Biafra Is A State Of Being

BIAFRA IS A STATE OF BEING

FROM: Nehemak Chikadibia

Until we have achieved that state of being, 

the desired geopolitical region remains at risk. 

So we must pursue both tasks together.

And the State of Being is as follows:

We have to do as the Catalonians do in Spain.

When they realized that the Castelianos (Madrid) will never voluntarily or easily give them Independencia, the Catalonians (Barcelona) decided to turn inwards and develop their region Technologically, Economically and Infrastructurally - and now they are the economic powerhouse of Spain.

The same thing is with Bayern in Germany. When Germany was declaring itself as a nation, Bayern (Bavaria) had the choice to stay out and be a country on its own (like Austria did) . Instead it opted to stay within a greater Germany and become it's best part. Today Bavaria is the most technologically and economically powerful region in Germany - and it has the whole of Germany now as its primary and biggest market.

The same thing is with California in the USA.

It's not only the biggest economy WITHIN the US, it's also the 6th largest economy in the World!

However, this is only because it is within the US and can leverage on all the synergies that come with that, that it can be so powerful.

If it were suddenly to try to break away overnight to stand alone, as a competitor against the rest of the US, things would not be so easy.

Nigeria does not fear IPOB as it is. *In fact, they WANT IPOB to challenge them, so they can militarily wage war on the Igbos.*

IPOB at present is not the Biafra that Nigeria fears.

They fear the Biafra that becomes like Catalonia, like Bavaria, like California.

That's the Biafra they fear.

*So they NEED this militant IPOB to give them an excuse to come and reduce Ala-Igbo to a wasteland again and turn back the hands of our clock once more to Zero, like they did in the last Civil War.*

*Even if we don't want and don't start any hostilities, they will use the slightest excuse or provocation or accident to send in their troops. Britain will support them and in the end USA will establish a military base in Igbo Land, to keep the peace. And that is how we will become occupied territory.*

*We have to be smart, and shift the battle to the field where we can win.*

What I am saying is this: *yes we will continue to ask for Referendum, like Catalonia does in Spain, like Scotland does in Great Britain.*

*But it is not Referendum that will give us the Biafra we need. And of course It is not guns that will give us Biafra, that we know.*

*As Igbos, we have to conquer our chronic INDIVIDUALISM - and we have to pool our wealth, intelligence and efforts together to turn Ala-Igbo into a First World region, right here and now. But this is the most difficult thing for us because we are individualists! It is easier to protest.*

The second point is: Our Governors. As much as we don't like them, we have to work on them and with them.

*If IPOB mobilises the people against the Governors, the same way it is mobilising them against the Federal Govt, you will see how fast things will change.*

What will the governors do? Start shooting their own people? If any governor does that, where will that governor run to hide from the people's revenge? They have nowhere to hide. Your State is your home - so they MUST listen to the people. *If the people are united, (and IPOB can unite the people because IPOB is very powerful), they MUST start DEMANDING ACCOUNTABILITY from EVERY elected official in the South East.*

Demand that they invest in INFRASTRUCTURES. Roads and transportation. Potable water. Drainage systems. Housing. Health. Education. Tax breaks for small businesses. Regional economic integration. *Constitute expert groups accross every field from within and the diaspora to develop and advice on the framework for regional development.*

*Instead of going to Abuja, the Governors should come together, put money together from their budget and start building a second Niger Bridge. Start dredging the River Niger at Onitsha. Start developing the dry port at Abia. Start NOW and make it mandatory that EVERY South East governor prioritize regional integration. Taxes and tarrifs for business MUST come down to encourage investors.*

*Computer Village in Lagos is full of Igbos.

