[Re: Awolowo and the Indigenization Decree [Re: Ojukwu Clarifies]
Reginald Iyizoba
I wonder who is coercing the Eastern minorities to fight now. I hope nobody
will say it is Ndiigbo.
Hopefully, Ken saro wiwa did not claim in his book that Ndiigbo also
coerced him and his Ogoni people to fight the almighty Nigeria.
Reggie.
-----Original Message-----
From: Ibukunolu Alao Babajide [SMTP:i...@usa.net]
Sent: Tuesday, September 19, 2000 9:48 AM
To: Eric Kalu; ndug...@naijanet.com
Cc: ek...@wombat.eng.fsu.edu; mal...@scs.howard.edu; Ken okorie;
IG...@aol.com; OKQu...@aol.com; aog...@ix.netcom.com; i...@usa.net; Imeh
Inyang; naij...@egroups.com; amael...@smartisp.com;
aaki...@acme.highpoint.edu; Francis Ifejika Achike; alat...@netzero.net;
AOr...@aol.com; awo...@cyberspace.net.ng; Bad...@aol.com; Bo...@aol.com;
Da...@aol.com; ebony...@my-deja.com; ibn...@yahoo.com;
igbo...@lists.cc.utexas.edu; In...@yorubanation.org; LEK...@aol.com;
Lod...@aol.com; mekw...@flash.net; Ola...@aol.com;
oola...@dcsmserver.med.sc.edu; owens...@camh.net; quincynet-accept-7e
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Yorubas-...@egroups.com
Subject: Re: [Re: Awolowo and the Indigenization Decree [Re: Ojukwu
Clarifies]
Importance: High
Dear Eric Kalu,
Please go and read Ken Saro wiwa's book titled:
"On a Darkling Plain"
It expresses the views of the Eastern minorities before, during and after
the
civil war.
Many Eastern minorities were coerced into the Igbo war. It was not their
war
at all.
IBK
Eric Kalu <ek...@dingo.eng.fsu.edu> wrote:
> Ndugu,
> You are right that JOJ was in gowon's cabinent, but I think he joined the
cabinent after 1970 - i.e. at the end
> of military (not psychological) hostilities. As regards your argument
about
the Republic of Biafra, I do not agree
> with you on your inferences. I do not remember ever reading anywhere that
there was opposition in any part of former
> eastern
> nigeria to the idea of Biafra initially. Rather, the opposition arose
after
most of the South-South regions fell into
> the
> hands of the vandals. In fact, it is on record that majority of Biafran
soldiers of Igbo extraction that were in
> Bonny and Okirika sector (either 32 or 27th battalion, forgotten the
correct
battallion) were actually killed by the
> people of the riverine areas.
> This happened when Okirika and PH felled into the hands of the vandals. I
know about this because my senior brother
> (a proud Biafran Soldier) was among those killed in Okirika at the time.
>
> In my village, thousands of refugees from Biakpan were accomodated prior
to
the fall of my village. It is to be noted
> that prior to the fall of my village, there was no complaints from the
refugees about their not wanting to be part of
> Biafra. In fact, despite their being removed from their native lands, the
people worked hard for the cause of Biafra.
> However, when we were cut-off from Biafra (March 31, 1969), while all
natives took to the bush, the Biakpans came out
> to welcome the vandals with shouts of "one nigeria". Several of them
looted
the homes of their hosts - my people.
> They justified their actions by your argument that they did not want to
be
part of Biafra - i.e after they saw that
> Biafra was
> not succeeding. In any case, my people do not bear any grudges against
the
Biakpan people. We did the best we could
> for them and some (not all of them) were not kind in return. Their
declaring
for nigeria at that point is
> understandable - however, I condemn the looting and some other anti-Igbo
activities they perpetrated against us.
