THE GROWING HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN NIGERIA

Kenn · Jul 4, 2003 , 02:33 AM

http://www.hrw.org/press/2003/07/nigeria070303ltr.htm

HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH’S OPEN LETTER TO OBASANJO (TODAY)

http://www.newswatchngr.com/editorial/allaccess/bob/10623231600.htm
MASSOB KILLINGS

Obugi · Jul 4, 2003 , 04:23 AM

Onos,

Yes, proud Nigerian, your great nation is working just as intended. You and Ken Saro Wiwa belong in the same club. His beloved Nigeria gave him a proper reward for his principled fight against Biafra. :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin

obugi

Obugi · Jul 4, 2003 , 05:52 AM

Onos,

The only illusory thing is your grasp of history. No nation composed of different tribes held together by force of arms will stand the test of time, just as no tribe can be divided and kept apart by force of arms. It is nature.

1. The Soviet Union was composed of many tribes forcefully held together by the Russian tribe. Even their nuclear bombs and what not couldn't save their "union".
2. Chechozlovakia was held together by force, as was Yugolslavia(composed of Serbs, Montenegrans, Bosnians, et c). Think of Ethiopia and Eritrea.
3. The German tribe was divided for 1/2 a century, yet they united. North & South Korea will also unite.
4. The Igbos, Ogonis, Yoruba, Hausa, Tiv and all else will go their separate ways, unless they VOLUNTARILY and EXPRESSLY give their assent to the Nigerian Union. They will only give that assent if Nigeria works for their interest and the way our prison is being run, that assent may never come.

Look at what is happening in West Africa, all the wars in all these artificial countries created by White Man Wish. You think Nigeria will be different? You are the one who is dreaming. :lol :lol :lol

Obugi.

MrOneNaija · Jul 4, 2003 , 03:18 PM

THE SILENCE AND HYPOCRISY OF NIGERIA'S "PROGRESSIVES"

This writer and a host of others have in the last four years consistently sought to draw attention to the level of criminal impunity permeating the Obasanjo regime. The picture is a very bleak one: the genocidal mayhem inflicted by Obasanjo's death squads in places like Odi, Zaki Biam and surrounding villages; the illegal detention of political prisoners in the likes of Bamaiyi, Mustapha; the crude rigging of elections with the resort to the coercive instruments of repression represented by the police, the army and other "security" outfits; the intimidation of journalists and other dissenting voices; the harassment of political opponents; the arbitrary use of unconstitutional means to impose Obasanjo's often nebulous schemes on the nation as exemplified by a perverse tendency on the part of the dictator to want to either obstruct the workings of the National Assembly or neutralize its viability as a democratic arm of government, etc.

The situation seems to be getting worse. Sadly, partly out of dubious loyalties, some of those voices who had in the past claimed to belong to the so-called progressive wing of our social discourse have maintained a shameful silence in the face of the current repression plaguing the land. That is when they are not actively collaborating with these same forces of evil. Soyinka symbolizes this reprehensible tendency. Let me share with you this insightful analysis by Dr. Tilde on the hypocrisy of Kongi and other "progressives". Please do go to the following link:
www.gamji.com/tilde28.htm THE HYPOCRISY OF SOYINKA AND OTHER "PROGRESSIVES"

I agree with Aliyu Tilde that as long as our so-called progressives continue to "rediscover" human rights and democracy only when it is convenient for them to do so, their selective protestations regarding social issues are bound to be greeted with cynicism and derision. The Tilde commentary also speaks to the current shenanigans of the NLC leadership.

Zaiyol · Jul 4, 2003 , 11:54 PM

Among others, . ... .the incredible election of Iyiola Omisore to the Senate while in jail on murder charges, and now, another suspect, incredibly released on bail from detention for his complicity in the killing of Chief Ige, Dr. Adewale Oladipo, has been appointed a Portfolio Minister by Mr. Olusegun Obasanjo, still, there is no little reaction from people like Soyinka, Anthony Enahoro, etc., who in the days of Abacha, thundered and globetrotted world capitals in the name of democracy and human reghts abuse in Nigeria. Even when Obasanjo ordered Soldiers to destroy Odi and Benue State, there was no reaction from these self-acclaimed human rights gurus, but Abacha never did anything close to the kind of genocide Mr. Obasanjo has visited on Nigerians.

