Kogi Election: God is the true King Maker!

If you've been doubting if God do really exist or whether He has a say in your life,I beg you to make re-think! Because God is truly alive and is able and capable of all things.He is the true and only King Maker!
About six months ago in Kogi,if you tell an average Kogite that an Ebira man or Okun guy has a chance to become the Governor of the state,the answer of such a person is definite and capital letter spelt NO!Whoever is familiar with the political terrain of Kogi state would tell you without mincing words that unless a miracle happens,no other tribe would be able to ascend the Lord Lugard House's throne.
It has been rumored that the Igala tribe alone constitutes the single majority in Kogi state,therefore,any candidate favored by this large tribe only needs very little fraction of other tribes to secure the Governor's job.The other two major tribes of Okun and Ebira had always contested this fact for years.So,when a close friend of mine's in-law (an Ebira) had the chance to conduct a special CENCUS exercise,he was disappointed with what he discovered.He discovered that the Igalas were truly more populous than Okun and Ebira combined!
Although an uncle of mine disputed this,but for now,they are officially more populous.This is why,I see this as a rare opportunity,a narrow window through which we too can attract some state government's presence to our areas.Some people feel that Faleke was cheated and that Yahya Bello once worked against the APC. To me,these are all flimsy excuses that aren't strong enough to hinder our chance to right some very old wrongs in the political and economic scene of the state.
If Faleke is not ready to become a deputy governor,then,I'll suggest that the APC should find another Okun man that's ready to work harmoniously with Yahya Bello. There are so many out there, it's not a must that it's Faleke that becomes the Deputy Governor...a person that's already elected under another state into a different political post. Okun politicians should 'soji',wake up to the opportunity that stare them in the face!
It's my prayer that Okun politicians realizes quickly enough that the present political play that's going on in the state has no room for personal ego or political ideological tussles. Politics in Nigeria today is all about make do with what you got and maximize its utility before it's passed on!
So, to the Okun people in the house, this is your opportunity to shine...the combo of Ebira and Okun in the Lugard house is about the best deal you can get in this era of ours. I would therefore appeal to our political class to find a substitute for Faleke if he insists on throwing away the rare opportunity given to us by the True King Maker Himself (God Almighty). Let's be grateful, embrace it with both hands and make the very best of it...remember, it's just four years o!
Who knows,this could be a test of gratitude from God Almighty. Perhaps,if we accept the Deputy Governor's seat with gratitude, He might bless us with the Governor's seat really soon.
God Bless Kogi,
God Bless Nigeria!

Fuel Subsidy Removal - My Take II

In my previous post,I made it clear what was meant by fuel subsidy - it's the money paid by the government to reduce the cost price of fuel for the general public.I also made a good run down on the history of fuel subsidy in Nigeria.Today,I shall continue from where I stopped which is discussing the way out.

Remove the Subsidy!
I'll explain.Let me start by asking you this very simple and logical question.If you are married and had settled your family in a place like Oshogbo while you work in Lagos.There's this expensive imported drug that you usually send to your wife for her ailing mother in Oshogbo. The highest amount of cash your wife can afford is N5000 but there in Lagos it goes for N7500.So,you decided to help by paying N3500 of the price so that your wife would only worry of paying just N4000. But,in the end,you discovered that your wife still pay through the nose as much as N7500 after she might have paid for transportation that you already have taken care of.Now,tell me,what would you do,would still continue to pay for the drugs??? Of course not!
We have been told from reports that subsidy payments are not making the desired effect on the fuel prices we pay,why,then,should the government continue to make such payments?Look,let's be realistic and face the facts.Can we say we have really enjoyed the dividends of being an oil producing country before,weren't we better off when we depended on Agriculture as a major source of national income...CAN ANYONE OF US TRULY SAY THAT HE OR SHE HAD ONCE FELT THE POSITIVE EFFECT OF FUEL SUBSIDY???

