STAR INFORMATION: Effiong and Gowon Announce Cessation of Nigeria's Civil War (January 15, 1970) {Fwd: [EKITIPANUPO] STAR INFORMATION: Lt.-Col. Effiong Announces Surrender of Biafra (January 12, 1970)
Mobolaji Aluko
Statement at Dodan Barracks on January 15, 1970 by Major-General Phillip Efiong (Officer Administering the Republic of Biafra)
I, Major-General Phillip Efiong, Officer Administering the Government of the Republic of Biafra, now wish to make the following declaration:
That we affirm that we are loyal Nigerian citizens and accept the authority of the Federal Military Government of Nigeria.
That we accept the existing administrative and political structure of the Federation of Nigeria.
That any future constitutional arrangement will be worked out by representatives of the people of Nigeria.
That the Republic of Biafra hereby ceases to exist.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
“The Dawn of National Reconciliation” – Gowon’s Civil War Cessation Message to the Nation, 15 January 1970
Citizens of Nigeria,
It is with a heart full of gratitude to God that I announce to you that today marks the formal end of the civil war. This afternoon at Dodan Barracks, Lt. Col. Phillip Effiong, Lt. Col. David Ogunewe, Lt. Col. Patrick Anwunah, Lt. Col. Patrick Amadi and Commissioner of Police, Chief Patrick Okeke formally proclaimed the end of the attempt at secession and accepted the authority of the Federal Military Government of Nigeria. They also formally accepted the present political and administrative structure of the country. This ends thirty months of a grim struggle. Thirty months of sacrifice and national agony.
Exactly four years ago on January 15, 1966, a group of young army officers overthrew the Government of the country with violence. The country hoped, however, that the military regime which followed would quickly restore discipline and confidence in the army and introduce a just, honest, patriotic and progressive government. The country was disappointed in those hopes. There were further tragic incidents in the army leading to the death of many officers and men in July 1966.
I then assumed the leadership of the Federal Military Government. I gave a solemn pledge to work to reduce tension in the army and the country, to restore the Federal Constitution and to prepare the country for an orderly return to civilian rule as early as possible. Despite my efforts and to co-operation of all other members of the Supreme Military Council, the former Lt. Col. Ojukwu pushed us from one crisis to another. This intransigent defiance of Federal Government authority heightened tensions and led to the much regretted riots in September/October 1966. He subsequently exploited the situation to plunge the former Eastern Region into secession and the nation into a tragic war.
The world knows how hard we strove to avoid the civil war. Our objectives in fighting the war to crush Ojukwu’s rebellion were always clear. We desired to preserve the territorial integrity and unity of Nigeria. For as one country we would be able to maintain lasting peace amongst our various communities; achieve rapid economic development to improve the lot of our people; guarantee a dignified future and respect in the world for our prosperity and contribute to African unity and modernization. On the other hand, the small successor states in a disintegrated Nigeria would be victims of perpetual war and misery and neo-colonialism. Our duty was clear. And we are, today, vindicated.
The so-called “Rising Sun of Biafra” is set for ever. It will be a great disservice for anyone to continue to use the word Biafra to refer to any part of the East Central State of Nigeria. The tragic chapter of violence is just ended. We are the dawn of national reconciliation. Once again, we have an opportunity to build a new nation.
My dear compatriots, we must pay homage to the fallen. To the heroes, who have made the supreme sacrifice that we may be able to build a nation great in justice, fair play, and industry. They will be mourned for ever by a grateful nation. There are also the innocent men, women, and children who perished, not in battle but as a result of the conflict. We also honour their memory. We honour the fallen of both sides of this tragic fratricidal conflict. Let it be our resolution that all those dead shall have not died in vain. Let the greater nation we shall build be their proud monument forever.
Now, my dear countrymen, we must recommence at once in greater earnest, the task of healing the nation’s wounds. We have at various times repeated our desire for reconciliation in full equality, once the secessionist regime abandoned secession. I solemnly repeat our guarantees of a general amnesty for those misled into rebellion. We guarantee the security of life and property of all citizens in every part of Nigeria and equality in political rights. We also guarantee the right of every Nigerian to reside and work wherever he chooses in the Federation, as equal citizens of one united country. It is only right that we should all henceforth respect each other. We should all exercise civic restraint and use our freedom, taking into full account the legitimate right and needs of the other man. There is no question of second class citizenship in Nigeria.