In effect, the fake election of Iyiola Osimore as a Senator and appointment of Dr. Oladikpo as a minister, have confirmed allegations by Mr. Fryo that, Obasanjo had promised to make him a governor on PDP platform if he decamped and eliminated Chief Bola Ige. Below are details of Keyamo's affidavit implicating Mr. Obasanjo in Ige's assassination, and the promise to Iyiola Osimore, and probably others:

AFFIDAVIT VERIFYING FACTS RECEIVED FROM MY CLIENT.

I, Festus Keyamo, male, Nigerian citizen, legal practitioner of Festus Keyamo Chambers, Suites BC 7 & 8, Maryland Shopping Complex, Maryland, do hereby make oath and states as follows:

*That I am a counsel to one Olugbenga Joseph Damola Adebayo (alias Fryo) by virtue of which I am conversant with the facts herein deposed and I have his consent and authority to depose to this affidavit.

*That I have decided to depose to this affidavit and make it public out of my patriotic duty and altruistic desire to ensure that the killers of Chief Bola Ige are brought to book and to supply the missing link to the jigsaw puzzle that has confronted the nation. It is also to ensure that there is no cover-up whatsoever to this very wicked crime.

*That Olugbenga Joseph Damola Adebayo, has briefed me and I hereby believe him:

*That he was declared in the media as the most wanted man in connection with the brutal murder on Sunday, December 23, 2001, of the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Chief James Ajibola Ige.

*That he decided to give me these facts freely before he turns himself in, so that he clears his conscience and his hands of all he knows pertaining to the murder.

*That he knows as a fact that the succession of events leading to the brutal murder of Chief Bola Ige started building up slowly till Monday, December 10, 2001, when there was a fracas in the Osun State House of Assembly and further escalated when Chief Bola Ige was attacked at the Palace of the Ooni of Ife during the conferment of chieftaincy title on Chief (Mrs.) Stella Obasanjo, the wife of the President on Saturday, December 15, 2001.

*That after that fateful day, the succession of events quickened in tempo until the eventual murder of Chief Bola Ige.

*That before the 8th of December, 2001, he was Assistant Public Relations Officer of Alliance for Democracy (AD) Iremo (Ward 1) in Ile-Ife Central Constituency.

*That at the same time he remained a part 2 student of the Department of Physical and Health Education, Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile-Ife.

*That he first met the late Honourable Odunayo Omobolande Olagbaju, during his campaigns into the House of Assembly in 1999, and they became close friends.

*That he thereafter met Otunba Iyiola Omisore, the Deputy Governor of Osun State through Honourable Odunayo Olagbaju.

*That Honourable Odunayo Olagbaju himself became close to the Deputy Governor because they are both from the same Ife-Central Constituency, and that Otunba Iyiola Omisore, underwrote some of the campaign expenses of Honourable Odunayo Olagbaju

*That he knows as a fact that Honourable Odunayo Olagbaju was the brain box' behind Otunba Iyiola Omisore.

*That he is not too sure of the source of the conflict between the governor and his deputy, but he was regularly updated about it by Honourable Odunayo Olagbaju.

*That sometime last year, the Deputy Governor, Otunba Iyiola Omisore called Honourable Odunayo Olagbaju and himself and told them that he (Omisore) had the mandate of the Presidency to cross over to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) where he would be fielded as a gubernatorial aspirant in 2003 since he was being frustrated within the AD and particularly because the PDP is so desperate to capture Osun and Oyo states.

*That The Deputy Governor therefore told them that preparatory to declaring his intention, all his supporters should immediately start decamping to the PDP.

*That he therefore crossed over to the PDP and was immediately appointed the Organising Secretary of PDP in Iremo (Ward 1) in Ife-Central Constituency and was immediately promised the councillorship of that ward.

*That Honourable Odunayo Olagbaju and all of Omisore's supporters also crossed over and they began to hold regular meetings with the state PDP.

*That on a number of occasions, Otunba Iyiola Omisore assured them that funds from the Presidency are unlimited and that the PDP was surely going to take over control of the state through him.

*That on a number of occasions, Omisore would leave for some trips, telling them that he was on errand for the Presidency. For example, during the fracas in the Osun House of Assembly on the 10th of December, 2001, Otunba Omisore was not around because he told them he was on errand for the Presidency.