Is There Truly a Subsidy to be Removed?
If you carefully study the data presented as regards to subsidy removal from 1978 till date,you'll discover that they only tell you that they are removing fuel subsidy and are quiet as to when the subsidy was added in the first place.I mean,if the subsidy was removed in 1978,when was it re-added to warrant its removal again in 1990?
Okay,let's assume there were so many turbulent years between '78 and '90,but what of between '90 and '92,92 and '93 which were under the same regime,when was it re-added to warrant its removal again...how much exactly was paid as subsidy? The most laughable part is the occurrence in 2000 when subsidy was removed thrice!When was fuel subsidy added and by who before it was removed again?
In case you haven't noticed,the first subsidy removal was during Obasanjo's Military regime,the second,third and fourth were during the Babangida's era before Obasanjo came back in '99 to continue the upward movement of oil prices which was briefly halted and actually reversed backwards by Late Yaradua.Jonathan came to power to play the same old card of his predecessors,Obasanjo and Babangida but was faced by a stern resistance from Nigerians who are now more co-ordinated than ever...thanks to social media!His hands were forced to leave prices at N97/litre.
Now,in all these,there's none have I found much more thought provoking than the fact that despite all the sanctions and difficulties Nigeria faced under General Sanni Abacha,the fuel price was stagnated at N11 per litre!
Before Abacha's regime,I don't think we imported fuel at all,yet,there were subsidy removals but during his tenure when we had started importing fuel,there was no subsidy removal or hike in fuel prices...this is why I ask,is subsidy removal not a fraudulent way of embezzling public funds...WAS THERE ANY SUBSIDY IN THE FIRST PLACE???

Dealing With The Independent Marketers
Thank God,there are no more talks of Oil Cabals,what we got left are the subsidy and independent marketers' talks.
As you can rightly observe,at least in Ilorin where I live,there's scarcity of fuel and an emerging black market force.These are the consequences we have to face following the refusal of independent marketers to lift fuel for public consumption.In Ilorin,it's only the major marketers and the NNPC that sell fuel at the control price as expected.Independent marketers are not selling at all.However,I learnt that in places like Oshobgo and Ogbomosho,fuel are sold in filling stations but not at the control prices.The prices of petrol in those filling stations ranges from N100 - N150.
Now,let me say for the sake of emphasis,all these were happening despite the subsidy,why not just remove the subsidy then,so that we may know those to truly hold responsible?
I mean despite the subsidy,Nigerians have to pay as much as N250 per litre and the Federal Government announces that after the fuel subsidy removal,fuel prices won't exceed N95/litre. Just check out the difference!
What this means is that we are suffering this untold hardship simply because we are afraid of paying more,are we not paying more already???
During the President Jonathan's administration,things went from bad to worse,the emergence of the so called Independent Marketers who literally became the ones that decides how much we,both as a government and public consumers pay served us a very deadly blow.They come around and demand for subsidy payments at will.In fact,rumor has it that they sometimes get paid subsidy for doing absolutely nothing...all they had to do is present documents that a NON EXISTING oil vessel had just arrived and needs the subsidy funds to make necessary payments.Others were reported to have diverted the fuel tankers to neighboring after collecting subsidy payments from Nigerian government...the corrupt practices are way too many to mention!
Whether there was truly subsidy before the present regime's emergence,the regime must be ready to work according to what's on ground!This is because I'm seriously doubting its existence in the first place!

My Take!
Gaskia!I know one thing for certain,most Nigerians are not affected positively by the subsidy payments,as in,it doesn't reflect on how much I pay for fuel.It has also been known that after the total removal of the subsidy,fuel would land on Nigerian soil at about N78/litre,after the addition of all other forms of charges,it would rally round N94. Hence,the pump price in the end would be...say N100/litre!
To me,a standard and stable price of N100/litre of UNADULTERATED supply of fuel is far,far,much better than N250/litre adulterated black market supply!Forget about the government savings,forget the numerous government's on how the savings would be used. The koko to me is that fuel would be available at a highly stabilized price of N100 and the fact that prices would only go down and not upwards...when our refineries start operating fully!
This is my take - Remove the Subsidy TOTALLY!

Fuel Subsidy Removal - My take.

