Obi1kenobi:


1) You don't seem to be getting my point either that whatever their interests are beyond their publicly stated objectives, it's irrelevant to our own interests: which is having a stake in how our local security apparatus is organized. Their stated interests is the only thing of material relevance to us and the basis of our support.

2) I'm not sure why you believe there is some sinister goal they may have beyond what they've publicly stated that Amotekun is about. They're pretty unequivocal about what their intentions are and there is no reason to believe otherwise. Setting up a militia to tackle regional security concerns is simple enough on its face and isn't neurosurgery or astrophysics in complexity.

Again, you may have to state what your worries are about here. Cos all I'm just seeing is deep cynicism that borders on self-destructive nihilism. And it's okay to be cynical in a country of failed leadership at all levels. But given your aspirations as a Biafran nationalist, the cynicism you advocate is advocacy for total political paralysis and I don't see how that makes sense in accomplishing your goals: goals that would require you to win hearts and minds in a broad solidarity movement that respects the autonomy and self-determination of the constituent nations of the Nigerian state. You're actually getting offended about the most tokenistic, minimalist advocacy in support of Amotekun. I'm inclined to ask you once again what you think the downside is here. What are you afraid of?

pazienza:



1. You are wrong on this. It's actually the other way round.
Their public stated interests/objectives are of no interests whatsoever to us, because they can easily backtrack on them along the road or even give them a different interpretations to what we currently think or assume them to mean, we have been here with Yorubas before. Of more importance to us is their hidden agenda and aim, which we might not know, but following Yoruba past antecedents, we can make a very good guess, or just sit on the fence and let things pan allowing time to expose what is hidden to the light.

2. Since you are asking. Let me tell you what my gut feeling about what Amotekun is all about.
It is my personal conviction that Amotekun is only but a political bargaining chip by the Yoruba political elites with regards to the race for 2023 elections.
Amotekun is not a brain child of Yoruba commoners,even though their commoners are currently pushing it. Amotekun is a craft of Yoruba political elites and intelligentia. They hope to use it to force the North to concede the presidency to them at maximal profit margin, or at the minimal profit margin, let them retain the VP slot and not be forced to give it up to the East who the North might feel needs to be appeased in 2023 with VP slot.

If we naively join the Amotekun, then we would have made things easier for the Yorubas, as they would in their typical slimy style withdraw the proposal in the last minutes when the North must have conceded to their demands, leaving us with short end of the stick again.

My stance is that we stay completely out of the Amotekun thing, no support and no resistance, let them make play themselves. And if in the end it turns out that Amotekun is not a political bargaining chip as I think (which I truly doubt i am wrong on my thoughts about this), nothing stops us from coming in at the last minute to be the tie Breaker between the Yorubas and their Arewa bedfellows, and in so doing, ensure we reap abundantly from their own losses.

This is how we should approach things. Strictly cold and devoid of emotionalism.

Thanks.

pazienza:



1. You are wrong on this. It's actually the other way round.
Their public stated interests/objectives are of no interests whatsoever to us, because they can easily backtrack on them along the road or even give them a different interpretations to what we currently think or assume them to mean, we have been here with Yorubas before. Of more importance to us is their hidden agenda and aim, which we might not know, but following Yoruba past antecedents, we can make a very good guess, or just sit on the fence and let things pan allowing time to expose what is hidden to the light.

2. Since you are asking. Let me tell you what my gut feeling about what Amotekun is all about.
It is my personal conviction that Amotekun is only but a political bargaining chip by the Yoruba political elites with regards to the race for 2023 elections.
Amotekun is not a brain child of Yoruba commoners,even though their commoners are currently pushing it. Amotekun is a craft of Yoruba political elites and intelligentia. They hope to use it to force the North to concede the presidency to them at maximal profit margin, or at the minimal profit margin, let them retain the VP slot and not be forced to give it up to the East who the North might feel needs to be appeased in 2023 with VP slot.

If we naively join the Amotekun, then we would have made things easier for the Yorubas, as they would in their typical slimy style withdraw the proposal in the last minutes when the North must have conceded to their demands, leaving us with short end of the stick again.

