The events of the Nigerian/ Biafran war in summary: 1. Awolowo revolted against the ruling party and instigated a coup and disturbance in Lagos. 2. Some Yorubas (like Akintola) betrayed Awolowo and exposed his coup. 3. Awolowo was tried and jailed 4. Corruption, ethnicity, and tribal fighting were rampant and Ahmadu Bello was quoted as saying that he will employ a non-Nigerian than employ Igbo or Yoruba. 5. Some Yoruba soldiers (like Colonel Victor Banjo and Adewale Ademoyega) angry with how Awolowo was treated revolted and recruited some Igbos for a coup to save Nigeria from corruption. 6. The rebel soldiers were headed by Emmanuel Ifeajuna, Adewale Ademoyega, Kaduna Nzeogwu, some Middlebelters and some Hausas. 7. Kaduna Nzeogwu was made the spokesman. Note: Kaduna Nzeogwu who came from the present Delta state grew up in the North and he spoke Hausa. He considered himself from the North and could not speak Igbo. 8. They struck. Their plan was to eliminate all the corrupt politicians and to free Awolowo. 9. They succeeded in the North and the West but because they did not recruit enough Igbo officers, they failed in the East. 10. Because Nzeogwu was the spokesperson, he was the person describing the events to the press. 11. Aguiyi Ironsi was the highest ranking officer and he sent troops who stopped the coup. He ordered for the arrest of the rebel soldiers and Nzeogwu travelled to Lagos to surrender himself with Adewale Ademoyega and the others. 12. The coup was generally accepted by Nigerians in Lagos and all over the country especially the Yoruba. 13. Agitations started in the North about the nature of the coup and the Lagos/Ibadan media mafia, quickly out of fear of Northern attack, labelled the coup an “Igbo Coup”. 14. The Lagos/Ibadan Media mafia continued to beat the drum of tribalism with the coup and presented Nzeogwu’s interview everyday on the news and on newspapers and continue to call the coup “Igbo coup”. 15. The Lagos/Ibadan media Mafia, in an attempt to save their own people, the West, continued to use Nzeogwus name as synonymous with the coup and kept beating the drums of tribal clash, labelling the coup an “Igbo agenda”. 16. Finally, the North struck killing about 50,000 Igbos a day for more than one week. 17. Yorubas were spared in the north and Yoruba Soldiers joined with Northern soldiers to massacre Igbos and other tribes in the then Eastern region. 18. Many Igbos fled the North and many were in turn massacred on the train along the way to Lagos. Ijaws, Ibibio, Efik were not exempt. The rioters had some words for people to say; one Yoruba word and one Hausa word and if you cannot say it, you are killed. 19. Ironsi was also killed together with countless Igbo soldiers. 20. The then military head of state, Gowon ordered that all Nigerians should return to their region of Origin. 21. Ojukwu refused to be loyal to Gowon asking that the most senior officer, who is a Yoruba should take over power. 22. Relationship between Ojukwu and Gowon deteriorated 23. Ojukwu suggested the release of Awolowo and Gowon agreed signing for his release. Ojukwu then in charge of Calabar where Awolowo was held allowed him to go and advised him to lead Yoruba people in the event of break up. 24. Awolowo left for Lagos and when he arrived entered into a 24 hour meeting with Gowon. After he was made some promises and given a post, he declared support for Gowon. 25. Ojukwu refused to be loyal to Gowon and more Killing of Easterners continued. 26. Ojukwu and Gowon met in Aburi and agreed on confederation. 27. Gowon came back and entered into a 24 hour meeting with Awolowo. 28. The next day, Gowon declined Aburi Accord. 29. Ojukwu declared the Republic of Biafra. 30. Gowon declared a police action against Biafra. 31. Nigerian police were sent and Ojukwu was asked to surrender. 32. Biafran Soldiers defeated the Nigerian Aggressors and chased them down across the Western states. 33. Gowon declared war on Biafra 34. Ojukwu and his military leaders decided to create a buffer zone from where they will attack the seat of power in Lagos. 35. Some Midwestern soldiers helped Biafra mount a buffer zone up to Ore. 36. Saboteurs among the Midwestern and a few Yoruba soldiers fighting with Biafra weakened the Buffer zone and allowed the aggressors to advance. 37. The Biafran Soldiers put up a gallant and fierce resistance. 38. Gowon went in again with Awolowo for a 24 hour meeting. 39. Gowon arose from the meeting and invited people like Isaac Adaka Boro, Ken Saro Wiwa and some South South persons. Awolowo promised these elders states and resource control if they can penetrate Biafra from the South. 40. The Nigerian Aggressors penetrated from the South with Isaac Adaka Boro leading the physical offensive and Ken Saro Wiwa leading the morale and mental war. 41. When faced with possible massacre from the Nigerian forces in the South South, Some South South people denied to be Igbos. They wept and confessed to not being Igbos. 42. Igbos were chased out of Portharcourt. 43. Igbos were Massacred in Asaba. 44. Igbos were retreated into Onitsha 45. Ibibio/Efik and Igbos held strong. 46. Gowon and Awolowo went into another 24 hour meeting 47. Gowon rose from the meeting and met with some international representatives 48. These leaders were promised oil. 48. By now, Nigeria has captured the oil producing part of Biafra. 49. Oil fields were shared and secret documents signed. 50. Food was stopped from entering Biafra 51. Biafra was now worth nothing to international spectators. 52. With oil gone, international stakeholders took orders from Nigeria. 53. No food, no arms, no press coverage. 54. Lagos/Ibadan media mafia faced Ojukwu and called him all sorts of names like rich brat, trying to steal Niger Delta, Criminal. 55. Kwashiokor ravanged the land. 56. People died in millions 57. The soldiers continued their massacre, rape and extrajudicial killings in Biafra. 58. Ojukwu decided to end the war 59. He handed over to Maj. gen. philip Effiong and instructed him to surrender. 60. Ojukwu wept and left to seek for asylum in Ivory Coast. 61. Effiong handed over and the war ended. 62. During the war, almost all capable Igbo persons were massacred. 63. While Igbos were on the battle field with Hausa/Fulani, the Yoruba were sent to study abroad by Awolowo. 64. After the war, Igbos were given only 20 pounds irrespective of what they had saved in the bank before the war started. 65. Foreign companies in Nigeria were immediately indigenized. Because Igbos had nothing having received only 20 pounds and their properties seized, only Yorubas and a few Hausas were able to buy shares of those companies. 66. Igbos went from being the leaders in Nigeria to just beggars for contract, ordinary traders and only a few educated persons. 67. Yorubas suddenly skyrocketed to educated persons in Nigeria and Hausa/Fulani became the rulers. 68. By dent of hardwork, Igbos have risen again and are gradually taken lead in education. Also, for the first time since the war ended, Igbos are being included in the Nigerian politics and South East receiving little federal attention under GEJ. 69. Lagos/Ibadan media are now back again with Femi Fani Kayode and others leading this time. ........TO BE CONTINUED.
Posted on: Wed, 30 Oct 2013 08:14:22 +0000
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