History will Remember Nigeria Youth

 

MODELE WORDS

Our Pledge to #EndSars

October 16, 2020

It is no coincidence that the SARS acronym for the anti-robbery squad is the same as the deadly disease called SARS which affects the respiratory organs. The youths are the respiratory organs of Nigeria and in our call for a better life as youths in our country Nigeria, I remembered the national anthem on my way back from work and analysed the second stanza.

Oh God of creation, direct our noble cause

Guide our leader’s right

Help our youth the truth to know

In love and honesty to grow

And live in just and true

Great lofty heights attain

To build a nation where peace and justice shall reign

Our campaign to #EndSars is a desperate fulfilment of our undying noble cause to live in a safe, peaceful and flourishing nation. When the composers of the anthem composed it, they never knew it would get to a time when the youths of this country will be the majority and asked God helped us know the truth. 

Today we are standing in love and honesty to grow because we want to live in a just and true society. I have not been able to join the protest for some reasons, however, I have taken my protest to start within the capacity of my office in the public service. 

#EndSars is not just for the disbandment of a police unit but for the end to a system of extreme corruption. Youths have been labelled to be lazy, but in our journey to great lofty heights attainment they have arrived to survive, without giving them an environment to work and grow. The Nigerian system has been inflicted with SARS (corruption and injustice) which has made the hard work of many Nigerian youths not to be worth the while.

Corruption is rooted deep into the system and is the large cause of most of the issues affecting Nigeria, from poor amenities, to poor governance, to unemployment, to insecurity, to rising poverty levels, to environmental concerns and many more. The government has continued to fail and it has affected every aspect of our beloved country.

We pledge to #EndSars in our educational system. Lecturers are known to be a pain in the asses of students. From failing unjustly, to request for sex and payments to pass. There have been claims that graduates are unemployable when they were not taught right. This system has given birth to the number of unemployed youths in the system. Out hostels are like ghettos, classes are insufficient, facilities are ancient. The state of public schools are terrible. Private schools have also not met the standards of the Nigeria  population. The curriculum has also not been updated to match the changing times. Teachers are not well educated to teach. Our colleges of education have been abandoned, yet these graduates from Colleges of education are supposed to be the ones to help our nation grow? We are against this rot and therefore we Stand to #EndSars in Nigerian Education System. We do this by

1. Equipping schools across all levels with better pays for teachers and training for teachers. 

2. Ensuring lecturers are accountable for their actions.

3. Creating educational programs to encourage development.

4. Ensuring the schools and the industries are connected.

5. Ensuring that curriculum is updated.

We pledge to #EndSars in our healthcare. There was a time when our primary healthcare took care of issues that were basic and this reduced the number of people that went to the hospitals. Today, doctors run their private clinics and abandon the hospitals. Yet they say that they are not paid. Hospitals are not enough, the politicians send themselves outside the country for treatment yet the masses have to deal with poor healthcare. The budget for the health sector is not only insufficient but also doesn't get to the bottom. Therefore, we Stand to #EndSars in the Nigerian Health Sector. This can be done by:

1. Restoring out primary healthcares, 

2. Renovating all hospitals.

3. Equipping more hospitals.

4. Ensuring that Doctors are at their duty posts.

We Pledge to #EndSars in the civil service, the civil service has been hit by corruption and embezzlement. The pension of retirees have been held, salaries of staff in the system are not paid in time, allowances and entitlements are owed. This has resulted in the manner of rot in the system. Staff pick beans in the office and many do not do anything. The top gets richer and those down survive by any means. This corruption made many civil servants become lazy at work. The system has birthed unwilling workers who cannot drive the betterment of the country. Therefore we Stand to #EndSars in the Civil Service. To do this there should be:

1. A better payment plan for workers in the service.

2. Better working environment for workers.

3. Housing for staff across the country (do not let the top keep on keeping the houses let it get to all at all levels)

4. Better healthcare and allowances for the workers at all levels.

We pledge to #EndSars in the Military and Police Force. The brutality of the security keepers on the country is the worst. The amount of check points in the south, where peace is more than that in the north with high insecurity. The police collection point (checkpoints) have increased the transport fares of the normal Nigerians. The poor manner of policing in the country has made transportation not easy in the country. The number of deaths of poor citizens is highly unappreciated. The state of the police stations is an eyesore yet their homes are wonderful. The prisons and holding rooms are worse than the zoo. The hiring of police and military as body guards by theives and high ranking officials is enormous. This is the reason why we Stand to #EndSars in the Security Architecture of Nigeria. We ask that:

1. A reform of the security Architecture of Nigeria is made. States should man their security apparatus.

2. Proper recruitment structure is developed (psychology training included).

3. No less than a diploma is employed into the security apparatus.

4. Better prisons are built.

5. Reduction of escorts attached to politicians.

We pledge to #EndSars in the government. The embezzlement that has continued to occur in the Nigerian government is alarming. The lies and promises have continued to affect Nigerians. Poor social amenities, poor schools, poor healthcare, poor social services, and many more. We have been constantly dragged around by this government and we are tired. They have taken our Monies outside the country and developed other countries. Our wealth has been shared among a very few number of people in the government. The funds released for the Covid 19 palliatives, have not been felt by the public. The Ambassador of peace has called for the use of force against the peaceful protests, the CBN has identified the account where funds are been sent to for #EndSars protest yet has not been able to trace looted funds and other accounts of terrorists in the country. How do we think this country will grow? The government has continued to shut us up to grow in their quest for absolute power and extreme corruption. This is why we Stand to #EndSars in the government. To do this:

1. No less than a Graduate should hold any position in the Government.

2. Proper check should be carried out on funds allocated for projects and real time transparent reports should be sent to the public.

