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Yakubu Gowon Was The True Hero Of The Civil War - Politics (6) - Nairaland

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Re: Yakubu Gowon Was The True Hero Of The Civil War by dboss12(m): 2:00am On Feb 19, 2020
Dedetwo:


I shall bet my last cent you do not even know the composites of corruption. If you did, the silly question about Nzeogwu and January 15, 1966 coup should not have been asked.

ibos civil servants stole money from the federal government and flet to the eastern region and were praising ojukwu for saving them from facing trial. read your history book Ibo bush boy and stop arguing unnecessarily.

3 Likes

Re: Yakubu Gowon Was The True Hero Of The Civil War by LegendHero(m): 2:26am On Feb 19, 2020
Nowenuse:


Thank you very much for this post.

Leave all the Hausa fulani and Yoruba muslims to continue spewing rubbish here. They will soon start drinking poison out of the shock they will be getting soon.

Very evil group of people. You can imagine what they are coming up with. What in the hell is the essence of this post?

You this plateau boy/man.

You have been enslaved by the Fulanis with a battered image coupled with a lost sense of honor such that you have failed to recognize you will always be seen as a northerner.

You believe slaving for the Igbos and attacking the Yorubas that are far above anything you or your tribe represent in all facets of life will elevate your lowlife status.

What is Yoruba sin against you or your tribe. Haven’t we discussed this and settled this matter.

You are a religious bigot, a kind of a Berom cannibal that is no different from those you chose to rid yourself from.

Lastly, the mighty Yorubas don’t even know if your whole tribe exists on the face of the earth, let alone a nobody like you.

Continue your hate!

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Re: Yakubu Gowon Was The True Hero Of The Civil War by Area4Area: 3:40am On Feb 19, 2020
Rossippi:


You are a nasty, stupid, illiterate vagabond to purport to know where I am from or not from, while having absolutely no clue who I am.

Are you a clairvoyant?

Bush village dunce with mosquito brain. If you cannot debate an issue without getting personal with ad hominem attacks and claiming to know what you don't know, then GET LOST FROM HERE.
You have every right to be who you are irrespective of what these minions feel, their feelings or perception changes nothing nor rewrites your DNA.

I had stopped obliging any nitwit questioning my person nor origin all because of my political stand.

Try to ignore them next time, you own nobody no apology nor explanation.

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Re: Yakubu Gowon Was The True Hero Of The Civil War by Area4Area: 3:45am On Feb 19, 2020
Dedetwo:


The bolded showed you are truly ill-educated. You are a typical Nigerian who makes the most noise on a subject matter he/she knows little about.
I expected some explanation on the part you bolded but you said nothing

1 Like

Re: Yakubu Gowon Was The True Hero Of The Civil War by wirinet(m): 6:03am On Feb 19, 2020
Rossippi:


Thanks for this response. I was also about to tell him that it was Ojukwu, the military governor, who refused to recognise Gowon, not the Eastern region. The conflict partly arose from this personality clash between Ojukwu and Gowon, in which Ojukwu did not believe Gowon should be head of state.

We often forget that these were just young guys in their early 30s, not sufficiently mature to take on the huge leadership responsibilities they assumed.
You just summarised what the whole conflict was about, a personality and ego clash between Ojukwu and Gowon against a back drop of the confusion arising from the 2 coups.

1 Like

Re: Yakubu Gowon Was The True Hero Of The Civil War by wirinet(m): 6:21am On Feb 19, 2020
gidgiddy:


Why do you think Gowon met Ojukwu in Ghana if he could just fire Ojukwu and replace him with a loyalist? He couldn't because nobody would have listened to him in the East. Regionalism seriously curtails the powers of an executive President. During Ironsi's tenure, the North did not really recognise Ironsi as head of state. But there was one thing Ironsi had which Gowon did not have, he had seniority.

Believe me Gowon would have replaced Ojukwu and the worst that would have happened was Ojukwu declare secession immediately and the civil war would have started earlier. Gowon was a gentleman who wanted to avoid war at all costs. Gowon went to Ghana to try to avoid war. He gave unreasonable concessions in Ghana to avoid war. It was when he got to Nigeria that the civil service by led prince Akenzua (future Oba of Benin) wrote a memo to Gowon to reject the Aburi Accord, because it would lead to crisis in the future. Also remember that TY Danjuma and Murtala did not attend the Aburi meeting, meaning they rejected the whole accord.

Regionalism in a multi ethnic, cultural and religious society like Nigeria would not work. It will lead to perpetual conflict within and without the regions or confederation. Many such societies had tried it in the past with disastrous consequences. Political struggles within the military and political elite would lead to anarchy.

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Re: Yakubu Gowon Was The True Hero Of The Civil War by gidgiddy: 10:55am On Feb 19, 2020
wirinet:


Believe me Gowon would have replaced Ojukwu and the worst that would have happened was Ojukwu declare secession immediately and the civil war would have started earlier. Gowon was a gentleman who wanted to avoid war at all costs. Gowon went to Ghana to try to avoid war. He gave unreasonable concessions in Ghana to avoid war. It was when he got to Nigeria that the civil service by led prince Akenzua (future Oba of Benin) wrote a memo to Gowon to reject the Aburi Accord, because it would lead to crisis in the future. Also remember that TY Danjuma and Murtala did not attend the Aburi meeting, meaning they rejected the whole accord.

