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IGBO POLITICAL LEADERS N THEIR PAST MISADVENTURES RESULTING IN CURRENT NAT PROBL / Junaid Mohammed: Igbo Political Leaders Haven’t Learnt Any Lesson From Civil War / Buhari And Economic Advisory Council In Close Door Meeting (2) (3) (4)

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Re: . by ckenneths(m): 7:53pm On Jan 13, 2020
Started here.......

2 Likes

Re: . by XANDERBOY85: 8:13pm On Jan 13, 2020
ckenneths:
Projects executed by Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi in Enugu township

You’ve posted not one appealing picture of Enugu for the past three days! Not necessarily your fault...just shows how far aesthetics in Enugu has deteriorated since this Ugwuanyi dude became governor!

I also notice there’s no signature project ongoing in the state as well! Just a bit of cheapass road constructions here and there!

1 Like

Re: . by ckenneths(m): 11:58pm On Jan 13, 2020
Printing and minting of new houses still increasing as the new roads stretch to ne areas of development in Enugu.

6 Likes 1 Share

Re: . by XANDERBOY85: 3:00am On Jan 14, 2020
Ongoing construction of Anambra int'l airport.

Looks like initial earthworks have taken off in earnest (pardon the pun lipsrsealed )!

All that earth they're removing is very valuable. They should use it for land reclaimation and landscaping jobs in other parts of the state....not just to go and dump it somewhere else!

Clips courtesy Marcel Ifejiofor.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yniXFu0k3jg


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhpAhyCAlYo

3 Likes

Re: . by IDENNAA(m): 3:15am On Jan 14, 2020
Omanbala akwulubago
Ife abatago Omanbala
Okanga Omanbala edebego

In as much as I have criticized Obiano on many occasions it would be unfair to him for me to dismiss his effort in totality. If there is one area I vehemently applaud Obiano was his sense of culture. He brought back that cultural elegance and intelligence Omanbala people are widely known for. I cant wait for Osita Chidoka (Ike Obosi) to come in and blow our ffuccking mind.

3 Likes

Re: . by Obi1kenobi(m): 11:28am On Jan 14, 2020
XANDERBOY85:
Ongoing construction of Anambra int'l airport.

Looks like initial earthworks have taken off in earnest (pardon the pun lipsrsealed )!

All that earth they're removing is very valuable. They should use it for land reclaimation and landscaping jobs in other parts of the state....not just to go and dump it somewhere else!

Clips courtesy Marcel Ifejiofor.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yniXFu0k3jg


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhpAhyCAlYo


This airport will become an abandoned project overgrown by weeds and is a waste of time and valuable resources considering greater development priorities for the state, and considering nearby Asaba, Imo and Enugu airports adequately serve the needs of the very few people who travel by air in the state. Asaba airport is just 15 minutes drive to Onitsha metro area. The main purpose of this seems to be to be able to say "we sef get airport o".

3 Likes

Re: . by MXrap: 1:48pm On Jan 14, 2020
Obiorah, you are crying in vain. Anambra international airport will be the busiest in Nigeria after Abuja, PH and Lagos. Airports in Enugu, Imo and Asaba will close so they can use the one in Anambra. That is the reality of the time. Cry some more cheesy



[s]
Obi1kenobi:


This airport will become an abandoned project overgrown by weeds and is a waste of time and valuable resources considering greater development priorities for the state, and considering nearby Asaba, Imo and Enugu airports adequately serve the needs of the very few people who travel by air in the state. Asaba airport is just 15 minutes drive to Onitsha metro area. The main purpose of this seems to be to be able to say "we sef get airport o".
[/s]

1 Like

Re: . by MXrap: 1:49pm On Jan 14, 2020
XANDERBOY85:
Ongoing construction of Anambra int'l airport.

Looks like initial earthworks have taken off in earnest (pardon the pun lipsrsealed )!

All that earth they're removing is very valuable. They should use it for land reclaimation and landscaping jobs in other parts of the state....not just to go and dump it somewhere else!

Clips courtesy Marcel Ifejiofor.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yniXFu0k3jg


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhpAhyCAlYo



Very good development. Anambra leads

2 Likes

Re: . by IDENNAA(m): 2:26pm On Jan 14, 2020
Obi1kenobi:


This airport will become an abandoned project overgrown by weeds and is a waste of time and valuable resources considering greater development priorities for the state, and considering nearby Asaba, Imo and Enugu airports adequately serve the needs of the very few people who travel by air in the state. Asaba airport is just 15 minutes drive to Onitsha metro area. The main purpose of this seems to be to be able to say "we sef get airport o".

You are full of negative thoughts. Initially, I didn't support the airport but when you take into account the emerging economic super weight Anambra is growing into then we will certainly need an airport in the near future. An airport will be in order and profitable to Anambra when we finally control the economic activities of the East...to maximize our profit we have to compete with other airports and drive traffic to Umuleri airport. We will not be building an economy just to benefit ,feed and enrich neighboring hubs like Asaba , Owerri or Enugu airports. This is pure competition...the airport continues.

4 Likes

Re: . by Nobody: 2:42pm On Jan 14, 2020
Caretaker chairman of Nsukka LG in Enugu State empowers the youths of the local government with wheelbarrows For Kaya. She is giving them out on hire/purchase agreement.


Pan Igbo economic forum.


Are you not seeing these ones ckenneths or is it only buildings u sabi snap


This is the real economic activities.

2 Likes

Re: . by XANDERBOY85: 2:43pm On Jan 14, 2020
IDENNAA:


You are full of negative thoughts. Initially, I didn't support the airport but when you take into account the emerging economic super weight Anambra is growing into then we will certainly need an airport in the near future. An airport will be in order and profitable to Anambra when we finally control the economic activities of the East...to maximize our profit we have to compete with other airports and drive traffic to Umuleri airport. We will not be building an economy just to benefit ,feed and enrich neighboring hubs like Asaba , Owerri or Enugu airports. This is pure competition...the airport continues.

