Finally, another Minority Group in Nigeria is beginning to speak up. I thought that those of us in the Niger Delta has been whispering in the dark all these years. Had the Middle Belt spoken up during the 1966 pogrom, the problems we have today in the country may not have existed. But, because some minority groups found comfort by being complicit, even to the extent that the very physical embodiment of the war in Nigeria - Gen. Gowon was himself a minority; though I'm encouraged by this current revelations and contritions, but while Gowon is still alive, he may render justice to this contrition process by publicly vindicating the arguments which Ojukwu was presenting at that time.

As a Niger Deltan, inasmuch as I am relieved that Biafra never succeeded because the Igbos had their ulterior motives for the ethnic minorities in the South-South, especially by the subtle and nuanced commentaries in his Ahiara Declarations, the fact still remains that in order for Nigeria to completely achieve greatness, she must allow each region or economic zones to control and manage the resources in their zones. Again, the National Assembly must now vigorously seek to remove the promulgating edict which Gen. J.T.U.Aguiyi-Ironsi used to collectivise and concentrate powers at the Federal Government, thus stripping the regions and now zones the powers to manage their resources and properly run the political affairs of their various segments in the country's geographical divisions. This would also remove the ultra vires or eminent domain powers which the Federal Government have accorded itself by confiscating massive land mass belonging to farming communities and erecting often useless structures for appeasing political cronies. We've become a country without a developmental ideology. Outwardly, we appear to be both socialistic and capitalistic. The government and their kleptomatic technocrats are driven more by self-interest behaviour, than for the well-being of their populace. Because of this lack of ideology and developmental directions, it is no wonder that those in power see their political positions as a way of enriching themselves rather than serving the interests of the people who elected them to office. Worst still, the 1999 Constitution has vigorously protected thieving Governors and their High Ranking Civil Servants with immunity clauses, whereby many governors escape prosecution from stealing from the coffers of their states, while at the same time, these civil servants create sometimes, untraceable paper trails to hide the loots of their master kleptocrats.

Is this admission by the UMBYC a vindication for Gen. Ojukwu? I would certainly agree that it comes One (I) year too late. At least, this admission should have been made while Ojukwu was alive and should have come directly from Gen. Gowon and Lt. General T. Danjuma, all of whom are from the Middle Belt, and are of a different religious faith than those the Northern Leaders have assumed that everyone in the North should automatically belong to. These two individuals, and Gen. Obasanjo I might add, and Gen. Adekunle as well helped to prosecute the war to its conclusive end. I am not exempting Gen. Mohammed, or Gen. Buhari or Gen. Babangida or any other "baby general" that the Nigerian Army saw fit to elevate to these levels at the time. Although to his credit, I would continue to applaud Gen. Gowon for properly isolating the minority tribes of the South-South from the clutches of the Igbo domination in the former Eastern Region, and for finally liberating the Mid-West from the clutches of the dominant Yoruba tribes. If Nigeria is to survive as a nation, it must fully begin to recognize that much of her resources lie within the zones of the minority tribes, and that the country must as a matter of urgency, begin to recognise and accord these minority tribes their legitimacy without further delays. Thus far, the "Federating Government Officials" at the Federal Government have successfully perfected their exclusionary practices of avoiding to appoint people from the minority tribes into high level ministerial or ambassadorial positions. this selective marginalization can only create more and more rifts between the federal government and these minority communities because of lack of representation.

Although this admission by the United Middle Belt Youth Congress comes 40-years too late simply because those of us from the minority tribes in the South-South have been seeking for their support throughout these periods, it is however, re-assuring to know that by these admissions, we now begin to work together in order to streamline our priorities and force the Federal Government to repeal the edict which Gen. J.T.U.Aguiyi-Ironsi promulgated in 1966 before his assassination. Once this is repealed, then we can legitimately begin to talk about regional or zonal sovereign conferences to re-define the Nigerian landscape and how best to manage this resource rich nation.

The so called Middle-belt people owe gratitude and reverence to the Hausa-Fulanis for the following reasons:

1. Providing them with a language.

A pankshin man would sound Greek when he tries to communicate with a Tarok lady but thanks to the Africa's second biggest language of Hausa, they interact easily. Hausa is even their language of worship in their churches; that is Why I myself am in possession of a 1960 edition of the holy Bible and I am yet to see a copy in Birom! Jehovah's witness too choose to write their literature in Hausa, ignoring the middle-belt mini languages

2. Royal attire.

Aku Uka of Wukari, Gbomgbom Jos to mention but a few, all of them dress in in Rawani, Hula, Alkyabba etc. All of which are trade marks of the Hausa-Fulani Emirs. Can we know their names in Jukun, Tiv Lagtang......?

