…Says his coming book will lend credence to Achebe
By CHIDI OBINECHE
A participant and apparent living encyclopedia of the events that led to the fratricidal civil war in Nigeria between 1967 and 1970, Col Joe Achuzia (Air raid), has joined issues with critics of celebrated novelist, Prof. Chinua Achebe, who in his latest work: “There was a country,” blamed former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (retd), and the Yoruba political leader and Vice Chairman of the then National Executive Council, the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, of formulating policies that led to the horrendous genocide against the Igbos of Eastern Nigeria.
Achuzia yesterday told Daily Sun that Gowon and Awolowo were responsible for the genocide, while dismissing critics of Achebe.
Pointedly, he accused Gowon of playing the ostrich while brazen murders of his military superiors and massive genocide were being perpetrated under his watch.
He also accused Awolowo of using his position after his release from prison to extract a pound of flesh from his perceived enemies, whom he believed, unwittingly, through the NPC/NCNC Accord (Northern Peoples Congress/National Council of Nigeria Citizens) contributed to his imprisonment.
Achuzia, who is putting finishing touches to his own civil war memoirs, said that when released, it would finally settle the issue and put the duo in vintage position as prime perpetrators of the genocide of more than three million Easterners, who were said to have died during the strife.
He went down memory lane to exhume salient facts to buttress Achebe’s stand: “I landed in the country from overseas on the day of the July 29 coup. I had known the late Murtala Mohammed and knew he was one of those involved in the crises at the time. He met me at the Murtala Mohammed Airport, Lagos and arranged accommodation for my family and me for two days before we departed for Benin.
“There was intense struggle for power between Murtala Mohammed and Gowon before and during the Coup. The middle belt, which had more numerical strength in the army, supported Gowon.”
He continues, “When Gowon took over, he relied more on Awolowo and the permanent secretaries – Allison Ayinda, Phillip Asiodu, in formulating policies. Immediately Awo was released from prison, which (late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu) Ojukwu was instrumental to, thinking he had a friend, strong anti-Igbo sentiments welled up in the government. Unfortunately Awo never forgives nor forgets.
“The events that led him to prison were never lost on him and, somehow, the NPC/NCNC accord was the issue. He became the minister of finance and went after the Igbos through his policies. I was in prison when Gowon held the so-called security meeting that declared police action. The strategic studies institute was originally planned to be located in the Mid-West then. Gowon, at the meeting, directed that I should be released from prison and head the institute. The then head of prisons, Giwa Osagie, divulged the information to the late Anthony Enahoro and Awo. He suggested that instead of sitting down in a house for the discussion, since walls have ears, they should drive about and talk in the car, so that his secrets would be secured. He forgot that the driver of the car was an Igbo man, who later ran to the superintendent of prisons at Kirikiri and squealed.
“The prisons superintendent summoned me and asked the driver to narrate his story again. Thereafter, I demanded to see Barrister Okuzo and the late Chief Collins Obih of ACB (African Continental Bank). They came in the morning to see me and I narrated what I heard to them. Later, they reached out to the military hierarchy, including Gowon. Four days after the incident, Osagie was sacked and it caused a lot of commotion. That was in 1970.
“Achebe got to know about these and he reflected them in his new book. These two people were responsible for the formulation of policies and execution of the civil war, including the genocide. When I release my own book, which is in the making, many things will come to the fore. I remember that after the declaration of police action by Gowon, I urged those who used their position to unleash horror and death on innocent people, before and during the civil war, advising those that are still alive among them, to seek for forgiveness and atonement of their sins against humanity.”
Hmmmm!! Wickedness of men.
methinks the igbos will buy their own memoirs on the civil war-what about the atrocities they committed during the war in rivers state-and have continued to perfect-was it not the Igbos who enjoined abacha and abdulsalam to kill abiola- and kensarowiwa? Awo was the best nigeria never had-the igbos should secede-we are already fed up with their criminal mind set in nigeria and abroad
We have always known that gowon feed on human flesh and blood. But one thing is certain, he who kills by the gun must and must die the gun.
IDIOT mother fucker gowon.
2 facemen are the worse u can deal with in dis life.may God save us from de pretenders.
This is the gospel truth and we Ibos are aware of it despite attempts by some die hard tribalist to defend the indefensible.
Those days it was the igbos today Bakasi tomorrow it may be another earthnic group. So you can see the folly of to keep Nigeria one is a task that must be done of Papa Gowon and The one Nigeria of Zik of Africa. Well, Let every one in this land stop crying because it is still too early.
@ Rev. I really cant picture the point you are trying to prove. Make your statement to be clear
I think some facts are missing in what Prof Achebe and Col.Achuzia is telling the world because non of them is telling us the genocide the Biafrans soldiers commited in the present day’s Rivers & Bayelsa states.They should not be biased in their write up.Why are they not telling us the non Igbo idegines that were masacred in the east then.Another thing is that they should see genocide from security view and not from litrature view.If only they can understand the security definations of genocide they will know that there is no point in what they are saying.They should use their intelect to move Nigeria forward instead of using it potray bad & hatred image to the new ganaration.
@jide ….I am sure it is your time to tell us what you know about the war too. Please don’t hide anything because the this is the time for truth, but if you don’t have anything to tell us just keep quite. As for moving the country forward, forget it because no country can move forward with lies and injustice. Niger delta people are begging for 50% of oil money that is coming from their back yard and to you that is justice and a way of moving the country forward. When groundnut was the source of Nigeria’s revenue, 50% of the proceeds was giving to northerners. Today Niger Delta is giving 13% of oil money in the name of moving the country forward. One Nigeria indeed where injustice reigns supreme.
@JIDE U MUST BE A FOOL!
The aggressiveness of Igbo is obvious o these pages but I am sorry that you need to address facts rather than just abuse!
as a chameleon you are,obviously you hate the truth
That is one thing with you westerners.U pacted with the Northerners and you thought you would make progress through.Don’t worry,nemesis will catch up with you all.Don’t forget the sayings that the sins of the ancestors are visited upon the children.
Tell us why u think he is a fool.
You see where the problem has been and presently lies, the best Denis could do is to abuse someone else rather than stress his own points. We have a long way to go. All i have seen here is that the people behind all these Achebe and Col. Achuka’s latest effort to draw apart Yoruba and Igbos knows themselves and they are doing this to prevent an Igbo President come 2015. unfortunately they are using the Igbos to thwart the much sought after ambition of the Igbo people. A real Igbo man should query the timing of these so called ‘war memoirs’ vis-a-vis 2015 general elections. My 2 cents after all.
BIG FOOL INDEED.
Yes is a purely a fool forever
@ Jide. When were the non Igbo’s killed in the present Rivers and Bayelsa states? What led to the killing. I believe from this i can understand the angle you are coming from.
On the issue of Bakassi, i dont want to talk much on that because it was the same people who are crying today were the people who supported Gowon and his partner in crime Awolowo together with OBJ give Bakassi to Cameroun so as to easily penetrate Biafra. Where are all this people now? The middle belt are suffering because of the sins of their brother Gowon, the west are not on the better side too. Its high time we both went our seperate ways in this country and allow each region to carry its cross. GOD BLESS NIGERIA!!!
I am sorry to say that Jide does not understand the gist. Before the Civil War, Igbos were the most traveled tribe who lived outside their native land.
From the events that led to the Civil War and during the war, Igbos were tortured, maimed and killed by their fellow Nigerians of which Awolowo, Gowan and Danjuma should always be blamed.
This fact must be recognised and then we (Nigerians) will move forward.
What pains me a lot is that ( that devil) awolowo had gone to the great beyond. But why did he have to die and leave Nigeria; the oil in Niger Delta behind. Alas, he shouldn’t have died. Jide, you an unrepetant sinner with the false picture you have paint
jide or whatever u can call yourself,from what I saw in you,you are not only a chameleon but ”bastard” based on your of comments. Because if know what you are u can’t be here talking a trash by insinuating all kinds of jargons simply because u love your brothers indeed the hausas ,yorubas and ur so called nigerians[of course excluding the "IGBOS" which is quite obvious] against the IGBOS,.If have forgotten what you are,kindly assess yourself before exposing what you are. Of course your types are not the problems of IGBOS..you know that
@Jide, i knw you are from S/west, yours are coming, more bad things are to be fall to Nigeria and I believe it will be between North and West. Be careful.
NORTH WILL NEVER NO PEACE, THEY ARE CURSED.
It seems the brain washing done on some Niger Deltans against the Igbos is still disturbing mr jide. A brain wash that made one who has igbo name to deny himself to satisfy the powers that be for a plate of pourage. Try and know the truth and be free.
Jide, I wont call you a fool as Dennis did, but you are the most unreasonable in all comments here. My last check, it was the Igbos that were massacred in Rivers and Bayelsa and their properties seized. Reports had it that lots of Igbos were packed into underground water wells. Ojukwu greeted Saro Wiwa “good morning” in the evening during Saro Wiwa’s ordeal. The wise understood what Ojukwu meant, because the Rivers and Bayelsa killed their Igbo brothers thinking the North is better. Yes I do not support further hatred, but we cannot get peace by hiding the truth. Wish you will learn Jide.
Jide or whatever you call yourself, when fools speak, we know. its like you lack understanding.
Jide dnt no wat 2 tel U…bcos u ar as stupid nd as sectionalize as ur ppl. Our Father Odumegwu ojukwu hav seen it all nd said it all we ar a bunch of ppl join 2gether witout feelings nd consideration. Jide go nd ask ur fathers wat an Igbo Man did 2 u ppl nd Nigeria..
Jide, tell us about them. We want to know all the atrocities that happened that time and one or two people may not be able to capture all. So Jide, we are all ears.
MOVE NIGERIA FOWARD SORY JIDE NIGERIA AS PRESENTLY CONSTITUTED WILL NEVER MOVE FOWARD.ASK YOURSELF IF WE HAVE MADE PROGRESS IN EDUCATION,SECURITY,UNITY,ECONOMY AND ANY SANE AREA OF LIFE SINCE 1970-NO.
AWO IN HIS INTERVIEW IN 1983 AND HIS BOOK ACCEPTED THAT HE WAS MISLED BY SOLDIERS IN P.H,CALABAR AND ENUGU AFTER THOSE CITIES WERE LIBERATED TO STOP RED CROSS AND CARITAS FROM SENDING BEVERAGES AND MEDICINE TO BIAFRAN WOMEN AND CHILDREN TAPPED BEHIND ENEMY LINES AND THAT HE CHANGED THE NIGERIAN POUNDS OVERNIGHT TO STOP BIAFRAN GOVT FROM USING THE ONES IN THEIR HANDS TO PROCURE FOOD AND ARMS FROM ABROAD,SMART MOVE BUT HE ACCEPTED HE DID THAT AND EVEN FELT HE SHOULD NOT HAVE DONE THAT IF HE WAS NOT MISINFORMED.GOOD HE DID ALL THESE TO PROMOTE YORUBA NATION BUT IT LED TO DEATH OF OVER TWO MILION BIAFRAN WOMEN AND CHILDREN ,THIS IS THE GENOCIDE WHICH IS AGAINST GENEVA CONVENTION ON WAR,ALL ACTIONS MUST NOT AFFECT WOMEN AND CHILDREN WHO ARE NOT INVOLVED IN THE POLITICAL STRIFE.
AWO IS DEAD,OJUKWU IS DEAD,GOWON IS ALIVE,ACHEBE AND ACHUZIA ARE ALIVE,MOST OF THE PEOPLE THAT MISLED AWO DIED IN TRAGIC MANNER,REMEMBER MURTALA,ABACHA,SHEHU YARADUA,,ADISA,DANJUMA ,OBJ,IBB AND GOWON ARE NOT VERY HAPPY PERSONS TODAY.DENIAL INSTEAD OF APOLOGY WILL NOT TAKE US ANYWHERE,AFTER ALL WE ARE BACK TODAY OR FIND OUT IN THE ARMED FORCES IF WE ARE STIL ON THE FRINGES.
Jide u are the biggest yoruba fool on planet earth.U must spell your words correctly before you write them .nonsense
JideO is only being disingenuous. Don’t change the topic yet, mister. You need to pray hard for Awo. He needs your prayers to be able to have peace wherever he may be. The “genocide” in the places you mention we all know about. I am Ijaw and I know how the 3rd Marine Commando murderers and rapists distributed leaflets listing fake names of our natives who Biafra soldiers were supposed to have either killed or intended to kill. It was all done in the inglorious Igbo hate propaganda effort of Gowon and his reckless gang. Our terrorized natives had no options but to buy Gowon’s lies. But, we all know better today.
However, as things unfold, we may have need for the real ‘peace & reconciliation’ commission. People like Benjamin Adekunle, who committed atrocities in the Rivers State, and a host of other murderers including Gowon, must be served justice. Did you notice how Muritala Mohammed and Ibrahim Taiwo died. Providence did not wish to spare those demons any more breath than the amount they already had. They got a their summary dispatch for their role, along with Ibrahim Haruna, in the murder of over 600 Igbos in Asaba. These criminals have been running around, masquerading under titles and acronyms they hope can shield them from the punishment they deserve. But, alas! they can’t hide. Each day brings them closer to the hangman’s noose.
Jide which one be ganeration again. Empty head.
Awolowo was the problem of Nigeria not even Gowon but since Gowon was the head of government as at that time he has to tyake the blame. No wonder because of fear of Igbos mmerit was relegated to the background in recruitment to govt works, in admissions to university just to see that Igbos are disagvantaged. The easternersa must stand up now we need conferation or slipt this country. Nigeria can never be one
Yes the so called Gowon claimed he fought the civil war to keep Nigeria one, he should also fight the bokoharm and Fulanis to save his people in platue state in other to keep Nigeria one.
All effort to avoid the issue of BIAFRA have proved abortive in Nigeria. Biafra have refused to die, why don’t we just let Biafra to be so that we can have peace. From the day Biafra was born till date, Nigeria have known no peace nor progress. Gowon should be ashamed of himself for failing to do the right thing at the right time. As for Awolowo, his punishment didn’t end by his suicide here on earth.
Pls for peace sake let the sleeping dog lye.
Of truth, these are the enemies of Nigeria. I totally agree with Jide. This is not a time for this bullship and malicious history. The devil is using all this malicious writers to divert Nigerians attention from steps that will get Nigeria delivered from the oppressive hand of the greedy, selfish and demonic politicians sucking the country dry.
Genocide or no genocide, how many lifes have been lost since civil war. Religious wars have claimed several igbos in the North, what have they written about that. Truly, this is a country of elitic fools governed by idiots.
I think Gowon is still alive? Let him comment. Gowon should stop deceiving himself by organizing prayers in the name of Nigeria prays. God is not answering such prayers because the innocent blood that Gowon shed are crying against him before God. He better seek for atonement before it is too late.
Mike Anyanwu
Jide,why not write your own book to show those missing facts? May the memories of Biafra haunt Nigeria for ever.
Jide what type of a fool are you? Why dont you tell us about the Igbo genocide? Where and when did the massacre take place? What war did you observe? If indeed you are correct, does one wrong justify another? You are clearly an idiot and know absolutely nothing of what you speak.The last head of State of Biafra was General Effiog, a non-Igbo. The Adjutant General of Biafra was a non-Igbo. The secretary of State of the Republic of Biafra was Mr, Ita, a non-Igbo. Why do fools like you pollute the medium with abject nonsense. What by the way is the [sic] security definition of genocide.
you are a mad man. Igbo will never forgive this animal.
Why are these supposed statesmen bringing up this issue of Awo Vs Igbos. They have failed to realize that some events led to the secession such as the pogrom in the North. Not one minute has anybody recounted on how many westerners died between 1961 and Jan 1966 during the Western region crisis..Never had there been a time when the Igbos mentioned the circumstances surrounding the death of Late Col. Fajuyi, Brig Ademulegun. Awo’s concern about stopping the unnecessary death of innocent children and women during the war is now an offense. Attempt to create a super race in Nigeria will not work. You can sacrifice Awo for as long as possible. The truth will come out one day. Col Achuzia’s story does not add up. The pogrom was during the civilian regime and the civil war was a military action. Attempt to bomb cater bridge in Lagos and the kidnapping and massacre of the Yoruba man in Kampala was a way the Ibos showed their love for the Yorubas! Somebody is biting the finger that is feeding him. Some of the closest people to Awo like MCK Ajuluchukwu, Ernest Ikoli and others will stir in their graves to hear about all these on Awo. Who and why was Adaka Boro fighting and on whose side was he during the civil war. The civil war had come and gone. The whole country is suffering today because we did not listen to Awo. He made the South West including Lagos a heaven for all Nigerians. Ibos should first of all look for Ajie Ukpabi Asika the administrator of Eastern Nigeria if he was not part of the so called genocide against the Ibo. It is about time we think about our relationship.
Jide .o , U are a Bastard , why u people are killing Igbos , what is ur gain there , Ok let biafran stand u said No , why cant u people leave us alon what have we don to Nigeria’s, even now , dont u have eyes ? Igbo christian s been kill every day in the North. all is what Ojukwu saw.
i think ure absolutly wrong…com to tink of it, if d igbo’s decids 2 stand on der own, wat resources do they hav to stand on? u guys hav nothing bt criminal brain…try nd ask d igbo’s in southwest to go bak home nd see d level of crime bak @ home….to hell with biafra my foot.
I hate the way u people present killing of christains in the north as if other non Ibo christhains are non human, it is wrong the line is already drawn between christains and muslims north and that is all.
I will not say you are bastard. but you know who you are. Do you know that your biafran armies had occupied Ondo State and Ogun State, and you want biafra to stand. if you want to stand, can you stand in your own land. what concerns yoruba territory with your war. Awo would have made policies that were more devastating than that.
If only Igbos can understand what other tribes are helping them out in their problems, Achebe could not have gone to a publisher for this illicit book of his. I know it is a market strategy. He wanted a good readership to make his pocket full. Otherwise how on earth person could come up with such useless writeup when the country is in great need of revival in all aspect. Person comes up to add moor injuries to the wound. Ibgos should answer these questions; who originated the war? What is the meaning of war? If you start war what do you expect. Lets face the fact, they are the ones that are guilty of genocide by killing millions of the South South people of Bayelsa, Rivers etc. It is only a fool that sees fire and puts his hand in it. You were starved during the war so that you surrender. Gowon, Great Awolowo and other Nigerians never wanted further bloodshed by the gun. So, the genocide you talking about was coursed by your kit and kins on the Ibgos and the non-Igbos-the Ijaws and others who did not support you. A word is enough for the wise.
you want to stand alone at the detriment of yoruba territory. have you ever asked your so called achebe and ojukwu that why did they want to take over ondo and ogun state. have you forgotten that awolowo is from ijebu which biafran armies had occupied. if you want to stay alone, go back to your land. leave southwest
Jide O are you from River State?, is River State not Biafra? are not part of the struggle?, i think you have short memory and want to twist history to your favour. Please you and your people should simply ask for forgiveness for the heinous sin you committed against children and civilians. hypocrisy, have you forgiven abacha for june 12, which you celebrate every year.
Jide is yoruba – short for Ola-jide
Insincerity, shying away from the truth and lack of courage to say things the way there’re, has’en one of the major problems of Nigeria. I believe Achebe and Achuzie are towing the right path. Lets begin to tell ourselves certain truth of the past so that we’ll not make such mistakes in the present and future.
Jide you sound like a stupid someone.
What prof. Achebe wrote is what we nigerians have been shying away from.But the Yorubas are seeing it differently.They see it as throwing down the grauntlet.But history must surely vindicate the Igbos because we were all living witnesses to the events of the time.The literary guru should not be misunderstood for stating the obvious.
Enough of this rambling.
The bitter truth is finally out! No matter how hard Nigerians try to hide it ,just like the sun one can’t cover it with bare hands. Above all we r still better than other regions of this country.for 9ja to progress they must ask for forgiveness if not, nature will continue to be against them
What prof. Achebe wrote is what we nigerians have been shying away from.But the Yorubas are seeing it differently and portraying it in bad light.They see it as throwing down the grauntlet.But history must surely vindicate the Igbos because we were all living witnesses to the events of the time.The literary guru should not be misunderstood for stating the obvious.
Enough of this rambling.
Nwabu and Prakash, why attack Jide because he has spoken the truth? Who says Rivers is part of Biafra? Was it not colonized against the wishes of the true citizens? If Nigeria has to grow then we must stop fanning the embers of discord. For me the solution is that each tribe should develop its region economically and export its expertise or goods. It is painful most times to see that because the inhabitants of a region are poor financially, those with the financial might colonize them and even buy up most of their lands.