Most importantly, for Anambra to be a WORLD PLAYER it needs to put itself on the world map! It’s not a ego thing....just plain common sense! If we’re really serious as a region...and have the intention to grow exponentially to become a world centre of commerce, industry and tourism, then having 5 airports isn’t too much!

Cities like Onitsha and Nnewi need direct access to world markets for ease of doing business! Presently, it’s just Lagos, Abuja, Kano, and probably Port Harcourt that can be said to have real working international airports and this makes it easier for these cities to attract FDIs, tourists, etc, which in turn gives their regions an unfair advantage over the south-east!

6 Likes

Re: . by Obi1kenobi(m): 4:39pm On Jan 14, 2020
IDENNAA:


You are full of negative thoughts. Initially, I didn't support the airport but when you take into account the emerging economic super weight Anambra is growing into then we will certainly need an airport in the near future. An airport will be in order and profitable to Anambra when we finally control the economic activities of the East...to maximize our profit we have to compete with other airports and drive traffic to Umuleri airport. We will not be building an economy just to benefit ,feed and enrich neighboring hubs like Asaba , Owerri or Enugu airports. This is pure competition...the airport continues.

Again, Asaba airport is just 15 mins drive to the Onitsha metro area, the economic nerve centre of Anambra. If you're from Kano, most of Kano residents are more distant from Kano airport than residents of Anambra are from airports in Asaba, Enugu and Imo. Anambra is smaller than some local governments in the North. Infact, if you're from Onitsha, you're closer to the Asaba airport than most residents of Lagos are to the airport in Ikeja. I'm not saying an airport in Anambra would be totally useless and wouldn't benefit some people in the state, but when you check the infrastructural deficit in many essential, impactful areas (roads, bridges, power infrastructure, health, education, housing, water supply, ecological disaster management and erosion control, agriculture etc), you discover this is just a vanity exercise. A state independent power project for example or connecting pipelines to supply gas to industrial clusters in the state, or government assisted urban/housing projects building livable, affordable neighborhoods would do far more for Anambra people than an airport.

4 Likes

Re: . by Obi1kenobi(m): 4:59pm On Jan 14, 2020
XANDERBOY85:


Most importantly, for Anambra to be a WORLD PLAYER it needs to put itself on the world map! It’s not a ego thing....just plain common sense! If we’re really serious as a region...and have the intention to grow exponentially to become a world centre of commerce, industry and tourism, then having 5 airports isn’t too much!

Not at the expense of bigger priorities. Outside of the major air hubs in Nigeria (Lagos, Abuja and maybe PH) airports suffer from a lack of patronage and lose money. Even airports like Kano struggle and all that keeps it relevant is as a major launchpad for the Hajj. Contrary to what many of us here believe with all our chestbeating, we don't have a large enough sophisticated, affluent/upper middle class of people in Anambra to profitably run an airport. It might get a lot of use in December, but not much else outside that.


Cities like Onitsha and Nnewi need direct access to world markets for ease of doing business! Presently, it’s just Lagos, Abuja, Kano, and probably Port Harcourt that can be said to have real working international airports and this makes it easier for these cities to attract FDIs, tourists, etc, which in turn gives their regions an unfair advantage over the south-east!

In a Nigeria practising true federalism (and not just seeing state creation as a way to divide money equitably), the SE should not be anything more than 2 states for economic viability, and in that sense "Anambra airport" would simply have been the current Enugu airport that serves the whole of the former Anambra state. This calculus doesn't change even with our current structure. Anambra is geographically the second smallest state in Nigeria is surrounded by functional airports in Anioma land, in Imo, and in Enugu who are all seeking more traffic for economic viability. Patronize what you already have around you, and focus on greater development priorities. The airport shouldn't rank anywhere near the top 5 of priorities for Anambra state. It is there for people like Chino to beat their chests about and not the best way to improve the lives of Anambrarians.

4 Likes

Re: . by MXrap: 5:07pm On Jan 14, 2020
Another trash.

Take note, Anambra international airport will be the busiest in Nigeria outside Abuja, Lagos and PH


[s]
Obi1kenobi:


Again, Asaba airport is just 15 mins drive to the Onitsha metro area, the economic nerve centre of Anambra. If you're from Kano, most of Kano residents are more distant from Kano airport than residents of Anambra are from airports in Asaba, Enugu and Imo. Anambra is smaller than some local governments in the North. Infact, if you're from Onitsha, you're closer to the Asaba airport than most residents of Lagos are to the airport in Ikeja. I'm not saying an airport in Anambra would be totally useless and wouldn't benefit some people in the state, but when you check the infrastructural deficit in many essential, impactful areas (roads, bridges, power infrastructure, health, education, housing, water supply, ecological disaster management and erosion control, agriculture etc), you discover this is just a vanity exercise. A state independent power project for example or connecting pipelines to supply gas to industrial clusters in the state, or government assisted urban/housing projects building livable, affordable neighborhoods would do far more for Anambra people than an airport.
[/s]

1 Like

Re: . by MXrap: 5:09pm On Jan 14, 2020
Yet another trash.

Take note, Anambra international airport will be the busiest in Nigeria outside Abuja, Lagos and PH. Cry more for us.



