October 22 2005

This is the News Analysis segment of the Voice of Biafra International (VOBI) broadcasts

For October 22^nd, 2005

You have heard the news; now, the analysis…

Fellow Biafrans:

We will use this segment to deal with Gowon’s recent assertions reported by one newspaper under the title of “’Civil War: How I tried to help Igbo,’ by Gowon,” from his Interview at the Chinua Achebe Foundation Interview Series. Gowon is essentially a forgotten almost nonentity in the arena and affairs of his Nigeria today, and even among his own people, save for the fact that he is “being preserved” for the day of reckoning, if he lives long enough, a day when he has to explain why he was responsible for murder, mutiny, rebellion and military putsch in Nigeria in 1966; and then, for three years of a horrendous genocidal war against the Igbo and other Biafrans between 1967 and 1970; not to forget: 8 or so years of malfeasance, non-feasance, gross incompetence and mismanagement of Nigeria postwar, as a hare-brained, nitwitted military ruler of Nigeria, even while he continued his war against the Igbo. It is solely for the purposes of that day of reckoning that Gowon still exists in anyone’s memory today. The title of the report “Civil War: How I tried to help Igbo,” is a shameful testimony to Gowon’s hypocrisy and inanity. Folks: we shall get back to the simpleton known as Gowon shortly.

For now, just a quick reminder. Last week, we exhorted the so-called political and other leadership of the Igbo and Biafra, pointing out their folly in their zombie-like participation in Nigeria’s politics, an activity which is injuring our people, and wherein these so-called Igbo-Biafran leaders have not made any known contribution to the protection of the rights of our people nor to our people’s welfare. This week, the events associated with PDP and the conduct of their party congress (“internal elections”) validate our ongoing contentions. We all see PDP now practicing the rigging of elections (which we thought they had already perfected in April 2003 elections), in preparation for the “real thing” in 2007 elections (if it happens). Little did we realize that PDP has more ways to rig elections, or that they were going to be more brazen and more arrogant about it again, than they were in 2003. And, since they got away with it in 2003, PDP takes it as a matter of fact that they will get away with it this week at their congresses, and later, get away with it. come 2007. Not only that: PDP expects more Nigerians from all walks of life to come flocking and begging to join PDP, not in spite of, but because of, PDP’s nefarious conduct today, along with current horrible performance, and a future of more o the same.

Of course, you may hear many shrill voices today threatening that the 2007 elections in Nigeria “had better not be rigged.” We know to not pay any attention to those threats: reality proves that there is truly nothing anybody can do to stop PDP from rigging elections in Nigeria; or, PDP having rigged the elections in their own favor, to stop PDP from forming and self-legitimizing what is a usurped government. In 2003, we warned the people that if the 2003 rigged election results are allowed to stand, then, there is no way that any future election in Nigeria would not be rigged, and no way to stop the ensuing illegitimate government. We are right there now, just as we predicted back then. For the foreseeable future (assuming that Nigeria has one), elections in Nigeria will be rigged. Ensuing illegitimate governments will usurp power. Think about that. There is really only one alternative left: we must all support Biafra actualization; we must abandon the hope-less place called Nigeria, to find our place in Biafra, our true and natural place.