>
> Egwu
>
> >
> > Bolaji and Egwu:
> >
> > Just to set the record straight, Ukpabi Asika was a civilian in Gowon's
military government, but he was not a "lone Igbo voice" in the cabinet. I
believe J.O.J. Okezie (Federal Agriculture Commissioner) was also in
Gowon's
cabinet. This clarification does not take away the import of the statement
that they may not have considered it prudent to oppose policies that could
be
termed anti-Igbo, if not for the intention, at least clearly for the
result.
Let me digress a bit here by noting that, I hope we can also grant this
logic
when we argue that in the consultation process preceding the declaration of
Biafra, it is not credible to argue that the presence of the "lone" voices
of
Effiong or N. U. Akpan (or their decision not to resign) nullifies some of
the
problems outlined regarding the inclusion of minorities (Ikot Nnyin) in
Biafra.
> >
> > On the so-called Nigerianization Decree, Egwu's point is more plausible
that policies are not initiated and implemented overnight, especially in
the
absence of cabinet deliberations which led to the implementation of that
decree. If anything, this policy was consistent with the "nationalist"
approach of Awo's political philosophy than the (internationalist)
capitalist
philosophy. But as to whether or not Awo was instrumental to it, we need
further research and evidence. I also have difficulties with Awo's role
being
downplayed given that he carried the Finance potfolio.
> >
> > No one can deny the fact that by omission or commission, this policy
affected Ndiigbo (as an ethnic group) adversely. But it also affected
others
who could not afford to buy shares by virtue of their economic status.
Those
who argue that it was merely an economic decision overlook the fact that,
any
national economic policy which affects adversely a large section of the
nation's polity, could (among other reasons) be because the initiators are
bad
policy makers, that the policy is designed to cater strictly to the needs
of a
few elites, or at best to intentionally exclude a large section of the
populace. As you can see, all three point to the same thing - a bad policy.
It
is difficult to reconcile the ?20 "allowance" against the Indigenisation
Decree which allowed Nigerians more shares to foreign owned businesses,
while
not ensuring that a lot of the citizens had the means to share in that
acquisition. But having said that, should what was considered a national
development policy have been kept on the shelf until all members of the
nation
were ready? I am raising all these to highlight the fact that this issue
cannot be resolved by recourse to one side of the argument, but that we
need
to weigh both sides and acknowledge where mistakes were made, so that we
can
avoid repeating them in future. Best wishes.
> >
> > ndugu Imeh
> >
> > --- Egwu Kalu <ek...@wombat.eng.fsu.edu>
> > > wrote:
> > >'Bolaji:
> > >
> > >I hope you are not here suggesting that government policies are
enacted
> > >over night. If you believe that the Yorubanization &
> > >Fulanization/Hausanization (fraudently called "nigerianization"
> > >or "indigenization") decree was conceptualized in 1972 (or better yet
after
> > >Awo resigned from the "federal" executive council in 1971), then you
are
> > >alone with your supporters. By the
> > >way, if Awo left mr. gowon's administration in 1971, what was the
basis
of
> > >his (Awo's) disagreement with mr. murtala mohammed over the 1973
census
> > >figures? Did he disagree with mr. mohammed on his personal standing or
as
a
> > >member of the government? I read somewhere about this disagreement
playing
> > >some role in the 1979 presidential election mathematics.
> > >
> > >Even if Awo left mr. gowon's government in 1971, those of us that know
> > >Awo's understanding of the ethnic politics of nigeria believe that the
> > >indigenization decree smelled and sounded like his
> > >ideas. You can twist and turn as much as you like, the facts are
there.
> > >Better still, ask mr. gowon (he is still alive) to tell you whose idea
led
> > >to the decree. mr. gowon is the best witness Ndiigbo have to wit.
> > >
> > >On another issue, you suggested that ukpabi asika, a civilian and lone
Igbo
> > >voice (obscure professor at UI before 1967) in the military council
after
> > >the war should have influenced decisions at the SMC or else resign.
That
> > >suggestion made me think why Professor Aluko did not resign from the
> > >services of mr. abacha. Probably, Professor Aluko's understanding of
mr.
