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Nairaland Forum / Nairaland / General / Politics / 10 Awolowo Controversies: Are They Justifiable? (35337 Views)
10 Controversies Of 2018 In Nigeria: Millionaire Snake, Ganduje Dollars, Adeosun / Is Insertion Of Alpha Beta Consulting Justifiable In The Land Use Act? / Oil Block Revocation By President Buhari Causes Controversies (2) (3) (4)
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Re: 10 Awolowo Controversies: Are They Justifiable? by WetinConsignMe: 5:06pm On Oct 26, 2017 |
T9ksy: My brother you need a DANist re-education. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ **Danites are members of DAN (Detribalised Association of Nigeria) **We Danites try to see individuals for what they are, not tribe. ** We try to see people as human beings, as individuals, not groups or tribes. We are too big to be just tribe. We see ourselves as human beings, as black people, as Africans, as NIGERIANS, then, way down the list, tribe. **We make posts against tribal bigotry and hatred and posts supporting detribalization and unity of Nigeria. While seeking solutions for her innumerable problems, we encourage love for our beloved country, Nigeria, and we encourage inter-tribal connections and cooperation. **Other than these core values, any other views expressed by any Danite are his own views and do not reflect the views of any other Danite. **DAN is not on the side of any person, group, or party. 1 Like |
Re: 10 Awolowo Controversies: Are They Justifiable? by WetinConsignMe: 5:16pm On Oct 26, 2017 |
bluke: Kanu did not have Banjo soldiers and other military like Awo. This is from "America's secret files on Ojukwu". Note the bolded. “AG (Action Group) activists and the man in the street are convinced Awolowo made the statement under duress… They say Awolowo’s true position was indicated in the Leaders of Thought resolution in May, which said if any region seceded or forced out, the West would automatically become independent. The activists feel that Awolowo missed the opportunity to bring the present conflict to close by coming to Ibadan and making a Western Declaration of Independence speech supported by Victor Banjo and his National Liberation Army.” |
Re: 10 Awolowo Controversies: Are They Justifiable? by T9ksy(m): 5:22pm On Oct 26, 2017 |
WetinConsignMe: And you know what you can do with your danist education.........................shove it!!!! 1 Like |
Re: 10 Awolowo Controversies: Are They Justifiable? by T9ksy(m): 5:25pm On Oct 26, 2017 |
WetinConsignMe: Yeah right .....because the oil is in ibo land. Bloody covetous greedy souls. 1 Like |
Re: 10 Awolowo Controversies: Are They Justifiable? by Nobody: 5:58pm On Oct 26, 2017 |
T9ksy: Correct! |
Re: 10 Awolowo Controversies: Are They Justifiable? by WetinConsignMe: 6:40pm On Oct 26, 2017 |
VillageWinch: Thank you. Couldn't have said it better |
Re: 10 Awolowo Controversies: Are They Justifiable? by fergie001: 6:50pm On Oct 26, 2017 |
WetinConsignMe: Thank You,Sir |
Re: 10 Awolowo Controversies: Are They Justifiable? by WetinConsignMe: 6:55pm On Oct 26, 2017 |
ElsonMorali: I'm not tormented by the Sage at all. Like I've said many times I think he was a great man and nothing we discuss here can change that. I also don't think he hated Igbos nor meant them harm. |
Re: 10 Awolowo Controversies: Are They Justifiable? by WetinConsignMe: 7:08pm On Oct 26, 2017 |
fergie001: fergie001, I am nominating u to become a Danite, if that's ok with u. Thank You, Sir. --------------------------------- I am nominating fergie001 to become a Danite. Any objections? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ **Danites are members of DAN (Detribalised Association of Nigeria) **We Danites try to see individuals for what they are, not tribe. ** We try to see people as human beings, as individuals, not groups or tribes. We are too big to be just tribe. We see ourselves as human beings, as black people, as Africans, as NIGERIANS, then, way down the list, tribe. **We make posts against tribal bigotry and hatred and posts supporting detribalization and unity of Nigeria. While seeking solutions for her innumerable problems, we encourage love for our beloved country, Nigeria, and we encourage inter-tribal connections and cooperation. **Other than these core values, any other views expressed by any Danite are his own views and do not reflect the views of any other Danite. **DAN is not on the side of any person, group, or party. **All Danites have equal right to use the Danist list to express their views or to rebutt other Danites' views. **To become a Danite, you must indicate strong interest or be nominated by a Danite. **Please paste this part of the post to appropriate posts or threads you wish to bring to the attention of other Danites. ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ illuminated93, Addy003, Ikhilor, GQman, neocortex, TheHistorian, Shaytun, sirjerry, WORDWORLD, amanda2013, wetinconsignme, freshest4live, ameri9ja, Okoroawusa, onward4life, Almaheed, genbuhari, Axeman2, lonelydora, LoveMachine, darkckUSA, mrdashing10, henitan24, amah91, obaamah, ediss, maximunimpact, maxiflexy, reel14, Clean2016, isalegan2, ilekokonit, xtianh, drabeey, jumper524, mrmystro, ahmed99, royaluc, dongrea, winterfell007, quotasystem, nabiz, deleyi20, mujtahida, stagger, Horllamideh, jnrremedy, litmus, shervydman, ikio, iykmann, limitless777, jakd, juneoctober, hati13, panafrican, musicwriter, naijatalktown, itsmrike, enice, rossikki, dokunbam, fiftynaira, goldbim, Frankyboy1, 9jaDoc, JaffyJoe, castiello, kitaatita, VillageWinch, GhanaMustGoo, oz4real83, rafsonnggmail, Kingspin, Chukazu, Juliearth, asunaobi, dabiton, mesoprogress, elog, Oselu28, fergie001 |
Re: 10 Awolowo Controversies: Are They Justifiable? by WetinConsignMe: 7:21pm On Oct 26, 2017 |
T9ksy: It doesn't matter, it's in the East. It's certainly not in the North. Enugu would have been the capital. Couple the oil with Igbo ingenuity, by now Dubai would be nothing compared to Enugu. |
Re: 10 Awolowo Controversies: Are They Justifiable? by tolulope2070: 8:08pm On Oct 26, 2017 |
Good evening tonight I see one of the reason why Nigeria don't develop. Awo, zik, tarfawa balewa, ojukwu ND so on hv done der part ND leave. Now to the main thing, do anybody in the nairaland see Nigeria grow in any way with the present day situations. Let stop blaming the past. There are some basic solution to our problems is it restructuring or split or constitution amendment? Let debate on that instead of blaming our forefathers coz most of dem was not clean and holy. WHAT IS THE WAY OUT. |
Re: 10 Awolowo Controversies: Are They Justifiable? by WetinConsignMe: 8:11pm On Oct 26, 2017 |
fergie001: I actually think you are being a bit unfair to Zik. Although he inadvertently gave away the destiny of Igbo people, I have to be honest. He was not like the other two. He was different. He was a true and total nationalist. He was truly fanatical about Nigeria remaining one. (See below). Probably because he had heritage in all three regions and spoke all 3 languages. Again, in 1957 when the British Colonial Government, under intense pressure from Southern politicians pressing for independence, attempted to uncouple the union between the North and South forged through Lord Lugard’s Amalgamation of 1914, with the offer of independence to the three Regions individually provided any two accepted the offer, a political crisis loomed large on the national horizon. The Northern Region, led by the Northern Peoples Congress (NPC) took the position that the North was not ready for that level of political and economic independence. The Western Region, led by Chief Awolowo’s Action Group (AG) promptly, declared its readiness to accept the offer. It was the Igbo-led NUNC that held the balance. It was an issue that could make or break Nigeria if the three Regions chose to go their separate ways to independence. The NUNC leader, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe took the stand that although the Eastern Region was ready to assume the responsibilities of Regional independence, its attainment without the North would lead, in his own words, to the ‘’Baalkanization of the Nigeria Nation’’ and conceivably a break-up of the country. The Eastern Region would rather suppress it’s appetite for independence and the obvious gains it would entail until the Northern Region was ready. That was how Nigeria Independence was delayed until 1960. In short, the Igbo-led Eastern Region would rather forgo the advancement of its own political economic interests than risk the break-up of Nigeria. Had the Eastern Region opted for Independence at that time, the territory under its control would have comprised in today’s terms the following nine States with their enormous human and natural resources: Abia, Akwa-Ibom, Anambra, Bayelsa, Cross River, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo, Rivers state. It would also probably include Southern Cameroun with the oil rich Bakassi Peninsula. If not for Zik, by 1960, the three Regions would have become separate sovereign states and there would have been no question of Biafra’s attempted secession in 1967 from a non-existing Nigeria federation and the devastating civil war fought to stop it. ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ illuminated93, Addy003, Ikhilor, GQman, neocortex, TheHistorian, Shaytun, sirjerry, WORDWORLD, amanda2013, wetinconsignme, freshest4live, ameri9ja, Okoroawusa, onward4life, Almaheed, genbuhari, Axeman2, lonelydora, LoveMachine, darkckUSA, mrdashing10, henitan24, amah91, obaamah, ediss, maximunimpact, maxiflexy, reel14, Clean2016, isalegan2, ilekokonit, xtianh, drabeey, jumper524, mrmystro, ahmed99, royaluc, dongrea, winterfell007, quotasystem, nabiz, deleyi20, mujtahida, stagger, Horllamideh, jnrremedy, litmus, shervydman, ikio, iykmann, limitless777, jakd, juneoctober, hati13, panafrican, musicwriter, naijatalktown, itsmrike, enice, rossikki, dokunbam, fiftynaira, goldbim, Frankyboy1, 9jaDoc, JaffyJoe, castiello, kitaatita, VillageWinch, GhanaMustGoo, oz4real83, rafsonnggmail, Kingspin, Chukazu, Juliearth, asunaobi, dabiton, mesoprogress, elog, Oselu28, fergie001