Which brings us back to Gowon. Gowon’s claim that he tried to help the Igbo post war is sheer nonsense. Either Gowon is really too naïve to understand things, or he is a hypocrite, or—and in fact—both. By 1972, Gowon and the cabal he worked for otherwise known as the Nigerian Military government (and the rest of Nigeria), realized that their 20 pound mockery “flat rate disbursement” to the Igbo (erstwhile Nigerian bank account holders) after the war did not pain the Igbo into despondency and paralysis. Instead, as Gowon would imply, it appeared that the Igbo once again were beginning to “own Lagos!” With 20 pounds or nothing, in barely 2 years, the Igbo, whom Nigeria thought they had thoroughly humiliated, crushed and annihilated during the war, once again, had started rising to commercial and economic prominence in Nigeria, enough to be perceived by Gowon and Nigeria to re-“’own’ Lagos.”! Gowon’s so-called “indigenization program,” was as much directed against foreigners as against the Igbo, because, while foreigners were no longer allowed to invest in, or were limited to no more than minor participation in, many sectors of the Nigerian economy, the Igbo were not in a position to benefit from the ensuing windfall gains which heavily favored well-connected Nigerians in the West and in the North. For example, it is said that Abiola’s wealth was a result of this largesse. Yet, today, Gowon—shameless as he is—is telling us that the Igbo benefited much from his indigenization decree? The opposite is the case, both with respect to Gowon’s intent and the effect of his indigenization program. In essence, Gowon and his cabal panicked: they thought the Igbo were again taking over the economic and commercial reins of Nigeria (so soon after the war in which they were convinced the Igbo were already finished), and so, they chose the most draconic policy to stop the Igbo—the contrived “Indigenization Decree.” After all, even if the Igbo had the money, how could he or she take over federal Nigeria or foreign businesses in the North or the West or Midwest or even in the so-called South-south, as a direct result of the Indigenization decree? And, how much Federal Nigeria or foreign industry of commercial or economic value was located in Igboland, 2 years after the war, to be so “indigenized” by the indigenous Igbo in Igboland-Biafraland?

Gowon hints a blame of Ukpabi Asika for the financial difficulties of the Igbo post war. Asika deserves the shifted blame for his “sabo” role alone, during and after the war; but as far as technically speaking, Gowon is not being honest. Every single policy emanating from the government of Nigeria and its leaders in Gowon’s and subsequent administrations was deliberately and specifically designed to hurt and punish the Igbo. In any case, this should be a lesson for Igbo one-Nigeria apologists: you will be blamed in the future by Nigeria for Nigeria’s anti-Igbo policies carried out on behalf of Nigeria by you.

Nowhere does Gowon exhibit so much stupidity as when it comes to his attack of Ojukwu. Gowon actually is stupid enough to call Ojukwu a “rebel”? Well let’s compare Gowon and Ojukwu in this context.

Which soldier participated in a military coup against a Nigerian government, which is in fact, treason and a form of rebellion?
Gowon? Yes! Ojukwu? Never!

Which soldier participated directly or indirectly in the murder of his superior officers (namely, Ironsi and Fajuyi)?
Gowon? Yes! Ojukwu? Never!

Which soldier actually stopped a coup out of loyalty and allegiance to Nigeria and the government of Nigeria?
Gowon? No! Ojukwu? Definitely yes!

Which soldier’s main goal was secession?
Gowon? Yes! The Northern Nigeria military officers’ coup of which he was the leader in 1966 had the goal of secession of the North from Nigeria! Their “battle cry” and motto was “Araba!” –“secession”).
Ojukwu? No! Ojukwu advocated Confederation, as is evident in the Aburi accord, which Gowon reneged on when it came to time for its implementation; it was the failure of Gowon to implement this accord which actually eventually led to the secession of Biafra)

Which soldier reneged on implementing the Aburi accord earlier agreed on by all of his colleagues, including himself?
Gowon? Yes, indeed.

Ojukwu? No!

So, now, who is really the “rebel”? Apparently, Gowon’s later education while on exile in the UK after escaping justice for misruling Nigeria, did not afford him much basic education.

Gowon’s fixation over his personal power to kill Ojukwu (he never misses an opportunity to point this out) speaks of psychiatric grandiosity and mental derangement. Perhaps, Obasanjo, on behalf of himself and Murtala Mohamed, should be reminding Gowon and everyone everyday that they had the power to kill Gowon when they deposed him, but spared him.

The Nigerian Military today has a lot of respect for Ojukwu because he it is who reminds them and still instructs them, after demonstrating it himself, at the risk of his own life, of the military dictum:
“Never take military orders from a junior-ranking officer.”
That is quintessential military tradition and honor, which, if the likes of Gowon had understood, respected and followed, there would have been no successful military coups in Nigeria, and Nigeria would have been spared the ongoing death throes of today. We now know that Gowon was so traumatized emotionally, psychologically and professionally because while other higher-ranking military officers were cowed and bowed to, and knelt down for, Gowon, Ojukwu stood his ground with characteristic military courage and discipline and refused to accept the orders of Gowon, an obviously junior-ranking officer at the time. Gowon has never gotten over this ego-bruising.

