March 27, 2006

Two Nigerians Apart Naturally

by Peter Opara (Boston, Massachussettes)--- The following articles caught my attention recently - Farouk Martins’ – “No Single Ethnic Group Can and Will Carry Nigeria,” and Babayola Toungo’s - “Confederation Is It!”

Let me here discuss the articles and may be direct or redirect the authors, as the case may be, relative to the thrust of their articles.

Toungo’s article was remarkable for its exclamation. “Confederation is it!” It seems an epiphany of sorts on the part of Toungo, after a reflection, particularly on what has become of his once proud north under the staid, benevolent Sir Ahmadou Bello.

Toungo became attracted to the idea of confederate Nigeria, if only as a way to regain his once proud north. However, how rooted is Toungo’s attraction to confederacy is the question, as it seems that Hon. M.T. Mbu’s reference to the north, as “arrogant”, according to Toungo, spurred Toungo’s attraction to confederacy – even if partially so. But Toungo and the rest northerners should have noted long before now the opposite of confederation – which I shall touch later in this piece - has been the bane of the north in particular and Nigeria as a whole.

Groups and/or individuals work best in their respective best interest, and on this, the nations trapped in Lugard’s cage cannot be exception.

For those still interested in Nigeria as an entity that ought not be restructured, even liquidated, social or political arrangements to remedy it then ought to be driven by realism, not emotion. Mere reference such as attributed to Hon. Mbu, must not drive any arrangement that has any chance of remedying Nigeria and/or the diverse nation tribes trapped in it. This is to say that not only do I fancy Toungo’s attraction to confederation, I deem it a right-headed attraction to which Toungo must hold fast and for which he must recruit converts in his neck of the wood.

It is in order at this point to mention that “perestroika”, a Soviet dictum popularized by the indefatigable Mikhail Gorbachev, has been muted often and severally in the north – a most unlikely place for such musing. I applaud those sons and daughters of the north who see the need for perestroika – restructure(ing) at least of what their revered leader Sir Bello rightly referred to as “mistake”. Why would not sane people think of fundamental remedy of a “mistake” or really doing away with a “mistake”? Why?

It is my feeling that Nigerian nations enjoyed some measure of confederacy or autonomy in my childhood days. A sense of Nigeria, as a federation prevailed then, one might say. The times of proud north of Nigeria, the times of proud west of Nigeria, the times of proud east of Nigeria, were times when the peoples and their regions exercised however much autonomy or independence in the management of their affairs.

How did that all change?

Toungo, my friend will have to inquire to know, what, other than selfish acts or self-serving acts of beneficiaries of Sir Bello’s benevolence, were responsible for the reversal of northern fortunes and pride, and that of the rest regions of Nigeria for that matter.

To that, I will suggest to Toungo to think public policy. Think embezzled public policy of the year 1966. Think public policy of that year that northern leaders rose against overwhelmingly, only to turn around to embrace, implement and sustain to this day. Think public policy that was partly or solely responsible for the murder of General Aguiyi Ironsi. Think public policy that was sabotaged by its detractors to ignite the fire of Igbo phobia especially in the north.

Toungo, think “Unitary System” as propounded then by the government of General Ironsi. Think “Unitary System” which called for no more than closer relationship of the regions of Nigeria then, a kind of close working together in the manner of regional “harmonization” as in today’s Nigerian parlance. Think “Unitary System” that was branded “Igbo control” plan, Toungo.

“Unitary System” governance is about strong center, such as exists in Nigeria today – indeed since the murder of General Ironsi exactly 40 years ago this year. Neither General Ironsi nor any Igbo for that matter thought beyond regional harmony in Nigeria, for the sake of peace and progress. That is to say, some saw a system of strong center, as means to something other than regional harmony. Evidence exists today to bear out this theory/proposition.

The unspoken irony then and now remains that the north rose against the supposed total Igbo control of Nigeria designs via “Unitary System”, only to turn around to covet the same total control of Nigeria plan – Unitary System.

With General Ironsi murdered by his mainly trusted northern aides, the north ran with “Unitary System” of governance policy that reposed all powers of state and federal at the center such as exists in Nigeria today, staunchly defended by one like Obasanjo, a premier northern pupil.

That in effect, Toungo my friend was the end of quasi-autonomy that the regions hitherto enjoyed – including northern Nigeria. Why the north embraced, sustained and maintained a policy that they initially revolted against, a policy that stunted and eventually vaporized the groundnut pyramids is for you, Toungo, to find out. Toungo, find, as believed by many, if Britain had something to do with nudging and encouraging northern leaders then to covet Unitary System against which they had risen earlier.

Do not forget, Toungo, that confederacy for Nigeria was also the position of Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu when it became clear even to the blind that things were no longer at ease in Nigeria. Even Yakubu Gowon himself the leader of Nigeria then gave moral reference to total break-up of Nigeria thus – “The basis for Nigerian unity does not exist”.

You will have to find out, Toungo, why a few months later, the same Gowon led an armed charge against Odumegwu-Ojukwu and his Igbo people with the motto – “To Keep Nigeria One Is A Task that Must Be Done”. Gowon made a categorical, unequivocal statement that – “The basis for Nigerian unity does not exist”, only to reverse himself a few days later.

If you dug a little deeper, Toungo, and if your elders will be candid with you, you should be able to nail the beginning of the end of the entity Sir Bello referred to as “the Mistake of 1914”. That for your information – pardon me for I don’t know how old you are – is Nigeria, a creation of a British “vagabond” Lugard, for the benefit of his Queen and his country – Britain.

Now our friend Farouk Martins wants and expects all ethnic groups - rather nations - to carry Nigeria. “Nigeria has to be carried by each and every ethnic group in our country for the sake of Africa, for the sake of blacks in the world” – Farouk exhorted. It does not seem to matter to Farouk or he does not countenance the fact that some of the ethnic groups – the nations that comprise Lugard’s cage are no more willing to shoulder the burden of the “Mistake of 1914” for themselves, talk less shouldering same “for the sake of Africa and for the sake of blacks in the world”.

“A tree cannot make a forest”, Farouk implored. “Nigeria {needs} unity on earth, not in heaven”, Farouk wrote in yet another piece, wherein also he asked – “If Nigeria cannot save itself, how can it save the black world?”

Toungo should see how Farouk negates his desire for economic emancipation of his once proud north. The north must help carry Nigeria “for the sake of the black world and for the sake of Africa”. The North will have to forgo the desire to resurrect groundnut pyramids, hides and skin of yesteryears that made its citizens proud, all for the sake of Africa and the black world.

There goes your confederacy, Toungo. You must give up this dreams that could be basis for resuscitation of northern pride and progress of the past for if you do not, Africa will loose, the black world will loose.

Farouk may tell us what Africa, the black world stand to loose should Toungo’s confederacy come about. Some of us should have known, if indeed Nigeria as an entity has imparted any lessons to Africa and the black world even of late, such that certain debilitating ripples shall occur in the black world should Nigeria cripple or collapse or liquidate.

If you follow my drift, confederacy Toungo desires will ensure to leave it up to the north to decide which comes first, to save the north or to save Africa or to save the blacks in the world. In other words, the north will set its priorities, as it deems proper. But to borrow Farouk’s question to Nigeria and Nigerians, I suppose – “If Nigeria cannot save itself”, as is demonstrably evident, “how can it be expected to save the black world?” All and sundry await your answer, Farouk, since you seem to have chosen to ride willing horses – peoples of Nigerian nations – to death – by this Nigeria-save-Africa-save-blacks-of-the- world exhortations.

Now, the yardstick for measuring a critical balance that one may assume Nigeria plays in the black world might be what happens to a country like Ghana, should Nigeria cease to be. On what basis shall a country like Ghana miss Nigeria? On what basis shall Cameroon miss Nigeria? On what basis shall African-Americans or Afro-Caribbean miss Nigeria? These questions are to be addressed and answered, if one is to be convinced that Lugard’s cage – Nigeria is to be carried or shouldered at all cost, as Farouk seems to suggest, for the sake of Africa and the black world.

Then one pauses, ponders and asks - Was it not Ghana, a smaller neighbor to “mighty” Nigeria, that toiled to keep “mighty” Nigeria together – when the “Mistake”, the “geographical expression” the “Contraption” was about to unglue – nearly 40 years ago? I am talking about Aburi deliberation in 1967, chaired by Ghana’s General Ankrah.

Not long after the Ghana deliberations, as Nigeria remained a sickly, teething and crawling baby, Africa, the black world and the world at large watched with baffled admiration as a young nation – Biafra bubbled up where Nigeria once stood.

In fact it was at the Ghana organized and chaired deliberations that Odumegwu-Ojukwu muted the idea that Nigerians must move apart for the sake of peace – in effect Toungo’s confederacy. That was nearly 40 years ago, as Odumegwu-Ojukwu’s kinsmen were mercilessly slaughtered across the length and breadth of Nigeria.

Farouk failed to recall this indelible fact – the slaughter of Igbo - this sad and sordid fact, as he recounted how they cried when “we were told we would need passport to cross to Biafra”. Farouk was a child then, and so was this writer. Then he wondered, according to him – “How could our brothers and sisters suddenly become foreigners to us?” The celebrated Igbo author Chinua Achebe was deemed a foreigner in Lagos at the time in question, and there in Lagos, Chinua Achebe was asked when he was going to leave for the east, his place of origin.

Though I am both ambivalent and nonplussed about this, still I ask: Is it not confounding how the supposed “Igbo brothers and sisters” to the west hardly understand, no, say refuses to understand how the Igbo feel stemming from sundry ungodly treatment meted them especially by Nigerian policy makers of Yoruba extraction?

Read Farouk in a later piece of his referring to “untiring guts” of Ukpabi Asika! And Igbo must applaud? Read a Reno Omokri, an Itsekiri – the same westerner - exhorting Nigeria to find Igbo with whom it can work and forget the rest Igbo. Well, well, well, kid, western kid that is, Igbo are familiar with the type of Igbo that Nigeria always chooses to work with. Ukpabi Asika. And on Asika, Farouk is clearly oblivious of what Igbo think of this man whose guts he praises. If only Farouk cared to know. If Farouk could only ask his kinsman Olusegun Obasanjo what Igbo think of Asika.

Indeed, Obasanjo who chose Asika and for whom Asika was a proxy to abuse and assault Igbo, has all shades of Asika working for him today in his “nest of killers” – Aso Rock.

Once, I encountered a Yoruba fellow, a member of NADECO when they were chanting sanctions against Nigeria. He wondered why I was on the other side. Then I asked him, if he has ever been hungry any time in his life and had nothing to eat. It was a pointed eye-ball-to-eye-ball question. After regarding me for a while, the guy quietly walked off, without saying a word.

The Yoruba or those in the west of Lugard’s cage, the entity Chief Obafemi Awolowo referred to as “a geographical expression” – Nigeria - does not understand, or they refuse to understand. The latter is more like it.

Imagine economically sanctioned Nigeria, where the resulting burden falls on the poor, whereas the Yoruba will find his way to Benin Republic for items sanctioned in Nigeria, where will the Igbo go? This is giving one of the reasons why I was on the other side of NADECO; in addition to the fact that NADECO, as far as I am concerned, consisted of socialists and anarchists.

Now, Igbo do not care, that the Yoruba do not care or understand how they feel. Phoenix they are, Igbo are pulling their weight in decrepit Nigeria, in spite of institutional policies arrayed against them at every level.

This brings me to the man about whom Farouk seem to rib Igbo for according to him, not giving the man his due – Chief Jeremiah Obafemi Awolwo.

“Yoruba did not declare war against Biafra”, Farouk wrote. Indeed. But Yoruba spearheaded the war against Biafra. The first shot fired into Biafra was by a contingent led by a Yoruba officer in Gakem – Ogoja. Indeed the bulk of Nigerian vandals, that is Nigerian soldiers noted by outside observers as crude and ill disciplined, were all Yoruba.