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Re: 10 Awolowo Controversies: Are They Justifiable? by ElsonMorali: 8:50pm On Oct 26, 2017 |
PrecisionFx:
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Re: 10 Awolowo Controversies: Are They Justifiable? by Sirjamo: 8:57pm On Oct 26, 2017 |
SHAKABOOM:A potor General ran away from Hausa/Yoruba army like Hussein Bolt, apparently, that's bravery in potor land 1 Like |
Re: 10 Awolowo Controversies: Are They Justifiable? by VillageWinch: 9:08pm On Oct 26, 2017 |
WetinConsignMe: You are welcome. I tire for people who won't read a post properly b4 rushing to comment. |
Re: 10 Awolowo Controversies: Are They Justifiable? by Nobody: 9:09pm On Oct 26, 2017 |
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Re: 10 Awolowo Controversies: Are They Justifiable? by ElsonMorali: 9:09pm On Oct 26, 2017 |
SHAKABOOM: #yawn |
Re: 10 Awolowo Controversies: Are They Justifiable? by ElsonMorali: 9:15pm On Oct 26, 2017 |
WetinConsignMe: Why don't you try and convince the half brained leeches that have latched on to your post and are currently masturbating in futility on your thread that, the sage was their saviour indeed. 1 Like |
Re: 10 Awolowo Controversies: Are They Justifiable? by WetinConsignMe: 10:15pm On Oct 26, 2017 |
ElsonMorali: He didn't save Igbos either, nor was he out to save them. He was a pragmatist who did what was best, first for himself, then for whatever group fate assigned him to. |
Re: 10 Awolowo Controversies: Are They Justifiable? by GhanaMustGoo: 10:28pm On Oct 26, 2017 |
PrecisionFx: Funny |
Re: 10 Awolowo Controversies: Are They Justifiable? by WetinConsignMe: 10:40pm On Oct 26, 2017 |
Konquest: @bolded. Whoever said Eastern region referred to Igbos. Eastern region was Biafra and that's where just about all Nigeria's much touted oil is located. |
Re: 10 Awolowo Controversies: Are They Justifiable? by WetinConsignMe: 11:28pm On Oct 26, 2017 |
Konquest: @bolded. This Awo's speech has been much misinterpreted and even misquoted. Since the speech is not that long, I am posting the entire speech here. If u read it carefully you have to admit that Awo's position subsequently dramatically changed. Basically he said two things here: 1) IF BIAFRA IS ALLOWED TO SECEDE THE WEST WOULD ALSO SECEDE 2)(And probably more important) UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD THE FEDERAL GOV'T USE FORCE TO KEEP BIAFRA FROM SECEDING Here is the speech in it's ENTIRETY (note the bolded): The aim of a leader should be the welfare of the people whom he leads. I have used ‘welfare’ to denote the physical, mental and spiritual well-being of the people. With this aim fixed unflinchingly and unchangeably before my eyes I consider it my duty to Yoruba people in particular and to Nigerians in general, to place four imperatives before you this morning. Two of them are categorical and two are conditional. Only a peaceful solution must be found to arrest the present worsening stalemate and restore normalcy. The Eastern Region must be encouraged to remain part of the Federation. If the Eastern Region is allowed by acts of omission or commission to secede from or opt out of Nigeria, then the Western Region and Lagos must also stay out of the Federation. The people of Western Nigeria and Lagos should participate in the ad hoc committee or any similar body only on the basis of absolute equality with the other regions of the Federation. I would like to comment briefly on these four imperatives. There has, of late, been a good deal of sabre rattling in some parts of the country. Those who advocate the use force for the settlement of our present problems should stop a little and reflect. I can see no vital and abiding principle involved in any war between the North and the East. If the East attacked the North, it would be for purpose of revenge pure and simple. Any claim to the contrary would be untenable. If it is claimed that such a war is being waged for the purpose of recovering the real and personal properties left behind in the North by Easterners two insuperable points are obvious. Firstly, the personal effects left behind by Easterners have been wholly looted or destroyed, and can no longer be physically recovered. Secondly, since the real properties are immovable in case of recovery of them can only be by means of forcible military occupation of those parts of the North in which these properties are situated. On the other hand, if the North attacked