[s]
Obi1kenobi:

Not at the expense of bigger priorities. Outside of the major air hubs in Nigeria (Lagos, Abuja and maybe PH) airports suffer from a lack of patronage and lose money. Even airports like Kano struggle and all that keeps it relevant is as a major launchpad for the Hajj. Contrary to what many of us here believe with all our chestbeating, we don't have a large enough sophisticated, affluent/upper middle class of people in Anambra to profitably run an airport. It might get a lot of use in December, but not much else outside that.
n a Nigeria practising true federalism (and not just seeing state creation as a way to divide money equitably), the SE should not be anything more than 2 states for economic viability, and in that sense "Anambra airport" would simply have been the current Enugu airport that serves the whole of the former Anambra state. This calculus doesn't change even with our current structure. Anambra is geographically the second smallest state in Nigeria is surrounded by functional airports in Anioma land, in Imo, and in Enugu who are all seeking more traffic for economic viability. Patronize what you already have around you, and focus on greater development priorities. The airport shouldn't rank anywhere near the top 5 of priorities for Anambra state. It is there for people like Chino to beat their chests about and not the best way to improve the lives of Anambrarians.
[/s]

1 Like

Re: . by IDENNAA(m): 11:51pm On Jan 14, 2020
The author is unknown......,,

The problem with writing skewered history is that it equally misinforms its target: Kayode Esho was a great jurist, but Akunne Oputa was the "Socrates" of the Supreme court. Enahoro was a young editor, but Azikiwe made him that young editor with Osita Agwuna as his assistant, at his paper, the Southern Nigerian Defender in Ibadan, where my own father incidentally started as a rookie before shortly abandoning journalism for the stable berth of the civil service. The myth of Awolowo as building the first this and that does not match the documented economic history of the period. Between 1954 and 1964, Eastern Nigeria was described as "the fastest growing economy in the world," by the Harvard Review; faster than China, faster than Singapore, and all the so-called "Asian Tigers." Awolowo is often credited with "free education". But no one yet has pointed out any surviving school buildings of the period built by Awo. But all over the East there were quality schools built by the various communities using the Town Development Unions from 1954, and acessing the matching grants of the Eastern Nigeria Development Corporation. And this was the East with the poorest revenue resources of any of the regions. The Mbaise secondary school exists, the National High School Okigwe exists, the Ngwa High school exists, the Enyiogugu Grammar School exists, etc. These were solid schools built all over the East with matching goverment grants. But where are the buildings of the Modern schools in Western Nigeria? They do not exist. They were makeshift. The Catholic church forced the Azikiwe government from its scholarship program, but it is also on record, that the Eastern government was the only government in the world that invested 45% of its revenues in education. The East had the highest number of schools; the highest school enrollment; the broadest penetration of medical services; and the best modern road network in west Africa. Indeed if we look carefully, the only public hospitals and most of the schools still standing in the East today, at various stages of run down are the schools and hospitals built by Azikiwe/Okpara. Every division of the East had a Joint Hospital as part of the Eastern Medical services. So it is often claimed Awo built the first television station; the first sky scraper, and the first Sports stadium, the liberty stadium in Ibadan. Well, these are prestige or white elephant investments. First, the Eastern Outlook, the government paper of Eastern Nigeria was the first newspaper established by any government in Nigeria, and it was of such quality and impact that the literacy level of Easterners, and the depth of public information retailed by Outlook was without compare. This is besides the fact that Western Nigerian Broadcast Services, WNBS-TV founded in 1958 only preceded the ENBC-TV founded in 1959, by only seven months. But Outlook preceded Sketch by about 15 years. Now Azikiwe built the Onitsha Modern market, the first modern mall or trade emporium in West Africa. Onitsha was effectively Dubai before Dubai. People traveled all over Africa, from as far as the Congo and Sudan and Egypt, to come and buy and trade in Onitsha. The economic impact of this was humonguos. So, give me the vast Onitsha modern market over Cocoa House in Ibadan. Azikiwe built the first Nigerian University at Nsukka with the first School of Law, the first School of Engineering, the first Business School; the first school of journalism, and the first school of music and performance, etc. By the time its first graduates took the Nigerian civil service exams in 1963, everybody began to raise the cry of "Igbo domination" starting with Akintola and Ayo Rosiji. Give me UNN over Liberty stadium. Azikiwe began the first modern library system in West Africa. The East had a system of city libraries starting with the very modern Ziks Library in Enugu. I Literally grew up in the Umuahia Divisional Library. These libraries were built all over the East. Schools in the East were built with libraries. Moreover the Eastern Nigerian Library Board had a sysem of rural amd mobile libraries. There was nothing like it anywhere else in Nigeria: kids having library cards and able to borrow or order books from the public library. Give me the the first library over the first TV. I do not by this mean that Awolowo did not make his contributions, but the regular skewering of the facts, and angling of contemporary national narratives often makes it seem these days like the greatest contributor to the founding of Nigeria and its development is Awolowo and the Yoruba, when the actual facts speak differently. The great Ibadan historian, Tekena Tamuno, was unambiguous in stating once at NIPPS, Jos, that "the Igbos are the makers of moderm Nigeria. When they abandoned their project, Nigeria collapsed." We must remind Nigerians, particularly Igbo children, daily of these fact, to achieve what Achebe called " a balance of stories." And that also means we must read beyond the surface of things. Babarinsa's Guardian essay is angled carefully to maintain a revisionist narrative. And that is to be always challenged, however innocent it might seem. Even today, most Yoruba think that Awolowo founded the Universities of Ibadan and Lagos. No one has reminded them that it took Azikiwe's pressures for a university for Nigeria, in his meeting with Arthur Richards in 1946, that led to the cobstitution of the Eliot commision and subsequently the founding of the University College, Ibadan. This fact is even clearly conveyed in Michael Crowder's eponymous book, The Story of Nigeria. Nsukka was Azikiwe's critique of what he felt to be the conceptual limitations of Ibadan. The University of Lagos was the result of NCNC's ideological contributions to the federal policy during the ill fated coalition government with the NPC. UNILAG was an NCNC project, shepherded by Aja Wachukwu as minister for education. Even the great UNILAG in her 50th anniversary failed to mention Prof Eni Njoku as the pioneer Vice Chancellor of the university, a man that layed the solid foundation of what made Unilag is today. These facts must be made known and put as forcefully accross as possible. Again, until the lion tells his own story, the story of the hunt will belong to the hunter. Kabissa!