The vandals were at different times led by two prominent Yoruba. First was Col. Benjamin Adekunle. Adekunle bragged that he commanded his vandals to shoot at anything that moved in Biafra, including cassava leaves. For the first time in a war, Red Cross bearing aeroplanes were shot at and refused landing – by Adekunle and his vandals. The second was Matthew Okikiolahan Aremu Olusegun Obasanjo, who picked up where his mean, ugly brother Adenkule left off. This is not to say that Obasanjo was or is a better sight to behold. Obusonjo!

At the end of the war, the same Obasanjo swore to ensure that Igbo does not rise again, so, according to him, they do not “threaten Nigeria”. He went ahead along with northern leaders to fashion and implement policies that dispossessed Igbo of their monies, their land, their property – you name it. Any piece of Igbo land adjoining another state was carved into that state – often non-Igbo state. That was Obasanjo land-grab policy that he implemented in Igbo areas with reckless abandon.

But as the war in which Obasanjo and Adekunle put their vandal relatives to optimum use raged, not a single Igbo deemed the Yoruba an enemy. Farouk my friend, you can take my word for it. Igbo quarrel was with the Hausa/Fulani who had engineered the slaughter of Igbo in the north and across Nigeria. But Yoruba and all of southern Christians contracted the Hausa/Fulani war of Igbo liquidation, and fought, as slaves are wont to for a master they love. Farouk, are you with me?

Even when Victor Banjo, a bosom friend of Head of State of Biafra – Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, headed west, Odumegwu-Ojukwu instructed him that the Yoruba were not Igbo enemy. The western axis to Biafra was only to be liberated from northern forces that had garrisoned the entire Yoruba land. The move was a strategic imperative for Biafra. Yes, many Yoruba elites including the late Bola Ige welcomed Biafra’s move in that direction – to “overrun” Yoruba land. But Banjo pulled a Yoruba.

Biafra engaged Yoruba in such healthy state of churchianity even while the Yoruba sage, Awolowo and his cousin Anthony Enahoro designed and visited hunger and famine upon Biafra. And this writer – a “brother” was their victim – for every single hour that I was hungry in Biafra and had nothing to eat. There is no forgetting that.

To Chief Awolowo and Enahoro, hunger was a weapon of war. Do you Farouk know how many Igbo died on account of the evil policy directed against your “brothers and sisters” in Biafra? Awolowo and Enahoro even shipped food laced with cyanide to Biafra. The world knew about that, and I know a family whose young baby was a victim of Nigeria’s cyanide-laced milk. She died. The baby drank milk and died. Thanks to Chief Awolowo and his cousin, Enahoro and the rest southern Christian slaves of northern Muslims.

How is any Igbo to apologize to the Yoruba for the reason that according to Farouk Awolowo’s “life was threatened in the east”? There he was, Awolowo, seeking votes from a people that had just emerged from the depth of death and despair he designed and implemented.

By the way, Farouk, you have to check how long it was after Awolowo’s meeting in Enugu with Odumegwu-Ojukwu, following his release from Calabar prison, when he indicated that the Yoruba might break from Nigeria or play a neutral role in the east/north debacle, before he instituted his starvation as weapon of war policy? For the promise of Nigerian presidency by Gowon, Awolowo, decided to liquidate all Igbo.

As to Chief Awolowo’s “desire” according to you, to make Nigeria what he made of the west…” can you tell which Igbo clamored for this Awolowo’s “desire”?

Do you need any to tell you that at the time in question, Igbo had Michael Okpara? Do you need any to tell you that Okpara at the time in question made eastern region the fastest growing economy in Africa? So what was this desire of Awolowo for the east that would have replaced Okpara’s feat, and for which you seem to be telling Igbo to cry and worship Awolowo – a man that visited upon them nothing but evil – death and suffering; a man that repaid Odumegwu-Ojukwu’s kindness with Luciferous meaness; a man that cheated all Igbo out of their sweat and toil?

Banal groupthink is pervasive among Yoruba relative to Igbo history and experience of the last 40 years. A Yoruba fellow contacted me once, after reading my article in response yet to another Yoruba. He insisted that Igbo must remain part of Nigeria. Why? I asked him. “Two heads are better than one” he responded. See the parallel, Farouk, a similarity to your “A tree cannot make a forest”; “Nigeria has to be carried by each and every ethnic group”. And so to the Yoruba, none should opt out of this “geographical expression”, this “contraption” – apology to Awolowo, all because for reasons best known to Yoruba, they are staying put in Nigeria. What nonsense. It will not matter to them that after due reflection, a northerner named Toungo exclaimed - “Confederation is it!” And Toungo is not the first Glasnost (openness) and Perestroika ( restructuring) minded northerner to speak up. It will not matter that a young Ibrahim called on his fellow northerners that “it is not written in the Koran that Nigeria must be one”. It will not matter that the Igbo is sick and tired of an entity that does nothing but hold them down and destroy their blessed talent. No! It is what the Yoruba wants. Yoruba has got the best out of Nigeria, sponging off everyone else’s sweat but theirs. That is what matters, and that is why Nigeria must stay and remain one. Let those who do not know what a Total Parasite is behold it.

However, as for all of the ethnic groups that must carry Nigeria, and all of the heads, two or however many that are better for Nigeria, is not Lugard’s Nigeria a country of 140 Million heads? Are not 140 Million heads more than two heads that is supposedly better than one? Are not 140 heads more than enough for Nigeria? Each of the ethnic groups that constitute this contraption by “vagabond” Lugard, constitute the now 140 Million heads that have been carrying Nigeria since before Farouk and Peter were born. Do you not think, Farouk, it is time to lessen the number of heads carrying this load – Nigeria, as many heads may be doing it more harm than good?

In all likelihood, Farouk has not given thought to the fact that Nigeria is too big for its own good? But if he did, would he not consider parting of Nigeria’s parts even slightly by way of confederacy to allow some air into this rot of an entity?

Was it not Awolowo who insisted in the early times thus – West for West; let each region develop at its own pace? It is a fact, not a supposition that Awolowo was only mindful of the ethnic differences in Nigeria and of course the pleasant cocoa economy of the time. Yet, on the same ethnic difference, whereas Nnamdi Azikiwe attempted to underplay that factor, muting that Nigerians must forget their differences, Sir Bello insisted otherwise, that Nigerians must be mindful of their differences. Even as early as 2000, nearly 40 years later, Anthony Enahoro, the one who proudly propagated the Igbo starvation policy, the man who was said to have moved the motion for Nigeria’s independence founded a political party called MNR, in whose constitution is contained a “secession” clause – secession – the same reason Enahoro wanted all Igbo starved to death. Enahoro explained that the secession clause was there to allow any group that wanted to secede, to do just that. He then went on to bountifully opine on Nigeria’s ethnic differences that makes it difficult for Nigerians to work together. Now going back to when Chief Awolowo and Sir Bellow insisted on Nigerians capitalizing on their differences so to say, it then gave rise even if in part to the proud north of Toungo’; to the proud west of those days; to the proud east of those days too. It was regional autonomy as I remember it, a confederacy of sort.

Such thinking allowed autonomy that allowed every region to capitalize on their best – brain and geography to bring about groundnut pyramids in the north, cocoa in the west, and palm oil and palm kernel in the east. Oil, the liquid gold also in the east, had no role in the eastern economy then manned by Dr. Okpara.

This brings me to an unmitigated mendacity by Alhaji Umaru Dikko, which Toungo touted however little in his article. Alhaji Dikko had allowed during the Obasanjo wayo national conference that the north funded oil development in the Niger Delta. Niger Delta was in eastern region at the time in question.

Every northerner of the current and future generation must and should know the simple truth, and the truth is that their parts had and have no part in oil development in eastern region or Niger Delta, not then, and certainly not now.

The simple fact is that Shell D’Arcy came to town in the vicinity of oil and gas laden Owerri and greater Owerri environ, with money and equipment to prospect for oil. That is the simple fact. Anyone disputing this fact will have to furnish papers where it was written that northern region of Nigeria loaned Shell D’Arcy money to prospect and develop oil in eastern region.

Perhaps with this information, Obasanjo will now move to carve Owerri and the greater Owerri environ into a contiguous state – Rivers State or somewhere in Ijaw Land, as he has done in the past. What is to stop Obasanjo from doing this, when he carved Obi Igbo land – the heart of Igbo - into a non-Igbo state? I mean if God were said to be Igbo, Obasanjo would pluck him from heaven and put him in a non-Igbo land. I mean Obasanjo has the hands of Lucifer for Igbo.

Back to Toungo’s “Confederacy is it”; confederacy is the least political arrangement Nigeria can engage now to liberate itself, and thus all of the independent nations trapped in it.

Anything less is for naught and worse, fraught with turbulence and violent conflagration that all can see even as I write.

March 15, 2006

______________________________
Peter Opara is a communications consultant, and author of Understanding the Nigerian Nation Tribes – Why they Boil; Think In Time – Essays and Encounters of the last Quarter of the 20th Century; The Man of Biafra – in the City Where America Began.

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March 09, 2006

Remembering the Bravest of them All

by Peter Opara (Boston, Massachussettes)---

He challenged them to try; they knew he meant business and did not venture out. For us in the violence zone, it was a good respite from fear.

“Nobody has the right to kill another.” So wrote a clearly pained Nigerian regarding what is truly a usual and customary behavior in his country – bloodshed and mayhem.

The writer then went on to commit heresy – favorable mention of a brave, no nonsense former Nigerian Head of State General Sani Abacha.

What has ever gone wrong in Olusegun Obasanjo’s Nigeria in the past six years that has not been blamed on General Abacha?

The famous Shakespeare’s statement that many are wont to mistake, misuse and misapply - here truly is it – “the evil that men do lives after them; the good is of’t interred in their bones, and so…” in this instance, let it be with Abacha.

“Enough is enough” was the maxim of the man who the Nigerian Daily Times of a day or two following the coup d’etat of 1984, dubbed “The Action Man” – Abacha.

Is there a Nigerian today that yearns not a call from the seat of power thus – “Enough is enough” of the killing of innocent men and women in Nigeria? If not from Abacha..since he is no more, and some people forget.. would it then matter if such call came from Obasanjo who has uttered nothing but trite or trifle since the maiming, killing and burning of people’s belongings began in Maiduguri last week?

One does not mean empty “enough is enough”. One is talking credible “enough is enough” sustained by established aura and capacity to act as at and when needs be for common good. How such is wanting in Nigeria of today is common knowledge even to the perennially oblivious.

General Abacha’s “enough is enough” was as good in private, as it was in public. He never minced words, you knew where he stood – with you or against you; he brooked no nonsense, that is, he brooked not whatever he did not like, and he made it clear to you.

From a distance, one watched him chase his friend - sit-tight Ibrahim Babangida, out of office. This is a fact not known to many Nigerians. He had made the mistake of aiding the same Babangida to office in the first place, to replace the noble General Muhammadu Buhari, whom, he, General Abacha, successfully recruited to help in remedying Nigeria. How brave should one say was Abacha, when he tried recruiting the father of all no nonsense – Brigadier Tunde Idiagbon in the same Nigeria-remedy endeavor?

Yet still, one watched from a distance, as General Abacha easily disposed of the bumbling incompetent, illegal arrangement headed by Ernest Shonekan – a robber of his kinsman’s mandate, a pretender to leadership. One watched, as General Abacha clamped down on sundry crimes and criminals – 419ers, abandon contractors, thieves a la loan, fraudulent bank operators – most of who trooped abroad and constituted the bunch of “human rights” protesters.

