By: Godswill Leeleebari
I write this episode as an Ogoni man, a full fledged Biafran and a born freedom fighter. I have received several inbox messages and verbal confrontations asking me why I support and even fight for Biafra. These have prompted my pen to once again do what it is well known for. The reasons are innumerable to mention but I will try to marshal it out to ten Cardinal points:
(1) WHAT IS THE PROBLEM WITH NIGERIA?
The Nigeria state was formed through an inorganic process without cognisance of the nations involved, by a British colonial master Frederick Lugard in 1914 which until today remains an unworkable formula among the committee of Nations.
Before the British came in 1914, the Oduduwas, Arewas and Biafra nations locked up in the contraption called Nigeria lived in peace in their respective localities. It is paramount to state here that these Nations have divergent views in terms of value system, culture, tradition and religion. If after the British conquest, which i term in this context as “unholy union” they allowed our ancestors to be on their own, we would have been better off today. Despite these obvious differences, the British colonial master in conjunction with the British Government moved against all odds, killed our ancestors and forcefully amalgamated the Northern and Southern protectorate otherwise known as Nigeria today without the consent of the components of the said Union. This was done not for the benefit of the people locked up in this Nigeria but for their own selfish economic interest.
You will agree with me that since the amalgamation till date, the experiment has never worked as Nigeria remains a giant disgrace on the world map. Worst of all, Nigeria has no regard for human lives as evidenced by their security forces who on daily basis embark on mass slaughter and maiming of its citizens for no just reasons right from the onset ofit’s formation till date and nothing is done about it. So do Nigeria deserve to exist at the detriment of the life our people?
(2) THE RELIGIOUS FACTOR:
It is obviously conspicuous that in Nigeria as a so-called country there exist a very great and aggravated rivalry between the Christian faith and Islam.
As we all know the Islamic Caliphate cannot tolerate the Christian faith as demonstrated all over the country by mass killings of those they term infidels.
It is worthy of note that the people of the old Eastern region otherwise known as Biafrans are basically Christians while the people of the Mohammedan Emirates of the North are predominantly Muslims who believe that Islamic religion should be practiced all over the country, at this point let’s visit the Nigeria Constitution:
Section 1 (1) “The Constitution is supreme and it’s provisions shall have binding force on the authorities and persons throughout the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Section 38(1) “Every person shall be entitled to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, including freedom to change his religion or belief either alone or with others in public or private, to manifest and propagate his religion or belief in worship, teaching, practice and observance.”
So far so good! so where is the beheading of Christians for preaching the gospel coming from? Look again in Section 6 (The Sharia law) sub 5 which states, “If you dare change your religion from Islam to any other religion or practice any other religion apart from Islam you must die”.
My candid question is: why the contradictions? In this same Constitution, Sharia is mentioned 73 times, Islam 28 times, Grandkadi 54 times, Muslim 10 times and no single mention of Christ, church, pastor, priest, Christianity in the Nigeria Constitution.
So you will agree with me that constitutionally Nigeria is an Islamic state.
And this is why the killing of Christians especially Biafrans have continued unabated both by the locals of the Fulani extraction and the Nigeria government.
(3) THE POLITICAL FACTOR:
The political setting of Nigeria is one of its greatest problems. I will start by the declaration made by sir Ahmadu Bello the formal sultan of Sokoto and I quote:
“The new nation called Nigeria should be an estate of our great grandfather Uthman Dan Fodio, we must ruthlessly prevent a change of power, we will use the minorities in the North as willing tools and the South as a conquered territory and never allow them to rule over us and never allow them have control over their future” (Sir Ahmadu Bello, Parrot Newspaper October 12th,1960).
Note that when this man said the South should be a conquered territory, he was referring to the entire region of the so-called South South and South East today. My dear brothers what wickedness is greater than the above quote? This is the brain box of the political disenfranchisement and subjugation of the old Eastern region (Biafra).