The cursory mention by Gowon, without any remorse at all, of the unprovoked Northern massacre of the Igbo civilians residing in Northern Nigeria in 1966, which ultimately led to Biafra secession, is callous. If Gowon had any sense at all, he should be seeking divine absolution and asking for forgiveness from the Igbo. Yet, he is telling us of how he helped the Igbo? Yeah? He and his brothers and sisters murder hundreds of thousands of Igbo in cold blood 40 years ago, then pursue them across the Niger and Benue Rivers, and with foreign help, starve millions of innocent Igbo women and children to death, and today, Gowon is talking in Lagos about how he tried to help the Igbo? Right?

Igbo people, Biafrans: this ongoing insult, and ongoing rubbing of salt into injury, has got to stop! The only reason why Gowon can say this today and get away with it is because we do not have Biafra yet. When we do—and we shall!—and if he is still around, Gowon will be making any statements at all at the Hague where criminals who have engaged in crimes against humanity like he have finally met Human Justice before they stand before God.

Fellow Biafrans: today, we have the luxury to just listen to this type of travesty while not reacting much. But, when our posterity finds out the real story and discovers what really happened to us, why and how, do you think they are going to forgive us? No way! Our condemnation of Gowon and Nigeria will be nothing compared to the judgment our own children and their children and their grand children will render against us should they still find themselves in Nigeria in their times, and not in a sovereign and independent nation of Biafra.

Therefore, we must redouble our efforts to actualize Biafra now. That is the only viable option. That is the true healing that we need, without which we remain restless, in body, spirit and soul; without which we remain adjudged by both our ancestors and offspring, whether we are alive or in our graves. Biafra is the answer, and we must be the physical and spiritual manifestation of that answer.

God give us wisdom to do what we must do: Biafra actualization.

Biafra alive! For, God makes it so.

That’s the News Analysis for the week. Thank you

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God bless and keep Biafra, and you, until our next broadcast. Voice of Biafra International (VOBI) broadcast continues (http://www.biafraland.com/vobi.htm), now with the summary of the News Analysis in Igbo language.

Ndi Biafra, ekele e o-o! Anyi e kelee unu.

Nke a wu akuko nke anyi na a kpo News Analysis si na Voice of Biafra International Radio, di na Washington DC, na ala America, na a bia ra unu na abali a.

Anyi ga a kpatu aka na okwu onye aru ahu a na a kpo Gowon kwuru na ememme e mere na Lagos (Chinua Achebe Foundation Interview Series), na izu ya, ebe o na e kwu na ya wu Gowon gbaliri i nyere ndi Igbo aka na mgbe Agha Biafra na Nigeria bii ri na afo 1970.

Ma, tutu anyi a gaa e be ahu, ka anyi ji kwa ohere a na a si unu: lee kwa unu anya ihe ndi PDP na e me taa—otu ha si e me Congress ha. Anyi na a tu ilulu si na “A na e ji ishi ahuru mara uto nshi.” Ji kwara unu ihe na eme na ime PDP taa mara na ndi PDP na ndi otu ha ga e ji kwa asi na aghugho na wuru-wuri were zuru votu na election 2007 (ma o wuru ma o gadi enwe isi), otu ha siri zuru nke 2003 election, zuru kwa ochichi Nigeria na aka ike, taa. Jiri unu nkaa mara kwa na o nweghi nzota ma o wu nzoputa ga a diri Nigeria. Naani Biafra wu ebe olile-anya na nchekwube anyi no, na ime Chineke Biafra. Ndi na ile ndi efulefu ndi na a cho one-Nigeria, ka nkea wuru kwa aka-ibe; ka nke a nyere ha aka i gbanwe obi ha, ka ha chegharia, lota na Biafra, na nweta Biafra. Maka Nigeria e nweghi isi, ma o wu taa ma o wu echi. Biafra wu ebe ndu anyi di.