We should develop real transport systems so trade between regions can flourish. Imagine if Nigerians were to fully colonize other smaller west African countries. One day they will revolt and chase the occupying Nigerians out. My problem is that as Nigerians we have not learnt anything from the civil war.
What happned years ago ‘s stil fresh in our memory de bakasi issues shuld be forgeten 4 eva since it was deliberately done to hinder de igbos de peple who behind it will suffer
Prof Achebe and Achizia should be fair enough to tell the world how the Igbos in the Nigerian Army created the civil war in the first place rather than the roles of Late Awo and Gen Gowon in containing the war.
because you are birds of same feather with ur so called nigeria that’s why u are happy of what they did. Tnks be to God that Igbos are not dark but bright enough to see and regain all they ve lost
These guys are ready for the divide. Already, the North-south dichotomy is there and now a so called Nobel laureate is pioneering another intellectual sentiment between the west and the east. History will not forgive this old professor for instituting this war lyrics between the two regions that will soon divide this country. I hope this is not what I’m thinking ” the common trait of of old age is wisdom and cowardice”….
Gowon is the most wicked human being in this world.He is not only wicked but very tricky and slimy.He will always pretend to be a saint whereas he is a green snake in the green grass.Most of the problems we have in this country today was masterminded by this evil prayer man.He took over the resources of every region to prosecute the war and promised to hand them back after the war,but he never did.He handed Bakassi to Cameroon and masterminded the grim massacre of the Ibo people through his policies and is now lying low avoiding all expectations. If he is not a slimy and tricky man,let him man up and defend himself against all these allegations leveled against him.People who have committed less crimes have been dragged to the ICC in Den Hague.I wonder what the Igbo people are waiting for.Take this devil incarnate to the ICC for crimes against humanity.
No matter what you do, people must have different interpretation of it. The issue of the civil war is so complex that every side had very good reasons for fighting. The only good thing here is Nigeria was kept one at last. God bless Gen Gowon for doing this. Late Ojukwu was not fighting for the Igbo but for his own pride. Remember his philosophy, ” I don’t want to be popular because of my father, but I want my father to be popular because of me.” He considered Gowon (who incidentally was his friend) not good enough to be his supreme commander hence the false propaganda. Note that more people died from the federal side during the war than the ‘Biafra’ side. The ”no victor, no vanguish” policy has vindicated Gen Gowon as a lover of all Nigerians and we all need to celebrate him.
The truth must stand and the hour has come for no man shall prevail agaisnt the truth. The Housa,Fulani and some Yoruba will never be free from the blood our pple till eternity.
If the so calld Rtd colonel is fair enough,then he wil hav tel us the prime architech behind the civil war which are igbos themselvs,by killin Tafawa balewa,Ahmadu Bello, col ibrahim Taiwo,Festus okotie .
The economic blockade during the Biafran war which culminated in the starvation of Biafran kids and the subsequent outbreak of Kwashioko was the brain-child of Pa Awo which his boss Gowon accepted and implimented.So the Yorubas should be careful on how they argue to avoid stirring the hornets nest.
i think every body is narrating based on his/her understanding. let just forget the past and move forward to archieve the aim of one nigeria. peace can bring upliftment in everything.
I will say it again. Time will tell the truth. Who is safe in Nigeria ? If we have allow everyone go on their own by then or allow the Aburi Accord to stay by now there will be no marginalization between Yoruba’s Hausa, and Igbo man and I believe by now we would have formed great alliance to confront the challenges facing Africa. My advise is for us to come on a round table and discuss the future of Nigeria. We don’t have a country yet.Language is a unifying factor.We were forced to stay together by the British empire for their own selfish enrichment of Nigeria abundant resources. Are they not the one sowing disunity now, telling us Nigeria will divide 2015. My fellow country men are you watching what is happening ? State of osun by honorable member, Bakassi issue, Boko Haram saying Islamis state nothing more. Ojukwu is a hero indeed. I was against him before but the activities happing in Nigeria has open my eye indeed.
God bless you. Those who thought the could keep the truth hidden forever are becoming uncomfortable because the hand cannot cover the moon. I am glad God is blessing the Igbos, even without power, they are the most favoured. just wait and see, Amadioha cuts the iroko with bare hands, what will happen when you give him a cutlass.
If soul of a man who is unjustly kill is wondering, the only solution is to appease it, let Nigeria give Igbo people their Republic or allow them the president that is the only way out, otherwise the tent future generation will still join this animosity, God help us
The Question to all my fellow igbo is (what are we going to do) after hearing all this stories and what did we think is the best solution to the problems both the old and new……. I strongly believe that Nigeria will not be able to stand the igbos in this present Generation in every aspect of life…. Therefore, let us call on our brother in North to defend themselves in north by fighting back with whatever it takes and those in East should start in East as well so that Federal Government will know that we are serious…. So i suggest we should stop talking about peace and one Nigeria now.
It is unfortunate that men that are meant to move nigeria foreward are doing everything to make us remeber the bad old days so we could engage in another fracas. The past is gone. Let us look for a means of going forward and besides, Gowon has come out openly to apologize for the civil war. What more are we expecting from these men?
gen. gowan is a devil in disguise. bye t BAKKAS………..I
one of the reasons why we study history is for one to be more objective in planning for tomorrow. tthe igbos cannot but be more reasonable in their future alliances. the substance of the alliances should not be based on personal gains. the advancement of the other major tribes in juxtaposition to that of the igbos is better linked to the foresight of their leaders.
@Jide O.You know nigeria is still one but with the same style as in the beginning.. if u r supporting the way of Awo.. don’t be surprise someone from another tribe may be in the position of Awo in the future ….it is better to reject evil than to support evil… Nigeria is still moving on so be careful when u respond to this type of information…i keep telling this to people .. when u see evil and support it ,dont be surprised it may come to you then u will shouting for help..God bless us all.
The problem did not start today it started all the way back during the colonial period; they created division and planted hatred amongst the nation.
Jide o. You are a useles man do think you can devide us again. Sauth-sauth and sauthk- east are brothers. You fool what happen to ndigbo will soon happen you.
The truth must be told if Nigeria will be one.Gowon and Awolowo comitted genocide against Nigeria.It started in the north in 1967 and later in the East between 1968/1969.Gowon should beg Igbo people to forgive him.
@ Jide . O, you got it wrong on the missing Link. Please tell the world about Isacc Adaka Boro who was deceived by the Northerners and instead of joining his neighbours and blood kins prefer the Hausa / Fulani of Nigeria. The Nigerian soldiers were fighting from the Front and our own next of kin Boro was fighting from the Behind for what would have been a complete annihiliation of the Igbos. You simply lack the astute as your generation historian to quickly forget that late Gen. Philip Effiong was a Biafran and from South- South. The hatred spewed by your comment is disgusting because of your bias minded spirit in differentiating between 3million innocent souls that were wasted in your security view and intelectual view on genocides. Tell your folks why Bakassi has become a history ? Who negociated with whom and on what occasion and for what purpose? Only minion of your ilk that will allow his people to be disgraced publically and turn away only to dance ” Kokoma Dance” with the enemies out of sheer cowardice . You better shut your gap and allow the right people to unearthen what Nigerians might tought had tactically gone unanswered.
Ok, agreed that Philips Effiong was a Biafran, but how come his Bakassi region was not captured in the map of Biafra during the war by Ojukwu? The truth is that Bakassi has been an issue since 1953. Gowon had not done no wrong on Bakassi. He merely explored his friendship with the then Cameroonian president Ahmadou Ahidjo to assist in blocking the entry point of Ojukwu’s weapons. Please, just google it and read the history of Bakassi from 1913, or to be specific, start from 1947 after the second world war to find out how the issue has been handled till this day. Gowon has never been an actor in the Bakassi matter.
Don’t mind that guy,Okpala
Jide.O is obvious you are trying to put head to head between South East and South South so that they might be at each others neck in such an issue like this that rise up.Typical Yoruba antics and blackmails and sabourtage but Igbos are the master players in the game now.Jide.O you and your Yoruba antics to hit the heads of SE and SS against each other so that you Yoruba people will sit at the fence loughing or benefiting from the from SE and SS as it was the case of Biafra war will never work again.This Prof Chinua Achebe memoir and yet to release Col Achozie memoir will definitry expose the genocide being perpetrated against Biafrans by Britain,Nigeria,Russia,Saudi Arabia,North Africa and Arab World.The Memoir is yet to launch in USA and to the whole World but FG has started running hecter secter.If you people read my comment the first day the Prof Chinua Achebe posted on internet i commented that this memoir will definitry make the World to have the rethink about the event that led to the masacre of the young Biafran Children and then it will definitry follow by the indepent of Biafra and also this memoir is a right direction to the 5th Nov rediclaration of Indepent Republic of Biafra by BZM
I am sorry for this country called Nigeria. Exactly what do the Igbos want? Presidency of Nigeria or secession? Nigerians should allow them to have one or the two if they so choose. Enough of these one sided stories that may continue to fan the ember of disunity.
For Nigeria to be good, Gowon has to come out and tender an open apology to the Igbos (now he is alive before he dies) for the crime against humanity which he committed. Awo and the entire yoruba are betrayers, that is their nature and you can’t take that away from them
Genocide only occurs when a country or tribe decends,without provocation, on an innocent/defensless/harmless & weaker tribe with the aim of exterminating them. A war occours when 2 or more tribes or nations take to arms and result in arm confrontations against one another over an issue.
There was no genocide against igbos, they rather took up arms and declared war against Nigeria but eventually lost the battle badly.
When there is a war, u dont expect ur opponents to raise up their bare hand so that u can kill them cheaply.
Col.Achuzia is indeed a brave man,i noticed dat in de past few years,he has being open concerning civil war.i will be glad 2 see his write up’s on dat
My dear Rtd. Col., So your own book is in the making? Good. The only one who tells the truth is God. In your book shall be hidden lies and semi-truth and truth because you are mortal. Books or no books, why blame ourselves over a civil war that we could have avoided? Col., pls. reason with me: During Major Kaduna Nzeogwu’s putch, why were the old Eastern Region leaders spared by Igbo army officers detailed by Nzeogwu to kill them? When the Northern/Western leaders were killed, why did our Igbo brothers in the North produce pictures of slain Northern leaders with Nzeogwu standing in victory over the slain Northern leaders and circulated these pictures in the North? Dont you feel this infruated the Northerners and made them to retaliate. Why did “Biafra” fire the first shot to signal the beginning of the civil war when negotiations window was still open? Why, did the Biafrian soldiers choose to face the Western Region through Benin/Ore instead of facing Kaduna/the North through Markurdi? Answers to these questions and many more will tell our rtd Col and literary icon and all those who are bitter that one avoidable mistake led to the other and we cannot continue to blame ourselves and write books to tell lies and distort history. Instead, let us apply more pressure on the Govt. to allow for a National Conference that will redefine our co-existence. God bless us and Nigeria as a whole in Jesus’ name. Amen
Ahmad and Jide. Let me educate you. cuases of civil war, 1. The uneducated & inexperience Aboki Gowon who was a junior officer was picked to head Nigerian military government (the origin of injustice in Nigerian rulership) 2. There was great massacre of people of Igbo including pregnant women who were buchered by Northerners then the legend Ojukwu being the governor of Eastern region seing that evil commited against his people under the watch of irresponsible Federal Government such as what we have today keeping silent while Boko Haram devour Igbo Christian, were forced to declare seccesion of Easterner from Nigeria. During the war Awo being the finance minister a member of National Economic Council formulated policy that led to starvation of Igbos to death, to ensure that Igbos were stop from using Bakassi route to import food Gowon then liased with Cameroonian authority that if they stop the Igbos from using that route the land will be theirs. So let the Bakassi people ask Gowon his agreement with the Cameroonian. The answer to Nigerias’ problem is true federalism or confederalism which Gowon agreed to at Aburi Accord but latter changed his mind, or disintegration is inevitable.
Hmmn. Somebody started a war. He was right. Another fought him with all he has, but he is wrong. Whatever Awo did, or not, he did not do it as a Yoruba agenda, but as the military agenda of Gowon. The Igbo love to ascribe to the yorubas all their problem. In God`s name, the Hausa has killed more Igbo than any body in this country. Interestingly killing Igbo is a northern agenda. The Yorubas that provided ground for their prosperity however, is an enemy. So far nobody in Igbo has said the policy of Awo during the war was a Yoruba agenda. If the Igbo want to go to their Biafra, let them go but it is not going to be easy as people like KANU wants to rule/ruin this country called Nigeria.
Jide.O is obvious you are trying to put head to head between South East and South South so that they might be at each others neck in such an issue like this that rise up.Typical Yoruba antics and blackmails and sabourtage but Igbos are the master players in the game now.Jide.O you and your Yoruba antics to hit the heads of SE and SS against each other so that you Yoruba people will sit at the fence loughing or benefiting and even sending their Children abroad to study in the detriment of the SE and SS woas as it was the case during Biafra war but this time around the reverse will be case.This Prof Chinua Achebe memoir and yet to release Col Achozie memoir will definitry expose the genocide being perpetrated against Biafrans by Britain,Nigeria,Russia,Saudi Arabia,North Africa and Arab World.The Memoir is yet to launch in USA and to the whole World but FG has started running hecter secter.If you people read my comment the first day the Prof Chinua Achebe Memoir was posted in internet i predicted that this memoir will shake the World and exposed all the Countries that joined forces to Masacre Millions of Biafrans and Children,i also mentioned that this memoir is a right direction to the 5th Nov 2012 rediclaration of Indepent Republic of Biafra by BZM becouse the World will definitry look into the issue again so ICJ get ready to prosecute those Countries that joined forces with Nigeria to masacre Biafrans becouse the day of reckoning is near
The whole problem in nigeria today, that will not allow anybody to trust the other started when some young igbo soldiers decided to kill all northern and yoruba leaders and leave alone their own people. Achebe should have been wise to start his argument from there.
Hmmn. Somebody started a war. He was right. Another fought him with all he has, but he is wrong. Whatever Awo did, or not, he did not do it as a Yoruba agenda, but as the military agenda of Gowon. The Igbo love to ascribe to the yorubas all their problem. In God`s name, the Hausa has killed more Igbo than any body in this country. Interestingly killing Igbo is a northern agenda. The Yorubas that provided ground for their prosperity however, is an enemy. So far nobody in Igbo has said the policy of Awo during the war was a Yoruba agenda. If the Igbo want to go to their Biafra, let them go but it is not going to be easy as people like KANU wants to rule/ruin this country called Nigeria.
only real federalism can solve the problem of nigeria. we are our own enemy by pretending that all is well with the system we are operating now. the outcome of aburi meeting must be made to stand. blaming each other can not solve our problem now. as for Gowon, he is lucky that he repented of his evil deeds while alive unlike awo who went dawn with his own. wheather people like it or not, Awo is already being judged by this revelation. the evil that men do lives after them.
Jide.O and also Yorubas are known are known to be trying to put head to head between South East and South South so that they can be at each others neck but this time around Yoruba people has faild.Typical Yoruba antics and blackmails and sabourtage but Igbos are the master players of the games now.Jide.O you and your Yoruba antics to hit the heads of South East and South South against each other so that you Yoruba people will sit at the fence loughing or benefiting and even sending going abroad to acquire Education in the detriment of the Soth East and South South woas as it was the case during Biafra war but this time around the reverse will be case between you people and Housa.Prof Chinua Achebe memoir and yet to release Col Achozie memoir will definitry expose the genocide being perpetrated against Biafrans by Britain,Nigeria,Russia,Saudi Arabia,North Africa and Arab World.The Memoir is yet to launch in USA and to the whole World but FG has started running hecter secter.If you people read my comment the first day the Prof Chinua Achebe Memoir was posted in internet i predicted that this memoir will shake the World and exposed all the Countries that joined forces to Masacre Millions of Biafrans and Children,i also mentioned that this memoir is a right direction to the 5th Nov 2012 rediclaration of Indepent Republic of Biafra by BZM becouse the World will definitry look into the issue again so ICJ get ready to prosecute those Countries that joined forces with Nigeria to masacre Biafrans becouse the day of reckoning is near
What will these set of people gain by reopening old wounds. Yes the war was painful but why wait till 99℅ of the actors are dead. Why were they afraid to release their memoir several years ago. So hatred is the legacy the outgoing leaders of the SE wants to give their children.
Jide.O and also Yorubas are known are known to be trying to put head to head between South East and South South so that they can be at each others neck but this time around Yoruba people has faild.Typical Yoruba antics and blackmails and sabourtage but Igbos are the master players of the games now.Jide.O you and your Yoruba antics to hit the heads of South East and South South against each other so that you Yoruba people will sit at the fence loughing or benefiting and even sending going abroad to acquire Education in the detriment of the Soth East and South South woas as it was the case during Biafra war but this time around the reverse will be case between you people and Housa.Prof Chinua Achebe memoir and yet to release Col Achozie memoir will definitry expose the genocide being perpetrated against Biafrans by Britain,Nigeria,Russia,Saudi Arabia,North Africa and Arab World.The Memoir is yet to launch in USA and to the whole World but FG has started running hecter secter.If you people read my comment the first day the Prof Chinua Achebe Memoir was posted in internet i predicted that this memoir will shake the World and exposed all the Countries that joined forces to Masacre Millions of Biafrans and Children,i also mentioned that this memoir is a right direction to the 5th Nov 2012 rediclaration of Indepent Republic of Biafra by BZM becouse the World will definitry look into the issue again so ICJ get ready to prosecute those Countries that joined forces with Nigeria to masacre Biafrans becouse the day of reckoning is near.As for you Ahmad if you realy want to know exactly wat led to the Nigeria/Biafra Civil Was i suggest you read Eze comment right now becouse i dont have the whole time to explain to you wat happened,i have better things to do right
I pity the Igbos who still attend Churches owned by Yorubas, they are cowards. The so called owners of these churches are after the Igbos pocket not their salvation.
Nig will never have peace becouse the evil they comited against ndigbo can never be forgoten.and for awolowo/ Gowon their children and their generations will never see paece
The question is, can the Igbos ever learn from history ?
There is no need to cry over spilled milk…No body wants war anymore…….
U cannot undone things of the past..but u can surely put a measure in place to avoid repeat of history………
No body should pray 4 War @ this time ..coz, U only can predict the beginning but not the Outcome and Consequences……Note: All is Fair in War and Love….It is either U Win or Lose a War irrespective of strategies deployed by the warring parties…..
I pray there shall be PEACE…This is not the time to start another round of Blame Game…it will take us nowhere….Nobody is a saint in War times…U do what u can to win at all Cost… Even,if Igbo cede from Nigeria as everybody wants/claims,,how about their investment….
Igbos have Invested a lot 2ru out the country..So, I beg 2 Say ….Let there Be Peace……
Obviously, Jide is a true Yoruba son. Like father like son; my people say that the snake will never fail to give birth to a thing that has no long tail. It is not surprising, all you said potrayed what your people are known for. But remember, it was written ‘touch not my anoited and do my prophet no harm’. The SS has taken their turn for conspiracy against the (SE) noited people of God. Today, they are crying for appeal. Next will be the SW and only God knows what they will cry for.
All these and people dare call Chinua Achebe names. I have never respected the Awolowos because he was just like the present day Obasanjo. Preaching equality on the one side while he is busy taking over the whole of Ikoyi for himself. Did Awolo build all those houses in Ikoyi from his wages?
The Ibos have a right in Nigeria just as much as the Hausa, yorubas and everyone else and come the end of Jonathan, if they are still dinied the opportunity to rule Nigeria either by manipulations or deceits they should agitate for and obtain their independence from the failed state call Nigeria.
Col Achuzia must be right,i think he said the truth about Awo, lets forget sentiments, Awo was a human being and must have his own good and bad side, there is nothing special about him and you before God the creator , AChuzia said he does not forgive or forget easily,that might have lead him to allowing the ibos be killed thats his kind , in this present tyme we have such people May God forgive Awo and Gowon, its past sha the way foward is what we need ,Igbos are great people, but in politics they are the most useless people. I feel sad the way we do things, Most things that makes south / Lagos what it is , is igbos, buildings, investing massively out side south east, if there is divission 2moro, they start crying, go to south east and show me youruba or housa mans investment even in the capital cities, but we are one nija, go to North Kano, jos, Kaduna same. Come to politics during presidential elections, all of them will come out to contest no body will be ready to compromise.Ekwueme ought to have ruled this country b4 now they no gree, its crazy
The issue of Biafra has deid down beacuse Jonathan is there now if another tribe enters they will start making noise biafra,biafra its crazy fight 4 somthin if u feel u deserve it no matter what, Forget sentiments, the Yorubas / hausa are more in unity than igbos ,who are suppose to be more united and devolpe faster than even chine as a country with all they have in their brain eg, Aba made goods.
