Ohanaeze Condemnation of Biafra Agitations: A Rebuttal

Ndigbo say that “Adighi asa okwuchukwu asa” -implied translation: Church Sermons are not meant to be rebutted. However, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo reprimand of Biafran agitations cannot really be called a sermon firstly because it was a political statement, and secondly because the mass media is not a church, or any hallowed ground whatsoever.
Ndigbo also say that “a na ebu uzo chupu egbe biara ibu okuko tupu ata okuko uta maka ipu na ezi” - implied translation: a wise person normally first chases away the kite angling to snatch a fowl before turning around to blame the fowl for venturing outside.
Ndigbo also say that “ebe nwata na ebe akwa na atu aka, nne ya anoghi ebe ahu, nna ya no ya” -implied translation: whenever a child is crying and pointing to a location, if his/her mother is not there, then the father must be there!
If the Ohanaeze leadership were well grounded in these philosophical statements, thought process, and ageless wisdoms of our people, they would have either remained taciturn, or at least nuanced, in their media publication concerning the Biafra youth revolution sweeping through eastern Nigeria.

Now to the core issue.

The statement released by Ohanaeze Ndigbo condemning the uprising by eastern Nigerian youths marching for the restoration of the sovereign state of Biafra is misplaced, cowardly, mistaken, inappropriate, and self serving. Without any shadow of doubt, the Ohanaeze spoke for Ohanaeze and not for the millions of youths of eastern Nigeria most of who are jobless and hopeless in the dysfunctional Nigerian nation.

Every eastern Nigerian, Igbo and non-Igbo, knows that there is a problem, a very big problem with the structure and configuration of the Nigerian nation, and is aware that most of the problems of Nigeria derive from such deliberate misconfiguration of Nigeria that benefits a section to the detriment of others. We also know that there have been countless attempts to restructure Nigeria, and those attempts failed because the current beneficiaries of the structure fought them to a standstill.

THAT IS THE PROBLEM, and no amount of buck-passing and blame game can alter that fact.

Righteous anger, or indignation, can only derive from purity of heart and honesty.
A dishonest person cannot reasonably be indignant. Ohanaeze's indignation is an insult to integrity and decency.
Before Ohanaeze can qualify to be righteously angry, Ohanaeze must tell the Igbo youths what they themselves have done right, rather than what the youths are doing wrong, to address the problem. Finger wagging and throwing tantrums on the youths of eastern Nigeria for marching for freedom is simply a cheap cup-out and, in this Internet age, a silly act that deceives no one.

Ohanaeze merely pretended to care about the problem just to appear honest. An Igbo metaphor posits that a journey of one hundred miles cannot stop halfway and then be deemed to have been completed. Ohanaeze identified the problem of infrastructure in Igboland, but willingly chose to ignore other problems that lead to mass exodus of productive Igbo from Igboland to other parts of Nigeria in search of livelihood and better opportunities, products of systemic economic strangulation of Igboland. When the youths march to demand a better future in a Biafra, some Nigerian host communities see Igbo as “ingrates”, but fail to realize that the Igbo were supposed to be in Igboland, not Hausa or Yoruba land.
Before Ohanaeze's “indignation” can remotely be considered credible, the body needs to answer the following nagging questions:
[b]
(1) What did Ohanaeze say, or do, when 56 unidentified bodies were discovered at Ezu River in Anambra state, apparently victims of extra-judiciary murder by the Nigerian police? Who were the victims? What was their crime? Who killed them? Have the killers been brought to justice?

(2) What is the Ohanaeze position on Fulani herdsmen currently killing farmers and raping women in Enugu, Abia, Imo, and even Delta states? Why is Ohanaeze deaf and dumb to this undercover invasion of Igboland by Fulani? What warning have they issued?

(3) Where is the Ohanaeze statement on shoot at sight orders in Igboland – a land where entire populations are suffering from severe trans-generational trauma occasioned by a war of genocide foisted on the people?

(4) What happened to the Ohanaeze recommendations on the restructuring of Nigeria submitted to the National Conference last year? What has Ohanaeze done recently to ensure its implementation? More importantly, what will Ohanaeze do to exert pressure and coerce the federal government to implement it?
[/b]

Let me stop on just these four questions for now.