Copied

6 Likes 1 Share

Re: . by pazienza(m): 4:11am On Jan 15, 2020
IDENNAA:


The author is unknown......,,

The problem with writing skewered history is that it equally misinforms its target: Kayode Esho was a great jurist, but Akunne Oputa was the "Socrates" of the Supreme court. Enahoro was a young editor, but Azikiwe made him that young editor with Osita Agwuna as his assistant, at his paper, the Southern Nigerian Defender in Ibadan, where my own father incidentally started as a rookie before shortly abandoning journalism for the stable berth of the civil service. The myth of Awolowo as building the first this and that does not match the documented economic history of the period. Between 1954 and 1964, Eastern Nigeria was described as "the fastest growing economy in the world," by the Harvard Review; faster than China, faster than Singapore, and all the so-called "Asian Tigers." Awolowo is often credited with "free education". But no one yet has pointed out any surviving school buildings of the period built by Awo. But all over the East there were quality schools built by the various communities using the Town Development Unions from 1954, and acessing the matching grants of the Eastern Nigeria Development Corporation. And this was the East with the poorest revenue resources of any of the regions. The Mbaise secondary school exists, the National High School Okigwe exists, the Ngwa High school exists, the Enyiogugu Grammar School exists, etc. These were solid schools built all over the East with matching goverment grants. But where are the buildings of the Modern schools in Western Nigeria? They do not exist. They were makeshift. The Catholic church forced the Azikiwe government from its scholarship program, but it is also on record, that the Eastern government was the only government in the world that invested 45% of its revenues in education. The East had the highest number of schools; the highest school enrollment; the broadest penetration of medical services; and the best modern road network in west Africa. Indeed if we look carefully, the only public hospitals and most of the schools still standing in the East today, at various stages of run down are the schools and hospitals built by Azikiwe/Okpara. Every division of the East had a Joint Hospital as part of the Eastern Medical services. So it is often claimed Awo built the first television station; the first sky scraper, and the first Sports stadium, the liberty stadium in Ibadan. Well, these are prestige or white elephant investments. First, the Eastern Outlook, the government paper of Eastern Nigeria was the first newspaper established by any government in Nigeria, and it was of such quality and impact that the literacy level of Easterners, and the depth of public information retailed by Outlook was without compare. This is besides the fact that Western Nigerian Broadcast Services, WNBS-TV founded in 1958 only preceded the ENBC-TV founded in 1959, by only seven months. But Outlook preceded Sketch by about 15 years. Now Azikiwe built the Onitsha Modern market, the first modern mall or trade emporium in West Africa. Onitsha was effectively Dubai before Dubai. People traveled all over Africa, from as far as the Congo and Sudan and Egypt, to come and buy and trade in Onitsha. The economic impact of this was humonguos. So, give me the vast Onitsha modern market over Cocoa House in Ibadan. Azikiwe built the first Nigerian University at Nsukka with the first School of Law, the first School of Engineering, the first Business School; the first school of journalism, and the first school of music and performance, etc. By the time its first graduates took the Nigerian civil service exams in 1963, everybody began to raise the cry of "Igbo domination" starting with Akintola and Ayo Rosiji. Give me UNN over Liberty stadium. Azikiwe began the first modern library system in West Africa. The East had a system of city libraries starting with the very modern Ziks Library in Enugu. I Literally grew up in the Umuahia Divisional Library. These libraries were built all over the East. Schools in the East were built with libraries. Moreover the Eastern Nigerian Library Board had a sysem of rural amd mobile libraries. There was nothing like it anywhere else in Nigeria: kids having library cards and able to borrow or order books from the public library. Give me the the first library over the first TV. I do not by this mean that Awolowo did not make his contributions, but the regular skewering of the facts, and angling of contemporary national narratives often makes it seem these days like the greatest contributor to the founding of Nigeria and its development is Awolowo and the Yoruba, when the actual facts speak differently. The great Ibadan historian, Tekena Tamuno, was unambiguous in stating once at NIPPS, Jos, that "the Igbos are the makers of moderm Nigeria. When they abandoned their project, Nigeria collapsed." We must remind Nigerians, particularly Igbo children, daily of these fact, to achieve what Achebe called " a balance of stories." And that also means we must read beyond the surface of things. Babarinsa's Guardian essay is angled carefully to maintain a revisionist narrative. And that is to be always challenged, however innocent it might seem. Even today, most Yoruba think that Awolowo founded the Universities of Ibadan and Lagos. No one has reminded them that it took Azikiwe's pressures for a university for Nigeria, in his meeting with Arthur Richards in 1946, that led to the cobstitution of the Eliot commision and subsequently the founding of the University College, Ibadan. This fact is even clearly conveyed in Michael Crowder's eponymous book, The Story of Nigeria. Nsukka was Azikiwe's critique of what he felt to be the conceptual limitations of Ibadan. The University of Lagos was the result of NCNC's ideological contributions to the federal policy during the ill fated coalition government with the NPC. UNILAG was an NCNC project, shepherded by Aja Wachukwu as minister for education. Even the great UNILAG in her 50th anniversary failed to mention Prof Eni Njoku as the pioneer Vice Chancellor of the university, a man that layed the solid foundation of what made Unilag is today. These facts must be made known and put as forcefully accross as possible. Again, until the lion tells his own story, the story of the hunt will belong to the hunter. Kabissa!

Copied

Impressive write up.
I have always maintained that our forerunners in the Eastern region ran a pragmatic model government which was focused on improving standard of living of our people, rather than on ego trips those from other regions who were specializing in vain white elephant projects were doing.

The Nzeogwu coup cost us alot . It meant that we lost our true leaders and their great vision for us.

4 Likes

Re: . by pazienza(m): 4:17am On Jan 15, 2020
Meanwhile this is Biafran Golden anniversary and I believe we should do something about that on this page.
There is no stronger unification factor for Ndiigbo than the events of Biafra, including the preceding events and the events of immediate post Biafra era.
The Igbo political history will never be complete without Biafra, and just as the Jews will never stop discussing the Holocaust, so must any sensible Igbo never shy away from discussing Biafra.

Well, I personally enjoyed Onyeka Onwenu recent Interview on Biafra 50years Anniversary.
I will share it below and thereafter pick important aspects of the interview for further discussion.