3. Political equity across regions and zones of Nigeria.

4. Elect of the best candidates and not based on the region he comes from.

5. Have a government with a "Human Face".

We pledge to #EndSars in the transportation sector. This has been one of the most notorious industry in Nigeria. The use of thugs against drivers to extort money by the Nigerian Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) has been an undying cause for the terrible state of the Nigerian transportation system. The Union has continued to allow for the use of poor state of vehicles to move people from one place to another. The Union are partly a reason for the hike in transport prices. The Union not addressing their drivers to have complete papers is part of the reasons why the Police feel entitled to collection of bribe. They make change for the police collection points to allow for a smooth travel experience. This rot is caused because of the number of illiterates that man the Union. The government has not done their part too. There are no alternatives. Air transport is expensive for the common Nigerian. The railways are in their worst states. Sea transport is not safe for Nigerians. This is why we Stand to #EndSars in the transport sector. To do this we ask that:

1. The NURTW be reformed

2. All busses or vehicles used for transportation be in good state.

3. The fines and taxes collected from drivers be used to develop parks and other transport related matters.

4. The leaders of the Unions heading the different transport sectors must me educated.

We pledge to #EndSars in our Private sector. Businesses have continued to be unfair to those working for them. The poor wages and extreme working hours that they have put Nigerians to work. The unhealthy working culture, the harsh boss and staff relationship and many more has caused for an unhealthy work-life balance. Many on the streets do not have packages for retirement of when they are laid off. Nigeria Employers' Consultative Association NECA, Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) etc have not done their jobs in ensuring a better and conducive working environment for workers. The bosses that want the ladies to open their legs for promotion and this unjust nature has lingered on for a very long time. The poor Corporte Social Responsibility activities of businesses for their immediate environment. The government has not also been fair to them, the government has also taken contract that belonged to indeginous companies outside the country, not giving them opportunities to compete. The foreign companies take all their monies back to their country and use Nigerians anyhow. The poor implementation of the Local Content Act  and many more. The private sector has not also looked to universities to help them solve problems through research. The banks have failed in their part to service the economy. They have not provided loans to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) rather they loan to big companies and oil compaines which have left the country in disarry. This is why we Stand to #EndSars in the private sector. We ask for:

1. Better collaboration between Companies and Universities for good business developments through research.

2. Better working hours (more flexible) for Nigerians. 

3. Better welfare packages for Nigerians.

4. Better working conditions for Nigerian employees.

In my final words, our fight is because we want a better life for everyone from young to old. We are fighting for our parents and our children and unborn offsprings. It is surprising that our parent sang between 1960 and 1978 that:

Nigeria we hail thee

Our own dear native land

Though tribes and tongue may differ

In brotherhood we stand

Nigerians all, are proud to serve

Our sovereign Motherland.

Our flag shall be a symbol

That truth and justice reign

In peace or battle honour 'd,

And this we count as gain,

To hand on to our children

A banner without stain.

O God of creation

Grant this our one request

Help us to build a nation

Where no man is oppressed

And so with peace and plenty

Nigeria may be blessed.

Our parents sang that they would hand over to us a banner without stain but it never happened. We are cleaning that stained banner so we hand over a country where no one will be oppressed and where Nigeria will be blessed. Those who sang this song have oppressed us and when we are with differing tongues standing United to end clean the banner they are calling for force. We fight to make Nigeria better and in peace and battle honour'd for truth and justice to reign we count as gain as Nigerian Youths.

To do this, I call on all of us in our different capacities to play our roles. As writers, develop contents to educate ourselves and librate us, as graphic designers use art to define the new Nigeria, as economists use data to explain the rot and let futurists amongst us predict future events with causes of actions, as lawyers fight this battle with the law and provide suggestions, Pastors and Imams let's continue praying and all others on our different capacities. When we define our stance and even though all of us are not at the forefront, we are playing our part to make Nigeria greater. 

WE WILL WIN THIS WAR.

Thank you #Nigeria #NigerianYouths 

F

NOTABLE CITIES IN YORUBALAND &THEIR FOUNDERS.

     NOTABLE CITIES IN YORUBALAND &THEIR FOUNDERS.