3. Traditional titles.

They have Walin Jos, madakin Pankshin, Sardaunan Langtang, Matawallen Kagoro...... All these are Hausa-fulani's sarautas!

4. Peoples' Names.

About 70% of these people use Hausa-Fulani names religious or tribal; Yakubu, Danjuma, Adamu , Labaran, Danbaba............endless.

5. Names of Towns. Makurdi, Kogi, Nassarawa, Lafiya, Barikin Ladi, even Abuja means Abu(bakar) the red one in Hausa. 6. Job opportunities .

The following so called Middle-belt people got employed by International radio stations, thanks to Hausa language: Grace Alheri Abdu Voice Of America (Hausa Service), Samuel Musa DW Radio Germany (Hausa service) plus many in Christian stations like Adventist World Radio etc.

Finally let one samaritan Tiv gentleman or lady tell us 100 Naira in Tiv if they really have.........! Long live peace loving folks!

Those remarks a way too condescending on the people of the Middle-Belt. All you do here is remind them of the bitter past when the Hausa/Fulani neat up on them, put them in servitude, and subjugated their will. You claim they you gave them a language ,clothings and names.It is the crest of this insult to suggest that they had no language and perhaps spoke in "animal' before wide-eyed Hausa-Fulani intrusion was jammed down their throats. They did not beg the Hausa-Fulani for a language or for the names to bear. In spite of all the stupid things you "gave" them, including names like Yakubu, Danjuma, and perhaps Mohamed, the brave Middle-Belt people held tightly to their identity and did not wilt away into Hausa or Fulani. They fought Hausa-Fulani banditry with courage and deserve praise for holding out to this day. Whatever they did was feigned in the interest of self-preservation. Some of the Hausa-Fulani legacy they got was YAKUBU, MOHAMED, DANJUMA, right? Do you realize the toxic impact those names have on the (mis)shaping of Nigeria, the violence, the atrocities, pogrom, genocide, abominable sectarian killing culture, the hatred, the apathy to the mere thought of the word "NIGERIA", the subterfuge, and subterranean Hausa-Fulani inspired Boko-Haram insurrection? Is that what anybody should thak the Hausa-Fulani for? You are yet to name one positive input of Hausa-Fulani involvement in post independent Nigeria except for sweat, tears and blood. That's all they bring. The Middle-Belt people are a decent clan. They deserve the choice to dissociate themselves from the obnoxious throat-slitting cultural stereotype into which they were roped by the Hausa-Fulani for centuries.

O my God! My fellow countrymen keep shocking me. Assalafy, What you wrote sounds so wired, foolish, primitive and ignorant, just as most of our folks do present themselves. Even in Russia, China and the United States of America, many smaller nations communicate using the major language, without depriving the people of their identification.

May I ask: Is Islam or Christianity Nigerian invented religions?? Is English which is a Nigerian official language a Nigerian original language? Don't you have Hausas and Fulani’s answering Arabic names? Don't you understand that we speak more that 500 tongs in Nigeria and every tribe, clan or nationality has the right of being identified under the Nigerian constitution? Why are we so dishonest in rendering justice to our own people? In a democratic state like Nigeria, self determination is a right of every nation or people of this country. If they can't develop their languages or culture academically, It is our duty to help and support them, Just as they supported other Nigerians when we needed their help, besides, up till today we are still exploiting their resources. Please, get a conscience somewhere if you don’t have any.

When some people get cornered they metamorphose into professional name -callers. My Stand is that these nagging Middle Beltans should do better by extricating themselves from anything Hausa-Fulani (see my previous comment) This is because I will never out of my own FREE WILL indulge in anything that symbolizes someone I consider as an enemy; for a Hausa adage says "In na raina kasuwa ko sautu ba na yi mata," literally meaning, If I scoff a market, I don't even shop at it. The vociferous Middle beltan Willy nilly use the afore mentioned things that symbolize Hausa-Fulani culture and traditions till today.

Of course Middle Beltans deserve their own identity and self determination; but I want let them know that we have no fear and have never impose ourselves on them. We rejoice with them on their newly found identity but let them solve the Tiv/Jukun crisis before they start thinking of a united Middle Belt.