> > >abacha's intentions might have been the same understanding that
informed
> > >mr. ukpabi asika to stay put in mr. gowon's administration inspite of
> > >several anti-Igbo policies that the government pursued.
> > >
> > >Egwu
> > >At 07:37 PM 9/16/00 -0400, Mobolaji E. Aluko wrote:
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>Ken Okorie:
> > >>
> > >>I have been doing some further research.....
> > >>
> > >>Please note that Chief Obafemi Awolowo left Gowon's cabinet by May
31,
> > >>1971 (within 18 months of the end of the Biafra-Nigeria civil war),
while
> > >>the indigenization decree (properly named the Nigerian Enterprise
> > >>Promotion Decree) was promulgated in 1972! (I am trying to nail down
the
> > >>month!)
> > >>
> > >>That is another nail in the coffin of those who blame Awo for the
> > >>indigenization decree and the supposed "enrichment" of the West and
North
> > >>over the East.
> > >>
> > >>The truth will eventually out!
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>Bolaji Aluko
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>On Fri, 15 Sep 2000, Ken okorie wrote:
> > >>
> > >>> Dr. Aluko:
> > >>>
> > >>> I will always accord the benefit of the doubt, especially on
matters
of
> > >>> intellect. But your attempting to defend or rationalize Pa Awo's
role
on
> > >>> the 20 Pounds to every Biafran is truly, truly sorry. I could not
imagine
> > >>> anyone, including you, being that extreme. Was Awolowo not the
Finance
> > >>> Minister (or whatever the title then) as well as the equivalent of
Prime
> > >>> Minister in the so-called Executive Council in the Gowon junta? I
suppose
> > >>> I should not expect any less gabbage on the timing of
Indigenization
decree
> > >>> either!
> > >>>
> > >>> Now I'm reminded how much waste of precious time it is to try to
make
sense
> > >>> on some of these forums!!!!!
> > >>>
> > >>> Ken Okorie
> > >>>
> > >>> ----- Original Message -----
> > >>> From: "Mobolaji E. Aluko" <mal...@scs.howard.edu>
> > >>> To: <IG...@aol.com>
> > >>> Cc: <oko...@usafricaonline.com>; <OKQu...@aol.com>;
> > >>> <aog...@ix.netcom.com>; <i...@usa.net>; "Imeh Inyang"
> > >>> <dj...@freenet.carleton.ca>; <naij...@egroups.com>;
> > >>> <amael...@smartisp.com>; <aaki...@acme.highpoint.edu>; "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>; <ebony...@my-deja.com>;
> > >>> <ibn...@yahoo.com>; <igbo...@lists.cc.utexas.edu>;
> > >>> <In...@yorubanation.org>; <LEK...@aol.com>; <Lod...@aol.com>;
> > >>> <mekw...@flash.net>; <Ola...@aol.com>;
<oola...@dcsmserver.med.sc..edu>;
> > >>> <owens...@camh.net>; <quincynet-...@egroups.com>;
> > >>> <Tajol...@aol.com>; <Tun...@aol.com>;
<Yorubas-Community@egroups..com>
> > >>> Sent: Friday, September 15, 2000 5:42 AM
> > >>> Subject: Re: Ojukwu Clarifies What Awo Said and His Role in Hi
(fwd)
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >>> >
> > >>> >
> > >>> > Chuk:
> > >>> >
> > >>> > Thanks for your email.
> > >>> >
> > >>> > (1) Harsh as the 20 pounds decision was (I am still digging for
the
> > >>> > decree and its circumstances), Awo was not the ONLY person to
make
the
> > >>> > decision, nor do we have ANY record for now that he suggested it.
The
> > >>> > Federal Executive Council under Gowon had Ukpabi Asika as a
member,
and we
> > >>> > did not hear of him kicking against it or resigning. But it
suits
some
> > >>> > people's primordial bias to blame the decision ONLY on Awolowo,
and,
by
> > >>> > implication, on the Yoruba. Even you join in by claiming "...by
no
other
> > >>> > than Chief Awolowo". You are plain wrong on that count.
