StaffofOrayan:


Most Niger Deltans would rather follow Hausas as slaves than follow Igbos as kings. This is the real reality and truthfully, Igbos caused this.

You guys already know it, that's why you beg for your 13%

Excerpts

tutudesz:

Are Igbos not part of those enjoying the remaining 87%

Culwizthedeltan:



GEJ does not have time to say this kind of trash.

IGBOS will from their nation and we wont leave an inch of IGBO territory behind in nigeria, be it in Benue, Kogi, Delta, Rivers and the entire Niger delta.

Ur little tribe has nothing to offer us so quit these useless threads

Excerpts

I begin this write-up by saying that I mean no ill-thought towards the Biafran struggle or Igbos in general. What I’ve written here are mainly my personal reflections concerning the Niger Delta, especially with regards to non-Igbo groups and their stake in the Biafran movement which has been rebirthed for some time now. I am not a mouthpiece for the Niger Delta but I believe I’ve been in the Niger Delta long enough to know our problems and our stand. I’ve also interacted with many Niger Deltans to know their stand in the Biafran sttruggle.

When I use the term Niger Delta, I am referring to the region covering Delta, Edo, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River states. However, I understand that the region also covers Ondo, Imo, and Abia states. I’m not concerned with the latter because they are either Igbos or Yorubas and have their own struggles. The ethnic groups within my coverage include Urhobo-Isoko, Bini, Esan, Itsekiri, Ijaw-Epie-Ogbia, Ogoni, Afemai, Efik-Annang-Eket-Oron-Ibibio, Ogoja, Ejagham, and other groups in Cross River North. Ikwerre, Ukwuani, Ika, Aniocha, Ogba, and other Igboid groups, are not included. Historically, Biafra covered all the Niger Delta states EXCEPT Delta and Ondo states. This fact must be emphasised.

Pro-Biafrans are welcome to debate and address my issues in a civil manner. I understand that most pro-Biafrans resort to insults when salient issues are addressed.

Please let’s set a good precedence from hereon.


1. Biafra may not be better for Niger Deltans because Niger Deltans may end up living one form of subjugation for another. The argument Igbos have made for their freedom is the desire to be free from Hausa-Yoruba domination. That argument also applies to the average Niger Deltan. Igbo, no doubt, will be the major ethnic group if Biafra is actualised. Ijaws may have a stake due to their numbers. What about the Ogonis, Urhobo-Isokos, Itsekiris, Efiks, etc? Where will they fit in at the national level? The sad reality is that another Nigeria will just be made manifest and resentments will build up. What will really be the fate of minorities? Will they fare better in Biafra or alone? In Nigeria, big groups such as Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo checkmate each other’s excesses very well. Who will checkmate that of Igbos in the new nation?


2. The issue of annexation comes to play. For so long, e-Biafrans have annexed Niger Delta as part of the proposed nation. The map below shows us what Biafrans have drawn to constitute the new nation:?
If we judge from this map, it means all groups in the Niger Delta have been annexed. My question is whether the leaders of these groups have been consulted before the annexation was done. I, for one, know that Urhobo-Isoko and Efik-Ibibio leaders have not approved of Biafra neither have anybody in these regions declared Biafra. So how and why were they included in the proposed map? Little things like this bring distrust and I understand that many of these non-Igbo regions have disowned the map and pledged allegiance to Nigeria. The declaration by the Delta State government is a case in point. I see this as forceful annexation. The so-called e-Biafrans have also not done much in calming the nerves of the people of the annexed regions. I’ve seen comments such as “if you don’t like it, go and stay in Sokoto”, “all land in the South is Biafraland”, etc. Is it not ironic that a group of people who want freedom want to annexe others?