*That in the early hours of Monday, December 10, 2001, Honourable Olagbaju rushed to him and informed him that there was a planned impeachment of their political god-father, Otunba Omisore, by forces in the Osun State House of Assembly sympathetic to Governor Bisi Akande.

*That Olagbaju therefore asked him to mobilise students and youths to protest this development since a case was already in court and the rules of the House dictated that no one can debate matters before any court of law.

*That he immediately mobilised people for a peaceful protest, but when they arrived there they saw that dangerous weapons were freely being used by both sides.

*That in fairness and in truth, Honourable Odunayo Olagbaju himself had a gun with him when the other side opened fire on them, though he did not see him use it.

*That after the activities of the House were successfully paralysed, they retreated to the outskirts of the town where Honourable Olagbaju joined them shortly after and told them he still had to go into town to brief Omisore’s other supporters about the success in stalling proceedings on that day.

*That surprisingly, only their supporters were later arrested and charged by the Osun State Police Command, and all supporters of Governor Bisi Akande were all released by the Police.

*That this is because he knows as a fact that the Commissioner of Police of Osun State is very partisan in the crises as he is a close ally of Governor Bisi Akande while the Head of the State Security Services in Osun State is a close ally of Otunba Iyiola Omisore.

*That Otunba Iyiola Omisore told them when he came back that they should be prepared for the battle ahead as he had just been given more money by Abuja to organise more protests to discredit the Alliance for Democracy in the state, and to show that AD is not on the ground.

*That on Saturday, December 15, 2001, Honourable Olagbaju sent word to him about the event at the Palace on that day and said Otunba Omisore had instructed that all of them (his supporters) converge that day in the Palace.

*That at the Palace on that day he was with Otunba Iyiola Omisore with other supporters, except Honourable Olagbaju who later confided in him that he could not make it for spiritual reasons.

*That as Chief Bola Ige was leaving, he was right behind the Deputy Governor, together with his brother, one Kola Omisore. All of them also got up and followed the crowd.

*That Otunba Iyiola Omisore then signalled Kola Omisore, his brother, to get Ige's cap for him and instructed my client to keep the cap and hand it over to him later.

*That it was Kola Omisore who then removed the cap of Chief Bola Ige, handed it over to him, but out of excitement he threw it up to catch it, only for it to get stuck on a tree. He left it there.

*That Kola Omisore also removed the glasses of Chief Bola Ige and flung them away as the Deputy Governor did not insist on keeping that one.

*That after this incident, on the same day, Omisore took a select group of them to Hilton Hotel, Ife, where the following people, among others, were present:

*Kunle Alao, ex-Commissioner under Governor Akande and removed for his loyalty to Otunba Omisore.

*One other notable person whom he can simply identify asJalo.

*The Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, who was careful not to be seen with them, was in a room upstairs, but was not physically present with them. He was later to meet with the two people mentioned above.

*That Otunba Omisore celebrated theIge incident' by declaring surplus food and drinks on the said day in the said hotel.

*That it was at that venue that Otunba Omisore called him aside and said something to the effect that they have done well over Ige but that the job was not yet done. He asked him in Yoruba to name his price to kill Chief Bola Ige. He said it is then that the job would be complete.

*That he was shocked and surprised because he did not see himself as anything more than a political supporter. He resolved he could not do that kind of thing.

*That he tired to hide his surprise when he calmly asked him about the Police Security around Chief Bola Ige.

*That Otunba Omisore calmly placed his hands on him and told him that with Abuja, that would not be too difficult.

*That he did not want to show his disloyalty by openly turning him down so he raised the amount to something about N15 million (fifteen million naira).

*That Omisore offered N5 million (five million naira) but he explained that many others would have to be involved. Omisore told him he was too greedy and told him he could get others for something cheaper.

*That they returned to their tables and did not discuss the matter again and shortly after he left.

*That on Tuesday, the 18th of December, 2001 he went to Court at Oshogbo with Honourable Olagbaju to show their solidarity over the case of Otunba Omisore. The case was adjourned to the 7th of February, 2002.

*That on Wednesday, the 19th of December, 2001, he was with Honourable Olagbaju at a spot known as Old School," drinking. After some time, he asked him to go to Enuwa to get his car, but he returned later to tell him he could not get the car and bade him farewell.

*That a friend then took him to his house.