6 Likes

Re: . by pazienza(m): 4:20am On Jan 15, 2020
Biafra: The Civil War Never Ended...

By Onyeka Onwenu

Nigeria's lady of songs, activist journalist, Onyeka Onwenu has said the Igbo people will make no apologies for going to war with Nigeria, as according to her, the Biafra was a war brought on them and they had to fight in self defence.
Onwenu who spoke on Monday in Lagos at the 'Never Again Conference' organised by Nzuko Umunna, an Igbo sociocultural group, to mark 50 years since the end of the Biafra war in 1970, also recalled how her widowed mother's property was seized in Port Harcourt, Rivers State after the war.

She said the Biafra is a very sensitive and painful matter that ought to be addressed.
"This is a subject matter that is very close to our hearts," she said. "It's very personal to very many of us, very sensitive matter; very painful matter indeed. And yes, some of us have lived with some bitterness. And we make no apologies about that. We were a people in war, led into war, not by our own wishes or design, but in self defence. No apologies Nigeria, no apologies to the world.

"But here we are. I was born and raised in Port Harcourt. My father, Dike Onwenu was the first Arondizuogu man in the federal house, and he was representing Port Harcourt constituency. He was the principal of Enitonna High School. He was a brilliant man. But he died too early. I'm from Abia State since I'm an Aro daughter. I'm from Imo State, Arondizuogu and I'm also from Anambra where my mother comes from. I can go there and live and nobody can stop me.
"I'm also from Lagos State. I married a Yoruba man. I have two Yoruba children."

Onwenu said she fought the Biafra war and recalled many children and aged people dying in her care. She regretted that the war has not yet ended, and warned those still fighting the Igbo to be careful.
"I fought the war as a young girl between 14 and 17 years, and I lost many relatives. I carried babies who died in my arms. I treated old people who took days to die. People were dying of hunger, even our soldiers were dying out of hunger. But thank God we survived.

"When my father died at 40, he was a politician and also a principal. But he didn't have much money. In those days, you had to keep your day job, even if you were a member of the House of Representatives. Yes, my mother, an Anambra woman, was a trader. She was richer than my dad, so my dad would borrow money from her to buy land and he never paid back. You know how it is with husband and wife.

"At the end of the war, I couldn't go back to Port Harcourt. My home was abandoned property. Those of you who come from Port Harcourt know the story. The home that a widow, my father had only laid the foundation when he died in an accident; the building that a widow built was seized as an abandoned property.
"And living just adjacent to us on Hospital Road were the Ikokus. In fact, I thought we were related because every family in Port Harcourt was together. You didn't care were anyone came from or who they were, whether you were from Port Harcourt or not. Every parent had the right to reprimand a child he/she saw misbehaving. Port Harcourt was a beautiful town, but we couldn't get back to it.

"So, for me, the civil war never ended, it is still going on. My poor mother went back to Port Harcourt to claim her property and she was beaten into a coma by people whom she had helped all her life; people she had helped to send to school, because she is an Igbo woman and now Port Harcourt belonged to another group of people.

"They forgot the sacrifices that the Igbo made. It is still going on, no apologies have ever been made about that. The road that is now referred to as Harold Wilson Road used to be Dike Onwenu Road. That's on account of the sacrifices that the Onwenus, the Ikokus, and the rest, made in building up Port Harcourt.

"Here I am. I travelled outside, thanks to my sister who was at Harvard at the time. But we all came back to develop Nigeria. I have tried with the little talent that God has given me, to use it to the betterment of my society and my country. But if I were a Yoruba or a Hausa woman, I would probably have had more patronage, more help and more support than I have got by my self-help effort to raise this country up.

"But I'm not asking anybody for anything. I put myself through school, my widowed mother did her best. I was working two jobs in America to put myself through school. I didn't want to take the Nigerian scholarship because they were giving it to everybody, those who deserved it and those who didn't. And many of them were not even in school.

"I'm angry at Nigeria, I'm angry at this government which seems to be letting us down. I'm angry at us as a people, I'm angry at my people, Ndigbo. Because he who is rejected doesn't reject himself. Stop complaining and do it yourself. We have always been able to do that. How did we build Imo Airport? Nobody built for us. We spent many years raising money. I was travelling all over the country to do free concerts to raise money for Imo Airport. That's who we have been. And I remember that in those days, if the Igbo State Union decides, that's it, everybody follows the line and gets it done."

5 Likes

Re: . by pazienza(m): 4:34am On Jan 15, 2020
"At the end of the war, I couldn't go back to Port Harcourt. My home was abandoned property. Those of you who come from Port Harcourt know the story. The home that a widow, my father had only laid the foundation when he died in an accident; the building that a widow built was seized as an abandoned property.
"And living just adjacent to us on Hospital Road were the Ikokus. In fact, I thought we were related because every family in Port Harcourt was together. You didn't care were anyone came from or who they were, whether you were from Port Harcourt or not. Every parent had the right to reprimand a child he/she saw misbehaving. Port Harcourt was a beautiful town, but we couldn't get back to it.

"So, for me, the civil war never ended, it is still going on. My poor mother went back to Port Harcourt to claim her property and she was beaten into a coma by people whom she had helped all her life; people she had helped to send to school, because she is an Igbo woman and now Port Harcourt belonged to another group of people.

"They forgot the sacrifices that the Igbo made. It is still going on, no apologies have ever been made about that. The road that is now referred to as Harold Wilson Road used to be Dike Onwenu Road. That's on account of the sacrifices that the Onwenus, the Ikokus, and the rest, made in building up Port Harcourt.


Now this very part of the interview is the part Every single Igbo must internalize and understand fully.

Those responsible for this calamitous event against Ndiigbo are still unrepentant till today. In fact, their Igbophobia has since multiplied after the war and is now at all time high.

Even Germany has tendered apology to the Jews and continue to do so till today. But these lots down South have never apologized for this great act of wickedness, they in fact take glory in it, and even threaten to do worst should another opportunity be presented to them.