Regionalism in a multi ethnic, cultural and religious society like Nigeria would not work. It will lead to perpetual conflict within and without the regions or confederation. Many such societies had tried it in the past with disastrous consequences. Political struggles within the military and political elite would lead to anarchy.

This is absolute nonsense and an attempt to defend the indefensible. Gowon signed an agreement in Ghana. If Gowon did not know the import of what he was signing, it is hardly Ojukwus fault. If Gowon, returned to Nigeria and be was advised against honouring the agreement he signed, what he should have done is call Ojukwu to amend parts of the agreement he did not like.

Rather, what Gowon did was to remove they system that prevented him and his Northern goons from being masters of Nigeria with Decree 14 by abolishing the 4 Regions

The period if Regionalism was Nigerias best period. It was a time when everyone knew that there was no money to share and what you made is what you kept. This state creation that started with Gowon has been an absolute disaster. Today we have 36 states, most of which cant even pay salaries and many people feel marginalised. Too much power has been concentrated at the centre at the expense of the people while other countries like Ghana who kept Regionalism throughout their military rule until the return of civil rule are doing much better than Nigeria

We all know the truth. It was the unbridled ambition of Gowon and his fellow Northerners to control Nigeria that made them do away Regionalism and resource control. The only thing they never counted on was that Ojukwu and the Igbos were going to say no to that.

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Re: Yakubu Gowon Was The True Hero Of The Civil War by gidgiddy: 11:57am On Feb 19, 2020
Rossippi:


Load of rubbish.

NOBODY HATED IGBOS IN NIGERIA.

Igbos settled in Hausaland and Yorubaland in their millions even before independence. Apart from a brief skirmish in the north in the 50s, nobody harassed Igbos in Nigeria, or discriminated against them.

Igbos were in fact FAVOURED by other Nigerians and respected for their industry and education. Igbos held political positions and top civil service positions in the north and the west, and nobody cared. Nobody opposed or harassed them.

This whole thing started when a group of Igbo army officers, led by Major Nzeogwu, went around in 1966, KILLING the duly elected Northern Prime Minister of Nigeria, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, and killing Northern and Yoruba leaders, including the religious leader of the North, Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto! And leaving all Igbo leaders alone, safe. Untouched.

This outraged the rest of the nation. Then Ironsi, an Igbo general, came to power, following those killings.

Nigerians expected that Ironsi would bring the klllers to justice.

They sent him message after message, for 7 months, to bring the killers to justice.

He did nothing.

He just left the killers to walk free!

Yet they were millions of Igbos living in the north!

After 7 or 8 months of Ironsi's inaction, the northerners had had enough of this insult upon injury, this huge spit on their collective faces, and responded in a VERY PREDICTABLE WAY, by targeting Igbos in their midst. Northern officers then staged a counter-coup that killed Ironsi.

How can you slaughter the Prime Minster, plus their religious and political leaders, and ignore the murders, while millions of your people reside in their land making money?

I am actually surprised that only 40 or 50,000 Igbos were killed.

If I was a Hausa muslim man, I would have definitely targeted Igbos around me.

If YOU were in their shoes, YOU would have done the same. And the same goes for all these IPOB goats we have today, with their holier than thou horse shiit.

So, following the massacre of Igbos in the north, Ojukwu now claimed that the ''evil Nigerian vandals'' were heading to the east to kill all Igbos, a blatant lie.

And then he declared secession. Real intent? To steal and corner the newly discovered oil reserves in the Niger Delta.

He didn't secede with just his Igboland.

He included the South South, who had no business in any of this.

That shows you his real objective was to corner the nation's oil resources newly discovered.

It is the same reason Igbos today include the South South in their 'Biafra' madness, even against the wishes of the Deltans. To corner those oil resources.

THAT is their true aim of secession.

THIS IS THE FULL TRUTH.

That is why they don't care how many millions of Igbos are killed in their quest for separation.

It's all about GREED FOR OIL.

Anything else these narcissistic warmongers are telling you is merely to confuse and bamboozle you.

Now you know the truth. If you like, keep lying to yourself.


Your problem is that you have not done a thorough research of the history of Nigeria. The massacre of Igbos has been an ongoing thing long before the Nzeogwu coup. In 1945, Igbos were massacred in Jos by Northerners for no just cause. They were again killed greater numbers in Kano in 1953. Nobody was brought to book for these killings. Going by your reasoning, should Igbos have gone on a killing spree of Northerners in the East for what some of them did to Igbos in the North. Igbos did not do that because they knew that it was not justified to go after people for what theur brethren did elsewhere. Despite the massacres, a Northerner called Umaru Altine was elected Mayor of Enugu.