One watched General Abacha say to rebels in Sierra Leone – “enough is enough”. When they failed to listen, he went into Sierra Leone, kicked out the rebels and reinstated the democratically elected government of Ahmed Tejan Kabba.

One watched from a distance as General Abacha said, “enough is enough” to warring Liberian thugs. When they failed to listen, he went in, grabbed one of the recalcitrant thugs, and brought him to Nigeria.

These decisive actions by Abacha paved way, however slightly, for peace in Sierra Leone and Liberia.

“The evil that men do, lives after them, the goods are interred in their bones”. Here were good deeds of Abacha that none remembers. Now need for the brave beckons?

None dare talk about good deeds of Abacha, else you will be branded “evil” or supporter thereof. Then one asks, what evil? Who does not see sundry evil that pervade Nigeria today, 6 or 7 years since General Abacha is been gone?

The so-called man of God that serves in General Abacha’s stead has, every Nigerian can attest, recorded more evil deeds in his six years in office than all past Nigerian leaders put together.

Today, corruption is the arrow with which Obasanjo’s regime hunts anybody it does not like. But corruption resides well inside the seat of the regime, while it blames and chases General Abacha’s shadows and those whose faces it does not like.

Then the usual and customary bloodletting Nigerians are known for, that abated when General Abacha was at the helm, erupted, not once, not twice, not thrice…keep counting.

Only days ago, an event that had its beginning in far away Denmark sparked blood orgy in far away Nigeria. It has been days and the all-knowing Obasanjo has uttered nary a word – just trite and trifle. If Obasanjo could borrow from General Abacha or at least pretend and yell, “enough is enough”, then rioters could be reminded that there is a limit.

And what does clearly pained citizen Joseph Rinyom do than to remember when it was that killing and maiming of fellow human beings on the basis of religion or ethnicity ceased - the time of General Abacha. Thus Joseph Rinyom remembers -

…Abacha was not all that evil, as a commentator made it out to be, especially for those of us within the middle belt (which we refer to as the religious war belt). I cannot recall a single religious crisis during his time, and it was not for the want of trying on the part of Muslims. When he (Abacha) appointed Col. Dominic Oneya, as the first ever Christian governor of Kano, the sheiks swore that he would not be sworn in. He (Abacha) simply asked the military units in Kano to roll over anyone found rioting. No one came out in the streets.

When he (Abacha) imprisoned El Zakzaky, the firebrand Zauzzau (Zara) sheik, his followers threatened brimstone. He (Abacha) challenged them to try. They knew he meant business, and did not venture out. For us in the violence zone, it was a good respite from fear.

Remembering the goods, some of them - “interred in the bones” of the bravest of them all.

________________________
Peter Opara is a communications consultant, and author of Understanding the Nigerian Nation Tribes – Why they Boil; Think In Time – Essays and Encounters of the last Quarter of the 20th Century; The Man of Biafra – in the City Where America Began.

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December 22, 2005

“This Animal Called Man”

by Peter Opara --- The above is the title of a book by Olusegun Obasanjo. I read papers, articles and books on Nigeria, and have written some myself – articles and books on Nigeria. I, however, have not read any books by Obasanjo, including the one with the title above said to have been written soon after his escape from the depth of desolation.

Now, strike that off; I read Obasanjo’s “Nzeogwu”, wherein he shared with readers, rather generously, his friendship with the late Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu.

Reading “Nzeogwu” by Obasanjo was a journey of regrets for the sole reason that it took this bosom friend of Major Nzeogwu, Obasanjo, 20 years – 1966-1986 - to write to tell Nigerians and the world in this book, that the coup in which his bosom friend Nzeogwu was a key participant was not an Igbo coup.

I have not read “My Command” – the other book by Obasanjo, in which it is said, he celebrated himself and his “war exploits” – British Harold Wilson’s war exploits, that is. Yet at a reading of my 1996 book – Understanding the Nigerian Nation Tribes – why they boil - a gentleman not favorably disposed towards me, stemming from what he had heard was contained in my book, accused me of “plagiarism”.

According to the gentleman, my book “sounded” like Obasanjo’s “My Command” - some passages in my book, he meant. Trust me, I stayed on this gentleman for evidence. He had none.

Once, soon after his plagiarism allegation, Osinubi, towards whom I bear neither ill will nor animosity, took to his heels upon sighting me approaching him for, you guessed it - evidence.

Now - “This Animal Called Man”, an ironic book that says more than any can say about the author.

No doubt, Obasanjo had time to ponder and meditate on the title of this book and its content, so as to effectively convey to readers from experience, acts and facts of “man’s inhumanity to man” and man’s indignity to man – the gist of the book, as I understand it.

Obasanjo is certainly qualified to educate his readers about both sides of the divide – the receiving end of man’s inhumanity to man and the giving end of man’s inhumanity to man and man’s indignity to man.

Obasanjo is also in position to educate readers, if he were to do a sequel to his “This Animal Called Man” – on how sweet or how bitter are acts of man’s inhumanity to man and man’s indignity to man. Obasanjo is indeed qualified to educate on how sweet or how bitter are acts sadism and sadomasochism.

Long prior to reporting to a desolate prison cell, reportedly morose and disoriented, Obasanjo had in the 70s during his first reign, sanctioned a Robin Island….say Alcatraz type prison for “criminals”.

Obasanjo’s corollary prison to the Alcatraz was also surrounded by water. The difference though was that Obasanjo’s Alcatraz was surrounded by water infested by poisonous reptiles that struck at any moving object, especially objects with flesh. The water was infested with snakes. While some escaped New York’s Alcatraz alive, escaping Obasanjo’s Alcatraz was a duel with poisonous snakes – man’s inhumanity to man.

It was during the same 70s reign that Obasanjo demolished Fela Anikulapo-Kuti’s abode, and in the process, threw Fela’s mother, the celebrated Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti out the window, resulting in a disability that eventually led to her death – man’s inhumanity to man…woman.

Obasanjo had the destruction of Fela’s abode and the incapacitation of Fela’s mother investigated. When the investigation was over, he blamed the incident on “Unknown Soldiers” – man’s indignity to man.

“Unknown Soldiers”, such a reference rings a bell today. Highway robbers are often unknown, just as are soldiers that beat, shoot and burn people and property.

When Dikibo was assassinated, Obasanjo appeared on national television and announced that armed robbers were the perpetrators. That meant that “unknown” persons killed Dikibo – man’s indignity to man.

Fast forward to recent times – 1999 to present and consider activities in Nigeria that are directly connected to Obasanjo and his reign, even not including the resurrection and dredging up of rather dormant sundry inter ethnic animosities that have led to persistent inter ethnic conflagrations since 1999.

Check these out - Obasanjo liquidated Odi; Obasanjo liquidated Zaki Biam; Obasanjo incinerated Anambara; Obasanjo has laid constant siege on and around Igbo land – with sss, police, soldiers and thugs cultured and nurtured in Aso Rock – man’s inhumanity to man.

Aso Rock, Obasanjo’s abode is referred to as “nest of killers” by none other than the Laureate Wole Soyinka, for the reason that the rampant political assassinations in Nigeria are easily traceable to Aso Rock. Wole Soyinka was warned to “watch his back” by Obasanjo – man’s indignity to man.

Nigerian SSS that is beholden to Obasanjo, once sent the Igbo leader Ikemba Odumegwu-Ojukwu one-way ticket to Abuja, which Odumegwu-Ojukwu deemed one-way ticket to Obasanjo’s land of no return – man’s indignity to man.

Today, the author of “This Animal Called Man” – Obasanjo has been meting sundry indignities to every man, woman and child that comes his way. Obasanjo’s current prominent victim is Abubakar Atiku – his vice.

Atiku is now at the receiving end of Obasanjo’s inhumanity and indignity for the sole reason that they differ on some note worthy political issues – this time Obasanjo perpetuation in power.

Now, something I hate to do – placing the US side by side with Nigeria in a way to compare both. Once, nearly 30-years ago – comparing Nigeria with America was okay, but not any more for the british cage called Nigeria and its peoples have lost all pretences to an entity that means well for itself and its peoples. But here I go.

George Herbert Walker Bush competed against Ronald Wilson Reagan for the presidency in the Republican Party. Both men never saw eye to eye on issues. Bush is a liberal Republican. Reagan was a fiery conservative Republican. Bush at the time described Reagan’s economic plan as “voodoo economics”. When Reagan emerged winner of the Republican ticket, he chose Bush as his running mate, and upon winning the presidency the duo had the proverbial marriage made in heaven. In that marriage Bush exercised the essential mark of his heritage – loyalty, and the Reagan/Bush presidency lasted for all of eight years.

If “This Animal Called Man” existed around and about the White House, none saw it. Who can say the same about any seat of power in Africa? Aso Rock, nko?

In Africa animals abound in the form of man. In Nigeria in particular, Obasanjo cannot seem to mete enough indignity to Atiku; he cannot seem to show enough pepper to Atiku – as Nigerians say. Obasanjo cannot deal enough with Atiku – still as Nigerians say. Lest all forget, the “deal” and “pepper” meted to Atiku today have been the lot of all of the peoples of Nigerian nations under Obasanjo.

Yet what blatant indignity could be meted to a man of such high socio-political echelon, as to deny him a choice whatsoever of who his closest aide should be! This animal called man!

I do not know the man Atiku except from all I have read about him as beneficiary of the late Y’ardua political machine. I did not know Y’ardua either. But for all that can be said about and against Atiku, it seems to me that disloyalty is not one of them, at least going back to 1999 and about only a few months ago. The grouse among Atiku’s fellow northerners had been that hitherto, he had supported everything Obasanjo – his boss – which is to be expected.
And, as some surmise it, Atiku daring to make Obasanjo plead for his support, in his - Obasanjo second term run, Atiku is to endure man’s indignity to man – the mother of all abuse – that of no choice whatsoever of who seats next to him even in his official car!

All manner of thoughts have gone through my head upon acquainting myself with Atiku’s current travails under Obasanjo, as to choices left for Atiku, as a man imbued with some pride. Choices such as resigning, or simply having aliens invade Aso Rock and chase Obasanjo away! Would not peoples of Nigerian nations rejoice at such prospect?

Yet, would Obasanjo could look to the US, a country to which he trots every chance he gets and borrow a leaf different from that known and exhibited by “This Animal Called Man” often in Africa and let Atiku be, and by extension, let peoples of Nigerian nations be in peace and plenty as they have been endowed by the Almighty.

Let it be said that there could be no worse man’s inhumanity to man and man’s indignity to man that could be meted to peoples of Nigerian nations than Obasanjo staying one day longer in the office to which he 419ed himself nearly four years ago.

But who expects “This Animal Called Man” to listen?

Peter Opara is a communications consultant and author of Understanding the Nigerian Nation Tribes – Why they Boil.

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June 28, 2005

Buhari’s Right Moves

by Peter Opara --- July 1, 2005 is yet another opportunity for Nigerians to show the world that they have a judiciary that is beholden to no one, and most important, that something akin to democracy exists in the place called Nigeria……

Muhammadu Buhari shook…say Wow-ed Nigerians at home and abroad, in his recent outing in Lagos, the AD and Afenifere terrain.

His political friends and foes were no less shook up…say Wow-ed.

When Nigerian journals reported the line up of personalities attending the June 12 anniversary rally in Lagos that included Buhari and his compatriot in the struggle for real democracy in Nigeria, the APGA Ikemba Odumegwu-Ojukwu, not a few eye brows were raised.

Such indignation towards these statesmen – Odumegwu-Ojukwu and Buhari, stems from misperception, misinformation and misreading of history or lack of knowledge of history.

For history to be a constructive guide for the future, it has to be understood correctly and applied correctly.

In this sense, with the exception of Odumegwu-Ojukwu whose bona fides on citizens’ rights and enfranchisement are unassailable, yet dubiously controversial, the other is Buhari, whose history must be read correctly and understood, in order to accord him his rightful place in history - even in the current Nigeria’s attempt at democracy.