*The governors and leadership should put their moneys together and build TECHNOLOGY TOWN in Aba. Follow up on Geometrics power project in Aba by Prof Barth Nnaji, with a view to completely electrifying Ala-Igbo.*

*Put their money together and elevate Enugu Airport to a level HIGHER than Lagos or Abuja airport.*

Things like that. *Developing the Owerri Airport to a full international cargo airport and take advantage of the central location of Owerri in the South East.* Quality educational institutions are lacking in the East even though we constantly produce the highest number of applicants to universities. *Let us build more by collaboration with our foreign diaspora. They're the best in many parts of the world. Lets harness this advantage.*

*We need a world class Stock Exchange in Ala-Igbo. We can achieve that without the Federal government, because we own trading. Encourage our diaspora to work with government to establish and run QUALITY WORLD CLASS HEALTH CARE institutions in Ala-Igbo.*

*IPOB has already come up with a blueprint for an Igbo-wide democratic customary government, the people's government, very republican in nature, and this is good. THIS IS POWER.* Ironically, it might even be according to the Nigerian constitution. *If peacefully achieved, this can be the leverage with which to control the elected executive and legislative levels, if Nigeria stays together. And if Nigeria falls apart, then automatically we already have a framework state in operation.*

However, IPOB must win Igbo people over by championing their welfare with their own governors and officials. Threaten them with no re-election and criminal prosecution if they fail to serve their people. They must also encourage the training, standardization, integration and sharing of information by the different state security groups to stamp out crimes like robbery, kidnapping, human trafficking, etc. We are Igbo. We are in the communities and we know those who are into crime. People MUST start explaining their sources of wealth. *IPOB can utilize its huge following to ensure crime is wiped out and good governance is entrenched in the South East and South-South.* Then *IPOB* and possibly Nnamdi Kanu, would ever be remembered kindly by history.

*If we are doing things like all these, Arewa will not need to issue quit notice - NDIGBO will come back in droves to build up Ala-Igbo.*

*Is it beyond the Igbo to venture into modern and very lucrative cattle rearing and be the leaders in all of Africa? Are we not known to come late into any venture and excel beyond those in it for centuries? *** *The governors in Ala-Igbo should AS A MATTER OF URGENCY introduce RANCHING across Ala-Igbo for prospective and enterprising *IGBO CATTLE FARMERS, after which they will enact, implement and execute ANTI OPEN-GRAZING LAWS in their States, then call on all indigenes and States security groups to participate in monitoring its implementation.*

*This will empower all Igbos and we will rid ourselves of these Fulani Herdsmen in no time.*

* *This is priority. Every passing day is too much.*

*Ekiti State did it.*

*Benue State has done it.*

*It's not impossible.*

*Why cannot the States of the South-East ALL do it as ONE?*

*Anti Grazing Law.*

*This will shake the Nigerian Govt more than asking for referendum.*

*IPOB has power. If they use it wisely they can bring about tremendous change in Ala-Igbo without a single blood shed. They are uniquely positioned by God at this period in time to use their massive following and break the individualistic Igbo trait to bring about change that will positively shape Igbo history for generations.* _If they misuse it by going the route of war, that didnt work decades ago, then it would be a great loss indeed._

If Nigeria stays together, Ala-Igbo can become the most advanced region of Nigeria if we START NOW.

If Nigeria breaks up, we have to be ready to survive on our own. *And at this moment, we are not yet ready. This is where we need to put our eyes into. Because the ball is already rolling.*

*What we want is for people to come and start investing in Ala-Igbo, from all over the world. They will do this massively if they see the political will and infrastructures being laid down in Ala-Igbo.*

_If that happens, everybody will protect Igbo land._ *Biafra will grow from within.* Let Nnamdi Kanu, all Igbo leaders and thinkers read this and run with it.

***I'm sending this to you so you can spread it to Ndigbo who are amongst your contacts so that this consciousness can spread and be built on. *Lets develop Ala-Igbo from within.*

Ka Chi Ukwu no n'Igwe n'edu anyi n'Uwa gozie okwu a ka o wee mee. *Yameenu.*

Biafra: The Civil War 

Never Ended...

Onyeka Onwenu 

Nigeria's lady of songs, activist journalist, Onyeka Onwenu has said the Igbo people will make no apologies for going to war with Nigeria, as according to her, the Biafra was a war brought on them and they had to fight in self defence.