Ka anyi loghachi, gaa zie na ihe gbasara ihe Gowon kwuru. Anyi na a si na Gowon wu onye ugha, ma o wu onye nzuzu, nke otu mkpuru ogugu-isi a dighi na ahu. Iwu na ile Gowon maa ra mgbe o ji ike ndi soldier na a chi Nigeria, o maa ra ha ka ya na ndi Nigeria ibe ya were megbue ndi Igbo, o wughi na i ji i nyere ndi Igbo aka. Obi mafuru ha mbge ha huru na ndi Igbo ka di ndu, na ndi Igbo ka di ire, na ndi Igbo ka nwere ike i me ka ihe na a gara ha na ihu na nkeoma na ime Nigeria, na ime naani afo abuo ogu jiri bii e. Na iwe ha na na iro ha, Gowon na ndi otu ya a maa iwu ya wu Gowon si na o nyerela ndi Igbo aka, ma na eziokwu-eziokwu, o wu ndi Yoruba na ndi Ugwu ndi Awusa ka iwu ya ahu a na a kpo Indigenization Decree nyere la aka, otu Gowon siri mee ya mbge (maka) aka ndi Igbo a ka e rughi bee ebe ahu.

Ihe kasi njo wu mkpaari Gowon ka na a kpaari Dim Ojukwu maka ihe gbasara Biafra. Gowon na a kpo Ojukwu “rebel” ma nkea ziri na Gowon a gughi akwukwo; nke o gara aga, o nweghi ihe o mutara na ya. Anyi ma na o wu Gowon, o wughi Ojukwu, wu onye mere coup; onye gburi (ma o wu soro ndi gburu) ndi isi ndi army ha (Ironsi na Fajuyi); onye bu nkewa Nigeria na obi (maka mbge ahu, o wu kwanu ndi Ugwu ndi Awusa ibe ya wu ndi choro i si na Nigeria pu o—ihe a na a kpo secession; ma Dim Ojuke na a cho Confederation na oge ahu, nke gara e me ka Nigeria ka diri na otu.) Dim Ojukwu wu onye kwusiri ndi Army ndi ozo ndi na e me coup, ma Gowon wu onye isi nde mere coup. Kedu zie onye wu “rebel”? Gowon, ka o wu Ojukwu? Gowon wu onye iberibe, maka o maghi na o wu ya onwe ya wu onye wu “rebel.”

Kama Gowon ga a rio Ndigbo na Chineke ka anyi gbaghara ya maka ogbugbu ya na ndi umu nna ya gburu ndi Igbo na o nweghi ihe anyi mere ha na afo 1966, ya a bia na e kwu na ya nyere la ndi Igbo aka, dizie ka o na a gba anyi ugwo. Gowon kwesiri i na a si anyi, “Ndo-o” maka ihe ojoo na ile na aru o mere ndi Igbo; kama, ya a bia na e kwu ihe e nweghi isi—otu ya siri nyere ndi Igbo aka.

Mara kwanu, umu Igbo na ndi Biafra, na o wuru ma umu aka anyi nde a ka ga a mu a mu, a mata eziokwu gbasara ihe ndie na ile e mere anyi na oge ya, o wuru ma ha ka no na ime Nigeria, ha ga a ju ajuju si: kedu kwanu ihe anyi no nga ahu na e me mgbe a na e megbu anyi otua? Na ihi nkea, anyi ga e nwetariri Biafra; na ihi ha, na na ihi anyi onwe anyi. Naani Biafra ga e mezi ihe na ile e mebiri e mebi.

Biafra, ndu gi! Biafra, ndu gi!! Biafra, ndu gi!!!—na ndu anyi kwa. Maka Chineke nonyere la gi—nonyere kwa ra anyi!

Ndewo unu

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Voice of Biafra International (VOBI) broadcast continues

Voice of Biafra International (VOBI)
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