I do not support Ndigbo getting busy acquiring
chieftaincy titles anywhere - whether in the East or
the North.
But the basis of your opposition is simply
preposterous. It is founded on the same absurd line of
reasoning that clearly emanates from your quarters
whenever (i.e., 90% of the time) you decide to put on
your jaundiced tribal goggles. It is unfortunate that
after living so many years in another man's country
and with all the first class education you've
received, you still reason - when it comes to Yoruba
issues - like the rural Ekiti or Ijebu man who has
never stepped out of his precints. At least such
people can be excused because, not having gone through
the life of a stranger/immigrant, tasted its sweet and
bitter parts, and had the opportunity to interact with
people from different climes, their views are bound to
be constrained by their limited vision and experience.
Now, what is insensitive about having chiefs among the
Igbos as a way of the people organizing themselves and
promoting their interests within the confines of the
law? Even though you'd feign ignorance, I'm sure you
know that in places like Atlanta, they have Igbo
chiefs - chieftancies established here in foreign
land. I guess they're being insensitive to the
Georgians and other Americans. Those immigrants - they
must be so impudent!!!
Look, in Ibadan for instance, the Eze Ndigbo is
"crowned" by the Olubadan. If it was a case of
insensitivity, why should the Oba be the one enthrone
such a leader?
And when politicians like your man Tinubu was busy
courting the Igbo votes, he did it through the Igbo
man on the street or the insensitive chiefs? And when
he got their endorsement, he rejected it because they
ought to have shown sensitivity? What a load of crap.
Ordinary Nigerians have no problems living with one
another. It's people like you who profess to know
what's best for their people that create unnecessary
problems where none exists.I guess your life will be
far more boring than it is right now if you and your
friends don't manufacture phantom conflicts.
BTW, I did not hear you scream against Haruna
Maiyasin, Sarkin Sasa, an Hausa leader in the
southwest who was busy competing with the Olubadan,
riding in sirens during Abacha's reign of terror.
Those are the people you should be condemning for
insensitivity and still make sense. Not harmless Igbo
chiefs seeking to harm no one, only trying to derive
some pleasure (like human beings anywhere)through vain
material things.
Best Regards
Emeka
--- Kevin Ani <ebony...@excite.com> wrote:
>
> "...Is it right...to be designated "traditional
> prime minister
> of Igbo in the state - as if Ndiigbo have a state or
> country of
> their own in Lagos...with a regalia of...traditional
> Ndiigbo Lagos
> "chieftains", wearing beads and red caps and the
> like...
>
> ...they had no right to be conferring chieftaincy
> titles
> on themselves and parading as such on other peoples'
> soil..."
>
> Here we go again! The great purveyor of trash
> himself.
> Where is it written that an Igbo or anyone else for
> that matter cannot bear
> any legitimate title anywhere in the whole wide
> world including Lagos? Who
> gave Fasheun the mandate to prescribe what
> title people should take or what they should and
> should not wear? What a
> load of nonsense!
>
> You see what I mean? Na so you de open your mouth de
> spew trash, small time
> now you go begin de make yeye plaintive noise.
> Tufia!
>
> Mz KO, you are wasting your valuable time with the
> great pundit who cannot
> face up to the consequences of his own ideas.
>
> Mz Ani.
>
>
> On Wed, 18 Oct 2000 08:58:01 -0400 (EDT),
> mal...@scs.howard.edu wrote:
>
> >
> >
> > Otasco Otanda, alias K.O.:
> >
> > If you were not a thoroughly biased individual,
> this news report in
> > itself would tell you that something is
> definitely wrong in Lagos:
> >
> > (1) Is it right for some Chief Ibekwe to be
> designated "traditional
> prime
> > minister of Igbo in the state" - as if Ndiigbo
> have a state or country of
> > their own in Lagos - or should we consign this to
> a mere characterization
> > of a press report? [I remember when I went home
> to Nigeria in July, and
> > visited Dr. Fasehun. He reported that once when
> the head of the Igbo
> > delegation came to visit him for some
> consultation, he came with a
> regalia
> > of his traditional Ndiigbo Lagos "chieftains",
> wearing beads and red caps
> > and the like. Dr. Fasehun said that he sent all
> of the fake chiefs back -
> > excepting the local head of the Ndiigbo, and a
> few more
> > appropriately-dressed representatives - saying
> that they had no right to
> > be conferring chieftaincy titles on themselves
> and parading as such on
> > other peoples' soil. This is the kind of
> insensitivity I talk about.]
> >
> > (2) Is it right for the Hausa to be collecting
> "duties" from ANYBODY,
> let
> > alone from the Yoruba, in Lagos? This is the
> kind of insensitivity that
> I
> > talk about. Or is Dr. Fasehun LYING about this
> particularly offensive
> > practice? [By the way, it is this "ishakole"
> practice that has been
> > causing much of the problem between Ife and
> Modakeke.]
> >
> > (3) If the military has ALWAYS asserted that it
> is the civilians that
> > always invite them in to TAKE OVER in coups, is
> Dr. Fasehun not RIGHT in
> > warning that this same kind of "TAKE-OVER" of
> Lagos streets can once
> again
> > be used as an excuse? [If tomorrow now, we hear
> another military
> > take-over, who are we going to call?
> Ghost-busters?]
> >
> > (4) If you have suffered personal injury from
> the military in the past -
> > as Dr. Fasehun has - would you not express
> CONCERN of them patrolling
> your
> > streets? [Once beaten, twice shy. Only a fool
> does not know that
> > aphorism.] Finally:
> >
> > (5) If, as I quote you, "It is therefore
> reasonable to say that the
> > invitation of the millitary to partake in the
> maintenance of law and
> order
> > in Lagos will cause far more blood to be spilt
> than can be imagined at
> > this time", should we not be asking first for (i)
> more traditional and
> > effective police patrolling of our streets and
> secondly (ii) greater
> > dialogue among the peoples of Nigeria?
> >
> > Kindly respond to each of my questions.
> >
> > Is that not why we should hail the crack revealed
> by Prof. ABC Nwosu
> about
> > a greater willingness of the government to
> convene a National Dialogue or
> > Sovereign National Conference - or whatever it is
> called?
> >
> >
> > Bolaji Aluko
> >
> >
> > On Wed, 18 Oct 2000, otasco otanda wrote:
> >
> > > the Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba communities made
> their
> > > presentations to Gov. Tinubu security team in
> the
> > > following excerpts culled from Guardian of
> 10/18/2000:
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > THE HAUSA COMMUNITY:
> > > Alhaji Sidi Alli, who spoke on behalf of the
> Arewa
> > > community, expressed regrets that the ethnic
> groups
> > > resident in the state had not been meeting.
> > >
> > > He restated the need to make the committee very
> > > effective as one of the antidotes to violent
> clashes.
> > > Alli also suggested that as was done by
> previous
> > > governments, right from the Lateef Jakande era,
> the
> > > present administration should set up a liaison
> between
> > > it and the people.
> > >
> > > According to him, the Arewa people respect the
> > > authorities a lot and the establishment of such
> a
> > > liaison would create an avenue to lodge
> complaints
> > > with government.
> > >
> > >
> > > THE IGBO COMMUNITY:
> > > Speaking on behalf of the Igbo, Chief Ngozi
> Ibekwe,
> > > traditional prime minister of Igbo in the
> state, said
> > > his people were aggrieved about the incessant
> clashes.
> > >
> > > He said that the police at present were not
> equipped
> > > to effectively manage crises, even as he called
> for a
> > > monthly meeting of all ethnic groups.
> > >
> > > Ibekwe said that the recent clash should not
> have
> > > happened if the agreement reached between
> Afenifere
> > > and Ohaneze at a meeting at Ojo local
> government had
> > > been implemented.
> > >
> > >
> > > THE YORUBA COMMUNITY:
> > > Dr. Frederick Fasehun spoke on behalf of the
> Oodua
>
=== message truncated ===
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Personally speaking, I believe that Dr. Fasehun and Prof. Aluko are
dead wrong to state that, in Lagos State, "NdiIgbo should not dress
in their traditional Ndiigbo beads and red caps". It's one thing to
say that NdiIgbo shouldn't bestow a *Yoruba* chieftaincy title upon
themselves - BUT - it's quite another to say that NdiIgbo who wears
NdiIgbo traditional or chieftaincy titles, beads and/or red caps is
being "insensitivity" to the Yorubas...I doubt seriously if this is
the point Prof. Aluko would like to convey. Then again.... :-)
Yorubas with traditional or chieftaincy titles are present all over
Nigeria...Heck, I dare say that they are present all over the globe.
We have a Yoruba king in South Carolina. Yoruba chiefs are in Latin
and/or South America....
Prince Adey.
p.s.: Leave the Ijebus alone. We have always welcomed and respected
the rights of all people. Nevertheless, we shall not stand still if
a group of people move to belittle our traditions. Hence, be warned.
If you travel around Ijebu towns and villages, you are bound to see
Hausa chiefs, Igbo chiefs, Fulani chiefs.... No problems. I believe
same hold true for all Yorubaland, including Eko.
