That Train May Have Left the Station By EC Ejiogu

No matter how many nations you dismember Nigeria, you are only going to create as many other corrupt nations out of one corrupt nation. What we need to insist on is good governance ! Corruption should not be acceptable just because it is my kins man who is at the top now !

Kalu and Ojo Maduake would loot a Biafran nation blind. OBJ, Bankole and Tinubu would loot the Oduduwa nation while the international barawo IBB and Dabngote would ruin the north as usual and the Ijaws would continue to lick the ass of anyone offering their ass.
As demonstrated in the last street demonstrations, one day will be one day and the masses would say enough is enough. The ethnic sentiment used to divide them would no more be tenable and they would insist on being ruled by the best and not rogues and animals. If AU can resist being led by a clueless man, why can't Nigerians insist we can't be led by the worst of the society ?

Analysing the possible disintegration of Nigeria is diversionary because that isn't the issue. It's like using paracetamol to cure rheumatism. It would only reduce the pain temporarily. THE CANCER KILLING NIGERIA IS CORRUPTION. Ethnicity is used by the rogues to confuse people. When they want to share oil blocks and national awards, they are one! Jonathan awarded Justice Auta, the judge who found Saro Wiwa guilty, a national award. To an ordinary Ijaw man in the creek, Auta is a devilish northerner but to Jonathan, Auta is a learned Judge. Jonathan awarded Dangote the second highest national award constitutionally reserved for a Vice-President but if it were Yaradua who did same, the Ejiogus would have insinuated tribal sentiment. Jonathan does not see his northern sponsors as enemies but the moment they disagree on the loot, he would introduce ethnic sentiment and the poor man would chorus that.

@NIGERIAN,in the whole of Africa every tribe has a language and that language denotes its origin or where that tribe has settled over the centuries,so dont give me that crap.
@IBRAHIM SAAD,just give us Biafra and we will solve our problems no nation is self sufficient in everything,the tribes that share the banks of the Niger are tribes we can agree with, they are also christians,this divide and rule coupled with dooms day suggestions of yours dont hold water,we Igbo are brave and dont have any fear that we will overcome our shortcomings.We have the Igbo speaking all the way to Bonny,and we are confident that bringing our goods to our hinterland will not be a problem it can be arranged,we have been living together here in the SE and SS for centuries before slavery and before the Hausa-Fulani was forced down our throwts by the British colonialists.The important thing is for people to have control of thier resources and destiny.

@Tuendemash, I'm not an Igbo man. But if it had pleased God to make me one, I wouldn't be ashamed or regret it. I'd have also tried to make the most of life as an Igbo man. What I sought to do in my comment was to steer the discussion towards a more dispassionate, constructive and expository analysis of the subject without necessarily resorting to insulting others 'cause of their views or tribe. Lets focus on the possible scenarios in the event of the disintegration of Nigeria while hoping it doesn't happen. I'm therefore not concerned with tribes and languages except to the extent that they have a direct bearing on my line of argument. Pre-colonial boudaries are not feasible. How 'd you demarcate the new boundaries? Is it along pre-colonial empires? The Oyo Empire, the Benin Empire etc? A time when the aqcuisition of territory by conquest was an acceptable legal norm? We've got to be realistic here. So much had changed since the 19thC and we muct take those changes in account.

I want remind my fellow Nigerians that there is no such thing as an Ibo, Yoruba, Hausa, Igala, Ijaw, etc. in Nigeria historically.
These were LANGUAGES spoken by different tribes as a means of marketing and trade. So for example, you will find Ibos, Hausas, Yorubas, etc. Who have a closer ethnic affiliation with close neighbors who speak a different language than they. For example, the ibos near Igalas or near the bendel people. The Hausa of Nassarawa are closer to the Tivs than they are to the Hausa-Fulani of the far north.
When a typical local Nigerian wants to know where you are from he/she will say to you - "which LANGUAGE you be"? not "which TRIBE you be"?
They know something we educated types do not.

JUST REMEMBER THAT IGBOS ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE THE MANUFACTURING HUB OF AFRICA THAN ANY OF THE NIGERIAN NATIONALITIES. THE SEA IS THEREFORE A MUST HAVE FOR RAW MATERIALS AND FINISHED GOODS TRANSPORTATION. TO BUILD YOUR "SWISS CANAL" REMEMBER THAT BOTH BANKS OF THE RIVER NIGER ARE NOT UNDER YOUR CONTROL. YOU WILL HAVE TO NEGOTIATE A CORRIDOR WITH THE YORUBAS AND OTHER NATIONS ON THE EASTERN BANKS OF THE NIGER.
SPEAK HONESTLY AFIAZUSIA, WHICH IS EASIER OVERRUNNING YOUR DIVIDED NEIGHBOURS TO THE SOUTH OR NEGOTIATING A TENOUS TREATY THAT WILL TAKE A CHUNK OF YOUR REVENUE AND LEAVE YOU AT THE MERCY OF YOUR HOSTILE AND ENVIOUS NEIGHBOURS?