Nzeogwu planned and executed his coup without the mandate of the Igbo nation. Army boss, General Ironsi took over and clamped the perpetrators in jail. While it is true that Ironsi did not court Marshall Nzeogwu and co, it should be remembered that Ironsi was in power for only 6 months. Despite killing Murtala Mohammed, it took 5 months to bring Dimka to book, it also took 5 months to bring Major Orkar to book. So what was this extraordinary thing about Ironsi's 6 months power that he didnt start the trial of Nzeogwu and co?

Only a complete fool will justify the genocide of unarmed civilians, men, women and children over the shenanigans of military leaders. Did the North really expect to carry on their periodic massacre of Igbos and we all remain "one Nigeria"? So when Igbos are massacred, they keep their cool, when Northerners are killed, they commit genocide?

Then that is clear evidence that we should not be together since we have different ways of doing things.

When it comes to secession, Ojukwu was left with no choice. He had gone to Aburi, signed an agreement with Gowon, Gowon returned to Nigeria to break rhe agreement by issuing decree 14 of 1967. Ojukwu and the Eastern Region were not about to be enslaved in a Nigeria that is run by the dictates of the North so they declared independence

Freedom is one of the few things in life worth fighting and dying for and neither Ojukwu or anyone in the old Eastern Region makes any apologies for fighting for freedom

The Oil you are saying that Ojukwu was trying to corner has long been cornered by the Northerners while the owners wallow in poverty. At least in the East Region that Ojukwu ran, host communities got 50% of whatever resources accrued on their lands. Today in Nigeria, they are struggling to get 13%.

Nothing much has changed since then end of the war. Nigeria is still run by the dictates of the North and has become poverty capital of the world, most people feel marginalised, nothing works and corruption is endemic.

History has since vindicated Ojukwu for fighting to remove his people from the disaster called Nigeria

The British made a big mistake bringing us together in 1914.

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Re: Yakubu Gowon Was The True Hero Of The Civil War by ifiokjohn(m): 12:04pm On Feb 19, 2020
Rossippi:


Right. So he sacrificed 2 million Igbo lives in order to ''make a statement''. I rest my case.

One thing I've noticed among you Igbo warmongers is that you don't actually value the lives of your fellow Igbos. Their lives mean nothing to you. 2 million dead? 3 million dead? Means nothing to you. They are expendable in your quest to satiate your hatred of Nigeria. May God forgive you. Gowon loved the Igbos more than you IPOB warmongers ever did, or ever could. Hopefully, the Igbo majority would one day, grow some sense, and rid you bloodthirsty illiterates from their midst.
I have been reading all your posts and reply without commenting and I have found out if truly you are Igbo, then you are just a Coward. your wife really married a Coward. I pity that woman. you are a disgrace to every able body igbo men. I spit on you.
and by the way am from Akwa ibom
Re: Yakubu Gowon Was The True Hero Of The Civil War by wirinet(m): 12:06pm On Feb 19, 2020
gidgiddy:


This is absolute nonsense and an attempt to defend the indefensible. Gowon signed an agreement in Ghana. If Gowon did not know the import of what he was signing, it is hardly Ojukwus fault. If Gowon, returned to Nigeria and be was advised against honouring the agreement he signed, what he should have done is call Ojukwu to amend parts of the agreement he did not like.
Your guys employ emotions rather than tact and intelligence when dealing with political issues. Gowon would have removed Ojukwu once the coup succeeded and prepare to face Ojukwu loyalists in a war to remove him. That's why during and after coups, hostile officers were often murdered to prevent any resistance. Ojukwu, Gowon, Obasanjo, Danjuma were friends before the January 1966 coup and the murder of their colleagues was still fresh in his mind. Gowon did not want further bloodshed among friends. If it was Danjuma that headed the coup, he would have killed Ojukwu and other officers that oppose him. I am sure Nzeogwu and others killed officers they knew would oppose them.

Gowon hurriedly signed the Aburi Accord without understanding the implications. Both of them were locked in a room without any aids to iron out their differences as friends and colleagues. Ojukwu managed to convince Gowon to sign the accord.

When Gowon returned to Nigeria, there was so much opposition to the Accord not only from the military, but also from the civil service and even other regions. He held a meeting in Benin with



Along with others, he attended the Aburi meeting held at the Peduase Lodge where the conflict of Nigeria was discussed between January 4 and January 5, 1967. Aburi is a town in Ghana and a 45-minute drive from Accra, the capital of Ghana.

Those who attended the meeting were Lt. Col. Yakubu Gowon, Col. Robert Adebayo, Lt. Col. Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Lt. Col. David Ejoor, Lt. Col. David Hassan Katsina, Commodore J.E.A. Wey, Major Mobolaji Johnson, Alhaji Kam Selem and Mr. J. Omo-Bare. Others were Prince S.I.A. Akenzua (Permanent Under-Secretary, Federal Cabinet Office.), Mr. P.T. Odumosu (Secretary to the Military Government, West.), Mr. N.U. Akpan (Secretary to the Military Government, East.), Mr. D.P. Lawani (Under-Secretary, Military Governor’s Office, Mid-West) and Alhaji Ali Akilu (Secretary to the Military Government, North.) The Chairman of the Ghana National Liberation Council, Lt. Gen. J.A. Ankrah, declared the meeting open in his capacity as then the head of state of Ghana.