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Adey Oyenuga:
Heck, where did Dr. Fasehun or my humble self say or write that "NdiIgbo
should not dress in their traditional Ndiigbo beads and red caps"." Let
them - or Yoruba or Hausa - dress with all the feathers of birds that they
want, and fly away from here - who cares?
Have you ever seen Dr. Fasehun dress? Hardly does he dress in more than
his conductor style "uniform." Now imagine a meeting to settle
differences between Ndiigbo and OmoYoruba in Mushin, and ten Ndiigbo
people come in, all in full regalia like Ezes and Obis and Diokpas? The
guy sent them all back, asking whether this was a joke or what! That was
the circumstance!
You will not hear Dr. Fasehun tomorrow complaining about who is Eze or
not. But I have brought this up as an indication of the need to be more
sensitive in a volatile region.
Consider Northern Ireland. Every year, there is this march (something to
do with Orange, I forget which), which causes flares there each year.
Each year, it is a touch-and-go whether it will be allowed or not. Routes
are re-directed to minimize tension. THAT IS IN A CIVILIZED SOCIETY,
where it is known that there is need for local sensitivities. All this
talk about "freedom of association" is true - but tell that to those who
die after they have been allowed to "freely associate" - unto their
graves.
So please represent EXACTLY what I intend to convey.
Bolaji Aluko
Emeka Duru-Igbo:
Consider this: if I am as well-world-travelled and urbane as you make me
out in your write-up below, should that not make you SERIOUSLY consider
what I am writing, as not one borne out some narrow provincialism? If I
have progressed in another man's land these twenty-two years - as I
believe many Nigerians have - don't you think that a contributory factor -
besides God's blessings - would be a sensitivity to the community that
allowed me entry in their midst? You think that if I use EVERY
OPPORTUNITY to stick my Nigerianness or Africanness into peoples' faces in
the US, I will not be jeopardized? If a Californian comes to Maryland and
constantly wears California on his or her sleeves, you think Marylanders
will elevate him or her to their heights with glee?
Abeg, let us leave the ridiculous for the sublime....
Whatever happened to the well-trumpeted "republicanism" of Ndiigbo? How
many times have I read "Igbo enwe eze" - Igbos have no kings? Why must
you have Eze Ndiigbo Ibadan (crowned or not by Olubadan), Eze Ndiigbo
Atlanta (crowned by who?), etcheram, ad nauseum, and not "Oba Awon Omo
Yoruba ti Umuahia" and "Oba Awon Omo Yoruba ti Washington, DC."? Yet we
Yoruba traditionally have kings and chiefs, while "Igbo enwe eze!"
Sure - it is impudence, if you ask me! Just because someone does not say
so does not mean that it is not impudence! If Americans or Atlantans
don't bother you due to these vain titles, it is probably because (i) you
behave better among them than among Lagosians and (ii) they look at you
with amused curiousity, and possibly atavistic condescension.
A clarification: I am not opposed to anybody been vainglorious and
crowning himself Emperor of the Igbos in Ajegunle. If Tinubu contacts
them for his political ends, and wins - more power to him. I might even
contact them when it comes to my turn. :-) But if Fasehun believes that
they cause trouble to his sensitivities, and he expresses his opposition,
then those Ezes have a right not to return to see him if they do a
cost-benefit analysis. Obviously, upon his objection, that Eze decided to
shear himself of some of his regal paraphernalia and return - he was lucky
that Fasehun did not ask him to remove his red cap and beads altogether!
:-)
By the way, a cultural lesson: in Yorubaland, the Olubadan of Ibadan is
not an Oba (king); he is a Baale (town top chieftain) and wears no crown
("ade"), but rather a glorified cap. Hence he has ABSOLUTELY no right to
crown anybody "Eze Ndiigbo Ibadan." That guy is thus a fake Eze, for all
I know. He has been "419"ed! :-) If, for example the Alaafin of Oyo, or
the Ooni of Ife, etc. were to honor this Igbo guy, he would give him an
Oyo or Ife title, eg ("Alalejo Awon Ara Igbo ti Oyo" - "Top Igbo of Oyo or
Ife" ), not "Oba of Igbos." There can be no two Obas in the same domain!
How can you have "Eze Ndiigbo of Lagos" and yet have "Oba of Lagos" and
not rub on some sensibilities?
Note that I am not opposed to an Ndiigbo being Oba of Lagos or Governor of
- if it is done constitutionally.
Finally, if Haruna Maiyasin, Sarkin Sasa, an Hausa leader in the southwest
was busy competing with the Olubadan during the Abacha era, that was then
and this is now. During the Abacha era, a lot of things - like killings,
jailings and maimings - were happening, and for any reasonable person like
me to be complaining about some "vain" Sarkin riding around with sirens
would have been silly, don't you think so? During that time, anyway, all
the Obas and Obis and Emirs were cowering under Abacha anyway, so who
cared who was competing with whom?
Thanks for this mini-sovereign national conference! :-) We all really
need to get things off our chest!
Bolaji Aluko
Igbos are republicans to the core! And like the Bini
woman (ex-Unilag, ex-UCL) who taught me
"Constitutions" said "I can't understand this
obsession of [republican]Ndigbo with chieftaincy
titles." I agree. But like her, you make a mistake
based on a semi-understanding of the Igbo culture (for
which nobody should condemn you).
An Igbo Eze is not the same as a Yoruba Oba, A Bornu
Shehu or a Fulani Emir. I've met a number of such Ezes
and I talk to them the same way I'd talk to any other
senior or successful person. All those royalty stuff
doesn't cut it, except with a few Ezes who are able to
bamboozle their way (maybe with ther affluence, etc).
So an Ezeship does not affect our republicanism. My
cousin is the Eze of my town, as was his father and
grandfather before him. But he doesn't give orders to
anybody. It is a ceremonial monarchy at best.
It's NOT the same as in the North where an Emir will
cough and his subjects will open their mouths
(literally)to recive the waste!! Or in Yorubaland
where Sijuwade will wake up in the morning and there
are a number of hefty men lying on the floor so that
the Alaiyeluwa does not step his divine feet on the
floor (on his way to the bathroom)!!!
So the Olubadan is a Baale? Amazing. Again, where were
you when Bola Ige was almost killed for stating the
obvious truth that the Olubadan was a Jemibewon Oba -
wasn't an Oba until 1976 or so when he was elevated.
At that point, Yesufu Asanike (then Olubadan) who was
flexing muscles with the Ooni (alongside the Aalafin,
Soun of Ogbomoso and Owa Obokun of Ijeshland)
threatened fire and brimestone - telling an
ex-governor of that state, married to a prominent
Ibadan woman that his safety was not guaranteed. Where
were you then? When you go to Ibadan and repeat it
that the Olubadan is no Oba, I'll believe you. For
now, I'll take it you're just using it as a red
herring to divert attention from a cogent point - that
Igbo Ezes have not only been installed by a Yoruba
Oba(s), but that such people could not have found it
insensitive.
One thing everybody keeps on missing is that Igbos
like to honor achievement. That's why Igbos work hard
to elevate themselves, unlike other groups where
individuals inherit status. It's a pity they're going
overboard with this mad desire to acquire titles. But
as per the Ezeship, they're using it partially to
organize themselves, to have a leader. I would prefer
that they do away with those stuff and address their
leaders as president, Chairman, etc. I guess that
would be less insensitive to your xeno-phobic type,
even when those individuals wield the same power.
On the California-Maryland thing, you're just
comparing apples and oranges. A Californian - if he
has any culture - is free to promote it in Maryland,
so long as he does not subvert the existing system or
do it outside the confines of the law. I guess
evrybody in NY likes it when the Irish flaunt their
cultural leanings. Ditto with the Brazillians and the
rest of the carnival-loving south Americans.
What you're promoting is hate and intolerance, while
calling it insensitivity. Period. All your education
and exposure has not done you much good in washing
away your tribalism. Simple. And that is very
unfortunate.
You can succeed all you like in America by throwing
away your cultural leanings. There are others that are
not ashamed to do the cultural stuff in America and
still succeed. And who said the Igbos in Lagos are
using "every opportunity" to stick out their
Igbonness?
And please don't speak for the Atlantans. Nobody who
thinks beyond narrow ethnic, racial lines will see
anything insensitive about the Igbos having Ezes in
Atlanta, when the same people also have Miss
Nigeria-USA, cultural dance (noisy), New yam festival
(I attended one recently) etc.
The Igbo chiefs that hearkened to Fasheun's idiotic
orders were as stupid as anyone can get. They're a
disgrace to the noble Igbo race.
Best Regards
Emeka
This is exactly why we need SNC to iron some of these things out. Chei,
if you recall, many lives were lost in Sagamu and Kano becuase of some
traditional, yet, very consequential matters.
Thanks for the expansion. In part, I did write that "I doubt seriously
if this is the point you would like to convey." [My piece was meant to
"draw out" additional information from you... If not, people like Mazi
Kevin Plus Plus Ani may run with it. And, it may take you 30+ years to
present your case in toto. :-)].