What is Subsidy?
A subsidy is a sum of money granted by the government or a public body to assist an industry or business so that the price of a commodity or service may remain low or competitive. Therefore,fuel subsidy is meant to make fuel prices relatively cheap and affordable. Now, I ask you,is that the case with fuel in Nigeria???
You see,I like being blunt and realistic with the truth and not emotional.We all know what had happened to fuel prices in the international markets...fuel prices are in their all time low,hence,subsidizing have started to look foolish indeed.You and I also know that the international market changes in oils prices has no effect on the economy...as in,there's no difference in the way things are whether oil prices increased or reduced.Nigeria's oil prices is very independent of the international markets.So,it's hard to say whether there's a subsidy in the first place!
Another point that's worth discussing is the mechanism of the subsidy in Nigeria considering the corrupt nature of anything government and past events,especially in the oil sector in Nigeria.Let's check it out!

A little Historical Background
From my findings,subsidy has a long history...it began way back from 1978 during Gen Obasanjo's Military regime! Below is a showdown of supposed subsidy removals over the years.
1978, 15kobo per litre
1990, 60kobo per litre
1992, 70kobo per litre
1993, N3.25kobo and N11 per litre
And from 1994 to 1998 the official pump price hovered around N11.0k per liter – these happened during the military era of Nigeria's 'perceived' most horrific tyrannic dictator,Gen. Sanni Abacha.Remember that these same years of the General was the era of the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF).The PTF was charged with the execution of capital projects from cash saved from the oil sector .We all know how effective and beneficial the PTF was during that time...it was so,so,so, beneficial.
After the demise of General Abacha came the times of General Abdussalaam who handed over to a democratically elected government of General Obasanjo.The rise in price continued to the disappointment of Nigerians.
N11 - N20 - N22  in the year 2000
N22 - N26  in 2001
N26 - N40 in 2003
As may have observed,all this happened during the years of General Obasanjo,who later further jerked up pump price to N65 and finally to N100/ litre just before making his exit.
Late President Yar'adua was nice enough to bring the pump price back to just N65 a price that was maintained till his death. However, with Oga Jonathan,the journey continues,on New year eve,very few Nigerians could possibly forget that year's first Presidential speech.President Jonatrhan greeted Nigerians with an increase in pump price presenting the same old story of fuel subsidy removal as an excuse. It got to a point,we were told to get ready to pay up to N144 per litre!
Fuel subsidy,independent marketers and the OIL CABALS were the talks we hear day in,day out in Nigeria during President Jonathan's administration.Now,we are in General Muhammadu Buhari's regime and fuel subsidy removal is now making rounds again along with the characteristic fuel scarcity and black markets.Bros,for how long are we going to continue like this?

Fuel Subsidy Protests
Just today I read in the news that oil workers are planning to stage a protest against the proposed fuel subsidy of the Federal Government.Sometimes I wonder if staging of protests has not been abused long enough.Every now and then,people would come out and say they are protesting one thing or the other...I tire o! 

Anyway out?
I know that most Nigerians are wary and tired of the fuel saga.Nigerians are tired of the fuel subsidy talks...it has going on for far too long. Now, the question now arises...what's the way forward???
This shall be the point of continuation tomorrow,God's Grace...see you tomorrow! 

Happy Birthday Mr. President!

 I'm sorry sir,this is coming a little bit later than it should.But, it's better later than never,I believe.I want to seize this opportunity to wish you,your excellency,Mr President a happy birthday and many happy returns of the day with long life and prosperity.