The decisions at Aburi amounted to, in terms of political and military control of Nigeria, that the country should be governed as a confederation.

Suffice it to say that the vocal military officers like Lt. Col. Murtala Muhammed, Major Martin Adamu and Major Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma did not attend the Aburi meeting. Prince Akenzua along with top permanent secretaries including Alhaji Yusuf Gobir, Phillip Asiodu, Eme Ebong, B.N. Okagbue and Allison Ayida deconstructed in Lagos, all that was agreed in Aburi.


On arrival in Lagos, Prince Akenzua discussed with Gowon and raised objections to what was agreed in Aburi. Gowon asked him to raise a memo which he did. I am sure a copy of the memo is with Gowon today while a copy is in the archives in the Presidency. Civil servants are to be seen and not to be heard and that is why Akenzua never released a copy of the memo to the world.

The memo dated January 8, 1967 began with: “Your Excellency, in view of my discussion with you last night, I am raising this memo in the interest our fatherland, Nigeria”. Akenzua traced the long hard road that Nigeria had travelled and stressed on the need to keep a United Nigeria.

He said in the memo that Gowon had given too much away in Aburi and that it would lead to the destruction of the country. He further added that Gowon had “legalised” total regionalism which “will make the centre very weak.” Akenzua alluded in his memo that a weak centre would lead to confederation and total disintegration of the country. It was the memo that prompted Gowon to summon a meeting of the secretaries to the military governments and other officials which was held in Benin City between February 16 and 18, 1967. If you look at the minutes of the Benin meeting presided over by Mr. H. A. Ejueyitchie, Secretary to the Federal Military Government, you will discover that it was a total rejection of what was agreed upon in Aburi. The Benin meeting interpreted in its own way the agreement reached in Aburi.
Read more details here - https://www.nairaland.com/3143222/biafra-memo-oba-akenzua-aburi



You guys made it look as if Gowon just decided to reject the Aburi Accord because he was a dictator. This if far from the truth. He was trying to carry everyone alone. Even two senior cabinet members from the former east rejected the Aburi Accord.
If he was a power drunk dictator, he would not have attended Aburi in the first place. He conceded to popular concensus by civil servants and his military colleagues.

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Re: Yakubu Gowon Was The True Hero Of The Civil War by Malawian(m): 12:22pm On Feb 19, 2020
Area4Area:
You have every right to be who you are irrespective of what these minions feel, their feelings or perception changes nothing nor rewrites your DNA.

I had stopped obliging any nitwit questioning my person nor origin all because of my political stand.

Try to ignore them next time, you own nobody no apology nor explanation.
Oga, stop these rubbish. I swear to God who created me, you are a Yoruba guy and i know you in person.

I know you gongon, not that they told me. we have met in 1998.
Re: Yakubu Gowon Was The True Hero Of The Civil War by gidgiddy: 12:57pm On Feb 19, 2020
wirinet:

Your guys employ emotions rather than tact and intelligence when dealing with political issues. Gowon would have removed Ojukwu once the coup succeeded and prepare to face Ojukwu loyalists in a war to remove him. That's why during and after coups, hostile officers were often murdered to prevent any resistance. Ojukwu, Gowon, Obasanjo, Danjuma were friends before the January 1966 coup and the murder of their colleagues. Gowon did not want further bloodshed among friends. If it was Danjuma that headed the coup, he would have killed Ojukwu and other officers that oppose him. I am sure Nzeogwu and others killed officers they knew would oppose them.

Gowon hurriedly signed the Aburi Accord without understanding the implications. Both of them were locked in a room without any aids to iron out their differences as friends and colleagues. Ojukwu managed to convince Gowon to sign the accord.

When Gowon returned to Nigeria, there was so much opposition to the Accord not only from the military, but also from the civil service and even other regions. He held a meeting in Benin with





You guys made it look as if Gowon just decided to reject the Aburi Accord because he was a dictator. This if far from the truth. He was trying to carry everyone alone. Even two senior cabinet members from the former east rejected the Aburi Accord.
If he was a power drunk dictator, he would not have attended Aburi in the first place. He conceded to popular concensus by civil servants and his military colleagues.

No matter who conducted the coup, whether Gowon or Danjuma, it wouldn't have been possible to kill Ojukwu because Ojukwu was in the East. The coup that brought Gowon to power only happened in the North, the West and in Lagos. There were just about 800 Nothern troops in the whole of the East and that was just too small a number surrounded by millions of Igbos.

I dont know why people keep defending Gowon for signing an agreement and failing to keep it. How is this Ojukwus fault?

If Gowon felt that the Aburi agreement he signed was not tenable, what he should have done is to seek another meeting with parties involved and renegotiate.

But what Gowon did was absolute lunacy. To abolish all 4 Regions, create 12 unitary states, strip them of their resources, change the revenue sharing formular

This is not a man who wanted peace, this was a man who wanted Northern domination of Nigeria

Can you imagine if it was Ironsi that did what Gowon did? Can you imagine if Ironsi has abolished all 4 Regions, created 12 states, alloted 6 of those states to his Eastern Region and the remainder to the rest of Nigeria, changed the revenue sharing formular so that the East that now had 6 states received the Lion share, arrogated himself so much powers.