The North believe that Nigeria is their own and that they have the right to rule in perpetuity. supported by the British government. We are not allowed to choose our leaders as they impose on us political gladiators and predators who are willing to do their bidding to the detriment of our people. Hence, whether we vote or not, it’s all about order from above, thereby leaving our people in perpetual slavery and servitude!
(4) THE SECURITY FACTOR:
The security slavery of our people in Nigeria forces is pathetic and terrible as it is today. It is very obvious that in all the security forces in Nigeria, such as Army, Police, Navy, etc is either headed by an Hausa-Fulani man or their Yoruba conspiratorial counterpart. Furthermore, it easier to undergo the hurdles of climbing mount Everest than the one involved in gaining admission into any of the Nigeria security agencies especially the combatant forces if you are a South or Easterner no matter your qualifications. But somebody from the North who can not spell his name is a decorated Army General, an Inspector General of Police, a Navy Captain, etc. They gain their promotion based on how many unarmed civilians an Biafrans they were able to kill.
No wonder they embark on killing our people at will and nobody will talk, for they are in charge of every where. Is the killings going to stop if Nigeria continue to exist? The answer is no.
(5) THE VALUE SYSTEM FACTOR:
The people of the old Eastern region otherwise known as Biafra which include: EfiK, Anang, Ibibio, Igbanke, Ibo, Ijaw, Ogoni, Ikwere, Idoma, Igala, Itshekiri, etc are Republicans in nature with Jewish ancestral lineage which have no similarities with Arewa (North) and the Oduduwa (Western) people. Moreover, we believe in democracy but they believe in monarchical and autocratic governance.
We accept civilisation, but they say it is bad and prohibited which is the meaning of Bokoharam.
I therefore need a system where civilisation is not a crime and where there will be no bombing of churches, schools, residence, etc.
(6) THE INDIVISIBILITY FACTOR:
There is a slogan that says “United we stand, divided we fall”. The second phrase in this slogan is one of the main reason why we are still slaves in our father land today. My Ogoni brethren and indeed the entire “Niger Delta” must understand that the reason why we are still suffering today is the divide and rule tactics employed by the British Islamic Nigeria to create enemity between us and our brothers the Igbos, because they know that any day we come together as a people, there is no stopping us. But as long as we continue to allow this enmity we remain servants and slaves to the Nigeria State. One may ask, where and where is Niger Delta in the present day Nigeria? The Niger Delta areas include Edo, Rivers, Bayelsa , Delta, Imo, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Abia, and part of Ondo. Why couldn’t Nigeria exonerate Igbos from Niger Delta states? or is Imo and Abia not a complete Igbo state?
The following facts will convince you to know that we are one inseparable people:
1. Our names- it is worthy to note that we answer names that attaches praises to God.
2. Dress code- the two piece rapper and a blouse worn by our mothers is not a coincidence.
3. We value life- there is nobody in the South or East that will agree to blow up himself and kill others in order to get 75 virgins in paradise.
4. We do not rare cattles or stay in bush like the Hausa-Fulani people. This is to mention only but a few reasons why we are one. Therefore, nobody can deceive me anymore by saying Niger Delta is not part of Biafra.
(7)THE ECONOMIC FACTOR:
It is regrettable and quite unfortunate that despite many different types of resources in large quantities in our land, we have continued to wallow in abject poverty, environmental degradation, economic emasculation and suffocation, which have left our people in sorrows and deaths.
Worst still, all industries and multinational companies, oil wells are owned, headed, controlled/managed and dominated by Hausa-Fulani people and their Yoruba conspirators. All Federal government infrastructures are centered in Abuja and Lagos. The Education system is pathetic and laughable, and unpon graduation there is no job for our people. The only way anyone from the East or South can get any kind of favour in Nigeria, is to be a political slave who is mandated to unleash all manner of inhumane treatments and sabotage towards his people. We have become ghosts and at same time, voiceless in our father land because of our representatives turned political slaves in Nigeria. What else can someone in my position do than to formidably join in total liberation of our people from perpetual slavery and remain resolute towards it?