My stance is that we stay completely out of the Amotekun thing, no support and no resistance, let them make play themselves. And if in the end it turns out that Amotekun is not a political bargaining chip as I think (which I truly doubt i am wrong on my thoughts about this), nothing stops us from coming in at the last minute to be the tie Breaker between the Yorubas and their Arewa bedfellows, and in so doing, ensure we reap abundantly from their own losses.

This is how we should approach things. Strictly cold and devoid of emotionalism.

Thanks.

Chiwude:
PDP IPOB branch should stop crying on our shoulder. You fake PDP Biafran activists will continue to expose yourselves. Allow Ndigbo rest for God sake. All parties are welcome in Igboland so long it gives us room to aspire to the Presidency. APC is welcomed in Igboland. Your demonic tactics have been exposed a long time ago.
Charlatans and enemies of Ndigbo should stop disturbing this thread with their evil cries. As our people say, let the eagle perch and let the kite perch, whoever says the other shouldn't let it's wings break.
You cannot force one party on our throats, especially one that that took our loyalty for granted for good 16 years. APC has come to stay in Igboland, even the PDP etc so long our interest to aspire for the presidency is achieved.

XANDERBOY85:


Very shortsighted and daft post! Why not welcome the Third Reich to Alaigbo b’cos ‘all parties are welcome in Igboland’ as you gullibly say!?

ckenneths:
As Emeka Ihedioha steps aside, Imo state must match on.

B2mario:
this is always my stand. We welcome all parties to igboland for the fact that the part bearer is development and progress orientated.This party sentiment should stop. I think at this point (stage) we should not be looking at party but personality.

B2mario:
another true post from a rational man. Thanks to God that the destroyer is no longer the governor of our dear lovely Imo state.

spyder880:
Obodo ndi ocha

So basically, the crux of your argument is that the inherent perfidy and duplicity of the Yoruba race is the reason we should steer clear of the debate over Amotekun? Well, given you know me and my "political correctness", as you've disparagingly put it in the past, that's just one irreconcilable dispute which we're obviously not going to bridge. Cos you're going to pretty extreme lengths here to insinuate we're walking into some kind of trap and you haven't quite articulated just how deep and consequential the trap is.
I don't see how your narrative works with how you've presented it. I don't see how Amotekun is a political bargaining chip that will somehow arm-twist the North into doing the political bidding of Yorubas. On the contrary, it's a massive political risk which might alienate the North from Yorubas (to add to already building tensions after Buhari did poorer than expected in the SW). And whatever alienates the North is a good thing in my playbook - except you're suggesting we should be the ones to betray Yorubas by cozying up to the North if they fall out with Yorubas. But there is a lot of conjecturing and supposition here that makes discussing their intentions unworthy of any substantive debate if you have already made up your mind that scheming, treacherous Yorubas are always cooking up something to bamboozle and sell out everyone.

Also, all successful political movements in Nigeria are brain-childs of the elite and intelligentsia. This is Nigeria, not Finland or Norway. The elites run the show and the rest of us are spectators. So I'm not sure why that has any peculiar relevance when it comes to Amotekun. I credit the Yoruba elites for adopting a measure that had grassroots support (or even Northerners that nearly 2 decades ago, successively challenged the Nigerian constitutional order when they adopted Sharia law, Hisbah boards etc) and wish our leaders were as proactive. That's our own failure in politics and nothing to make us any more suspicious of other groups.

The most relevant argument now is:
1) As Biafran nationalists, what are your core beliefs? What are your principles? Do you promulgate and fight for those principles or "keep it close to your chest"? Even Nnamdi Kanu who you have defended severally against my criticism thinks "Amotekun" aligns with his aspirations for Ndigbo. Which given his Biafran nationalist cause, seems a rational course to take. Your own strategy is what I'm still trying to figure out.
2) You still didn't address a key question I asked about how you intend to achieve your Biafran nationalist goals. Except you intend to take it by force (which won't happen, or even come close to happening, or even be attempted), there will come a point where you need the support of other Nigerians in your goal for self-determination. This would require us to be able to cooperate on certain strategic issues with other groups who seek various levels of autonomy and self-determination. If you're getting so worked up because of ordinary vocal support of Amotekun, I'm still all ears to hear how you Biafran nationalists intend to achieve your dream. Cos at this stage, it's becoming as if no one actually cares about any practical implementation of yearnings, beyond discussing utopian dreams. What's the strategy going forward?