Heck, in Los Angeles, NdiIgbo chiefs must be well aware of which parts
they dare not put on their "red caps". :-)
Prince Adey.
At 03:56 PM 10/18/00 -0400, Mobolaji E. Aluko wrote:
>
>
>Adey Oyenuga:
>
>Heck, where did Dr. Fasehun or my humble self say or write that "NdiIgbo
>should not dress in their traditional Ndiigbo beads and red caps"." Let
>them - or Yoruba or Hausa - dress with all the feathers of birds that they
>want, and fly away from here - who cares?
>
>Have you ever seen Dr. Fasehun dress? Hardly does he dress in more than
>his conductor style "uniform." Now imagine a meeting to settle
>differences between Ndiigbo and OmoYoruba in Mushin, and ten Ndiigbo
>people come in, all in full regalia like Ezes and Obis and Diokpas? The
>guy sent them all back, asking whether this was a joke or what! That was
>the circumstance!
>
>You will not hear Dr. Fasehun tomorrow complaining about who is Eze or
>not. But I have brought this up as an indication of the need to be more
>sensitive in a volatile region.
>
>Consider Northern Ireland. Every year, there is this march (something to
>do with Orange, I forget which), which causes flares there each year.
>Each year, it is a touch-and-go whether it will be allowed or not. Routes
>are re-directed to minimize tension. THAT IS IN A CIVILIZED SOCIETY,
>where it is known that there is need for local sensitivities. All this
>talk about "freedom of association" is true - but tell that to those who
>die after they have been allowed to "freely associate" - unto their
>graves.
>
>So please represent EXACTLY what I intend to convey.
>
>
Beautiful point! The Yorubas have a king in South
Carolina - in MUCH MORE CIVILIZED AMERICA. And what
did our distinguished prof. say when he saw that? He
ignored it, of course. As usual.
It is so easy to cite the Northern Ireland position
while ignoring the fact that the Irish parade every
year (St. Patrick's day) in New York. And even
non-Irish people honor them by wearing something green
(ties, suit, etc) on that day.
Is it not unfortunate and reveal the dangerous mindset
that Prof. Aluko is projecting when he compares a
country at war (Ireland) with Lagos in peace times?
Nigeria really needs help. If it expects the likes of
Bolaji to be leaders. I'll oppose him every inch of
the way - if he ever ventures into politics.
Best Regards
Emeka
We are beginning to agree little-by-little. Come with me below:
On Wed, 18 Oct 2000, emeka duruigbo wrote:
>
> Exactly, Bolaji!
>
> Igbos are republicans to the core! And like the Bini
> woman (ex-Unilag, ex-UCL) who taught me
> "Constitutions" said "I can't understand this
> obsession of [republican]Ndigbo with chieftaincy
> titles." I agree. But like her, you make a mistake
> based on a semi-understanding of the Igbo culture (for
> which nobody should condemn you).
>
> An Igbo Eze is not the same as a Yoruba Oba, A Bornu
> Shehu or a Fulani Emir. I've met a number of such Ezes
> and I talk to them the same way I'd talk to any other
> senior or successful person. All those royalty stuff
> doesn't cut it, except with a few Ezes who are able to
> bamboozle their way (maybe with ther affluence, etc).
> So an Ezeship does not affect our republicanism. My
> cousin is the Eze of my town, as was his father and
> grandfather before him. But he doesn't give orders to
> anybody. It is a ceremonial monarchy at best.
If Igbo Ezes are "ceremonial monarchy at best", then quite a number of
Yoruba monarchies too are "ceremonial...at best!"
I recently found out that the Oba of my town, Ode-Ekiti, is the brother of
my maternal grandmother! My father asked, "Didn't you know?" -- and I had
to quickly say that "Sorry - I forgot!"
>
> It's NOT the same as in the North where an Emir will
> cough and his subjects will open their mouths
> (literally)to recive the waste!! Or in Yorubaland
> where Sijuwade will wake up in the morning and there
> are a number of hefty men lying on the floor so that
> the Alaiyeluwa does not step his divine feet on the
> floor (on his way to the bathroom)!!!
Emeka, you are a lawyer - and an exaggerator! Aha!
And you choose a very wrong example - Oba Sijuwade...ehm, well let me be
sensitive to the Ile-Ife indigenes around here, and clam up over the
Alaiyeluwa himself :-)
>
> So the Olubadan is a Baale? Amazing. Again, where were
> you when Bola Ige was almost killed for stating the
> obvious truth that the Olubadan was a Jemibewon Oba -
> wasn't an Oba until 1976 or so when he was elevated.
> At that point, Yesufu Asanike (then Olubadan) who was
> flexing muscles with the Ooni (alongside the Aalafin,
> Soun of Ogbomoso and Owa Obokun of Ijeshland)
> threatened fire and brimestone - telling an
> ex-governor of that state, married to a prominent
> Ibadan woman that his safety was not guaranteed. Where
> were you then? When you go to Ibadan and repeat it
> that the Olubadan is no Oba, I'll believe you. For
> now, I'll take it you're just using it as a red
> herring to divert attention from a cogent point - that
> Igbo Ezes have not only been installed by a Yoruba
> Oba(s), but that such people could not have found it
> insensitive.
Am I crazy? Why would I go to Ibadan and say that the Olubadan is not an
Oba, even if I believe him not to be? Would that not be insensitive? Who
wan die? Only fools tell such "truths" that would have such dire
consequences that, untold, would have ABSOLUTELY NO CONSEQUENCES. I
always take that as a guiding principle.
>
> One thing everybody keeps on missing is that Igbos
> like to honor achievement. That's why Igbos work hard
> to elevate themselves, unlike other groups where
> individuals inherit status.
If any other person, particularly Yoruba, said what you wrote below, you
would say that they are being "holier than thou." So for example Yoruba
don't "honor achievement" or don't "work hard to elevate themselves?" So
NO IGBO person ever inherits status? What about Ambassador AYODELE
Azikiwe who inherited his father's Owelle-ship in Onitsha?
Abeg, ye'm efe!
> It's a pity they're going
> overboard with this mad desire to acquire titles. But
> as per the Ezeship, they're using it partially to
> organize themselves, to have a leader. I would prefer
> that they do away with those stuff and address their
> leaders as president, Chairman, etc. I guess that
> would be less insensitive to your xeno-phobic type,
> even when those individuals wield the same power.
>
> On the California-Maryland thing, you're just
> comparing apples and oranges. A Californian - if he
> has any culture - is free to promote it in Maryland,
> so long as he does not subvert the existing system or
> do it outside the confines of the law. I guess
> evrybody in NY likes it when the Irish flaunt their
> cultural leanings. Ditto with the Brazillians and the
> rest of the carnival-loving south Americans.
>
> What you're promoting is hate and intolerance, while
> calling it insensitivity. Period. All your education
> and exposure has not done you much good in washing
> away your tribalism. Simple. And that is very
> unfortunate.
I shed a tear for such characterization of my humble self, but as I always
say, the perfect Christ himself was mistaken for a demoniac, a temple
destroyer (like Timothy McVeigh), a promoter of hate between the Jews and
the ruling Romans, so who am I not to be mistaken?
>
> You can succeed all you like in America by throwing
> away your cultural leanings. There are others that are
> not ashamed to do the cultural stuff in America and
> still succeed.
Look, Emeka, in my twenty years living in the US, I have APPEARED all over
this USA, in the media, in public forums, before Congress, before
important persons, etc, to promote THE NIGERIAN CAUSE. I wear my
traditional clothes at times, interject with my language and other
language, etc. ALL MY FIVE CHILDREN UNDERSTAND MY NATIVE LANGUAGE, and
are pillars of respect and models of achievement in their schools, and
project our cultural values. My first daughter has just won an election as
the president of her freshman high-school class. My second son is a
National Merit Scholar of the same high school. They are Nigerians, and
they are Americans. For you to accuse me of "throwing away my cultural
leanings" is to be ignorant, I tell you, complete, plain ignorant.
And I know that typically, you are not ignorant, but in defence of Ndiigbo
affairs, you come close.
> And who said the Igbos in Lagos are
> using "every opportunity" to stick out their
> Igbonness?
>
> And please don't speak for the Atlantans. Nobody who
> thinks beyond narrow ethnic, racial lines will see
> anything insensitive about the Igbos having Ezes in
> Atlanta, when the same people also have Miss
> Nigeria-USA, cultural dance (noisy), New yam festival
> (I attended one recently) etc.
>
> The Igbo chiefs that hearkened to Fasheun's idiotic
> orders were as stupid as anyone can get. They're a
> disgrace to the noble Igbo race.
No - they are not a disgrace. They were sensitive, because they could see
the larger picture: why should a red cap deter from negotiating for peace
for the community over which he is Eze?
>
> Best Regards
>
> Emeka
Best regards too, Emeka. We need to work together, not at cross-purpose.