*That early on Thursday, December 20, 2001, the Personal Assistant to Honourable Olagbaju, one Femi, woke him up at about 6.00 a.m. to break the news to him that shortly after he left them the previous day, Honourable Olagbaju was killed, incidentally opposite the Ife Divisional Police Station where he was drinking in Moore.

*That Femi narrated how Honourable Olagbaju was first shot several times, then to make sure that he did not have charms against gun-shot wounds, he was matcheted several times and then a sledge-hammer was used on his head severally.

*That as this happened the attackers repeatedly told Olagbaju that he could no longer save Omisore from impeachment.

*That both Femi and the other witness to the attack present who is one Olumide Ayilara, gave the identity of the attackers, who they knew very well as follows:

(a) One fellow simply known as Egbegi': This fellow was arrested during the Ife-Modakeke crises. He is a native of Ife and a political thug to Honourable Omidiora, representing Ife-East Constituency in Osun State Assembly. Omidiora in turn is a staunch loyalist of Governor Bisi Akande, and Omidiora championed the planned impeachment of Omisore. The said Egbegi stays in Ondo Road, Ile-Ife.

(b) The second attacker was one Olaolu'. He was arrested with guns during the Ife-Modakeke crises. He is a political thug to the Ife-Central Local Government Chairman, Honourable Kunle Adeniji, who in turn is a staunch supporter of Governor Bisi Akande. Olaolu stays in Isale-Agbara in Ile-Ife.

(c) Somebody suspected to be one Ayo' who stays in Isale-Agbara in Ile-Ife.

lThey then mobilised youths who stormed the residence of these individuals, since the Police failed to act or make any arrest.

*That in the house of the said Egbegi, a list of those as approved by Chief Bisi Akande to be eliminated was recovered. Honourable Olagbaju was number one and his name was number four. The Ife-East Local Government Chairman was number two and one Biyi Odunlade was number three.

*That the said list is with one Dr. Wale Oladipo.

*That up till now, strangely, the Osun State Police Command has not arrested these named attackers who murdered Honourable Olagbaju.

*That on the 21st of December, 2001, now two days before Chief Bola Ige was murdered, he went very early to Otunba Omisore's official quarter at Osogbo between 8.00-9.00 a.m.

*That he went in company of Shehu, his younger brother, and with one car belonging to one Kunle Alao.

*That he went there to ask for Omisore's police orderly to follow him to Honourable Olagbaju's house to take Olagbaju's Alsatian dogs and puppies, since there was no one to feed them, as Honourable Olagbaju's wife and kids had been quickly evacuated to Ketu in Lagos State.

*That for the second time, Otunba Omisore called him aside and asked if he was now prepared to do the job for the N5 million since his friend was now dead. He told him he could not for that price.

*That at that stage, the Assistant Inspector-General in charge of that zone, whose name he cannot recall, came to meet with Otunba Omisore, and he quickly dismissed them saying they had something urgent and important to discuss.

*That he states and restates again that even though he was contacted to do the job, he was not the one that pulled the trigger.

*That they should ask Omisore who and who he got with the approval of Abuja, when he refused.

*That the following are the names and telephone numbers of those to whom he often related with politically in Osun State.

(a) Otunba Iyiola Omisore - 035-242722

(b) Asiwaju of Ife - 036-233007

(c) Chairman Ife East Local Government - 036-233748

(d) Honourable Odunayo Olagbaju's father - 036-231285

(e) Dr. Wale Oladipo - 036-233638.

*That I swear to this affidavit in good faith.

Sworn to at the High Court Registry, Ikeja this 11th day of January 2002

Kenn · Dec 2, 2003 , 04:15 PM

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/3254960.stm

HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH

http://www.newswatchngr.com/editorial/allaccess/nigeria/11201111151.htm
INSIDER

http://www.newswatchngr.com/editorial/allaccess/bob/11201104623.htm
NIGERIA FAILS AGAIN

NextLevel · Dec 2, 2003 , 07:49 PM

Na wa o - telling it raw... but will the ILNs listen?

www.vdare.com/sailer/part...bility.htm

MrOneNaija · Dec 2, 2003 , 08:19 PM

LESSONS FOR NIGERIA

www.mtrustonline.com/dail...112003.htm The Ethnic Division Strategy in Iraq
:rollin :rollin :rollin

AfricaWest1 · Dec 3, 2003 , 12:08 AM

MrOneNaija

Thank yo ufor providing the link above. I mentioned on a different thread that the U.S would consider engineering a civil war in Iraq in order to control her. I still believe U.S political strategist are predisposed to implementing a civil war/divide and rule.