the East, it could only be for the purpose of further strengthening and entrenching its position of dominance in the country. If it is claimed that an attack on the East is going to be launched by the Federal Government and not by the North as such and that it is designed to ensure the unity and integrity of the Federation, two other insuperable points also become obvious. First, if a war against the East becomes a necessity it must be agreed to unanimously by the remaining units of the Federation. In this connection, the West, Mid- West and Lagos have declared their implacable opposition to the use of force in solving the present problem. In the face of such declarations by three out of remaining four territories of Nigeria, a war against the East could only be a war favoured by the North alone. Second, if the true purpose of such a war is to preserve the unity and integrity of the Federation, then these ends can be achieved by the very simple devices of implementing the recommendation of the committee which met on August 9 1966, as reaffirmed by a decision of the military leaders at Aburi on January 5 1967 as well as by accepting such of the demands of the East, West, Mid-West and Lagos as are manifestly reasonable, and essential for assuring harmonious relationships and peaceful co-existence between them and their brothers and sisters in the North. Some knowledgeable persons have likened an attack on the East to Lincoln’s war against the southern states in America. Two vital factors distinguish Lincoln’s campaign from the one now being contemplated in Nigeria. The first is that the American civil war was aimed at the abolition of slavery – that is the liberation of millions of Negroes who were then still being used as chattels and worse than domestic animals. The second factor is that Lincoln and others in the northern states were English-speaking people waging a war of good conscience and humanity against their fellow nationals who were also English speaking. A war against the East in which Northern soldiers are predominant, will only unite the Easterners or the Ibos against their attackers, strengthen them in their belief that they are not wanted by the majority of their fellow-Nigerians, and finally push them out of the Federation. We have been told that an act of secession on the part of the East would be a signal, in the first instance, for the creation of the COR state by decree, which would be backed, if need be, by the use of force. With great respect, I have some dissenting observations to make on this declaration. There are 11 national or linguistic groups in the COR areas with a total population of 5.3 millions. These national groups are as distinct from one another as the Ibos are distinct from them or from the Yorubas or Hausas. Of the 11, the Efik/Ibibio/Annang national group are 3.2 million strong as against the Ijaws who are only about 700,000 strong. Ostensibly, the remaining nine national group number 1.4 millions. But when you have subtracted the Ibo inhabitants from among them, what is left ranges from the Ngennis who number only 8,000 to the Ogonis who are 220,000 strong. A decree creating a COR state without a plebiscite to ascertain the wishes of the peoples in the area, would only amount to subordinating the minority national groups in the state to the dominance of the Efik/Ibibio/Annang national group. It would be perfectly in order to create a Calabar state or a Rivers state by decree, and without a plebiscite. Each is a homogeneous national unit. But before you lump distinct and diverse national units together in one state, the consent of each of them is indispensable. Otherwise, the seed of social disquilibrium in the new state would have been sown. On the other hand, if the COR State is created by decree after the Eastern Region shall have made its severance from Nigeria effective, we should then be waging an unjust war against a foreign state. It would be an unjust war, because the purpose of it would be to remove 10 minorities in the East from the dominance of the Ibos only to subordinate them to the dominance of the Efik/Ibibio/Annang national group. I think I have said enough to demonstrate that any war against the East, or vice versa, on any count whatsoever, would be an unholy crusade, for which it would be most unjustifiable to shed a drop of Nigerian blood. Therefore, only a peaceful solution must be found, and quickly too to arrest the present rapidly deteriorating stalemate and restore normalcy. With regard to the second categorical imperative, it is my considered view that whilst some of the demands of the East are excessive within the context of a Nigerian union, most of such demands are not only well-founded, but are designed for smooth and steady association amongst the various national units of Nigeria. The dependence of the Federal Government on financial contributions from