Bolaji
Emeka and Adey:
My apologies for not addressing the issue of the "Yoruba king in South
Carolina." It was an oversight.
The king you are referring to is Oba Adefunmi Oseijema II, of Oyotunji
African Village, Beaufort, South Carolina. He and his entire ROYAL COURT
are BLACK AMERICANS who "colonized" Beaufort, and use the village as a
tourist site to hearken back to their African/Yoruba heritage. For more
information, please refer to http://www.yoruba.org of the Isokan Yoruba,
Washington, DC.
We here in Washington DC, Isokan Yoruba have invited him and his royal
entourage (he and his five beautiful wives! :-)) to visit us at least
twice to encourage his interest in his roots. They speak passable Yoruba
(after a fashion) that Yoruba native speakers, if they follow VERY
CAREFULLY, can understand.
If that is the "beautiful point" that Adey made about "Yorubas having a
king in South Carolina," then you can see why this is a "teachable moment"
and why my friend and I right here are having a belly laugh!
Bolaji
Having a bellylaugh!
Emeka Duru-Igbo:
If, after three days of street riots, and 100 dead in Lagos, and the
military and the police are drafted into Lagos, you still say that Lagos
is in "peace-time" compared with Northern Ireland, I wonder what it would
look like during "war time?"
You see, my friend, you ABSOLUTELY do not have an idea the level of the
seriousness of the situation in Nigeria. It is a TINDER-BOX where ALL of
us must demonstrate MAXIMUM SENSITIVITY to each other, even if it means
SACRIFICING a little of our freedoms to do ANYTHING we like. The
flashpoints like Lagos are ESPECIALLY where we need such sensitivity.
You write below that you will "oppose me all of the way?" Am I supposed
to quake at that? Suppose you oppose me, and God supports me? Who are
you, a PUNY man, to make me quake at your threat?
Listen: there is a man in Arkansas who has spent his life "opposing Bill
Clinton all the way", right before Clinton became Governor of Arkansas,
when he was still Attorney-General! He does not like Clinton's
"North-east" education, does not like his "Northern" snotty wife, does not
like his political victories, etc. When Clinton and Monica Lewinsky came
into the picture, the man, a millionaire, spent much of his money
financing those who would bring Clinton down. Clinton is still there, and
the man in Arkansas will probably still spend his money going after
Clinton he is done being president, trying to send him to jail. So there
are people cut in your cloth whose ambition in life is to "oppose other
people all the way".
That, my friend, is a pathetic life, to plan your life about other people,
trying to prevent them to be what God may have planned for them. That
will be your problem, not mine. What God will make me to be in Nigeria, I
do not know, but if I enter politics, what I become will have ABSOLUTELY
NOTHING to do with what one puny Emeka Duru-Igbo plots.
That is a lesson for you to remember. It is a free lesson.
Bolaji Aluko
PS: Since I now know that you have constituted yourself into my
"political enemy" for now and my future, to see that I do not advance in
my real or imagined future "political life," I am freed henceforth from
responding to you for whatever reasons. I do not cast pearls before
swine. Except of course you repent. :-)
I am really disappointed in you. When Mazi Ani was warning us about your
nazi views, I thought he was going a little overboard, but I now
believe him after reading you below. It is a shame that a western educated
professor like you can write something like this about Ndiigbo.
I now understand how tribalistic you are indeed. Mazi Ani was right after
all. Please let me quote you, so you can read yourself again:
Bolaji, I hope the American's don't catch you wearing your Yoruba attire in
maryland.
Bye,
Reggie Iyizoba.
still shaking his head in disbelief at what Bolaji wrote.
>From: emeka duruigbo <edur...@yahoo.com>
>Reply-To: edur...@yahoo.com
>To: CIVIL...@rocketmail.com, mal...@scs.howard.edu, otasco otanda
><ota...@yahoo.com>
>CC: CIVOK...@aol.com, african...@hotmail.com, ad...@africamail.com,
> ebony...@my-deja.com, yorub...@onelist.com,
>naij...@egroups.com, igbo...@lists.cc.utexas.edu,
>RIV...@siue.edu, oko...@usafricaonline.com, mekw...@netzero.net,
> aaki...@acme.highpoint.edu, IG...@aol.com, aog...@ix.netcom.com,
> i...@usa.net, Imeh Inyang <dj...@freenet.carleton.ca>,
>amael...@smartisp.com, Francis Ifejika Achike
><ach...@medicine.med.um.edu.my>, alat...@netzero.net,
>AOr...@aol.com, awo...@cyberspace.net.ng, Bad...@aol.com,
>Bo...@aol.com, Da...@aol.com, Edo-Co...@egroups.com,
>Fela...@aol.com, genera...@freedom98.org, ibn...@yahoo.com,
>In...@yorubanation.org, Lod...@aol.com, no...@yahoo.com,
>Ola...@aol.com, oluok...@msn.com, oola...@dcsmserver.med.sc.edu,
>owens...@camh.net, quincynet-...@egroups.com,
>Tajol...@aol.com, Tun...@aol.com, tun...@netzero.net,
>Walea...@aol.com, wen...@oceanfree.net,
>Yorubas-...@egroups.com, ade...@duq.edu, aka...@aol.com
>Subject: Re: [Naijanet] Re: Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba Communities in Lagos
>make their presentations
>Date: Wed, 18 Oct 2000 11:50:56 -0700 (PDT)
> > > Bolaji Aluko
> > >
> > >
>=== message truncated ===
>
>
>__________________________________________________
>Do You Yahoo!?
>Yahoo! Messenger - Talk while you surf! It's FREE.
>http://im.yahoo.com/
>
_________________________________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com.
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http://profiles.msn.com.
> > Bolaji Aluko
> >
> >
> >
> === message truncated ===
>
>
> __________________________________________________
> Do You Yahoo!?
> Yahoo! Messenger - Talk while you surf! It's FREE.
> http://im.yahoo.com/
>
Only note that if your point is that the Yorubas in MD
cannot organize themselves and call their leader
Lt-Governor (even though the beautiful Kennedy
Townsend is there)or Governor or even President, then
you have not taught me anything.
If your point is that a people in a distant land
cannot import or translocate as much of their culture
as they can - without offending the sensibilities of
DECENT, TOLERANT people around them/hosts, then I can
do without your teaching. Please keep it. As you well
know, your neighbor most likely does not like it when
you eat that black stuff (amala) and the other one
(ewedu), but he would be going overboard if he made
any fuss about it.
OPC and the like, egged on by folks like you, can
continue with their xenophobia and intolerance. But
one day one day, monkey go go market, and e no go
return. OPC should in their own interest watch it.
Best Regards
Emeka
--- "Mobolaji E. Aluko" <mal...@scs.howard.edu> wrote:
>
>
> Emeka and Adey:
>
> My apologies for not addressing the issue of the
> "Yoruba king in South
See my response to Bolaji.
I'm sure you'll also benefit from it - or is this one
of those rare or non-existent cases where you disagree
with Bolaji?
Best Regards
Emeka
--- jengbadun...@juno.com wrote:
> You are wrong about the Yoruba chief in South
> Carolina. I have been to
> the Yoruba town in South Carolina, meet him and I
> think I know a thing or
> two about him. He is an African American from
> Chicago who rejected
> Western imposed cultural values to celebrate the
> Yorubaness in him. His
> case is not appropiate/comparable to the discussion
> here.
> Abo mi re o.
>
> On Wed, 18 Oct 2000 13:57:11 -0700 (PDT) emeka
> duruigbo
> <edur...@yahoo.com> writes:
> >
> > > are bound to see
> > > > Hausa chiefs, Igbo chiefs, Fulani chiefs....
> No
> > > problems. I believe
> > > > same hold true for all Yorubaland, including
> Eko.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > At 11:50 AM 10/18/00 -0700, emeka duruigbo
> wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > >Bolaji,
> > > > >
> > > > >I do not support Ndigbo getting busy
> acquiring
> > > > >chieftaincy titles anywhere - whether in the
> East
> > > or
> > > > >the North.
> > > > >
> > > > >But the basis of your opposition is simply
> > > > >preposterous. It is founded on the same
> absurd
> > > line of
> > > > >reasoning that clearly emanates from your
> > > quarters
> > > > >whenever (i.e., 90% of the time) you decide
> to
> > > put on
>
Is Fasheun suffering from paranoia or what? People
come dressed in traditional regalia with beads and he
feels intimidated. Gimmy a break.
I strongly believe he had something else in mind -
that Igbos should not have traditional leaders in
Lagos - his "papa's land".
Igbo chiefs have no interest in reigning over anybody
outside their ethnic stock. Even among Igbos, all this
is ceremonial and nobody really cares about these
so-called Ezes in Lagos, Kano etc, except when there
's a festivity etc.
I lived many years in Lagos and at no point in time
have I seen or heard anybody say that Igbo chiefs are
intimidating anybody - Igbo rich men? Maybe. But
that's not the same thing as chiefs. And he can go
ahead and ask that the rich Igbo folks leave Lagos
immediately, so that he and his band of anarchists can
reap where they did not sow; so that they can take
what belongs to others. You know what they call that?