Also, I am sure a strategy is in place for Nigeria, the question is one of timing. Nigeria can not continue life in its "normal" way, not for long. Please mark my word....

Reading the article you realise that most former colonial identities now parading as states are quite wrong to do so. Lets take Iraq for instance, the Western powers choose the Sunnis to oppress the Shiites and Kurds when it suites them. When they fall out with the Sunnis, the turn and choose either the Kurds or the shiites or both to control Iraqi and oppress the rest. It is a farce! The same thing obtains in and applies to Nigeria; and Nigeria is a much bigger farce!!

When that day of liberation shall arrive to we, Africans, we shall join hands with our sisters and brothers from all over Africa; and in the 'old negro spirituals' sing and shout:

"free at last, free at last, thank God almighty, we are free at last."

Ebe · Dec 3, 2003 , 01:54 AM

Nextlevel,

There is nothing outlandish about the proposal in the article you linked. I have reservations about some of the arguments because I consider them too naive and simplistic. However, as everyone here knows, I am all for partition, secession, balkanization, etc, if it reflects the legitimately expressed will of the people concerned---in which case we would properly speaking be talking about self-determination. I am against any form of elite, imposed partition. And my reading of the article is that it advances partition as something to be sought, not something to be imposed by fiat or alacrity.

Obugi · Dec 3, 2003 , 09:05 PM

All,

The truth is that many of the so called "nationalists" on this board - especially Kenn, CIkpatt, ILN - want Nigeria to survive by all means in order to ensure the continued suppression of the Yoruba and the Igbo. They would rather be exploited by Europeans and their local elite collaborators than compete on equal terms with other Africans. They would rather fight to implement the wanton violation of our human rights, in this case the right of association and self determination, than fight to undo what the White Man has wrought on our continent.

The main problem with this is that Nigeria will not last unless there is a revolution, either of the elite or the people, that returns or nation to its legitimate owners.

Obugi.

Kenn · Dec 3, 2003 , 09:49 PM

Obugi,

>>>All,

The truth is that many of the so called "nationalists" on this board - especially Kenn, CIkpatt, ILN - want Nigeria to survive by all means in order to ensure the continued suppression of the Yoruba and the Igbo. They would rather be exploited by Europeans and their local elite collaborators than compete on equal terms with other Africans. They would rather fight to implement the wanton violation of our human rights, in this case the right of association and self determination, than fight to undo what the White Man has wrought on our continent.

The main problem with this is that Nigeria will not last unless there is a revolution, either of the elite or the people, that returns or nation to its legitimate owners. <<<

I am not sure I understand you when you say people like me “want Nigeria to survive by all means in order to ensure the continued suppression of the Yoruba and the Igbo” or that we “would rather fight to implement the wanton violation of our human rights, in this case the right of association and self determination, than fight to undo what the White Man has wrought on our continent”. Where have I ever expressed such a view? Is there something I’ve said here or elsewhere to give you such an impression, or is this another of those meaningless farts that you drop around the place in your misguided notion of fighting neocolonialism when indeed it is only an advanced case of persecution complex?

It would seem to me that your one-dimensional mind has nothing more to offer but blinking prejudice, cruel lies, ignorance and misinformation. You’ve been here long enough to know what to do when you accuse people stupidly. There’s one and only one thing for you to do right now having vomited what is choking you – prove your accusations with facts.

You must know that not everyone is into hate-mongering.

CHEERS!

Obugi · Dec 4, 2003 , 01:22 AM

Kenn,

When your compatriot CIkpatt threatened to commit genocide against the Igbo in his native state you characterized such an intent on his part as a minor thing, and then rewarded him by nominating him for "high office" (:rollin ). That is just one example among many. I guess you won't be see reason in any "persecution complex" :lol till you see the blood on your hands.

We all have human rights, not just those who feel threatened by the legitimate struggles of the Igbo and others. I don't begrudge you and your type the right to suppress the national aspirations of Africans, or even to kill Igbos if it makes you happy, just don't keep hiding your racism under the cloak of "patriotism" and "rule of law" :\ :\ :\ :\ for a nation that you know very well is an empty shell containing neither.