Yoruba OBJ / Hausas have sold Bakasi to Cameroun,with the Yoruba Lawyers that handled the matter and even the Uncle Joe could not do anything . Its crazy and same tyme funny Nija are we still 2gether?? i dont tink so. Igbos biko ofuobi is the only way .I still support the yorubas and those clamouring for Regionalism, thats the best way forward let every region go and develope its own and u want. Shikina
Can you see what the so called elders can offer us! Thinking with there wide experience they should be able to tell story of way forward but instead drawn us backward. No wonder education is not necessarily intelligence! Pro Achebe And Col Achuzia what legacy are you leaving behind Awo is no more but his work is still there as part of your written then your own your work will also speak later.
Am glad mr. Gowon is still alive today to witness the horrors being meted to his own kit and kin of plateau state and indeed the guinea savanna by the rampaging and the rapacious hausa/fulani oligarchy.
These were same people he gowon and awo were struggling to impress while killing the inncent igbo youths and women. This is just good morning.
Awo, Zik, and Tafawa are all tribalist, and their legacy in that direction leaves on. Nigeria is yet to have a nationalist and hero such as Nkrumah of Ghana , Nyerere of Tanzania, and Mandela of South Africa. The philosophy of our leaders right from the day of independence has been egoism and we have followed likewise till date in inform of Yooba, Hausa and Igbo while minorities keep looking for recognation within the nation. Solution we need a true hero for us all
D scripture says 2 4giv is divine. Christ asked d ‘adultrous’ woman, is there any dat accused u…? He 4gav those dat killed him & we must 4giv those who turned Nig in2 wot it is 2day.
If they repent or not, its their own headache. Rmber wot Germany did 2 d world yet d world stil goes 2 Germany. D British killed & enslaved evry part of Nig yet we all smile when we become British citizens etc.
If we divide 2mrw, som of u guys here fighting 1anoda wil 4 a reason or d oda want 2 become citizen of d tribe u ‘hate’ so much 2day. Eg. East & West Germany, North & South Korea etc. Lets 4giv & pray God wil heal our land.
WHY DID COUP OF 1966 BY KADUNA UZEOGWU KILL AKINTOLA, AHMADU BELLO, SADAUNA AND OKOTI-EBOR AND ALLOWED OPARA TO ESCAPE? IRONSI CAME ON BOARD AND STARTED ON A WRONG FOOTING. ALL THESE AND MANY WERE NOT THOUGHT OF BY THESE CRITICS. PLEASE LET US SNC.
I think jide o should tell us what he knows about the genocide committed by the igbos againt the rivers and the bayelsans,where it happened and under what circumstances;in the course of self defence or purely an attack on the old rivers people ?.We should know how to speak when issues of national discourse arise.No sentiment please
HISTORY IS NOT ONLY GOOD BUT HELPS IN CORRECTING FUTURE OCCURRENCE OF EVENTS.I WILL STUDY HISTORY IN MY SECOND DEGREE.DON’T FORCE PEOPLE TO LIVE TOGETHER
My felow Brafrans’ its no longer a hiden thing.We all knw wat hapend den the genocide,maginalizatn etc.The word of God say ’1 wit God is Majority’ luk at us (Igbos) 2dy we ar stil far beta dan dem in tyms of anyfin.In Nigeria, d highest undevelop place,Poverty is d North &West. Bt no matter wat BIAFRA MUST STAND; & let d frustrutn continue killing dem.(Al-majiris’)
Nigerians!!! World Watch Org has ordered 4million of this book and it will be sold at reduced price. We followed the events of the war and we agree with what the book is saying.
Thank you Onu Otile,well said of you
All of una no well ! Is this how we go be President in 2015? Wen GEJ wan be president,Hausa dem say no ! for where? Minority ?e talk to Yoruba dem,today e be presido.If a lie make una correct me o ,d story wey Achebe dey tell us now e don tay wey we don hear am and we don waka pass am .She na now wey we wan be President of Obodo Nigeria when we need our southern brothers support na im e fit dey start using im book dey divide us.So dem Hausa go come tell Yoruba say Igbo president will never like dem wif reference to Achebe ‘s book.Nd’Igbos if 2015 slip from our hands make we no blame anybody o.Achebe imself never live among us to feel our pains na now e wan be Igbo wey e never served.E go stand for USA wif im pikin and granpikin dem wan come disturb our plan for 2015.Make a tell una my brethren Nd’igbos ,for Naija today ,Hausa no go vote for any Igbo man .But if una think say na to join Maazi Achebe dey fight war wey imself no join Igbos fight during the biafra go make yoruba support us.I wish us goodluck o
I can believe biafran philosophy about nigeria. I buy the idea of biafra. I also understand why nigeria was moving very well before the biafran war but no longer move like a ship on the sea. SCIENTIFICALLY, nigeroia has become stagnant after biafran war.I know how long nigeria shall live now bfore it collapses. may be before 2015 or little after 2015. who shall loose from this union? kindly find out from Femi Fani-Kayode. Chinua Achebe was in the biafran war front, an accomplished writer, his book is good for future references. we shall not forget our heros in biafra. nigeria is long a dead nation.
@ general. Ofcourse awo’s work and legacy is clear for all to see esp. in eastern nigeria: genocide against 2 million women and children. Quite commendable!¿
Genocide or watever u cald it,so be it..War is war u either lose or win.Every tactics has to be put into the war in order to win,are u suggesting ur enemies head shld be pampered whilst the
war continue?…Stupid idiots.Period
I agree with Okpala.People should read the History of Nigeria and the Civil War.The pertinent questions to be asked are what caused the war? who initiated the blockade against the Ibos? who betrayed the trust reposed on him by the Ibos?am sure the answers will tell the truth.Finally the what were the roles of OAU now AU?
Prof. Chinua Achebe must be a fool.i help Nigerian as whole
History must be told. For the reason that 3 million Igbo men and women were killed during the civil war as a result of mistakes committed by Awo and Gowon doesn’t suggest Igbos were seeking for vengeance. Without event, there will be no history. Gowon has long ago apologised to the Igbos, Awo on his own part is no more on earth to do so but his families are still alive to mend this discord. Saying something contrary is subject to fuel animosity. Those holding brief for Awo, doesn’t, mean well for his family. In a matter like this, the western world definitely finds it easy to tell his neighbour, please I,m soory and that settles everything but ego will never allow African man to do that. People should stop portraying Awo as Holier than thou. You can simply observed now that Gowon,s heart is at peace now than before,after submitting his apology to Ndi Igbo.
I pray that Gowon will not die but will leave to see what will become of the Igbos in few years to come.
His Nigerian Praise Program never crosses his roof to ascent into heaven because his hands is full of innocent Igbo Blood.
The problem of true leadership in Nigerian is hing on Gowon, a total mistake persnofied
Once again,Jide O, as we wiat for your explaination,quickly tell us where the genocide of the old rivers people took place,was it at the begining,middle or towards the end of the war ?
React if you are a nationalist
Democracy is not only about declaring Abiola President, it is also about saying the truth no matter how long it takes. Let us bring closure to the war all of us gathered at Nnewi in Anambra State to condemn. Nigerians all over spoke about the atrocities perpetrated on the East and how we could have paid attention to Aburi accord. Nigerians, let us organize “Truth and Reconciliaton” conference where we will generally bring closure to the stupidity of the past.
@jide o. I dont know why you yorubas think that by sowing a seed of discord between two brothers will help you gain prominence.
When we talk of biafra of 1967-1970 we are talking about south, south and south east. General effiong, may his soul rest in peace fought on the side of biafra because cross river his sate was part of biafra land and that was why gowan sold off bakassi to cameroon to punish biafrans and effiong in particuler.
Let me educate you more, we have Ibos in River state, delta state, cross river state,Akwa ibom and bayesa state. I am from River state.
The spirit of Bifirans that died during the war is tormenting Gowon that is why he suddenly turn a pray warrior.those who live by sword will die by sword.
THE TRUTH IS THAT THE IGBOS HAS NO PLACE IN NIGERIA NATION
You are a big fool!
AS IGBOs HAVE NO PLACE IN NIGERIA NATION, THEY WILL DEFINITELY HAVE NO PLACE IN THEIR OWN (BIAFRA?) NATION.
IGBOs SHOULD PUT THEIR HOUSE IN ORDER FIRST BEFORE THEY CAN BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY. THERE IS NO TRIBE THAT DOESNT HAVE THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE UGLY BUT THE WORDS OF THE ELDERS MUST BE AN AUTHORITY……….BUT IS IT WITH THE IGBOs?
@ Jide: Yorubas are calling for the impeachment of President Jonathan.They are flying in and out of Abuja daily organizing with the North on how to remove him. Today, you are trying to defend the south south people. Do you remember Odi community that was wiped out on the order of Obasanjo? When the time comes, we will address it and you will cry foul once again Bakassi people are crying today because of the stupidity of the war leadership in Nigeria.Do you people think you are wise?
d main problem with the igbos their greedy, they should remember hw they killed d south-south people because of the oil that does not belong them. They should ask their leaders d cause of d civil war
l was fully educated known History before i was born Nigeria wake up from your sleep
I AM NOT SUPRISE WITH ACHEBE..IF HE WANT O BE AN HONEST MAN…WHO AGITATED FOR THE WAR AND WHO STARTED IT?THE BOOK IS JUST AN AGITATION FOR BIAFRA COUNTRY…I WISH NIGERIA GOVERNMENT WILL LET GO AND SEE HOW FAR THEY CAN GO
I have been saying it, the Nigerian entity has heard nothing yet, does stupid dirty mouth people should wait. More revelation will come out and the word in general will know that the igbos has suffered so much in the hand of this so called Nigeria.
Hahahahahahah so the chicken is finally coming home to roost,Awo was never and will never be a nationalist despite any attempt by certain people based on tribal sentiments to bleach his wickedness.We all remember PENKELEMES in south west,operation wetie,what happened to Awo’s son in Ibadan? what love existed between AWOLOWO,ADELABU and AKINTOLA? apart from the account about AWO in Achebe’s book,which other thing written by Achebe is being contested by his detractors?
AWOLOWO THIS, OJUKWU THAT, GOWON THIS, AZIKIWE THAT, SARDAUNA THIS, NZEOGWU THAT………..ETC.
WETIN CONCERN ME WITH ALL THIS?
ABEG…..
I NEED FOOD…
I NEED SECURITY……
I NEED SHELTER…
I NEED EDUCATION…..
I NEED GOOD HEALTHCARE………
I NEED COMMENSURATE EMPLOYEMENT….
ETC.
DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT MY NEEDS ARE?
The publisher of this interview is just trying to cool the nerves and masturbate the real issue of genocide and crimes against humanity.Over 3 million people women, children, babies, civilians of future generation of Igbos murdered in cold blood and someone is sitting on top of billions of dollars worth in CASH and properties acquired as beneficiary of loot from Biafra..Awolowo was inordinately wicked and power drunk and hence he helped gowon/muritala/obj/danjuma/yaradua etc to organize and execute the worst genocide and crimes against humanity in history and his sole objective was that since he was in midst of semi-illiterate military officers he can use them to exterminate a race and become an emperor of nigeria which God stopped him.Achebe has set the ball rolling and it is incumbent on Igbos to set up the machinery and invite the UN experts to investigate the claims and perpetrators of genocide and crimes against humanity and charge them to the ICJ in Hague without further delay.It is important to mention that one of the best Igbo jurists and international Law expert is one of the topmost judges in ICJ and it is very clear that since ICJ can rule and cede Bakassi to Cameroun due to Biafra and therefore, it is certain that Gen. Danjuma/Gen. Gowon/Gen.Obasanjo etc will be arrested by ICJ warrant and taken to Hague to face charges of genocide and crimes against humanity as blood of more than 3 million people killed by these evil men cannot go unpunished.The Nazis in Germany that committed genocide against the jews in 1944 are still being haunted and sent to jail for life and monies and properties recovered from them are sent to Israelis government to compensate the families of the victims. The books written by Chinua Achebe are spiritual and THINGS FALL APART should be regarded as OLD TESTATMENT while THERE WAS A COUNTRY should be regarded as NEW TESTAMENT for the Igbos.The killings and act of genocide and crimes against humanity are continuing till today in Nigeria and unless these evil men and architect of Genocide like DANJUMA/GOWON/OBASANJO etc are arrested and sent to ICJ to face charges and jailed and all their billions of dollars
of ill-gotten and blood money and properties recovered from them to be used to compensate the families of victims of genocide in Nigeria that is the pathway to justice in nigeria and national healing and it should be a crime in nigeria for any genocide denial or cover up.Achebe has sent a green light to ICJ to take action and prevent nigeria from self suicide, the whole world knows these truths and hence nigeria is a pariah and abomination any where in world because of these subsisting truths which Achebe has revealed and highlighted in his new Book: THERE WAS A COUNTRY: A PERSONAL HISTORY OF BIAFRA.
It is wrong and insensitive for the Ibos to talk of genocide every now and then. It has been observed that the Ibos are given to being insensitive to the views and conditions of others. This is a trend.
They felt they knew and had so much and went to a war they didnt have knowledge of the outcome. They were ill-prepared for the war but they felt that they had a lot of senior officers in the military that could overrun the North, nay;they rest of Nigeria. They still harbour that thought.
The Ibos are only talking of genocide against their kiths and kins by Nigerian troops. Let they not forget that they unleashed genocide on a greater scale on the minortiy tribes and ethnic groups of the newly created Rivers State they forced into the war. A war that these minority ethnic nationalities didnt know anything about. Some of these atrocities were committed at Elele and elsewhere on Eleme and Ogoni nationalities.
jide,perhapz u ar d 1 dat is geting evrythg twistd al bcoz ur mind av bin chaleneld 2wards a directn alrdy. Hw b it,d facts ar nt yet cmplet,bt 4 al we nw knw, thr was a perpetratn and it kame frm sm ppl in d then echelons of power. U cnt dfinately cmpair wat hapnd in d north during or b4 and afta d war and what hapnd in d east… Try 2 crox ur i’s and dot ur t’s properly. God bles u al
It is well with Nigeria. It is well with you Jide! God forgive you Jide! God have mercy on you Gowon. Remembered what my grand father said of how his 3 prominent sons (among those that brought Shell to Nigeria) were brutally buried alive by the Nigeria armies during the Nigeria/Biafra war; these made my grand father not to send his children to school again.
The truth cannot be hidden, Gowon perpetrated injustice to the Igbos!!! Awolowo hated the Igbos with passion. Amidst all these, God is still God. The truth is bitter, Gowon committed crime against God and against humanity just in the quest to be a hero. He need to apologize to the Igbos in a well documented form.
Imagine how the forth-coming generation of the Igbo race will feel after hearing what happened to their fathers/mothers/brothers/sisters during the Nigeria/Biafra war and how their monies were ceased after the war.
These should be remedied otherwise, history can never be fair again to Yakubu Gowon and Obafemi Awolowo.
God Bless Nigeria
Sir,thanks for speaking up to back up the truth,God reward them according to their hearts and actions,once again thanks for the courage to speak the truth,
Awolowo was a murderer of women and children, Abiola a religious bigot, Tinubu an incontestable liar, Bankole a thief. These are all the yorubas keep offering Nigeria.
So funny! Igbos ‘re alwaz blaming Awo, who never had any military xperience, 4 d defeat they suffered in d war front. Just blaming others 4 ur self-inflict woe! U wil never hear them blame Zik who never supported them, but enjoying himself outside d country.
by d way, can’t igbo b on their own (SE)? must they alwaz claim SS and force us to be part of them? Effik/Ibibio, Ogoja/Yakur, Ogoni, Ikwere, Ijaw etc never supported u b4 d Biafra war yet u’re imposing urself on us as part of u. Definately u are after our mineral resources. If u want Biafra, try to limit it to SE geo-political zone.
jide o and his like who try to burry history or turn it upside down, if you refuse to learn from history amd correct the anormalies, it will repeate its self with more devastation
Sentiment, ethnicity, tribalism, ethnocentrism and self pity will not solve our problems. It is good to review but is bad to preview with enmity. We cannot help the past but we can prevent future consequencies. Positivity and objectivity is the answer.
With due respect to the Igbos, I think he it’s time the senile old man is asked to shut his derailed mind. If at this time of his life that he’s closer to the grave, he cannot speak the truth, rather than promoting peaceful coexistence, he’s rolling out drums of war and fanning embers of feud & hatred among the major tribes.
He refused to mention the atrocities committed by the Biafran soldiers as if they were saints and no innocent lives from the other side were taken, cos i still remember the airstrike attack at the Cinema in Lagos. Or what are the intentions of the blood-thirsty Ojukwu who declared war on the nation and armed his soldiers with land mines planted?
I believe if anybody is to blame for the war, it should first start with the war-monger who with poor preparation led his people to war and expected the men he’s fighting and killing to still be supplying him his source of livelihood, very unintelligent of him. He should be blamed for the innocent lives he wasted for selfish ambition to dictate over his people. He should have listened to the elders who were forced against their will to back the unjust war. I believe, the Igbos have suffered since after the war more atrocities than what led to the Biafran war and heaven did not fall.
What about the relief materials Awo sent to the Innocent Igbos who were forced to support the war that he and his soldiers hijacked and never reached his “own” people he claimed to be fighting for, what an irony. Only God knows why he did not allow him to succeed, he could have been another Idi Amin.
Another lesson for the Igbos to learn, is you don’t force others to form an alliance they see that they have no interest in. Awo was not in possession of any army, and you can expect him to mobilize the Yorubas to support cos he was not the only Yoruba elders at that time. Other Yoruba elders knew the Ibos were only looking for who to use to achieve their aims (their traditional cunning way of life) so they backed out. So why would Awo? Who however still showed benevolence to the Igbos during the war still all they could reward him is thru the propaganda to destroy who God has not destroyed.
Let the Igbos rather than be looking for who to blame for the errors of Ojukwu, chart a new course on realizing their destiny. Yorubas have been at the fore front of fighting for true federation, confederation, SNC etc. so long as it will allow each region to develop at their pace and not rolling out drums of war that will take innocent lives.
I would ask the Igbos, what if the war had turned in their favour would they have not massacre other regions to avenge the perceived injustice? Or what do you do in a war, tea party?
Dear people of Nigeria,may we at this time of our living together make up our minds to really see one another as brethren and do put behind us the sad events of yesterday and forgive ourselves,so as to both individualy and nationally move and keep moving forward while the hypocrites do a turn back as life is not forever on earth.We will all go away from this present place one by one.Iam earnestly praying that God should make this country to have a “leader” for once that will help us than these” captors” and “rulers” that have been with us for years now.People are still remembering the past because there is no hope here for the future which calls for Nigerian captors to have a rethink before someone will burst the bubble before our very eyes.God deliver all of us and preserve us to do right and better things that better the lots of people.Biko unu ndi Igbo haramanu ma jisienu ike maka na chianyi dinma umunnam.
And please, stop using the south south for your ambition. Ijaws, Itsekiris, Calabar etc, are not Igbo extensions. You liked us cos of our rich resources, that is your cunning way and we know it. We were called Eastern region cos that is the legacy of the British. But now we are Niger Deltans and not Igbos. Let every man fight for himself.
Ken, you have asked a very intelligent question. I beg to differ regarding your suggestions. What the Igbos need is to look inwards. The Yorubas have been very smart and wicked on Igbos. They have always thwarted every effort to site federal projects of importance in the south east and eastern Nigeria generally. A very good example is the expansion of Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu to accommodate larger air crafts. Our Yoruba director of NAA and his brother who was the chief of Air staff started an argument over ownership of part of the area for the project. That was only a ploy to delay or cancel the expansion. I wish all Igbo bodies can come together and, in one voice, draw a road map for the economic and social and political development of Igboland. This must include conditions that would bring Igbos and their investments in other regions back to Igboland. We should forget attempts at the presidency, at least, for now and establish a model for the development of our land. Much of our people and investments are outside Igboland. This always positions us at the receiving end.