From the article above, it is clear the middle belt regrets fighring the war. They have gained nothing from the british nigeria. Nigeria will break up and even non nigerians know that. The final break up of british nigeria is the end of the civil war and biafran WIN. Come 2015.

This title tells a story quite different from the body of the article. Let me ask you one question if ok with you. UNDER NIGERIA, ARE YOU SURE YOU ARE BETTER OFF THAN YOU MIGHT HAVE BEEN IN BIAFRA? Do you think you are not being DOMINATED by any group in Nigeria today? FINALLY, One can only sense that your fear of Igbo had no substance at all, and just resulted from ANYBODY BUT IGBO SYNDROME. HATRED for Igbos in Nigeria is unwarranted, and the SAD part of it all is they decided to LEAVE the Nigerian empire, but were forced back in. If you cannot beat them, join them.

It is also good that this particular article comes up now that Nigeria as a nation need reality not shadow, Gowon a middle belter on his comment about Chukwuemeka Ojukwus death said he is happy that ujukwu died a Nigeria not as another Nationality, i question which Nigeria General Gowon is proud to die off? is it the same Nigeria which died 60THS which as the result lead to civil war? every body in that country knows that what where are in there is nightmares never a Nigeria of peace, trust, love,unity, brotherhoodness, we are misleading ourselves.

The earlier we practice confederation the better for the country and people there in, i think the people of Middle belt is taken a bold step that will help in reshape Nigeria future to better direction and they needed every support by all Nigerians to drive their moral to there destination, i hope is better they start at home with their brother Gowon, whom since after the war have never understand that the Nigeria he champion is a dream not reality. write by Igboamalu ThankGod

I really feel proud for these people. Yes, the time is here and it is also time for the Federal government and the Nigerian people to recognize the right of these people to rehabilitate their stolen identity. There is so much of ignorance and injustice in Nigeria but we must be honest with ourselves and have the courage to recognize our mistakes, so that we can correct them one by one or in complex. Without these steps, Nigeria is not going any way forward and all Nigerians are bound to be losers at the end. Let's keep aside all the British did to protect their political ECONMIC INTEREST IN Nigeria AND FRICA. NOW LET'S CALL THIS TIME A NEW DAY. SO THAT WE CAN PROGRESS.

"...There is an invitation for the Niger Delta Youth to show contrition for the role of the Niger Delta in the genocide against their Igbo brothers and neighbor. Let them see that they, too, have been tricked into thinking that the Igbo are their mortal enemy, hence, into fighting against the Igbo. And here is where Mingione comes in: this invitation to the Niger Delta youth is made through Mingione. Why? Because Mingione’s response is actually a continuing anti-Igbo statement so deeply enmeshed that it wouldn’t be a surprise if he fails to see it, although any objective reader is left scratching his or her head as to why Mingione positions himself as pro-Ojukwu, pro-Biafra, even as he relentlessly tears at the Igbo. Mingione says Ojukwu is vindicated and leads us to believe that Ojukwu is his champion, but he, as a Deltan—by his own emphatic reminder to the reader—is quite glad Biafra was defeated. He even invokes something else (which he does not tell us what of) from Ahiara Declaration written by Ojukwu during the Biafra war to support his accusation of Igbo having an “ulterior motive” as Biafra. Mingione praises Gowon for creating States…thereby, according to him, liberating the Niger Delta from Igbo domination; however, everyone knows that the only reason Gowon created the States was to punish and divide and dispossess the Igbo. He succeeded. But, as it turns out, contrary to Mingione’s claims, this calculated anti-Igbo action by Gowon never helped the Niger Delta, and it never helped the Middle Belt either, where the manipulative hegemony continued it’s deceptive “one North policy.” As long as this act by Gowon thoroughly victimized the Igbo, Mingione is well pleased by it...."

Taken from my response (see full detail) at: http://chatafrik.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=360:that-mingione ’s-response-to-“nigeria-how-the-north-tricked-middle-belt-to-fight-igbo”&It emid=226

or Google: That Mingione’s response to “Nigeria: How the North Tricked Middle Belt to Fight Igbo”" by Oguchi Nkwocha, MD.