Igboland existed on its own before the white men came. We know the boundaries between Igboland and our good neighbours. For those who do not know their nation's boundaries beforre the white man came, it is a big sorry. Same way, Ijaw people, Efik, Ibibio, etc know where the boundaries of their nations are. So if any or all of them want(s)to join envisaged Biafra of no unitary government, they are welcome. If they do not want, they can form a country or join whichever nation or nations. But as for Nigeria, it is a nation that destroys its citizens. There should be no looking back for the Igbo to free itself from Nigeria. No amount of intimidation can stop it. For now, oil in the Nigerdelta has hindered the disintegration of a marriage no group wants but are constrained

Igboland existed on its own before the white men came. We know the boundaries between Igboland and our good neighbours. For those who do not know their nation's boundaries beforre the white man came, it is a big sorry. Same way, Ijaw people, Efik, Ibibio, etc know where the boundaries of their nations are. So if any or all of them want(s)to join envisaged Biafra of no unitary government, they are welcome. If they do not want, they can form a country or join whichever nation or nations. But as for Nigeria, it is a nation that destroys its citizens. There should be no looking back for the Igbo to free itself from Nigeria. No amount of intimidation can stop it. For now, oil in the Nigerdelta has hindered the disintegration of a marriage no group wants but are constrained to remain in it.

Ibrahim,happy you love our beautiful ladies,but the country Nigeria is fundermentally flawed.Consent is the basis of any relationship,and you will find from history that any forced relationship ends up in chaos.Nigeria is made oup of tribal entities and all things being equal and just I would like Nigeria the way it is,despite the fact that we are a jigsaw puzzle put together by the British colonialist government,the problem however is that "prevailing injustice" and the fact that those at the recieving end are still subjugated while those benefitting still deny and intend to continue the oppression,they also refuse to discuss it.I disagree with you when you assert that the northerners are happy with the way Nigeria is just because of resources,a lot of northerners will actually like to live in a more islamic environment,they like sharia,islamic banking,full membership of the OIC etc.This means more self determination,what about a confederation?the status quo is untennable.

I thought they said nigeria is theirs? why are they panicking? the igbo have not started the revenge and possible total confrontation with nigeria military; people are just scare. do not worry, be happy, we are coming. obasando oando want us to apologize for crimes he committed against us. imagin the IDIOT, and the other day he was in enugu pleading to the same people he said should apologize, not to ask their people to return from the north, fearing that would mean disintegration of nigeria. i trust my igbo brothers and sisters. we can't be deceive so easily. we know the right thing to do when the right time comes. these political rulers are neo-colonialism (yes, i call them rulers because they are not our leaders) and so they are not our real rulers. we know who our real leaders are. these rulers receive monthly salary from the colonia master. they also have their share of the national cake (called crude oil) it does not favour them if nigeria breaks, we igbo understand that.

So, I don't see the Oil coys allowing the SE to invade a small and weak Niger Delta. The real problem of the SS will be internal ethno-political conflict. If we convoke a SNC, these issues 'd be fixed. It may take 10 or 20yrs, Nig needs a surgery not a cosmetic consitutional amendment. Sharia, resource control, state police, etc. These are not issues the NASS can fix 'cause the very inequities inherent in our defective politico-economy that brought us here are reflected in the balance of power and distribution of representation in that same NASS. How ll such body that is itself a product of fraudulent census and election produce a legitimate people's Charter? The SNC must be a coming together of all ethnic nationalities: as close to the Greek Assembly as possible. If we do this not only will Nig remain one, but she will also rise to global economic prominence in 30yrs. If we don't Nig will continue to wobble and muddle through until it crumbles like a park of cards! Long Live Nigeria.

Same goes for Middle Belt. If they go with the North, there is Hausa/Fulani Muslim domination; if they go alone, there inter-ethnic rivalry. Look at the two Idris(es) of Kogi. The situation will be less pronounced in the East and the West, but thats not to say it wont be there. Go to Ogun state and ask the Egbas and the rest. In the North, my worry is about the fate of the Christians in a core North with Sharia as state religion. The Muslims in the SW have little to fear because education has enabled them transcend conflict triggers like religious differences, so Musliim/Christians 'll continue to coexist peacefully, after all they alll Yorubas. In the SE and SS, US would prefer a small Niger Delta couuntry without N'digbo 'cause that makes it easier to managa as a client country like Qarta, Bahrain etc to feed US need for oil in exchange for security, rather than an N'digbo dominated SS-SE country that would be clever, determined, resilient, technologically innovative and dangerous.