(1) Ile-Ife was founded by Obatala
(2) Owo was founded by Ojugbelu.
(3) Oshogbo was founded by Queen Oso-Igbo
(4) Akure was founded by Omoremi Omoluabi
(5) Ondo was founded by Queen Pupupu
(6) Iwo was founded by prince Ogbaigbai.
(7) Oyo was founded by prince Oranmiyan
(8) Igede Ekiti was founded by Ake
(9) Abeokuta was founded by Shodeke
(10) Ilesha was founded by Owalushe Ajaka.
(11) Esie was founded by prince Baragbon
(12) Ijero Ekiti was founded by Prince Ogbe
(13) Sango-Otta was founded by Osolo and Eleidi Atalabi
(14) Igbesa was founded by Akeredun
(15) Iperu was founded by Akesan
(16) Ikire was founded by Akinere
(17) Ado Ekiti was founded by Awamaro
(18) Esa-Oke was founded by Omiran Adebolu.
(19) Ilorin was founded by Ojo Isekuse
(20) Ikorodu was founded by Oga.
(21) Ijebu-Ode founded by Olode
(22) Iree (Osun) was founded by three brothers: Larooye, Arolu and Oyekun.
(23) Ila-Orangun was founded by Fagbamila Ajagun-nla.
(24) Ikere-Ekiti was founded by Aladeshelu
(25) Ikole Ekiti was founded by Akinsale
(26) Ede was founded by Timi
Agbale.
(27) Omu-Aran was founded by prince Olomu-Aperan
(28) Ode-Remo was founded by two hunters: Arapetu and Liworu.
(29) Ikirun was founded by Akinorun
(30) Saki was founded by Ogun
(31) Eruwa was founded by Obaseeku
(32) Iraye was founded by Odudu-Orunku
(33) Ogbomosho was founded by Ogunlola
(34) Offa was founded by Olalomi Olofa-gangan
(35) Inisa was founded by prince Ooku Eesun
(36) Ido Ani was founded by Oba Ozolua
(37) Ejigbo (Osun) was founded by Akinjole Ogiyan (Ogiriniyan)
(38) Okuku was founded by Oladile
(39) Efon Alaye-Ekiti was founded by Iji-Emigun
(40) Ijebu was founded by Obanta
(41) Isara-Remo was founded by prince Adeyemo
(42) Odeogbolu was founded by Eleshi Ekun Ogoji
(43) Ise-Ekiti was founded by Akinluaduse (Akinluse)
(44) Isara-Remo was founded by prince Adeyemo
(45) Itele-Ijebu was founded by Ojigi Amoyegeso
(46) Ijebu-Jesha was founded by Oba Agigiri Egboroganlada
(47) Ibokun (Ilemure) was founded by Obokun
(48) Ikoro-Ekiti(Eso -Obe) was founded by two hunters: Olushe and Olugona.
(49) Ilara Mokin was founded by Obalufon Modulua Olutipin.
(50) Igbara Oke was founded by Olowa Arajaka
(51)Epe was founded by Hu-Raka
(52) Malete (Iseyin) was founded by Adenle Atologuntele
(53) Igbo-Ifa(Kishi) was founded by Kilisi Yeruma
(54) Ijebu-Igbo was created by Ademakin Orimolusi.
(55) Ilobu was founded by Laarosin
(56) Gbongan was founded by Akinfenwa
(57) Ire-Ekiti was founded by Ogun
(58) Iwoye (Ayedun) was founded by Atabata.
(59) Igbajo was founded by prince Akeran
(60) Imesi-Ile was founded by Odunmorun and Eye.
(61) Orile-Owu was founded by Pawu.
(62)Otun-Ekiti was founded by Oore
(63) Igbo Asako( Igbo-Ora) was founded by Obe Alade.
(64) Idanre was founded by Olofin, a younger brother to Ododuwa. He came to Ufe after the demise of his senior brother.

Why We Wail....

Why We Wail..

The Arabian Peninsula has a very rich history dating 6000BC. The peninsula was occupied by Bedouins...the modern day Arabs. The peninsula is mostly sandy desert, hard rocky mountains, and wetlands around the coastal areas. To say this is one of the most uninhabitable places on earth is an understatement! Summer temperatures are so high that you'd be convinced your brains were being melted within your cranium; winter temperatures are so low you'd pray for global warming day and night! The desert is filled with sand boas, cobras, scorpions, goats and camels! It is a most uninhabitable peninsula!

The area was filled with Bedouin Tribes whom had formed pockets of Emirates over the peninsula. Over the centuries, they warred among themselves for supremacy...imagine fighting over vast areas of seemingly useless land? But they did! Life was hard!

In 1498, the Portuguese arrived, and took over the maritime and intermediary trade until their ouster in 1653. Along came the Dutch them the ubiquitous British that displaced the Dutch and signed "protectorate" Treaties with the numerous Emirates on the peninsula. Familiar?

For the British to thrive, they called a truce among the big Emirates along the North Eastern Coast. By 1853, permanent truce was signed and the states were called Trucial States...states in truce.

The British held sway on the peninsula.

In 1932, the Al Saud Family had had enough of the British, carved a large portion of the peninsula for themselves, convinced three other Emirates to themselves and declared themselves sovereign! The British held on stronger to the Trucial States.

The Trucial States were Dubai, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, Shajar, Fujaira, Abu Dhabi, Al Qawain amd Ras Al Khayima. They were all independent Emirates under the British rule; held down by the 1892 Treaty.

In August 1966, the Emir of Abu Dhabi (Sheikh Zayed) started convincing the other Emirates on the "need to have a federation of sorts and develop as other successful countries". By December 1971, the United Arab Emirates was birthed in that unforgiving piece of real estate on that peninsula! Oman, Bahrain and Qatar opted to be independent countries.

A most profound event of the formation of the United Arab Emirates was their study of the 1963 Republican Constitution of Nigeria...and the formation of a federation along the lines of our discarded constitution.

Every aspect of nationhood was argued even years after. But they built a strong and powerful country with regional autonomy and delineation of central and regional roles.

Since 1971 till date, the UAE has developed at a frenetic pace! And have preserved regional identity even with a jointly controlled centre.

Data Facts
Population: 9 million
GDP: $400 billion
Landmass: 80,000 square kilometers
Literacy: 98%

Did you notice the GDP? Greater than that of Nigeria that has 180 million people!!! By extension, the average citizen of the UAE is at least 12 times richer than the average Nigerian!

The landmass is just a notch larger than the Ala-Igbo Region of Nigeria and about half of that of the Odua Region (Yorubaland)! They have a population three times less than Ala-Igbo and about the supposed population of Kano! Only about 1.2 million of the population are actual citizens while the rest are resident non citizens including my humble self!