the regions? These and other such like demands I do not support. Demands such as these, if accepted, will lead surely to the complete disintegration of the Federation which is not in the interest of our people. But I wholeheartedly support the following demands among others, which we consider reasonable and most of which are already embodied in our memoranda to the Ad Hoc Committee…. That revenue should be allocated strictly on the basis of derivation; that is to say after the Federal Government has deducted its own share for its own services the rest should be allocated to the regions to which they are attributable. That the existing public debt of the Federation should become the responsibility of the regions on the basis of the location of the projects in respect of each debt whether internal or external. That each region should have and control its own militia and police force. That, with immediate effect, all military personnel should be posted to their regions of origin…. If we are to live in harmony one with another as Nigerians it is imperative that these demands and others which are not related, should be met without further delay by those who have hitherto resisted them. To those who may argue that the acceptance of these demands will amount to transforming Nigeria into a federation with a weak central government, my comment is that any link however tenuous, which keeps the East in the Nigerian union, is better in my view than no link at all. Before the Western delegates went to Lagos to attend the meetings of the ad hoc committee, they were given a clear mandate that[b] if any region should opt out of the Federation of Nigeria, then the Federation should be considered to be at an end, and that the Western Region and Lagos should also opt out of it.[/b] It would then be up to Western Nigeria and Lagos as an independent sovereign state to enter into association with any of the Nigerian units of its own choosing, and on terms mutually acceptable to them. I see no reason for departing from this mandate. If any region in Nigeria considers itself strong enough to compel us to enter into association with it on its own terms, I would only wish such a region luck. But such luck, I must warn, will, in the long run be no better than that which has attended the doings of all colonial powers down the ages. This much I must say in addition, on this point. We have neither military might nor the overwhelming advantage of numbers here in Western Nigeria and Lagos. But we have justice of a noble and imperishable cause on our side, namely: the right of a people to unfettered self-determination. If this is so, then God is on our side, and if God is with us then we have nothing whatsoever in this world to fear. The fourth imperative, and the second conditional one has been fully dealt with in my recent letter to the Military Governor of Western Nigeria, Col. Robert Adebayo, and in the representation which your deputation made last year to the head of the Federal Military Government, Lt. Col. Yakubu Gowon. As a matter of fact, as far back as November last year a smaller meeting of leaders of thought in this Region decided that unless certain things were done, we would no longer participate in the meeting of the ad hoc committee. But since then, not even one of our legitimate requests has been granted. I will, therefore, take no more of your time in making further comments on a point with which you are well familiar. As soon as our humble and earnest requests are met, I shall be ready to take my place on the ad hoc committee. But certainly, not before. In closing, I have this piece of advice to give. In order to resolve amiably and in the best interests of all Nigerians certain attributes are required on the part of Nigerian leaders, military as well as non-military leaders alike, namely: vision, realism and unselfishness. But above all , what will keep Nigerian leaders in the North and East unwaveringly in the path of wisdom, realism and moderation is courage and steadfastness on the part of Yoruba people in the course of what they sincerely believe to be right, equitable and just. In the past five years we in the West and Lagos have shown that we possess these qualities in a large measure. If we demonstrate them again as we did in the past, calmly and heroically, we will save Nigeria from further bloodshed and imminent wreck and, at the same time, preserve our freedom and self-respect into the bargain. May God rule and guide our deliberations here, and endow all the Nigerian leaders with the vision, realism, and unselfishness as well as courage and steadfastness in the course of truth, which the present circumstances demand. ——————– Speech by Chief Obafemi Awolowo made to the Western leaders of thought, in Ibadan, 1 May 1967 (quoted in “Crisis and Conflict in Nigeria (Volume 1), January 1966-July 1971” by A. H. M. Kirk-Greene.