3. What languages will be made the official languages of the new nation? I have seen several posts by e-Biafrans where Igbo was proposed as the official language of the new republic. What then will happen to other languages such as Urhobo, Isoko, Okpe, Efik, Ibibio, Oron, Ogoni, Eleme, Okrika, Kalabari, Bini, Esan, etc? Will they die off because of Igbo? Certainly NOT! If English is made the official language, the Igbo majority factor will kick in. If your name isn’t Chukwuemeka or Oliseh, Amarachi or Nneka, etc, you won’t get any appointment nor shall you be recognised. These are things we can’t deny. We are very ethnocentric in Africa.


4. What and what have Igbo nation done for Niger Deltans to gain their trust? Every day I see Igbo youths making enemies where there were none. They constantly use the agency of the internet to sprout controversy, hurl insults at dissenters and make unfounded claims. There is this general air of mistrust for Igbos by some Niger Deltans, particularly by Urhobo-Isoko and Bini people. What have Igbos done to checkmate this? Has any Igbo leader or group extended the hand of friendship to the Niger Deltans. Mistrust cannot be wished away. Most Niger Deltans would rather follow Hausas as slaves than follow Igbos as kings. This is the real reality and truthfully, Igbos caused this.

5. Who will lead the new nation? Obviously, Nnamdi Kanu, their hero, has fought tooth and nails for Biafra and he is currently cooling off in jail. If Biafra comes today, who will be the interim leader and what modalities are in place for subsequent leaders to be elected? Igbos have been the only ones fighting for Biafra since time immemorial with a handful of other groups here and there. Will Igbos allow other groups to rule over them? Will they allow an Urhobo man to be President, for instance? This is not a case of mere wishing. We have to understand that Niger Delta groups MAY NEVER BE ALLOWED TO RULE BIAFRA IF IT IS ACTUALISED.

6. Still on the issue of leaders, are the new leaders going to fall from the skies or they are simply going to change addresses from Abuja to Enugu. If so, what will change in the new nation? It is not arguable that Igbo national leaders are the most corrupt persons in Nigeria. If these same people are the ones to rule the new nation then there is no hope because corruption will be so rife that the economy of the new nation will shut down like a knocked engine. If we argue that new and younger leaders will arise, we still have the issue of who fought for Biafra to contend with. Most pro-Biafrans will not allow someone who sat at the periphery of the struggle to just come and waltz power away from the “heroes” of Biafra. If this is true then we will not have a proper democracy in Biafra.


8. Will Biafra be a utopia? The impression that e-Biafrans give is that Biafra will be perfect and we all know for a fact that this is not true. Apart from the issue of corruption and sentimentalism that have been addressed, we still have the issue of development. Where will money be generated from to develop the nation? In the whole of the proposed Biafra, only Port Harcourt and Onitsha are economically viable cities. Where will the investors come from? Why should they invest in a volatile country? Only in Warri, we have Ijaw, Itsekiri and Urhobo at loggerheads, imagine what would happen to the whole nation. Secondly, I am sure that no Niger Deltan will allow his “oil” to be used to develop Enugu like what happened with Abuja, and is still happening today. Niger Deltans are getting wiser and by the time the new nations are formed, matters that border on oil, wealth distribution and infrastructural development will be raised.


9. The current structure of the proposed nation, as shown in the map earlier embedded, favour Igbos with more states. Urhobo has one, Efik-Ibibio has two, Itsekiri has none, etc. How will this be addressed? Certainly, every ethnic nationality will want adequate representation and so the structure on that map will never work.