@ Nwa Biafra, I've contemplated severally whether to dignify you with a response, or to deliberately ignore your diatribe with ignominy. But doing so would render legitimacy to your distorted sense of history, and would cause many others of your ilk who have hijacked such aphorisms Ojukwu made during the war such as "Igbos are Jews of Africa" to literally imply he was actually speaking the truth. Ojukwu was basically making a comparative analysis at the time of the determinations of Igbos to fight against the government sanctioned pogrom in the North against a people whose only crime was to seek inclusiveness and a greater understanding for "we, as a people" to sit down and reason together in search of a solution to an experiment to change which terribly went wrong. Therefore, for the North to single out a particular tribal group for extermination was in his analysis, similar in form to Hitler's angst against Jews in Europe. Therefore, in his conclusions, he likened the Igbo struggles to that of the Jews in Israel, and in essence said "Never again", the similarities in context drew a corollary which gave credence to the statement which many Igbos today have given genealogical and historical significance, even though this claim is factually untrue. Similarity in struggles and aspirations does not translate to similarities in an historical context. This would merely constitute to a fallacy of false composition.

Now, to address your illogical sense of history, I would need to remind you that many Niger Deltans fought side by side and died many horrible deaths with your kinfolks during the war. From the inception of the Western Nigerian political crises which gave rise to the 1966 coup by Major Chukwuma Nzeogwu, an action which was intended to usher Nigeria into a new trajectory of creating greater understanding among ourselves on how best to settle our political differences without the kind of unintended consequences which later occurred,it would seem pretty obvious that we've not learned anything from what has happened to Nigeria thus far.

You've got to realise that the idea of extricating ourselves from Nigeria was not an entirely novel and unique concept hatched by the Igbos. Maj. Isaac Boro sought for Niger Delta's extrication from Nigeria prior to Ojukwu's declaration of Biafra as a sovereign country. As many of you now seem to wear the cloak of Biafra, you fail to realise your newness to Niger Deltans long and deliberate struggles for wanting to be left alone in order to manage our own affairs. You fail to realise also that at some point, the Igbos literally controlled the country, and that your fight was not with us, but with the larger ethnic tribes who saw your influences and wanton greed to control everything as a threat to the Nigerian nation. Your culture of me, me, me, and your blind ambitions to swallow anything and everything within your path led to the deceptive diplomacy of Awolowo to argue that "If the East seceded, the West would secede also"". By the way, personally at Enugu when this conference took place. What Ojukwu in all his wisdom and a need for Nigeria's greater understanding of the plight of the Igbos did not realise was that the West never saw a greater opportunity for this rhetorical acquiescence than that which presented itself when Awo made this statement. Finally, their mortal enemies in terms of competitive intellectual prowess within the Nigerian Federation was planning to take a leave of Nigeria, thus presenting an opportunity for which his kinfolks would finally take control of the federal government in terms of employment opportunities, and Nigeria has NEVER been the same ever since.

Whereas, many in the Niger Delta fought along with you because of this perceived injustice: something many of us saw and realised that Ojukwu was making a big mistake, some of you had allowed calculable emotions take precedence over reason. Awolowo was mainly seeking to protect the interest of the Yorubas, pure and simple. After having accomplished this, the next calculated phase of this classical diplomacy was to cause all Igbo military personnel in the Nigerian Army to return back to the East, and to quickly promote poorly trained junior military officers to the ranks of colonels, brig' generals' major-generals, and generals. Although, the North was higher in number in terms of population, the Yorubas controlled the government in terms of employment both in the private and public sectors, because in terms of education, they were well represented. The North, on the other hand made up this deficiency by elevating their sometimes, less than secondary school graduates into high ranking military positions as generals and major generals; the results of which saw elements like Buhari, Abacha, Babangida, Gowon and so forth, come into office as "heads of state". As poorly prepared for leadership as Gen. Gowon was, something Ojukwu fervently protested while he was still in the Nigerian Army, the political machineries in the North had already concluded that come what may, mediocrity would replace meritocracy, and our country is still paying a heavy price for these miscalculations.

Is it any wonder that over 65% of Nigeria's wealth in concentrated in this very segment of the population which Awolowo tried to protect? Is it any wonder that when the war ended, Nigerian's military brass refused to disarm the Biafran soldiers? Furthermore, is it any wonder that foreign industries which were concentrated in the then Eastern Nigeria, particularly in the South-South were encouraged to move to Lagos? Is it any wonder that we now have rampant armed robberies and kidnappings in the then Eastern Nigeria? Is it any wonder as to which segment of the Nigerian population is getting employed these days and which segment isn't?