Everywhere would have been burning. But because Gowon is a Northerner, some people try to defend that travesty

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Re: Yakubu Gowon Was The True Hero Of The Civil War by wirinet(m): 1:39pm On Feb 19, 2020
gidgiddy:


No matter who conducted the coup, whether Gowon or Danjuma, it wouldn't have been possible to kill Ojukwu because Ojukwu was in the East. The coup that brought Gowon to power only happened in the North, the West and in Lagos. There were just about 800 Nothern troops in the whole of the East and that was just too small a number surrounded by millions of Igbos.
That's why I said that as long as Ojukwu refused to take command from Gowon, war was inevitable. There was no coup in mid west, yet Lt. Col. David Ejoor accepted Gowon as commander in chief.



I dont know why people keep defending Gowon for signing an agreement and failing to keep it. How is this Ojukwus fault?

If Gowon felt that the Aburi agreement he signed was not tenable, what he should have done is to seek another meeting with parties involved and renegotiate.
People pull out of agreements all the time, especially if the person feels he did not have all the relevant information during the signing of the agreement or the agreement is no longer in their interest. People sign cease fire agreements and break it the next day.

If Gowon tried to force the agreement on civil servants and the military, which rejected the agreement, I am sure he would have been overthrown.


But what Gowon did was absolute lunacy. To abolish all 4 Regions, create 12 unitary states, strip them of their resources, change the revenue sharing formular
Ironsi had already unified the whole country, Gowon had little to do to further divide it.

The creation of 12 states was a strategy to weaken Ojukwu. He divided Ojukwu's territory into three and appointed new governors to the remaining 2. Ojukwu had control of only one of the 3 states. Gowon was taking advantage of the grievances of the minorities in the former easterner region had with the igbos.
Ganduje is trying to use the same strategy to curtain the influence of Emir Sanusi, by dividing the Kano Emirate council into 4.


This is not a man who wanted peace, this was a man who wanted Northern domination of Nigeria.
What do you mean northern domination? Gowon was from a minority tribes in Plateau. Gowon was fighting for power as done by all humans since the dawn of history.

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Re: Yakubu Gowon Was The True Hero Of The Civil War by NimrodEndOfDays(m): 3:00pm On Feb 19, 2020
Reading through the post. It is very obvious the narrative being portrayed by the OP. Have read his comments and rebuttal and they are so weak. Just ranting without logic but the same emotional state that started the civil war in the first place. Only an ignorant and unintelligent bigot would think that killing the millions of people who you claim to be compatriots justifiable. Notice how he is cheered by people with handles that have never spoken any good about Igbo people. Even when he made wrong assertions about some certain events they jubilated just because he is saying things that he feels might be hurtful to the Igbos. No matter how they try to make Igbos feel bad and join then in their mental state of perpetual servitude, the Igbos will always stand strong and raise their heads up high. We will never be cowed.
Re: Yakubu Gowon Was The True Hero Of The Civil War by joeyfire(m): 4:44pm On Feb 19, 2020
wirinet:


Regionalism in a multi ethnic, cultural and religious society like Nigeria would not work. It will lead to perpetual conflict within and without the regions or confederation. Many such societies had tried it in the past with disastrous consequences. Political struggles within the military and political elite would lead to anarchy.

So is Gowon's states model working?
Re: Yakubu Gowon Was The True Hero Of The Civil War by wirinet(m): 5:22pm On Feb 19, 2020
joeyfire:


So is Gowon's states model working?
It's not about regionalism or states, it's more about how resources are created, controlled, shared and utilised. Of course the federating units, whether regions or states are too many and are largely unviable, we have to find the most ultimal configuration considering the number of tribes in Nigeria.

Keep in mind that it was not Gowon that created the 36 states structure. It was subsequent military administrations that use state creation bribes for political support. Agitation for more states started right after independence till today. Most tribes and sub tribes in Nigeria are clamouring for their own states.
Re: Yakubu Gowon Was The True Hero Of The Civil War by joeyfire(m): 6:58pm On Feb 19, 2020
wirinet:

It's not about regionalism or states, it's more about how resources are created, controlled, shared and utilised. Of course the federating units, whether regions or states are too many and are largely unviable, we have to find the most ultimal configuration considering the number of tribes in Nigeria.

Keep in mind that it was not Gowon that created the 36 states structure. It was subsequent military administrations that use state creation bribes for political support. Agitation for more states started right after independence till today. Most tribes and sub tribes in Nigeria are clamouring for their own states.

The regional system is a million times better for Nigeria than the utterly worthless states monstrosity and nightmare of today and it still failed. The south in particular saw progress that is very visible today via the regions. The problem is and will always be the advantage given to the north by the British over the south. The crisis in the western region which led to the Nzeogwu coup and civil war is enough of a lesson for the wise

Gowon created a monster by abolishing the regions and creating states
Re: Yakubu Gowon Was The True Hero Of The Civil War by Johans1991: 8:36pm On Feb 19, 2020
gidgiddy:


You are very ignorant. How do you think Gowon won the war against Biafra? He achieved it with the massive support he got, in terms of of arms and ammunition, from super power nations such as Britain and Russia. He claimed he was fighting a war to keep Nigeria one. That was the only legitimacy he had.

