Nigerian Leaders are as it were, guilty of stiffling the underlinng truths strongly fundamental to the worst historical experience of the country. More baffling is the deliberate obliteration of this bitter reality from the education circle in other to prevent the agitated mind from being abreast of the fact and realities of The Nigeria-Biafra war.

Amongst historians, there is concensus that one idea was the major winning strategy Nigeria employed in the war, of course, with the assistance of the British Government, which is the economic policy of mindless starvation,(economic blockade) which many humanitarians termed ECONOMIC GENOCIDE. The person at the helm of affairs in the Financial Commission was Obafemi Awolowo who was also adjuged next, only after the Head of State, Yakubu Gowon.

He had sole decision power and his signature ensured action. Nothing could have been done without him as all the Monetary/Financial policies were attributed to him as the sole mastermind. It therefore, seeks no further explanation, the huge role Awolowo played in the war viz, the initiation of monetary policies that starved to death over three million Biafrans as asserted by British Jeremy Thorpe.

Nevertheless, as expected, in 1983, prior the Presidential election, Awolowo debunked facts indicting him on this WAR CRIME.

The unsatisfactory response of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, with all due respect, to these barraging facts has resurged this critique.

Below is an excerpt of his Answer at a Town Hall Interview at Abeokuta, 1983, which was Moderated by Oparadike, followed by the critique.

TWENTY POUNDS POLICY.

That’s what I did, and the case of the money they said was not given back to them, you know during the war all the pounds were looted, they printed Biafran currency notes, which they circulated, at the close of the war some people wanted their Biafran notes to be exchanged for them. Of course I couldn’t do that, if I did that the whole country would be bankrupt. We didn’t know about Biafran notes and we didn’t know on what basis they have printed them, so we refused the Biafran note, but I laid down the principle that all those who had savings in the banks on the eve of the declaration of the Biafran war or Biafra, will get their money back if they could satisfy us that they had the savings there, or the money there. Unfortunately, all the banks’s books had been burnt, and many of the people who had savings there didn’t have their saving books or their last statement of account, so a panel had to be set up.

I didn’t take part in setting up the panel, it was done by the Central bank and the pertinent officials of the ministry of finance, to look into the matter, and they went carefully into the matter, they took some months to do so, and then make some recommendation which I approved. Go to the archives, all I did was approve, I didn’t write anything more than that, I don’t even remember the name of any of them who took part. So I did everything in this world to assist our Ibo brothers and sisters during and after the war.

And anyone who goes back to look at my broadcast in August 1967, which dealt with post-war reconstruction, would see what I said there.

STARVATION POLICY

Then, but above all, the ending of the war itself that I’m accused of, accused of starving the Ibos, I did nothing of the sort. You know, shortly after the liberation of these places, Calabar, Enugu and Port Harcort, I decided to pay a visit. There are certain things which I knew which you don’t know, which I don’t want to say here now, when I write my reminisces in the future I will do so. Some of the soldiers were not truthful with us, they didn’t tell us correct stories and so on.

I wanted to be there and see things for myself, bear in mind that Gowon himself did not go there at that time, it was after the war was over that he dorn himself up in various military dresses- Air force dress, Army dress and so on, and went to the war torn areas. But I went and some people tried to frighten me out of my goal by saying that Adekunle was my enemy and he was going to see to it that I never return from the place, so I went.

But when I went what did I see? I saw the kwashiorkor victims. If you see a kwashiorkor victim you’ll never like war to be waged. Terrible sight, in Enugu, in Port Harcourt, not many in Calabar, but mainly in Enugu and Port Harcourt. Then I enquired what happened to the food we are sending to the civilians. We were sending food through the Red cross, and CARITAS to them, but what happen was that the vehicles carrying the food were always ambushed by the soldiers. That’s what I discovered, and the food would then be taken to the soldiers to feed them, and so they were able to continue to fight. And I said that was a very dangerous policy, we didn’t intend the food for soldiers. But who will go behind the line to stop the soldiers from ambushing the vehicles that were carrying the food? And as long as soldiers were fed, the war will continue, and who’ll continue to suffer? and those who didn’t go to the place to see things as I did, you remember that all the big guns, all the soldiers in the Biafran army looked all well fed after the war, its only the mass of the people that suffered kwashiorkor.