So, when you start making irresponsible statements that "Niger Delta Youths to show contrition for the role they played in the genocide against their brothers and neighbors", may I remind you that many of us were at the forefront of Biafra's struggles, and really have nothing to show for it, even in today's political arrangements. Whereas, the Igbos are busy playing "catching up" with the Yorubas after having realised the enormous mistakes they made by acceding to the illogical declaration of a Biafran State; the fact still remains that you've never still learned any lessons from the history which created these situations. No Niger Deltan owes you or anyone an apology for something they did not do. No Niger Deltan massacred any Igbo man or woman. No Niger Deltan held any high ranking military position in the Nigerian Army, or commanded any battalion of the Nigerian Army to lead an onslaught against any Igbo community. You should really go back and re-read your history before you star writing nonsense on the pages of allAfrica.

Mignonie? Igbo culture and Jewish culture are quite similar. The similarity is incredible. Any Jew or Igbo who looks at the two cultures will acknowledge this fact. From Igbos not having kings to their two religions, the calendars, the naming of a child after six days and so on. It is not fiction. But the thing is that some of us Igbos don't dwell on it. Ask yourself why Israel supported Biafra during the war, while Egypt was on the other side. Ask yourself the roles of the Jewish community in America during the war against Igbos. That is by the way. The position of the Middle Belters should educate you on the war; which is that nigeria was the wrong party in the war. There was the Aburi conference, which the nigerians refused to honor, after agreeing to the deliberations. So, anybody on the nigerian side can't be exonerated. many Yorubas are coming out to say that Awolowo was wrong in his actions, something you now admit. It promoted mediocrity, you say. Niger Deltans? May we know know from you who the Niger Deltans are. Are they Ijaws, Efiks, Ogonis, Ibibios, Ishekiris, Igbos, Ogojas, kalabaris, etc, that make up the Niger Delta?

@lastwadada, I fail to see the reasoning in your response. Simply stated, Igbos are not Jews. Igbos historically have more in common with the yorubas than they do with what you describe as Jews. The term "Jew" refers to a sect of people in the Arab world who are descendants of Abraham, and whose religion is Judaism. Judaism is NOT a race of people. Those whom you refer to as Jews are first of all Arabs, who share a common ancestry as their cousins in the muslim faith, and have historically been fighting each other because European Jews decided to call themselves caucasians, which they are not. These people have the same father (Abraham), but different mothers. Do you ever remember the history between Isaac and Ishmael? Igbos on the other hand are of the Bantu race, all of whom migrated Northwards from South and Central Africa that history refers to as Sudanese Negros.

In identifying the ethnic communities in the Niger Delta, you intentionally omitted the Ikwerre people who suffered immense discrimination under the Igbos during the Eastern Nigerian period. These people watched helplessly as their wealths and fortunes were scammed from under their them. The funny thing is that they trusted the Igbos would be accommodating of their interests as well, when they began to ride high on their selfish horses. These people, of course, finally realised that Igbos would always look out for Igbo interests wherever they operated. It is no arguing to conclude that they watch Igbos with as much suspicion, even more so than any other ethnic group in Nigeria, especially considering your proximity to their borders. In my use of the term "mediocrity", I was basically referring to the idea of "dumbing down" the quality of people who took over the civil service sectors and the private sectors of the Nigerian economy following the exit of Igbos from the Nigerian social structure. This may not have been intentional on the part of the Federal Government. But, the mere fact that the exit of igbos created a vacuum within the civil service, the eventual beneficiaries of this vacuum were ushered into positions which they were ill-prrepared or qualified to assume. Nigeria has never recovered from this calculable mistakes. The functioning of the Nigerian Economy is currently very lopsided. It will take the intentionally marginalized perhaps, another 40 to 50 years to catch up. Therefore, should Nigeria split now into different countries, or should those in power realize the mistakes they initially made, and begin now to address them through the National Sovereign Conferences which many of us are advocating? You be the judge!!

@mingione: Since you are rambling off point a lot, I will repost here for any interested reader my entire response to you. The problem you have is that the deep animosity that you nurse subconsciously, unconsciously or even consciously prevents you from talking straight about the issue of Biafra. If you have an objective friend, then ask him or her if your article is not an anti-Igbo anti-Biafra construct.

I do not know you personally--rememebr? EVerything I have written is a response to your own statements. Nevertheless, I bear no ill-will towards you. There is no reason to pretend that we all can live together without killing one another; that's why it is right and imperative to go our separate ways.

Of course, Biafra belongs to all nations that were once part of it: if they choose to continue today, great; if not, great, too. Self Determination guarantees and respects such choices.We must move on--along our own individual paths of Destiny as different nations. Else, we all perish under one-Nigeria.

__________________________________________________

That Mingione’s response to “Nigeria: How the North Tricked Middle Belt to Fight Igbo” by Oguchi Nkwocha, MD.