> > >>> >
> > >>> > (2) You rightly touch on acts of kindness by individual Yoruba
and
other
> > >>> > non-Igbo within the past 30 years during and since the Biafra.
To
back up
> > >>> > your assertion about the generally warm welcome of returning
Biafrans by
> > >>> > the STATE University of Ife up (by the way, the FEDERAL
University
of
> > >>> > Ibadan was equally and similarly charitable), let me excerpt
perhaps
the
> > >>> > most heart-warming letter that I received during my brother's
recent
> > >>> > Senate travails, after my open letter to him:
> > >>> >
> > >>> > QUOTE
> > >>> >
> > >>> > Date: Wed, 9 Aug 2000 10:42:43 -0700
> > >>> > From: "Dr. D." <e...@e...m...com>
> > >>> > To: mal...@scs.howard.edu
> > >>> > Cc: "Dr. D.." <e...@m....com>
> > >>> > Subject: Re: MONDAY-QUARTERBACKING: AN OPEN LETTER TO MY BROTHER,
> > >>> > SENATOR GBENGA ALUKO: "Remember the Son of Whom You Are - and
Please
> > >>> > Return to Your Legislative Functions"
> > >>> >
> > >>> >
> > >>> > Mobolaji:
> > >>> >
> > >>> > Well said and what a brotherly advice. Can I have you as a
brother
too?
> > >>> > The Igbos say that "nwanne di na mba", literally meaning that
"brother is
> > >>> > foreign land". In this case you are right their at home for
Gbenga.
He
> > >>> > does not have to go far to find a good brother. However by the
same
token,
> > >>> > you could be my brother in a foreign land. Serious!
> > >>> >
> > >>> > I really sympathize with Gbenga and your family for the effect of
all the
> > >>> > happenings in the Nigerian senate. I am also certain that he will
recover
> > >>> > from it soon, especially with the good advice you have given him.
There is
> > >>> > always a reason for everything that happen to us in life. Gbenga
is
young
> > >>> > and I am sure he has learnt some lessons from this saga that will
make him
> > >>> > a better senator and a better person.
> > >>> >
> > >>> > I don't know if I told you this before, but I always have a warm
feeling
> > >>> > about the Aluko family eventhough I only know you and your
mother..
Without
> > >>> > your mother's intervention in 1970, I may not have been admitted
into
> > >>> > University of Ife for Chemical Engineering. Against the wishes of
Dr.
> > >>> > ....., she stood for the truth, even though Dr. .... never
forgave
me for
> > >>> > it and continued to be after my case even at graduation in
1975...........
> > >>> >
> > >>> > Without diverting too much, my point is that I always have that
soft
spot
> > >>> > and respect for your family, because I believe your parents must
have
> > >>> > taught you guys to stand for the truth always. So I believe you
and
I
> > >>> > believe that Gbenga is telling the truth. Unfortunately the
political
> > >>> > system in Nigeria stinks.
> > >>> >
> > >>> > Nevertheless, keep the faith and this shall come to pass. We
continue to
> > >>> > hope that better things will happen in the future and that one
day
in
> > >>> > Nigeria, we will operate a true political arrangement, where all
ethnic
> > >>> > nationalities will feel like they belong and live in peace and
progress.
> > >>> >
> > >>> > Your distant brother,
> > >>> >
> > >>> > D....O...
> > >>> >
> > >>> > UNQUOTE
> > >>> >
> > >>> > It was true that my mother, Mrs. Joyce Aluko, was the Chief
Admissions
> > >>> > Officer at the University during the years 1969 - 1975 or so, and
it
was
> > >>> > University of Ife POLICY, under her admissions leadership, that
gave
> > >>> > SPECIAL DISPENSATION to Biafra returnees, some WITHOUT any
authenticated
> > >>> > certificates, just a letter of certification from their
principals
would
> > >>> > sometimes do, and good grades from the Ife concessional entrance
> > >>> > examination.