Am shocked at the rant of most of you so called igbo commentators and your leaders,Yoruba officer gave his life for ironsi,yoruba officers fought on biafan side, prof Wole soyinka was imprisoned for supporting biafra.yoruba officers did not join the war until Ojukwu ordered invasion of Lagos, where in the world have you see a person fighting another and giving him food? who stopped biafra from growing thier food to feed themseves, What law both domestically and internationaly compels any part of Nigeria to send food to the east, even in peace time,your comments are fanning hatred and making people who support the bifran cause to have a rethink,please kindly declare biafra and let us rest, am sure no part of this country will miss you
Sentiments has completely taken over the Igbos. Achebe the celebrated writer did indicated in one of his books that those that take ant infected firewood to their homes invite the lizards. Awo did nothing wrong, in war situation one uses the best in his arsenal to neutralize the enemies, the ibos should blame their “hero” Ojukwu who led them into a war they were not prepared for, u don’t expect me to feed my enemies? i will rather starve them to death than empower them to fight me tomorrow . My brother do u blame the leopard for eating up the goat or the goat for wandering into the forest? Please Achebe should comment on the atrocities unleashed on the neutral people of the Mid-west, the forceful annexation of the present day River state and Bayelsa into their Banana republic of Biafra or the genocide committed against these people by the Biafran army.
I think Nigerians should wake up,why should the likes of Gowon still walk on red rugs when he should be having his jail terms in Hague for the atrocities and crimes he commited against the children,pregnant women and the elderly men and women of the IGBOS during the Biafran war.i think the federal government should pay the IGBOS a ransome in compensation for the lost of lives and properties which was purposely carried out to wipe the IGBOS off the map.the IGBOS deserves an apology from the Ouduas and the Afeniferes.
I think Nigerians should wake up,why should the likes of Gowon still walk on red rugs when he should be having his jail terms in Hague for the atrocities and crimes he commited against the children,pregnant women and the elderly men and women of the IGBOS during the Biafran war.i think the federal government should pay the IGBOS a ransome in compensation for the lost of lives and properties which was purposely carried out to wipe the IGBOS off the map.the IGBOS deserves an apology from the Ouduas and the Afeniferes. Achebe and Achuzia are right.
Who ever hear d truth will always attack it nd dat is wot d yoruba man is doing tday. But after 50years of d war wot has nig achievd other dan terorism power failure nd poverty in d nort amidst iliteracy nd almajiri nd unemployment in d west
All your responsed to me is useless, why this nonsence! Gowon did not killed any body, Please stop calling our elder stateman with names. Gowon still remain the best leader ever
Wouldn’t you all imagine that Gowon is already paying the price for his evil deeds? Even his hometown is being claimed by cattle rearers!
NIGERIANS, PARTICULARLY YORUBA PEOPLE LISTEN. I AM NOT FROM S/W NOR FROM S/E. I AM 84 YEARS NOW AND I REMEMBER VERY WELL WHAT HAPPENED THEN. I KNOW VERY WELL THAT AWOLOWO DID A LOT OF WRONG TO THE IGBO PEOPLE AT THAT TIME. AT A TIME OUR FATHER USED TO TELL US THAT WE MUST NOT FOR ANY REASON WHAT SOEVER TOUCH THE LIFE OF LITTLE CHILDREN NO MATTER WHAT THEIR PARENTS MAY DO.WE ALL KNEW THAT AWOLOWO STARVED THE CHILDREN FROM IGBO LAND AS A WEAPON OF WAR. I ALSO KNEW THAT £20 WAS WHAT AWOLOWO GAVE THE IGBOS AT THE TIME NO MATTER HOW MUCH THEY HAD IN THE BANK. NLET ME ASK THESE YORUBAS THAT ARE NOW BLAMING CHINUA ACHEBE FOR SAYING THE TRUTH WHICH MANY OF US LIVING NOW KNOW.LET US ACCEPT THE TRUTH AND GO FOR PERMANENT RECONCILIATION. WE IN THE RIVERS STATE NOW KNOW THE TRUTH. THERE WERE SO MANY THINGS WHICH NIGERIA GOVERNMENT DID TO PLEASE US AND THE REST ie Hausas and the Yorubas. THEY WERE HORRIBLE THINGS LOOKING AT THEM FROM ANY ANGLE. I AM AWRAE THAT ONE US FROM THIS STATE HATED EVERYTHING IGBO. MY FATHER USED TO WARN HIM AND HE DID NOT CARE. HE PAID DEARLY FOR IT THAT HATRED FOR THE IGBOS BY OUR OWN BROTHER IS THE CAUSE OF OUR PROBLEM IN THE RIVERS STATE NOW.
I HERE NOW ADVISE THE IGBOS NTO PLEASE FORGET AND FORGIVE THOSE WHO OFFENDED YOU PEOPLE. AFTER ALL THOSE TINGS DID NOT STOP YOU FROM MOVING ON. ARE WE BETTER THAN YOU NOW OR ARE YORUBAS OR THE HUSAS BETTER THAN YOU? STOP DIGGING INTO HISTORY LIKE THIS BECAUSE THERE ARE THOSE WHO WOULD NOT UNDERSTAND AND THEN READ MEANING INTO THEM.PEOPLE LIKE FANI KAYODE WHO WAS NOTHING AT THAT TIME. YORUBAS CCEPT THE TRUTH BECAUSE TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE. MY PEOPLE HAD BEEN WITH THE IGBOS SINCE WE WERE CREATED AND SUDDENLY THE HAUSAS DECEIVED US. WE THOUGHT THEY WERE DOING GOOD TO US. BUT THEY WERE BUSY SHARING OUR OIL WELLS AMONG THEM PARTICULARLY THE NORTHERNERS. OUR FRIENDS FROM YORUBA LAND,ACCEPT THE REALITY OF LIFE AND LIVE ON. IGBOS STOP DIGGING THE GROUND IN ORDER NOT TO CAUSE ANY MORE TROUBLE IN THE SOUTH. LET US UNITE AGAINST THE BORN TO RULE WHO HAVE SHARED OUR OIL WEALTH AND DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH THE MONEY. AM I TGALKING ABOUT THEOPHILUS DANJUMA?
The Nigeria nation thought the the issue of genocide against the Igbo people will simply go away. The sooner the sort it the better for them. Look at the evil under the sun happening in Nigeria today. Meanwhile the Bakassi people have been used and dumped Nigeria style.
THE TRUTH THEY SAY IS BITTER, BUT LET ME ASK THIS QUESTION WHAT DO THE IGBOS WANT WITH THIS ACCUSATIONS. ARE THE YORUBAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DILAPIDATED STRUCTURES IN THE EAST TODAY RANGING FROM RITUALS, KIDNAPPING, ROBBERY AND OTHERS? ARE THE KOBOKOBOS PLANING ANOTHER WAR? TO BE CANDID 75% OF CRIME IS COMMITTED BY THIS IGBOS?WHY NOT LEAVE THE PAST AND LET’S FACE THE FUTURE.YORUBAS ARE CULTURED AND ETHICAL PEOPLE IF THE IGBOS ARE SICK OF THE YORUBAS LET THEM LEAVE OUR LAND, COS WE CAN’T CONTINUE TO LIVE WITH INGRATES,IF NOT WE WILL USE ”ORO” TO DRIVE THEM OUT ”AWI FUN NI KOTO DANI AGBA IJAKADI NI”
ibs pls protest and carry placards in lagos,ibadan,abeokuta and other yoruba towns and villages. then u meet ur waterloo. we only tolerate u we do not approve ur wicked and criminal life stlyes. it is high time u relocate to ur crime prone territory,gud 4 nothing idiots. This is d beginning of d end 4 u in yoruba land.ur insult 2 yoruba land and its leader is enough
whatever happened occurred during the course of a war. Its so everywhere. America bombed the hell out of Japan during WWII. Today they are best of friends. The rest of Europe fought bitterly against Germany, Russia lost millions during the Great War, none of them is carrying on the bitterness today.
Igbos lost the Nigeria Civil War because other stakeholders had better strategies, lives were lost like those mentioned above. Today Igbos might be ahead in saving and leading the new generations of Nigeria to better future.
Though i dont kw dat idiot called Awo who masterminded d killing of over 2million Igbos after releasing him 4rm prison by an igbo man. That shows yorubas are ungrateful nd ‘ll still remain ungrateful. Awo or whatever u called urselve, may u continue to roast in hell fire. Bastard!
The more this book is being criticised, the more it sells in the world. Prof Chinue Achebe must have known this and decided to publish it now Nigeria is shaking so the world can as well start seeing how things went wrong……. Perhaps who knows the next discussion might be how to give Biafrans independence without even a knock out blow
The igbo adage which says ‘ezi okwu daa miri udo ala’ remains true for ever. Why peace has continued to elude Nigeria is because the powers that be continue to suppress truth. Now the truth is beings said it is only wise that we allow it to ascend from the river bed where it has been suppressed for too long so that peace will rein in our land again. Awo has died and his case closed. But Gowon, he has the opportunity to remedy his wrongs now he is still alive. He may have repented and became the pastor of Nigeria Prays but he needs restitution fast. Let him ask King David of Judah what happened after he plotted the death of Uria and took his wife. Sword did not depart from his house though he was forgiven by God. What Obasannjo did when he handed over Bakasi to Cameroon without a thought of appealing the judgment ICJ sitting at Hague was to complete what they started during the Biafran war. For the Ibos let us learn from these emerging truths and adjust our thinking about Nigeria. A stitch in time saves nine
it is so bad what happen in this country. a lot of blood wasted, and we are here talking trash. look at people die in the north due to riots and boko haram, and we are still defending one nigeria. it is a pity.
Consider the name of the book, there was a Nigeria, o sorry. There was a country.
Thanks for all your comments. Please buy and sell Liberty Reserve, Payza, Perfect Money and Okpay at the cheapest rate.
http://www.nairaxchanger.webs.com. HAPPY INDEPENDENCE NIGERIA.
Tribalism and an incurable hatred among people here in Nigeria with brutal killings of boko haram sect has shown our incompatibility which can only be cured by dividing the country in peace. It will do us more good than harm. It will reduce the rate of crime and unemployment. Let us take away fear of the unknown and move actions. The earlier the better for us. Enough of this suffering, am talking to the Igbos. if the people of Israel had remained in Egypt till date, they would have freed themselves from slavery. Nigeria is the Egyptians to the Biafrans.
Tribalism and an incurable hatred among people here in Nigeria with brutal killings of boko haram sect has shown our incompatibility which can only be cured by dividing the country in peace. It will do us more good than harm. It will reduce the rate of crime and unemployment. Let us take away fear of the unknown and move actions. The earlier the better for us. Enough of this suffering, am talking to the Igbos. if the people of Israel had remained in Egypt till date, they wouldn’t have freed themselves from slavery. Nigeria is the Egyptians to the Biafrans today.
Betrayal is the second name of Yorubas even till tomorrow.
Once again, long live Biaf.
A comon sorry,is not bad to say….my easterner brothers we are sorry for supporting aboki from north……..without knowing that we are from thesame side ,,south,, and christains….
Achebe and his colleague called col. Achuza are hypocrite. They are talking about the bad egg, what about the hen that laid the egg?
Greediness and over ambitious of Igbo lead Nigeria to civil war. And the problem is what Nigeria can not get out of since then. The Hausa’s refused to forgive them because of the killing of their icon.
Now,kehinde listen.I want U 2 stop being cynical in your comments.Awo was the greatest hypocrite I ever read about.I describe him as wet blanket because he was a great disappointment to Ojukwu’s plan.Ojukwu thought he could be relied upon,but failed him.Deceit may travel for 20 years but the truth can catch up with it in just one year.You can never stop these two men from telling the truth.Period
So what do the Igbos want now? Reparation fees or what?The Igbos should blame their leaders for their problems and stop blaming their frustration on the Yorubas and Awolowo.Many of you making noise about what you dont know should ask yourselves when Ojukwu was granted amnesty by Shagari govt,what did Ekweme do to restore his status as a Lt Col.It is Obasanjo that restored his rank,retired him officially and paid him all his benefits in arrears.Ojukwu will ever be grateful to Obasanjo a Yoruba in the grave despite the fact that it is Obasanjo that smoked him out to exile from his impoverish bunker in Abangana.Remember the same Obasanjo restored most of you noise makers and paid your benefits in arrears despite the fact you are unrepented rebels.It is better for us to start thinking of something better that your buried BIAFARA.
The Igbo’s are tired of Nigeria and want to be on their own,Nigeria please let them be and fight for your one Nigeria were corruption,injustice and blood shedding is the order of the day,Nigeria was a country no longer a country.
Those calling for nigeria to break should realise that it may have to break into over 50 countries. Will the lazy indolent ogogoro drinking Ijaw man be willing to put up with fearful, pen and brain robbery of many Yoruba or will any of these two be happy to be together with the largely fraudulent fake drugs and goods peddlers, arm robbery kidnapping dominated money at all cost Ibo tribe. Who will be with the Boko haram largely illiterate, morons blood thirsty hausa-fulani tribe. What of itshekiris, urhobo, ijaw tribes with past bloody games, are they happy be together. This is the way we see one another. We should stop pretending, we don’t like each other period.The problem is us-all tribalistic and ethinocentric, religious bigots and largely ungodly nation with bussiness men and women calling themselves Pastors, imans God sent or men of God, deceiving people they have power to heal or make you rich overnight( breakthrough).I don’t care what you do, if any one get rich overnight, there is fraud/crime involved, that is not from God. The more churches and mosque we have in Nigeria, the more evil the society is. Something is wrong somewhere. And that something is us, Putting money and riches above everything.As long as we as people don’t set our prioty right and base our assessment of how we value and respect people in the society on merit like the good olding days, not on how much money you have, we don’t even know how they acquire the wealth. We will have this same problem, even if Nigeria is divided into 100 countries. I am very dissapointed in Chinua Achebe who is one the respected African in holding this type tribalistic view, Our so called leaders uses tribal politics to enrich their pockets, Since when GEJ became president what did ordinary ijaw man benefit from his government. When OBJ was the President what is different in Yoruba land. I bet you if buy 2015 an Igbo man becomes the President, There will no different in ordinary Igbo’s man. So Nigerians stop this blame game and let’s fight the real problems of Nigeria (THE POLITICIANS). ZIK, AWO, OJUKWU, BALEWA etc have come, try their best and gone May their souls rest in perfect peace, They are 100% better than the present crops of visionless politicians that we have now.
Dr. John
@jide u should know better that the igbos have not been treated fairly ever since after the civil war,yet they dusted everything out n picked up again,till this moment,no body has ever agitated for any form of compersation.Could you possible tell me you don’t know the cause of Igbo/Yoruba hatred today?Of course you know,but in the spirit of moving on,let’s alow the sleeping dogs to lay down believing that one day,God will touch Gowon n he will do the honourable thing n confess
onu otile! i thank you so much for speaking out, but one thing is sure, my people says that OJI IHE NWATA WELIE AKA ELU AKA JIWEYA OWEDA AKAYA NWATA EWEKWA IHEYA no two words about that ONYE MECHIRI UZO NYUO AHURU IHE OWEPUTARA KA OWERE. gowon is typical igbo man and fought and killed his own people, during the war the people i saw throwing bombs on us are the brittons,the russians and all the islamic world but today they are here with us collecting our oil free of charge. i hope and pray that one day BIAFRA my land of birth will stand errect without saking!!!
achebe is desperate to clinch a position among the nobel laurates no efficacy of verbal attacks can denigrate the integrity of the yoruba legend in africa besides the ibos should have had sufficient food before declaring war moreover papa made a clear breast of the offence during one of his presidential campaign read todays nation
A typical yoruba would rather die protecting Awolowo, than to spare a thought to brainstorm the ingredients of facts and events buttressed by Achebe. It is not by strength my people, because i can’t imagined myself comparing the yorubas with the Igbos in aggressiveness. Come on, We all know the extent a typical Nigeria public holder could do to please his principal, and that was what Awolowo did to gain Gowon’s listening ears, all in his inane or inordinate quest to clinch the sit of the president. Awolowo was an ingrate who threw decency to the dogs, by aligning with a suppose enemy to wage a war against Ojukwu who out of generosity, release Awo frm Calabar prison against all odds. As for Gowon, he’s deceiving yourself. Instead of you to atone, your are going about with your ill perceived pet project; “PRAY FOR NIGERIA” with the blood of 3million minors and women on your head? I think we are heading to HAGUE earlier than i had thought. You are a dead man personified. We shall bounce back, and Nigeria must go down.
Idle Nigerians, soon the internet cafes will close their doors because darkness is setting in. Go to bed and think about life and man’s inhumanity to man. This book by Achebe will be release on October 11, 2012 and the copies so far have been booked worldwide. He will retire stinkingly rich. Soon learned Prof Wole Soyinka will release his modernized “the man died”. We will publicize the book and sell it for him worldwide and he will retire stinkingly rich. The truth must be told.
It appears to me that people now post coments on tribal and other sentiments. Also opinions are attacked, persons are attacked and the real issue remain untouched. I will most respectfully submit that most commentators on this forum were either not born at the time of the civil war or were still infants. Prof. Achebe and Col. Anwuzia were not only born but were involved. We have books written on this war – check Emeka Ojukwu’s because I am involved (this unfortunately did not satisfy the curiosity of thiose that wanted to read the true account of the key actor in the war), Why we Struck by Madiebo etc, you will appreciate that Achebe is providing the missing links. I encourage Gowon, Olusegun Obasanj, and in fact more of those who fought against Biafra to frankly state their own accounts in a memoir, perhaps that will bring about a balance reporting. Finally, I encourage all to learn one or two lessons from these books and it will surely help us access today’s situation and decide our tomorrow. Nigerian’s especially the advantaged nothern elites have consitently opposed the convocation of a Sovereign National Conference, yet they believe in one united Nigerian State where there exits no unity. We here of a religion that is claimed to be founded on peace, yet all manner of terrorist acts are proudly acclaimed by their fundamentalists. Pre-1967, it was the Igbos, today the other regions are crying. Ken Saro Wiwa was part of the abandoned property commision panel that disposed Igbos of their assets in the post war Rivers State – he was killed by those he supported against Biafra. Is someone learning a thing? NIGERIA: must we deceive ourselves in the claim of one united indivisible state? Think again!
Ahmad, if you are student of history, believe you me you shouldn’t have come up with this unfounded allegation against the Igbo race. The Igbo race never caused the civil war in the first place. It was a clear misplaced trump up charges well tailored by the enemies of the Igbo race to paint us black in order to perpetrate well articulated herrondeous act against the Igbo race. Therefore, Ahmad re-direct this question to the Yorubas on what led to the civil war. They will be in the position to answer the question. Believe you me, Ahmad, we survived it then, we cannot survive it again.
What a perfect way to effect the Igbo presidency ambition come 2015.
The evil that men do lives after them. All the same, it’s not too late for dialogue and true reconciliation. Unless we come together and redesign and restructure this country in line with true federalism. the goal of one Nigeria will remain a mirage, a fabulous idea but utopian in reality.
Thi guy ahmad talks of igbo officers been responsible for the war.Ahmad u never studies nigeria history or either ur biase in ur assesement.The igbo offi.Ur referin to 15 jan. Guys to my view reprent the best thing ever to happen since nigeria was amalgated.Those guys paid wit not only their carreers bt eventually their lives because of oligarcy tafawa/belewa tried to impose.Nigeria must survive
The unalloyed fact is that the Igbos have been used to satisfy the taste for blood by the other parts of the country. Then the worst is that an Igbo people have not been brotherly to thier fellow Igbos and finally our strenght lies in our diversity. Then i want 2 promise all Nigerians that it is going to be over soon.
Kehinde or what ever you been call,my prayer
Is that God should alow the calamities that have
Befall the igbo nation to fall on Yoruba nation.
Stupid tribal beings.
My father knew about the economic policies which Awo engineered to deal with the Igbos which he told me long ago.Nothing is hidden under the sun.But God has helped the Igbos and they are never oppressed.What is happening in Nigeria now is true reflection of what Achebe saw about 3 decades ago.
We don’t have elders any longer in this country! Elders that are suppose to be peace maker are they one igniting and influencing the violence in our various regions. May God have mercy on them.
Smiles. What a funny drama! U guys are good at this, keep it up.