“Buhari’s Principled Tenacity” was my note of the man’s relentless pursuit of legal remedy for the 2003 stolen peoples franchise. It is historic that none in Nigeria has ever pursued a cause within the limits of the law, with such zeal and focus.

Buhari’s tenacity is thus a mark of discipline that is not found among Nigerians, not at the top, not at the bottom. Indeed, lack of discipline is worse at the head, the proverbial beginning point of fish rot.

Discipline is Buhari’s mark. It is such that when the coup d’etat of 1984 took place, the original planners caucused for a whole day almost in desperate search for one to put a face of discipline on their act.

They settled on Buhari; but not without a sense of concern or fear, I believe, that this brook- no-nonsense Buhari was certain to whip everyone in line, and in shape. The original coup plotters had no choice, as their stated goal was to rein in socio-political chaos, and only a man of Buhari’s caliber could lead the charge.

As history is sure to be kind to Buhari now and going forward, it had not been unusual, dating back to the year of the first coup d’etat in Nigeria, 1966, for one to serve in the capacity and in the dispensation in which one found oneself – a national duty of sorts – over which one had no control – in a perversely unstable terrain.

Thus did the phrase coup d’etat find its way into Buhari’s curriculum vitae; a man that brooks no indiscipline, and worse mutiny of sorts by the army over a commander-in-chief, military or civilian

Buhari, thus situated as head of state, a country that appeared politically chaotic to many, had to be fixed. Seconded by yet another no-indiscipline-brooking icon, Tunde Idiagbon, Nigerians were to experience a rare commitment to national renewal.

Yes, many including this writer were adversely affected by the so-called Buahri coup. First, I had been flushed out of my job, and all of my future plans shattered – that was 1984 – about 22 years ago. I watched my friend, Nduka Irabor embark and alight from the Black Maria, again and again; numerous politicians escorted to Kirikiri where they cooled off.

Then Nigerians all became careful what they did and how they did what they did. There were clearly stated and eminently enforceable rules and regulations. War Against Indiscipline, the bane of Nigeria, had begun.

On the financial side, who could forget that Easter Monday Eve that bore the totally unforeseen, unpredicted announcement of naira currency change, following which any deposit in the bank in the amount of 5000 Naira and above was to be reported to authorities, along with sources of the fund.

Within three months in office, Buhari had Money Laundering pegged and routed; Buhari had Bunkering - illegal oil deal that siphoned millions of oil revenue to local and international crooks pegged and routed; Buhari had a sense of citizen and official accountability pegged and established; Buhari had pegged and established norms on social conduct, fiscal conduct and general behavior.

Thus established - social discipline, economic discipline and fiscal discipline, Nigeria did not need much more to trudge to the next level of national development and making a success at it.

Not so fast!

In came the gap toothed, evil one – Ibrahim Babangida. Only military and civilian crooks and fools comprehended the reason for the coming of the gap-toothed evil one. He came to save his neck, we were to learn later, and save his criminal neck, he did, taking the future of every man, woman and children of Nigerian nations with him.

And what do you know, all that Buhari reined in and pegged, the gap toothed one let loose – assorted crimes and social delinquencies – corruption, thievery; and brand new crimes hitherto unknown to Nigerians – assassination, drug peddling, drug pushing and drug ingesting – you name it.

And so did Nigerians lose Nigeria. Public morality, the bond that binds a nation was thrown to the dogs; and so during the reign of the gap-toothed one and since following his reign of total ruin, Nigeria remains a nation of dogs eating dogs.

Say whatever you may, Sani Abacha, whose regime Buhari and Odumegwu-Ojukwu assisted in some capacities, was intent on returning Nigeria to an entity of social and economic sanity, by making best effort at salvaging what was left of Nigeria, following Ibrahim Babangida’s unmitigated criminal social, political and economic brigandage.

Even the fiercest Abacha critics allows today that Abacha’s was a people Government, in comparison to the farce Obasanjo has around the neck of Nigerians today in the name of democracy.

Yes, Buhari and Idiagbon incarcerated sundry personalities for sundry crimes during their time – a key reason why some resent Buhari today. But each incarceration was preceded by open trial tribunals that were devoid of deceit and assorted shenanigans such as were and are natural to the gap toothed one that crept onto the helm pretending to be a harmless sheep.

One must remember Babangida’s shenanigan that preceded his execution of his childhood friend, Maman Vatsa. Whoever thought Babangida had not made up his mind to kill this man, before his deceit of a test of public opinion must have been a fool.

Barely months into the regime of the gap toothed one, a cloud of secrecy, hush, hush, descended on Nigeria. For the first time in its history, social settlement or duping by way of bribe to silence critics became the rule, baring which, in the case of Dele Giwa, the one’s body was shattered by a message - indeed bomb-bearing envelope that bore the seal of the “president”.

Secretly, the best and brightest Nigerian soldiers were eliminated. At a point these best and brightest numbering 69 were executed at once, for no reason other than the gap toothed one’s intent on perpetuating himself in power. Those that were not executed, were loaded in an airplane and blasted away in the sky….so did soldiers numbering in the hundreds perish. Sundry evil deeds hitherto unknown to Nigerians descended on Nigeria.

Meanwhile, Babangida had foreign security agents guarding him.

The shenanigans of the gap toothed one ran its course when on June 12, 1993, following years of hocus-pocus induced hand over to civilian plan, he cancelled an election that was reported to be the fairest and freest in the history of the country; the anniversary of which was responsible for Buahri’s presence in Oduduwa land.

None could have speculated before the June 12 anniversary that Buhari would be present at the event, and not only being present, but that he would seize the opportunity to assure Oduduwa sons and daughters that he Buhari is really a warm, friendly democrat – with a capital letter D.

It is the completion of a circle of sorts for Buhari, as the favorite son of the north and I dare say, a favorite of citizens of Nigerian nations that deems honor and integrity as requisites for occupying the Nigerian helm that has been so desecrated that it has been referred to as “a nest of killers” – Wole Soyinka.

Buhari had last year at the World Igbo Congress (WIC) in New Jersey, USA, waxed in the “honor” and “privilege” he said, “of an opportunity to interact with my Igbo brothers and sisters…across the River Benue.

It is a circle complete for an ex-soldier, Buhari, a shining armor, who makes no bones about his “unwavering commitment to true democratic norms”.

Indeed Buhari is the icon of free democratic franchise for the peoples of Nigerian nations – this he has demonstrated in his utterances and in the uphill legal battle he is engaged in still, to see to the redress of the people’s stolen mandate.

July 1, 2005 is yet another opportunity for Nigerians to show the world that they have a judiciary that is beholden to no one, and most important, that something akin to democracy exists in the place called Nigeria.

An observer of Nigerian politics stated the other day that there is no opposition in Nigeria, “we have not heard from Buhari.”

Indeed, there are two standing opposition parties in Nigeria today – the APGA and the ANPP. The two prominent political duos that have kept Obasanjo and his PDP in some check are Buhari and Odemuegwu-Ojukwu. In the legal struggle to remedy the 2003 419 elections, the APGA leader, Odumegwu-Ojukwu did concede the major vote count that saw the APGA wining the former eastern region all the way to Bayelsa, to Buhari.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu reasons that Buhari possibly got more votes than him, and he more than Obasanjo. Any who doubts Ikemba must countenance the fact that APGA won in the entire east, while Buhari was the favorite in the north. Did not Obasanjo lose his home state – Ogun?

The Odumegwu-Ojukw/Buhari post elections camaraderie remains a demonstration of principles of democratic fundamentals, where the robbed band together not in the exercise of thuggery, but in legal contest, which in this case had long been stifled by the vote thieving Obasanjo’s PDP.

In his current right moves, Buhari has sailed above the Supreme Court that denied him justice that is now pending on appeal to be heard on July 1. Buhari spoke for all Nigerian peoples from Gombe to Nembe, when he stated his belief “in the principles of democratic rule and a free system where Nigerians are given the opportunity to elect their leaders”.

Nigerian peoples ask no more of democracy than to be allowed to vote for those they want to represent their interests and not be hindered by vote thieves, thugs and robbers that are sponsored by the government in power – the PDP in this instance.

With the exception of APGA’s Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Buhari is the next best positioned, morally and otherwise to challenge the powers that be today as he did during his Lagos outing.

Thus his challenge to Obasanjo to expose Nigerians that have “a total of 170 Billion Dollars” lodged in foreign account, while he – Obasanjo trudges about seeking forgiveness for Nigeria’s debt of 35 Billion-Dollar.

Buhari had allowed only days ago that whatever becomes of his appeal that is eagerly awaited on July 1, he is contesting the presidency, come 2007.

This should impress all men and women of honor and integrity that are left in all of Nigerian nations.

With his recent moves and great moves at that in Oduduwa land, Buhari’s political friends and foes alike, announced and unannounced candidates for the presidency are bound to go back to the drawing board, as Buhari is the one to beat!

And when you thought Buhari was done, he went ahead and concluded his Lagos visit and participation in the June 12 anniversary with a tour de force speech that added to the long shadow he casts on the political landscape.

In his speech, Buhari addressed remedies to the criminal political practice in Nigeria today that the party in power, PDP calls democracy, democracy that has shown neither respect nor regard for citizens.

Buhari spoke of democracy “based on social contract between the government and the governed”.

Ever the defender of the sanctity of the vote, Buhari affirmed in the negative to the question: “..can there be democracy and social justice without the people’s vote?”

To forestall a repeat of June 12 and the criminal brigandage – vote rigging and robbery perpetrated by Obasanjo and his PDP in 2003, Buhari recommended what he termed “Open the Ballot Box” system, as against “Close the Ballot Box” system. That is to say, let there be light on people’s vote – the most sacred instrument of democracy.

On the rule of law, Buhari reasoned thus: “As strong and robust economy helps to sustain democracy, so is sincere adherence to the rule of law. Obasanjo?

The current executive makes mockery of democracy by flagrantly violating the judgment of the court, Buhari charged. He wondered, what protection was there for ordinary citizens, if the last arbiter for the defenseless, the courts were beholden to the executive.

Buhari cited the Lagos State experience, where the executive continues to withhold funds from the state, over the ruling of the highest court in the land.

Not done, Buhari confronted headlong the charge bandied about that he is about Islamizing Nigeria, that he asked Muslims to vote for Muslims only.

Said Buhari, “Let me take this opportunity for the umpteenth time to explain the falsehood credited to me. That I advised Muslim voters to vote only for Muslims. Never was a bigger lie perpetrated in Nigeria!”

“What I said” he continued, “was that people should wake up, vote only for those who will protect their interests, their culture, their religion and their security. I spoke in Hausa, ex tempore, although mercifully the recording has been preserved. The reporter, who sent this falsehood to THISday was not present at the scene, did not speak Hausa and when confronted, he said he thought that was what I said!”

Cognizant of the lackadaisical attitude to due diligence by Nigerian press, I am on the side of Buhari, and have been since this no case of Buahri and him Islamizing Nigeria broke. How would the Buhari Islamization of Nigeria come to pass, by force?

Buhari would have to bring Salaudin back to life to fight to Islamize all peoples of Nigerian nations.

What PDP 2003 criminal brigandage that netted the 419 Obasanjo presidency did was rob each and every Nigerian’s votes they cast for those that will protect, as Buhari sees it, their interest, their culture, their religion, their security.

Which Nigerian is happy about the PDP robbery? None. That is where Buhari and true democrats come in. Come 2007, the choice should be obvious.

Now, if any thinks this fresh democrat, Buhari can be stopped by some sinister insinuation, the one better think again. I know a warrior when I see one. Not any warrior, but a warrior for truth, a warrior for principle, a warrior for the better part of humanity. Buhari is it.

