BIAFRA. ....the better-educated, change-oriented, aggressive Igbos resented northern dominance and the many evidences of federal corruption. The tragic events of 1966 began on Jan 15 when a millitary coup led to General Aguiyi Ironsi becoming the millitary head of state. Northern resentments led to Lieutenant Colonel latter General Gowon, a northern hausa over throwing the Igbo led millitary government. In september 1966 over 30,000 Igbos were massacred while many more where maimed. Having a reason to believe they were marked for extermination, Igbos from all over Nigeria returned home in a mass migration to the eastern region, under the leadership of Gen. Odumegwu Ojukwu, many pressed for local autonomy and the more millitant called for independence. The break came on May 30, 1967, 3 days after the fed govt of Nig divided the 4 regions into 12 states in a move to decentralize and reduce tribal antagonisms. Cut off by the division from coastal trade and oil resources which would have made Biafra economically viable, the Igbos declared independence of the Republic of Biafra. The Federal govt of Nig fight against Biafra broke out in June with Great Britain, Soviet Union, UAE supplying arms and aids to Nig to fight Biafra mercilessly, in hope of securing favourable crude oil deals with them. Egypt supported Nig because of northen Islamist ties, the US said she only recognized fed millitary govt of Nig as the only legitimate authority in Nig. At such never supported Biafra. Public reaction against shocking reports of starving Biafrans led Czechoslovakia, Netherlands and Belgium to halt arms supply to Nig. Biafra received millitary aid from France, ostensibly for trade and oil preferences should Biafra win. Portugal offered Biafra the use of her airports and telecom services. Tanzania, Gabon, Ivory Coast and Zambia were the only African countries that recognized Biafra. 47 years later the likes of US and Great Britain are coming to terms with the realities of heterogenous Nig society, and have come to undestand what the Igbos stood for in the 3 yrs civil war. No wonder they said few years back that Nig will soon divide. For 38 yrs since our independence people from the north and a particular religion dominated the leadership of heterogenous Nig. A core southerner of the south came to power and they decided to make the country ungovernable for him by killing themselves. They currently dominate major govt positions in Nig, yet they blame their pathetic state on one man in Abj. Pls what are their governors, reps, senators, commisioners doing for them. You biuld schools for them and still beg their parents to send their children to school. Where else does this happen in Nig. Their govs know that they have certain religious teachings that are not acceptable in contemporay times yet they do nothing in curbing it. But when their youths start acting it out they blame a southern president. Their fulani herds men kill people for no reason yet they keep quite. Pls which way Nigeria?
Posted on: Fri, 30 May 2014 10:46:02 +0000
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