On our side, we fought the war with great caution, not in anger or hatred, but always in the hope that common sense would prevail. Many times we sought a negotiated settlement, not out of weakness, but in order to minimize the problems of reintegration, reconciliation, and reconstruction. We knew that however the war ended, in the battlefield, or in the conference room, our brothers fighting under other colours must rejoin us and that we must together rebuild the nation anew.
Those now freed from the terror and misery of the secessionist enclave are therefore doubly welcome. The nation is relieved. All energies will now be bent to the task of reintegration and reconciliation. They will find, contrary to the evil propaganda with which they were fed, that thousands and thousands of Ibos have lived and worked in peace with other ethnic groups in Lagos and elsewhere in the Federation throughout the dark days of the civil war. There is, therefore, no cause for humiliation on the part of any group of the people of this country. The task of reconciliation is truly begun.
The nation will be proud of the fact that the ceremony today at Dodan Barracks of reunion under the banner of the Federal Republic of Nigeria was arranged and conducted by Nigerians amongst ourselves alone. No foreign good offices was involved. That is what we always prayed for. We always prayed that we should resolve our problems ourselves, free from foreign mentors and go-betweens however well intentioned. Thus, our nation is come of age. And the meaning of today’s event must be enshrined in the nation’s memory for ever.
There is an urgent task to be done. The Federal Government has mounted a massive relief operation to alleviate the suffering of the people in the newly liberated areas. I have as announced, assigned special responsibility for this to a member of the Federal Executive Council. We are mobilizing adequate resources from the Federal Government to provide food, shelter, and medicines for the affected population. Rehabilitation and reconstruction will follow simultaneously to restore electricity, transport and communications. We must, as a matter of urgency, resettle firms and reopen factories to ensure that normal economic life is resumed by everyone as soon as possible. Special attention will be given to the rehabilitation of women and children in particular, so long denied the comfort of homes, the blessing of education and the assurance of a future by Ojukwu’s wicked tyranny and falsehood. We must restore at once to them hope and purpose in life.
Federal troops have a special charge to give emergency relief to the people in the areas they have liberated before civilian help can come. They must continue and intensify their splendid work in this regard. The state administrations are giving emergency relief the first priority. The Rehabilitation Commissions and the Voluntary Agencies are extending their efforts. The appropriate agencies of Federal Government will soon make further announcements about additional relief measures.
My Government has directed that former civil servants and public corporation officials should be promptly reinstated as they come out of hiding. Detailed arrangements for this exercise have been published. Plans for the rehabilitation of self-employed people will also be announced shortly. The problem of emergency relief is a challenge for the whole nation. We must prove ourselves equal to the task. Our resources, which have enabled us to prosecute the war successfully and without obligations to anyone, are considerable. I appeal to the nation for volunteers to help in the emergency relief operations in the newly liberated areas. Doctors, nurses, engineers, technicians, builders, plumbers, mechanics, and administrators – all skilled hands willing to help are urgently required. The detailed arrangements for recruitment will soon be announced. I am sure that there will be a prompt and good response to this call.
You will have heard that my Government may seek the assistance of friendly foreign governments and bodies, especially in the provision of equipment to supplement our national effort. There are, however, a number of foreign governments and organizations whose so-called assistance will not be welcome. These are the governments and organizations which sustained the rebellion. They are thus guilty of the blood of thousands who perished because of prolongation of the futile rebel assistance. They did not act out of love for humanity. Their purpose was to disintegrate Nigeria and Africa and impose their will on us. They may still harbour their evil intentions. We shall therefore not allow them to divide and estrange us again from one another with their dubious and insulting gifts and their false humanitarianism.
Regarding the future, we shall maintain our purpose to work for stability with the existing political structure of a minimum of twelve states. The collision of three giant regions with pretentions to sovereignty created distrust and fear and to the tragic conflict now ending. The multi-state structure will therefore be retained with the minimum of the present twelve states. Immediate post-war planning and reconstruction will continue on this basis. Any new constitution will be the result of discussion by the representatives of all the people of Nigeria.
I am happy that despite the war, Nigeria has maintained a strong and expanding economy. Plans are also far advance for faster economic modernization. Our enormous material resources and our large dynamic population will make this possible. We are pledge to ensure rapid development for the benefit of the Nigerian people themselves. It will be much easier to achieve reconciliation and reintegration in increasing prosperity.
Fellow countrymen, the civil war is truly over. We thank God. But the state of national emergency and emergency regulations remain. Discipline and sacrifice are essential if we are to achieve our goals in the immediate post-war period and lay sound foundations for the future. I demand of you patience, resolution, and continued dedication. I demand of the workers and employers continued restraint in industrial relations in keeping with the recent decree. A decree on price control will soon be promulgated. We shall soon review wages and salaries to improve the lot of the ordinary man. The immediate economic problems are challenging and we must behave accordingly.