Had Gowon gone on to commit genocide after the war ended, the legitimacy would have swung in favour of Ojukwu. The international community would have agreed that Ojukwu was actually fighting to safeguard his people and they would have come down hard on Gowon and Nigeria

Lets not forget that as at the time the War ended, there were still thousands of armed Biafran Soldiers in the bushes. The major reason why they chose to lay down their arms was that their wasnt mass killing of people like they thought.

Had a genocide occurred after the war ended, its most likely that the international community and the UN would have switched loyalty to Biafra and Nigeria would have been defeated

Gowon didnt do anyone any favours. Gowon is still listed as a genocidal killer in the international community. Gowon singlehandedly caused the civil war by going back on the Aburi agreement he signed with Ojukwu in Ghana

Gowon was no hero, he only fought for his fellow Northerners to have economic and political control of Nigeria
why confusing yourself? you said there was no genocide but you still called gowon a GENOCIDAL KILLER.
use your brain pls

1 Like

Re: Yakubu Gowon Was The True Hero Of The Civil War by Johans1991: 8:52pm On Feb 19, 2020
gidgiddy:


You are incredibly naive. The Nigerian Army has been fighting war with Boko Haram for almost 10 years. The Nigerian government keeps telling you that Boko haram has been defeated but the same Boko haram are killing people daily including Nigerian Soldiers. Thats because Boko haram is no longer fighting conventional warfare but guerilla warfare

The Nigerian government didn't actually defeat Biafra, it was Biafra that chose to end the war. My father was a Biafran officer and he told me that there were thousands of armed Biafran Soldiers who were determined to carry on with the war, even if guerilla style. The only reason they decided to stop fighting is because Ojukwus trusted deputy, General Philip Effiong, asked them to give peace a chance. Even as at that, most them still held to their guns for days, even weeks, to know if there was going to be a massacre

This narrative that Nigerian Soldiers had conquered the place and could do whatever they wanted wasn't true. Had those thousands of armed Biafran Soldiers chose to carry on guerilla style, the war might still be on now.

In the case of Ojukwu fighting a war, he didnt have much choice really. He had gone to Ghana, signed an agreement with Gowon so that there would be no war, Gowon broke the agreement. It was either submit to the will of Gowon and his Northern cohorts or fight for freedom. Freedom is one of the few things in life worth fighting for and Ojukwu and his people have no apologies for doing so

Kanu and IPOB are seeking self determination, which enshrined in international law that Nigeria has signed up to. It is the right of self determination that people like Zik, Awolowo and others used in asking for independence from Britain for the indigenous people in Nigeria

It is the same right that Kanu and others are using to ask Nigeria for independence for indigenous Igbos of Nigeria. What is wrong in people asking for freedom and independence? May be Kanu's style of agitation may not be to everyone's liking but he has not taken up arms and he did not kill anybody.

So what is the problem? Is by force to be a Nigerian?
mention anywhere self determination was mention in the constitution
secondly, if your commander run away from battle what do you call that one?

1 Like

Re: Yakubu Gowon Was The True Hero Of The Civil War by Dedetwo(m): 9:02pm On Feb 19, 2020
dboss12:


ibos civil servants stole money from the federal government and flet to the eastern region and were praising ojukwu for saving them from facing trial. read your history book Ibo bush boy and stop arguing unnecessarily.

I said some of the goons do not know the major composites of corruption. The embezzlement of fund probably was the least source of vexation to those who precipitated the January 15, 1966 coup. Major ones, as they have stated in certain books, were nepotism and cronyism. Today, a product of such crass irresponsible action of Tafawa Balewa has risen to become the president of Nigeria. As all bad manners of corruption, he has continued the nepotistic endeavors of the 60s northern political elites. Nigeria is as good as disintegrated period.

1 Like

Re: Yakubu Gowon Was The True Hero Of The Civil War by MICHEALADEX(m): 9:11pm On Feb 19, 2020
gidgiddy:


You are very ignorant. How do you think Gowon won the war against Biafra? He achieved it with the massive support he got, in terms of of arms and ammunition, from super power nations such as Britain and Russia. He claimed he was fighting a war to keep Nigeria one. That was the only legitimacy he had.

Had Gowon gone on to commit genocide after the war ended, the legitimacy would have swung in favour of Ojukwu. The international community would have agreed that Ojukwu was actually fighting to safeguard his people and they would have come down hard on Gowon and Nigeria

Lets not forget that as at the time the War ended, there were still thousands of armed Biafran Soldiers in the bushes. The major reason why they chose to lay down their arms was that their wasnt mass killing of people like they thought.