Onwenu who spoke on Monday in Lagos at the 'Never Again Conference' organised by Nzuko Umunna, an Igbo sociocultural group, to mark 50 years since the end of the Biafra war in 1970, also recalled how her widowed mother's property was seized in Port Harcourt, Rivers State after the war.

She said the Biafra is a very sensitive and painful matter that ought to be addressed.

"This is a subject matter that is very close to our hearts," she said. "It's very personal to very many of us, very sensitive matter; very painful matter indeed. And yes, some of us have lived with some bitterness. And we make no apologies about that. We were a people in war, led into war, not by our own wishes or design, but in self defence. No apologies Nigeria, no apologies to the world.

"But here we are. I was born and raised in Port Harcourt. My father, Dike Onwenu was the first Arondizuogu man in the federal house, and he was representing Port Harcourt constituency. He was the principal of Enitonna High School. He was a brilliant man. But he died too early. I'm from Abia State since I'm an Aro daughter. I'm from Imo State, Arondizuogu and I'm also from Anambra where my mother comes from. I can go there and live and nobody can stop me.

"I'm also from Lagos State. I married a Yoruba man. I have two Yoruba children."

Onwenu said she fought the Biafra war and recalled many children and aged people dying in her care. She regretted that the war has not yet ended, and warned those still fighting the Igbo to be careful.

"I fought the war as a young girl between 14 and 17 years, and I lost many relatives. I carried babies who died in my arms. I treated old people who took days to die. People were dying of hunger, even our soldiers were dying out of hunger. But thank God we survived.

"When my father died at 40, he was a politician and also a principal. But he didn't have much money. In those days, you had to keep your day job, even if you were a member of the House of Representatives. Yes, my mother, an Anambra woman, was a trader. She was richer than my dad, so my dad would borrow money from her to buy land and he never paid back. You know how it is with husband and wife.

"At the end of the war, I couldn't go back to Port Harcourt. My home was abandoned property. Those of you who come from Port Harcourt know the story. The home that a widow, my father had only laid the foundation when he died in an accident; the building that a widow built was seized as an abandoned property.

"And living just adjacent to us on Hospital Road were the Ikokus. In fact, I thought we were related because every family in Port Harcourt was together. You didn't care were anyone came from or who they were, whether you were from Port Harcourt or not. Every parent had the right to reprimand a child he/she saw misbehaving. Port Harcourt was a beautiful town, but we couldn't get back to it.

"So, for me, the civil war never ended, it is still going on. My poor mother went back to Port Harcourt to claim her property and she was beaten into a coma by people whom she had helped all her life; people she had helped to send to school, because she is an Igbo woman and now Port Harcourt belonged to another group of people.

"They forgot the sacrifices that the Igbo made. It is still going on, no apologies have ever been made about that. The road that is now referred to as Harold Wilson Road used to be Dike Onwenu Road. That's on account of the sacrifices that the Onwenus, the Ikokus, and the rest, made in building up Port Harcourt.

"Here I am. I travelled outside, thanks to my sister who was at Harvard at the time. But we all came back to develop Nigeria. I have tried with the little talent that God has given me, to use it to the betterment of my society and my country. But if I were a Yoruba or a Hausa woman, I would probably have had more patronage, more help and more support than I have got by my self-help effort to raise this country up.

"But I'm not asking anybody for anything. I put myself through school, my widowed mother did her best. I was working two jobs in America to put myself through school. I didn't want to take the Nigerian scholarship because they were giving it to everybody, those who deserved it and those who didn't. And many of them were not even in school.

"I'm angry at Nigeria, I'm angry at this government which seems to be letting us down. I'm angry at us as a people, I'm angry at my people, Ndigbo. Because he who is rejected doesn't reject himself. Stop complaining and do it yourself. We have always been able to do that. How did we build Imo Airport? Nobody built for us. We spent many years raising money. I was travelling all over the country to do free concerts to raise money for Imo Airport. That's who we have been. And I remember that in those days, if the Igbo State Union decides, that's it, everybody follows the line and gets it done."

Source: Daily Newspaper