Stealing!!!
Best Regards
Emeka
--- "Mobolaji E. Aluko" <mal...@scs.howard.edu> wrote:
>
>
> Emeka:
>
> You are very welcome for thanking me for the
> education. We learn every
> day.
>
> No - as President of the Nigerian Democratic
> Movement, I can walk up to
> President Clinton of the USA and introduce myself as
> such. I can even
> introduce myself as President of Nigerians in the
> USA and introduce myself
> as such. But I can assure you that if I start to
> put a flag on my car,
> hire outriders before and behind me, have
> bodyguards, and claim some right
> of way when President Clinton is also wishing to go
> by, I may have
> something coming to me. If I insist that a
> fully-loaded set of bodyguards
> go with me when I go to see president Clinton -
> because after all, I am
> President of Nigerians in the USA - then I may have
> something coming to
> me.
>
> The Yorubas in Nigeria can call their leader
> "Governor" or "Lt. Governor."
> THAT IS NOT THE CONFLICT ISSUE, EMEKA! It is NOT
> the title, it is the
> BEHAVIOR that follows the title that is at stake,
> Emeka.
>
> Fasehun had NO PROBLEM with the titles. It was the
> INTIMIDATING way in
> which the Ezes and Chiefs came in FULL REGALIA to a
> simple meeting that
> made him turn them back! And he was right to do so.
>
>
> This should not be hard to understand AT ALL!
>
>
> Bolaji
> > Best Regards
> >
> > Emeka
> >
> > --- "Mobolaji E. Aluko" <mal...@scs.howard.edu>
> wrote:
> > >
> > >
> > > Emeka and Adey:
> > >
> > > My apologies for not addressing the issue of the
> > > "Yoruba king in South
On Wed, 18 Oct 2000 16:52:54 -0700 Adey Oyenuga <ad...@africamail.com>
writes:
> Hello Sir Paul,
>
> This is a simple matter... So, I ask, do you know of any place other
> than in the Yorubaland, whereas, there are *authentic* Yoruba
> chiefs?
>
> Forget about South Carolina.... Concentrate on Nigeria.
>
> Abo mi re o.
>
>
> Prince Adey.
>
>
>
> At 07:29 PM 10/18/00 -0400, jengbadun...@juno.com wrote:
> >You are wrong about the Yoruba chief in South Carolina. I have been
> to
> >the Yoruba town in South Carolina, meet him and I think I know a
> thing or
> >two about him. He is an African American from Chicago who rejected
> >Western imposed cultural values to celebrate the Yorubaness in him.
> His
> >case is not appropiate/comparable to the discussion here.
> >Abo mi re o.
> >
> >On Wed, 18 Oct 2000 13:57:11 -0700 (PDT) emeka duruigbo
> ><edur...@yahoo.com> writes:
> >>
> >> > > dead wrong to state that, in Lagos State, "NdiIgbo
> >> > should not dress
> >> > > in their traditional Ndiigbo beads and red caps".
> >> > It's one thing to
> >> > > say that NdiIgbo shouldn't bestow a *Yoruba*
> >> > chieftaincy title upon
> >> > > themselves - BUT - it's quite another to say that
> >> > NdiIgbo who wears
> >> > > NdiIgbo traditional or chieftaincy titles, beads
> >> > and/or red caps is
> >> > > being "insensitivity" to the Yorubas...I doubt
> >> > seriously if this is
> >> > > the point Prof. Aluko would like to convey. Then
> >> > again.... :-)
> >> > >
> >> > > Yorubas with traditional or chieftaincy titles are
> >> > present all over
> >> > > Nigeria...Heck, I dare say that they are present
> >> > all over the globe.
> >> > >
> >> > > We have a Yoruba king in South Carolina. Yoruba
> >> === message truncated ===
> >>
> >>
> >> __________________________________________________
> >> Do You Yahoo!?
> >> Yahoo! Messenger - Talk while you surf! It's FREE.
> >> http://im.yahoo.com/
> >>
Maazi Reggie Iyizoba:
If you choose to become a disciple of his, you will, like Kevin Ani,
become a "technical Igbo", who does not know who his enemies are and
trashes around for imaginary enemies in anyone who says what he does not
want to hear about some aspect, any aspect of Ndiigbo; who is susceptible
to both lies told about his real and imagined enemies, and tells lies
about others; who hold onto such lies and repeat them so often until they
become psychologically debilitating incantations; who spend their time
trying to malign those who have a different view from themselves, and
"oppose them all the way" without reflecting about the truths being told.
Water off my back.
If you choose to become a disciple of Ndiigbo-hater Kevin Ani, that is
your problem, not mine. I will consign you to the same psychological
trash-heap, and refuse to converse with you. It will be your loss, not
mine. I will warn you that you will NEVER get anybody but a few people
like myself who love Nigeria and Nigerians, including Ndiigbo "baje", but
who will tell you what you and your people should hear.
All the same, best wishes.
I am done on this thread, fully done. There is other work to be done,
including on the Nigerian project.
Bolaji
PS: By the way, I wear Yoruba attire as often as I can. But I have
enough sense to know when to wear it appropriately, as distinct from
wearing a business suit. I will not go and visit my University president
This is a simple matter... So, I ask, do you know of any place other
than in the Yorubaland, whereas, there are *authentic* Yoruba chiefs?
Forget about South Carolina.... Concentrate on Nigeria.
Abo mi re o.
Prince Adey.
At 07:29 PM 10/18/00 -0400, jengbadun...@juno.com wrote:
Emeka:
You are very welcome for thanking me for the education. We learn every
day.
No - as President of the Nigerian Democratic Movement, I can walk up to
President Clinton of the USA and introduce myself as such. I can even
introduce myself as President of Nigerians in the USA and introduce myself
as such. But I can assure you that if I start to put a flag on my car,
hire outriders before and behind me, have bodyguards, and claim some right
of way when President Clinton is also wishing to go by, I may have
something coming to me. If I insist that a fully-loaded set of bodyguards
go with me when I go to see president Clinton - because after all, I am
President of Nigerians in the USA - then I may have something coming to
me.
The Yorubas in Nigeria can call their leader "Governor" or "Lt. Governor."
THAT IS NOT THE CONFLICT ISSUE, EMEKA! It is NOT the title, it is the
BEHAVIOR that follows the title that is at stake, Emeka.
Fasehun had NO PROBLEM with the titles. It was the INTIMIDATING way in
which the Ezes and Chiefs came in FULL REGALIA to a simple meeting that
made him turn them back! And he was right to do so.
This should not be hard to understand AT ALL!
Bolaji
On Wed, 18 Oct 2000, emeka duruigbo wrote:
On Wed, 18 Oct 2000 16:36:59 -0700 (PDT) emeka duruigbo
<edur...@yahoo.com> writes:
> Olatoye,
>
> See my response to Bolaji.
>
> I'm sure you'll also benefit from it - or is this one
> of those rare or non-existent cases where you disagree
> with Bolaji?
>
> Best Regards
>
> Emeka
>
> --- jengbadun...@juno.com wrote:
> > You are wrong about the Yoruba chief in South
> > Carolina. I have been to
> > the Yoruba town in South Carolina, meet him and I
> > think I know a thing or
> > two about him. He is an African American from
> > Chicago who rejected
> > Western imposed cultural values to celebrate the
> > Yorubaness in him. His
> > case is not appropiate/comparable to the discussion
> > here.
> > Abo mi re o.
> >
> > On Wed, 18 Oct 2000 13:57:11 -0700 (PDT) emeka
> > duruigbo
> > <edur...@yahoo.com> writes:
> > >
> > > > are bound to see
> > > > > Hausa chiefs, Igbo chiefs, Fulani chiefs....
> > No
> > > > problems. I believe
> > > > > same hold true for all Yorubaland, including
> > Eko.
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > At 11:50 AM 10/18/00 -0700, emeka duruigbo
> > wrote:
> > > > > >
> > > > > >Bolaji,
> > > > > >
> > > > > >I do not support Ndigbo getting busy
> > acquiring
> > > > > >chieftaincy titles anywhere - whether in the
> > East
> > > > or
> > > > > >the North.
> > > > > >
> > > > > >But the basis of your opposition is simply
> > > > > >preposterous. It is founded on the same
> > absurd
> > > > line of
> > > > > >reasoning that clearly emanates from your
> > > > quarters
> > > > > >whenever (i.e., 90% of the time) you decide
> > to
> > > > put on
> >
> === message truncated ===
>
>
> __________________________________________________
> Do You Yahoo!?
> Yahoo! Messenger - Talk while you surf! It's FREE.
> http://im.yahoo.com/
>
Bolaji obviously has little or no shame. Comparing his
relationship to his university president with a
successful Igbo man going to visit a hotelier and
local physician in Okota. What a shame. It shows you
how these irresponsible xenophobes and anarchists see
their fellow Nigerians. Yet when the Hausa Fulani or
the military lords it over them, they'd be the first
to complain about being consigned to a second class
status. How about wearing a Yoruba dress to visit a
white neighbor in Maryland - who happens to lead a
rag-tag sub-group among his people?