“THE United Middle Belt Youth Congress (UMBYC), a group at the forefront of mapping out the North Central geopolitical zone as Middle Belt has lampooned the north for lining up soldiers from the zone against the Igbos during the Nigerian civil war….” –Mingione in allafrica.com December 9 2011 (http://allafrica.com/comments/list/aans/post/post/id/201112191306.html)

Here is my take on Mingione’s article of the above caption in his response to the unprecedented (in Nigeria) courage and honesty of the UMBYC youth whose collective contrition and apology regarding the role of the Middle Belt in Nigeria’s ethnic cleansing exercise and genocidal war against the Igbo and other Biafrans is a first for Nigeria. This singular show of courage and decency needs to be emulated and repeated. http://allafrica.com/stories/201112191306.html

“…the North Tricked Middle Belt to Fight Igbo…”

An invitation is hereby extended to the Arewa Youth to show similar courage and honesty by admitting that it was wrong for the North to engage in and savor ethnic cleansing against the Igbo living among them in 1966, and then proceed to pursue the Igbo into the latters’ enclave in order to annihilate them.

The Odua Youth are invited to follow suit and agree with their very own—our—Wole Soyinka that Nigeria’s war against Biafra was wrong; that the North “tricked [them] to fight the Igbo”, and in so doing used them to commit genocide against the Igbo during the Biafra-Nigeria war. The invitation also goes to the Igbo Youth to show contrition for allowing themselves to be manipulated by the Igbo elders who are under the thumb of the North, acquiescing to continued Northern occupation of Igbo space and enslavement of the Igbo people. OHANEZE, WIC (World Igbo Congress) and suchlike trick the Igbo and confuse Igbo youth into fighting and dying with utmost futility to belong to a Nigeria that rejects them and kills them without mercy. There is an invitation for the Niger Delta Youth to show contrition for the role of the Niger Delta in the genocide against their Igbo brothers and neighbor. Let them see that they, too, have been tricked into thinking that the Igbo are their mortal enemy, hence, into fighting against the Igbo. And here is where Mingione comes in: this invitation to the Niger Delta youth is made through Mingione.

Why? Because Mingione’s response is actually a continuing anti-Igbo statement so deeply enmeshed that it wouldn’t be a surprise if he fails to see it, although any objective reader is left scratching his or her head as to why Mingione positions himself as pro-Ojukwu, pro-Biafra, even as he relentlessly tears at the Igbo. Mingione says Ojukwu is vindicated and leads us to believe that Ojukwu is his champion, but he, as a Deltan—by his own emphatic reminder to the reader—is quite glad Biafra was defeated. He even invokes something else (which he does not tell us what of) from Ahiara Declaration written by Ojukwu during the Biafra war to support his accusation of Igbo having an “ulterior motive” as Biafra. Mingione praises Gowon for creating States…thereby, according to him, liberating the Niger Delta from Igbo domination; however, everyone knows that the only reason Gowon created the States was to punish and divide and dispossess the Igbo. He succeeded. But, as it turns out, contrary to Mingione’s claims, this calculated anti-Igbo action by Gowon never helped the Niger Delta, and it never helped the Middle Belt either, where the manipulative hegemony continued it’s deceptive “one North policy.” As long as this act by Gowon thoroughly victimized the Igbo, Mingione is well pleased by it.

Nowhere is Mingione’s subterfuge so heavy as when he heaps blame for the sour lot of the Niger Delta today personally on Aguiyi Ironsi, an Igbo man. This is based on Decree No. 34 of 1966 by which the then military government of Nigeria then under Ironsi centralized the powers and authority in Nigeria. Not once but twice Mingione is tricking readers and Nigerians to believe that it was Ironsi’s fault then and ongoing fault still that Nigeria is pathologically centralized up till today. Let’s assume that the man historically and accurately known to harbor no political, power or wealth-mongering ambition, Ironsi, was personally responsible for this. He paid with his life for this error: when Mingione’s real champion, Gowon, and his cabal of fellow-Northern Nigerian military putschists clearly cited this as the reason why they murdered Ironsi. Facts will show that Ironsi was Head of State of Nigeria for 194 days; so, for a little over half-a-year, he imposed Decree No. 34 on Nigeria; but Gowon and his cabal and their successors have had almost half-a-century to reverse Decree No. 34, and yet have not done so. Gowon and his comrades are still alive today, supporting and operating Decree No. 34; why not blame them? Why not go after them, if change was the real desire, rather than choose the self-serving path of blaming Ironsi the Igboman who is no longer here to make any type of changes? Common sense would assume that the minute Gowon killed Ironsi because of Decree No. 34, he, Gowon would have killed the decree too, and reversed it completely: why hasn’t he, and why does Mingione want to blame Ironsi?