You wont hear of a single lawyer, a single doctor, a single architect, who suffered from kwashiorkor? None of their children either, so they waylaid the foods, they ambush the vehicles and took the foods to their friends and to their collaborators and to their children and the masses were suffering. So I decided to stop sending the food there. In the process the civilians would suffer, but the soldiers will suffer most.

CRITIQUE/QUESTIONS BEGGING FOR ANSWER

If all the pounds were looted and Awolowo did Biafra favour by giving the people who were as at the time, before the war, wealthiest race in Africa, 20pounds, how come the South West and North retained the amounts they had prior to the war?

Awolowo said “I didn’t take part in setting up the panel, it was done by the Central bank and the pertinent officials of the ministry of finance, to look into the matter, and they went carefully into the matter, they took some months to do so, and then make some recommendation which I approved

Yet, he boasted of how he solely, though confiding in Akpan and Attah, took the decision of changing the currency of Nigeria to economically destabilise Biafrans. And how his guarded secret was only revealed to Gowon a day before its implementation, just to show the unrestrained freedom he had as the Minister of Finance and Vice President of the Executive Council which saw him second only to Gowon. He was in-charge, making all the decisions.

How does it appeal to common sense that the Nigerian Government was sending food to the same people it tagged as enemies and rebels and engaged in horrifying blood-letting; the same civilians Nigerian Army massacred in their thousands in the open fields of Asaba, Umuahia, Nsukka etc...?

How does it appeal to reason that the Nigerian Government had as part of its starvation strategy, food blockage and border closure immediately it started gaining control of Biafra land, again, thanks to international assistance, and still sent food to Biafra.?

How does it seem that the international humanitarian organisations that worked during the war could not attest to the claims of food supply to Biafrans by the Nigerian Government. On the contrary, hue and cries from International Organisations over the deliberate and pathetically so, move by the Nigerian government to wipe out Ndi Igbo from the face of the earth was compelling enough. BBC.UK, on its This Day segment reported: “1969: (30 June) Nigeria bans Red Cross aid to Biafra Millions of people face starvation because Nigeria has banned night flights of food aid to Biafra, a breakaway state at war with federal Nigeria.”

Again, Jeremy Thorpe, British politician and the Liberal Party leader cried out “There are three million people who are going to starve to death in the next few weeks unless something is done”.

http://igbobia.com/?q=obafemi-awolowos-answer-on-his-starvation-policy-against-biafrans-the-hidden-truth.html

Following

Afonjas...not different from Awolowo.

when I see this kinda deceptive wickedness towards the igbos pre, during and post biafran war, I cannot but believe that agitation for the sovereign state of biafra was and is still justified... my personal thought though.

You did it for our sorrow but God turned it to Joy.

These afonjas should keep deluding themselves....AWOLOWO is a disgrace to humanity.

SonOfEl:
These afonjas should keep deluding themselves....AWOLOWO is a disgrace to humanity.

My dear...that could be harsh you know

Youngadvocate:

My dear...that could be harsh you know

u are not well

These are all lies carefully crafted by some irresponsible members of the Igbo political elites with evil intentions of blocking Awo from becoming the President.
The great Ojukwu who led the war later described Awo in very glowing words at Awo's death by describing Awo as "the best president Nigeria never had".
These evil stories are beyond the sophistication of ordinary Igbo people , so where children of ordinary Igbo like the OP rehash this story, you know that it's not today,some irresponsible political leaders in Igboland have been playing ludo with the political destiny of the Igbo.
If an Awolowo could direct his people to welcome the Igbos and return properties and even rents collected from the properties of Igbo people in Yoruba land to the Igbos unlike some places in the former Eastern region yet some Igbo political leaders could spew evil lies against Awo,it tells you that the curse on some of them that made them nonentities in today's Nigeria is justified.
While a child of a descendant of someone without any contribution to the creation of this falsehood like the OP is busy spreading these evil lies, God had vindicated Awo.
By divine arrangement,Awo who was vilified as the first leader of Opposition in Nigeria has been vindicated by posterity as the very first time an incumbent will be defeated by an opposition party, the victory was delivered in the household of Awolowo even without them struggling for it.
Since God doesn't lie and he is the one who chooses leaders,bypassing the household of millions to deliver power in the household of Awolowo is a big statement to put the detractors of Awolowo to shame.
To cap it all,Awo that was being vilified by some Igbos now has descendant of his household, current acting President Osibanjo being praised by Awo's enemies.
I pray that the God that put to shame all the enemies of Awolowo will bless us the way He blessed the household of Awolowo(Amen).
It's by their fruits you shall know them,we have seen the fruits of Awolowo,but the fruits of his detractors are evil.

I knew the source would have to be something like igbobia.com

Ioannes:
I knew the source would have to be something like igbobia.com

Don't mind them,they are recycling curses on themselves and their children and children's children.
Awo responded in his clinical detailed manner to every accusations and mentioned that these lies were sponsored against him to reduce his votes in the Eastern States but prophetically stated that posterity will judge him favorably and his detractors will be put to damnation. Have you not wondered why no single face can be put to the authorship of these lies , even those who indirectly supported this campaign of calumny against Awo died painful death on wheelchair and life support machines whereas Awo just died peacefully in his sleep and his wife who died recently buried peacefully beside Awo.
His Mausoleum isn't overgrown with weeds like that of Zik and his children are not fighting over property. He was married to a single woman through out his life and had no lovechild or marriage scandal.
And now a member of his household is sitting on the throne of Nigeria!
That's a man blessed by God!!!

[quote author=Youngadvocate post=54305538]

After what you posted that Awolowo said, you still had the nerves to ask these questions? It only goes to show you have a comprehension deficit.

Here I'll answer your questions begging for answers.

CRITIQUE/QUESTIONS BEGGING FOR ANSWER

If all the pounds were looted and Awolowo did Biafra favour by giving the people who were as at the time, before the war, wealthiest race in Africa, 20pounds, how come the South West and North retained the amounts they had prior to the war?

Silly question! Common sense should tell you that not all the banks in the country were looted and definitely not the central bank. So how your question makes sense to you is what I don't get.

Awolowo said “I didn’t take part in setting up the panel, it was done by the Central bank and the pertinent officials of the ministry of finance, to look into the matter, and they went carefully into the matter, they took some months to do so, and then make some recommendation which I approved

Yet, he boasted of how he solely, though confiding in Akpan and Attah, took the decision of changing the currency of Nigeria to economically destabilise Biafrans. And how his guarded secret was only revealed to Gowon a day before its implementation, just to show the unrestrained freedom he had as the Minister of Finance and Vice President of the Executive Council which saw him second only to Gowon. He was in-charge, making all the decisions.

Assuming that the original post is true and Awolowo did say all that, then from the write up Awolowo set up the panel to look into how to reimburse the Igbos who claimed to have money in the bank. He said he didn't take part in the panel. If you have proof to the contrary, then trot it out.

He signed the recommendations of the panel because they made good economic sense. There was no way a responsible financial officer will pay out money to somebody just on the strength of word of mouth. They couldn't prove they had money in the bank not talk of how much and you expect the erudite sage to pay them money on their say so. What kind of nonsense thinking is that?
As at the time the war ended, 20pounds was a sizeable sum of money, so quit whining!

As for the changing of the currency, yeah, that was a brilliant move to checkmate the Biafra soldiers from using stolen money to fund their useless war. E pain you?