Ndigbo say that “onye si na ihe na ato uto, ya kwuo ihe o na atoka ya” -implied translation: if you say that some edible is delicious, it is better to cite a comparison or example.
Now, let's contrast Ohanaeze's speedy reprimand with the near total silence of Arewa Consultative Assembly on Sharia, and later on Boko Haram (for about 5 years after the group's murderous rampage began); keep in mind that Biafran agitators are UNARMED. The ACF is yet to issue a statement on the rampaging Fulani herdsmen who have just been cited as one of the most murderous terror gangs worldwide. The current Nigerian president who is a life patron of the herdsmen once led a high powered delegation to issue strong warnings in defense of his tribesmen regardless of the guilt or notoriety of the herdsmen.
Dr Claud Anderson identified only two problems plaguing the black man, one of which is “inappropriate behavior”.
Fulani are ruling Nigeria irrespective of their minority population because the Fulani always behave appropriately in any situation in Nigeria. They are a very wise tribe.
For example, the Fulani figure that it is simply stupid to move hundreds of cattle across great distances on foot UNARMED. It is a form of lunacy to not protect your assets with weapons, and so the Fulani simply armed themselves regardless of what the Nigerian law says -most Nigerian laws are obtuse anyway, and Fulani won't let themselves be bound by such obtuse laws! It is an open secret that Fulani herdsmen walk around the length and breadth of Nigeria armed with military grade assault riffles, and no law enforcement persons dare go near them, and Buhari their patron is supporting them, yet Ohanaeze is rebuking armless youths who fearlessly march to bring the world's attention to their plight. Some of these youths have been gunned down already by murderous Nigerian security operatives, but Ohanaeze is keeping quiet!

However, the most disturbing of Ohanaeze's inappropriate behavior is their implied apology to the president of Nigeria asking that he -by implication- forgive and forget the past ill deeds by the Igbo nation who chose not to vote for Buhari! Since when did it become a crime in Nigeria for a citizen of Nigeria to freely vote and be voted for? This singular message from Ohanaeze implies that Igbo people erred in not voting for Buhari! If Ohanaeze thinks this way, how can such a body truly represent the true interest or aspiration of Igbo people anywhere, or on any issue?

The problem with the Ohanaeze mindset is the apparent assumption that the youths of Igboland are bound to listen to their counsel; it is a very mistaken mindset and it would seem that the Ohanaeze are suffering from some form of amnesia. Traditionally in Igboland, the youths -who are the enforcers of mores and popular programs in the land - know when the elders are lying to them! The Ohanaeze are supposed to gauge and find out the popular desires of the people before making public statements on anything. An elder who fails to do such research is often insulted, ignored, or simply walked all over by angry youths! Right now, the youths have no jobs, no future, no hope. Biafra gives them that hope, and woe betide anyone who goes against that hope in Igboland.

Ohanaeze realizes (and rightly so) that the large Igbo diaspora support the youths on this Biafra agitations, so if the federal government is sponsoring the Ohanaeze to sell its own people, the diaspora Igbo will sponsor IPOB to recover and repossess Igbo possessions sold by Ohanaeze. Checkmate!
That is exactly how radio Biafra started, and that is one of the stated missions of IPOB.

Migration sociologists believe that nobody leaves his/her ancestral lands without a strong push. Most of the diaspora Igbo were pushed out of Nigeria by Nigeria, and they want to return to a country they can call home. So the Ohanaeze which are being financed by the federal government has no monopoly of persuasion and coercion. If push comes to shove the diaspora Igbo will out-maneuver the Ohanaeze.

What Ohanaeze needs to do is to bring the Igbo nation (both home and abroad) together under one strong body that asks hard questions of the Nigerian state; questions concerning Igbo stake (or lack of it) in Nigeria, and in such unity and one voice make strong demands of Nigeria. If Nigeria cannot give Igbo their fair dues, then, Igbo should in unity call back their reps from Abuja, organize themselves, take over IPOB, and approach the UN with a strong mandate, asking the world body to protect the Igbo nation from the Nigerian state by intervening and organizing a referendum for Igbo people to decide whether to stay or leave the Nigerian union.

Since Ohanaeze already issued that condemnation of the youths, for the body to regain credibility among Igbo youths, it should as a matter of great urgency call on Muhammadu Buhari to immediately release Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of IPOB, who has met all his bail conditions. This call is very important because it is not too late yet. It seems as if there is a sinister agenda to foist another civil war on Nigeria, and part of Ohanaeze's duty should be to speak out APPROPRIATELY now before it is too late.

The Ohanaeze Ndigbo should learn how to behave appropriately and in same vein encourage Ndigbo to do the same in Nigeria. At the very least, Igbo can borrow a leaf, or two, from the Fulani.

I'll be back to comment more!

ohaneze ndi igbo awusa is just a bunch of hungry bastards feeding on the crumb falling from Rochas the crook table

I really love maa country"
Proudly a "Biafran"

The problems were there all along and OP and his crew never brought it to GEJ's knowledge, then it was GEJ till 2019,GEJ lost and they want a war.
Jobless cowards, see epistle on top nonsense.
The elders have spoken and you kids are OYO for now, cry us a river.

brb

Those old fools have nothing to lose,we the young ones have to take our future in our hands

Many Igbo people will be imprisoned in Biafra for their treachery.