That fellow Bolaji certainly has an overblown ego -
thinking that his mails are that important. I guess
he's forgotten how Ademola Iyi-Eweka described some of
his posts (when he wanted to join Edonet).
Best Regards
Emeka
--- Uzo <uzo...@mweb.com.na> wrote:
> Bolaji,
>
> What you wrote below is very arrogant. What makes
> you think that
> conversing with you should be cherished by Reggie?
> What makes you think that
> you love Nigeria more than any other person on this
> net?
>
> Uzo
>
>
> "I will consign you to the same psychological
> trash-heap, and refuse to converse with you. It will
> be your loss, not
> mine. I will warn you that you will NEVER get
> anybody but a few people
> like myself who love Nigeria and Nigerians,
> including Ndiigbo "baje", but
> who will tell you what you and your people should
> hear. "
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-i...@lists.cc.utexas.edu
> [mailto:owner-i...@lists.cc.utexas.edu]On
> Behalf Of Mobolaji E.
> Aluko
> Sent: 19 October 2000 01:32
> To: Reggie Iyizoba
> Cc: edur...@yahoo.com; CIVIL...@rocketmail.com;
> ota...@yahoo.com;
> CIVOK...@aol.com; african...@hotmail.com;
> ad...@africamail.com;
> ebony...@my-deja.com; yorub...@onelist.com;
> naij...@egroups.com;
> igbo...@lists.cc.utexas.edu; RIV...@siue.edu;
> oko...@usafricaonline.com; mekw...@netzero.net;
> aaki...@acme.highpoint.edu; IG...@aol.com;
> aog...@ix.netcom.com;
> i...@usa.net; dj...@freenet.carleton.ca;
> amael...@smartisp.com;
> ach...@medicine.med.um.edu.my; alat...@netzero.net;
> AOr...@aol.com;
> awo...@cyberspace.net.ng; Bad...@aol.com;
> Bo...@aol.com; Da...@aol.com;
> Edo-Co...@egroups.com; Fela...@aol.com;
> genera...@freedom98.org;
> ibn...@yahoo.com; In...@yorubanation.org;
> Lod...@aol.com;
> no...@yahoo.com; Ola...@aol.com; oluok...@msn.com;
> oola...@dcsmserver.med.sc.edu; owens...@camh.net;
> quincynet-...@egroups.com;
> Tajol...@aol.com; Tun...@aol.com;
> tun...@netzero.net; Walea...@aol.com;
> wen...@oceanfree.net;
> Yorubas-...@egroups.com; ade...@duq.edu;
> aka...@aol.com
> Subject: Re: [Naijanet] Re: Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba
> Communities in Lagos
> make their presentations
>
>
>
>
What you wrote below is very arrogant. What makes you think that
conversing with you should be cherished by Reggie? What makes you think that
you love Nigeria more than any other person on this net?
Uzo
"I will consign you to the same psychological
trash-heap, and refuse to converse with you. It will be your loss, not
mine. I will warn you that you will NEVER get anybody but a few people
like myself who love Nigeria and Nigerians, including Ndiigbo "baje", but
who will tell you what you and your people should hear. "
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-i...@lists.cc.utexas.edu
[mailto:owner-i...@lists.cc.utexas.edu]On Behalf Of Mobolaji E.
Aluko
Sent: 19 October 2000 01:32
To: Reggie Iyizoba
Cc: edur...@yahoo.com; CIVIL...@rocketmail.com; ota...@yahoo.com;
CIVOK...@aol.com; african...@hotmail.com; ad...@africamail.com;
ebony...@my-deja.com; yorub...@onelist.com; naij...@egroups.com;
igbo...@lists.cc.utexas.edu; RIV...@siue.edu;
oko...@usafricaonline.com; mekw...@netzero.net;
aaki...@acme.highpoint.edu; IG...@aol.com; aog...@ix.netcom.com;
i...@usa.net; dj...@freenet.carleton.ca; amael...@smartisp.com;
ach...@medicine.med.um.edu.my; alat...@netzero.net; AOr...@aol.com;
awo...@cyberspace.net.ng; Bad...@aol.com; Bo...@aol.com; Da...@aol.com;
Edo-Co...@egroups.com; Fela...@aol.com; genera...@freedom98.org;
ibn...@yahoo.com; In...@yorubanation.org; Lod...@aol.com;
no...@yahoo.com; Ola...@aol.com; oluok...@msn.com;
oola...@dcsmserver.med.sc.edu; owens...@camh.net;
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tun...@netzero.net; Walea...@aol.com; wen...@oceanfree.net;
Yorubas-...@egroups.com; ade...@duq.edu; aka...@aol.com
How about the Igbo/Biafran holocaust? Where and how did it start? It all
started in the northern house of assembly by elected and selected members of
the northern house of assembly, none of whom to the best of
available information at my disposal are junkies. In 1964, at the
northern house of assembly, prof. iya abubakar, advocated
the NORTHERNIZATION of all public and private enterprise. Other members
of the northern house who were supposedly educated chorused prof.
iya abubakar's satanic utterances. As you and other netters know,
Nzeogwu's coup provided the opportunity for them to carry out their
planned elimination of Ndiigbo and other easterners. Which is why I
insist that we stay out of the current hausa-fulani/yoruba wahala...
BTW, iya abubakar is "western educated"
In the west, Akintola, the premier of the west, was making inciting
statements, similiar to those of bolaji aluko against Ndiigbo. And
why was he attacking Ndiigbo? Simple. Dr M.I. our able Premier, lent
his support to awolowo, akintola's rival. Thus, an intra-yoruba squabble
became an Igbo-yoruba wahala. Akintola is also "western educated".
In 1967, was it not anthony enahoro who made the OIL-FOR-GUN deal with the
british? The guns purchased from britain were used in the mass massacre of
our people. enahoro is not an illiterate - is he? How about awolowo, who
initiated the policy that culminated in the STARVATION OF OUR PEOPLE between
1967-70. Is he not hailed as a VERY DISCIPLINED AND RESPOSNSIBLE FELLOW by
his yoruba kinsfolk? Is he not a lawyer by profession - a supposedly
educated man !!
In 1968, dr tunji otegbeye, an educated yoruba man, asked the russians
who were looking for a beachhead in Africa, to come over to Africa for
the express purpose of EXTERMINATING NDIIGBO AND BIAFRANS. Is tunji otegbeye
not a "responsible man"?
I can go on for God or devil knows how long, but that won't be
necessary.
Nwanuka
It is important you have a knowledge of SELF and history and more
importantly willingness to make *SACRIFICES* in order to OVERWHELM your
oppressors.
>
>
> Seyi Awofeso:
>
> Instead of signing off "With Esteem", you should have signed off with
> "With Concern", because those who do not learn from history live to repeat
> its mistakes. You report this news with too matter-of-fact attitude.
>
> First, OPC, an unregistered organization, has been BANNED. Just like
> that! In a democracy, you don't just "ban" an organization, a group of
> freely associating members, without due process. What we have returned to
> is an Abacha era, camouflaged as an Obasanjo democracy. Obasanjo has been
> pushed, and he has keeled over. Obasanjo will be isolated in Aso Rock -
> that is part of the agenda - to force him back into line. The unfolding of
> the
>
> Secondly, Dr. Fasehun has been ARRESTED. Just like that! He was arrested
> times without number under the Abacha era. Beko Kuti, OPC Treasurer, will
> probably be arrested next - and possibly framed, just like under Abacha!
> Yet turn to this URL:
>
> http://www.nigeriaworld.com/news/source/2000/oct/19/12.html
>
> QUOTE
>
> SECURITY CONFERENCE - Police Community Relations Committee held a
> two-day security awareness conference for security operatives in Lagos
> State at Tafawa Balewa Square yesterday. Left to right: Elder Dapo
> Falano, Chairman; Mr. Frank Odita, Commissioner of Police (Rtd) and
> Dr. Frederick Fasheun, OPC leader. Photo by Emmanuel Ehizojie.
>
> -- other materials deleted
> Vanguard: Transmitted THURSDAY, 19th OCTOBER, 2000
>
> UNQUOTE
>
> So between Wednesday, 18th October, and Thursday, 19th October, Fasehun
> had become such a security risk over some mayhem that started AWAY from
> his abode three or four days earlier, that the army and police will BREAK
> ALL THE WINDOWS in his home to effect his arrest and lock him up! Gestapo
> Nigeria, if you ask me.