History is an art like story telling. It tells of what happened in the past to guide people in their present behaviours and lay foundation for the future. If yuou dissect this, then you will understand that Professor Achebe is a historian and a cultural prophet. If you don’t believe this, read his “Things fall apart.” Pewople should stopp fighting about a book written or books written to tell of what happened in the past. Depending on the prism of the writer, there are certain truths that cannot be denied. What we make out of these few truths and even the untruths can mean a whole lot to generations to come, especially in a fast approaching amargadon called Nigeria. We are now reaping the harvest of war. Bakkassi was a bait use by Gowon, as much as his decree 3 making the riverrine areas states. There was the Isaac Adaka Boro era, the Sara Wiwo era. Yes, the igbos are as Achebe describes them in one of his writings as arogant, loquacious and materialistic. These characteristics are being misinterpreted as being greediness. Yes greediness is part of the igbo mien because they aspire to own much in life. In all, Nigeria will be or will not be will depend on Nigerians reading their histories and making sense out of the wilderness of what happened, why they happened, and the course forward.
well,lets beliv dat gowon was right but i hv just 3 questions 2 ask.pls who killed ifeaguna,banjo ,alele and finally major kaduna nzeogwu? [2] who is actually responsible 4 d death of 3 million ibos[genocide] [3] gowon,ojukwu,awolowo?the truth is that lets all put our hands on deck and build a better nigeria by atlist fighting d dreaded boko haram that is possing a new era threat 2 our nascent and fragile forced unity
Brethren Stop wasting your good time it is precious a lot of people lack wisdom It takes God`s divine grace to achieve greatness. Vengeance is LORD`s.
Thank God the truth is finally coming out. I can’t wait to get the books. Those who don’t know their past is doomed to repeat the mistakes of their past.To UYOME,Nigeria would have been the first independent country in Africa but lost to Ghana because our brothers in the North did not want to join the union until Britain guaranteed them a lionshare in resource sharing by inflating their population etc. Any wonder Gowon ran to the empire when he was DEPOSED? The lesson for our leaders today is be courageous. Don’t sellout.Stand for truth,justice,fairness,and righteousness,and resist ethnic bias. To learn that Nigeria sacrificed Bakassi for Cameroon’s cooperation in helping to starve millions of Biafrans during the war is sickining. The solution to our problem as a nation lies in God’s commandment that we love one another as ourself. I call on the leaders with guts to rise up and enact into our constitution “treason clause” whereby every civil servant from the president down to the mailclerk swears not to take bribe or any corruption. Those guilty will forfeit their loot and be executed. Telephone numbers should be published for public to report violations to the EFCC/ICPC and give these agencies the teeth to prosecute to the fullest extent.Remember God is watching and reward everyone accordingly. God bless Nigeria.
IF THE MIGHTY GREAT BRITAIN CAN ADMIT TORTURE AGAINST KENYANS DURING THEIR YEARS OF COLONIASATION THROUGH THE RECENT COURT RULING, IT DOES’T MATTER HOW LONG IT TAKES TO UNRAVEL INJUSTICE, AND SUCH CANNOT BE SEEN AS WASTE OF TIME OR DISTORTING HISTORY. HOWEVER, SINCE CHIEF AWO IS NO MORE , ALL I EXPECT GEN. GOWON TO DO IS TO APOLOGISE TO THE IGBOS FOR THE ATTROCITIES COMMITED AGAINST THEM MORE ESPECIALLY THE CIVILIAN POPULACE. IF HE DO THIS, WE WILL TAKE IT AS SACRIFACE FOR NIGERIA AND PEACE WILL REIN WHILE ALL ACTION GEARED TO SANITISE NIGERIA WILL YIELD POSITIVE. I PROMISE THE IGBOS WON’T TAKE HIM TO ICC.
Thanks to pa achebe and pa achuzia for speaking the truth. but am not surprise of the reactions by yeruba leaders coz their are master in terms of covering truth is order to protect theirs. but there are two yeruba elders i respects so much whom i know too well they will speak the truth, unfortunately one is late, pa gani fawemi , may his soul rest in peace. And pa wole Soyinka who is very much alive can equally speak in the on this issue coz he witnessed what pa Achebe has penned down.
Dear Fellow Nigerians,
This Colonel Achuzia is not exception by then because a friend whose father was second in command to Achuzia told me that Achuzia himself use to shot his own soldiers when he commanded you to move forward hot war front. All used their powers to kill many of us igbos that time. So after Abagana ambushed,murtala escaped by dissappered and entered bush,Achuzia dissappered too because they all have power full juju.So his second in commander dissappered inside bush in pursuit of murtala whom they are only seeing his foot match. Achuzia commanded his man to move front and he refuse just to know his mind.Achuzia shot him but to his greatest surprises the bullet did not penetrate.So he became friends with the man and call him man.I hope Achuzia will see this and remember about the Mgbakwu man.
Jide i stand by your point you nail it all. let us looking forward how Nigeria will be good rather than spoil the mind of common man …..And it is on record that Ojukwu admitted that two things defeated him in this war, that’s as at the day he left Biafra. He said one, the change of currency, he said that was the first thing that defeated him, and we did that to prevent Ojukwu taking the money which his soldiers has stolen from our Central bank for sale abroad to buy arms. We discovered he looted our Central bank in Benin, he looted the one in Port Harcourt, looted the one in Calabar and he was taking the currency notes abroad to sell to earn foreign exchange to buy arms.
Prof Achebe and Achuzia are not objective and I do not expect them to be.They find it so easy to make Awo a scapegoat for their ill-conceived and poorly executed war.Did Igbos expect to win
THE IGBOS WERE JUSTIFIED IN GOING TO WAR. BUT ALL THIS WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN NECESSARY WITHOUT THE CONTRIBUTION OF MAJOR GENERAL IRONSI THE FIRST NIGERIAN HEAD OF STATE.
HE REFUSED TO RELEASE AWOLOWO WHEN HE BECAME HEAD OF STATE
HE CHANGED THE SYSTEM FROM REGIONALISM TO UNITARY FORM OF GOVERNMENT ALL THE POWERS WERE CONCENTRATED IN THE CENTRE UNFORTUNATELY THAT IS WHAT WE ARE STILL PRACTISING TODAY, HE SET THE FOUNDATION FOR HOW NIGERIANS ARE STILL BEING RULED TODAY. OJUKWU DID NOT SAY ANYTHING THEN UNTIL AFTER HE WAS KILLED THEN ABURI ACCORD AND THE REST IS HISTORY. IRONSI WAS THERE FOR SIX MONTHS WHY DID HE NOT RELEASE AWOLOWO? GOWON RELEASED HIM FROM PRISON SO WHO DO YOU WANT HIM TO SUPPORT THE PEOPLE THAT WANTED HIM TO DIE IN PRISON FOR WHAT HE DID NOT DO. OR THE PEOPLE THAT BELIEVED IN HIM
ABOUT THE GENOCIDE ALL THE FOOD THAT WERE BEING SENT TO THE EAST FOR THE CIVILIANS WERE BEING HIJACKED BY THE BIAFRAN ARMY. MALNUTRITION WAS ALREADY RAVAGING THROUGH THE CIVILIAN POPULATION IN THE EAST. THAT WAS WHY AWOLOWO DECIDED NOT TO SEND FOOD TO THE EAST ANYMORE. KNOW YOUR FACTS.
Foolish Ola Williams. Cock brain who reason from his anus.
OLA WILLIAMS YOU SPOKE WELL BUT TURN ROUND TO TELL RUBBISH LIES ABOUT FOOD BEING HIJACKED.THE FOOD SUPPLIES WAS BY INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS AND CATHOLIC CHURCH CARITAS FROM VATICAN NOT NIGERIAN FEDERAL GOVT,GET IT RIGHT.
AWO SAID HE WENT TO P.H AND NIGERIAN SOLDIERS TOLD HIM THAT BIAFRAN SOLDIERS MAY BE HIJACKING THE BABY FOOD,BULGAR AND MEDICINE BEING SUPPLIED BY RED CROSS AND CARITAS,THEN HE ORDERED NIGERIAN SOLDIERS TO STOP RED CROSS AND CARITAS FROM SUPPLYING ANYTHING INCLUDING MEDICINE AND BABY FOOD TO THE WOMEN AND CHILDREN TRAPPED BEHIND BIAFRAN LINES,THIS LED TO DEATH OF ABOUT TWO MILLION WOMEN AND CHILDREN,STOP STANDING TRUTH ON ITS HEAD.
AWO ALSO ADMITTED IN 1983 THAT HE SINGLE HANDEDLY CHANGED NIGERIAN CURRENY AS MINISTER OF FINANCE IN ORDER TO STOP OJUKWU FROM USING THE NIGERIAN POUNDS IN BIAFRA TO IMPORT FOOD AND ARMS.THESE PEOPLE DEFENDING AWO SHOULD KNOW THAT AWO ACCEPTED DOING ALL THESE ON THE GROUND THAT HE WAS DOING HIS JOB AT,THOUGH IT WILL AFFECT THE SOLDIERS AND ALSO THE CIVILIAN POPULATION BEHIND HIS ENEMY LINES.PLS READ AWO’S COMMENTS HERE BELOW QUOTED VERBATIM ”
STARVATION POLICY
Then, but above all, the ending of the war itself that I’m accused of, accused of starving the Ibos, I did nothing of the sort. You know, shortly after the liberation of these places, Calabar, Enugu and Port Harcourt, I decided to pay a visit. There are certain things which I knew which you don’t know, which I don’t want to say here now, when I write my reminisces in the future I will do so. Some of the soldiers were not truthful with us, they didn’t tell us correct stories and so on.
They ambush the vehicles and took the foods to their friends and to their collaborators and to their children and the masses were suffering. So I decided to stop sending the food there. In the process the civilians would suffer, but the soldiers will suffer most.
CHANGE OF CURRENCY
So I decided to change the currency, and for your benefit, it can now be told the whole world, only Gowon knew the day before, the day before the change took place. I decided, only three of us knew before then- Isong now governor of Cross river state.
AWO SAID THESE HIMSELF SO THOSE WHO WANT TO BE MORE AWO THAN AWOLOWO SHOULD KNOW THAT NO ONE IS INFALLIBLE INCLUDING AWO .
I doubt your facts,guy
It’s a shame that professor Achebe did not put his interllectual prowess into an objective and a nation building use in this book. At this time of serious national disunity, attempting to cast aspersion on the personality of the late Chief Awolowo is not only a disservice to the nation as a whole, but also to the South in particular. In a war, enemies do not engage in policies that help their rivals; they do whatever is necessary to win the war! The professor’s grudge against Chief Awolowo is tantamount to asking why did the federal govt not allow a free flow of weapons to the Biafrians. Or why didn’t Cameroun present the documents that could have helped Nig retain Bakassi? It’s simply not done! So sir, if Nigeria initiated a policy that was detrimental to the Biafrians at the time, the govt did what was necessary to win the war. That’ s why the late Chief Awolowo is a celebrated Nigerian hero today, regardless of what what 1000 Achebes may write to discredit him.
It’s a shame that professor Achebe did not put his intellectual prowess into an objective and a nation building use in this book. At this time of serious national disunity, attempting to cast aspersion on the personality of the late Chief Awolowo is not only a disservice to the nation as a whole, but also to the South in particular. In a war, enemies do not engage in policies that help their rivals; they do whatever is necessary to win the war! The professor’s grudge against Chief Awolowo is tantamount to asking why did the federal govt not allow a free flow of weapons to the Biafrians. Or why didn’t Camerouns present the documents that could have helped Nig retain Bakassi? It’s simply not done! So sir, if Nigeria initiated a policy that was detrimental to the Biafrians at the time, the govt did what was necessary to win the war. That’ s why the late Chief Awolowo is a celebrated Nigerian hero today, regardless of what what 1000 Achebes may write to discredit him.
As a 5 year old kid in 1967 , I was curious to see those Egyptian pilots inside those freely donated fighter jets by Russia , before I was quickly pushed down to the ground by my late father who died of heart attack because all his property and everything he had worked for his entire life were declared abandoned property till date in Port Harcourt where all of us were born. He only took his briefcase to attend a funeral at the village. He never went back to Port Harcourt as all of us were smuggled back to the village with only the clothes we were wearing. Please be careful of careless talks and learn to listen to what the hand writing on the wall is saying now.
Prof Achebe and Achuzia are not objective and I do not expect them to be.They find it so easy to make Awo a scapegoat for their ill-conceived and poorly executed war.Did Igbos expect to win against the rest of the country with their numerical superiority and better millitary arsenal? Achebe&Achuzia did not tell Nigerians how prominent Ibo men abandoned Ojukwu in the war and escaped with their children to Europe and America.They have to wait for more than 40years before sa
“The man died, who keeps silent in the face of evil”. A lot of men who think they are alive today, like Gowon, Jide and Kehinde are dead men because, they are not only keeping silent, they are afraid when living men speak out against evil. Prof Chinua Achebe, the Eagle on the Iroko tree, for daring to speak the truth which the likes of Jide is afraid to hear has distinguished himself as a living icon, a true creature of the Lord and a worthy citizen of the human race. Now we see the reason why he had refused the emblem of shame, called the national honor. We now see why he chose to live in self exile abroad as a classroom teacher imparting the wealth of his God given knowledge to the next generation instead of loitering around the corridors of power in Nigeria picking crumbs which had become the retirement jobs of generals, diplomats and even professors like himself. Indeed, the sun had risen and no one can stop it. This is Divine ordination. The time for justice for all the injustice and evil perpetrated against the Igbos is now. Awolowo, Gowon and all their cohorts must face war crime tribunal either alive or posthumors. Every single Igbo life lost in the two progroms in the North, the air raids and starvation that characterise the evil fratricidal war must be accounted for and redressed. All the monies belonging to Ndi Igbo which Awolowo confisctated must be returned. All the Igbos that served in the military and the civil service before the war must be paid their salaries, entitlements and pensions to the last kobo. Those still holding properties belonging to Ndi Igbo in Rivers and elsewhere should start returning them now. Otherwise, that evil child that syas his mother will not sleep will never sleep himself.
Be it Igbos or Yorubas does not matter when Nigeria issue is being discussed. The day the two neighbours learn to settle their differents and use their intellectual ability to champion the cause of Nigeria, comes the onward movement of our dear Country. Igbos did what they have to do even though may not be the right time, Awolowo responded accordingly; that was an old story that should not borther anyone. Achebe may have started what he will not be able to finish by opening an old wound. What we need now is for peace to reign in Nigeria. Therefore, Igbos and Yorubas needs to foaster a common unity and forgives one another. God bless Nigeria.
Normatter how you hide and bury the truth it will prevail one day. Before now many books concerning Biafra has been written but the hausa yoruba wouldn’t alow it sell in nigeria, where are they now? Because they do not want to hear the truth, they prefer to hear those that are convenience to them. My very happiness is there are still people to write about the wicked maim..’ it is only a matter of time that this noble concept will be an independent state.
Ahmed, if u say the coup carried out by Kaduna Nzeogwu and his group caused the massacre that followed in the north and the war afterwards then what is responsible for the killing of innocent people that continue to happen in the North even while they control political power. Let me tell you, some people up there are blood sucking vampires. If only you guys can be as innovative, creative, and progressive in human/intellectual development as much as you are in killing in the name of your God Nigeria would be a better place. Yoruba are even better, Igbos compete with them in everything positive and in order to gain an edge both tribes tend to fight each other. Who do you guys up there compete with. Having political power does not bring development, look at the class difference between the core North and South. As much as I respect Prof. Achebe personal opinion, I also believe Pa Awo main objective wasn’t to see those children die but to give his people economic edge over the East. But the core North and their extreme religious believe is the driving force for all the killing that has continued to happen even without an “Nzeogwu’s coup”. what leaders in the core North refuse to admit is that allowing Igbos ingenuity to strive will benefit their people more because Yorubas have intellectual like Igbo, if not better.
The way the Ibos collectively aggress against any opposing view is well known and is to be expected. To the average ibo, “blood is thicker than water”,. They would rather turn truth on its head rather than discuss objectively with reasoned arguments. No wonder, most Nigerians outside the Ibo enclave are very worried of making an Ibo person the head of state. Ibos don’t have anything extra-ordinary that Nigerians of other tribes don’t have!!! Then why should anybody envy them??? The Ibos are quick to argue that the Yorubas envy them, This is arrant and baseless nonsense. When Wole Soyinka was awarded the nobel prize for Literature, loads of venom and sputum were unleashed on him from across the Niger!!! The Ibos have nothing to attract anybody’s envy. Unfortunately they are busy exporting this irresponsible talk and reckless and uncivil behaviour to countries outside Nigeria.
By their comments on Achebe’s falsified facts and fabrications, they have exposed themselves again. They are never wrong. Achebe said Awolowo killed 2 million Ibos because he saw Ibos as the main threat to his becoming President of Nigeria, while Col Achuzia says 3 million Ibos were killed by Awo because of the Ibos participation in the givernment that sent Awolowo to prison. Only insane Nigerians can trust the average Ibo person for objectivity and faithfulness to the Nigerian course. I had and still have many Ibo friends but because of my past experiences with them, I deal with my current ones with a very long spoon, especially when Ibo issues or another Ibo person is involved. May be, our scholars can do a case study on “Owelle of Onitsha: the personification of the Ibo.”
The Yoruba are the problem of Nigeria. Get them out the way; Nigeria will be peaceful and prosperous. What a hypocritical and coward tribe!
Awo and Enahoro don’t want to discuss issue in the house for secrecy. But rather do so in the car and forgot their driver is Igbo. They are discussing Igbo massacre/genocide and forgot THEIR driver is IGBO? Does this make sense to anyone?
Time has come for igbos to decide they faith,we can’t continue to be second class citizen when we know that we are head and should above all this abokis and ofe mmanu ppl.imagine gowon at that time he doesn’t even know the true interpretation of confide ration yet he is the head of state.let the true be told,i have great respect for awo and this respect is derived from the fact that he loves his yoruba race above all things and carry then along unlike our great zik that keeps preaching one Nigeria till death,what of aguiyi Ironsi?to an extend our legend Ojukwu,just that he was pushed to the wall.Awo stood for Yoruba and has great hatred for the igbos hence his actions during the war.we hate to hear the truth,Achebe shouldn’t be crucify for saying the truth.awo and gowon caused great injustice to our ppl and that’s the truth.after all that he did,yorubas are not better than us.even the abokis that has been ruling this forsaken corrupt nation are not better than us.we must have Biafra,mark my word today!
Biafria must emerge soon, no matter the amount of critics,the truth has been unfold,this book must go round the world &the united nations will hear our voice. on biafria we stand.long live biafria,long live biafrians, till the declaration of our independence.
“There was a country”- so apt, so thought-provoking, what a reminder! Is there any real coutry currently called Nigeria? We deceive ourselves to think so. Where are the elements of a country – equity, justice, fairness? Federal character? What does that mean to an objective person? My 13-year old daughter asked me why most banks in Nigeria are led by a particular ethnic group and the same group has the largest number of book publishing companies and professors. I was heart broken to tell her why. I did anyway and it was a real sad evening for us. From Kano to Sokoto, Maiduguri to Gombe, Damaturu to Mubi, Bauchi to Jigawa, evidences abound that there was indeed a country. In these cities and many more, Igbo boys sit on narrow, short stools adorning both sides of the streets, praying and waiting for buyers of their wares, of course, after all night bus travels, not out of choice but as a fall out of the consequences of the civil war. If they did the genocide, Awolowo is already restless in his grave and will so remain. As for Gowon, he will confess before long. Though he wishes to die, death is not coming yet. There cannot be any greater punishment for him than what he is already watching including the genocide in his home Plateua State. He is likely to watch more. Good morning Gowon
@ khinde we all knwo dat d average igo man is ambitious bt dat was nt wat initiated d war n we r hardworkin pple..maybe i shld say dat dis was gowon saw n felt thretened by the biafra nation..bt a promised d truth shall come out n d seed of discord sown by awo n gowon shall…den on biafra we shall…@ jide o. Dnt try to creat a clash btw se n ss cos we r brother n on d nation biafra we belive in
All the institutions named after the coward and wicked murderous Awolowo should be renamed afer the Biafran children he killed. As for Gowwon I strongly believe that he would be rotten alife
Gowon is a devil incarnate,and he knows it.The only way God wiil forgive him,is for him to apologise to Igbos,before it is too late.AS for Awolowo,he is resting with satan
Gowon is a devil incarnate,and he knows it.The only way God wiil forgive him,is for him to apologise to Igbos,before it is too late.AS for Awolowo,he is resting with satan
The past is gone, and it’s gone for ever. We cannot stretch our hands and grab it because it is completely gone. Everyone of us in the East, lost family members during the war. Some of whom were the sole bread winners. The journey that will take us to the future is more important for us to focus on than the past which is completely gone. The more we keep grieving over the past, the more sorrowful the children whose parents are both Yoruba and Ibo would look.