> > >>> >
> > >>> > I myself entered the University of Ife in September of 1971, and
in
my own
> > >>> > class, there were five (Ukaegbu, Okonkwo, Adigweme (RIP, car
accident),
> > >>> > Okeke (RIP, car accident), one other name that skips my mind
now),
> > >>> > possibly six Igbo students out of about 14 or 15 of us (others
included
> > >>> > Adekambi, Aluko, Dayo, Makanjuola, Akeredolu, Laoye, Ayeni,
Olagunju,
> > >>> > Ekundayo, maybe one other person). Granted that Ife was a STATE
> > >>> > university, and it was only one of two universities granting
Chemical
> > >>> > ENgineering program (the other being ABU at that time; UniLag was
to
start
> > >>> > about two years later or so, I believe), that was a pretty good
fraction
> > >>> > of Igbo students. It was healthy, non-bitter classroom rivalry,
and
quite
> > >>> > frankly, I did not hear of this "Yoruba did this, Igbo did that"
until
> > >>> > party politics began round about 1979!
> > >>> >
> > >>> > (3) The greatest annoyance that I constantly have is that many
of
our
> > >>> > Ndiigbo friends write as if Awolowo was the ONLY YORUBA that God
created.
> > >>> > THE MAN IS DEAD, THE MAN IS DEAD! Get over it, the man is dead!
It
is an
> > >>> > OBSESSION with Awolowo by some Ndiigbo that is killing some souls
softly.
> > >>> >
> > >>> > (4) As I have written before, if the constant whining (pardon
the
word!)
> > >>> > over Awolowo by many of our Ndiigbo on this Net and elsewhere -
and
> > >>> > particularly by many Ndiigbo in the Diaspora - is what most
Yoruba
> > >>> > complain about the Ndiigbo about. By now, everybody knows what
the
> > >>> > complaints are about. What is not known is what SPECIFICALLY the
Yoruba
> > >>> > are required to do. But if it is to get the Yoruba to repudiate
Awolowo,
> > >>> > or to get the Yoruba leadership to come to Enugu to "dobale" for
the
> > >>> > Ndiigbo over real and imagined injustices, IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN,
not
in my
> > >>> > life-time nor that of many reading these electrons. Both of us
Ndiigbo and
> > >>> > OmoYoruba must be prepared to make sacrifices AND respect each
other. No
> > >>> > heckling, no lies.
> > >>> >
> > >>> > I better stop here.
> > >>> >
> > >>> > Best wishes.
> > >>> >
> > >>> >
> > >>> > Bolaji Aluko
> > >>> >
> > >>> >
> > >>> > On Thu, 14 Sep 2000 IG...@aol.com wrote:
> > >>> >
> > >>> > > My learned friends and Professors:
> > >>> > > I have always said it is immaterial who released Chief
Obafemi
> > >>> Awolowo
> > >>> > > from Calabar prison. What is even of more material importance
is
this;
> > >>> how
> > >>> > > was he able to stay alive within and during the period before
he
was
> > >>> released
> > >>> > > from Jail?
> > >>> > > It was the Minister of Internal affairs and Chief
Inspector
of
> > >>> Prisons
> > >>> > > who used his power to locate Chief Obafemi Awolowo where no
harm
will
> > >>> befall
> > >>> > > him. The politics of the time was that Chief Awolowo would
have
been
> > >>> harmed
> > >>> > > if he was placed in the North or the West where mortal enemies
would
> > >>> have
> > >>> > > obviously been able to harm him.
> > >>> > > Professor Aluko I, who came to the East during those days
of
mayhem
> > >>> in
> > >>> > > the West would attest to the fact that the Igbos bye and large
were very
> > >>> > > hospitable to them.