The UAE is a thriving country! The road network in Abu Dhabi would make you swoon, while Dubai would sweep you off your feet in an instant! Despite oil and gas, the country has a large manufacturing sector. Everything is regional; all regions fend for themselves! All regions are free to trade internationally, have international airports, seaports, power plants and refineries! I've been to several of those!

The country basically developed before my very eyes. My apartment on Sheikh Zayed road was a desert patch known to me. The metro project (subway) started "in my very before" so did projects as Jumeriah Lake District! The Nuclear Power Plant in Abu Dhabi had some support from yours sincerely (started full operations about 4 months ago)...

The United Arab Emirates is a wonderful country! It is a country that shows you the "can do" spirit in motion! Despite being 75% Muslims, they hardly care about it! No non Muslim has ever been killed (to my knowledge) in the UAE!

The country has 67% male population (Lol) hence the influx of our dear sisters all over the world to the Arabian Enclave to help in the "massage" industry (sic!)

Every company worth its salt, has a foothold in the UAE! The country is working, thriving, and an envy of many!

How did a country that had no right to survive make it so good? How did a country that was next to nothing when Nigeria was the giant of Africa become such a formidable force in less than 30years? How come a country of less than 10 cities have more money and success than Nigeria with over 500 large cities? How could a country 32 times smaller than Nigeria be almost 15 times richer and 1000 times more developed?

Their Structure!

They discussed their constitution!
They agreed on regional autonomy!
They have regional fiscal independence!
They have freedom to enter or exit the Union!
They do not have a unitarized constitution!
They do not have ethnic domination tendencies!
They signed truce among themselves!
The right of each region is upheld!
They do not have allocations!
They have the equality of regions!

The Emirate of Abu Dhabi occupies 75% of the landmass of the country (the size of Benue State), has 60% of the oil & gas deposits, but has ONLY one vote in the Federal Advisory Council (Senate) and has no advantage whatsoever over a tiny emirate as Ras Al Khayimar (the size of Wuse District) with no mineral resources of worth!

The United Arab Emirates, a forlorn, forgotten and seemingly hopeless piece of desert on the unwanted part of the Arabian Peninsula, is a success story today. From a bleak outlook, they built a formidable country! Nigeria, with all the boasts, pride and obvious advantages, has wrecked the country into something so desolate that foreigners avoid it like plague and citizens cannot flee fast enough! We have saddled ourselves with an unworkable constitution and a ridiculous structure no genius on earth could make work!

We lie and deceive ourselves daily; rather than set out work, we hope for a Messiah to wave the magic wand and make everything alright! We clap for defectors and other goons in the political firmament, then hope that some "Sai Baba" or "Oloye Saraki" would yell "Open Sesame" and "Voila", development! It would never happen!

To be anywhere near nationhood, that despicable document called the 1999 Constitution must be destroyed first! We must enthrone regional autonomy, then start the journey towards nationhood! Afterwards, we could develop! But as long as this foolish structure persists, not only shall development elude us, we shall kill ourselves till no one is standing! Oh, the Boko Haram and Fulani Terrorists already started the killings? My bad!

We must #restructureOrBurst! No amount of electioneering would change our situation if we did not fight the right battles!

Elections are not our problem; the structure is!

Chief Awolowo Interviewin1983(Civil War)

Awo speaks - An excerpt from a town hall interview in Abeokuta in 1983.


CIVIL WAR

Question: Chief Awolowo, …Your stand on the civil war, however unpopular it might have been to the Biafrans or Ibo people, helped to shorten the war. Today, you’re being castigated as the sole enemy of the Ibo people because of that stand, by among others, some of the people who as members of the Federal Military Government at that time, were party to that decision and are today, in some cases, inheritors of power in one Nigeria which that decision of yours helped to save. How do you feel being painted in this role, and what steps are you taking to endear yourself once again to that large chunk of Nigerians who feel embittered?

Awolowo: As far as I know, the Ibo masses are friendly to me, towards me. In fact, whenever I visit Iboland, either Anambra or Imo, and there’s no campaigning for elections on, the Ibo people receive me warmly and affectionately. But there are some elements in Iboland who believe that they can maintain their popularity only by denigrating me, and so they keep on telling lies against me. Ojukwu is one of them. I don’t want to mention the names of the others because they are still redeemable, but ….Ojukwu is irredeemable, so I mention his name, and my attitude to these lies is one of indifference, I must confess to you.

I’ve learnt to rely completely on the providence and vindication of Almighty God in some of these things. I’ve tried to explain myself in the past, but these liars persist. Ojukwu had only recently told the same lie against me. What’s the point in correcting lies when people are determined to persist in telling lies against you, what’s the point?. I know that someday the Ibos, the masses of the Ibo people will realize who their friends are, and who their real enemies are. And the day that happens woe betide those enemies. The Ibos will deal with them very roughly, very roughly.

That has happened in my life. I have a nickname now, if you see my letterhead you’ll find something on top, you’ll find a fish done on the letterhead. Some people put Lion on theirs, some people put Tiger, but mine is Fish. And Fish represents my zodiac sign, those of you who read the stars and so on in the newspapers; you’ll find out that there’s a zodiac sign known as Pisces, in Latin Pisces means Fish.