And you know what, Gowon is the most despised “leader” from the north. The harder he tries to get relevant, the more he slips into irrelevance. What a seeming fool used as a launching pad by those who needed him. With so much blood in his hands, he goes staggers about attending events, making mockery and alaughing stock of himself. Though he knows that he is worth nothing in the ranking of northern leaders, he revels in calling himself one. Yesterday, i read a less-than-a quarter page newspaper advert inviting the public to key into a proposed 78th birthday celebration for Gowon. It was not only funny but also a lucid capture of his worth in the eyes of the north including the publishers of the newspaper. Thank you Daily Sun for the many free colour pages you gave out in honour of Ojukwu. The gods of Igbo land will never let your sun go down. Sorry, Mr Gowon.
Sorry williams, ojukwu released awolowo to go and librate his people,but trust d normal Yoru**, he gotback and stab ojukwu.
All i know is that God is our vengeance.as for Ojukwu,he is a Hero that saw it and acted,Achebe also has seen it and acted by rejecting to be honoured by his oppressors.the question is how many other igbo men can do like these people or will they continue to dive for the crumbs that fall off the dining tables of residents of Aso rock.time will tell.
ahmed so this is only thing you lean in the school. you must go back,
I think this page is not the best of places to debate the issue…those who feel Achebe is wrong should write their own book to repudiate his claims. And I think there are still such elders alive in the land. War is like an elephant which blind men are trying to decipher…some hold the tail and describe the elephant as such, some the tusks, some the abdomen some the feet…all admit that the part they have touched is the elephant…what happened in those years was not some minor skirmishes it was war! unfortunately civil wars are of a more wicked sort even than international wars…go ask Kosoveo and Albania and Yugoslavia…my question is this? what if the Igbos had had the upper hand…how would the other tribes at their mercy fare?!!
Ahmad the civil war was not caused by the ibos it was caused by election fallout in the west known as operation wetie and the tiv riot the five majors that staged the january coup one of them is a yoruba major wale adomoyega thank God for our sage chinua achebe and brig gen achuzie his book is on the way the whole world will know the genocidists and the se,sw,ss will forgive and confront our kown enemy the boko haram core north in 2015
The truth will always prevail, am an IGBO man, i pray GOD will solve our problems
my father do say that ‘hand can not cover the moon’ truth is like a moon no matter how long it takes the sun to go down, the moon must surely come forth! The reason the truth is coming to bear now, it’s not for the Prof. to sell his books but it is destined. My father lost all his siblings to the massacre! That the first time he saw a white man was during the Genocide, one of the fighter plane that came to our village was been piloted by a Russian. We know our history, thats why we are waiting for the right time to say them. I belive the time is near!
P.S other tribes should show compassion to the ibos we paid the price for the fake nationhood we are celebrating now with Children blood.
I love history, visit http://www.ekwenche.org and U will love history
Thanks to all commentors, of a truth Peace will never rein untill the Igbos are paid all they took from them,and Igbos will continue to grow stronger and stronger and again Gowon should applogise now before he dies inorder to save his own children future.
Thanks to all commentors, of a truth Peace will never rein untill the Igbos are paid all they took from them,and Igbos will continue to grow stronger and stronger and again Gowon should applogise now before he dies inorder to save his own children future currently Nigeria is under the curse for killin Igbos.
is better you people go back to history, the problem is within you ,ojukwu and zik are not in any accord ,remember ojukwu kill nzeogwu after they released him from prison . he also kill col banjo.is there unity in igbo land the answer is no .try to arrange your house before pointing accusing fingers on others . west is more develop than any other east country are we saying awolowo is the problem , why cant you face what is your problem and you will get solution to it.this chinu achebe was an opportunist from west education cos he graduated from university of ibadan.like many other igbo people why cant you give credit to awoist concept, for the opportunity you people derived from him. you think awolowo is a fool ?,only the fools we give food to his enemy at war ask your self . if you people want biafra why are you going to lagos.the truth is if ojukwu did not approach the west the biafra we stand, but he instructed col victor banjo to take over lagos. pls dont read one story and begin to decide on that. make sure you read all books 1.. . five major why we struck by major ademoyega ,my coomand by ojukwu my lsast command by obasanjo my last command unfinished bussines many more
Achuzia was and is still a complete madman, I can swallow whatever Achebe says but not achuzia. Ask achuzia how many people he personally killed during the war. Forget igbo, yoruba and other nonsense connection.
Well I dont blame anybody, why has Gowon not written books to tell us what actually transpired, instead he kept on doing yeye elderstateman here and there.
The British handed over to the civilians to govern Nigeria.
Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu (an Igbo man) biased coup led to the civil war.
The coup brought Ironsi to power. Counter coup brought replaced ironsi with Gowon.
Ojukwu and Nzeogw led the Biafrans to war with Nigeria.
So what can the righteous do when the foundation is broken?
@ Ola william: please check your history books again. Ojukwu, not Gowon released Awolowo from prison in calabar. Nomatter how hard you try, you cannot distort the history. We have read, and our parents have educated us on what happened. Truth is bitter.
Yerobas, r tricky and dirty sets of ppl, conny, They the North and West, knw Ibos r gr8 ppl, upright, blessed and ever developing Nationality. Igbo is nt jst an ethnic group, Ibo is a Nation. Long live Ibos, both in South South and South East. The enemy creatd dz zons to distintegr8 us.
Jide is neva an igbo man. He is either Aboki or ofe mmanụ persn who is just jeolous of d igbo’s. Jide, there is no igbo man who is not a genius in which eva way he thinks and does his or her own things. Positive or negative. Igbos dont have fools like jide. Go to naija map and see biafran teritory. For we to face naija man on man for 4 yrs shows bravery. Malam jide, if i eva catch in isiala ngwa eh?, i wil teach u wot my dad tot me as biafran soildier. See dis boy oh. Kai
If South South and South East, will ever see and undastand dat the West and North, r nt wit them nor ever wish them good. And we wil ever unite as 1we r, and make a greater Nation, the Abokis and dirty ppl, wil run their own country. South . S and South . E hv to unite as a country they the west and north can nt com our way.
It’s realy to remember those tragedies in d 1960s. No need crying over a spilt milk. Wat d ibos need nw z a strong unification 4 a beta 2moro 4 coming generations.
I am enjoying this international internet discussion. This is real open-ended-qualitative research questions and answers and crtical feedback from the large sample populations. The comprehensive report will be most accurate without bias as peoples comments will not be audited. Bring it on.
God has a way of visiting injustice. It is evident that the civil war, and pre civil war altrocities were all the manifestation of the foxish antics of Britain, who would want to transfer powers to the poorly enlightend North, all as a game plan to protect their investments in Nigeria, and also to punish Zik who gave them a hot chase. Those that obstructed the emergence of Biafra and inflicted horror on the Igbos, have all paid heavily for their crime. The middle belters were very prominent in the mehem, but paid dearly during Dimka, Orkar, Vasta and other stage managed coups, from the hands of the muslem fulanis. Rivers and others have equally got their gory shares. The Boko Haram horror in the North is all about nemesis of wasted innocent Igbo blood. Nothing hunts more than innocent blood. And Britain, Gowon and his partners in crime have no hiding place. Ojukwu once said that “it is not mainly the bullet that kills, but that finger that pulled the trigger”.
Ola Williams, don’t forget that Awolowo was harbored in presidential hotel Enugu when he was released from prison. If the igbos hated him like you said we would have killed him in enugu then.He was even given a special guard from enugu to benin and to yoruba.We have the history of what happened then and we will pass it to our children and children to come.
Gawon & Awolowo responsible fo d genocide of ibo. what of ojukwu that initiated d war & ran away at d end? what of d food meant fo d innocent civilian hijacked by ojukwu & his soldier? did ojukwu use d money he looted from cbn in Benin, P/H & calabar to import food fo his ppl? instead he was using d money to import arms to fight d war he could not complete, i dont know why some ppl are so daft to d extent they could not reason well?.
the igbos are still the same yesterday, today and tomorrow….THANKS MY FELLOW IGBO PATRIOTS BIAFRA MUST STAND
It is clear that some fools dont no the cause of the civil war they open their dirty mouth 2 talk nonsense Igbo’s should be respected every where they are Awo &Gowon think they could whip away Igbo’s, sorry 4 nigeria it all over
My people, the problem now is that this northerners are at it again, they ve started the killing of Igbos and the South at large, must we keep silent and watch this uncircumcised brothers of Gowon to execute all their evil plan against us?, God forbid!
The venom displayed by our igbo brothers and sisters in this column confirms a deep seated animosity against the Yorubas who incidentally have shown the greatest accomaodation for the Igbo race. One wonders if the typical igbo can be trusted with power; the fear is that the race would seek vengeance for the pogrom and the mass deaths they suffered; we are all guilty and the race could not even be exculpated from the reason for the very very sad events. Some peolple were advocating a South get together, a phony proposition considering the fact that from history the Igbo would always prefer the North to the South west, an alliance that has always brought misery and regret to that illustrious race.
@Onu Otile who told you people that i am a Yoruba?Many of you rely on rumours, who told you that the Yorubas want the president impeached,please be sure of your fact and stop carrying false rumors.The issue at hand is about the past that one person is wrongly accusing another,so what brought about GEJ impeachment false rumors in to this.Every body have his own opinion and there is no how we all can see thing the same way because we all individuals.
The Igbos are the light of the nation, they have already overtake their enemies . whom God bless no one can curse. Ojukwu was a hero per exellent he defended his people from the world powers conspirency, even till death he stand by his people . but the cow – ard Gowon cannot defend his village from Fulanis invension. Aturu platue
Jide n ahmad i tink is either both of u are oblivious of wat led 2 d civil war n wat happened durin d war or did not get ur facts rite 4 all those who participated in one way or d oda in d genocide what has bcom of their tribes presently is gowon , saro wiwa or abiola. Nobody can prevail over God chosen people. Long live ndigbo.
the beautiful ones are not yet born lol the people have open their eyes . it is time to call nigeria a day, when it happens , people will forgive but will not forget. just know, that … there will no peace in nigeria unless everyone goes his his or her tent .
The Igbonation is comprised of people of special endowment by the Almighty God. I juxtapose the case of the Igbos in Nigria to that of Joseph in the Holy Bible and his brothers. The young Joseph was hated by his brothers tor two reasons. One was because their father Jacob loved him the most. The other was because he had some God-given qualities which they did not have. In Nigeria other tribes are jealous of the Igbos becuase of their God-given resourcefulness and achievement- orientedness. This is attested to by their ability to reconstruct their nation after the wanton destuction of the orchestrated etnic cleansing that was the Nigeria-Biafra civil war, with little or no help from the federal government of Nigeria. Their indefatigable spirit enabled them to rise again to the forefront of activities in Nigeria, especially in the economy. They are everywhere in Nigeria and elsewhere giving a great boost to commerce and general development. The late Obafemi Awolowo must have been disappointed. Retired General Gowon is amazed at the Igbos. He is from Plateau State and is very aware, albeit too late, of haven been used and dumped by the Hausas and Fulanis who have also brutally extinguished many innocent lives in his home state. I don’t want to get into etnic evangelism. All I want to say is that peole should not start to defend Gowon and Awolowo out of etnic sentiments. It is pointless to argue there was an attempt to wipe out the Igbo race. Nigeria ( if it continues to exist ) should apologise and compensate the Igbonation for the wicked waste of her citizens and resources.
Ola Williams u are just twisting the whole truth, but what i know is that if u chunk truth in the high sea it will still arise one day. As for Jide he is a confused fellow, may God have mercy on them all. I repeat once again as i have mentioned some time ago, no force on this planet earth will stop Biafra to emerge one day.
Col. Achuzia you are the true son of your father.
We can’t wait to buy that book of yours.l will buy ten of them and give to my white friends.
There has been a grand plan 4rm d inception of nigeria 2 annihilate d igbos n thereby reduce their population n make dem minority as show by one of our colonia master’s (harold smith) confession pertainin how extra 9million 2 d population of d north durin census in their era 2 favour d north n create false impresion dat d north is d most populated n by d genocide durin d war n d modern day genocide of killing ndigbo by d abokis at any slight provocation all bcos dey dread d igbos so ndigbo it is time we wake up n stand up n take our destiny in our hands.
Nigeria is a forced marriage on wrong foundation. Lets go back to regional government, with autonomy and believe me, there will be a healthy competition. Right now, is just like the Yorubas have forgotten their Cocoa , Igbos forgotten Palm oil and Hausas groundnut pyramid. Nigeria right now is like an Orphan waiting to share oil money at every month end. No refinery we can boast of. Good leaders can never be allowed to attain leadership but leadership installation. Lets rise up, we the NEW GENERATION and flush out these IDIOTS who have turned us into Slaves in our God given country. They use religion and tribes to divide us. We must forget the past and build a new strong nation. Ojukwu had gone, and soon Gowon in couple of years shall follow suite(actors). We need each other. chikena/!!!!!
Good one by Achebe. Pls, press for biafra freedom. We deserve and need it more than ever before. My fellow biafrans, be ready for our freedom.
THE UNFORTUNATE MILITARY COUP OF 15th JANUARY 1966 KICKSTARTED THE CHAIN OF EVENTS THAT LED NIGERIA TO WHERE SHE IS TODAY. THE ELIMINATION OF POLITICAL AND MILITARY LEADERS FROM THE NORTH AND THE WEST IN THAT COUP WAS CLEARLY SECTIONAL AND TRIBAL.THE PLANERS AND EXECUTORS OF THAT COUP SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR EVERYTHING THAT FOLLOWED. ALL THE REGIONS AND INDEED ALL TRIBES HAD BEEN BRUISED. LET US FORGIVE ONE ANORTHER AND MOVE ON WITH ONE UNITED NIGERIA. MAY NIGERIA NEVER KNOW WAR AGAIN.
Nke bu eziokwu. http://www.radiobiafralondononline.com
It either we give the crying soul justice or Nigeria will ever witness the kind of violence we are seeing today in Nigeria. Able cried and God avenged injustice mated to him by his brother Cain. what are we still wasting our time fighting evil vices while the cause we know already. Lets heal this land by giving this souls JUSTICE.
Guys, when Abiola and Musa Yar’dua of blessed memory were locked up by ignoble Abacha, beloved Fela granted interview and declared “that he alone and God were the one who knew what was going on with these two untouchables.
In the same vein, I should say I see more than meets the eye concerning that pogrom of 1967-1970. Take a look; Isaac Boro and Ken sarowiwa sold his Igbo brothers to the Hausa- Fulani only to be butchered by the people they supported. Do you see today how Hausa-Fulani made that part of nigeria?. Gowon used the Langtang Mafia to slaughter for the Hausa-Fulani the Igbos at Jos and other parts of the north, slashing out the breasts of Igbo women. Do you see today, that Gowon is living witness to the slaughter of his kinsmen in his own abode by the Hausa-Fulani in the same way Gowon and his folks did to the igbos? Call this comeupance or a curse. I laugh when I hear of his “Pray Nigeria program”. I wonder if Gowon thought he could bribe God.Look at the wrath of God which is brought on the Hausa-fulani under Boko Harem. The blood of the innocent Igbos killed in Nigeria is hovering over Nigeria on a revenge mission. No one who partook or supported that pogrom would go free, no matter how long it will take.
I am an Igbo man. Not taking sides. Everybody has their opinions about happenings during the civil war. Every stakeholder had reasons for their actions whether reasonable or unreasonable but one thing is certain genocide is genocide.
(a) Killing members of the group;
(b) Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group;
(c) Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part;
(d) Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group;
(e) Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group.
Guys, your cries for genocide is on point.
The Ibos have been mistreated a great deal in this country. Yes , they have their weak points but Truth is Truth. Achebe is not known to be a liar . I think the federal government should apologize to the Ibos. I personally do not like their attitude with money, but perhaps that’s why they seem to be the most progressive tribe in Nigeria. I know there can be no Nigeria without them. Since the crisis here in the north , we have seen our nakedness economically because of the departure of many Ibos.
History is very important. At least, it teaches man to be careful in malhandling his fellow man. You can dwarf truth but you cannot kill truth. Let us appraise the work of Achebe from the angle of truth and history. In God we must always trust.
Its a pity that many people have a misconception of truth about the biafran war.. Yorubas and hausas betrayed their fellow countrymen.. It was when ojukwu died that the stories resurface all over the east and every nation were the ibo race has settled.. Every parent could tell what they were doing when the progrom that could be classed with that of adolf hitler beseiged d ibo people.. With trains the ibos where brought back to their vilages as corpses.. The cry.. The horror.. The oppresion.. The attempted annihilation of the ibo race should not be treated with kid gloves.. These people deserve justice. If the yorubas think chief awo did well, why have they transfer his hatred for the ibo race to their children.. An average yoruba gets uneasy when he comes in contact with an easterner, why? If not that his conscience pricks him
So what Achuzie is saying is that Chinua Achebe’s book is a tip of the iceberg. May be when he releases his, Awoists will commit suicide.
These Igbo people are idiot.. They caused and causing alot of problem. Why you started war initially? Do you expect Gowon to abandon his responsibility in protecting the lives and properties. you are idiots and useless people
PLEASE LET’S 4GET D ISSUE OF UNITING THIS COUNTRY, BCOS NIGERIA IS NOT UNITED AND CAN NEVER B UNITED EVEN IF SHE SURVIVE NEXT 3YRS. THOUGH THE IBOS HAVE TRIED TO UNITE THIS COUNTRY BUT THE TRIBALISTIC YORUBAS AND NORTHAN ABOKIS DECLINE, SOON ALARM GO BLOW, YAWAH GO GAS. NIGERIAN NAIRA IS FALLEN WHILE BIAFRAN POUNDS WILL RISE
Ahmed aminu! shurt up that your stinky lousy smeling mouth, who told u Nigeria can unite together as one, may laprousy chop off that your rotten hand u use in typing that non-sense
jide o, u and ur entire family wil never see peace again. Unless u ask God for forgiveness. Do u know wat it means for every family in my town to lost their loved in the process of Awos policy
The yoruba right 4rm the on set were cowards even b4 and afta d war they hardly stand at a place,neither moslems christians or idle worshipers swindling like pendulum,u expected Ironsi 2 release Awo,who put him in prison?Is it not his Northern friends?And again let me tell you the truth Awo neva did anything to Nigeria but to his own ethnic group as he secretly sent them abroad(london) during the war!Those of you that said that the Igbos started the coup when the northerners with the British determine what happens in our country cos of the slaves 4rm d north,we the Igbos took the right step in d right direction.for you in the south south if you want allow the yorubas to pland seed of discord amony you and your kinsmen cos u wil also suffer it soon atleast it has already started .you Bakassi boundary..
@Wilson who wants an Igbo man as an in-law, Igbos wants the oil wealth of the South south they wanted to foster their culture on the south south people and extend their territory but God in His mercies allowed the war to destabilize and debilitate their evil conception. Yorubas are far more reliable, honest and helpful than the average Igbo man. So please forget the south south and fight your course. You are on your own. Cunning people.
jide you yorubas are stupid, i don’t think you guys have red what is on that book because he mention what awolowo did on the biafra-nigeria war on that book makes you guy to be calling igbos all the time, let me tell you guys awolowo is God stop being selfish and face the truth, if you can not write down some can write so you can not expect a prof like him not to write, only thing about us in nigeria we like truth because is not a yoruba man that wrote the book? anybody body that is calling igbos is calling God?
@ola williams!it was OJUKWU that released AWOLOWO from CALABAR prison.he also brought him to Enugu and thereafter sent him safely back to Ibadan to be with his people.The reason he was imprisoned in Eastern Nigeria was for his safety;Akintola and his group were already marauding in the West with NPC support so his safety could not be entrusted in the hands of Akintola’s government, his mortal opponent.He would not be sent to the North because of northern forces, Ahmadu Bello, etc. that were ready to waste him.Be informed that at no time was Gowon in-charge of the East until after the civil war.Before Ojukwu died, he made it clear that he was the one who reeased him (Awolowo) from jail; it has never been disputed!