If Nigeria keeps treating the Biafrans as a conquered people, even God will establish Biafra


I just pity all those opposing Biafra, they will wish for death by the time Biafra is through with them.

Yeske2:
The problems were there all along and OP and his crew never brought it to GEJ's knowledge, then it was GEJ till 2019,GEJ lost and they want a war.
Jobless cowards, see epistle on top nonsense.
The elders have spoken and you kids are OYO for now, cry us a river.

Useless elders!!
I'd suggest they better not dig their own graves bkos I'd have no qualms sending them to the guillotine!

I am ready...

Ohaneze is a one-man business.
Who cares what "he'' says.

I am ready...

Ohaneze is a one-man business.
Who cares what "he'' says.

Yeske2:
The problems were there all along and OP and his crew never brought it to GEJ's knowledge, then it was GEJ till 2019,GEJ lost and they want a war.
Jobless cowards, see epistle on top nonsense.
The elders have spoken and you kids are OYO for now, cry us a river.

Please, why can't you stay away from this thread if you can't comment like a humanbeing.

We don't care about your opinion....thanks.

EternalTruths:
Many Igbo people will be imprisoned in Biafra for their treachery.



If Nigeria keeps treating the Biafrans as a conquered people, even God will establish Biafra


I just pity all those opposing Biafra, they will wish for death by the time Biafra is through with them.

Come on shut the _fuck up! "Hungry starving tribalistic keypad warrior"!! If dem bless you with better money now you will become a dove! Nonsense!!!

My l never regarded Ohaneze as a responsible organization. What has Ohaneze achieved for igboland? They bunch of self serving people.

At the rate Ohanaeze is going, she is going to lose all her relevance amongst the Igbo.

They have shown lack of tact, wisdom and masterly of situations on ground in tackling the Biafran question.

Yeske2:
The problems were there all along and OP and his crew never brought it to GEJ's knowledge, then it was GEJ till 2019,GEJ lost and they want a war.
Jobless cowards, see epistle on top nonsense.
The elders have spoken and you kids are OYO for now, cry us a river.

I have personally noted that the greatest cowards are usually those who find fault in others' positions without having the guts to put forth theirs.
It is easier for you to blame the UNARMED youths because you know you can do so safely without being killed. That is the height of cowardice.
Instead of finding faults in the youth's agitations, why not tell them HOW they can be equal citizens to the Yoruba and Hausa in Nigeria.
Let me guess, you wanted them to vote for Buhari, right? Would that have changed anything? What is Buhari doing now that would shame those who didn't vote for him?
Onye egwu!

If you want to know how hopelessly corrupt Ohaneze is, ask them about the N5B Madalla bombing saga.

Yeske2:
The problems were there all along and OP and his crew never brought it to GEJ's knowledge, then it was GEJ till 2019,GEJ lost and they want a war.
Jobless cowards, see epistle on top nonsense.
The elders have spoken and you kids are OYO for now, cry us a river.

I have asked some pro biafrans to explain to me the sudden awakening but I got insults in return. Many of them do not know how the biafra thing came about. They do not even know that the igbo elites have never supported biafra. By the way biafra was an accident that was ill conceived. Read your history books. The Ziks, ekwueme's, okpora's and co did not support ojukwu and his co travellers. Ofcourse ojukwu knew this fact that was why he forever buried the idea of biafra and contested as president in Nigeria. It's a more of a follow follow kinda stuff they are doing. No clear cut idealogy. They talk of biafra like it has a foundation. Like when you mention biafra republic money will grow like trees. The earlier these youths understand that the problem is not buhari but themselves (the igbos) the better for them. Like u said, yesterday it was GEJ Till 2019. Today it's biafra. What a way to show lack of direction.
The next thing is for them to pounce on me like bee on honey. I will be suprised if am not attacked immediately. Very topical of the pple who want their own country.

Igbos are so civilised. If this was in the arab world,these Ohaneze guys would most likely have be beheaded by now

I just hate the igbotic race. They are very terrible people. Just read the above and you will confirm this. All tribes in Nigeria can also find a million reasons to argue the fact that they are been marginalised. Please igbo people leave our Nigeria for us and get the he'll out of here

pazienza:
At the rate Ohanaeze is going, she is going to lose all her relevance amongst the Igbo.

They have shown lack of tact, wisdom and masterly of situations on ground in tackling the Biafran question.