We know the people responsible for this. They still occupy those buildings till today and they recently thanked Gowon for allowing them keep possession of those buildings by renaming an edifice after Gowon. They don't make secret their Intentions.

While it's important we have open mind and work on areas of mutual interests with all groups, we must not forget this important past, we would be stupid not to use it to guide our current actions. Those lots there are not anymore friends to us than the Yorubas or Arewa some of us like to channel all our hate towards are. Since I realized this, I had reduced my Yoruba/Arewa antagonism, because it's simply pointless when we have bigger issues background at home to tackle first.

Happy Biafra Anniversary day to all of us.

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Re: . by XANDERBOY85: 4:45am On Jan 15, 2020
pazienza:


Impressive write up.
I have always maintained that our forerunners in the Eastern region ran a pragmatic model government which was focused on improving standard of living of our people, rather than on ego trips those from other regions who were specializing in vain white elephant projects were doing.

The Nzeogwu coup cost us alot . It meant that we lost our true leaders and their great vision for us.

I've always said that fuc/king coup by those young, idealistic soldiers was, after the actual uncivil war, the next worst thing to happen to Ndigbo as a people! Our problem then -and even now to a large extent- is that we have a lot of Ndigbo that are naively and stupidly 'one Nigerianists' first before being Igbos, unlike what we saw/see in the core north and west! If Nzeogwu and other young Igbo officers of the time that planned and/or took part in that first coup had been thinking first as Igbos before Nigerians, they would have known the amount of negative sentiments towards Igbos that was rife in the north, west and even among some from other ethnicities in the then Eastern Region. Their daft coup....going to poke nose into affairs of the Western Region that ordinarily shouldn't have concerned us, was what gave Igbo haters the opening they were praying for, and they showed no mercy! They murdered us and stole our land and resources in order to shrink us geographically, economically and politically, and they have sworn we will continue to pay for the actions of Nzeogwu and co for generations to come!

3 Likes

Re: . by pazienza(m): 4:47am On Jan 15, 2020

"I'm angry at Nigeria, I'm angry at this government which seems to be letting us down. I'm angry at us as a people, I'm angry at my people, Ndigbo. Because he who is rejected doesn't reject himself. Stop complaining and do it yourself. We have always been able to do that. How did we build Imo Airport? Nobody built for us. We spent many years raising money. I was travelling all over the country to do free concerts to raise money for Imo Airport. That's who we have been. And I remember that in those days, if the Igbo State Union decides, that's it, everybody follows the line and gets it done."


Even Onyeka Onwenu who has been exposed to inner happenings in Nigeria having worked at FG level is calling for Igbo Unity (She is not calling for Ndiigbo to be united with bitter Igbo phobic groups down south, food for thought for those pursuing such self destructive agenda ).
She was young, yet she knew the power Igbo wielded as a result of our Unity which was held together by Igbo Union.
And even though she has been exposed to the crumbs from Nigerian national cake, she still retains Biafra at heart, because as she summed it up, "the war never ended", we are only fighting it this time around though other means than guns, and we can't hope to win without unity, as there is nothing that Unites Ndiigbo more than the Biafran memory.
This is why I firmly stand against any attempt by IPOB to bastardize the Biafra Igbo unity project with their Tower of babel confusion.

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Re: . by pazienza(m): 5:00am On Jan 15, 2020
XANDERBOY85:


I've always said that fuc/king coup by those young, idealistic soldiers was, after the actual uncivil war, the next worst thing to happen to Ndigbo as a people! Our problem then -and even now to a large extent- is that we have a lot of Ndigbo that are naively and stupidly 'one Nigerianists' first before being Igbos, unlike what we saw/see in the core north and west! If Nzeogwu and other young Igbo officers of the time that planned and/or took part in that first coup had been thinking first as Igbos before Nigerians, they would have known the amount of negative sentiments towards Igbos that was rife in the north, west and even among some from other ethnicities in the then Eastern Region. Their daft coup....going to poke nose into affairs of the Western Region that ordinarily shouldn't have concerned us, was what gave Igbo haters the opening they were praying for, and they showed no mercy! They murdered us and stole our land and resources in order to shrink us geographically, economically and politically, and they have sworn we will continue to pay for the actions of Nzeogwu and co for generations to come!

Have we learnt our lessons? I mean learning to first know who our real enemies are and to always mind our business?

See how some of us are already putting their mouths into the Yoruba Amotekun (or whatever they call it), when we should simply be minding our own business and let those bed mates sort out their issues?
Soon Ndiigbo will go and carry the issue like gala, while the Yorubas will tactically withdraw, hide behind us , and then use us to resettle with the Arewa.

I was expecting Ndiigbo to stay away from this Amotekun stuff, but go to social media and see how our people are playing voltron. Some are even already stupidly thinking we share same agenda with the Yoruba,just because they formed a local vigilantee, when nothing can be farther from the truth.

There is this general lack of rational, tactical and craft thinking inherent in modern Igbo. I have observed it even amongst the most educated or politically exposed amongst us. The modern Igbo wants to pretend he can outgrow the Igbo problems as an individual or clan, without actively working for or sacrificing for general well being of the Igbo. What a pity.

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Re: . by Daewang: 7:10am On Jan 15, 2020
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pazienza:


Have we learnt our lessons? I mean learning to first know who our real enemies are and to always mind our business?

See how some of us are already putting their mouths into the Yoruba Amotekun (or whatever they call it), when we should simply be minding our own business and let those bed mates sort out their issues?
Soon Ndiigbo will go and carry the issue like gala, while the Yorubas will tactically withdraw, hide behind us , and then use us to resettle with the Arewa.

I was expecting Ndiigbo to stay away from this Amotekun stuff, but go to social media and see how our people are playing voltron. Some are even already stupidly thinking we share same agenda with the Yoruba,just because they formed a local vigilantee, when nothing can be farther from the truth.