>
> So the Senate - our much loved Senate - has passed a resolution to inquire
> into the problem. Just like that! Kudos to that body! Yet the same
> senate passed the same resolution back in January of this year - see the
> following URLs:
http://allafrica.com/stories/200001190271.html
Lawmakers Denounce Activities Of Militant Ethnic Group
Panafrican News Agency January 19, 2000
http://allafrica.com/stories/200001260156.html
Senate Team Arrives Lagos
P.M. News (Lagos) January 26, 2000
http://allafrica.com/stories/200002290190.html
A Judge In Own Case
The News (Lagos) February 29, 2000
http://allafrica.com/stories/200002290189.html
The Senate Committee on the OPC submits a controversial reports
The News (Lagos) February 29, 2000
http://allafrica.com/stories/200004250190.html
Senate Warns OPC over Planned Demonstration
Post Express (Lagos) April 25, 2000
http://allafrica.com/stories/200005040276.html
OPC Protests At NA Describes Legislators' Performance As Shoddy
This Day (Lagos) May 4, 2000
>
>
> But because the results of the inquiry was favorable to OPC, the Senate
> sat on it, and it has not seen the light of day since. If OPC is banned -
> and anybody declaring he is OPC can be arrested - who will now come and
> testify in support of OPC?
>
> Inquiring minds want to know.
>
> So the Senate also followed it up with a resolution empowering the
> President to declare a state of emergency in Lagos and unseat Tinubu and
> his entire cabinet? JUST LIKE THAT! Wonderment! One wonders the vote
> distribution of that resolution? How did Lagos Senators Dosunmu, Ogunlewe
> and Afikuyomi vote? How did the AD senators vote? How did the North
> vote? Or the South? The Lagos that is the commercial nerve center of the
> country? Instead of drafting more police from around the country - and
> increasing the police budget to do so - it is fixing to declare a
> state of emergency - like in May 1962 - and tampering with the political
> life of the state!
>
> My friends, it ain't going to sit pretty in that country for some time to
> come if things come to that head.
>
> Seyi, you should write, "With concern", not only "With esteem."
>
>
> Bolaji Aluko
Seyi and All,This is a true emergency indeed, and the Federal government should do all it can to stop the retaliatory killings. My sympathies to all the families who have lost lives on both sides.There is an immediate need to prevent this unrest from becoming an all-out interregional conflict which can easily throw Nigeria back to 1966/67. It is unfortunate that Nigeria has allowed this "kill me, I kill you" method of conflict resolution to take root. I hope that common sense will prevail on both sides. The almost predictable at which unrests crop in Nigeria is disheartning. It maybe better that the nation be dissolved peacefully now because it seems that we no longer understand each other.*gregg*#################################################################
>So the Senate also followed it up with a resolution empowering the
>President to declare a state of emergency in Lagos and unseat Tinubu and
>his entire cabinet? JUST LIKE THAT! Wonderment! One wonders the vote
>distribution of that resolution? How did Lagos Senators Dosunmu, Ogunlewe
>and Afikuyomi vote? How did the AD senators vote? How did the North
>vote? Or the South?
I really don't see how these AD Senators can "support" the so-called
State of Emergency in Lagos.... I mean, where were these people when
Kaduna was being torched? Oh well, this Senate has no power to grant
this President the green light "to invoke his emergency powers under
section 305 .... to arrest the situation immediately if he deems fit"
Please see the full text of Section #305 below.
WIRE:10/19/2000 13:03:00 ET
Parliament calls for state of emergency in Lagos
ABUJA, Oct 19 (Reuters) - Nigeria's upper chamber Senate passed a
resolution on Thursday empowering President Olusegun Obasanjo to declare
a state of emergency in Lagos, where ethnic violence has claimed more
than 100 lives.
In a unanimous vote, the senate also mandated security agencies to
investigate and charge any person found to be backing a tribal militia
group, the Odua People's Congress (OPC), or similar groups.
The OPC is loyal to the southwestern Yorubas, who have been involved
in four days of clashes in Nigeria's commercial capital with migrant
Hausa-Fulanis from the north. "In view of the break down of security
in Lagos State from Sunday October 15, leading to loss of lives and
property...this senate hereby empowers the president to invoke his
emergency powers under section 305 of the 1999 constitution to arrest
the situation immediately if he deems fit," the house said. The Nigerian
government on Wednesday outlawed the OPC and ordered the arrest and
prosecution of its leaders. Police said on Thursday they had arrested
two militia leaders.
RAW NEWS
Copyright ©2000 ABC News Internet Ventures.
p.s. Please see below for Section #350 of the 199 Constitution....
Part II
Miscellaneous Provisions
Section #305.
(1) Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the President may
by instrument published in the Official -Gazette} of the Government
of the Federation issue a Proclamation of a state of emergency in the
Federation or any part thereof.
(2) The President shall immediately after the publication, transmit
copies of the Official -Gazette} of the Government of the Federation
containing the proclamation including the details of the emergency
to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of
Representatives, each of whom shall forthwith convene or arrange for
a meeting of the House of which he is President or Speaker, as the
case may be, to consider the situation and decide whether or not to
pass a resolution approving the Proclamation.
(3) The President shall have power to issue a Proclamation of a
state of emergency only when:
(a) the Federation is at war;
(b) the Federation is in imminent danger of invasion or involvement
in a state of war;
(c) there is actual breakdown of public order and public safety in
the Federation or any part thereof to such extent as to require
extraordinary measures to restore peace and security;
(d) there is a clear and present danger of an actual breakdown of
public order and public safety in the Federation or any part
thereof requiring extraordinary measures to avert such danger;
(e) there is an occurrence or imminent danger, or the occurrence of
any disaster or natural calamity, affecting the community or a
section of the community in the Federation;
(f) there is any other public danger which clearly constitutes a threat
to the existence of the Federation; or
(g) the President receives a request to do so in accordance with the
provisions of subsection (4) of this section.
(4) The Governor of a State may, with the sanction of a resolution
supported by two-thirds majority of the House of Assembly, request the
President to issue a Proclamation of a state of emergency in the State
when there is in existence within the State any of the situations
specified in subsection (3) (c), (d) and (e) of this section and such
situation does not extend beyond the boundaries of the State.
(5) The President shall not issue a Proclamation of a state of emergency
in any case to which the provisions of subsection (4) of this section
apply unless the Governor of the State fails within a reasonable time to
make a request to the President to issue such Proclamation.
(6) A Proclamation issued by the President under this section shall cease
to have effect:
(a) if it is revoked by the President by instrument published in the
Official Gazette of the Government of the Federation;
(b) if it affects the Federation or any part thereof and within two days
when the National Assembly is in session, or within ten days when the
National Assembly is not in session, after its publication, there is no
resolution supported by two-thirds majority of all the members of each
House of the National Assembly approving the Proclamation;
(c) after a period of six months has elapsed since it has been in force:
Provided that the National Assembly may, before the expiration of the
period of six months aforesaid, extend the period for the Proclamation
of the state of emergency to remain in force from time to time for
further period of six months by resolution passed in like manner; or
(d) at any time after the approval referred to in paragraph
(b) or the extension referred to in paragraph
(c) of this subsection, when each House of the National Assembly
revokes the Proclamation by a simple majority of all the
members of each House.
And here too is a Senate that has refused to heed the call of the police
to a mere "chat" over certain allegations made by Nzeribe! If the Senate
does not respect the police, why should ordinary Nigerians and the OPC?
Bolaji
I intentionally decided not to address Bolaji's ramblings about his
conversing with people being a previlage. It was a childish talk that need
not be addressed. I will discuss issues with Bolaji, but not silly rantings.
It shows you how fickle minded the prof. is. I did not want to bloat his ego
more than he himself has been doing by addressing that silly statement.
Cheers,
Reggie.
>From: "Uzo" <uzo...@mweb.com.na>
>To: <mal...@scs.howard.edu>, "Reggie Iyizoba" <riyi...@hotmail.com>
>CC: <edur...@yahoo.com>, <CIVIL...@rocketmail.com>,
><ota...@yahoo.com>, <CIVOK...@aol.com>, <african...@hotmail.com>,
><ad...@africamail.com>, <ebony...@my-deja.com>, <yorub...@onelist.com>,
><naij...@egroups.com>, <igbo...@lists.cc.utexas.edu>, <RIV...@siue.edu>,
><oko...@usafricaonline.com>, <mekw...@netzero.net>,
><aaki...@acme.highpoint.edu>, <IG...@aol.com>, <aog...@ix.netcom.com>,
><i...@usa.net>, <dj...@freenet.carleton.ca>, <amael...@smartisp.com>,
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><Walea...@aol.com>, <wen...@oceanfree.net>,
><Yorubas-...@egroups.com>, <ade...@duq.edu>, <aka...@aol.com>
>Subject: RE: [Naijanet] Re: Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba Communities in Lagos
>make their presentations
>Date: Thu, 19 Oct 2000 08:52:48 +0200
>Yorubas-...@egroups.com; ade...@duq.edu; aka...@aol.com
>Subject: Re: [Naijanet] Re: Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba Communities in Lagos
>make their presentations
>
>
>
>
>Maazi Reggie Iyizoba:
>
>If you choose to become a disciple of his, you will, like Kevin Ani,
>become a "technical Igbo", who does not know who his enemies are and
>trashes around for imaginary enemies in anyone who says what he does not
>want to hear about some aspect, any aspect of Ndiigbo; who is susceptible
>to both lies told about his real and imagined enemies, and tells lies
>about others; who hold onto such lies and repeat them so often until they
>become psychologically debilitating incantations; who spend their time
>trying to malign those who have a different view from themselves, and
>"oppose them all the way" without reflecting about the truths being told.
