their increasing vacillation shows, the truth haunts because it is stubborn. They have moved from one angle to the other in a shifting sand that only amuses people like me. Note: the story has since gone from Ironsi did not release Awo to "Ironsi's release was CONDITIONAL."

I have never before in my life found greater irony. Now he is squirming under the weight of interpretation - the wheres and wherefores that belong to legal doublespeak - which is when you really need to close an argument.

Awolowo's letter is rather self-explanatory. Emissaries sent to him to Calabar arrived Calabar with a plane on July 27, 1966. The SMC wanted him in Lagos on July 29. In the early mornings of July 29, Ironsi and Fajuyi were murdered in Ibadan by a coup in which Gowon was very active. On the day that Ironsi was supposed to make the announcement publicly in the gala planned for his final day in Ibadan as a gesture of goodwill to the West, he was killed. The crucial point to note here from Awo's diary is that

(a) his release was already final. A plane had been sent to him to leave Calabar to Lagos. He did not leave because it was a one-engine plane and he just did not like the idea of traveling in that plane.

(b) Having being released, a second declaration of release was no longer necessary by Gowon because the papers releasing him had been signed and sealed and effected. The only person who could stop further action on that release document in the circumstance was the Eastern Regional governor whose authority was required to effect the wishes of the Federal government,

(c) there is no place in the annals of Nigeria's administrative records where you will find an order or paper of release for Awolowo in which Yakubu Gowon's signature appears.

But I'd like to bet Ayo and co $1000 that if we go into the archives of the Nigerian Cabinet Secretariat, the signature that will be on the release order for Chief Awolowo will be Ironsi's signature by the power conferred on him by the SMC, and that there is no second release order unless it was backdated. Ironsi's order was fully carried out by the administrative requirements that compelled the Governor of the East to issue administrative writ to the Director of Prisons in Eastern Nigeria to comply.

It is as simple as that. If Gowon issued an order in that regard, Emeka Ojukwu would have very clearly and deliberately ignored it to fully press the point that he was under no obligation to heed Gowon's authority and Chief Awolowo would not have been released. He would most likely have ended up in the East, like Banjo and co during the war all of whom were released by Ojukwu's orders.

Awo's diary confesses quite clearly that Ironsi's regime had kept his release "secret." Why did Ironsi feel the need to thread carefully about such a matter? Would it be to placate the East, the West, or the North? From whom was Ironsi keeping this secret and why? Who would be more grieved by the news of Awo's release? Awo's release was apparently affected by the confusion in Lagos.

If Ayo were Ojukwu, would he have let him go on July 29th 1966, the day he was expected to be taken to Lagos from the East and the day Ironsi was murder or wait for things to clear up a bit? Why did Ojukwu feel the need to release Awo on the 3rd before a reconstituted SMC? Clearly, Ojukwu thought that Awo's presence in the West would help rally the rump of his supporters in the West to act against the coup in evolution. Awo told Ojukwu plainly when they met in Enugu later in May that he could not act because of the presence of Northern troops in the West. As soon as he arrived Ibadan, Awo was placed under clear surveillance. Military sentries were kept daily at his gate in Ibadan and Ikenne.

That is a version of House arrest. Anyone who talks about "conditional release" does not know how governments function. Awo was to be put through a safe, transitional house, no more than a week after the public announcement of his release, debriefed, and released to his home. The same thing happened to Mandela. It is the normal administrative process in these matters. What really makes me happy is that "Nebu and Obi" can no longer be said to write about things that are not in the public domain. We were both clear about who released Awo and why. Awo's diary basically confirmed the following:

(a) A plane had been sent to Calabar to bring him to Lagos on 27th July, two days before Ironsi was killed; (b) the SMC expected him in Lagos on July 29th the day Ironsi and Fajuyi were killed in Ibadan. In fact, they were desperate that he must arrive Lagos by the 29th! It prompts the question: Why the hurry to bring him to Lagos on the 29th? Were these facts communicated to the coup plotters? If so, who but those in the inner circle of the SMC could have communicated this highly classified policy to the coup plotters who had to act quickly to eliminate Fajuyi and Ironsi before the effectuation of the orders on July 29?

(c) Awo refused to travel in the one-engine plane for fear of his safety and

(d) But above all, no other order is required once the order of release has been gazetted for the release of a prisoner. Therefore, Gowon could no longer have re-issued an order already being carried out. It is elementary.

TO RECAP: By the very decree establishing the National Military Government under Ironsi, the Governor of the Eastern Group of provinces was a member of the Supreme Military Council, and the Chief agent of the federal government in the East. All federal institutions, including the Federal Prison Services, were under his jurisdiction and authority. That is one. As at August 3 1966, with a coup in evolution which had not succeeded in the East, the laws of the federation ceased to exist in the East. The only laws that existed in areas under Ojukwu's command were the emergency laws that he assumed. No tributes, declarations or orders by any other authority outside of the East under any guise of law could be enforced in the East. Basically, Nigeria temporarily ceased to exist.

9jaDoc:


Thank you. This your simple sentence sums up everything

Ovamboland:


Intelligent people don't make alliances based on newspaper reports, you meet behind closed doors and issue a joint communique with the written version ratifiable by signatures.
How can a whole region comprising of many nationalities, some claiming high intellect, declare a new country with alliances based on unilateral declaration on the pages of newspapers

9jaDoc:


I sense that Ojukwu truly liked if not loved Awo. He called him Baba and almost always spoke to him in Yoruba. He gave him his private number that only him answered. He told him "Baba atilo" before anyone was even sure what would happen. So it was not newspaper reports. He knew or thought he knew his man.