Had a genocide occurred after the war ended, its most likely that the international community and the UN would have switched loyalty to Biafra and Nigeria would have been defeated

Gowon didnt do anyone any favours. Gowon is still listed as a genocidal killer in the international community. Gowon singlehandedly caused the civil war by going back on the Aburi agreement he signed with Ojukwu in Ghana

Gowon was no hero, he only fought for his fellow Northerners to have economic and political control of Nigeria


What is this one saying sef... Like leaf casted upon the water going front and back

1 Like

Re: Yakubu Gowon Was The True Hero Of The Civil War by Rossippi: 9:18pm On Feb 19, 2020
Area4Area:
You have every right to be who you are irrespective of what these minions feel, their feelings or perception changes nothing nor rewrites your DNA.

I had stopped obliging any nitwit questioning my person nor origin all because of my political stand.

Try to ignore them next time, you own nobody no apology nor explanation.

Thanks bro. I just don't get the audacity some people have to come online and claim to know where a person must come from based on his political views.

Because they base their own views strictly on their ethnic loyalties rather than on common sense, logic, and reasoning, they think everybody is like them. It's just so ignorant and primitive.

If you do not believe in Biafra or secession, then you must not be an Igbo person.

Which poll did these illiterates conduct showing that every Igbo person supports secession?

Can you imagine their effrontery?

Fascists pretending to be freedom fighters.

Can you imagine any of these ones in power in a 'Biafra'?

Won't they just kill anybody who doesn't meet their definition of who a Biafran or Igbo person is?

May their type NEVER EVER achieve any form of power in Igboland.

Amen.

2 Likes

Re: Yakubu Gowon Was The True Hero Of The Civil War by wirinet(m): 9:44pm On Feb 19, 2020
Rossippi:


Thanks bro. I just don't get the audacity some people have to come online and claim to know where you must come from based on your political views.

Because they base their own views solely on their ethnic loyalties rather than common sense, logic, and reasoning, they think everybody is like them. It's just so ignorant and primitive.

If you do not believe in Biafra or secession, then you must be not be an Igbo.

Which poll did these illiterates conduct showing that every Igbo person supports secession?

Can you imagine their effrontery?

Fascists pretending to be freedom fighters.

Can you imagine any of these ones in power in a 'Biafra'?

Won't they just kill anybody who doesn't meet their definition of who a Biafran or Igbo person is?

May their type NEVER EVER achieve any type of power in Igboland.

Amen.

Biafra would be an absolute dictatorship country worse than North Korea.

My very good friend was jisting me on how in a bar they were discussing Biafra and Kanu with his friends. When he said he does not support Biafra or kanu, some hefty men who overheard his conversation came up to him and told him to repeat what he said. Fearing for his life, he told them up Biafra, up kanu, and they went back to their seats. He said he got up and left the place without finishing his drinks.

You can see their attitude by the amount of venom the pour on anyone who refuses to worship kanu here on nairaland.

2 Likes

Re: Yakubu Gowon Was The True Hero Of The Civil War by Johans1991: 9:52pm On Feb 19, 2020
DMerciful:
Amadu Bello, Balewa, Akintola and Okotie Eboh was killed by Nzeogwu and his gangs including
Yoruba officers, and they were not elected so cannot be said to have carried the mandate of the generality of Igbos. So what concerns Igbos with the actions of military men?
During the pogrom, they retaliated against Igbo military officers, why kill thousands of civilians who were not in the army? Gowon started the war but know the Biafra will come to pass!


hahahaaaa WHEN?
Re: Yakubu Gowon Was The True Hero Of The Civil War by Rossippi: 9:59pm On Feb 19, 2020
wirinet:


Biafra would be an absolute dictatorship country worse than North Korea.

My very good friend was jisting me on how in a bar they were discussing Biafra and Kanu with his friends. When he said he does not support Biafra or kanu, some hefty men who overheard his conversation came up to him and told him to repeat what he said. Fearing for his life, he told them up Biafra, up kanu, and they went back to their seats. He said he got up and left the place without finishing his drinks.

You can see their attitude by the amount of venom the pour on anyone who refuses to worship kanu here on nairaland.

That is an incredible, tragic story, and I believe every word of it.

I also recall a conversation with a distant uncle of mine over the Biafra issue. He was for Biafra and I was for One Nigeria, in a heated, though friendly debate over beer. Midway through our debate, he made a casual remark that startled me, to the effect that ''God save you if you go to Onitsha and say these things you're saying''.

I just replied him straight that ''all the more reason why Biafra is a bad idea, since there is no room for plurality of opinion in your little tribal republic''.

At least as a Nigerian, you can think what you like, say what you like, insult the president and leaders all you like, and nobody will disturb you.

2 Likes

Re: Yakubu Gowon Was The True Hero Of The Civil War by AragonOkeke: 10:50pm On Feb 19, 2020
[s]
Johans1991:
hahahaaaa WHEN?
[/s]
Re: Yakubu Gowon Was The True Hero Of The Civil War by AragonOkeke: 11:31pm On Feb 19, 2020
[s]
Johans1991:
mention anywhere self determination was mention in the constitution
secondly, if your commander run away from battle what do you call that one?
[/s]
Re: Yakubu Gowon Was The True Hero Of The Civil War by Dedetwo(m): 3:20am On Feb 20, 2020
wirinet:


Biafra would be an absolute dictatorship country worse than North Korea.