Obugi.

Meticulous · Dec 4, 2003 , 02:03 AM

Obugi, you said:

The main problem with this is that Nigeria will not last unless there is a revolution, either of the elite or the people, that returns or nation to its legitimate owners.

While I agree, a collective revolution of Nigerian citizenry at the grassroot level will bring some change....

I am getting this nagging impression from your writings that your definition of "revolution" means carving Biafra?

Obugi · Dec 4, 2003 , 08:10 AM

Is the beginning of blackmail. :lol I am truly amazed at how scared "Nigerians" get when any hint of seccession gets into any discussion. This Nigeria you all love so much, what has it done for you? Why did you leave it and run abroad? Me, I won't love Nigeria till my Mom or Dad becomes a Minister (preferably of Finance, maybe Works and Housing!!!!!!!!!!!):rollin :rollin :rollin

Meti,

I'll be blunt. No, I don't care if Nigeria stays united or if it is split into a thousand city-states or if it is ruled by OBJ, men from Mars, or even if it is recolonized by the British.....................as long as a large majority of its people live in reasonable economic and political dignity. Take Hong Kong, it was a British colony till recently and it was very, very prosperous. We all know a working nation when we see one.

Obugi.

NextLevel · Dec 4, 2003 , 12:55 PM

Ebe,

I never said that there was anything outlandish in the article. I posted the article because there are some of us on this webboard who think that ethnic conflict is a figment of the imagination or something that can be solved by simply denying its existence. If anyone thinks that they sometimes don't have ethnic conflicts amongst *Whites* in America, speak to the Southerners whose parents fought for the Confederate side of the Civil War and listen to them describe "Yankees" (Northerners).

Kenn · Dec 4, 2003 , 06:30 PM

Obugi,

>>>Kenn,

When your compatriot CIkpatt threatened to commit genocide against the Igbo in his native state you characterized such an intent on his part as a minor thing, and then rewarded him by nominating him for "high office" ( ). That is just one example among many. I guess you won't be see reason in any "persecution complex" till you see the blood on your hands. <<<

>>>It would seem to me that your one-dimensional mind has nothing more to offer but blinking prejudice, cruel lies, ignorance and misinformation. You’ve been here long enough to know what to do when you accuse people stupidly. There’s one and only one thing for you to do right now having vomited what is choking you – prove your accusations with facts.<<<(Kenn, above, challenging Obugi to prove his accusations)

Facts, Obugi, facts are what I ask, not fiction, faction or blood on your hands!

So, Ikpatt was planning genocide against the Igbo and I rewarded him with “high office”? What a shame! Now, where are the other examples/facts you speak of?

Well, if this is your attempt at providing proof, may I gleefully declare it a huge disappointment, because right here on this board, there are still people who contributed/participated in the old messageboard on the issue in question?

First, the Ikpatt one - as I recall, it was a thread opened to raise alarm over the attack on Igbo traders by OPC elements in Lagos (though eventually it was found not to be true) and also to discuss issues raised in one very pro-Yoruba comment by Remi Oyeyemi, the Nigeriaworld columnist - http://nigeriaworld.com/columnist/oyeyemi/102902.htmlThis was at a time when the story was rife that the Igbo were gunning for the governorship of Lagos state (only in Nigeria!). Ikpatt came in to controversially raise issues about the attitude of Igbo traders in his home state too – how they carve up territory, drive indigenes out of business through gang-ups, etc. I was the FIRST person to come out to challenge Ikpatt’s argument and characterized it as “ammunition for the ethnic-cleansers” (yet you comfortably tell the fib here that I characterized it “as a minor thing”. I made two solid posts on that thread that took Ikpatt to test on issues that people like you couldn’t even see from the statement and I also made references to it in a couple of other threads I was contributing at the time. I remember that it was you and Ezeagwo (one of the contributors then) who felt worse about Ikpatt’s statement. There were Obi Sr and Ezeoke, but they weren’t that troubled. You particularly called Ikpatt all sorts of names and laid accusations of all sorts at his doorstep, etc.