Please stop all these write ups that will not do us good. Lets use the mistakes of the past to correct the present. Hate and abuses will not do us any good. We igbos and yorubas cannot afford a fight now because we must work together to move nigeria forward. God bless Nigeria. Stop the hate
Genocide is Genocide,It is not ambigous,i wonder hw some people like Jide will be emphsizing on d security and literature view of Genocide,i believe such thinkink is silly& does not exist.Anyway,Achebe has said it all and no two ways about it.The living Gowon should be tried in d ICC because he is more or less Charles Taylor and co
these lgbos are fools.you started the war and you got it .war is not children play.stop making noise. abeg una.
@Jide O,granted,by reason of our unique make ups we see things from divergent perspectives.However,it’s implicit both in your construction and tone that your observation is premeditated and your gaze taken from a blurred prism.What’s happening in Nigeria today speaks volume – the unprovoked wasting in the North beggaars description.Yet, people like Jide will see it and put a prejudicial construction to it.Why this uncaused hatred for the Igbos? I trust that Achebe,by his esteemed posture has got enough courage to tell the truth as it is and that,with all plainness.
Nigeria is a terrible mistake. Indeed, “THERE WAS A COUNTRY” as the learned sage put it. As ‘a broken bottle has no remedy’, even so has ‘Nigeria no remedy’. It’s about time we all accept this reality.
Nigeria has no remedy.
Yorubas and Hausas always say igbos are not good but still wonder why they cant let us go….there is nothing like one Nigeria,Yoruba should apologize to igbo for what awolowo did…
my brothers,thesame white men that toyed our leaders 2 war cos of there selfish intrest are dsame white men that predicted the break up of our fatherland.now there 1st step is in motion n d weapon is a BOOK tht is like a time bomb switch.thy( whitemen)wnt it 2 b cheap so as 2 get 2 d poor cos poor man is always hungry n can easily b use 2 handle N250,000:00 AK47 to kill a fellow poor man as usual.As u all can c,u pple r already insulting urselves right now.what if d book comes out?I guess dsame women n children will start running n dying again.PLS dis time i advice tht we should b wise enough 2 tell d rich 2 allow there children 2 join us in case of war or tell d rich 2give us d cash 4 d guns inplace of d AK’s.Check iraq,libya,egypt etc thy r regreating thr mistakes.I ope we r nt gonna foolishly drop our pens n certificates for guns cos tht ll b when area boys,agberos n armed robbers ll turn 2 ogas thn Bsc,Msc etc ll turn boys.GOD 4bid in JESUS name.
Well as for me, I pity the Igbos for all what they went through during the war time. We can not blame them, because the pain is still paining them. Youruba and Igbo should stop accuseing one another. Igbos can never ever trust the yoruba again. North is our major problem that, playing hatred game among yoruba and Igbo. I only want yoruba to support Igbo for presidency. The time of June 12 Igbos came out enmass and supported MKO. Yoruba must do the same thing for them too. Yoruba should not allow north to continue to deceive them again. Yoruba should always remember how Awolowo was deceived and how north gang up and killed MKO. Yoruba should learn their lesson. Mallam are evil people. Yoruba should be very, very careful with the north.
If Achebe a historiant or a storyteller?
Nigeria!!! Nigeria!!! Nigeria!!! What a name? Killing people because of tribe and personal interest. Let me set some fact about Nigeria. All the comments here I appreciate accept( Jide o) yorubas has been the problems of Nigeria from time. They manage economy what do they offerr nothing. That is why hausa called them (biarebe)meaning 2face sword.igboes called them (ofe n manu)meaning red oil or anything oil or anything u decide to call them. Those who fight in biafara were great men and women and till date Nigeria is still suffering from the war invent. C.Achebe a great iroko tree.my col.Achuzie. God knows it all. It pains
Awo will never rest in peace, we the Igbos must rise one day against the Yoruba and show them the way out of this country, this will happen soonest and it our generations, i hate Yoruba man than the devil.
You killd Tafawa balewa,Ahmadu Bello,Ibrahim Taiwo,Akintola,Festus okotie ebo,but you ar stil talking nonsens,i can’t blame u,i blame the Nigerian army for living singl Animal there.
JIDE YOU ARE JUST A CHILD WHO WAS BORN JUST FEW YEARS BACK. PLEASE CONSULT YOUR FATHER WHO DID NOT WITHNESS THE WAR NOR HEARD THE SOUND OF GUN TO GIVE YOU A BRIEF LECTURE ON WHAT HE HEARD HAPPEND DURING THE WAR. DON’T BE A FOOL
that is past, please bury to move forward.
It is when the wind blows, that you will see the rump anus of a foul. This book of achebe is not a fiction just like his other books. This is a memoir, which means he has a personal knowledge of what he is saying. I put the blame of Gowon, first for taking over power when he is not the superior officer. that shows that he is iresponsible and he is not deciplined.secondly, he would hav allowed d law, Aburi accord to take it stand, but he followed his mind. That shows his lawless attitude. i was still in my fathers stomach when the war took place. But hostory has revealed d truth.am not suprised about Achebe memoir because a war can only end when another begins. The war is still going on only that the fighting weapon has beeing changed.kudos for Achebe for his memoir. Nigeria is not one and can never be one.
The comments of the Compatriots have shown that Nigeria is a divided country, so such a country will collapse one day.
To me, the crisis that led to the unfortunate civil war started from the coup of 1966 which was masterminded by the Ibo guys and they only killed the Prime Minister, Premier of Northern region, Premier of Mid West, Premier of Western region and left Premier of Eastern region and Azikwe who was the President, the coup plotters were yet to settle down when Agui Ironsi an Ibo man staged a counter coup that brought Nigeria down completely..The great Awo did his master bidding during the civil war to bring the war to an end, so blaming Awo along with Gowon was injustice and distortion of history.
I have no grudges with any tribe in Nigeria but what Awo did as a Premier of defunct Western region surpassed all other regions till date, so i plead with our Brothers and Sisters from South East not to rubbish the name of the greatest Hero AWO, in connection of failed civil war that was carried out arbitrarily by Ojukwu without due consultations with other regions as at then.
Other non Yorubas in Nigeria should note that Oduduwa republic will not lack good governance and speedy development in case Nigeria collapses, we are one tribe that accommodates other tribes without bias and we are not COWARDS but very humble and responsible.
Yoruba remains in the opposition since first republic to chart new course for Nigeria politically while other tribes especially Ibo jump at positions at Federal level of government since Azikwe days till date.
Yorubas are not noise makers but great Achievers in all human endeavors, the vast education enjoyed by the Yoruba was made possible through the visionary leadership of Awolowo as a Premier of defunct Western region, why then would your leaders cast unwarranted aspersions on him for the failure of their unfocused, greedy and self centered attitudes.
OMO ALE LO NFI OWO OSIN JUWE ILE BABA E.
@ Dele Odugbemi i know you for been an idiot and it didnt start today. Where do you get your histories/ facts from? Or are you a solo historian? As for Awolowo, he admitted his injustice towards the Igbo’s. I hate being tribalistic in my arguments rather i try proving my points. What was the main reason for the June 15th coup? Was it not because of the Akintola and Awolowo’s power tussel which the then civilian govt count not handle because of the prime ministers interest in the matter as against Awolowo who he sees as a traitor? KADUNA NZEOGWU is from the south south and not even from the SOUTH EAST. But am not denying him been an Igbo man. Also remember that ZIK was away for treatment when the coup was carried out. Also remember that Ojukwu was still in the North precisely Kano and was the person who made sure that the then Emir was not attacked and the area been peaceful. Also remember that the military boys who did the coup were never supported by the Igbos. Also remember that they were all punished for their role in that coup. So my dear when you want to talk, have some facts. GOD BLESS NIGERIA!!!
Thank you the people’s “Air raid” Not that we don’t know all that happened during the war; Achebe just x-rayed the fatal ambition Awolowo exhibited. Awolowo is evil; he thought that extinction of Igbos race would pave way for his presidential dream. Gowan deceived him by promising him that he would hand over to him if the Igbos were gone. They sold Bakassi in return to blockade. Today, Gowan is going about with Bible as a preacher!
Awolowo did not deny his role during the war. I remember vividly the comments he made during his campaign under UPN in 1979 where he said that starving the Igbos was the only faster alternative to end the war. Again and after the war, Awolowo in his wisdom ordered that all the Igbos should be given twenty-pounds no matter what he or she had in the Bank. By then the North were interested in holding the power, while he made sure the West acquired all the Economy and Company shares all over the country. It is not a secret. Awolowo had ambition which Gowan and the North denied him. Remember that when Awolowo was released in Calabar prison, he came to Enugu where he was given the option of taking care of Oduduwa State. He embraced the idea and went back to Lagos only to make an astonishing 180 degree U-turn! All the pacts he reached with the Igbos in the past were all flouted. Victor Banjo another Yoruba Officer told Ojukwu that he would move for Oduduwa. He reached Ore and made another U-turn; sold all Biafra troops to Federal juntas and even came back to Enugu to kill Ojukwu! He paid dearly. Anthony Enahoro regretted his roles against the people of Biafra until he kissed the soil. Ken Sarowiwa and his kinsmen were also deceived by the promise that if they join in the suppression of the Igbos, they would inherit everything that belonged to the Igbos. When he realized the mistakes and tried to raise his voice, it was already too late. He paid the supreme price. He was hanged alongside his kinsmen and acid poured on them. Today, Alani Akinrinade is asking for Yoruba flag and anthem, the same ideas the Igbos propounded years ago but were disappointed by Awolowo, Akinrinade and his kinsmen. Anybody who cares to hear and know what happened in Nigeria before, during, and, after the war should visit “www.Exlusive interview late Chukwuemaka Odumegwu Ojukwu – You Tube.” He granted the interview in USA. You will see the nakedness of this ‘mugu’ called Awolowo.
After all these review what the Igbo’s are still doing with Yoruba’s is still unclear. The truth is that it is not advisable to trust Yoruba’s as they are not Christians and not Muslims. They have no religion and they have no stand.
Nigeria as an entity will never get better. The blood of women and children including my own father is too hot in the Land. Problems will continue until those blind men in the government begin to see that we have no future together as one Nigeria. This should be seen by all and sundry ,no pretence.
Igbos are all mouth and full of empty braggadocio.you lost a war and you have been whining like pregnant women ever since. Aren’t you people ashamed of whining and moaning despite all your nzogbu nzogbu , you are defeated by a better prepared army and the leader of your war shamelessly ran away under disguise DEAL WITH IT AND STOP THE MOANS. ITS VERY ANNOYING
I think writing a book like this @ this time is not the best thing the man call Achebe.We dont need such thing right now,this will bring back bad memories and it may lead to something else. I think this so called book shld be BANNED. Hw can title a book ‘There was a country’ Is the country no more?I xpect an elderly and educated man to knw that this is a very sensitive issue which shldnt be exhumed ever.He just wants to make money thats all.
Awo was part of the Govt then,and he was simply doing his job,so i dont think he shld be castigated for being diligent.The man just did what he gotta do @ that time.
My fellow country people,lets dont allow this people push us against eachother cos they want to make money.
There’stin lik 1 nigera…. Bcos alot had bin gng wrng ryte frm d inception of dis so cald grt nation. There are 3 tins whch i tink ar d major diseas eatin up d heart of dis nation;
1. THE ISSUE OF TRIBALISM frm most d coment i read here, i senses tribalism. Som pple here dnt coment on d basis of truth. Thats hw d dilema started in d earli 60s. Ojukwu is dere 4 d intrest of his pple only. Gowon is dere 4 his own pple so also d nodan leaders. So u see! There wasnt one nigeria ryte frm d start. Let b sincere are d hausa igbo yoruba united? Neva! So pls lets nt b foolin oursefs.
2. RELIGION; Anoda HIV virus naija is sufrin frm. Dnt vote Buhari bcos his muslim or dont vote Jonathan bcos his christian 4 God sake is d leadashp all abt religion or gud govanans?
3.CORRUPTION; anoda big naija kila diseas criplin our so cald blov country. Whil were busy fightin n cursin each oda, they are busy luttin our resources. Instead of us to fine a way out of dis manace we engag oursef kilin, kipnapin oursef. Wher ar d money efcc siez frm pple dat stole mney frm d mases? were ar d benefit of d subsidy rmoval? What are d govanos dng? We neva bother to ask such question. NAIJA wak up! Lets face d reality. Instead of chasin shadows. All dis… D comon man on d is d victim.
How about bad policies of the CBN, SEC , Foriegn Exchange policies on Nigerians , this is another genocide coming soon.
Was Colonel Victor Banjo not a Yoruba man? He fought on the Biafran side (against his tribe and his people) . He excelled but was executed by Ojukwu (out of envy) . Why ? Because he was becoming a star among the Igbos and was gradually over-shadowing ojukwu. That was one Yoruba man among the handful Yorubas soldiers that fought on the Biafran side !
Prof Ekwensi Achebe and Sgt Achuzia : can you dispute this?
All yoruba contributors here are talking rubish.None is saying something reasonable.That Awo helped the yoruba does not mean he is innocent.Before Achebe came out with his memoir,every iboman knew the role he played during the civil war.Why is Gowon silent?Gowon’s past is now hunting him.He is ashamed of his past that is why he has refuse to respond.The Germans loved and suported Hitler but when his intoduced policies they consider inhuman,a good number of Germans turn against him.The people should know that what lead to the civil war the political crisis cause by Awo and Akintola in the west.This led to the first military coup during which Sarduana of Sokoto and others were killed.The north revolted with killing of ibos in the north and this resulted to the civil war.It it only people mostly from the west are blaming the ibos for the civil war.
Please lets divide this country for the good and peace of the Future Generation!
That is the only Solution to the predicaments bedevilling this Nation today.
Delay is too dangerous.
All hail “BIAFRAN REPUBLIC” U must be realised again!
Jide was talking rubbish. Total rubbish. You will not know your future while you do not know your past. Reason before you open your mouth.
That aboki Gow. if am not mistaking, he is originally from middle belt region right?. He has started ripping the fruits he sowed at the past while he is still alive. What is happening in the middle belt region today, especially Plateau State his own state. Him and the middle belt soldiers that fort the Nigerian Civil war are regretting it today. They will soon unveil the truth.
Dele, do not distort the history, Aguiyi Ironsi did not carry out the counter coup. Rather, for the same reasons you stated about the January 1966 coup and the meritous installation of Ironsi as the the Head of State being the most senior army officer then, the murderers from the North tacitly aided by cowards and opportunists like you from the West carried out the counter coup which produced Gowon, followed by the massacare of Igbos in the North, West, Midwest and even parts of the East (Rivers and Cross River). Those who escaped the progrom ran down to the East Central and the 30 months struggle by the Igbos to resist being wiped out in their own enclave is wahat is today known as Biafra Civil War. Cowards like you you think that Igbos lost the war, no we won, because we succeeded in preventing the race from being annihilated which was actually the paln of Awo and Gowon. Dele, Awolowo may be your god but he is the most wicked man that had lived in this country. If he is not roasting hell fire now, then there is no hell, but there is and he is surely there now. have you asked what happened to his first son, whre is his daughter that has discared woman headtie in place of Awo cap, why did you not make her your Governor if you like Awo that much. Do you know that Awo actually visited Ojukwu in Enugu and promised him that as soon as he declares Republic of Biafra, he (Awo) will declare Oduduwa Republic. But as soon as Ojukwu declared Biafra, Awo defected to Gowon and became his second in command, Minister for Finance and the economic strategist. Yorubas are most dangerous and slimy tribe in this country and ll the problems of this country had been traced to it. Did you know that Ironsi and his host Fajuyi were captured killed in West. You are crying about Achebe’s book, wait mine will come after Achuzie’s own. Surely, the days of reckoning is here and there is no hiding place for the evil ones.
ON AHMAD AMINU, GOD BLESS YOU. WAR IS A BAD THING. LET US NOT PRAY FOR IT AGAIN. I was 7 years in 1966, and during the war from 1967 to 1970, there was hell. we were small and experienced it to that level, what of those older than us. What of those unmatured youths recruited to join the army. It was bad that by 10 am, the usual time for Nigerian fighter and bomber planes comes, even fowls and other animals will start running on their own. But, the truth must be told for the new generation to learn. Neither Ojukwu nor the Igbos caused the war. Remember that it was the innability at Federal level to stop the crisis in the West between Awo and Akintola that made the Young Soldiers led by Nzeogwu to plan a non tribal coup. For peace to reign, let each governor, and Traditional Heads of each State be held responsible for any crisis in his Area of jurisdiction. We have agreed to be one Nigeria, though with many Destinies, let us remain like that. MAY GOD BLESS NIGERIA, AND GRANT US PEACE.
Ibos are the greatest human assets we have in Nigeria today. They are strong, they are enterprising. I have been asking myself everyday on why this Ibos are being hunted by other tribes. I saw the answer in the below website. What Awolowo and Gowan did to them in the past was too bad. They opted to join the rest of other regions as one Nigeria, you refused and continued to kill them. They said they wanted to stay on their own you said No. Till today you are hunting and killing them all over the place in the name of Boko Haram. Habaa! Thats too bad. I am surprise that Awolowo who was supposed to advise Gowan on the so called “Police Action” went as far as starving millions of Ibo children and women to death. This was purely Genocide. I visited the site (www.Exclusive Interview late Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu – You Tube) as suggested by Mr. Ahiara above. I discovered that the West were the really problem of Nigeria. Awolowo manipulated everything at his disposal just to be president. My late father was working with the Red Cross during the war and each time he came home he would tell us that the bodies of Ibo children littered everywhere in Umuahia Orlu, Aba etc. My advice to all the Ibos is to organize yourself and make a case to Hague so that there will be official pronouncement that Genocide took place in your place. What prevents the Yoruba leaders to apologize on behalf of their late Awolowo on his role during the war. It is not a mark of weakness but honour and respect. Gowan has done that but not officially gazette. It is indisputable that one must address the past before positioning his or herself today for a better tomorrow. Jonathan should release or pay for their properties confiscated. By doing this, a lot of wounds would be healed. German confessed what they did to the Jews, and so many East European Countries including Ruwanda. They are all confessing after which they enjoy peace. While we wait for Achebe and Achuzie’s war-memoirs, let us embrace peace, it pays.
I discovered one thing here in Nigeria, some People who can read and write hardly read historical events to equip themselves incases like these. Rather, they base their aguement on what they heard at beer parlours, or fom their uneducated friends. These type of Books by Prof Chinue Achebe, ( Air Raid) Col. Achuzie, Prof Wole Soyinka, etc. These Men can not mislead us. So please gentle men and Ladies, we are not better than the uneducated if we can not read. For the avoidance of doubt, there are lot of books about the Civil war in Nigeria, such as WHY WE STRUCK. THE NIGERIAN FIVE MAJORS. THE NIGERIAN REVOLUTION AND BIAFRAN WAR. NIGERIA,THE CHALLENGE OF BIAFRA. SUN SET AT BIAFRA., and a lot of others. Reading expands our knowledge. To an average Nigerian, who is not Igbo, Ojukwu is a Rebel, and the cause of the war. If you ask how many books about the Civil war he read, no one. Once we stand on Truth, and Condemn evil, evil will run away. Stay Blessed.