Again, I'd love to see Nig remain one country. Thats where we all can feel secure. That will happen when Nigerians decide to build a Nation. It 'll come from the knowledge that, from the legal foundation of the Constitution, no single ethnic group, either by virtue of its numerical strentgh, educational advancement, economic power, or proximity to resources can ever become so powerful as to determine the social, economic and political directions of the country. Thats what US started to do when the Hispanics/Latinos were becoming too powerful a bloc. The govt introduced visa lottery to neutralise their demographic advantage and the resulting political threat to the 'melting pot' phenomenon that has defined US success. It's not all about cheap labour. In a Niger Delta Country, how will a Benin man or an Urhobo man or Itsekiri feel about Ijaw domination?

The ones who are mentally lazy and paraplegic in every form are the ones against division but they should be reminded that Japan has no oil and host of other countries, so let Biafrans be and watch the people compete with the so called advanced nations,imagine the people that British, France, Russia,etc fought against during the uncivil war, are better off that your race and you have had control of the so called oil for years and you have not feared well and you will never fear well in this generation and 50 more to come,chew upon these

let the country split into many parts we will have nothing to lose, where there no sea we create one through onitsha, or Ugutta lake or Ebonyi, remember swiss canal it is man made, so,Ibrahim sad man weep for your self and illiterate kith and kins

@John-Mark and Osita Dioka
Nice to know we have some cool headed Igbo guys around unlike the coward Anonymous and ethnic bigot Ejiogu.
If u guys agree, CORRUPTION is the problem, why don't we attack that issue. 20 yrs ago, it would have been tenable that Nigeria's problem was Northern rule but 12 years of PDP rule out of which OBJ (8years) and GEJ(2yrs) has shown that ethnicity isn't the issue. These guys belong to the corrupt cabal that holds everyone down irrespective of the tribe. An average Ijaw fisherman now suffers more under Jonathan's policies than before so there is no 100% assurance it would be eldorado in a Biafran nation with what the Kalus and Ojo Maduekes have done with Nigeria.
I have got a question for the ethnic bigots; How come APGA (Igbo Party) isn't in control of the Eastern states like ACN is in the West? Put across your view without involving violence. FIRST MAKE SURE APGA RULES THE EASTERN STATES, THEN YOU WOULD BE TAKEN SERIOUS !

A Sudanese wrote a book titled "THE GOVERNMENT THEY DESERVE". This and others detail how the original founders of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army (rebel group from the South but now the Government of Southern Sudan), were originally guided by a philosophy of a united, equitable and just Sudan under a secular constitution. They demanded a fair share of the resources of Sudan the bulk of which they were producing. But no, the North, which like Nig, has led Sudan since independence, pushed the country to anarchy finally adopting full Sharia law. The North broke or refused to implement several agreements 'til it was too late and it woke up in 2005 to find a Comprehensive Peace Agreement on the table reading "the Southern Sudan to have a referendum to vote on independence by 2011". Then the North panicked. Now the South is independent and the North has resorted to stealing oil. Thats a lesson for Nig. I hope I'd be able to do a full article on this later.

The first question is: What pushes a group to take up arms and challenge the legitimacy of constituted authority? Take it or leave it, thats what MEND did. The reason, is "we never gave our consent to the entity called Nig to take our resources and share with other groups and leave us in abject poverty." The solution should begin with "Niger Deltans, do you waant us to partake of your resources as your brothers? If so, how much and what do you want in return?" Similarly, the question to the Hausa/Fulanis, N'digbo, O'Odua etc should be "do you want to continue in this country? Under a Sharia constitution or under a secular cons? What is acceptable to you and what are you prepared to give in exchange?" I recommend we go and study the history of the Sudan and the 30 years war that culminated in independence for the South in July last year. You will find that historically, Nig is almost in pari materia with Sudan.

I agree with you that greed and corruption in ONE of the MAJOR banes of Nig. But it's by no means the ONLY one. When you isolate the problem and treat, you wont get the desired result. You must examine what feeds corruption and that requires a holistic approach that will, of necessity, take you back through Nig's history. It begins with the resolve by a people, either homogenous or diverse to build a nation. It's a form of social contract that sees the collectivities give up something for something in return. That must be freely done, not coerced or imposed. Thats the only way it bestows legitimacy and guarantees sustainability. The people must believe in it that they created the country and its founding constitutive documents and all institutions and authority deriving therefrom. Thats the only way they have confidence in it.