So I put Pisces on top, that’s my zodiac sign being born on the 6th of March,….er well, the year doesn’t matter, it’s the day that matters. And then on top of it I wrote Eebudola. All of you know the meaning of that. You know I don’t want to tell a long story but………………Awolowo school, omo Awolowo, the school…… started in Urhoboland, in the Mid-west in those days. They were ridiculing my schools, I was building schools – brick and cement, to dpc level, block to dpc level and mud thereafter. And so the big shots in the place..”ah what kind of school is this? is this Awolowo school? Useless school” and when they saw the children..”ah these Awolowo children, they can’t read and write, Awolowo children” that’s how it started, with ridicule, and it became a blessing, and now they say “Awolowo children, they are good people” no more ridicule about it, that’s how it started, so the 'Eebu' has become honor, the abuse became honor.

And so when I look back to all my life, treasonable felony, jail, all the abuses that were heaped on me, to Coker Inquiry, all sorts, and I see what has happened to the people who led, who led all these denigration campaign, where are they today? Those that are alive are what I call 'Homo Mortuus' - dead living, 'oku eniyan', that’s what they are, those that their lives have gone.

So when I look back, I come to the conclusion that all these abuses which have been heaped on me all my life for doing nothing, for doing good, they have become honor, and so 'Eebudola' is one of my nicknames. So I’ve cultivated an attitude of indifference, I’ve done no evil to the Ibos.

During the war I saw to it that the revenue which was due to Iboland - South Eastern states they call it, at that time..East Central State, I kept it, I saved the money for them. And when they ….were librated I handed over the money to them - millions of pounds. If I’d decided to do so, I could have kept the money away from them and then when they took over I saw to it that subvention was given to them at the rate of 990,000 pounds every month. I didn’t go to the Executive Council to ask for support, or for approval because I knew if I went to the Executive Council at that time, the subvention would not be approved because there were more enemies in the Executive Council for the Ibos than friends. And since I wasn’t going to take a percentage from what I was going to give them, and I knew I was doing what was right, I wanted the state to survive, I kept on giving the subvention – 990,000 pounds almost a million, every month, and I did that for other states of course - South Eastern State, North Central State, Kwara and so on.

But I did that for the Ibos, and when the war was over, I saw to it that the ACB got three and a half million pounds (£3,500,000.00) to start with. This was distributed immediately and I gave another sum of money. The attitude of the experts, officials at the time of the ACB was that ACB should be closed down, and I held the view: you couldn’t close the ACB down because that is the bank that gives finance to Ibo traders, and if you close it down they’ll find it difficult to survive. So it was given. I did the same thing for the Cooperative Bank of Eastern Nigeria, to rehabilitate all these places, and I saw to it as Federal Commissioner for Finance that no obstacle was placed in the way of the Ministry of Economic Planning in planning for rehabilitation of the war affected areas.

TWENTY POUNDS POLICY

That’s what I did, and the case of the money they said was not given back to them, you know during the war all the pounds were looted, they printed Biafran currency notes, which they circulated, at the close of the war some people wanted their Biafran notes to be exchanged for them. Of course I couldn’t do that, if I did that the whole country would be bankrupt. We didn’t know about Biafran notes and we didn’t know on what basis they have printed them, so we refused the Biafran note, but I laid down the principle that all those who had savings in the banks on the eve of the declaration of the Biafran war or Biafra, will get their money back if they could satisfy us that they had the savings there, or the money there. Unfortunately, all the banks’ books had been burnt, and many of the people who had savings there didn’t have their savings books or their last statement of account, so a panel had to be set up.

I didn’t take part in setting up the panel, it was done by the Central Bank and the pertinent officials of the Federal Ministry of Finance, to look into the matter, and they went carefully into the matter, they took some months to do so, and then made some recommendation which I approved. Go to the archives, all I did was approved, I didn’t write anything more than that, I don’t even remember the name of any of them who took part. So I did everything in this world to assist our Ibo brothers and sisters during and after the war.

And anyone who goes back to look at my broadcast in August 1967, which dealt with post-war reconstruction would see what I said there.

STARVATION POLICY

Then, but above all, the ending of the war itself that I’m accused of, accused of starving the Ibos, I did nothing of the sort. You know, shortly after the liberation of these places, Calabar, Enugu and Port Harcort, I decided to pay a visit. There are certain things which I knew which you don’t know, which I don’t want to say here now, when I write my reminisces in the future I will do so. Some of the soldiers were not truthful with us, they didn’t tell us correct stories and so on.

I wanted to be there and see things for myself, bear in mind that Gowon himself did not go there at that time, it was after the war was over that he dorn himself up in various military dresses - Air force dress, Army dress and so on, and went to the war torn areas. But I went and some people tried to frighten me out of my goal by saying that Adekunle was my enemy and he was going to see to it that I never returned from the place. But I went.

But when I went what did I see? I saw the kwashiorkor victims. If you see a kwashiorkor victim you’ll never like war to be waged. Terrible sight, in Enugu, in Port Harcourt, not many in Calabar, but mainly in Enugu and Port Harcourt. Then I enquired what happened to the food we were sending to the civilians. We were sending food through the Red cross, and CARITAS to them, but what happened was that the vehicles carrying the food were always ambushed by the soldiers. That’s what I discovered, and the food would then be taken to the soldiers to feed them, and so they were able to continue to fight. And I said that was a very dangerous policy, we didn’t intend the food for soldiers. But who will go behind the line to stop the soldiers from ambushing the vehicles that were carrying the food? And as long as soldiers were fed, the war will continue, and who’ll continue to suffer? and those who didn’t go to the place to see things as I did, you remember that all the big guns, all the soldiers in the Biafran army looked all well fed after the war, its only the mass of the people that suffered kwashiorkor.