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Re: 10 Awolowo Controversies: Are They Justifiable? by Vivere: 11:53pm On Oct 26, 2017 |
VillageWinch: Which set of people had this perception? Who? Where? Provide details pls, because Awolowo never used the word 'announce.' Why is that so difficult for you chaps to understand? 1 Like |
Re: 10 Awolowo Controversies: Are They Justifiable? by WetinConsignMe: 12:13am On Oct 27, 2017 |
Vivere: Here is Awo's speech. Note the bolded and decide for yourself. If u read it carefully you have to admit that Awo's position subsequently dramatically changed. Basically he said two things here: 1) IF BIAFRA IS ALLOWED TO SECEDE THE WEST WOULD ALSO SECEDE 2)(And probably more important) UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD THE FEDERAL GOV'T USE FORCE TO KEEP BIAFRA FROM SECEDING Here's the speech: The aim of a leader should be the welfare of the people whom he leads. I have used ‘welfare’ to denote the physical, mental and spiritual well-being of the people. With this aim fixed unflinchingly and unchangeably before my eyes I consider it my duty to Yoruba people in particular and to Nigerians in general, to place four imperatives before you this morning. Two of them are categorical and two are conditional. Only a peaceful solution must be found to arrest the present worsening stalemate and restore normalcy. The Eastern Region must be encouraged to remain part of the Federation. If the Eastern Region is allowed by acts of omission or commission to secede from or opt out of Nigeria, then the Western Region and Lagos must also stay out of the Federation. The people of Western Nigeria and Lagos should participate in the ad hoc committee or any similar body only on the basis of absolute equality with the other regions of the Federation. I would like to comment briefly on these four imperatives. There has, of late, been a good deal of sabre rattling in some parts of the country. Those who advocate the use force for the settlement of our present problems should stop a little and reflect. I can see no vital and abiding principle involved in any war between the North and the East. If the East attacked the North, it would be for purpose of revenge pure and simple. Any claim to the contrary would be untenable. If it is claimed that such a war is being waged for the purpose of recovering the real and personal properties left behind in the North by Easterners two insuperable points are obvious. Firstly, the personal effects left behind by Easterners have been wholly looted or destroyed, and can no longer be physically recovered. Secondly, since the real properties are immovable in case of recovery of them can only be by means of forcible military occupation of those parts of the North in which these properties are situated. On the other hand, if the North attacked the East, it could only be for the purpose of further strengthening and entrenching its position of dominance in the country. If it is claimed that an attack on the East is going to be launched by the Federal Government and not by the North as such and that it is designed to ensure the unity and integrity of the Federation, two other insuperable points also become obvious. First, if a war against the East becomes a necessity it must be agreed to unanimously by the remaining units of the Federation. In this connection, the West, Mid- West and Lagos have declared their implacable opposition to the use of force in solving the present problem. In the face of such declarations by three out of remaining four territories of Nigeria, a war against the East could only be a war favoured by the North alone. Second, if the true purpose of such a war is to preserve the unity and integrity of the Federation, then these ends can be achieved by the very simple devices of implementing the recommendation of the committee which met on August 9 1966, as reaffirmed by a decision of the military leaders at Aburi on January 5 1967 as well as by accepting such of the demands of the East, West, Mid-West and Lagos as are manifestly reasonable, and essential for assuring harmonious relationships and peaceful co-existence between them and their brothers and sisters in the North. Some knowledgeable persons have likened an attack on the East to Lincoln’s war against the southern states in America. Two vital factors distinguish Lincoln’s campaign from the one now being contemplated in Nigeria. The first is that the American civil war was aimed at the abolition of slavery – that is the liberation of millions of Negroes who were then still being used as chattels and worse than domestic animals. The second factor is that Lincoln and others in the northern states were English-speaking people waging a war of good conscience and