>
>Water off my back.
>
>If you choose to become a disciple of Ndiigbo-hater Kevin Ani, that is
>your problem, not mine. I will consign you to the same psychological
>trash-heap, and refuse to converse with you. It will be your loss, not
>mine. I will warn you that you will NEVER get anybody but a few people
>like myself who love Nigeria and Nigerians, including Ndiigbo "baje", but
>who will tell you what you and your people should hear.
>
>All the same, best wishes.
>
>I am done on this thread, fully done. There is other work to be done,
>including on the Nigerian project.
>
>
>Bolaji
>
>PS: By the way, I wear Yoruba attire as often as I can. But I have
>enough sense to know when to wear it appropriately, as distinct from
>wearing a business suit. I will not go and visit my University president
>
>
The vote in the senate was (according to newspaper reports) unanimous, ie,
every senator voted yes on the senate resolution. In as much as I disagree
with that resolution, we should all accept that these folks who couldn't
even stand up and defend their own constitutional rights, found the crisis
in Lagos scary enough to vote together.
Until folks resolve to tell each other the truth about what ethnic hatred,
jealousy, wickedness, organized efforts to steal peoples property has lead
to in that region Nigeria, everybody would continue to suffer from one
crisis to another.
THERE SHALL BE NO REST FOR THE WICKED.
Ugo Anakwenze
"Mobolaji E. Aluko" <mal...@scs.howard.edu>@lists.cc.utexas.edu on
10/19/2000 04:27:57 PM
Please respond to mal...@scs.howard.edu
Sent by: owner-i...@lists.cc.utexas.edu
To: Mr Seyi Awofeso <awo...@cyberspace.net.ng>
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Walea...@aol.com, wen...@oceanfree.net,
Yorubas-...@egroups.com, ade...@duq.edu, aka...@aol.com
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-i...@lists.cc.utexas.edu [mailto:owner-i...@lists.cc.utexas.edu]On Behalf Of Mr Seyi Awofeso
Sent: 20 October 2000 11:45
To: Mobolaji E. Aluko
Cc: OKQu...@aol.com; Adey Oyenuga; yorub...@onelist.com; naij...@egroups.com; igbo...@lists.cc.utexas.edu; RIV...@siue.edu; Ken okorie; aaki...@acme.highpoint.edu; IG...@aol.com; aog...@ix.netcom.com; Ibukunolu_Alao_Babajide; Imeh Inyang; amael...@smartisp.com; alat...@netzero.net; AOr...@aol.com; Bad...@aol.com; Bo...@aol.com; Da...@aol.com; Fela...@aol.com; genera...@freedom98.org; ibn...@yahoo.com; In...@yorubanation.org; Lod...@aol.com; no...@yahoo.com; Ola...@aol.com; oluok...@msn.com; oola...@dcsmserver.med.sc.edu; owens...@camh.net; Tajol...@aol.com; Tun...@aol.com; tun...@netzero.net; Walea...@aol.com; wen...@oceanfree.net; Yorubas-...@egroups.com; ade...@duq.edu; aka...@aol.com
Subject: Re: Dr. Frederick Fasheun of OPC arrested, to face trial tomorrow
Importance: High
Are you a lawyer? Are you a lawyer? Are you a Nigerian?
See what you wrote below:
On Fri, 20 Oct 2000, Mr Seyi Awofeso wrote:
> Dear All,
>
> The Magistrate court sitting in Yaba today ordered that Dr. Frederick
> Fasheun and 41 others, some of whom are OPC members, be detained in
> Prison for the next one month, until the 17th of November, when their
> pleas will be taken on criminal charges of (a) murder,(b) arson, and (c)
> rioting.
>
> The Police says it has now secured confessional statements made by some
> of the accused persons, proving that unknown to the public, the recent
> 3-day riots and killings in Lagos were in fact pre-planned at a previous
> meeting of the OPC.
IF THE POLICE SAYS THAT IT HAS SECURED "CONFESSIONAL STATEMENTS" FROM SOME
ACCUSED, HOW CAN YOU REASONABLY TRANSMIT THIS WITHOUT COMMENT? OBTAINED
UNDER DURESS? DID THEY SAY THAT FASEHUN WAS PART OF THE MEETING? WHERE
ARE THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING(S)?
>
> The penalty for murder under the criminal code of Lagos state is death
> by hanging.
>
> The seriousness of Fasheun's criminal trial seems to have dawned on
> Lagos which was subdued all through the day. The last time an ethnic
> group leader was tried for such grievous offences was in 1994. That
> ethnic group leader, Ken Saro Wiwa, was found guilty in Port-Harcourt
> following a sham trial, and was promptly hanged to death.
YOU COMPLETELY AVOIDED TO SAY THAT THIS SARO-WIWA CASE WAS DURING THE
ABACHA PERIOD! YOU DID NOT WANT TO MAKE THE IDENTIFICATION WITH THE
OBASANJO REGIME!
>
> Dr. Fasheun's trial is expected to generate similar heat, although at
> his arraignment today, no OPC member was seen in attendance, possibly
> because the group was "orally" outlawed on Wednesday by the Federal
> government.
>
> Meanwhile, Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has made a curious
> statement in Lagos that it is "criminal conduct" by the Police to arrest
> and charge Dr. Fasheun because "it is wrong to arrest the head of an
> organisation for offences (allegedly) committed by his followers".
WHY IS THIS "CURIOUS STATEMENT?" IS SOYINKA'S STATEMENT UNREASONABLE? IF
YOU ARE PRESIDENT OF YOUR DEBATING SOCIETY, AND YOUR MEMBER SLAPS A FELLOW
DEBATER FROM THE OTHER SIDE, MUST YOU BE ARRESTED FOR THAT?
>
> According to Professor Soyinka, only Fasheun's followers found to have
> committed the offences charged ought to be arrested and tried.
IS THIS NOT A REASONABLE STATEMENT?
>
>
> With esteem,
> Seyi Olu Awofeso
WITH CONSTERNATION AND WONDERMENT
BOLAJI ALUKO
> ...................................................................................
----- Original Message -----From: Mr Seyi AwofesoTo: Uzo ; Mobolaji E. AlukoCc: OKQu...@aol.com ; Adey Oyenuga ; yorub...@onelist.com ; naij...@egroups.com ; igbo...@lists.cc.utexas.edu ; RIV...@siue.edu ; Ken okorie ; aaki...@acme.highpoint.edu ; IG...@aol.com ; aog...@ix.netcom.com ; Ibukunolu_Alao_Babajide ; Imeh Inyang ; amael...@smartisp.com ; alat...@netzero.net ; AOr...@aol.com ; Bad...@aol.com ; Bo...@aol.com ; Da...@aol.com ; Fela...@aol.com ; genera...@freedom98.org ; ibn...@yahoo.com ; In...@yorubanation.org ; Lod...@aol.com ; no...@yahoo.com ; Ola...@aol.com ; oluok...@msn.com ; oola...@dcsmserver.med.sc.edu ; owens...@camh.net ; Tajol...@aol.com ; Tun...@aol.com ; tun...@netzero.net ; Walea...@aol.com ; wen...@oceanfree.net ; Yorubas-...@egroups.com ; ade...@duq.edu ; aka...@aol.comSent: Friday, October 20, 2000 11:10 PMSubject: Re: Dr. Frederick Fasheun of OPC arrested, to face trial
Dear All,The Magistrate court sitting in Yaba today ordered that Dr. Frederick Fasheun and 41 others, some of whom are OPC members, be detained in Prison for the next one month, until the 17th of November, when their pleas will be taken on criminal charges of (a) murder,(b) arson, and (c) rioting.The Police says it has now secured confessional statements made by some of the accused persons, proving that unknown to the public, the recent 3-day riots and killings in Lagos were in fact pre-planned at a previous meeting of the OPC.
The penalty for murder under the criminal code of Lagos state is death by hanging.The seriousness of Fasheun's criminal trial seems to have dawned on Lagos which was subdued all through the day. The last time an ethnic group leader was tried for such grievous offences was in 1994. That ethnic group leader, Ken Saro Wiwa, was found guilty in Port-Harcourt following a sham trial, and was promptly hanged to death.
Dr. Fasheun's trial is expected to generate similar heat, although at his arraignment today, no OPC member was seen in attendance, possibly because the group was "orally" outlawed on Wednesday by the Federal government.Meanwhile, Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has made a curious statement in Lagos that it is "criminal conduct" by the Police to arrest and charge Dr. Fasheun because "it is wrong to arrest the head of an organisation for offences (allegedly) committed by his followers".
According to Professor Soyinka, only Fasheun's followers found to have committed the offences charged ought to be arrested and tried.
With esteem,Seyi Olu Awofeso
.............................................................................
----- Original Message -----