Sir,you were born exactly 73 years and a day today and destined to lead this country to glory.I do hope and pray that your second coming to National leadership would be much more successful and memorable than the first.Ameen.
During your first tenure,we (Nigerians) didn't understand your mission then,so,we connived with haters and kicked you and your equally highly disciplined friend,Late General Tunde Idiagbon out of office thinking you guys were going crazy with the iron fist with which you managed our affairs...then,what we had was an already very decay and corrupt Nigeria,so,there was no way we could understand the language of discipline and accountability you and Idiagbon were speak so loud.We were caught flat footed and very frightened with the bluntness of your regime.We didn't understand...oh...we didn't understand that it was for the best...the very best!But now,we know better!
Thank God,we now know much better,though we had to learn this the hard way,the good news now,is that we now know better!We now know that nothing good comes easy,we now know that as citizens,we must be ready to pay the price for greatness!If we must progress and live a prosperous rich life as it befits the children of our fathers,we now know that we must first of all endure hardships and work hard enough for the better tomorrow we all yearn for!
We are no longer interested in being  handed free undeserved money for little nothing or for bending corners.We are tired of bending corners!We have all realized that bending corners leads to nothing but a pit fall a kind from which we are still struggling so hard to get out of,hence,we worked hand in hand with a very few patriotic elites up the political ladder to bring you back in as our No. 1,our leader and passionate civil servant to once again set us up on the path of glory!
We are indeed very grateful to God Almighty for giving us a second chance by crowning our efforts of bringing you to power with a resounding success!Already,we have started experiencing the POSITIVE CHANGE we voted for!
Kerosene has been officially brought down to N50 and it's equally available at that price,Boko Haram can no longer fumble of an ordinary audio release (not to mention videos) of their terrifying messages as they continue to loose ground by the day,criminals,WILLING FULLY submit their ill-gotten wealth even before being accused of theft,our skyrocketing exchange rate against the Dollar gradually coming down and stabilizing..all these are happening and it's just being 7 months you assumed office!
Yes!There have been a coupled of hitches,but,we all know,even your haters know that they were part of the problem you inherited.Considering the way you have being handling them,we,Nigerians are confident that you and your host of ministers would do us all proud.
A friend of mine complained even to the point of protesting by not joining me to wish you a happy birthday of the extra-judicial killings of Shiite Muslims up North.But,I know,he's only being emotional about the deaths of so many in the hands of our soldiers.I can assure you,he has no grudge against you.I would want to use this opportunity to appeal to you that the unfortunate saga should be probed and the erring among the soldiers involved be brought to book.So many protests have been staged worldwide condemning the incident,therefore,it should be handled properly so that we may not loose face in the international community.
I got so much to say on my mind,the problem is the time and space to express them all.I shall stop right here now as I join the millions of PATRIOTIC NIGERIANS to wish you a happy birthday!
Long live our President,
Long live Nigerians,
long live Nigeria!!!

The Truth About Biafra III

The Biafran war has come and gone...it's been 46 long years after the war,yet,some people still bleed badly from the wounds sustained during the war!

The Scars of the War

A friend of mine made mention of his meeting with a person with the traditional tribal marks of one Northern region tribe and concluded that the person was a Northerner.But, to his surprise,the person in question doesn't understand the Hausa language.He was later told by one of his friends that the person wasn't a Northerner but,in actual fact,was an Igbo! I also have heard of an Igbo wife of a Yoruba Muslim in Ilorin.Her story was that of a destitute after the war.Many Igbo men had died during the war so much that there was a serious imbalance in the female - male ratio.Soldiers were encouraged to take some of the displaced women as wife.This Igbo woman in Ilorin seems to be one of them.
I also met an Igbo friend back in my NYSC times.He narrated his family's story to me.According to him,both his parents were highly successful business people before the war.His father owned the very first story building in Nkom,Cross River state (that was my state of service year). But after the war,when the man went back to reclaim his property,he was turned down as the property among other treasures of their family now have new owners.These are just a few of the scars of the war.This is not to mention the extra judicial killings that happened during the period.I'm very sure even Ojukwu,wouldn't be particularly happy with the outcome of the war.