There is this general lack of rational, tactical and craft thinking inherent in modern Igbo. I have observed it even amongst the most educated or politically exposed amongst us. The modern Igbo wants to pretend he can outgrow the Igbo problems as an individual or clan, without actively working for or sacrificing for general well being of the Igbo. What a pity.




I don tire for Ndigbo matter.
Re: . by IDENNAA(m): 12:23pm On Jan 15, 2020
Guys,who is the politics section moderator ? Cc. Ishilove wrote a post here and called us ill bred and primitive same with the Uhrobo guy who said the Igbo were politically ddumb but they never get banned but the moment Odenigbo Aroli replied them in kind using the same language they hammered him a ban lasting over a month. I know its that Yoruba moderator.
They cant stand it when we are winning debates...pathetic.

1 Like

Re: . by IDENNAA(m): 12:27pm On Jan 15, 2020
I heard Erediuwa abi Akenzua went to Rivers state to claim his royal subjects...ekene ghaa nku aka obulu mkpali! He should constitute a Bini language committee to re- introduce Bini language to them.
Re: . by Obi1kenobi(m): 12:32pm On Jan 15, 2020
pazienza:


Have we learnt our lessons? I mean learning to first know who our real enemies are and to always mind our business?

See how some of us are already putting their mouths into the Yoruba Amotekun (or whatever they call it), when we should simply be minding our own business and let those bed mates sort out their issues?
Soon Ndiigbo will go and carry the issue like gala, while the Yorubas will tactically withdraw, hide behind us , and then use us to resettle with the Arewa.

I was expecting Ndiigbo to stay away from this Amotekun stuff, but go to social media and see how our people are playing voltron. Some are even already stupidly thinking we share same agenda with the Yoruba,just because they formed a local vigilantee, when nothing can be farther from the truth
.

There is this general lack of rational, tactical and craft thinking inherent in modern Igbo. I have observed it even amongst the most educated or politically exposed amongst us. The modern Igbo wants to pretend he can outgrow the Igbo problems as an individual or clan, without actively working for or sacrificing for general well being of the Igbo. What a pity.

The emboldened is a short-sighted way to view things. Other Southerners (not just Igbos) and Middle Belters are supporting the Yorubas, not because they're so enamoured with Yorubas, but because it establishes a precedent that we could all profit from in the future. If this SW scheme is legitimized and implemented, it establishes a constitutional/legal precedent for others to follow in creating their own local security apparatus and we'll all be better off for it. Looking out for the interest of the SW in this particular issue is in our interest.

I never cease to be amazed that Biafran nationalists are so isolationist in their thinking. In what universe do you think you can accomplish anything by isolating yourself? It's impossible to achieve what you seek without allying with other groups: including the groups you believe all hate you. Whether they're treacherous and resent you is irrelevant to the fundamental truth that whether you like it or not, you need their help to achieve your aims. There is no universe in which you can get your Biafra without getting all those Igboid groups and Edoid groups and Ekoid groups and Yorubas and Middle Belters to support you. It's impossible. So to be upset because some Igbos are supporting Yorubas over a comparatively minor constitutional challenge like "Amotekun, which is in our own interest, is simply irrational.

3 Likes

Re: . by hammerF: 1:02pm On Jan 15, 2020
pazienza:


Have we learnt our lessons? I mean learning to first know who our real enemies are and to always mind our business?

See how some of us are already putting their mouths into the Yoruba Amotekun (or whatever they call it), when we should simply be minding our own business and let those bed mates sort out their issues?
Soon Ndiigbo will go and carry the issue like gala, while the Yorubas will tactically withdraw, hide behind us , and then use us to resettle with the Arewa.

I was expecting Ndiigbo to stay away from this Amotekun stuff, but go to social media and see how our people are playing voltron. Some are even already stupidly thinking we share same agenda with the Yoruba,just because they formed a local vigilantee, when nothing can be farther from the truth.

There is this general lack of rational, tactical and craft thinking inherent in modern Igbo. I have observed it even amongst the most educated or politically exposed amongst us. The modern Igbo wants to pretend he can outgrow the Igbo problems as an individual or clan, without actively working for or sacrificing for general well being of the Igbo. What a pity.

XANDERBOY85:


I've always said that fuc/king coup by those young, idealistic soldiers was, after the actual uncivil war, the next worst thing to happen to Ndigbo as a people! Our problem then -and even now to a large extent- is that we have a lot of Ndigbo that are naively and stupidly 'one Nigerianists' first before being Igbos, unlike what we saw/see in the core north and west! If Nzeogwu and other young Igbo officers of the time that planned and/or took part in that first coup had been thinking first as Igbos before Nigerians, they would have known the amount of negative sentiments towards Igbos that was rife in the north, west and even among some from other ethnicities in the then Eastern Region. Their daft coup....going to poke nose into affairs of the Western Region that ordinarily shouldn't have concerned us, was what gave Igbo haters the opening they were praying for, and they showed no mercy! They murdered us and stole our land and resources in order to shrink us geographically, economically and politically, and they have sworn we will continue to pay for the actions of Nzeogwu and co for generations to come!
SO SOUTHEAST THEY HUNGRY BUHARI DIS BADLY.

SO BAD THAT WEN HE CANNOT MAKE IT, HE HAD TO FAKE IT SHAMELESSLY.

SEE THE SHAMELESS TYPE OF BROAD DAYLIGHT ROBBERY DONE BY THE APC RUBBER STAMP JUDICIARY?

ANYWAY, THIS IS NOT THE WORST THING THAT HAS HAPPENED TO NDIIGBO IN NIGERIA.

I FURTHER SUSPECT THE GAS IN IMO STATE MIGHT BE A MOTIVE FOR IT.

2023 IS NOW LESS THAN THREE YEARS AWAY.

IHEDIOHA SHOULD USE THE TIME TO REORGANISE AND REPACKAGE A BEFITTING MANIFESTOR AND MASTER PLAN FOR IMO STATE.

HE SHOULD TAKE HEART AND KNOW SOMETIMES GOD MAKES US WAIT FOR WAT IS ALREADY OURS NOW.