My very good friend was jisting me on how in a bar they were discussing Biafra and Kanu with his friends. When he said he does not support Biafra or kanu, some hefty men who overheard his conversation came up to him and told him to repeat what he said. Fearing for his life, he told them up Biafra, up kanu, and they went back to their seats. He said he got up and left the place without finishing his drinks.

You can see their attitude by the amount of venom the pour on anyone who refuses to worship kanu here on nairaland.

The bolded implicated few instances of your stream of thought. One of such instances remains you have nothing good to say about Igbo people. Another is the display of ignorance on the socio-political demeanor of Ndigbo. The people of Igbo do not have interest in one man's rule. It is not in their nature and shall never become. In addition, there are differences in human behavior when one searches for something as oppose when one finds it. The analogy of your friend telling a beer parlor story of Biafra and Kanu is silly at best.
Re: Yakubu Gowon Was The True Hero Of The Civil War by Kingspin(m): 3:26am On Feb 20, 2020
Rossippi:
After Ojukwu fled and the East surrendered, they were at the mercy of federal troops.

The federal troops were ready to march into the east and slaughter every single person there, thus ending the existence of the Igbo ethnic group.

Then they received a call from Lagos.

From Yakubu Gowon, who ordered them to sheathe their swords, and return to the barracks.

Without that call from Gowon, there would be no Igbos today, as an ethnic group.

There would be no Onitsha, Enugu, Owerri, Umuahia, Nnewi, Aba, or Abakaliki today.

Those places would have been renamed and would today be called,

New Kaduna

New Benin

Orisha Town

New Lagos

New Ilorin

New Zaria

Osun City

New Ilesha etc etc.


See, THAT is what NORMALLY happens when you lose a war.

You are not just left alone to carry on where you left off. All your leaders are executed. Your cities are burned to the ground, and your men massacred or enslaved, and your women carted off as wives and concubines, and scattered across the land.

But in Nigeria's case it was different, thanks to General Yakubu Gowon.

After the war he declared ''No Victor, No Vanquished''. A WORLD FIRST.

The entire world was STUNNED.

They least expected such a rare display of humanity and magnanimity from any country, least of all, an AFRICAN country.

Africa was a continent they had long dismissed as a savage, barbaric land filled with primitive, warring tribes who despised one other.

Gowon's declaration of ''No Victor, No Vanquished'' made world headlines, and was aired in every newspaper and TV station on earth when it happened, to serve as an example to the world, and to humanity, that military victory does not have to translate to the annihilation of your foe.

He even gave the defeated Biafrans money! And sent in federal funds to help rebuild their fallen cities! And allowed them to continue with self governance!

That simply never happens in warfare.

If you don't know warfare, go and study warfare.

Message for secessionist haters: Truth is, if Nigeria was anywhere near as evil, wicked and hateful of Igbos as you say she is, you wouldn't actually exist.





Since the end of the war how is your Nigeria?
Re: Yakubu Gowon Was The True Hero Of The Civil War by wirinet(m): 3:58am On Feb 20, 2020
Dedetwo:


The bolded implicated few instances of your stream of thought. One of such instances remains you have nothing good to say about Igbo people. Another is the display of ignorance on the socio-political demeanor of Ndigbo. The people of Igbo do not have interest in one man's rule. It is not in their nature and shall never become. In addition, there are differences in human behavior when one searches for something as oppose when one finds it. The analogy of your friend telling a beer parlor story of Biafra and Kanu is silly at best.
You clamour for some ego caressing. well my people are not known for caressing anyone's ego, we tell you the brutal truth, whether you like it or not.

What's the socio political demeanour of Ndigbo? When Biafra existed for a brief 2 and a half years, was it not ruled as an absolute dictatorship? Was Ojukwu not an absolute dictator, even worse than Gowon? Could anyone politician or militarily officer challenge Ojukwu without consequences? Someone that killed 4 of his top Generals during a war. Kim Jong Un would have been a learner to Ojukwu had Biafra stood.

What of Kanu's concept of Biafra? Is it not an absolute dictatorship? Will anyone be able to question kanu if he is "given Biafra", with Benue and Rivers states as he demanded?
Is IPOB not being run as an absolute dictatorship? Can members ask kanu to account for donations and dues collected by the organization? What's the management structure and constitution of IPOB?

You are just living in denial. You guys have threatened time and time again here in nairaland, that dared people to go to Aba or any part of Igboland and denounce Biafra. You claim they would be lynched on the streets. Some when dared some people to go to anioma or Ikwerre and say they are not igbos.
You guys issue threats of violence up and down to people of opposing ideas and yet claim "we are Republicans " better look up the meaning of Republicans in the dictionary.

1 Like

Re: Yakubu Gowon Was The True Hero Of The Civil War by wirinet(m): 4:04am On Feb 20, 2020
Kingspin:
Since the end of the war how is your Nigeria?
Nigeria is doing OK, given the mess the British left behind.
We are far from where we ought to be given the military's disruptions of our socio political life and the vicious struggle for power among politicians, but things could have been worse - much worse.

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