Now, shortly after, we resolved to present a statement on the Niger-Delta following the onshore-offshore, signing or no signing controversy. Ikpatt was chosen to prepare the draft by working with the presentations the rest of us gave to him. Eventually, between Ikpatt, Big K and myself, we produced a statement (it was shortly after then that the Odili board crashed again!). Of course, it wasn’t a matter of who did the job, but simply getting the job done. The whole idea of the whole process being open was for people like you who are in opposition to also air your view. Nobody forced you to contribute on the thread; nobody called you to come and sign; nobody asked you to do anything other than express yourself if you feel like. Ikpatt did not ask you for anything to help him do the job nor did you offer any help of any sort, save your wanton abuse and opposition to the idea. So, if that is what you call ‘rewarding’ Ikpatt, it would be nice to know from you what benefit Ikpatt derived from the exercise. Was it some benefit that he had to keep quiet while you abused and insulted him, because we didn’t want the effort to degenerate into a slanging match? You opposed the idea with everything you had, pouring invectives on Saro-Wiwa and the Niger-Deltans who refused Igbo overtures before, during or after the war, etc. In fact, you came up with all sorts of prejudicial and indeed ridiculous arguments in favour of Obasanjo’s refusal to sign the Bill at that time simply in your attempt to deprive the Niger-Deltans of their due. But I was patient (yes, I’ve always been patient with you) and took time to debunk every one of those arguments you put forward.

So, I do not know what else you speak of and I do not know what evidence or reason you have for making more irresponsible and stupid statements and accusations. But, I’m not surprised; it’s hypocrites like you that shout most about Ndigbo, when in truth, you feel nothing for them within you. In truth, you’re just one selfish little man who think nothing of any other but yourself. Your numerous posts here exposes that much.

Now, may be you need to be reminded of where you’re coming from. Do you realize that it was you who first wrote to me before you joined the old messageboard to commend my writings and the fact that I continued to keep my national perception? Have you forgotten how you claimed that this even inspired you to write in Gamji in response to another Igbo chap living in Warri (who, funny enough was talking the way you are talking now)? Did you realize that I asked your permission to post that letter of yours on the old board? Didn’t you finally come to join one of the old threads then started by one Dr Alarape (“NIGERIA NEEDS A NATIONAL LEADER”)to declare your Nigerianness and pontificate on people that still wear the ethnic blinkers? Now, I note that you’ve posted that article you wrote in Gamji, a copy of which you sent to me then, on the Solution to Corruption thread. It’s amazing that you still cannot see the transformation that has come over you since you wrote that article. Anyone who reads it would not fail to note how much degeneration your thought process has suffered since.

So, what has come over you, what new wisdom have you discovered that’s suddenly turned you into this negative irredentist? What do you want of people like me who simply believe that Nigeria is what we have today, she is the country the thieving elite are rubbishing today and the one that owes each of us something and the one we wish to claim back? What is wrong in conceiving my obligation as one to make the disparate peoples and nations that make up Nigeria believe that the country is ours to claim as one? Okay, you want separateness/secession or whatever, but it is not happening. It is not happening on your level, it is not happening elsewhere. The undeclared war in the Delta is over oil. It is the case of the national government brutalizing its own people in order to fleece them of their natural wealth. This is different. The Igbo are as guilty of that war, as are the Hausa, Fulani, Yoruba, in fact any Nigerian from anywhere that breathes and lives Nigeria. I’ve heard hues and cries about breaking up Nigeria since I was born; yet nobody is breaking the daaamn thing! Think about this, since 1914, when your favourite villains the ‘White Man’ created Nigeria, we’ve had these hues and cries to break it up. Soon, it would be a century old droning; nobody has broken it up! Don’t you think it’s about time we face the reality of what we have now and work with it; rather than spend precious time moaning and moaning about break-ups, depriving each other of the needed solidarity to change things?

>>>We all have human rights, not just those who feel threatened by the legitimate struggles of the Igbo and others. I don't begrudge you and your type the right to suppress the national aspirations of Africans, or even to kill Igbos if it makes you happy, just don't keep hiding your racism under the cloak of "patriotism" and "rule of law" for a nation that you know very well is an empty shell containing neither.<<<

My proposition is simple. I do not begrudge you your right to self-determination, but also do not begrudge me my view that the cause of national solidarity, which is sin qua non to any other political and social action for realistic change of any sort – the sort of change we all crave for, is not helped by these disparate yelps. That does not make me a monster, does it?

CHEERS!