10. Last, but not the least, is the issue of referendum. Some Biafrans are already calling for a referendum which will involve all parts of the proposed nation. I am pretty sure how this referendum will turn out. However, for the sake of being hypothetical, let us imagine that some ethnic groups/states vote against Biafra by the majority, what will be their fate at the end of the day? Secondly, will the result of such a referendum be true and honest? I understand that electoral malpractice forms a part of our identity. How are we going to get a true reflection of people’s thoughts? Thirdly, if states and ethnic groups do decide to vote for Biafra, what mechanisms are in place to contain Igbophobia, Igbomania, Igbocentrism, Igbo hegemony, Landgrabbing, and all issues that minorities have raised?
Above are the reasons why I feel that Niger Deltans will NOT subscribe to the Biafran movement. I have been very practical, philosophical and hypothetical in my approach. I do not speak for any group or persons but I present these issues for the pro-Biafrans to address. Niger Deltans can raise more issues that I have not raised. Finally, it should be noted that I expect insults directed at my person by e-warriors and keyboard mercenaries, as usual, but I won’t pleasure such persons with answers or altercations. If you raise good points, we can discuss like intellectuals.


Long Live Niger Delta!!

Abdul05:
If only ojukwu had known of such people( Niger Deltans have hated the IBO's ever since),he would have discarded the ideal of Biafra and he would then have sought ways and means of obtaining the best possible concessions for his own people who had suffered most.

soundOsonic:


This is the Igbo centrism we are talking about. Igbo don't need Niger delta, Naira delta need the Igbos?.
If Biafra comes, this statement clearly shows how ego centric most Igbos are. You are not the first I have heard this from, neither are you the second.
But seriously Niger Delta is just an end to a means.
Igbos and the Hausas are just to end of thesame coin. The reason why they are at each other's neck is because they have very much in common than any ethnic group. What the Hausa are doing to Igbos in Nigeria, is what Igbos will do to the Niger Delta.
Hausa and Igbo are in every villages in Nigeria they can't just stay one place.

Hausa and Igbo are at every market in Nigeria, they can't just let indigenes do their own market.

Hausa and Igbo are the ethnic group that does mostly petty businesses.

Hausa and igbo are the one with most unified religion (Christianity and Islam)

Hausa and igbo youths are ever ready to lose their life because of one supreme leader (Northern caliphate who lurks in the shadow and of course Kanu who ride to battle field with his keyboard) their youths are bunch of amateurs.

Hausa and igbo have the highest number of billionaires. (Shadow billionaires)

Hausa and igbo rarely gives their daughters to other tribe.

Hausa and igbo are not tolerant of other people religion.

Hausa and igbo for some strange reasons thinks they are destined to rule.

You all are thesame

HandsomeBlack:
I think someone (most likely a Niger Deltan) wrote that piece to give the Pro-Biafran Igbos opportunity to clear some of the misgivings they (Niger Deltans) have about joining Biafra.
Nnamdi Kanu and other pro-Biafra leaders should look into these issues raised and address them sincerely to alley the fears of your minorities.

theFilmtric:
no source?— but its quite true though

theFilmtricsay

EdoDefence:


Same way Nigeria was built, but later hijacked.
Well my side is not Biafra so I won't try to derail the Biafran agitation.

PERVENCHE:


so true. I am an Idoma man from Benue, my village is just a walking distance from Obolle in Enugu state. we share the same staunch Faith in Catholicis
m with the Ibos. But when I went serving in the east...the Ibos kept calling me an aboki. I was an outsider.

I think Ibos like the fulanis are not inclusive. Yes! mostly those who have not been out of the east. they have this crass about them that makes you know you will not be welcome at the table but maybe allowed to have the leftover.

for Ibos to rule, they need to reach out to the minority ethnic groups around them. even in the US, Latino, Asian and black votes are key.

Emu4u2c:
source or No Source
Link or no link
That does not take out the fact that This article is the truth.

There is a general Air Of Mistrust for the Igbo Tribe and they have the false sense of an “Igbophobia “which was caused by them.

The Igbos create enmity every where they go in the name of developing their host location.