THERE WILL BE AT LEAST 3 COUNTRIES IN THE SOUTH-SOUTH WHICH MAY ALL BE ULTIMATELY OVERRUN BY BIAFRA BECAUSE OF ITS DEMAND FOR ACCESS TO THE SEA. UP NORTH NO ONE CAN TELL INTO HOW MANY BITS IT WILL BE BROKEN.

THE "PRESENT PRO-HAUSA FULANI POLITICAL SYSTEM" CAN BE OVERTHROWN IN THE EAST AS AN EXAMPLE. REMOVE THE HAUSA-FULANI THAT ARE NOW GOVERNORS AND SENATORS IN THE 5 IBO STATES AND INSTALL GENUINE NDIGBO AS REPRESENTATIVES.
YOU CAN THEN COUNT ON SUCH REPRESENTATIVES TO PUSH EITHER BIAFRA OR SNC AND MAKE IT A NATIONAL ISSUE BY FORCE OF PEDIGREE. BECAUSE IF THE EAST SPEAK WITH ONE VOICE OTHERS MUST LISTEN. YOU DONT NEED THE OPINION OF OTHER NIGERIANS BECAUSE AS A HAUSA FULANI I LOVE IGBO GIRLS, ENUGU COAL AND EBONYI OIL BUT HATE BIAFRA! SO MY OPINION IS NOT SOMETHING YOU WANT TO HEAR!
IF IN TRUTH YOU CANT OVERPOWER THE SMALL TIME CROOKS THAT ARE YOUR POLITICAL REPRESENTATIVES NOW, HOW CAN YOU TAKE ON THE WHOLE NATION? WHAT GIVES YOU LEGITIMACY? HOW CAN WE BE SURE YOU ARE NOT ANOTHER BUNCH OF NEO-OHAKIMS?
YOU HAVE TO PROVE YOUR WORTH BEFORE YOU ARE TAKEN SERIOUSLY, THE SYSTEM EXIST WHICH YOU CAN USE TO PROVE YOUR WORTH.

Yes you are absolutely right inorder to stop producing the type of politicians who represent Ndigbo whom you mentioned,we need a fundermental change,that is exactly what most Ndigbo want,because the present pro-hausa fulani political system is an unjust system and can only produce crooks in the guise of politicians.
Secondly we need a REFERENDUM for all Nigerians to give an opinion,because many in the north want a different system of more self determination,the dysfunctional legislative houses have a pro hausa-fulani stance due to the manner of local government and state configuration which we in the south percieve as fraudulent and loppsided.
If it should be about injustice then a SNC and referendum is the way to keep the peace not by elitist denials.

"You should know that corrruption is bred by Nigeria's unjust political system. But people have yearned since the return of democracy for restructuring the polity to no success. So if people, say, in Biafra, are opting out of Nigeria, what does tundemash lose? Oil revenues?"

THE CORRUPTION BRED BY THE UNJUST POLITICAL SYSTEM IN THE PRESENT BIAFRA STATES WAS NOT INSTITUTED BY THE NORTHERNERS OR THE YORUBA, IT IS AN IBO ON IBO IMPOSITION. IF YOU WANT TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY YOU MUST OVERPOWER THE CORRUPT POLITICIANS IN THE EAST AND THEREBY ERADICATE THE INJUSTICE. THEN YOU WILL PRODUCE A NEW CROP OF POLITICAL LEADERSHIP THAT WILL SPEAK WITH ONE VOICE IN THE LOCAL, STATE AND NATIONAL LEVEL. WITH THAT YOU MUST BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY BY ALL.
ANYBODY CAN CALL A CONFERENCE AND PRODUCE DOCUMENTS LIKE THE BIAFRA CHARTER, BUT WHAT IS THEIR PEDIGREE? ARE THEY ANOTHER CROP OF OHAKIMS OR KALUS? LEAD BY EXAMPLE NOT BY FINE WRITEUPS.

There is a clear mathematical relationship of the two factors,injustice and disunity.Be it the poor who are mistreated and robbed by our political class,be it the Niger delta states whose resources have been stolen by the powers that have been since the advent of crude oil and gas,be it the Igbo race who have been massacred serially by the hausa-fulani,be it the yoruba whose mandate was stolen by the hausa-fulani and thier son the custodian of that mandate killed,be it the middle belt whose military sons have been systematically eliminated,it all boils down to injustice.
The north has some soul serching to do,if you preach one Nigeria,why sharia,why islamic banking,why OIC,why quota-system,why normadic education,why the loppsided number of states,why resist an ID data base to ascertain our true population,why monopolise the armed forces and plot coups,why different grades for JAMBexams(educationally disadvantaged areas) etc.WHY?