You won't hear of a single lawyer, a single doctor, a single architect, who suffered from kwashiorkor? None of their children either, so they waylaid the foods, they ambushed the vehicles and took the foods to their friends and to their collaborators and to their children and the masses were suffering. So I decided to stop sending the food there. In the process, the civilians would suffer, but the soldiers will suffer most.

CHANGE OF CURRENCY

And it is on record that Ojukwu admitted that two things defeated him in this war, that’s as at the day he left Biafra. He said one, the change of currency, he said that was the first thing that defeated him, and we did that to prevent Ojukwu taking the money which his soldiers had stolen from our Central Bank for sale abroad to buy arms. We discovered he looted our Central Bank in Benin, he looted the one in Port Harcourt, looted the one in Calabar and he was taking the currency notes abroad to sell to earn foreign exchange to buy arms.

So I decided to change the currency, and for your benefit, it can now be told the whole world, only Gowon knew the day before, the day before the change took place. I decided, only three of us knew before then- Isong now Governor of Cross River, Attah and myself. It was a closely guarded secret, if any Commissioner at the time says that he knew about it, he’s only boosting his own ego. Because once you tell someone, he’ll tell another person. So we refused to tell them and we changed the currency notes. So Ojukwu said the change in currency defeated him, and starvation of his soldiers also defeated him.

These were the two things that defeated Ojukwu. And, he reminds me, when you saw Ojukwu’s picture after the war, did he look like someone who wasn't well fed? But he had been taking the food which we sent to civilians, and so we stopped the food.

ABANDONED PROPERTY

And then finally, I saw to it that the houses owned by the Ibos in Lagos and on this side, were kept for them. I had an estate agent friend who told me that one of them collected half a million pounds rent which has been kept for him. All his rent were collected, but since we didn’t seize their houses, he came back and collected half a million pounds.

So that is the position. I’m a friend of the Ibos and the mass of the Ibos are my friends, but there are certain elements who want to continue to deceive the Ibos by telling lies against me, and one day, they’ll discover and then that day will be terrible for those who have been telling the lies.

Fact About Africa

         FACTS ABOUT AFRICA

1. The Gambia has only one university.

2. Equatorial Guinea is Africa’s only

spanish speaking country.

3. South Africa is the most visited

African country.

4. Nigeria has the richest Black people in Africa.

5. Samuel Eto’o is the highest paid Footballer of all time, he received about £350,000 weekly in Russia in 2011.

N

6. A person from Botswana is called

a Motswana, the plural is Batswana.

7. A person from Lesotho is called a

Mosotho.

8. A person from Niger is called a

Nigerien.

8. A person from Burkina Faso is called a Burkinabe.

9. Nigeria has won more football

cups than England.

10. Zimbabwe’s President, Robert Gabriel Mugabe is the

world’s most educated President with 7 degrees, two of

them are Masters.

11. Al-Ahly of Egypt is the richest club in Africa.

12. Didier Drogba is Chelsea’s

highest goalscorer in European competition.

13. Johannesburg, South Africa is

the most visited city in Africa.

14. Zinedine Zidane wanted to play

for Àlgeria, but the selector rejected him, saying they are

already many players like him in the team.

15. President Jacob Zuma was given a special award by

Fifa for refereeing on Robben Island during his years as a

political prisoner.

16. President Robert Mugabe was

jailed for 11 years for fighting for freedom.

17. President Robert Mugabe is

Africa’s oldest Head of State and the world’s second oldest Head of State. He was born in 1924.

18. The Seychelles are the most educated Africans.

Seychelles’ literacy rates (Adult: 92%, Youth: 99%)

Zimbabwe is 2nd (Adult: 91.2%,Youth: 99%).

19. Rwanda is a better country for

gender equality than England and USA.

20. Somalia got its first ATM on

October 7, 2014.

21. South Africa has the most Grammy award winners in

Africa.

22. Ethiopia has the most airports in

Africa.

23. Ethiopia’s economy is growing

faster than China’s.

24. Eritrea’s President, Isaias Afwerki is the least richest

President in Africa.

25. Ethiopia is Africa’s oldest

independent country, it has existed for over 3,000 years

Without being colonised.

26. Haile Selassie 1 was the 225th

and last Emperor of Ethiopia.

27. Nigeria has the most monarchs

in the world.

28. Angola has more Portuguese

speakers than Portugal.

29. President Jose Eduardo Dos Santos has ruled Angola

since 1979.

30. President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo is Africa’s longest serving Head of State. He has ruled Equatorial Guinea since August 3, 1979 when he overthrew his uncle, Francisco Nguema. His son, Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue is his Vice President and will succeed him if he resigns. He started ruling Dos Santo

31. George Weah of Liberia is the

first man to win World, European and African footballer of

the year in the same year.

32. Swaziland is the only remaining

absolute mornach in the world.

33. The Gambia is the smallest country in Africa followed by Swaziland.

34. King Sobhuza ll of Swaziland took the longest time in

reigning Swaziland, 62 years as he was crowned in 1921

and died in August 1982 at the age of 83 years.