When the best of mankind is in a representative position, God’s children are all better for it. The reverse is the case, as we have seen in Nigeria today. Sadness is the lot of all God’s children.

Obasanjo’s PDP robbed Nigerians of true, honest representation, and so are Nigerians paying dearly and Buhari continues to fight.

With his recent right moves, hope is on the way, for those with however little faith in the British structure called Nigeria.

June 27, 2005

Peter Opara is a communications consultant and author of Understanding the Nigerian Nation Tribes – Why they Boil.

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June 21, 2005

Nigeria’s Prestige Project – UN Security Council Seat

by Peter Opara --- It is not unlike what peoples of Nigerian nations are used to about Nigeria, White Elephant Projects. George Orwell might have coined the term – “White Elephant Project”. The term has all of Orwellian socio-political construct or semblance, having to do with obfuscation, deceit and lie by leaders to all and sundry, especially deprived, needy citizens.

Look, the leader will say, see that huge structure there, the country is doing well. He would follow with a rhetorical poser – how would we afford that huge project, if we were not doing well?

About the leader at such time, and always, will be an ever present, ever fidgeting, brown nosing sycophant that affirms with nervous grin, every lie, every nonsense that comes forth from the leader’s mouth.

But the truth is, peoples on whose land the huge structure stands, have no jobs, no food to eat, no clean water to drink, no light with which to see, no road on which to ply or walk or ride; they are ill and disease ridden, with no health clinic around to care for them.

Truth is still, everything the peoples lack, the leader sumptuously possess or access with ease. The leader feeds so well that he has swollen belly and swollen neck. Big man.

The leader and those about him, have attending to them, clinics and physicians abroad – London – always. Even in dying, the leader and those about him have a choice where to die - London. Look for and read veteran Sonala Oluhense’s “Dying in London” about Nigerian leaders.

While Nigeria is historically riddled with tangible white elephant projects ranging from the all important 40-year-old-yet-to-be-completed iron and steel industry; unfinished roads, abandoned bridges, abandoned fertilizer scandal riddled “Operation Feed the Nation” – code named Obasanjo Fool the Nation of the 70s – the country has been gunning for intangible white elephant projects ever since Matthew Okikiolahan Aremu Obasanjo began finding himself at its helm.

Since his second coming (after his accidental 1975-1979 tenure) and his current 419 tenure, Aremu’s white elephant project has been image, image, image and more image. And for the six years he has been on the image project, virtually attending every house party in Atlanta and everywhere else in the world, the one-man public relations and lobbyist lobbed together, Big Aremu has nothing to show. Nothing!

Now, the millions of Dollars Aremu’s friend, Andrew Young has been receiving since Aremu went from jail to Aso Rock, are they not for Nigeria’s image and being on America’s good sides?

Only a few weeks ago, the U.S. government issued travel warning to her citizens visiting Nigeria. The adjective “Dangerous” is now synonymous with Aremu’s Nigeria. Again, I ask, what is his friend, Andy doing with the millions of Dollars of my money that Aremu pays him daily?

Then the hammer fell, a week ago. An intelligence organ of the same U.S. warned that the same Nigeria has no chance of survival, past the next 15 years.

So Andy, and his friend Aremu are feasting on a body comatose!

Then debt relief, another of Aremu’s darling project; that too, President George Bush with whom Aremu held hands the other day in Washington DC, reportedly said, “Nobody wants to give money (say forgive debt) to a country that’s corrupt, where leaders take money and put it in their pocket.”

Do you doubt that Bush did not have Nigeria in mind?

Squirreling and pilfering of public funds is what Nigeria is known for. It is worse that the master pilferer, the squirrel himself, Aremu’s political mentor, Ibrahim Babangida is poised to return to Nigeria’s helm to continue his practice, and Aremu is all for it.

So there went 6-years of Aremu’s image junket around the globe, investments junket around the globe. Image is for the long haul and so is investment. Investment is indeed for the long haul, and as far as Nigeria is concerned, who commits money to a dangerous and predictably collapsible investment tool, a tool where leaders are sure to pocket accruing cash.

Only a fool could not see the danger in the horizon that is articulated in the Nigeria collapse analysis by US intelligence. There is a house that is not in order, the owner or minder is unable, in fact fails to put it in order, but he goes inviting Dick, Tom and Harry saying to them - Come On Down! That his house is safe and comfy for all they are worth – sweat, blood and tears – otherwise, hard earned Dollars, Pounds etc.

Dick, Tom and Harry are not blind, they can see; they did see that the house is not all that it is cracked up to be. Also they have all read the book titled – This House Has Fallen.

Now comes the biggest white elephant chase of the time, Nigeria’s Prestige Project, a seat at the United Nations Security Council.

Peoples of Nigerian nations are hungry – not enough food to eat; they are disease ridden – no doctors and no health clinics to take care of them; they are not safe or secure – robbers and assassins rule; death lurks around every corner, but the leader must find a seat in a sitting in far away Oyibo land. Then he can say to his people, look, see where we dey siddon yonder with America, France, Britain…those strong, big countries. Ah, our country strong, too, we be big people o; we dey kamkpe!

This virtually sick country whose every social, economic and political aspects its leader is unable to manage, yet the leader seeks to place the country in a position to cater to affairs of the world in the specific areas in which he has demonstrated nothing but failure!

The way the papers described the evening of the beginning of this white elephant chase – a seat at the UN Security Council, Aso Rock was sealed up; there were security agents all around, and guests at the super secret, super sensitive gathering were governors, service chiefs, ex- heads of state and every other exs…so many that abound in Nigeria.

Former Head of State Muhammadu Buhari was not there.

Onlookers wondered what was amiss. What could be taking place this evening?
Voila! Nigeria is gunning for a membership in the UN’s Security Council.

Aremu mandated his hirelings to get any and every exs to his villa, so according to reports, there will be a united effort behind this project, Nigeria’s Prestige Project. This is the biggest of the intangible white elephant project….all for image and nothing more.

Nigeria must play in the big league with the United States, Britain, France, China…and such as far as determining the way of world affairs.

Determining the way of world affairs in these times is certainly an enormous responsibility. It is a responsibility that demands the undertaker to be focused and unencumbered by intractable mundane matters within.

Is Nigeria such an undertaker? Not if Aremu’s reason for gunning for this white elephant project is based only on the population of Nigeria. Is it a population whose restiveness he is unable to manage? Is it a population whose well-fare he is unable to fashion, talk less manage?

Yet of the big leaguers – which Nigeria is far from being or becoming – mentioned, only China is having a teething problem, not from anything else other its struggle to emerge from failed eco-political ideology - communism.

Even then, China has long been a political and economic force to reckon with. This is to say that China has the capacity, where it matters – leadership – to manage her mundane concerns for teething into a new socio-political order, such that it is embarked – capitalism. Add to this is the faith reposed on China’s economic acumen and capacity by old capitalist nations of Europe and America.

What is one to say about Nigeria that for 45 years of its existence as independent sovereign nation has demonstrated profound inability to shoulder its internal affairs – social, political and economic? Is Aremu to showcase his presence and Nigeria on this vaunted seat in his typical fashion of what-I-say-not-what-I-do matters? Only mutt peoples of Nigerian nations can countenance such nonsense in a world where now peasants and market women band together to chase away bumbling, thieving, ineffective leaders.

Here is Nigeria, a country that was billed as “the showcase of African democracy” at independence in 1960, that soon embarked on political and economic chicanery that remains its bane to this day; Here is Nigeria that six years following her independence, its leaders embarked on a bloody carnage against one of its constituent parts; Here is Nigeria that is a major debtor nation – 45 year later; Here is Nigeria, presumed “showcase of Africa’s democracy, whose present leader that wants to take her to a world seat violated all known norms of electoral franchise in 2003; the political party over which he holds sway, killed, maimed and robbed to remain in power, and under this same leader and 45 years into the country’s life, its peoples have no security, they are hungry, they are diseased, they are deprived, they are hopeless.

There we see the soft underbelly of this elephant that seeks to position itself to lead other nations, when it cannot lead itself. Or when it should focus on remedying itself.

It is easy to recall the excitement among Nigerian elites of course, that follows Nigeria’s attainment of President of the Security Council. What is the big deal? I always thought. Does this translate to food on the table for hungry peoples of Nigerian nations; transportation for peoples of Nigerian nations; jobs for the peoples of Nigerian nations, light, water and sundry other unmet mundane needs of peoples of Nigerian nations.

Peoples of Nigerian nations should organize and demand Obasanjo to stand down in his international grandstanding. All this Aremu magah, magah, as the Igbo would say, is all about Aremu the man, not the peoples of Nigerian nations.

People of Nigerian nations should further demand that the current members of the Security Council visit Nigeria to witness the suffering peoples of Nigerian nations endure daily.

Then they will see every reason why Obasanjo must not be accorded the regard he seeks in the international arena.

If an African country deserves a prestigious position, it is South Africa. Let Mandela be the one to take his country to the UN on that date. Mandela set the pace for respect for citizens’ franchise.

Next door to Nigeria is Ghana. Though a smaller nation, Ghana has historically led Nigeria by the nose in a show of what a nation of pride to her people should be. Ghana deserves international regard.

Even as Aremu’s National Distraction Talk-Shop goes on, it must be realized by every man, woman and child of the Nigerian nations, that it was in Aburi Ghana under the auspices of then leader of Ghana, Lt. General J.A. Ankrah, that the first genuine attempt was made with success to make Nigeria a nation at peace with itself, with progress as patrimony for its citizens.

But that was not to be, as leaders of the same Nigeria turned against the success. Very Nigerian, isn’t it?

Nearly 40-years later, Nigeria is still bumbling about like a tired white elephant project itself, still gunning for prestige project, white elephant project, this time a seat at the UN Security Council.

What is more important, national prestige or people’s welfare? A two-year kid has a ready response to this question – the latter precedes the former.

But those that rule Nigeria make no mistake about the fact that for nearly forty-years, they have been playing catch up with all two-year olds out there, and dashing and quashing the future of peoples of Nigerian nations in the process.

June 16, 2005

Peter Opara is the author of Understanding the Nigerian Nation Tribes – Why they Boil; Think In Time – Essays and Encounters of the Last Quarter of the 20th Century; The Man of Biafra in the City Where America Began

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June 14, 2005

Buba Marwa’s Appropriate Response to Cowards

by Peter Opara --- A couple of days ago, Nigerian journals reported that a plan to kill retired Brigadier General Buba Marwa had been uncovered.

As it is with non-full disclosure style of Nigerian reporting, it was and remains unclear, in fact unknown to the public still who it was that planned to kill Marwa. It is not known whether it was a person or a group of persons that planned to kill Marwa.

If it was either a person or a group of persons that planned to kill Marwa, the journals gave not a diddlysquat hint as to the origin, formation or history of the person or persons – that is if the person or persons that planned to kill Marwa were Nigerians, and if Nigerian(s), whether they are known to Marwa, whether they were from Marwa’s home state, from Abuja or some other parts of Nigeria.

It would also have been helpful if the modus vivendi and/or operandi of the person or persons were known, whether they were hired, whether they have been in the habit of killing and who their victims in the past might have been, why they do what they do.

Granted, some aspects of my posers as above might have come later, as a follow-up on the initial report – which we are yet to read – but initial hints touching on the above posers, would have richly informed the public, particularly those interested in enforcing the law in Nigeria, if any.

However, the man concerned, the man whose own life was at stake, Marwa responded to the ominous cloud about him in as brave a fashion as can be. He was stoic. He was also reasonably fatalistic.

In his response, Marwa seemed to be looking the killer or killers poised against him in the face and speaking to them, saying, you may try to kill me, but the consequences to you will be devastating.

Then he noted, as would a man of sound mind, and a measure of humility, that it is God that has the power to keep life, extend life or terminate life.