MY PRAYER IS FOR THE NEXT ELECTION TO PRODUCE AN IBO PRESIDENT SO THAT ALL SECTIONS CAN SEE THAT CORRUPTION AND NOT ETHNICITY IS THE ISSUE. AS SOME ASKED WHAT IS THE SOLUTION? FIRST WE MUST RECOGNISE THAT THE PROBLEM IS CORRUPTION AND THEN UNITE TO OPPOSE IT FROM WHATEVER QUARTERS IT COMES.
THE OCCUPY NIGERIA MOVEMENT HAS CHALLENGED THE RULING KLEPTOCRATIC CABAL LIKE NOTHING ELSE IN NIGERIAS HISTORY.
AS FOR THESE ETHNIC AGITATIONS FOR SNC OR BREAKUP THEY MUST SHOW THAT THEY ARE IN THE MAJORITY BY BRINGING THE ISSUE TO THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY. A MOVEMENT THAT IS DOMINATED AND OVERPOWERED BY THE PRESENT CORRUPT "DEMOCRATIC" CABAL CANNOT CONVINCE SERIOUS PEOPLE THAT IT HAS CLOUT, NOR CAN IT ASSURE PROSPECTIVE ADHERENTS THAT IT WILL CHANGE THINGS FOR THE BETTER UNDER THE PROMISED NEW DISPENSATION.

@tundemash, you raved about Nigeria's gross problem, corruption, but you had no solution provided. You should know that corrruption is bred by Nigeria's unjust political system. But people have yearned since the return of democracy for restructuring the polity to no success. So if people, say, in Biafra, are opting out of Nigeria, what does tundemash lose? Oil revenues? The sweetest and richest countries of the world have no minerals under their soil or nearer their coasts. tundemash, no more weakness of the mind and body for the tundemashes of "One Nigeria." The fast dwindling tundemashes of "One Nigeria" must not because of their gross problems drag to their holes those who want to live a life of freedom and wellbeing.

Thank you for the awareness...I totally support the actualization of the Republic of Biafra within the new ECOWAS CONFEDERATION that was championed by OBJ. Though, i cannot stand OBJ for his misguided lifetime efforts at sidelining Ndigbo from the Nigerian Commonwealth, but he displayed rare wisdom and vision in his dedication to the ECOWAS Political Union.
IBB, on the other hand was not aware of the implications of Sharia Law as was introcuded in 2002 by 12 northern states, neither is he familiar with the realization of the ECOWAS UNION...to share one currency, free trade and Passport. Poor Fool!!!

Thumb up for you guys. Surely, we will get there. Whether Niger Deltans decide to go with us or not, Biafra remains the best option.

My wish is that Nig remains united. I love it: Giant of Africa, 2nd largest economy in Africa, West Africa's power-house and all those adjectives that makes me beam with smile and pride as a Nigerian. But the rulers failed to let people decide how they want to coexist. The hope of one Nig is becoming dim by the day. If they carry this to the next level, I hope IBB will call his tailor. The fragmentation 'll be so swift and spontaneous that we'll not even have the chance to dialogue if the govt doesn't act now. Now the North is panicky. However the map of Biafra looks, I'm sure there 'd be three countries in the South: SE, SS and SW. It will be a sad day for Nig after 98yrs. Onl'fallen and still counting. Those whom the gods want to destroy they first make deaf. Thats been the case of Nig political/military elites.

Little man Ejiogu, I am surprised you did not question how these so Biafran Govt. in Exile were elected to lord over others and produce a charter for others. As long as you ethnic bigots do not realise Nigeria's problem is the greed of a few, you are wasting your time. Kalu, Nnamani and Ojo Madueke among others would have looted a Biafran nation blind as they looted Nigeria. Ejiogu, it is in your little mind you see Yaradua or Dangote as hausa man. Ojo Madueke preferred a comatose Yaradua to rule than a living Jonathan. Jonathan does not see Dangote as an Hausa man nor does he see a theiving Bankole as a Yoruba man. You and your hallucinting BGIE need to think out of this ethnic box and realise CORRUPTION is the issue and it knows no tribe. An average Ijaw man is worse off under this clueless Jonathan same way an average hausa man has been poverised under years of nothern rule. Same thing would happen if an Ojo madueke makes it to the presidency !