T9ksy:



I already suspected my post wili be too much for your cerebral capability. No wonder, you call it gibberish.

GhanaMustGoo:


You, Mr. Cerebral capacity, what is the.meaning of "Baba atilo"

VillageWinch:

I patiently and diligently read everything and I must say, it is a fascinating read.

Personally I think Awo was planning to do something if Biafra seceded but something or someone persuaded him or pressured him to do the opposite.
Either way he still reneged on his promise.

Vivere:

Big lie. The Igbo were not allowed to secede and they were not forced out. Instead, there was a police action to keep them within Nigeria and a civil war to stop them from seceding. So why is Awolowo being blamed, when the Igbo were not allowed to secede?

Vivere:

Big lie. The Igbo were not allowed to secede and they were not forced out. Instead, there was a police action to keep them within Nigeria and a civil war to stop them from seceding. So why is Awolowo being blamed, when the Igbo were not allowed to secede?

Vivere:

Big lie. The Igbo were not allowed to secede and they were not forced out. Instead, there was a police action to keep them within Nigeria and a civil war to stop them from seceding. So why is Awolowo being blamed, when the Igbo were not allowed to secede?

Vivere:

Big lie. The Igbo were not allowed to secede and they were not forced out. Instead, there was a police action to keep them within Nigeria and a civil war to stop them from seceding. So why is Awolowo being blamed, when the Igbo were not allowed to secede?

Vivere:

Big lie. The Igbo were not allowed to secede and they were not forced out. Instead, there was a police action to keep them within Nigeria and a civil war to stop them from seceding. So why is Awolowo being blamed, when the Igbo were not allowed to secede?

Vivere:

Big lie. The Igbo were not allowed to secede and they were not forced out. Instead, there was a police action to keep them within Nigeria and a civil war to stop them from seceding. So why is Awolowo being blamed, when the Igbo were not allowed to secede?

VillageWinch:


My Yoruba friend tells me "atilo" is a kind of native Yoruba dance. So he was saying something like 'Baba dance' ? Doesn't make any sense...

T9ksy, Ovamboland, oladeebo, Ofemannnu
lawani, koladebrainiac, Michael004

Vivere:

Big lie. The Igbo were not allowed to secede and they were not forced out. Instead, there was a police action to keep them within Nigeria and a civil war to stop them from seceding. So why is Awolowo being blamed, when the Igbo were not allowed to secede?

WetinConsignMe:


Your friend was playing with u.
I know enough Yoruba to know this is not true.
I am pretty sure "Baba atilo" means "Baba don't go"

GhanaMustGoo:


Oh I intentionally left them out. They benefitted from coups but I'm not sure there is absolute proof they participated in coups. Two sharp guys.

VillageWinch:


My Yoruba friend tells me "atilo" is a kind of native Yoruba dance. So he was saying something like 'Baba dance' ? Doesn't make any sense...

T9ksy, Ovamboland, oladeebo, Ofemannnu
lawani, koladebrainiac, Michael004

T9ksy:




For crying out loud, after reading the letter, how can you still maintain such an idiotic stance.?

For starters, who asked ojukwu or even Banjo to liberate us from the northerners? So, ojukwu decided in his (ulterior) magnanimity to release banjo from prison (where his fellow ibo officers had placed him on a trumped-up charge) to go and liberate we yorubas from the northerners. Who asked ojukwu for liberation? When did we ask ojukwu for succor? I thought he was seceding with his ibo people from the union his same ibo people pulled us into against wise consul to the contrary? Ojukwu should have just concentrated his effort and meager resources on taking his people out of nigeria first instead of going about "liberating" others (and imposing his will on them) who at no time implicitly or explicitly asked for his help?





So, in essence, we yorubas will only be replacing nigerian army of northern extraction for biafran troops? And you call that liberation? what kind of liberation is that? So, Ojukwu will be the one to tell us when he thinks we are ready to protect ourselves from external threat? Geez! what a bloody insult. We yorubas that have already created a massive and enviable empire and civilisation when ojukwu's forefathers were still roaming around in the jungle in animal hides will now have to rely on him to inform us when HE believes we are able to maintain our sovereignty? What a bloody cheek!! But Ojukwu is not power hungry o!





And who the Bleep is ojukwu to tell us yorubas- a proud race who we can pally with or not? But Ojukwu in your assessment, is not power hungry o?





So, after reading the above condition, you still believe Ojukwu is not power hungry? So, even our obas cannot even fart in their palaces without first getting approval from Ojukwu? And You think yorubas - a proud race with rich culture and history will agree to such a stipulation from ojukwu? Some "liberation", it is!!!






And who is the flippin' govt of RoB? Ojukwu! But Ojukwu is not power hungry o! what a "liberation" (sic).

Let me just stop here as analysing Ojukwu's prerequisite for our unsolicited so-called "liberation" is making me feel sick- need to go and throw up.

Oh before i go and retch, what about the carnage that will have befall our region and the great loss of lives to our young generation? Am certain that Banjo knew (and definitely did not sign his agreement to such a dumb stipulation) that his people will never consent to Ojukwu's megalomania.

At any rate, what is the guarantee that once Ojukwu's objective have been realised, someone from the biafran side wouldn't put a bullet into Banjo? None. And you have the temerity to tell me, ojukwu is not power hungry. My mother didn't raise me a fool and we are definitely not that dumb in yorubaland.

And, don't call me "friend" as am no friend of yours or your type. That's not how i was raised in my neck of the wood to treat someone i consider, a friend.