To the would-be killers, Marwa meant to say, it will not be an easy ride for you; if you think I am going down like a wimp, think again.

Marwa was right on! Nothing could have been more apropos as a state of mind, and as a response to COWARDS, as those reported, who choose as their modus vivendi, to spill the blood of their fellow man.

Cowards, these are; killers, assassins that now lurk every nook and cranny of a cantankerous but once safe and secure land – Nigeria.

Those that have made it their business to rule this land of diverse nations of peoples, Nigeria, have also engineered rampant murder and assassination among themselves, and these acts have trickled down to hunt defenseless common people.

General Samuel Osaigbovo Ogbemudia, who like Marwa remains the best performing military administrator known to peoples of Nigerian nations, called recently for the arming of the population; that is everyone owning a gun with which to defend himself or herself in a land now saturated by assassins and murderers.

There is no other way to deal with a coward or cowards which those in the business of either engineering or actually engaging in the business of blood spilling are, than to first let them know that you have got what they got – AK 47 or AK – 1 MILLION.

Let them know that them coming after you is a war that makes game everything they – the killer and/or their engineers hold most dear game. Their lives first – cowards love life; their wives, their children, their parents, even their material possessions – cowards are also about material possession.

For every member of Nigerian nations, Ogbemudia’s proposal will put teeth to a similar response as Marwa’s by them, should they, as they do daily, encounter the high and lowly cowardly killers, robbers and hired assassins that now pervade Nigeria.

And Nigerian journals can play their public service role even in this instance with full disclosure that arms investigations and prepares the common man to deal with finality, the dregs and ogres of society, which the blood spilling cowards such as those planning to kill Marwa represents.

June 14, 2005

Peter Opara is the author of Understanding the Nigerian Nation Tribes – Why they Boil

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May 20, 2005

Francis Kizito Obeya and Biafra

by Peter Opara --- Obeya - Why you are so pissed off about Biafra and those that desire it is beyond me. First, you were astounded to encounter a Biafraland on the Internet, now you know that a great many, Igbo, in particular desire and talk about Biafra, and that enrages you...talking about an entity separate from what you deem a perfect arrangement - Nigeria.

Sure you can find every argument to counter those who desire Biafra, but something is clear, and that is your lack of basic understanding of what drives the desire for Biafra.

But first, you note as follows - Biafra, not "illusory" republic, but a sovereign nation, in which people like yours truly habited as a citizen. Biafra, not "illusory" republic, but " a great experience" to quote Richard Akinjide, a major Yoruba figure.

Now, what drives Biafra even now, is beyond good or bad road What drives Biafra and every other Nigerian nation tribe that live and thrive on chicanery against each other goes back to the erroneous, rather miscast quote you had in your article thus: "So the Nigerian President and some Briton said that our marriage was a MISTAKE".

No, Francis Obeya, it was not a Nigerian president and some Briton - though one has just so stated - that deemed Nigeria a MISTAKE. It was Sir Ahmadu Bello, then undisputed leader of the north. The truth of Sir. Bello's assertion is evident to this day, even as an authoritave voice has just been added to this evident truth - that of the British Secretary who actually sat in on the arrangement of the fundamentally flawed Marriage of the totally disparate peoples that make this Nigeria.

Further more, shortly after the death of Sir Bello, another northern leader, Yakubu Gowon declared that the basis of (Nigerian) unity does not exist. In the same vein, a young northern fellow, Ibraheem Waziri, continue to remind those like you Obeya, that it is written nowhere in the Koran that Nigeria was made by God.

Even the man who moved the motion for Nigeria's independence, Anthony Enahoro, who himself saw to it the sovereign state of Biafra was terminated, is today talking about self-determination as right that must be inscribed in a Nigerian constitution.

Obeya, Biafra is about self-determination...for Igbo!

Obeya, you come across so much as one that is ignorant of the reasons why Biafra came about in the first place. I dare say that your people, you must come from present day Benue, contributed in no small measure to the evolution of Biafra that now troubles you. If you want to know how that was, you must ask some of your relatives how many Igbo they hunted down and killed in your part of Nigeria when Nigerians all embarked on operation Igbo Kill.

Were you too young then, or are you now stricken with selective amnesia? Or the Igbo experience then that repeats itself yearly matters not to you, since you think every tribe in Nigeria has lost one of its own in the incessant bloodletting for which Nigeria is now known, and as such Nigeria will be broken into tribes, if on this basis only every tribe demands a country.

By this you are arguing the prepondenrance of victims of Nigerian bloodletting dating back to the 50s to present, being Igbo? Are you? Or do you not know? Can one not be fed up being slaughtered even in your home, Obeya, each time there is a some little fracas? Must constant bloodletting be the price the Igbo has to pay to keep your Nigeria one?

Since your response to this must be in the affirmative, judging by your mindset, the Igbo say NO. They have had enough and want out. Now how does this trouble you, except if you cannot kill enough Igbo!

Now, for your information, Biafra must not include any who feels not up to being part of it, and that includes those that you Obeya have interviewed and they said to you, the hell with Biafra. You, Obeya and those that think like you, must have to deal with a phenomenon, Biafra, that is part and parcel of a people, the Igbo. You cannot ban thinking of Biafra; you cannot outlaw thinking and talking of Biafra; you cannot wish it away..Biafra.

Biafra is both a reality and a symbol of freedom for a people that are caged in an entity that has not only contaminated their uniqueness, but is also bent on stifling the ghost out of them. You Obeya can go on and on about how many senate presidents, Obis, who chops money for Igbo roads etc., but those are the contamination that I talk about - if you understand, and they have nothing to do with Biafra.

In any case, to help you cast your sight off Igbo and their desires, there are other groups in Nigeria demanding self-determination. Would you keep your eyes on them and leave the Igbo alone? Have you heard of Oduduwa Republic? They have flags made, anthem recorded. They are also somewhere in the Internet.

Peter Opara, author - Understanding the Nigerian Nation Tribes - Why they Boil.

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May 02, 2005

Obasanjo’s War Kite – Igbo on the brink

by Peter Opara --- When Matthew Olusegun Okikiolahan Aremu Et Cetera Obasanjo commenced his National Distraction Talk-Shop (not about the illegality of his Three Monkey Regime and his 419 election) a couple of weeks ago, I wrote an article entitled – Agarachaa Must Come Back – to Aburi.

That article was prefaced beginning with the point that – Back then in Aburi, Ghana, in 1967, young Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu took care of business, Nigeria’s business.

Nigeria’s business then and now, consists of – ethnic chicanery, ethnic rancor, ethnic discord, ethnic conflagration, ethnic blood spilling – nothing normal, but still Nigeria’s business; unique they are, and fit for inhabitants of a cage fabricated by Gringos in Britain for Bantus in West Africa.

Nonetheless, Odumegwu-Ojukwu handled Nigeria’s unique business then deftly and superlatively such that they needed no revisiting again, and now, had those that cornered power in the British cage - Nigeria not reneged on the resulting accord – Aburi Accord - in a fit of tribal jaundice induced mental melt down.

As I write, in Lagos, extractions of peoples of Nigerian nations are at some of their usual and customary business - maiming and blood spilling – this time between Yoruba OPC and Hausa/Fulani Arewa.

News is that arrests are yet to be made of those engaged in this business this time. How difficult it is for authorities of the British cage.

But not so when Igbo is concerned; Igbo the people that bears the brunt of Nigeria’s business of blood, deceit and thievery. Not so even when Igbo business in the British cage - Nigeria is a peaceful affair, as that recently in which the same authorities swooped down on Igbo soccer players and spectators, MASSOB members, some of them, gaoling them for TREASON!

Yes; treason for displaying at the soccer game, the Igbo Freedom symbol – Biafra; a symbol the rest members of the British cage - Nigeria would rather go to the land beyond (I say let them) than countenance.

However, in Agarachaa Must Come Back – to Aburi, I enumerated Nigeria’s business that 32-year-old Odumegwu-Ojukwu took care, with nary a contribution from his erstwhile colleagues, among them Yakubu Gowon.

Gowon, had just usurped power to mend, he had claimed, the British cage – Nigeria that he had said only days earlier, lacked any basis for unity! He thenceforth, Gowon, like Hitler on the Holocaust, proceeded to supervise the first genocide on the African continent against the Igbo, in the British cage – Nigeria – 1966 - 1970.

Yet on this, Gowon’s Holocaust, I thought I stopped living in the real world, when I perused a piece by a Sanusi Lamido, where he asserted that Igbo were the first people to engage in ethnic cleansing in the British cage - Nigeria. Sanusi Lamido! This is for another time.

However, you might wonder where was Matthew Okikiolahan Aremu Olusegun Obasanjo, the one that now struts the British cage - Nigeria in Three Monkey Style, during the REAL TALK at Aburi Ghana in 1967.

The man was nowhere near where the talks held; he was not where decisions – Regional or National - were made either. Not that it mattered for even if he were present, he could not have contributed a diddlysquat towards the mending or soldering of the quickly ungluing British cage.

The man Aremu could not have contributed a thing, nada. A mope-up man, a cleanup man, a man now known to be totally without honor; forget his Biafra war tour – without Russian and British armament, he was and still is all belly. Let Ugly Adekunle’s rage on him flare on. There is no suggestion here that Obusonjo is better looking than Ugly Ade. The duo could draw daggers on this, too, and that will be fine.

But true, Aremu’s first real upper echelon tour – Murtala Mohammed regime, in which he was the second in command, it is now known that he was only a siddon-look member.

This should have been clear right then. Aremu looked the odd man out, in an assembly of some fit looking; ramrod straight Mohammed’s men. In their first group picture, there stood a man, upright, with his belly tilted a certain degree to the right. It was 1975, and I was only a kid. What a physique, I thought. Obusonjo

Worse still, it was known by some that Aremu was to be dumped by Mohammed just before he was assassinated for the suspicion that he – Aremu – was a peddler of inside information. This, it was believed, informed the dispatch with which General Bisala, Gomwalk and others were liquidated at Aremu’s orders. There were suspicious eyes about Aremu, and General Bisala knew quite a bit.

Now Aremu is not known to possess nerves to engage in coup d’etat or plotting thereof, even though it is on record that Abacha caught him red handed doing just that. Remember that Aremu lacked courage to step into Mohammed’s shoes.

Was not the man literally forced to fill the vacuum created by Mohammed’s death? This Aremu whose only ambition was to be a road-side mechanic, was to repeat the same feat, the Reluctant Vacuum Filler, aided by the one he had observed as having “a great capacity of mischief, for evil” – Ibrahim Babangida. Those who expect angelic deeds from the ward of Lucifer, dream on.

Could Aremu pen another “My Command” on these subjects, or is he going to wait to pen his current day “Needs” economy that many expect to enjoy only in heaven?

Please pardon my digression; the business of Nigeria Odumegwu-Ojukwu took care, consisted of meticulous proposals to mend Nigeria, and most critically for ensuring the security and protection of his fellow Igbo, whose blood other Nigerian nations peoples had tasted and longed for more.

On Odumegwu-Ojukwu’s efforts particularly of ensuring security and protection for his bloodied and traumatized people, I reasoned that whether his efforts could have averted the tragedies I enumerated in the article that affected the Igbo was open to question. This considering that there were FORCES – CIVIL AND MILITARY then and even now that were decided on one thing only – elimination of the Igbo or as many of them as was humanly possible.

I reasoned that THOSE FORCES ARE STILL ALIVE AND ACTIVE TODAY, AND LIKE JACKASS (DESTROYER, NOT BUILDER) DOING NOTHING OTHER THAN UNDOING THE IGBO!