'No Victor,No Vanquished!'
This is a popular statement in Nigeria.There's no way you can talk of our history without the mention of this particular statement.
This was a necessary pronouncement especially for a leader that's mediating between two warring factions. General Gowon also followed it up with the '3 R's' idea.The three R's had the following meanings:Reconstruction,Rehabilitation and Reconstruction.These,obviously, was what the country needed especially in the Eastern region,you would agree with me.But,this wasn't particularly the case.Gowon meant well with these programs but they were poorly implemented so much so that the Eastern region had almost no share at all in the 3 R's program.
Furthermore,the Igbos lost all they had in the Nigerian country before the war after the war.No one got compensated with more than 20 Nigerian Pounds after the war irrespective of how much the person had in Nigerian banks before the war.
However,one major,effective and all important program that still work magic in sustaining us as a country till date that was courtesy of Gowon's administration is the National Youth Service Corps Program (the NYSC). I personally learned to appreciate our unity and sovereignty as a country the more when I served in Cross River state (where a mosque,to the local people down there is 'Hausa Church'!).The Service corps has united youths from different parts of the country,provided the avenue to learn about other tribes and know how to live with them peacefully.A couple of inter-tribal marriages have emerged over the years courtesy of the program.It's a laudable program that should be taken to the next level when possible. 

Nnamdi Kanu and Radio Biafra
I'm sorry,but,I'm going to be very blunt with this...I haven't ever taken Nnamdi Kanu or MASSOB seriously ever since they have been clamoring for Biafra. I mean,there's no way you gonna know the story behind the rise and fall of Biafra and still insist on its supposed actualization.
I keep on wondering how a guy that leaves hundreds of miles away from Nigeria would sit down in the comfort of his room and broadcast violent messages on air and is still able to build such a huge audience as he had successfully done!Kanu is calling for Biafra without fully grasping the true essence of Biafra. Biafra was at BEST a means to an end and the end itself! It took even the Originator and founder of Biafra,a long while to understand this.When he finally did,he shelved the idea of Biafra and moved on with Nigeria.Who was the founder of APGA political party if you think I'm wrong???
If Ojukwu,the first and the very last Head of State of Biafra was able to shelf the idea of Biafra and moved on with Nigeria,who,then,is Nnamdi Kanu to call for the actualization of Biafra? Now,you see why I don't take Kanu MASSOB seriously???

Biafra is Dead and Gone for Good!
Believe it or not,Biafra is long gone and dead and no matter how much broadcasting on electronic media that's done would bring it back.It existed in one of the darkest periods of Nigeria.No responsible Nigerian,not even those of Igbo origin would wish its come back except the person hasn't heard of it or the person in question is a tribal fanatic,cruel,selfish and very,very greedy indeed!
Already,Nigeria is back to how it was...or should I say in a much better position than it was before the war.As I speak to you,we got some Igbo families that are counting probably their third successive generation up North.By that I mean that they have lost most of their contact with the East...they seldom go down East.When they do,they stay only a couple of days before coming back up North.To these Igbos,the North is now home!It's not only Igbos that are now living up North,we also have people of South-South origins doing good businesses up North and making a very good living from them.
When you talk of the economy,sports and entertainment,the Igbos rock!The North takes up the Agric Business much more seriously,while the Yorubas are more into teaching and civil service.Real Igbos are Nigerians and are proudly so...they are NOT ready to be taken aback into the dark ages

.

Nnamdi Kanu is a Devlish Criminal!

For a country that has had its own share of civil strive and have ever since tried to make amends in all ways it deems fit to be troubled and hurt by a criminal mind like Kanu,I think it's most unfair and unfortunate.All he ever does is to promote racism and hopefully wants to divide us as a people without a just cause!
Ojukwu had a very,very good reason to have declared the republic of Biafra...his declaration helped put a stop to the unjustified bloodshed of the Igbos and of course,elevated the thinking of the country's leaders as to the importance of equity and justice while dealing with even the minority.
But Kanu's declaration was nothing but a mere call of mischief.Kanu,saw an opportunity to rake in cash heavily on his people.With the Biafra dream,most unemployed which are the more numerous are caught in his trap and fed lies and poison continuously over the years.I've met with some stern believers in Nnamdi's cause and have experienced,first hand what sort of lies they have been fed.The lies are so thick and intoxicating that no matter what the F.G. does,they won't be appeased.This worries me a times,but, considering the majority of the Igbos who work hard daily and rake in millions per day,my worries simply disappear.
No one spends a lifetime building a career or business only to give it up in old age to a complete stranger.If anyone would,Igbos wouldn't!There's hardly a part of the country that you wouldn't find Igbos working hard to excel in life.Nnamdi is wrong,he picked on the wrong tribe,Igbos are the last to start up an uprising...wherever they find themselves is home,hence,they build their wealth and settle down there!They are too busy to entertain secession ideas!They won't break away unless when provoked to that extent.Ojukwu did it 'cos he was provoked and he returned back to the Nigerian fold when the country made amends! Biafra was a mistake that musn't be repeated...here's what Gowon had to say after the war.
  "The tragic chapter of violence is just ended. We are at the dawn of national reconciliation. Once again we have an opportunity to build a new nation. My dear compatriots, we must pay homage to the fallen, to the heroes who have made the supreme sacrifice that we may be able to build a nation, great in justice, fair trade, and industry."