humanity against their fellow nationals who were also English speaking. A war against the East in which Northern soldiers are predominant, will only unite the Easterners or the Ibos against their attackers, strengthen them in their belief that they are not wanted by the majority of their fellow-Nigerians, and finally push them out of the Federation. We have been told that an act of secession on the part of the East would be a signal, in the first instance, for the creation of the COR state by decree, which would be backed, if need be, by the use of force. With great respect, I have some dissenting observations to make on this declaration. There are 11 national or linguistic groups in the COR areas with a total population of 5.3 millions. These national groups are as distinct from one another as the Ibos are distinct from them or from the Yorubas or Hausas. Of the 11, the Efik/Ibibio/Annang national group are 3.2 million strong as against the Ijaws who are only about 700,000 strong. Ostensibly, the remaining nine national group number 1.4 millions. But when you have subtracted the Ibo inhabitants from among them, what is left ranges from the Ngennis who number only 8,000 to the Ogonis who are 220,000 strong. A decree creating a COR state without a plebiscite to ascertain the wishes of the peoples in the area, would only amount to subordinating the minority national groups in the state to the dominance of the Efik/Ibibio/Annang national group. It would be perfectly in order to create a Calabar state or a Rivers state by decree, and without a plebiscite. Each is a homogeneous national unit. But before you lump distinct and diverse national units together in one state, the consent of each of them is indispensable. Otherwise, the seed of social disquilibrium in the new state would have been sown. On the other hand, if the COR State is created by decree after the Eastern Region shall have made its severance from Nigeria effective, we should then be waging an unjust war against a foreign state. It would be an unjust war, because the purpose of it would be to remove 10 minorities in the East from the dominance of the Ibos only to subordinate them to the dominance of the Efik/Ibibio/Annang national group. I think I have said enough to demonstrate that any war against the East, or vice versa, on any count whatsoever, would be an unholy crusade, for which it would be most unjustifiable to shed a drop of Nigerian blood. Therefore, only a peaceful solution must be found, and quickly too to arrest the present rapidly deteriorating stalemate and restore normalcy. With regard to the second categorical imperative, it is my considered view that whilst some of the demands of the East are excessive within the context of a Nigerian union, most of such demands are not only well-founded, but are designed for smooth and steady association amongst the various national units of Nigeria. The dependence of the Federal Government on financial contributions from the regions? These and other such like demands I do not support. Demands such as these, if accepted, will lead surely to the complete disintegration of the Federation which is not in the interest of our people. But I wholeheartedly support the following demands among others, which we consider reasonable and most of which are already embodied in our memoranda to the Ad Hoc Committee…. That revenue should be allocated strictly on the basis of derivation; that is to say after the Federal Government has deducted its own share for its own services the rest should be allocated to the regions to which they are attributable. That the existing public debt of the Federation should become the responsibility of the regions on the basis of the location of the projects in respect of each debt whether internal or external. That each region should have and control its own militia and police force. That, with immediate effect, all military personnel should be posted to their regions of origin…. If we are to live in harmony one with another as Nigerians it is imperative that these demands and others which are not related, should be met without further delay by those who have hitherto resisted them. To those who may argue that the acceptance of these demands will amount to transforming Nigeria into a federation with a weak central government, my comment is that any link however tenuous, which keeps the East in the Nigerian union, is better in my view than no link at all. Before the Western delegates went to Lagos to attend the meetings of the ad hoc committee, they were given a clear mandate that if any region should opt out of the Federation of Nigeria, then the Federation should be considered to be at an end, and that the Western Region and Lagos should also opt out of it. It would