> > >>> > > In fact in 1970, immediately after the war, it was the
University of
> > >>> Ife
> > >>> > > of all the western universities who gave admission to people of
eastern
> > >>> > > origin pending the release of there school certificate. Mrs.
Aluko
was
> > >>> the
> > >>> > > registrar for admissions in those years (Professor Aluko II
confirm that
> > >>> I am
> > >>> > > correct). I believe it was a reciprocal gesture for all the
times
she
> > >>> and her
> > >>> > > family lived in Enugu/Nsukka(including Bolaji?) that made her
so
> > >>> receptive to
> > >>> > > the plight of East Central State Students at the University of
Ife
> > >>> during
> > >>> > > those days in 1970. Mrs. Aluko could have found many reasons
like
other
> > >>> > > universities in Nigeria then to have refused to give
consideration
to
> > >>> those
> > >>> > > stranded students.
> > >>> > > We have a saying in Igbo land that the hen never forgets
the
cock
> > >>> who
> > >>> > > kept it warm during the cold season.
> > >>> > > Without casting aspersion to the reciprocity of gestures,
compare
that
> > >>> with
> > >>> > > the debate whether Ojukwu or whoever pardoned Chief Obafemi
Awolowo.
> > >>> Would
> > >>> > > that have necessitated the 20 dollar largesse which we were
blessed with
> > >>> at
> > >>> > > the end of the civil war by no other than Chief Awolowo?
> > >>> > > Let us move forward and not beat the issue any longer.
> > >>> > >
> > >>> > > Chuk Igwe
> > >>> > >
> > >>> > >
> > >>> > > In a message dated 9/14/00 5:16:39 PM US Eastern Standard Time,
> > >>> > > oko...@usafricaonline.com writes:
> > >>> > >
> > >>> > > << Dear Dr. Aluko:
> > >>> > >
> > >>> > > I would not be so presumptious as to suggest that you have not
already
> > >>> seen
> > >>> > > the attached axcerpts from a Tell magazine interview widely
published
> > >>> in
> > >>> > > Nigeriworld and elsewhere.
> > >>> > >
> > >>> > > The only reason I send this is that it directly addresses our
exchanges
> > >>> last
> > >>> > > October 27 and 28 on Naijanet, namely (1) did Awo actually say
to
> > >>> Ojukwu
> > >>> > > that the West would go if the East did and (2) Did Ojukwu
release
Awo
> > >>> from
> > >>> > > Calabar prison and give him safe passage to Ikene.
> > >>> > >
> > >>> > > Besides the imperative to keep history sanitized, I did then
observe
> > >>> that
> > >>> > > this statement has been seen by many as the genesis or at
least a
major
> > >>> > > grounding point for the mistrust between Igbo and Yoruba.
> > >>> > >
> > >>> > > Hope all is well with you and thanks for your time.
> > >>> > >
> > >>> > >
> > >>> > > Ken Okorie
> > >>> > > >>
> > >>> > >
> > >>> >
> > >>>
> > >>>
> >
> > _____________________________________________________________
> > Get Your Private, Free Email at http://naijanet.com
> >
____________________________________________________________________
Get free email and a permanent address at http://www.amexmail.com/?A=1
Egwu Kalu
I suggest that you read and listen to Ken Saro Wiwa's last speech at Enugu
before he was hanged by mr. abacha. The book you referred to
was dated prior to the speech in question. When you have read the speech,
consider the lot of the Niger Deltans in the past 30 years
of so called liberation (from Igbo oppression of 6 years - 1960-66), then
make a judgement of whatever Ken wrote. By the way, it was not
uncommon during the period in question that even among Ndiigbo, many denied
their Igboness. Saro Wiwa might have claimed any ill treatments from
Ndiigbo, but
at least he made peace with his conscience before his death vis-avis his
prior notions about Ndiigbo's relationship with his ethnic group.
Egwu
>> This happened when Okirika and PH felled into the hands of the vandals I
>is difficult to reconcile the £20 "allowance" against the Indigenisation
>1975............