IHEDIOHA PDP HAVE ALREADY WON OUR HEARTS AHEAD OF 2023.

WE WILL SEE WHERE APC WILL GO AFTER BUHARI, IN 2 AND HALF YEARS TIME.

CERTAINLY ZERO STATE IN SE IS GUARANTEED.

NO NEED FOR PROTEST OR SEAT AT HOME, LET UZORDINMA WITH DISGUST AND SHAMELESSLY, HAVE HIS TWO AND HALF YEARS TENURE. cc Cococandy, Beremx, Abagworo, asha80, Dedetwo

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Re: . by horsepower102: 1:21pm On Jan 15, 2020
Obi1kenobi:


The emboldened is a short-sighted way to view things. Other Southerners (not just Igbos) and Middle Belters are supporting the Yorubas, not because they're so enamoured with Yorubas, but because it establishes a precedent that we could all profit from in the future. If this SW scheme is legitimized and implemented, it establishes a constitutional/legal precedent for others to follow in creating their own local security apparatus and we'll all be better off for it. Looking out for the interest of the SW in this particular issue is in our interest.

I never cease to be amazed that Biafran nationalists are so isolationist in their thinking. In what universe do you think you can accomplish anything by isolating yourself? It's impossible to achieve what you seek without allying with other groups: including the groups you believe all hate you. Whether they're treacherous and resent you is irrelevant to the fundamental truth that whether you like it or not, you need their help to achieve your aims. There is no universe in which you can get your Biafra without getting all those Igboid groups and Edoid groups and Ekoid groups and Yorubas and Middle Belters to support you. It's impossible. So to be upset because some Igbos are supporting Yorubas over a comparatively minor constitutional challenge like "Amotekun, which is in our own interest, is simply irrational.

Yo! You are a Yoruba man who keep pretending to be igbo. Go and worry about Yoruba issues. And change that your stupid moniker which was only created to deceive igbos that have no idea of your true identity.

Your opinion is worthless here and those who know you here know that you are a tribalist masking as a pseudo neutral fellow.

You are exactly the type of individual pazienza is warning igbos about.

Very soon they will blame igbos for that misguided amotekun nonsense and you will use your alternate moniker to cheer at the backlash from killing of igbos in the north because of this nonsensical adventure.

I can get very petty if I choose to.

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Re: . by hammerF: 1:25pm On Jan 15, 2020
horsepower102:


Yo! You are a Yoruba man who keep pretending to be igbo. Go and worry about Yoruba issues. And change that your stupid moniker which was only created to deceive igbos that have no idea of your true identity.

Your opinion is worthless here and those who know you here know that you are a tribalist masking as a pseudo neutral fellow.

You are exactly the type of individual pazienza is warning igbos about.

Very soon they will blame igbos for that misguided amotekun nonsense and you will use your alternate moniker to cheer at the backlash from killing of igbos in the north because of this nonsensical adventure.

I can get very petty if I choose to.
HE EATS SLEEPS AND BREATH IGBO, ALL DAY EVERYDAY.

HE IS ADDICTED AND OBSESSED, NOTICED HIM BUT JUST DECIDED NOT TO WASTE MY TIME.

I LONG UNDERSTOOD, HE CAN NEVER CHANGE.

PEOPLE LIKE HIM ARE ACTUALLY VERY DANGEROUS.

THEY ARE THE ONES THAT COMMIT GENOCIDE.

3 Likes

Re: . by hammerF: 1:27pm On Jan 15, 2020
WE MEET UP TO DISCUSS ISSUES THAT AFFECT US AND HOW TO GROW AND MOVE FORWARD.

HIS OWN IS IGBO.

THIS WAS HOW HITLER STARTED WITH THE JEWS.
Re: . by Obi1kenobi(m): 3:00pm On Jan 15, 2020
horsepower102:


Yo! You are a Yoruba man who keep pretending to be igbo. Go and worry about Yoruba issues. And change that your stupid moniker which was only created to deceive igbos that have no idea of your true identity.

Your opinion is worthless here and those who know you here know that you are a tribalist masking as a pseudo neutral fellow.

You are exactly the type of individual pazienza is warning igbos about.

Very soon they will blame igbos for that misguided amotekun nonsense and you will use your alternate moniker to cheer at the backlash from killing of igbos in the north because of this nonsensical adventure.

I can get very petty if I choose to.

There are few things that display the intellectual bankruptcy and the Yoruba obsession that people like you do than calling anyone whose views are different from your own "Yoruba man pretending to be Igbo". Hence, you abandon the merits of substantive debate and start shouting "Yoruba" upandan. It shows how much you're consumed and obsessed with Yorubas and how Yorubas live rent-free in your empty head. I took a few minutes of my time to explain how the quest for autonomy in matters of local security require groups outside the core North to display solidarity for a common cause which is popular in all those localities, and how none of us alone can achieve this without getting other groups to unite behind that common cause, and all you came here to do is shout "Yoruba", like a witless clod.

Few points for you:
1) If you have "alternate monikers", don't project you stupidity on other people. This is my only moniker on Nairaland and I have no time or inclination, neither am I childish enough to troll people with different monikers.
2) I'm not Yoruba. Pazienza who I responded to knows who I am and has even communicated with my IPOB-supporting sister before, and a couple of people here know my real social media handles.
3) Being Yoruba would not have invalidated my point which is that to get out of the control of a national security apparatus controlled by the North (to everyone's detriment), other groups must unite behind a common cause to overthrow this hegemony. This doesn't mean they must unite on other issues and doesn't mean we're all friends. But on issues of local security which is of vital interest, there must be solidarity against the diktats of the North.

If none of these make sense to you, bring your contrary arguments here and we can discuss like civilized people. Or you can continue to chant "Yoruba" like a deranged nincompoop, and continue to let Yorubas hunt you in your dreams. Either way, if you have nothing substantive to add beyond shouting "Yoruba", kindly go fucck yourself and stay out of my mentions. I don't care to humor stupidity.

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