then be up to Western Nigeria and Lagos as an independent sovereign state to enter into association with any of the Nigerian units of its own choosing, and on terms mutually acceptable to them. I see no reason for departing from this mandate. If any region in Nigeria considers itself strong enough to compel us to enter into association with it on its own terms, I would only wish such a region luck. But such luck, I must warn, will, in the long run be no better than that which has attended the doings of all colonial powers down the ages. This much I must say in addition, on this point. We have neither military might nor the overwhelming advantage of numbers here in Western Nigeria and Lagos. But we have justice of a noble and imperishable cause on our side, namely: the right of a people to unfettered self-determination. If this is so, then God is on our side, and if God is with us then we have nothing whatsoever in this world to fear. The fourth imperative, and the second conditional one has been fully dealt with in my recent letter to the Military Governor of Western Nigeria, Col. Robert Adebayo, and in the representation which your deputation made last year to the head of the Federal Military Government, Lt. Col. Yakubu Gowon. As a matter of fact, as far back as November last year a smaller meeting of leaders of thought in this Region decided that unless certain things were done, we would no longer participate in the meeting of the ad hoc committee. But since then, not even one of our legitimate requests has been granted. I will, therefore, take no more of your time in making further comments on a point with which you are well familiar. As soon as our humble and earnest requests are met, I shall be ready to take my place on the ad hoc committee. But certainly, not before. In closing, I have this piece of advice to give. In order to resolve amiably and in the best interests of all Nigerians certain attributes are required on the part of Nigerian leaders, military as well as non-military leaders alike, namely: vision, realism and unselfishness. But above all , what will keep Nigerian leaders in the North and East unwaveringly in the path of wisdom, realism and moderation is courage and steadfastness on the part of Yoruba people in the course of what they sincerely believe to be right, equitable and just. In the past five years we in the West and Lagos have shown that we possess these qualities in a large measure. If we demonstrate them again as we did in the past, calmly and heroically, we will save Nigeria from further bloodshed and imminent wreck and, at the same time, preserve our freedom and self-respect into the bargain. May God rule and guide our deliberations here, and endow all the Nigerian leaders with the vision, realism, and unselfishness as well as courage and steadfastness in the course of truth, which the present circumstances demand. ——————– Speech by Chief Obafemi Awolowo made to the Western leaders of thought, in Ibadan, 1 May 1967 (quoted in “Crisis and Conflict in Nigeria (Volume 1), January 1966-July 1971” by A. H. M. Kirk-Greene. |
Re: 10 Awolowo Controversies: Are They Justifiable? by WetinConsignMe: 1:06am On Oct 27, 2017 |
Konquest: @bolded. With all due respect sir (I take it u r an elderly person) these are controversies that have been in the public domain for years and have refused to be swept under the rug. That's why they still generate considerable interest. For example, by the time Awo's suicide story came out years after his death, Igbo's had just about forgotten about him and facing their myriad contemporary problems. The people who told the story named names of still living and very powerful people (NON OF WHOM HAVE DENIED THE STORY INCLUDING BABANGIDA), gave times and dates that fit exactly, and gave details a non-intimate of Awo would not know. If u look at all that and choose not to believe it that's your prerogative but don't derogate another person who may say it all fits and makes sense to them. |
Re: 10 Awolowo Controversies: Are They Justifiable? by WetinConsignMe: 1:36am On Oct 27, 2017 |
Konquest: Like I've said many times, Awo was a great man and nothing we discuss here can change that. Ojukwu obviously adored Awo even long after Biafra. That tells me he couldn't have done Igbos much wrong because Ojukwu would be in the best position to know. 1 Like |
Re: 10 Awolowo Controversies: Are They Justifiable? by WetinConsignMe: 1:46am On Oct 27, 2017 |
Konquest: @bolded. Sir, a thread is created on Nairaland every 3 mins on average. On this particular thread we are discussing Awo controversies. These are very interesting things, very important and good to know, but they are not part of the discussion. |
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