IDENNAA:
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.

Chiwude:
Flesh and blood did not reveal this to you Pazienza. We've read this script before in 1964, 1987, 1993 and 1999. The Yoruba's are strategizing with Amotekun to lay claim to the presidency. While I'm not interested in how they go about it, I'm keen into warning all the IPOB/Apolitical Igbo dunces not to involve Ndigbo in Yoruba struggles. Nnamdi Kanu and his cursed herds of exuberant touts should beware else they get burnt in the melee. The Yoruba's know how to settle their case with the north by retreating at the right time.
Ndigbo should stay on their line and play their politics rights. The SE Governors, our legislators and Ohaneze Ndigbo must start acting like charismatic leaders and work towards achieving their goal, irrespective of party and creed.
The likes of IPOB and other infiltrators or future Nzeogwu in the SE must be exposed and neutralized before they destroy us a second time.
A word is enough for the wise.
Igbo interest must come first!

pazienza:
Obi1kenobi




The Crux of the matter is that we don't know what Amotekun is all about other than what Yorubas are claiming that it is in public.
If Yorubas wanted other regions support in pushing Amotekun, common sense dictates that they should have liased with other regions during the planning stage before coming public with this. But that hasn't happened.
On the contrary, violence or confrontations with the Power that be in Abuja has always been a bargaining chip for power blocs in Southern Nigeria. The Yorubas rallied behind the Abiola fiasco to make claim to power in 1999, the South South wielded economic sabotage of Abuja petrodollars via pipeline vandalism and kidnapping of foreign oil workers to press home the need for them to be appeased by Abuja, which eventually led to VP for GEJ in 2007. Infact, many SE politicians were hoping to use IPOB as a bargaining chip as well in the heat of those moments, before it became obvious they were not in control of Nnamdi Kanu and IPOB and the game was up, leading to the proscription of IPOB by SE governors. Confrontation and not peace and dialogue, has always been a veritable tool of power grab in Nigeria

Already the North understands the game Yorubas are playing and had given them a hint with recent message by Miyyeti Allah suggesting that Yorubas would have to drop Amotekun if they still want 2023 presidency. This is exactly what Yorubas want to hear, and I can only imagine them pushing the North harder in coming weeks.




I have no issues with Yoruba elites forming Amotekun or whatever. I don't even want to care.
We have similar sorts of vigilantes in SE. Anambra in particular. If you live in Anambra, you will always see them.
It is not a must for us to support Amotekun or whatsoever Yorubas are up to. It's their headache, not Ours. You attempt at trying to armtwist Ndiigbo into lending support to a Yoruba agenda is at best disrespectful.



1. As a Biafran it is my belief that in everything Ndiigbo do, Igbo interests must come first, and if protecting Igbo interests means another group going to hell, then so be it.
I am not a fan of NK, ever since I noticed his organization are bereft of any direction or strategic thinking. His version of Biafra is the one that care less about Igbo interests but more about the interests of groups he hopes to co opt into his utopic multiethnic Biafra. I'm not surprised that NK endorsed and is campaigning for Amotekun. Igbo lives and interests I have since concluded mean nothing to him. I learnt he is offering thousands of Igbo youths to serve in Amotekun. I hope he offers his own brothers, cousins and kinsmen for such insanity and not precious Igbo youths. NK has never been or claimed to be an Igbo nationalist, I have nothing in common with him.