I recalled that the man who now leads this British cage - Nigeria, Aremu himself had in fact sworn to ensure that the Igbo does not rise again in Nigeria – as the rise of the Igbo meant in his mind a threat to the British cage he now bestrides. This Aremu’s declaration was and still remains music to the ears of Nigeria’s JACKASSES that are bent on destroying Igbo, their culture and their tradition. And thus did Aremu become the point man for Igbo destroyers. A loose cow in a China shop Aremu may seem now, daring even his Hausa/Fulani masters, he has his eyes fixated on the prize – the objects of his neurosis - Igbo/Odumegwu-Ojukwu or Odumegwu-Ojukwu/Igbo.

Folks, there is nothing else to which you can hold a man than his words! And his actions, I might add. Any who says that he or she will ensure that you never rise again, is not your friend. That person is your ENEMY. Period.

The Yoruba man by the names Matthew Okikiolahan Aremu Olusegun Obasanjo is Igbo Enemy Number One. Aremu is on record as enemy of Igbo. Day in and day out he acts out as such, without any abilities whatsoever to self contain.

Now to all Igbo fools that do not know they are fools – the plain stupid Igbo, the conflicted Igbo, the go-along-to-get-along Igbo, the efulefu and plain ole saboteur – the many Igbo who deem themselves “civil”, “erudite” and such jazz – you know yourselves – the shameless, the political jobbers - my use of the word Jackass in reference to anything or person must have chagrined all of you.

That is fine. Truly, FOOL is the appellation that befits you, for being or trying to be civil in a jungle – Nigeria. Nigeria where everyone about you is about undoing and destroying you. You are deemed fools for none with his wits, intellect, psyche and all intact should be smiling, in of all places, a jungle – Nigeria – where at every turn, the Igbo’s jugular vein is at a risk of being severed.

In the jungle, the civil is Breakfast, lunch and Dinner for his neighbors. “I am never proud to participate in violence’ wrote Maya Angelou “yet I know that each of us must care enough for ourselves to be ready and able to come to our own self-defense”.

How about this, you the “erudite” Igbo, the “civil” Igbo, the “gracious” Igbo, and lest I forget, you the GENETICALLY RE-ENGINEERED - otherwise “DETRIBALIZED” Igbo? Your co-dwellers in the British cage - Nigeria, whose hosanna you sing to high heavens, your co-dwellers who truly know themselves, their tribe and their tongue – otherwise their language, they got together, in the National Distraction talk-shop organized by the Igbo arch enemy Aremu, and decided that your language, IGBO, shall be vaporized from the business of Nigerian affairs, the business of governing Nigeria – the cage in which you are trapped.

If one were not talking about peoples of Nigerian nations and Igbo nation, one would have shuddered and wondered how such thought made its way to a document that was to be circulated to the public. What more evil could peoples of this evil barrel conceive and act against the Igbo?

38 years ago, they tried to kill all Igbo. Igbo fought back in self-defense. But the “erudite”, “Civili(zed)” Igbo, better Igbo In Name Only (IINO) reasoning like Igbo killers, branded Igbo self-defense a fight for oil.

I have written and said so many times that there were Igbo who were hungry in Biafra and to this day do not know the reason they had no food to quench their hunger. “Look them”, as Osita Osadebay would sing, the “erudite”, the “civil(ized)” the go-along-to-get-along Igbo, mindless political jobbers and contractors.

These go-along-to-get-along Igbo, Nigeria’s JACKASSES could have starved you to death. They conceived and implemented their plan to ensure that you were dead by starvation.

Aremu’s big brother Obafemi Awolowo and his cousin Anthony Enahoro were the architect and implementers of this plan. If you were a baby then, to them, and in the words of Enahoro, you were “baby snake” that was no different from Odumegwu-Ojukwu their prime target dating back 39 years ago to present.

I know, you the “erudite’, the “civil(ized) etc is ambivalent about Odumegwu-Ojukwu, but even with all of your intelligence, you are to be told that Nigeria’s JACKASSES despise you as much as they despise Odumegwu-Ojukwu. Inside the British cage, it is the same boat for all Okekes. Your erudition, your civility, your go-along-to-get-along secures no security for you.

Again, Nigeria’s JACKASSES led by Aremu, are bent on destroying Igbo. They do not want Igbo language spoken any where in Nigeria, especially where Nigerian affairs are discussed. Yet Igbo is a nation of 44 Million effervescent brains trapped in a British cage.

Nigeria’s JACKASSES sat down and together decided that ridding Igbo language in the affairs of their cage was the way to go, the new strategy, the new bang…on Igbo.

Guess who is smiling? Okikiolahan Aremu! That is who is smiling. It is his bidding that they are doing. They just flew his kite, a test for Igbo total destruction by muting their tongue, say slashing it. What else would have the Igbo without their language?

Kanu Agabi, the man reported to be flying this Aremu’s Igbo language vaporization kite, is known to me. An Ogoja man, Agabi is one in a million Ejagham that could think of expunging Igbo language in official affairs of the British cage.

KANU! I do not doubt that some Igbo might have thought that Kanu was Igbo. Indeed, he might have hailed from Arochukwu in Igbo heartland, just as the rest from his heritage – the Ibeshis, Agabas, Igbas, Ukahs, Ikems, Agbas etc. Might not these Igbo-sounding Ejagham names, including Agabi’s be in danger of being expunged from Nigeria’s public business, too? Kanu!! Would that not be a boomerang on you, Kanu, the Aremu war kite flier?

It is worthy of note that Ejagham people in the majority were diehard Biafrans, still; they include many on self-exile abroad – among them medical doctors - for the fact that Biafra failed to materialize.

The core of Biafran Army Officers and top echelon civilians included Ejagham sons. The elegant Lt. Col Lekam Okoi; the indomitable T. Captain Ndom Egba and many others were formidable officers in Biafra’s Special Division. Among the civilians were larger than life Chief J.A. Jumbo, the venerable Chief Matthew Mbu, and so many others. The affable Ete Okoi Arikpo, it is known, was on the other side. Yet Young Ejagham sons who were studying abroad during the war raised funds in the streets of the U.S, Canada, and Israel etc., to support Biafra. These are facts about Kanu Agabi’s heritage.

Agabi, now a kite flier for Aremu on Igbo destruction is a man who made a good name for himself in Cross River State – Calabar to be precise – as a brilliant lawyer; a free and independent spirit who never did any one’s bidding until now.

It was appalling how Agabi became a hosanna singer for a buffoon that he would never have tolerated in his first life. I began giving up on him when he was removed from ministering over his beloved law to ministering over rocks and stones and he stayed. Then I totally dumped him (not that it matters) as the consummate Nigerian (corrupt and of infirm principles) – when I read him as Aremu’s courier that we now know, talking about an issue that according to him – “Baba” would not like to hear”. I thought, oh, Agabi is now about only what “Baba” likes to hear.

Yes, Agabi, part or whole architect of what “Baba” will love to hear, the elimination of Igbo language from the affairs of an entity in which Aremu has sworn to ensure that the Igbo does not rise. Kanu, please let us know if you had Ayinde Barrister banging out special Apala Music, while you presented this phase of Igbo destruction to “Baba”. Good boy.

Word broke that the Aremu kite piloted by Kanu is shelved. But there is no stopping Nigeria’s JACKASSES; they are wicked, unrelenting evildoers. Destroying Igbo remains their life’s objective.

Aremu’s kite shelved? There are many ways to skin a cat. I am not giving them ideas. Who am I? They have plenty of it, ideas on Igbo destruction.

Soon school curriculum will mandate that Igbo language not be taught anywhere outside Igbo land, even where Igbo pupils are in attendance; soon, books written in Igbo language for Igbo language studies will be off the shelves of University and Secondary school libraries; soon Igbo books will all be out of print; soon every Orwellian trick in the book will be brought to bear to enable them achieve their objective – Igbo silencing, then Igbo destruction.

Does anyone remember the Soweto Riot and the cause of the riot? As it was in Apartheid South Africa, Igbo pupils soon will be mandated to speak Hausa and Yoruba only even in Igbo land. Riot will ensue as a result of such dictate; Nigeria’s JACKASSES will send in their zombies – Army, Police, SSS – Igbo land and borders are already filled with them. Their zombies like Apartheid enforcers will be ordered to shoot at sight any resister, and jail any refusnik – no matter how young or how old.

With these and other plans that none can contemplate at the moment, they will see to it that the go-along-get-along Igbo, the “civil(ized)” Igbo, the “erudite” Igbo, the “gracious” and “graceful” Igbo, the genetically re-engineered, otherwise the ‘DETRIBALIZED’ Igbo overrun strategic positions on things dealing with Igbo culture and tradition. With that Igbo language goes to the brink, and soon off the cliff, and into a valley of no return. And so might Igbo nation.

In weeks and months coming, they will resort to covert, surreptitious Operation Destroy Igbo; while the “erudite”, go-along-to-get-alone, jobbing Igbo continue to opine thus: “We further ask the Igbo to continue to relentlessly pursue ideal of a united and progressive Nigeria…” How does one address this inanity?

Well, do I sound silly in the Igbo language incineration scenarios above? Well, you wait, till Kema Chikwe flies in from Abuja to scold Ndiigbo for making noise needlessly, and tell Ndiigbo that Aremu, her bosom of nearly 4 decades has no evil design against Ndiigbo. She might even call on the spirit of her relative Ukpabi Asika to assure Ndiigbo that Aremu loves Ndiigbo.

How about the Enugu Governor Nnamani? That one will write and tell Ndiigbo how much Matthew LOVES them; how the real Igbo enemy is Odumegwu-Ojukwu. Nnamani is the one that is said to be cerebral; he is true to type, “erudite”, “civili(zed) and all that jazz, with no core. What use is the cerebral without commonsense to know his enemy or enemy of his people? Where is the role of the cerebral in a jungle, in a dog-eat-dog terrain? What is it in the Bantu cage of the mundane that beckons for the cerebral? Does it require the cerebral to secure cargo airport to one’s state? How easy has this lover of Nnamani and Igbo, made it for Nnamani, to have his dream airport, even after he had licked all of his boots?

How about Ojo Maduekwe, the one that must educate his children on the back of all Igbo? He would hold court in his frequent overseas calls – reports those who have been present at his court, in which one of his daughters keeps peace – telling them how much Obasanjo loves the Igbo, and how disappointed he is when he reads an article like this.

You will read even in this cyberspace, those whose life ambition is the full integration of the Igbo in Nigeria. Yes, full integration of Ndiigbo on the terms of other Nigerian nations people - those now designing to abolish Igbo language.

Is not Greg Mbadiwe, the son of the one who asked Nigerian authorities at the end of their carnage and vandalism in Igbo land to remember those of them who fought behind the lines – otherwise SABOS – touting two more years of Aremu’s buffoonery. That is as if Aremu’s current tenure has any legitimacy.

Who else will do such a job but a “cerebral Igbo”, “erudite Igbo”, “genetically re-engineered Igbo/Detribalized Igbo, a jobber, the efulefu that want so desperately to head all and everything Igbo, those that destiny assures without a doubt an encounter with their comeuppance.

Meanwhile, in their go-along-get-along fashion, they aid and abate a sworn Igbo enemy in his bid to destroy the Igbo.

But victory is Igbo’s. The shenanigans of the enemy, the machinations of the wicked, shall pass, and amount to naught.

Here is a man, Obasanjo, with so much power, albeit illegal power, that wallows in base cunning and wickedness; a man that cannot point to a single worthy record, with all the opportunities that the leadership vacuum he has been filling for nearly four decades have availed him. Talk about what wickedness does to a man.

Obasanjo, let loose your kites of war on Igbo; let them fly. You will live with the grinding reality and regret that Igbo shall continue to thrive, even when you, your wards and those like you in the British cage – Nigeria are long, long GONE, seen no more, heard no more.

Guaranteed!