Truth be told, it was not even Decree No. 34 that messed up the Niger Delta. It was the so-called ”Land Use Decrees” forced on the peoples by well-after-Ironsi successive Nigerian governments which have been led and or controlled by the North, that did the job. It started with Gowon’s “Petroleum Decree of 1969” which gave the entire ownership and control of Petroleum resources to the State of Nigeria. By the Land Use Decree of 1978 (Obasanjo’s Military government) followed by the Gas Re-injection Decree of 1979, government usurpation and control of private and communal / ancestral lands, property and resources was complete. In 1999, this State-control was carved into the cement of the 1999 Nigeria’s so-called Constitution which mocked “…we the people…”, the doing of another Northern military cum Northern leadership oligarchy of Nigeria under the rulership of Mohammed Abubakar. Yet, that’s not all: today, a Niger Delta man is the ruler of Nigeria. Since President Jonathan was the Vice under late Yar’Adua, he was part of Yar’Adua’s Land Use (Amendment) Act of 2009 which was hailed as a corrective Bill aimed at restoring what had been taking from the peoples by the government. This means that Jonathan, a Delta son, has had at least 2 years to solve this problem. Why does Mingione keep blaming dead Igboman Ironsi?

Perhaps, Mingione will also blame the Igbo for the fate of Bakassi. Gowon promised away Bakassi to Cameroon to continue to limit the Igbo and squeeze Biafra. Later, in these contemporary times, Obasanjo gleefully handed over not just the Bakassi land, but also, the protesting hapless Bakassi people and their nation to Cameroon, in consummation of Gowon’s plan and in the spirit of Obasanjo’s well known, open anti-Igbo anti-Biafra stance. The most important information in reading the ICJ (International Court of Justice) proceedings in this case is how the Cameroonians lawyers, though happy to win, were so shocked and taken aback by the fact that the Nigerian lawyers never put up a defense at all to keep Bakassi.

The Igbo are not the mortal enemy of the Niger Delta that Mingione subconsciously or consciously projects. For that matter, the Igbo, for all their drive and energy, show no propensity for hostility towards any other ethnic nation in Nigeria. For example, and this can either be to their credit or their foolishness, destruction, suicidality and even downfall, the Igbo have returned to the same villages and towns in Northern Nigeria and the rest of Nigeria where their shed blood and broken bones, hacked sinews and burnt flesh have become part of the fabric of the physical infrastructure and of the collective lore and psychic scar. They did not and do no demand an apology nor did they wait for one before going back to the place of their torment to live again among their unrepentant and unremorseful tormentors. Biafra happened because there was no other way: one who does not put up a genuine effort to defend oneself with the full intent of winning is not part of the human family and is not worthy of humanity. Mingione, take note; do carry this message to our Niger Delta brothers and neighbors: the Igbo are not your enemies. Let’s stop tricking anyone to fight and kill the Igbo.

And of Biafra, it is still the best, if the only, answer to Nigeria. It is a pity that in these days of Self Determination, people are still talking about “resource control” and ethnic minority-majority dichotomy politics, or even confederation of Nigeria, and the inane concept such as “making Nigeria better.” We should be past all that: we are past all that. Nigeria will never smell anything more than it smells now—its own stinky self. The Middle Belt should be looking to exercise their Self Determination rights leading them to an independent sovereign nation—if they so choose, for it is their choice. Ditto, Arewa. Ditto, Oodua. The Niger Delta had always wanted out of Nigeria: now is their chance to use the principles and power of Self Determination to accomplish that, an Independent Sovereign Delta Nation. The Igbo nation can and will have their Biafra using the same Self Determination workings; a Self-Determined Biafra can and may only include Self-Determined nations willing to participate, otherwise, the Igbo nation is content alone as Biafra. Self Determination is for every group. In fact, the Bakassi have now turned to Self Determination to rescue their land and nation from the unconscionable, unfathomable wickedness of Nigeria and the likes of Nigeria’s Gowon and Obasanjo and their Cameroonian accomplices.