 God Bless Nigeria!
Long Live Nigeria!!!

The Truth About Biafra II

I'm very sorry for not keeping to my promise,it was due to situations that were beyond my control.I'm sorry,please pardon me.I also want to express my condolence to the political realm of Kogi state that has lost a very important politician...especially the political family of All Progressive Congress,the A.P.C..May the soul of Prince Audu rest in perfect peace.Having said that,it's time to continue the story of Biafra.

The Aburi Confrence
After the announcement made by Col. Ojukwu of the secession plans of the East,the rest of Nigeria became tensed and refused to accept the secession plans as they were ready to keep the East even at gun point.The Chairman of the Ghana National Liberation Council -Lt.-General J.A. Ankrah wasn't happy about the development and was ready to do whatever it takes to forestall the rather impending war.
In an attempt to quench the tension via peaceful means,he hosted both the Nigerian F.G. delegates as well as the Eastern Nigeria regional government at Aburi in Ghana to iron things out.The Delegates are as follows:

• Lt.-Col. Yakubu Gowon - Head of State
• Lt.-Col. Odumegwu Ojukwu - Governor Eastern Region
• Major Mobolaji Johnson - Governor Lagos State
• Lt.-Col. Hassan Katsina - Governor Northern Region
• Lt.-Col. David Ejoor - Governor Mid-Western Region
• Commodre Joseph Edet Akinwale Wey - Vice President of Nigeria
• Colonel Robert Adewale- Governor Western Region
• Alhaji Kam Selem
• Mr. T. Omo-Bare

Others as follows:

• N. Akpan Secretary to the Military Governor-East
• Alhaji Ali Akilu Secretary to the Military Governor-North
• D. Lawani Under Secretary, Military Governor's Office-Mid-West.
• P. Odumosu Secretary to the Military Governor-West
•  S. Akenzua Permanent Under-Secretary-Federal Cabinet Office

After deliberations,the following points were agreed upon and were later known as the Aburi Peace Accord:

• "Members agree that the legislative and executive authority of the Federal Military Government should remain in the Supreme Military Council, to which any decision affecting the whole country shall be referred for determination provided that where it is possible for a meeting to be held the matter requiring determination must be referred to military governors for their comment and concurrence.

• Specifically, the council agreed that appointments to senior ranks in the police, diplomatic, and consular services as well as appointment to superscale posts in the federal civil service and the equivalent posts in the statutory corporation must be approved by the Supreme Military Council.

• The regional members felt that all the decrees passed since January 15, 1966, and which detracted from previous powers and positions of regional governments, should be repealed if mutual confidence is to be restored.

 

In Response...
The F.G. abrogated  one notorious decree 8 then...just for peace to reign and secession plans be put away and forgotten! But,unfortunately,the sacrifice was NOT enough to appease the Easterners as they had their own interpretations of the Aburi Peace Accord. War was inevitable and it finally broke out in 1967 following the declaration of the Biafra as a country.
The Biafran War
Ojukwu didn't only declare a sovereign nation but also raised her flag and minted her currency! He meant business and didn't hesitate to show that to the Nigerian government.From the statement of Col. Ojukwu after the war,he knew that he wouldn't be able to win the war by himself...he was hoping for help from the international community,which unfortunately didn't come their way.The British and the Russians along with some North African countries backed the Nigerian government with ammunition and air-force strength while the U.S. merely watched the war unfold and only kept records of the war and France condemned the war in favor of Biafrans but didn't support them with any form of aid.The Biafrans were left stranded without food
and arms.