May 2, 2005

Peter Opara is the author of Understanding Nigerian Nation Tribes – Why they boil

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February 17, 2005

Agarachaa Must Come Back – to Aburi

Peter Opara: A famed English/Igbo (engligbo) saying goes this way – Agarachaa must come back. Back then in Aburi, Ghana, in 1967, young, very young Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukuwu took care of business, Nigeria’s business that is.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu then 33- years old, took care of Nigeria’s business such that the conflagration that beset the country 37 years ago could have been avoided; he took care of business such that the genocidal war visited upon his people, the Igbo, could have been averted; he took care of business such that the destruction, looting seizure and/or appropriation of hard earned property of the Igbo could have been averted; he took care of business such that pain, death and suffering that touched many families across the length and breadth of the nations comprising the cage called Nigeria could have been averted; finally, Odumegwu-Ojukwu took care of business such that the comedy now bandied about by the Nigerian Burden – Olusegun Matthew Okikiolahan Aremu Obasanjo in the name of national dialogue should not have been necessary – that, as well as the waste of time, energy and sundry resources that is sure to result.

Whether averting the tragedies enumerated above as they affected the Igbo could have been achieved was really open to question, considering that there were forces - civil and military then and even now that were decided on one thing and one thing only – elimination of the Igbo or as many of them as was humanly possible. Those forces are still alive and active as jackasses (destroyers not builders) doing nothing other than undoing the Igbo.

The man who leads this cage called Nigeria today had sworn to ensure that the sun will never rise from whence God Almighty ordained it to rise – the East – that the Igbo will never rise again. But is not the futility of Aremu’s efforts so evident? The Igbo nation will outlive Aremu and company.

Beginning with his kinsman – the ugly and appropriately aliased “scorpion”, Aremu and the band of vandals he led, in the name of soldiers, noted even by international observers to be the most ill-disciplined band of men did their best to shoot and bomb the Igbo out of existence. They did not succeed.

From the outset of their insanity in the north of the cage - Nigeria, they killed, maimed and set ablaze - all in their sight that reminded them of the Igbo. Yet from the ashes of the inferno, rose the Phoenix – the Igbo – who still reside effervescently amongst those who feel it were best they, the Igbo, were oblivioned.

The Igbo victory, Biafra’s victory rests squarely on the fact that as Odumegwu-Ojukwu put it, “they (Nigerians) wanted genocide and we stopped them”! This for those who chime about “instrument of surrender” or whatever that they may jolly well stuff up their you-know-what.

The Nigerian killing machine that was backed to the hilt by Russia, Britain and the entire Arab world ran out of gas. Let that Nigerian soldier who was not tired fighting Biafrans put pen to paper, so we may read.

37 years ago, Odumegwu-Ojukwu saw the ill-wind in the horizon, his people – the Igbo having experienced first hand the evil force of this wind that blew away the lives of some, the limbs of some, the heads of some, the eyes of some…..you name it.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu recognized the ferocity of this wind, he realized that it could soon engulf the whole of Nigeria then, the Nigeria in which yours truly, truly believed and “hailed”…as in that venerable anthem – “Nigeria we hail thee… Our own dear native land…Though tribe and tongue may differ….In brotherhood we stand…”

Such contextual, tribe and tongue - bonding anthem got scrapped by none other than Aremu for some Ajasco Jazz of an anthem that is totally devoid of verve. Thinking about this, one wonders what is Aremu’s taste in music that he easily dispensed of a deep and suitable sentiment- rallying anthem in a fundamentally troubled arrangement – Nigeria - for a virtual Apala sound.

It took the presence of the same Aremu at the helm this time – a la 4 -19 elections to rejuvenate and reinvigorate the ill wind once again. Like a hurricane originating from the Sahara in the north, the wind has torn up the once seemingly monolithic north, through the west to far, far, down south – where the inhabitants of the land that harbor the wealth of an entity are so deprived and are gassed as they protest their suffering.

Every corner of Nigeria that once was their brothers’ keepers, are now their brothers’ killers. Nigerians all that once worked in unison in the effort to rid the Igbo from their entity now turn against themselves – for oil, for land, for cattle, for religion, for politics, for whatever. Aremu’s official residence – center of power in Nigeria - is, according to Wole Soyinka, “a nest of killers”…..and thugs, I might add, as Nigerian peoples are aware that some of the worst terror and destruction unleashed upon Nigerian peoples have emanated from the “nest of killers”…often prompting the man in-charge, Aremu himself to take to public airwaves to announce to the public what happened, the reason and those responsible.

Such is how far off Nigeria wandered from truth and basic decency. Truth is home. Nigeria took a walk away from home – from truth. Nigeria and Nigerians became agarachaa, and like any agarachaa, to home must Nigeria and Nigerians return for home is where peace is.

The rest Nigerian peoples that junked Odumegwu-Ojukwu’s Aburi peaceful co-existence proposals for the blood of the Igbo are today talking about talk in the nature and spirit of Odumegwu-Ojukwu Aburi proposals.

Aburi was not about Biafra. Aburi was about amicable co-existence or partnering in then Nigeria. Biafra was a result of abandonment of Aburi accord by greater Nigeria that was then dripping with Igbo blood. Greater Nigeria cared less that it was impossible for the Igbo to live in greater Nigeria with Nigerians that had just spilled their blood…..as if nothing happened.

Anthony Enahoro, the man championing a group that is splitting hairs on what kind of talk and on what manner of forum to talk understands better than any about Odumegwu-Ojukwu’s Aburi accomplishment, relative to the cause he now champions. Do I expect the Edo man to credit Odumegwu-Ojukwu or at least show regrets for not arguing in favor of implementing the Aburi accord? No. Not in the land of hypocrites - Nigeria.

At the time, as Odumegwu-Ojukwu proposed a peaceful co-existence in Nigeria, such never mattered to Enahoro. The man’s mouth watered only at the prospect of starving the Igbo to extinction. He had it, his starvation plans, designed and ready to go; and so it was easy for him and his ilk to scuttle the Aburi accord and engage in Igbo quick kill.

Enahoro has been singing Biafra’s song for a while now. His MNR Party’s constitution contains a secession clause – secession – the same reason he wanted all Igbo dead by starvation.

The man is said to have moved the motion for Nigeria’s independence. He realized 45 years later - after his motion, that in the words of his mentor, Obafemi Awolowo, “Nigeria is but a geographical expression” a contraption of peoples of no known cultural, traditional or whatever affiliation. Enahoro is chagrined or so he appears, over, in his own word, the “bundling” of different peoples by the British into what is today an impossible entity.

An impossible entity - Nigeria that is rife with inter ethnic hatred, inter ethnic chicanery, blatant inequity and brazen injustice - such that demand that the diverse nations trapped in this cage split to man their respective businesses - Okeke, Tunde and Usman to return to their respective homes – and there they must contain and content themselves – even if they have in their homes just sand to eat or trade for survival. Call this dissolution of the British cage or something in that fashion, so all the animals, yes animals - that is how peoples of these parts are regarded, could scurry away to freedom.

Many have seen, spoken and written about the proverbial handwriting on the wall, and they pray for a break in peace, not in pieces.

Here is young Ibraheem Waziri’s clear, honest and courageous admonition for all to internalize “Northerners” (indeed peoples of Nigerian nations) must learn to come to terms with the truth that Nigeria is not created through divine inspiration, it cannot be found anywhere in the holy book, and nowhere else on this planet can we find the sacred inscription: Nigeria is indispensable”.

The least acceptable option otherwise is autonomy for each ethnic region to man their affairs and cater to their own – again for Okeke to cater to Okekes, Tunded to cater to Tundes and Usman to cater to Usmans.

Need autonomy undo existing or impede future social and economic association of now autonomous and/or sovereign entities? Why would that be? However, Okeke reserves the right not to associate with Tunde or Usman and vice versa.

It will be putting forth the spirit of Odemugwu-Ojukwu’s proposal at Aburi thus - it is better for Nigerians to pull apart peacefully than to stay put in a clear and present collision path.

And so what does this Aremu dialogue, a phony dialogue, if you asked me, going to accomplish?

After the Aremu dialogue, wherever and whenever it takes place, as sure as the sun will rise, the Hausa/Fulani will continue to be suspicious, loving and hateful of the Igbo – for no reason; the Yoruba, in addition to seeking any opportunity to pounce on Igbo property, they will continue by hook and crook to scheme the Igbo out of their due and continue to reap off other peoples’ sweat and inheritance – see recent turnkey industrial citing – Gas, LNG; the Igbo will continue to be distrusting of the Yoruba – for good reason; the Hausa/Fulani will maintain their contempt for the Yoruba.

As the mutual distrust, hate, despise, chicanery etc., continues, those to whom Nigeria is a playground – the criminal band that has robbed her, raped her and rendered her moribund – will continue to have a field day.

“Which kine country be this? Wailed the great Fela Anikulapo Kuti of blessed memory.

Who is sane that wants to be part of this arrangement, where every group and/or individual effort is always geared to whatever militates against progress?

Now, not only does Aremu’s cunning ways ooze off this his talk thing, many are downright suspicious of it and rightfully so. The north does not trust the talk. Alhaji Shehu Musa smelt a rat a while ago – plan afoot according to him to undo the north. Alhaja Dogoyaro simply wants the talk stopped or talk about talk stopped…. whichever.

The Yoruba are everywhere or nowhere about the talk…that is if you can pin down their head; they support the talk and they do not support the talk; core Yoruba group Afenifere is not pleased with the designation of the talk; a pan-Yoruba group reminiscent of Abacha days – “Pronaco” will not go to Obasanjo talk, but they will talk nonetheless, to themselves. Call that Yoruba “high principle” as a Yoruba commentator would affirm.

The Igbo is ready and prepared as always; with belief that they have a case and a credible one at that against Nigeria; they want to talk anytime and anywhere.

It is worthy of note that however the talk comes about, it has been assigned a “no go area” even before it began, by the chief rapist of Nigeria! The man who stole enough from her that he could now pocket Nigerian nations and their peoples.

And guess who is speaking the language of this chief rapist of Nigeria? It is none other than that loquacious Aremu’s parrot – Fani Kayode. He used the chief rapist’s words verbatim libratum thus– “there is a no go area”.

Kayode, a deacon, they say, claimed in a newspaper interview that “the hands of the lord is upon” his master – Aremu. It could then be that the “no go area” that he and the chief rapist of Nigeria talk about must be divine, an area on and about Nigeria that peoples of Nigerian nations must not talk about even if talk on this “area” could usher in the peace and progress that peoples of Nigerian nations desperately need, else, they will be struck dumb and deaf! Just a thought for this man that knows on who the hands of Lord is.

There is all manner of hullabaloo about a talk that will certainly amount to nothing. And I ask, why the waste of time, energy and even funds?

Agarachaa must come back.

I say agarachaa, and that includes those that are ignorant of Odumegwu-Ojukwu’s contribution to the patrimony of the peoples of Nigerian nations. They should do themselves a favor and read up on the Aburi, Ghana deliberations. They may not concern themselves about the lot of the Igbo at the time in question, they should simply focus on Odumegwu-Ojukwu’s conscious, deliberate proposal/prescription to his colleagues on the side of greater Nigeria, led then by Yakubu Gowon, on how best to realize a Nigeria that you and I would have been proud of today and way, way into the future.

A sound and proud patrimony it would have been for us, for our children, for our grand children, for our great grandchildren with Odumegwu-Ojukwu’s prescriptions that sheer hatred induced myopia did not allow the light of day.

Nigeria and peoples of Nigerian nations strayed from truth, and thus are they veritable agarachaa - wanderers away from home – truth - to which they must come back for peace and progress to ensue.

Agarachaa must come back to Aburi; else, there is no way out of this hellhole.

Peter Opara is the author of Understanding the Nigerian Nation Tribes – Why they Boil.

February 16, 2005

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