35. Zimbabwe is the only country in the world were almost everyone was a billionaire at one point —  with Arjan

Robben , Tapelo Molale, Njabulo Chili , Mbikombi Cya

Hlombe , Njabulo Fortune, Petros Nathy, Mpeekx Dladla

Shandu-mbatha , Sihle Mkhize , Mini Dlamini , Sivuyile Mkalali ,

Skhulile Siphesihle Mngomezulu UDlakadla, Sibaphiwe

Mkalali and Siyabonga M Khumalo

Fact About Nigeria; You don't know

     Do you know that?
1. The River Niger Bridge at Onitsha was constructed between 1964 and 1965 by Dumez- a French construction company and cost £5 million.
2. Patience Jonathan is one of Nigeria’s most-educated First Ladies, with an NCE, a B.Ed, and a PhD from University of Port-Harcourt.
3. The highest peak in Nigeria is located in Taraba and is called Chappal Waddi which means “The Mountain of Death”.
4. There are 196 countries in the world and at least one Igbo person from Nigeria lives in every one of them.
5. The Pidgin word ‘Sabi’ came from ‘Saber’, Portuguese and Spanish for ‘to know’. Both country’s ships traded slaves from the Bight of Benin.
6. Katsina College (now Barewa College in Zaria) has produced 5 Nigerian Presidents/Heads of State since it was founded in 1921 in Katsina.
7. Ojukwu taught Murtala Mohammed and Ben Adekunle at Regular Officers Special Training School, Ghana. Both ‘fought’ their teacher during the civil war
8. At Nigeria’s independence in 1960, there were 41 Secondary Schools in the North and 842 Secondary Schools in the South.
9. In 1983, Senator Arthur Nzeribe spent $16.5 million to win a Senatorial seat in Orlu (in Imo State).
10. In 1973, the Federal Government of Nigeria considered officially changing the name of “Lagos” to “Eko”. Regarding “Lagos” as a colonial name.
11. The geographical area now referred to as Nigeria was once referred to as ‘Soudan’ and ‘Nigiritia’.
12. Offences punishable by death sentence after the 1966 coup included embezzlement, rape and homosexuality.
13. MKO Abiola was named Kashimawo (Let us wait and see) by his parents. He was his father’s twenty-third child, but the first to survive infancy.
14. Jaja Wachucku was the first person to refer to Lagos as a “no-man’s land” in 1947, provoking a national controversy.
15. Jollof rice, chicken breast, serve of ice cream, tea, coffee or Bournvita, with full cream milk and sugar: Meal Cost = 50Kobo- Unilag in the late 1970s
16. At the point death in 1989, Sam Okwaraji was a PhD candidate and qualified lawyer with an LL.M in International Law (University of Rome)
17. When British Bank of West Africa (now First Bank) opened a branch in Kano in 1929, Alhassan Dantata (Dangote’s Grandfather) opened an account depositing 20 camel-loads of silver coins.
18. Jaja Wachuku is reputed to have owned the biggest one-man library in West Africa. Balewa sometimes referred to him as “Most Bookish Minister
19. The colonization of Nigeria took more than 40 years to achieve and the territories were integrated by the use of force.
20. Yoruba is spoken as a ritual language the Santeria cult in Carribean and South-Central America.
21. Slavery existed in the Nigerian territory before the 15th century and was abolished in the 19th century- 1807 by the British.
22. At least 55 women were killed in South-East Nigeria, in 1929 when the women forced the Umuahia warrant chiefs to submit to their rule.
23. The coinage ‘Supreme Court’ was first used in 1863 by the colonial administration through the enactment of the Supreme Court Ordinance No. II.
24. MKO Abiola died suddenly on July 7, 1998, exactly one month after General Sani Abacha died mysteriously on June 8, 1998.
25. Agbani Darego was the only one to wear a maillot as opposed to a bikini during the Miss Universe contest in 2001.
26. The ‘Ankara’ material is not indigenous to Nigeria. Our indigenous textiles include the Akwete, Ukara, Aso-Oke and Adire.
27. Aloma Mukhtar is the first female lawyer from the North and went on to become the first female Chief Justice of Nigeria.
28. The area known as Makoro town in Lagos was first a swamp, later sand-filled by the colonial government and served as the first bridge to the Island.
29. Esie Museum is Nigeria’s first museum, established in 1945. Once reputed to have the largest collection of soapstone images in the world.
30. Aminu Kano formed the Northern Teachers’ Association (NTA) in 1948, the first successful regional organization in the history of the North.
31. George Goldie, who played a major role in founding Nigeria, placed a curse on anyone who attempts to write his biography.
32. In 1996, John Ogbu, a Nigerian Anthropologist firmly advocated for the use of African-American Vernacular to teach in the U.S
33. Hause Language indigenous to Northern Nigeria is spoken in 11 African States. Germany, French, U.S., and British International radio stations broadcast in Hausa.
34. The surgeon who ‘killed’ Stella Obasanjo was sentenced to 1 year in prison, disqualified for 3 years and fined €120,000.
35. The word ‘asiri’ means ‘secret’ in Hausa, Yoruba, Nupe and Igarra. It also means ‘gossip’ in Igbo.
36. Igbo-Ora in Oyo State, Kodinji in India and Candido Godoi in Brazil are the towns that produce the highest number of twin births in the world.
37. Bishop Ajayi Crowther, a Yoruba, in 1857 produced a reading book for the Igbo Language and a full grammar and vocabulary of NUPE in 1864.
38. The first TV broadcast in Nigeria and Tropical Africa was on October 31, 1959.
39. In 1978, a 50Kobo increase (from #1.50 to #2) in the cost of University Students’ meal per day caused the ‘Ali Must Go’ protests.
40. Albert E. Kitson discovered coal in Enugu in 1909. This discovery led to the building of Port-Harcourt town in 1912.
41. Today, only Nigeria has a larger black population than Brazil. More than 3.5 million Africans were captured, enslaved and transported to Brazil.
42. Groundnut pyramids were the invention of Alhaji Alhassan Dantata to stack bags before export.
43. In 1967, old traditional ruler, Oba Akran and A. Ademiluyi were jailed for 14 years (7 each) for stealing £504,750 (#2.5b).
44. Since 1960, Nigeria has been either ruled by an ex-lecturer/ex-teacher or military man. The only exceptions are Azikiwe and Shonekan.
45. If you visited Lagos in 1975, you could spend a day at the Presidential Suite of Federal Palace Hotel for #100, single room for #19.
46. The first aircraft to land in Nigeria landed in Kano in July 1925. A British fighter jet flew from Khartoum (present day Sudan).
47. In 1895, Koko of Nembe (now in Bayelsa) took 60 white men hostage. When the British refused his demands, more than 40 of those men were eaten.
48. The ‘Naira’ was coined by Chief Obafemi Awolowo when he was serving as the Federal Commissioner of Finance.
49. Koma Hill (settlement in Adamawa where people lived and practised the killing of twins) was discovered in 1986 by a NYSC corps member.
50. The pilot (Francis Osakwe) that flew Ojukwu away from Biafra (1970) was the same pilot that flew Gowon to Uganda (last flight as Head of State).
51. In 1986, Shehu Shagari was banned from participation in politics for life. The ban has still not been lifted.
52. As the wife of the deputy Head of State (Vice President of Nigeria) in 1984, Biodun Idiagbon personally ran a small ice cream shop in Ilorin..
53. Koma Hills (Adamawa State) inhabitants when discovered were observed to engage in the practise of borrowing wives among themselves.
54. Juju, Dashiki, Yam and Okra are words in the English dictionary that originated from ethnic groups located in present day Nigeria.
55. Nigeria has more English speakers than England, and more Muslims than Saudi Arabia and Syria.