One thing is certain: Nigeria can never be, though some try in vain to prove otherwise, and in so doing, only subject all to more gratuitous misery. Self-Determined Nationhood beckons us all. This is the only true basis for mutually acceptable and consenting inter-national relationships—the type that allows for peace, progress and prosperity within borders and without. Along the way, or perhaps before we move to that natural rhythm, we need to clear our conscience of excess baggage –following the example of the Middle Belt youths. Only thus can we claim and multiply the goodwill necessary to respect without question the right of each ethnic nation to be in complete charge of its own natural sovereignty and national Destiny. We salute the Middle Belt youths.

Oguchi Nkwocha, MD Nwa Biafra A Biafran Citizen oguchi@comcast.net

@Nwa Biafra, I finally have had a chance to read through your litany of both plausible and implausible arguments. Frankly, it seems like we are looking at the same side of the coin. If you understand the legislative process, one needn't conclude that the decision to promulgate Decree No.34 was an arbitrary decision carried out by Gen. J.T.U.Agwuiyi-Ironsi. This decision was reached under the auspices of the Supreme Military Council and so, Ironsi simply voiced to the nation the decision they carried out.

What subsequently followed in terms of Decree issuance by other "baby generals" were Draconian on the Nigerian people, and have not seemed to abate since then. But the funny thing was that some of these generals transformed them into their own personal and tribal advantage, an example being Gen. Obasanjo on his Land Use Decree. Obasanjo knew full well that the Yorubas had gained undue financial leverage and advantage over everyone and so, could afford to buy out every piece of arable lands on the Nigerian landscape. Mind you, the spirit and intents of Ironsi was primarily geared towards the betterment of ALL Nigerians. I ronsi never looked at Nigeria's problems through the prism of his tribal affiliations with the Igbos. Nor, did Ojukwu himself look at what was plaguing Nigeria at the inception of the crises through the prism of what finally forced him to declare Biafra a republic. In fact, even Gen. Gowon didn't realise he was being used. However, Chief Awolowo knew full well where he was headed. At long last though, Gen.Obasanjo finally realised the game plan and solved the puzzle which created the current ethnic and political domination of the Nigerian Economic landscape by a single tribal group. Did they succeed? I would vote a resounding Yes!

Therefore, if you read my analysis, you'll realise that my beef with the Igbo leaders was their lack of foresight into something many of us in the Niger Delta saw, and have been fighting against. The Nigerian Military, for their part, were careful not to promote any Niger Deltan into any high ranking military position for fear that we could've possibly influenced the outcome of posing a formidable resistance, and make a more courageous exit. Again, I would continue to thank Gen. Gowon for his boldness in creating states throughout Nigeria. This provided a sense of ideological refrain from what appeared to be an unfathomable position. I was living at Enugu from the early 1960's and had to flee as everyone else did during this time period back to the Niger Delta. We all became enmeshed in the war and thankfully came out alive. I needn't relay here the atrocities the marauding Nigerian soldiers committed in the River State. I can only empathise with what the Igbos went through while Ukpabi Asika sought to make sense out of his appointment as the Governor of the East Central State.

You see, it doesn't seem that we differ much. The current issue we face in Nigeria has to do with finding a way to limit the powers of the federal government. To do so, Decree No. 34 has got to be repealed. If this is repealed, every other Decree you cited will as well come under judicial scrutiny, and the merits of their existence debated by the Nigerian people. For example, Chief Awolowo was one of the main proponents of limiting the government's intrusive powers over our individual rights under his Action Group political party. Yet, he oversaw the massive gulping of individual properties by a single ethnic group in Nigerian history. What happened between the "idealist" and finally "the pragmatist"? Was it because he had successfully deceived the Igbos into believing that the Yorubas were for them, and then made a quick U-Turn while the Igbos were relishing the fact that what appeared to be an agreement was merely a whisper in the dark? Your issues are not with Mingione. Until you begin to confront the 800-ib Gorilla in the room, you may never truly be able to answer the question about your collective gullibility.I am like President Reagan, "Trust but Verify". That you were hoodwinked has nothing to do with the Niger Deltans. We were merely trying to look out for our interests. When Isaac Boro started the initiatives in this direction, many from the then Eastern Nigeria fought against our activities, only to realise later that we were right. Had your people fought with us, the current environmental abuses which we face today in the Niger Delta might have been prevented. But of course, it didn't affect you directly, and so, what do you care? So, try to get your facts straight, and stay away from being emotionally charged. I believe this is exactly how you lost the logical and ideological battle with Chief Awolowo. Please, use your heads, and do not allow your emotions to get the better part of you.

@mingione

I rest my case. Readers will be the judge.