How does it appeal to common sense that the Nigerian Government was sending food to the same people it tagged as enemies and rebels and engaged in horrifying blood-letting; the same civilians Nigerian Army massacred in their thousands in the open fields of Asaba, Umuahia, Nsukka etc...?

Maybe because you lack some common sense. Here, let me explain. The food sent to the east was meant for the people and not the soldiers, so that the people wouldn't starve to death, yet the reverse was the case as you yourself noted in the original post.

If it doesn't appeal to common sense for the government to feed it's enemies during war, why then do you lot think it makes sense for Ojukwu and Biafra soldiers to expect their enemies to feed them? Why are you shouting starvation policy now if you know it makes no sense to feed your enemies? Why did you start a war without securing how you'll feed your people? Mumu.

How does it appeal to reason that the Nigerian Government had as part of its starvation strategy, food blockage and border closure immediately it started gaining control of Biafra land, again, thanks to international assistance, and still sent food to Biafra.?

To end the war. It was obvious the people were suffering while the soldiers, Ojukwu, Chinua Achebe and other elites of the Igbo society were enjoying.

How does it seem that the international humanitarian organisations that worked during the war could not attest to the claims of food supply to Biafrans by the Nigerian Government. On the contrary, hue and cries from International Organisations over the deliberate and pathetically so, move by the Nigerian government to wipe out Ndi Igbo from the face of the earth was compelling enough. BBC.UK, on its This Day segment reported: “1969: (30 June) Nigeria bans Red Cross aid to Biafra Millions of people face starvation because Nigeria has banned night flights of food aid to Biafra, a breakaway state at war with federal Nigeria.”

Part of your lies. You could quote Awolowo copiously but you can't give us a single link to back up this claim.

Again, Jeremy Thorpe, British politician and the Liberal Party leader cried out “There are three million people who are going to starve to death in the next few weeks unless something is done”.

You have Ojukwu your war hero to thank for that. When next you're planning a war don't expect your enemies to feed you.

Businessideas:

Don't mind them,they are recycling curses on themselves and their children and children's children.
Awo responded in his clinical detailed manner to every accusations and mentioned that these lies were sponsored against him to reduce his votes in the Eastern States but prophetically stated that posterity will judge him favorably and his detractors will be put to damnation. Have you not wondered why no single face can be put to the authorship of these lies , even those who indirectly supported this campaign of calumny against Awo died painful death on wheelchair and life support machines whereas Awo just died peacefully in his sleep and his wife who died recently buried peacefully beside Awo.
His Mausoleum isn't overgrown with weeds like that of Zik and his children are not fighting over property. He was married to a single woman through out his life and had no lovechild or marriage scandal.
And now a member of his household is sitting on the throne of Nigeria!
That's a man blessed by God!!!

You're so right!

I always tell Igbo people that they owe Awolowo a lot of gratitude for playing a major role in ending the war early. If not for him I'm absolutely sure the Igbo tribe will just be another minor tribe in Nigeria.

But it's only people who can think deep that can appreciate this premise.

It still beats me that simple matters of fact can be easily twisted for evil ends in an African mind.

Can the OP outline one single benefit or relief offered to Nigeria from the area within Biafrans control at any time during the war?
How many gallons of palm oil did Biafra allow to flow freely to Nigerian market? When Biafra controlled access to the only oil refinery at Port Harcourt, how many litres of petrol and diesel did Biafra supply to Nigeria to be used to power it's military trucks and tanks. Did Biafra planes not bomb fuel dumps in Lagos which they managed to import. So what is the basis for Biafra to base it's survival strategy on food supply from it's enemy?