2. You should ask yourself, do Yorubas really want regional autonomy for everyone? If they do, how come Buhari whose anti regional stance on issues became a hero in Yoruba land, while GEJ who organized a National conference and if allowed to continue could have implemented many aspects of the resolutions reached on the conference that could have led to a certain degree of decentralisation of power. In liberal PDP and GEJ, we had an opportunity to slowly decentralize the FG powers, but the Yorubas would rather have a dictator who is anti decentralisation in power, if it means they get to share power with the dictator or get crumbs.
They also had the opportunity to right whatever wrong they did in 2015, by voting in a more liberal Atiku. But for promise of VP and presidency post Buhari, they once again jumped on Buhari train.
This isn't the first time either. In 1967 when Ojukwu was arguing for Confederation, it was Awolowo and Yoruba intelligentsia who rather than support that, decided to jump on Gowon boat. It was with Yoruba support that Gowon dissolved the regions , created the states , and centralized power in Nigeria, same thing Ironsi was killed for attempting.

Yorubas chant regionalism always, yet at any given point in time they had the option to sacrifice selfish interests to get regionalism, they chose the selfish interests and left those on the other side to burn. I also wonder what regionalism means to Yorubas, considering the resistance Oduah met at the hands of Yorubas, when she and GEJ made Enugu international airport. It would appear to me that Yorubas want a sort of arrangement where Lagos will retain it's current air and sea monopoly on the country, while allowing them to fully control the revenue from the sea and air gateway of Nigeria, without having the FG control them or share the revenue from them with the rest of the country.
They also want to have untamed control on who. Stays or leaves their region amongst other things. Strictly speaking, they want to eat their cake and still have it .

My strategy to get Biafra? well, it includes alot of things I can't list here, but it clearly doesn't involve repeating Igbo mistakes of yesteryears.
It involves building the Igbo political unity strong first and foremost , staying clear of things that are none of our business, things that only serve as distractions that dissipate our energy, without serving our own interests, which this Amotekun fully represents.

Chiwude:
Flesh and blood did not reveal this to you Pazienza. We've read this script before in 1964, 1987, 1993 and 1999. The Yoruba's are strategizing with Amotekun to lay claim to the presidency. While I'm not interested in how they go about it, I'm keen into warning all the IPOB/Apolitical Igbo dunces not to involve Ndigbo in Yoruba struggles. Nnamdi Kanu and his cursed herds of exuberant touts [/b]should beware else they get burnt in the melee. The Yoruba's know how to settle their case with the north by retreating at the right time.
Ndigbo should stay on their line and play their politics rights. The SE Governors, our legislators and Ohaneze Ndigbo must start acting like charismatic leaders and work towards achieving their goal, irrespective of party and creed.
The likes of [b]IPOB and other infiltrators or future Nzeogwu in the SE must be exposed and neutralized before they destroy us a second time.
A word is enough for the wise.
Igbo interest must come first!

Ishilove:

I am very disappointed. I was hoping the mods would make it at least 3 months so the culprits can learn decorum on a public forum.

SLAP44:


When you see northerners trying hard to blend in and use divide and rule tactics on the south, you will know. This is same group of monikers who will rather die than see any south south person have affiliation with Igbo people still trying to make sure that Igbo people will not side with Yorubas for Amotekun when you see that the whole south shares the same threat of life. You start to wonder.

My take is that there are no permanent friends or foes. When the Yoruba decides to sing a tune that sounds exactly like what Nnamdi Kanu is singing, I as a Biafran will dance.

Amotekun has come to stay, so that Operation Agunweohia can also stand.

pazienza:
Obi1kenobi

The Crux of the matter is that we don't know what Amotekun is all about other than what Yorubas are claiming that it is in public.
If Yorubas wanted other regions support in pushing Amotekun, common sense dictates that they should have liased with other regions during the planning stage before coming public with this. But that hasn't happened.
On the contrary, violence or confrontations with the Power that be in Abuja has always been a bargaining chip for power blocs in Southern Nigeria. The Yorubas rallied behind the Abiola fiasco to make claim to power in 1999, the South South wielded economic sabotage of Abuja petrodollars via pipeline vandalism and kidnapping of foreign oil workers to press home the need for them to be appeased by Abuja, which eventually led to VP for GEJ in 2007. Infact, many SE politicians were hoping to use IPOB as a bargaining chip as well in the heat of those moments, before it became obvious they were not in control of Nnamdi Kanu and IPOB and the game was up, leading to the proscription of IPOB by SE governors. Confrontation and not peace and dialogue, has always been a veritable tool of power grab in Nigeria

Already the North understands the game Yorubas are playing and had given them a hint with recent message by Miyyeti Allah suggesting that Yorubas would have to drop Amotekun if they still want 2023 presidency. This is exactly what Yorubas want to hear, and I can only imagine them pushing the North harder in coming weeks.

