This is for those who said Ojukwu declared a war. This is for those who said the Igbo fought Nigerians. This is a report by Paul Anber, a whiteman.
The hostility the Igbo faced in the north not just about the Kano Pogrom of 1966 where over 30k Igbo were killed but previous ones
It was becoming too much that Eastern Region Consultative Committee gave Ojukwu, who was a military governor of Eastern Region madate to secede. Ojukwu was mandated by the Igbo to leave
The pogrom in Kano made the matter worse.The East seceded and of course the war against them.
When I hear people calling Ojukwu war monger who thought he could fight Nigeria and win I start laughing.
The Igbo never prepared for war. But just as the sheep says. She doesn't know how to dance. But if you beat drum to her father's place, if she cannot dance, she'll jump up.
In this article, you will see why 12 States were created by Gowon instead of leaving the regions as they were. It was because of Igbo secession which was anticipated.
They used Gowon. Now he's parading himself as evangelist. Going for prayers over where he jointly destroyed.
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Aburi Accord was an agreement reached in 1967 at a meeting attended by delegates of both the Federal Government of Nigeria (the Supreme Military Council) and the Eastern delegates,
led by the Eastern Region's leader Colonel Ojukwu. The meeting was billed to be the last chance of preventing all out war.
It was held between 4 and 5 January 1967. The Aburi conference lasted for two days. Ojukwu wanted it to held outside Nigeria for the sake of his life.
He put out things he wanted which will be beneficial for the people. Almost all the proposals he presented were adopted. It was a time for Council of Nigeria to reconcile with Ojukwu.
The Aburi was between Ojukwu and Gowon. They ate in the same plate as a reconciliation factor.
What You Should Know About the Old Eastern Region.
The development caused envy among others. How?
* Between 1954 & 1964, Eastern Nigeria was described as the fastest growing economy in the world by Harvard reviews. Faster than China, Singapore and the "Asian Tigers".
* The Eastern govt was the only government in the world that invested 45% of its revenues in Education.
* The Eastern Region had the biggest Electricity Supply. Best Hospitals And The Igbos made up 60% Of Nigerian Civil Service
* The Eastern Nigeria had the highest Number of Registered cars in Nigeria as at 1963 by a large margin.
* The Number of Registered Business in Nigeria as at 1963 was as follows.
Brig.Gen.Samuel Ogbemudia on Thursday May, 2001 said:
"After the civil war, while I was Military Governor of Midwest State, I quickly got Chief Salubi and Dr. Nwariaku to assemble in Benin some of our Igbo brothers who had through ingenuity,
refined petrol through locally made refinery in the East.
These people had also converted tipper lorries into armored tanks, among many other incredible feats. I designed a programme that will ensure the utilization of their brains while they were still fresh and hot,
for the good of the country.
Surprisingly, I was summoned to the Supreme Headquarters and directed to suspend actions as the government feared that my attempt will resurrect Biafra".
In the olden days, the Igbo built houses for one another. It's a part of community development. The communal nature of ndị Igbo which is embedded on the philosophy of "onye aghana nwanne ya" (do not forsake your brother) made this possible.
Money wasn't a source of validation.
If Okeke needs a house, the whole youths in the community will come together, everyone would be helping out with his or her skills. Women would be fetching water, men would be puddling on the sand. Before you know it, Okeke is already a house owner.
When it's a turn of Okafọ,
Okeke will carry it on his head as if it's his project. No one get paid for that. Many Igbo were able to have shelter through this means.
How about food during the work? The group would contribute food. Okeke was not going to feed all.