That’s y O B J is stell laghing , What is bakassi ? A bribe to kill the ibos during the war . That’s why goodLok just live the bakassi ppl and now the world can as my Question who is bakassi .I see a country says Achebe .but i said as the American says That 2015 is the time ,Prof janned ,Ango has said it all that, if we north loses 2015 Niger will divide .ungovernable
The cause of the Civil War:Major Chukwuma Nzeogwu who is from the midwestern region of Okpanam Town in present day Delta State,carried out a coup with his kinsmen,also from Delta state and stakeholders from North and South West were killed,and their sins were visited on the Igbo people of Eastern Region because Nzeogwu’s names sounded Igbo.Now people should know that for the fact that Nzeogwu didn’t kill the Top govt Igbos then,that shouldn’t be mistaken that it’s the Igbos that carried out the coup,and that the coup was ethnic.Most Igbo speaking Deltans(Midwesterners then),Rivers,AkwaIbom,Cross Rivers all consider themselves Igbos and want to align with the Easterners(whom they observe as their elder brothers),and so for Nzeogwu and his kinsmen to do what they did,and also instal Aguiyi Ironsi was a mark of respect to their elder brothers,and doesn’t mean the core Igbos planned that coup. Ojukwu and other Igbos never supported the coup,and that was why Ojukwu(then commanding Kano in the military),didn’t kill Emir of Kano(the Emir is alive and can testify to this and that was why the Emir never played with Ojukwu till Ojukwu’s death,and this same Emir made sure he attended Ojukwu’s burial).Now from the moment of that coup and the counter coup,innocent Igbos were massacred in the North and nobody tried to find out who exactly did the first coup.And Ojukwu culdn’t sit and watch his people killed,so he took action,and Aburi was decided,only for Gowon to come back after the peaceful agreement,and Awolowo and co.,deceived him into making a u-turn,and what followed was the genocide.The Yorubas hate the Igbos out of envy and jealousy,go to lagos and see.Hausas hate the Igbos,every tribe to be honest,hates these rare specie of people who nobody believed will get to where they are today,after the genocide carried out on them,and i want to warn that until all the tribes that committed crime of murder against the Igbos apologise to them and the Igbos allowed to rule,Nigeria will never move forward.Femi Kayode said it all,after he said how Awolowo was deceived by the North that he(Awolowo),will be given power,and this made Awolowo(then Finance Minister),to change the currency over night and give every Igbo 20 pounds and to also formulate policy that were geared in starving the Igbos to death.As for Gowon,that ugly bastard,he will rot in hell with his stupid christian program which is nothing to God,cos his hands are full of blood.I thank God that he is alive today and seeing how the muslim Hausa/Fulani(his so called One Northern brothers),have turned Plateau State and Jos in particular to Armageddon,and this is just the beginning,,his fellow christian brothers are now not safe in their own region and place.Gowon never see anything.
Ihe onye metara ya buru.
Unu ahubeyi ihe obula.
@odugbemi u must be a fool to refer we igbos as greedy and self centered .yorubas are naturally coward people and yes yes sir ppl with never a mind of they own.no way u can compare average Igbo man with a Yoruba,( ofe mmanu ppl).
It appears to me that people now post comments on tribal, regional and other sentiments. Also opinions are attacked, persons are attacked and the real issue remain untouched. I will most respectfully submit that most commentators on this forum were either not born at the time of the civil war or were still infants. Prof. Achebe and Col. Anwuzia were not only born but were involved. We have books written on this war – check Emeka Ojukwu’s BECAUSE I AM INVOLVED (this unfortunately did not satisfy the curiosity of those that wanted to read the true account of the key actor in the war), WHY WE STRUCK by Alexander Madiebo etc, you will appreciate that Achebe is providing the missing links. I encourage Gowon, Olusegun Obasanjo, and in fact more of those who fought against Biafra to frankly state their own accounts in a memoir, perhaps that will bring about a balance reporting. Finally, I encourage all to learn one or two lessons from these books and it will surely help us access today’s situation and decide our tomorrow. Nigerian’s especially the advantaged nothern elites have consitently opposed the convocation of a Sovereign National Conference, yet they believe in one united Nigerian State where there exits no unity. We hear of a religion that is claimed to be founded on peace, yet all manner of terrorist acts are proudly acclaimed by their fundamentalists. Pre-1967, it was the Igbos, today the other regions are crying. Ken Saro Wiwa was part of the abandoned property commision panel that disposed Igbos of their assets in the post war Rivers State – he was killed by those he supported against Biafra. Is someone learning a thing? NIGERIA: must we deceive ourselves in the claim of one united indivisible state? Think again!
i have learnt alot
I would have love to reply the comments of dele odugbami and ibrahim but i had a second thought that it will be very futile and useless becouse after thorough reading of this two men foolish and sentimental comments i decided to reserve my wise comment to the wise people.But havent said this i strongly believe that Prof Chinua Achebe memoir stir up the injustice and genocide being perpetrated by Nigeria,Britain,Russia,Saudi Arabia,Arab world,Egypt and North Africa against tiny nation called Great Biafra.The day of reckoning is also arround the corner.Come 11th Oct 2012 USA will know the real truth wen the Memoir will be launch in their country then on 5th Nov 2012 BZM will redeclare the indepent of Biafra and this time arround the forces of Nigeria,Britain,Russia,North Africa,Arab world will not prevail Great Biafra freedom becouse the hand of our Almighty,God of Great Biafra is at work.I advice Yorubas to please stand firm and let their Yes be their Yes and their No be their No,they should not be sabotours becouse every other tribes knows them as such and lastly they should not be coward in the face of challanges.As for the South South whom are part of the missing ribs of Igbos but they easily listing to the council of Nigeria against their brothers Igbos but at the end of the day they will be at the receiving end,the Nigeria will sow the seed of discord against them and their Igbo brothers as it was the case of abandorn properties own by Igbos that reside in River State and other part of Nigeria they seized but Igbos have forgiving our South South brothers.Last but not the least is Housa-Fulanis i dont realy know were to place you people becouse your own casses is quite contradicted becouse of the nature of your religion and culture but never the less i will like to ask the Middle Belterns how has it been to them this and the Core Noth?and i hope by now they might have learned their lessons the way other tribes in Nigeria have been learning very fast never to trust Fulanis(Core North).So my fellow Nigerians i want you all to trade with coutions not to provoke the and loving nation calls Igbos(Biafra)and the way things roll on now it seems the USA prediction on 2015 Ngeria disintegration will definitry come to pass
Ibo people are only twisting history. They are changing history to their favour. Say the truth and let God forgive your sins. Is it all we witnessed that you are falsifying to decieve those who were not born then? Hardly you get correct history because everyone writes in favour of his people. What is wrong for telling truth to your people where they went wrong to serve as deterrent for oncoming generation. May God forgive your sins against Nigeria. It is geed that led them into the war which is still hurting them.
Ola Williams is like u are more Awo than Awolowo. Learn to talk from ur head than from ur mouth, else God ‘ll make u share the unfortunate with those innocent women&Children. Lets b careful in what we comment, God is watching us!
Who led the 1966 coup. Nzogwu from then midwest(bendel state) being today Delta state.(delta Igbo). This man was born the north and stayed all his life in the north.The northern military officers planned it with him and killed their people. Nzogwu killed his own premier(premier of mid western region). Why then do we say it is an Igbo coup? Because the people sent to kill Azikiwe and okpara did not find them at home. So it becomes an igbo man’s fault. Ironsi did not join in coup and was not even in the country. he only took over as the most senior military officer available then. the hausas planned another coup and removed him to make sure they rule nigeria. Please let all of us go and read the history very well. The coup was led by a south south person from todays delta state. So let us stop calling it n igbo coup
Yes, the Igbos wanted to secede and live in peace, however the federal govt wanted a one Nigeria!
Who should we blame for the war? Not the yorubas, not the igbos, not the hausas.
Who then?
The ruling elites at the time!
AWO led Biafra to war is after thought. He was in Calabar prison when the war broke out. General Gowon’s ability to win the war was doubtful and he had to include the civilian input Awo at that time. True he appointed Awo as his Vice Chairman/ finance Minister in order to prosecute the war. The regime is collectively guilty of war crime and genocide according to Chinua Achebe. Is Biafra well prepared for the civil war?
As Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu emerges as secessionist leader, he urges all Igbo’s to return home. Did Chinua Achebe answer his call? Rather than return home Chinua fled abroad! Even the Great Zik of Africa answered the call and returned home. Zik wrote the Biafra national anthem and mid-way into the war he fled abroad and abandon his people to their fate
There were civil servants who assisted General Gowon such as Allison Ayida and Philip Asiodu and, why were their names not mentioned in the accusation and counter accusation?
If Awo is guilty of war crime and genocide. Chinua and Zik are also guilty to abandon the people of Biafra. What of the federal troops led by Danjuma, Hassan Katsina, Shuah, Aruna, I. M., Muritala, Benjamin Adekunle, Obasanjo, and David Ejoor? What are these names guilty of?
It saddens me to see our people slaughtered in civil war such as Biafra and, i sympathised with Nigerians who died or lost their limbs and properties as a result of the war. As for Chinua, he is free to write on till he can write no more. I think Achebe stairs the nest to sell his book.
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AWO led Biafra to war is after thought. He was in Calabar prison when the war broke out. General Gowon’s ability to win the war was doubtful and he had to include the civilian input of Awo at that time. True he appointed Awo as his Vice Chairman/ finance Minister in order to prosecute the war. The regime is collectively guilty of war crime and genocide according to Chinua Achebe. Is Biafra well prepared for the civil war?
As Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu emerges as secessionist leader, he urges all Igbo’s to return home. Did Chinua Achebe answer his call? Rather than return home Chinua fled abroad! Even the Great Zik of Africa answered the call and returned home. Zik wrote the Biafra national anthem and mid-way into the war he fled abroad and abandon his people to their fate
There were civil servants who assisted General Gowon such as Allison Ayida and Philip Asiodu and, why were their names not mentioned in the accusation and counter accusation?
If Awo is guilty of war crime and genocide. Chinua and Zik are also guilty to abandon the people of Biafra. What of the federal troops led by Danjuma, Hassan Katsina, Shuah, Aruna, I. M., Muritala, Benjamin Adekunle, Obasanjo, and David Ejoor? What are these names guilty of?
It saddens me to see our people slaughtered in civil war such as Biafra and, i sympathised with Nigerians who died or lost their limbs and properties as a result of the war. As for Chinua, he is free to write on till he can write no more. I think Achebe stairs the nest to sell his book.
I HATE GOWON! I HATE GOWON!! IHATE GOWON!!! I HATE GOWON!!! I HATE GOWON!!!!
GOWON AND OBASSANJO KNEW EXACTLY WHY THEY ARE IN HIDING BY NOT COMING OUT TO SAY SOMETHING ABOUT BAKASSY, THEY KNEW QUITE WELL THAT WHEN THEY CAME TO PRESS THEY MIGHT BE ASK HOW AND WHAT LEAD TO BAKASSY HAND OVER TO CAMEROUN THEN!!! AND THE ANSWER WILL REVEAL THE TRUTH !!!! GOWON + AWOLOWO + OBASSANJO GIVE BAKASSY TO CAMEROUN THEN DISTROY AND KILL THE IGBO!!!! EQUALS TO MAN INHUMANITY TO MAN
I see most guys here are too tribalistics…there was a coup to eliminate major tribal heads…the hausa and yorubaz killed their while igbo people hid theirs….there was vacuum in the army and the next man to step up..a yoruba man could not command the army because the majority of them were hausaz..he had to flee the country for his dear life and he died later…we may both have our differences but I feel when we are in a war we always look out.for victory over our opponent…although Awo should have followed the bible that says…feed your enemies and those that hate you..thereby u heap coals of fire on their head…but alas he used the killer strategy..and it worked….its war and the wounds cannot be erased easily but come to think of it…Everyone is guilty with blood on their hands…Ojokwu started thr war because he could not have a junior officer commanding him with which he was right…but at that time…the igbos had already betrayed everyone in the beginning…awo was hurt and he revenged…gowon no sabi anything..he was just being pushed about…end of story…
Some shameful facts are been sheltered here; this includes the fact that an Igbo man, the merchant of death, the honorable arms dealer procured the major bulk of the arms used by the Nigerian army and became filthy rich. Why are the IGBOS omitting this fact? why is it that AWO and its Yoruba tribe are unapologetically held responsible for the decimation of the Igbos during the Biafra/Nigeria war.The Igbos should be happy that the Yorubas did not retailiate for the death of chief S.L Akintola and other illusterious yoruba military officers killed by the Igbos.Where then would the igbos call their biusiness home today.This need to be said for better understanding among the Igbos and to halt that great misunderstanding between the Igbos and the Yorubas. I see the pictures of the starved people, its horifying to say the least. Let’s include everyone involved, dont bend facts to make points or hide the facts of history. Let all be told very sincerely.
You yoruba people will leave to regret your gang up with the hausa-fulani, very soon, no need talking too much. This time is no longer 60,s when the world was at darkness. For Gowon, his own is finished, i doubt if he will ever have a generation at all because he commited the worst of attrocity. To hell with one Nigeria.
Igbos have started in what is their best pastime. Blaming every tribe for their self-inflicted predicament. In addition, they are also threatening every tribe for the nearly dead project of Igbo-presidency. They have even gone to the ridiculous by seeking for apology from other tribes! Jokers all!
FORMER AMERICAN PRESIDENTS OPEN UP FOUNDATION TO HELP PEOPLE WHILE GOWON OPENED NIGERIAN PRAYS TO ASK FOR FORGIVENESS WISE GUY BUT THE GOOD LORD WILL NOT FORGIVE HIM
THANK GOD THE MIDDLE BELT SUFFERED TOO WHERE IS GOWON A FORMER HEAD OF STATE THAT LOST ELECTION IN HIS STATE OF ORIGIN SORRY GOWON IKEMBA MADE U TO GO TO SCHOOL
The monster called Nigeria which gowon inadvertently created while showing wickedness from the pit of hell to Biafran children, women and the elderly will certainly consume him (gowon), his children and future generation. Joy of retribution is in the city as he helplessly watches the people for whom he slaughtere fellow Christians in southeast routinely and gleefully slauther his kinsmen in the plateau. This is just the beginning of daybreak in Nigeria. Give me gowon’s meat/flesh and i will be glad and proud to have it at ANY COST! He grins and never smiles. His appearance at any ocassion spells and smells blood, death and war. By the way, what is his portion in Nigeria as the north for whom he lived the life of a murderer and cannibal plunders it? Foolish, old fool!
jide and dele odugbami are bastards!
They are sons of whores!
Die jide and dele!
07067490156
jide and dele odugbami are bastards!
They are sons of whores!
Die jide and dele!
07067490156!
WHILE YOU LIVE, YOU ARE BUT A STEWARD. IF YOU CONTRIBUTE TO THE FALL OF THIS NATION, WHAT IS IT TO YOU? LIKEWISE THE SURVIVAL OF THE SAME COUNTRY. YOU ARE SIMPLY ACCOUNTABLE TO GOD ALMIGHTY WHO DICTATES WHO SEES THE NEXT MINUTES. I RESPECT ALL THE REGIONS, TRIBES, RELIGIONS AND PEOPLE OF NIGERIA FOR THE PAST AND COLLECTIVE EFFORT THAT SUSTAINS US AS A NATION TODAY. WE STILL STAND AS A NATION NOT BECAUSE SOME REFUSE TO START THE FIGHT OR SOME AHVE SEEMED TO START IT. IT IS GOD’S GRACE, THE ANSWER TO UNENDING PRAYER FOR THIS NATION BY THE YOUNG AND THE OLD FROM EVERY NOOK AND CRANNY OF THIS COUNTRY. GOD IS ANSWERING AND WILL SUSTAIN THIS COUNTRY BEYOND EVERY PESSIMISTIC IMAGINATION. HAVE YOU PRAYED FOR NIGERIA TODAY?
MY LATE DAD USUALLY SAYS “THE YOUTHS OF NOWADAYS THINKS THAT WAR IS SOMETHING YOU GO OUT TO FIGHT IN THE MORNING AND COME BACK TO YOUR HOUSE TO EAT AND REST AT NIGHT”. HMMMMM I NOW KNOW WHY.
APPARENTLY MOST OF THE COMMENTS THAT I HAVE READ SO FAR ARE STILL SINGING SONGS OF WAR.
MAJORITY HAVE NOT COME OUT TO PROFER THE WAY FORWARD OR TO GIVE HEALING WORDS TO THOSE WHO LOST DEAR ONES DURING THE WAR.
LETS US REMEMBER THAT IF WE DO NOT LEARN FROM THE MISTAKES OF THE PAST WE WOULD NEVER MOVE FORWARD.
I FEAR FOR NIGERIA.
What about the Northern pogroms of 1966? Doesnt it have any bearing on the civil war? Also, Awolowo passed-on 25 years ago, in 1987? How many Igbos have been killed in the North since then?
@ Dele Odugbemi you are a big fool like your fore father’s, Ofemmanu people.Your legend Awolowo did well by killing of 2million helpless women and children in the name of doing his master’s bidding,there blood will be upon the oduduwa nation and there counterpart Arewa (zombi people) forever Amen.
Gowon must apologize to Igbos.All the privileges of a former head of State being enjoyed by Gowon should be removed for putting Nigeria where we are today and ceding Bakassi to Cameroun because his selfish ends.
GOWON HAVE REALISED HIS MISTAKES, REPENTED AND GAVE HIS LIFE TO JESUS CHRIST. I HAVE FORGIVING HIM.MAY THE SOUL OF OUR BROTHERS REST IN PEACE.
When somebody claim to be all wise, such a person ends up been the bigest fool. Such is the case of the entire REGION, so called BY OUR COLONIA MASTERS AND THE BORN RULER (the North) “POLITICAL SOUTH” or “GEOGRAPHYCAL SOUTH”. The Colonia Masters and the North know the “SOUTH” more than the SOUTHERNERS themselves. For the first time in Nigeria political history, the south united and had a common view that makes them politically relevant in Nigeria Politics to the envy of the North and Fear of dominating the North by Our Colonia masters. 2015 is fast approching. There must be distractions for the North to have there way. The Colonia masters knows our culture and traditions,. therefore, the best distraction is to turn the two giant ethnic groups against themselves by punching their heros in the face. The question now is Who is using who? WHO IS BEEN USED? Is this this the right time to for the south to be fighting and quarelling over “bones” when the main flesh is taking away by the “North? What does the south stands to gain especially the viewers who have turn abusers on this forum. Lets stop been an empty drum, lets be quiet and behold the SECRET INTRUDER and SPOILER beating discurd drums for the “SOUTH” dance a dance of shame. A word is enough for the wise.
it’s high time we 4got d past, which is gone, n focus on d future let’s start wrkng 2wards makng nigeria great d truth is dat nigeria has never been great unless we want 2 dcv ourslvs hausa/ibo/yoruba can not do it alone as a tree does not make a 4rest 2geda we can make it 1 nigeria
what is happening in gowon’s state of plateau is nothing but nemesis and very soon he will be caught up with his sins.
awolowo already paid his own price – inspite his loyalty and followership to the north, they still did not allow him to taste the power that he so wantonly craved for. he was humbled in death and only remembered only as the best president that nigeria never had.
nigeria is not only a failed state, but she is an extinct nation, no wonder she is styled as ‘once upon a country’ because the country is no longer in existence – it is defunct.
BIAFRIA will surely rise again.
kahinde! If genocide perpetrated by ur so called sage,rather a tribalist d most wicked and dat has ever happened 2 nigeria i mean AWO! he fanned d ember of tribalism which d country is suffering till date, AWO thought dat GOWON and d northerners will compensate him president,dat he neva got till his miserable death. D truth must be told. Thanks PROF ACHEBE ur an icon.
Hmmmm….interesting debate, but did we the ibos think of something, ojukwu’s going into the war and depriving is people of the food that was meant for them and giving to his military boys was not a fair way to express good leadership. If he became the leader of the ibo’s would he not have been a selfish leader? Would he not have been another military rule for the ibos?
I am not trying to justify what Awo did but have tried to actually confirm or find contents or information from the Red cross, and CARITAS if whether truly Awo sent food to the ibo people and they were ambushed.
Lets ask questions and lets find answers.
For me i believe if all the regions had gone on there own anything could have happened, nobody can be so sure what will have happened to us all today, we only believe if we had gone apart all would have been well of. But think about it when your neighbours are fighting and killing themselves would it not affect you?
God help and guide us all.
The genesis started with the five Majors, who wantedto carry out a revolution to wipe out the corrupt political leaders of that time. they dispatched their executioners to each region to carry out their plan. The ones responsible for the nothern and western operation accomplished their tasks, while the eastern ones failed. the revolution was foiled as the senior officers of the armed forces took over the reigns of power. An easterner happened to be at the helm. They did not make the five majors to account for their failed action. The north sensed conspiracy and was aggreived. They launched a counter coup and killed eastern leader at the helm. Some western leaders were also killed in the process. This should have put an end to the issue as the equation have become balanced. This was not to be, as the notherners became blood-thirsty, killing the easterners enmass. All efforts made by Gvernor of the Eastern State to halt the mass killing proved abortive. They have no option than to move to their region, where their safety is guarranteed. This culminated in their quest for their own country. Then, police action was declared on the Governor, which resulted into the madness that followed. It was a great injustice! We should only count on the mercy of the LORD for forgiveness. Our Igbo brothers should also forgive us. WE ARE SORRY!!!
@Peter Yusuf, thank you.
You are very objective.
Your apology on behalf of your group is accepted.
You must be a Northern Christian