I have had personal experiences with The Igbo man That gives little to be desired

PERVENCHE:


neither can you blame me for the civil war. I was born in 86. never one to shy away from asking questions. my folks too were victims of the war because of our close proximity to y'all Ibos. we were easily mistaken for you guys thus why most middle age and older Idoma folks have facial marks to differentiate.

shortly before the war, there was a national dislike for the Ibos as Chinua Achebe (my favourite person of all time) clearly captured in his "There Was a Country" because that generation were small minded and petty. just as we now have a national dislike for herders.

the kanuris in the northeast are neither Hausa nor fulanis
the nupes in Niger and Abuja are neither Hausa nor fulanis
they are only neighbours to them

yet the Hausa will always tag them as theirs because they understand politics; a game of numbers.

keep calling us northern minorities

instead of middle belters


the way forward is to join hands into the future
instead of holding to grudge and the small minded pettiness of our parents during the civil war.

have blissful day.

cheers!

Skyfornia:
Valid points though I know they didn't emanate from GEJ

EdoDefence:


And if they reach out to you, you will allow them? Well just know when they get there, they will throw you away

EdoDefence:


We wanting to be left alone doesn't mean we want to be slaves

coputa:
This is not a matter of hate,Ojukwu was blinded by greed that he didn't see these issues clearly.
Biafra failed from the word go.

LikeAking:
Make una calm down.

Naija is where it is because,most of us are not making use of our talents.

We dont have respect for anybody

We dont know how to mind our biz.

We love to bring people down.

We are self centered and we dont think of anoda mans good.

We are not brave.
We are very envious and hateful.

We have a small/primitive mindset.

We have very low standards.

We are dishonest.

We cant manufacture, innovate and design.

We are the devils workshop cos most of us are idle.

Seraphicelement:
Germaine questions

post=98936940:
Jonathan on Biafra.

Quoted for posterity sake!

romenna:
As an edo man, I want to warn the biafran agitators to keep their biafra among the five south eastern states.
Any attempt for them to cross that line will lead to a repeat of 1967 to 1970

EdoDefence:


Most WAZOBIA people will mostly not mind their business
Niger Delta people will be free to make their choices wether to split or be one or go with other regions

tutudesz:

Are Igbos not part of those enjoying the remaining 87%

Logan23:


Una no get the population or whatever it takes to form a country...na to just de talk nansense be una talent

Logan23:


What a stupiid post.

Stop being brainless. Ojukwu never formed biafra and he never declared biafra on his own....He doesnt have the power to do that.

Fahdiga:
So says a drunk

soundOsonic:


This is the Igbo centrism we are talking about. Igbo don't need Niger delta, Naira delta need the Igbos?.
If Biafra comes, this statement clearly shows how ego centric most Igbos are. You are not the first I have heard this from, neither are you the second.
But seriously Niger Delta is just an end to a means.
Igbos and the Hausas are just to end of thesame coin. The reason why they are at each other's neck is because they have very much in common than any ethnic group. What the Hausa are doing to Igbos in Nigeria, is what Igbos will do to the Niger Delta.
Hausa and Igbo are in every villages in Nigeria they can't just stay one place.

Hausa and Igbo are at every market in Nigeria, they can't just let indigenes do their own market.

Hausa and Igbo are the ethnic group that does mostly petty businesses.

Hausa and igbo are the one with most unified religion (Christianity and Islam)

Hausa and igbo youths are ever ready to lose their life because of one supreme leader (Northern caliphate who lurks in the shadow and of course Kanu who ride to battle field with his keyboard) their youths are bunch of amateurs.

Hausa and igbo have the highest number of billionaires. (Shadow billionaires)

Hausa and igbo rarely gives their daughters to other tribe.

Hausa and igbo are not tolerant of other people religion.

Hausa and igbo for some strange reasons thinks they are destined to rule.

You all are thesame

Logan23:


Igbos and buafrabs are not interested in the useless 87%, that's why they are demanding for their own nation.

Go to hell with ur 13% and 87%

Logan23:


Shut up, U are an edo man so speak for ur tribe In Edo state. U are not in anyway authorized to speak for the entire SS, which is a region where igbos represent the largest tribes by far