On 20 Pounds Policy is It not Idiocy to demand Nigeria exchange worthless Biafra currency for real money. Where has that been ever done for a people who suffered defeat. You all surrendered to your leaders real money for funny money, and you want the real money back from your enemy you purchased arms to fight same enemy. If any citizen was able to prove he actually has savings court cases would have settled the matter. Is it not reasonable to expect many also cleared their account since they never planned to come back. Yet such Biafrans too collected 20 pounds and cleaned mouth and some of their grand children are here still crying and hating.
It's either the matter is left for those who can prove they had money in the bank to get anything or give every adult rebel something to restart life. The more populist option was chosen yet you cry against this benevolence yet pocket the money most Nigerian never earn for months of hard work.

Had the leadership of the ibos been upstanding people rather than the losers and haters that they are, Awo would be termed a hero of theirs. Blessed is he whose works vindicate him...till today his offsprings whether biological or philosophically still have a say in the present and future of Nigeria. Awo was simply a man beyond his times.

Even Ojukwu said "awolowo is the best president Nigeria never had"

If u want to wail, just do so

It can never be well with nigeria. Afonjas brag about the presence of awolowo's family still in our government, well clear reason why nigeria is still a mess till date. We are not one and never will be

This is my take on Awolowo:

In 1966, a question stood up the Yorubas and the Igbos, accept Northern domination. Even though Ojukwu was not prepared to fight, it was no excuse for him and his to go down without a fight. Ojukwu fought like a man

Awolowo led his people straight into the arms of Northern control. The cowardly way out of a fight. Like the typical Nigerian politician he was, Awolowo accepted a plum position in Gowons Government and sold his coscience and his people for a pot of porridge. Overnight, a once respected sage like Awolowo became deputy to Gowon who was young enough to be his son.

To this day, the Yoruba people who claim to be sophisticated but dont have any concept of self determination.

Awolowos excuse for starving children is because Biafran Soldiers were siezing the food for themselves. Today, this is a war crime. Starving the civilian populace under any circumstance is a war crime. It would have been far better that Awolowo allowed food in and it was later said that the Soldiers starved the children and not him. Using starvation as an instrument of war is highly frowned upon by the international community.


On the whole, I think outside his own Yoruba ethnic group, nobody is going venerate the name of Awolowo as a praiseworthy man worth emulating. He will always be vilified by us Igbos

This is nonsense, why would Awolowo give food to Biafrans? Do you feed your enemies to fight you? Did Biafrans expect Yorubas, Fulanis and Hausas to go farm and get food for the Biafrans while the Biafrans were shooting at the Yoruba/Hausa/Fulani? Starvation is a war strategy, if you start any yeye war again without getting food and weapons, then the 1967 to 1970 Christmas party will be repeated. Obasanjo, Buhari, T.Y. Danjuma and other war veterans are still alive and when they eventually die, their children and children's children will still be alive to continue from where their fathers stopped. Remember that Obasanjo's son is currently a Major General in the Nigerian Army, likewise, others too have children in the Nigerian Army.

jahsharon:
This is nonsense, why would Awolowo give food to Biafrans? Do you feed your enemies to fight you? Did Biafrans expect Yorubas, Fulanis and Hausas to go farm and get food for the Biafrans while the Biafrans were shooting at the Yoruba/Hausa/Fulani? Starvation is a war strategy, if you start any yeye war again without getting food and weapons, then the 1967 to 1970 Christmas party will be repeated. Obasanjo, Buhari, T.Y. Danjuma and other war veterans are still alive and when they eventually die, their children and children's children will still be alive to continue from where their fathers stopped. Remember that Obasanjo's son is currently a Major General in the Nigerian Army, likewise, others too have children in the Nigerian Army.

Lol...Bro...quite funny...

EasternActivist:
Awolowo is a fraudster do not take his words for it.
May he continue to rest in pieces with his rat poison

Awolowo,the nepotist, may not have told the truth from his extract i have just read. it might be true that a panel was set up by Nigeria's Central Bank,but as Finance Minister there could have been one or two inputs from him before implementation>>>Lets forgive him shaa,and build our nation to greatness.