(8) THE MOSOP FACTOR:
The acronym “MOSOP” means, Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People.
Growing up as a youth, I could see the suffering of the Ogoni people which prompted the great Ken Saro Wiwa to vehemently stood against the injustice meted on the Ogoni people. The two brutal attacks on Ogoni villages by the Nigeria military in 1993 which left more than 1,300 people dead and thousands homeless cannot be forgotten in a hurry. Furthermore, the gruesome murder and execution of Ken Saro Wiwa and other prominent Ogoni leaders, the decimation of over 3.5million Biafran men, women and children including the total annihilation of Odi community in Bayelsa remains a debt owed by Nigeria which it’s time of payment is due.
It is worthy of note that the same Hausa-fulani people and their Yoruba conspirators who committed all these atrocities against our people are the same people telling us that the Igbo man is our enemy.
More so, our leaders have deviated from what freedom fighting upholds and from the main purpose why MOSOP was formed. Instead, they embark on seeking compensation for the blood of the innocent, because they are afraid to die.
Therefore, the legitimate Biafra restoration project by IPOB under the able Leadership of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu to free the entire Biafra Land is a welcome development.
(9) THE NNAMDI KANU AND RADIO BIAFRA FACTOR:
The indefatigable Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is a force to reckon with, an epitome of truth and a true freedom fighter. This very man full of wisdom was able to understand the reasons for failures of past freedom fighters in the region and how best to tackle the injustices unleashed on Biafrans by the Nigeria state.
The idea of Radio Biafra London (RBL) is second to none, as Mazi Nnamdi Kanu via this medium was able to awaken, inform, educate and unify the people of Biafra across the entire region. Today, Biafra restoration emerges as the most popular and trending issue around the world, evidenced by it making the headlines in the media houses in Nigeria and on social media. The impact made in dismantling of the numerous lies and revelation of Truth about Nigeria on Radio Biafra by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is equally evident in the manner of reasoning of our people.
Mazi Nnamdi Kanu also matched his words with actions as he sacrificed his wealth, comfort, family, in fact he gave up everything for the freedom of his people. If he could do that and have no regrets and is still holding on till this moment, then who am I not support him, knowing fully well that his quest for Biafra restoration is a just one and is not for any personal benefit but for the total and undiluted liberation of the entire Biafra Land. The fact that his prophecies come to pass, is enough to convince you that He is indeed sent by Chukwu Okike Abiama to liberate us all from the shackles of hell.
(10) THE BIBLICAL FACTOR:
Genesis 49:19 “Gad, a troop shall overcome him; but he shall overcome at the last”.
This prophecy is for Biafrans, who are of course the descendants of the tribe of Gad in Israel, who were scattered abroad during the invasion of Israel by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon thousands of years ago. This was as a result of idol worshipping of man-made gods instead of Chukwu Okike Abiama.
However it is regrettable that even in their new habitation, they continued in their idol worship which paved way for the first part of the above prophecy to be fulfilled on Biafrans .
The troops in the above prophecy represent the British Islamic Nigeria army who overcame our people in 1967-1970 war of genocide. Nevertheless, the the second part is here which is “we must overcome” because Chukwu Okike Abiama made it clear that instead of his words not come to pass, let Heaven and Earth pass away!
I therefore call on all the people of Biafra residing in the Islamic Nigeria to rise up and take back their identity. God in heaven the creator of the ends of the earth never allows any injustice to go unpunished. Therefore the lives of 3.5 million Biafran massacred shall never be in vain.
The execution of the Ogoni nine and mass killings of her Indigenes by the Nigeria government shall never be in vain. Nigeria stands for injustice, Biafra stands for justice, equity and fairness. Space will not permit me to pen down more, but with this I rest my case!
By Godswill Leeleebari
For Family Writers