Another thing that the Igbos were hopefully counting on was the possible secession move by the Yorubas. Awolowo has just returned from prison having served 10 years imprisonment for his involvement in the conflict that swept across the West and claimed numerous lives during elections.
The Igbos hoped that he would lead the Yorubas out of the country Nigeria.But,to their dismay,Awo accepted a ministerial appointment from the Military Junta instead of condemning the regime as expected by the Igbos.In fact,it is believed that in some quarters that he facilitated the defeat of the Biafrans when he suggested that the food supply routes of the Biafrans be blocked.
Hence,the war became so burdensome to the Biafrans. The Biafrans ran out of arms and food supply.Yes,they made their own guns and military vehicles and wares,but they still lacked adequate support from the international community.
Ojukwu's speech while in exile says it all!
"As a people we have endured as only giants endure. We have fought as heroes fight. We have dared as only gods dare. We are disillusioned by the world's insensitivity to the plight of our people. Yet because our cause is just we believe we have not lost the war, only that the battlefield has changed. We are convinced that Biafra will survive. Biafra was born out of the blood of innocents slaughtered in Nigeria during the pogroms of 1966. Biafra will ever live, not as a dream but as the crystallization of the cherished hopes of a people who see in the establishment of this territory a last hope for peace and security. Biafra cannot be destroyed by mere force of arms. May I take this opportunity to thank all those persons and organizations that have sacrificed that we might live - that we assure them that their sacrifice will not be in vain. Biafra lives. The struggle continues. Long live the Republic of Biafra."
This is why I maintain the stance that the War was a BIG mistake. It was the negligence of the Federal government that seem to have kicked off the crisis, but in all fairness,the whole thing began with the 1966 aborted coup de'tat.
Ojukwu's Blunder
Honestly,I think he had made a vital point by bravely declaring a republic in the face of sheer terror the Igbos were facing then. However,I think he already made a point with the Aburi conference he attended. That was enough. The world already heard their cry,why on earth did he still went ahead with the war knowing fully well that they can't fight long enough to win the war.BIAFRA WAS A NECESSITY BY WHICH THE IGBOS WERE HEARD NOT JUST BY THE GOVERNMENT BUT THE WORLD AT LARGE.THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO GO TO WAR! GOING TO WAR WAS A TERRIBLE MISTAKE!
.

The Truth About Biafra

Biafra is a mistake made by Nigeria as a country that all well meaning Nigerians do not wish for its repetition.It's a national nightmare that almost torn us apart as a nation.
Nigeria is undoubtedly the most populous black nation in the world,hence,Nigeria is the pride of all black men and women worldwide!We are like a role model,the BIG BROTHER to all other black nations of the world.It would not,therefore,only be a disgrace for all that were Nigerians should Nigeria be broken into pieces,it would also be an eye sore for all Africans.One of the major reasons is that our secession as a country would only prove that the whites were right when they called us monkeys...animals that are incapable of self governance!
Nigeria is much unlike South Africa or some other countries where there are both blacks and whites that are glued together as a nation,no,that's not the case,in Nigeria,all are blacks!This is why I feel sorry for all that are seeking for Biafra.What is Biafra,what do they know is Biafra???
Like I said earlier,Biafra is a regretted mistake of our country as a whole.It was a necessity,a means to an end not an end itself!