FACTS ABOUT AFRICA

1. The Gambia has only one university.

2. Equatorial Guinea is Africa’s only

spanish speaking country.

3. South Africa is the most visited

African country.

4. Nigeria has the richest Black people in Africa.

5. Samuel Eto’o is the highest paid Footballer of all time, he received about £350,000 weekly in Russia in 2011.

N

6. A person from Botswana is called

a Motswana, the plural is Batswana.

7. A person from Lesotho is called a

Mosotho.

8. A person from Niger is called a

Nigerien.

8. A person from Burkina Faso is called a Burkinabe.

9. Nigeria has won more football

cups than England.

10. Zimbabwe’s President, Robert Gabriel Mugabe is the

world’s most educated President with 7 degrees, two of

them are Masters.

11. Al-Ahly of Egypt is the richest club in Africa.

12. Didier Drogba is Chelsea’s

highest goalscorer in European competition.

13. Johannesburg, South Africa is

the most visited city in Africa.

14. Zinedine Zidane wanted to play

for Àlgeria, but the selector rejected him, saying they are

already many players like him in the team.

15. President Jacob Zuma was given a special award by

Fifa for refereeing on Robben Island during his years as a

political prisoner.

16. President Robert Mugabe was

jailed for 11 years for fighting for freedom.

17. President Robert Mugabe is

Africa’s oldest Head of State and the world’s second oldest Head of State. He was born in 1924.

18. The Seychelles are the most educated Africans.

Seychelles’ literacy rates (Adult: 92%, Youth: 99%)

Zimbabwe is 2nd (Adult: 91.2%,Youth: 99%).

19. Rwanda is a better country for

gender equality than England and USA.

20. Somalia got its first ATM on

October 7, 2014.

21. South Africa has the most Grammy award winners in

Africa.

22. Ethiopia has the most airports in

Africa.

23. Ethiopia’s economy is growing

faster than China’s.

24. Eritrea’s President, Isaias Afwerki is the least richest

President in Africa.

25. Ethiopia is Africa’s oldest

independent country, it has existed for over 3,000 years

Without being colonised.

26. Haile Selassie 1 was the 225th

and last Emperor of Ethiopia.

27. Nigeria has the most monarchs

in the world.

28. Angola has more Portuguese

speakers than Portugal.

29. President Jose Eduardo Dos Santos has ruled Angola

since 1979.

30. President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo is Africa’s longest serving Head of State. He has ruled Equatorial Guinea since August 3, 1979 when he overthrew his uncle, Francisco Nguema. His son, Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue is his Vice President and will succeed him if he resigns. He started ruling Dos Santo

31. George Weah of Liberia is the

first man to win World, European and African footballer of

the year in the same year.

32. Swaziland is the only remaining

absolute mornach in the world.

33. The Gambia is the smallest country in Africa followed by Swaziland.

34. King Sobhuza ll of Swaziland took the longest time in

reigning Swaziland, 62 years as he was crowned in 1921

and died in August 1982 at the age of 83 years.

35. Zimbabwe is the only country in the world were almost everyone was a billionaire at one point —  with Arjan

Robben , Tapelo Molale, Njabulo Chili , Mbikombi Cya

Hlombe , Njabulo Fortune, Petros Nathy, Mpeekx Dladla

Shandu-mbatha , Sihle Mkhize , Mini Dlamini , Sivuyile Mkalali ,

Skhulile Siphesihle Mngomezulu UDlakadla, Sibaphiwe

Mkalali and Siyabonga M Khumalo