What they should have done is to keep quiet and reject any pressures being mounted on them to condemn the youths who are going about their constitutionally protected right of freedom of opinion and association. Their silence would have cast an eerie shadow on the polity and force the FG to thread with caution.
Now that they have squealed like irresponsible self serving individuals protecting their private interests rather than Igbo interests, they will soon be pushed aside by IPOB. Notice that IPOB commands more respect in the seven Igbo speaking states than Ohanaeze.
The Ohanaeze days are numbered in Igboland. If IPOB keeps up with the organization and protests, soon it would become clear to all easterners than a new body is now there to protect their interest. After that Ohanaeze statements will simply be laughed off as irrelevant.

hmohammed:
I just hate the igbotic race. They are very terrible people. Just read the above and you will confirm this. All tribes in Nigeria can also find a million reasons to argue the fact that they are been marginalised. Please igbo people leave our Nigeria for us and get the he'll out of here

^^^Bastard! I think Ndigbo would find a way to manage without your 'love'!

See a northern Mohammed talking of hating Igbos!......What else is new!

funlord:


Come on shut the _fuck up! "Hungry starving tribalistic keypad warrior"!! If dem bless you with better money now you will become a dove! Nonsense!!!

Your agony is hard to understand. The guy is Igbo chating on Igbo's issue, then you are Yorubastard sucking on the same issue.

What do you want?

hmohammed:
I just hate the igbotic race. They are very terrible people. Just read the above and you will confirm this. All tribes in Nigeria can also find a million reasons to argue the fact that they are been marginalised. Please igbo people leave our Nigeria for us and get the he'll out of here

You think this is Amajiri school where you attend with a nasty plate to nod heads like dying Lizards in agreement to every terroristic washing called quran...with this your trashy post concured with half baked grammar.

Beware of that girl child, she is only 3yrs old...this one you've been wagging your dirty tail around her since the mother went to market...we can't deal with another shame from your actions on Zoogeria national news. Rappixt!

Zinicc:


Please, why can't you stay away from this thread if you can't comment like a humanbeing.

We don't care about your opinion....thanks.

Are you normal, why quoting if you have nothing sensible to say abi your father owns nairaland?

Zinicc:


Please, why can't you stay away from this thread if you can't comment like a humanbeing.

We don't care about your opinion....thanks.

Are you normal, why quoting me if you have nothing sensible to say abi your father owns nairaland? Go and die if you don't like my opinion neither do i care about yours. All these kids sef.

ogmaskman:


I have asked some pro biafrans to explain to me the sudden awakening but I got insults in return. Many of them do not know how the biafra thing came about. They do not even know that the igbo elites have never supported biafra. By the way biafra was an accident that was ill conceived. Read your history books. The Ziks, ekwueme's, okpora's and co did not support ojukwu and his co travellers. Ofcourse ojukwu knew this fact that was why he forever buried the idea of biafra and contested as president in Nigeria. It's a more of a follow follow kinda stuff they are doing. No clear cut idealogy. They talk of biafra like it has a foundation. Like when you mention biafra republic money will grow like trees. The earlier these youths understand that the problem is not buhari but themselves (the igbos) the better for them. Like u said, yesterday it was GEJ Till 2019. Today it's biafra. What a way to show lack of direction.
The next thing is for them to pounce on me like bee on honey. I will be suprised if am not attacked immediately. Very topical of the pple who want their own country.

And you are now a fufiled man by calling 'a people' names.
Now you get what you wished for; but instead of bashing you, which you so deserve..I will tell you this, no one cares about who is in surport of what, no one cares about what your opinions are, no on cares about what Ojukwu, Zik, Buhari, Ohaneze, OBJ, my father or your own father thinks...the Igbo youths are chatting their own course in line with the challenges they are bedeviled with, so it's better you advise a better way other than what they have applied since 50something yrs ago or sit back and watch em make their mistake or get the neccessary answer deserved.

Simple to understand....just stop already mehn!

Yeske2:
Are you normal, why quoting me if you have nothing sensible to say abi your father owns nairaland? Go and die if you don't like my opinion neither do i care about yours. All these kids sef.

Since your are baztard and have wished to die as one sucking on Igbo's thread, well I am not the one to help you..die already...

Zinicc:


Since your are baztard and have wished to die as one sucking on Igbo's thread, well I am not the one to help you..die already...

To the left please, i can comment on any thread and you dolt can't stop it.
Knack head for wall or jump into a nearby well.

Yeske2:
To the left please, i can comment on any thread and you dolt can't stop it.
Knack head for wall or jump into a nearby well.

I have said it, now you've heard it...you can now die in piss..mufu!

Zinicc:


I have said it, now you've heard it...you can now die in piss..mufu!

Next!