I have no issues with Yoruba elites forming Amotekun or whatever. I don't even want to care.
We have similar sorts of vigilantes in SE. Anambra in particular. If you live in Anambra, you will always see them.
It is not a must for us to support Amotekun or whatsoever Yorubas are up to. It's their headache, not Ours. You attempt at trying to armtwist Ndiigbo into lending support to a Yoruba agenda is at best disrespectful.

1. As a Biafran it is my belief that in everything Ndiigbo do, Igbo interests must come first, and if protecting Igbo interests means another group going to hell, then so be it.
I am not a fan of NK, ever since I noticed his organization are bereft of any direction or strategic thinking. His version of Biafra is the one that care less about Igbo interests but more about the interests of groups he hopes to co opt into his utopic multiethnic Biafra. I'm not surprised that NK endorsed and is campaigning for Amotekun. Igbo lives and interests I have since concluded mean nothing to him. I learnt he is offering thousands of Igbo youths to serve in Amotekun. I hope he offers his own brothers, cousins and kinsmen for such insanity and not precious Igbo youths. NK has never been or claimed to be an Igbo nationalist, I have nothing in common with him.

2. You should ask yourself, do Yorubas really want regional autonomy for everyone? If they do, how come Buhari whose anti regional stance on issues became a hero in Yoruba land, while GEJ who organized a National conference and if allowed to continue could have implemented many aspects of the resolutions reached on the conference that could have led to a certain degree of decentralisation of power was vilified by them . In liberal PDP and GEJ, we had an opportunity to slowly decentralize the FG powers, but the Yorubas would rather have a dictator who is anti decentralisation in power, if it means they get to share power with the dictator or get crumbs.
They also had the opportunity to right whatever wrong they did in 2015, by voting in a more liberal Atiku. But for promise of VP and presidency post Buhari, they once again jumped on Buhari train.
This isn't the first time either. In 1967 when Ojukwu was arguing for Confederation, it was Awolowo and Yoruba intelligentsia who rather than support that, decided to jump on Gowon boat. It was with Yoruba support that Gowon dissolved the regions , created the states , and centralized power in Nigeria, same thing Ironsi was killed for attempting.

Yorubas chant regionalism always, yet at any given point in time they had the option to sacrifice selfish interests to get regionalism, they chose the selfish interests and left those on the other side to burn. I also wonder what regionalism means to Yorubas, considering the resistance Oduah met at the hands of Yorubas, when she and GEJ made Enugu international airport. It would appear to me that Yorubas want a sort of arrangement where Lagos will retain it's current air and sea monopoly on the country, while allowing them to fully control the revenue from the sea and air gateway of Nigeria, without having the FG control them or share the revenue from them with the rest of the country.
They also want to have untamed control on who. Stays or leaves their region amongst other things. Strictly speaking, they want to eat their cake and still have it .

My strategy to get Biafra? well, it includes alot of things I can't list here, but it clearly doesn't involve repeating Igbo mistakes of yesteryears.
It involves building the Igbo political unity strong first and foremost , staying clear of things that are none of our business, things that only serve as distractions that dissipate our energy, without serving our own interests, which this Amotekun fully represents.

Osagyefo98:



Please every state should set up their own security measures. Amotekun is purely Illegal.

Anambra already has theirs , so no need for any Operation Agunweofia or whatever....You can formulate that in your state.

Anyway Obiano has rejected such, no need typing further.


That's how people will leave governance and be pursuing shadows and all sorts of unnecessary stuff.

Develop your home grown solutions, that's the way the go.


Agunweofia my foot.