Nigeria Before Biafra
Nigeria was amalgamated in 1914 by Lord Lugard who was the Governor General of the Slave Coast that is now known as Nigeria.His wife (some say his mistress) gave the newly amalgamated British colony her name - Nigeria which was said to be coined from 'River Niger Area'.
To cut long story short,our founding fathers,having been enlightened through quality education fought for and secured our independence as a sovereign state.The first Entourage consist of notable people like Nwakachukwu who was the leader of the delegate to London and Mrs Funmi Ransome Kuti,the first Nigerian woman to drive a car and the mother of the music Legend,Fela Anikulapo kuti.After a couple of agitations over the years,the British finally agreed to grant us our wish,independence...FREEDOM!
As Nigerians we celebrated independence on the 1st of October 1960 with Sir Tafawa Balewa as Prime Minister and Dr. Nnamdi Azikwe as the Ceremonial President.
After independence,Nigeria later became a republic 3 years later.As a young Nation trying to find its roots,Nigeria had a lot political clashes with a little tribal coloring here and there.By 1966,after a violent election,some Military boys have had enough of the shameful power tussle between the major regions of the country and fell the need to do something fast to reinstate law and order.
In 1966,certain junior officers took it upon themselves to put an end to the political regime,take over the reigns of power for a while before re-establishing civilian leadership again.There were five Military men all of the rank of Major that connived to make it happen.Four were of Igbos by origin while the fifth Major was a Yoruba.

The 1966 Coup
It was close to the end of the year when the coup plan was hatched and it was going to happen when all leading politicians would be in Lagos for a major economic conference.The coup plotters had targets.Some were:
- THE POLITICIANS:Arrest them and kill those that resists arrest.
- THE SENIOR OFFICERS:Eliminate all Senior Officers
- THE RIVERS BENUE AND NIGER BRIDGES:Destroy the Bridges to prevent the free flow of troops and equipment. 
These were just a few of their targets,their main aim,according to them was to restore law and order in the already tribal divided country... which was noble enough.But,the casualty check after the failed but yet bloody coup suggested otherwise.

The Problems With the 1966 Coup
Firstly,the participants in the coup were all Igbos except for one.Another problem was that,the Premiers of the Northern and South Western Regions were killed during the coup,but,some how,some way,the Premier of the South East survived.
On the National level,Sir Tafawa Balewa,the Prime Minister of the country was killed but Dr. Nnamdi Azikwe the Ceremonial President survived!
These were obvious problems that needed serious and urgent attention.As earlier pointed out,the coup failed as such some senior Military Officers proved difficult to kill.Late Gen. Aguiyi Ironsi was such a soldier that narrowly escaped assassination.As the most Senior Officer,then,he was appointed as the head of the First Military Regime.He was of Igbo descent.
Hausas under him,such as the Late General Murtala Ramat Muhammad were boiling with rage and in desperate thirst for justice especially when Major Ezieogwu Kaduna was still in charge of the Kaduna Military instalment.He was the one that led the boys that killed the great Saudana,the Premier of the North..But,for unknown reasons,Gen. Ironsi wanted to take his time in meting justice on the affected soldiers.
Due to his sluggishness in dealing with the coup plotters,the angry Northern Military Officers,planned and executed a successful coup that took the life of Gen. Aguiyi Ironsi.
After the coup,there were rancor and petty quarrels between soldiers of Northern and South Eastern origin,this consequently turned violent such that they, soldiers, attacked and killed each other...this later spilled to the general public and lo and behold!A major crisis broke out in the North that saw to what we can call a massacre of Igbos living up North...this continued for a long while and the Exodus of the Igbos back to their region began.Igbos were hunted down and killed even during the Exodus.The then Governor General of the Eastern region Lieutenant-Colonel Odumegwu Ojukwu started making complaints as to the nearly genocide nature of the attack on the Igbos.But it seem to fall on deaf ears,yet,he continued to appeal to the Federal Government.
The straw that seem to have broken the back of the camel was the installation of a Junior Officer to Ojukwu,General Gowon as Head of State.At that point,it seem as though the Nigerian country doesn't care about the Igbos and should that be the case,Ojukwu saw nothing wrong with secession.
Now,that was why I said Biafra was as a result of a National mistake.Had it being that Federal Government showed a sign of remorse and had curbed the crisis that saw to the gruesome murder of hundreds of Igbos back then,Ojukwu wouldn't have thought of secession.
That would be it for today,hope to continue my story tomorrow or the next 'cos,this is just the beginning of the story!Later!!!