On this occasion, I wish to place on record the nation’s gratitude to the Organization of African Unity for its splendid diplomatic and moral support for the Federal cause. I thank particularly the Chairman of the Consultative Committee on Nigeria, His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie I and the other members of the committee. I also thank the President of the OAU General Assembly, Presidents Mobutu, Boumedienne, and Ahidjo, who presided over OAU summit discussions of the Nigerian crisis. The enemies of Africa were restrained by the demonstration of such solid support. I thank the Secretary General of the United Nations, U Thant, for his understanding attitude towards our country’s crisis and the specialized agencies for their assistance. I also thank the friendly governments who gave us moral and material support in the darkest hour of our need. The nation will remember them as true friends. It is the desire of my Government that our relations with them should grow stronger.
Consistent with our basic policy, we shall maintain correct relations with all foreign governments notwithstanding the anxieties they may have caused us. As we emerge from our greatest trial we shall endeavour to work for peace in the world and for a better economic deal for the less developed countries of the world.
The Armed Forces deserve the greatest praise for their valour in battle, their loyalty and dedication and for their resourcefulness in overcoming the formidable obstacles placed in our way. I praise them for observing strictly the code of conduct issued to them at the beginning of the operations. It is necessary now more than ever when the rebellion is ended for them to maintain the high standard they have attained. The letter and spirit of the code must be obeyed. Their first duty is to protect the lives and property of all surrendering troops and civilians and to give them humane treatment. Stern disciplinary measures will be taken against any who violate the code. I know, however, that I can continue to count on your loyalty and discipline.
I also praise the civilian population everywhere in the country for their patience, sacrifice, loyalty, and steadfast support for the fighting troops and for One Nigeria. We must all be justly proud. All Nigerians share the victory of today. The victory for national unity, victory for hopes of Africans and black people everywhere. We must thank God for his mercies. We mourn the dead heroes. We thank God for sparing us to see his glorious dawn of national reconciliation. We have ordered that Friday, Saturday, and Sunday be national days of prayer. We must his guidance to do our duty to contribute our quota to the building of a great nation, founded on the concerted efforts of all its people and on justice and equality. A nation never to return to the fractious, sterile and selfish debates that led to the tragic conflict just ending. We have overcome a lot over the past four years. I have therefore every confidence that ours will become a great nation. So help us God.
Long Live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
From: "Mobolaji Aluko" <alu...@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, Oct 23, 2012 7:42 pm
Subject: [EKITIPANUPO] STAR INFORMATION: Lt.-Col. Effiong Announces Surrender of Biafra (January 12, 1970)
To: "USAAfrica Dialogue" <USAAfric...@googlegroups.com>, "NaijaPolitics e-Group" <NaijaP...@yahoogroups.com>, "naijaintellects" <naijain...@googlegroups.com>, "OmoOdua" <Omo...@yahoogroups.com>, "niger...@yahoogroups.com" <niger...@yahoogroups.com>, "ekiti ekitigroups" <ekiti...@yahoogroups.com>, "Ra'ayi" <Raay...@yahoogroups.com>
Lt.-Col. Effiong Announces Surrender of Biafra
Text taken from transcript of actual radio broadcast over the Biafran radio at 4:40 p.m., on Monday 12 January 1970.
Fellow Countrymen,
As you know, I was asked to be the officer administering the government of this republic on the 10th of January, 1970. Since then, I know that some of you have been waiting to hear a statement from me. I have had extensive consultations with the leaders of the community, both military and civil, and I am now encouraged and hasten to make this statement to you by the mandate of the Armed Forces and the people of this country. I have assumed the leadership of the government.
Throughout history, injured people have had to resort to arms in their self-defence where peaceful negotiations fail. We are no exception. We took up arms because of the sense of insecurity generated in our people by the events of 1966. We have fought in defence of that cause.
I take this opportunity to congratulate officers and men of our Armed Forces for their gallantry and bravery which have earned for them the admirations of the whole world. I thank the civil population for their steadfastness and courage in the face of overwhelming odds and starvation. I am convinced that the suffering of our people must be brought to an immediate end. Our people are now disillusioned, and those elements of the old government regime who have made negotiations and reconciliation impossible have voluntarily removed themselves from our midst.
I have, therefore, instructed an orderly disengagement of troops. I am despatching emissaries to make contact with Nigeria’s field commanders in places like Onitsha, Owerri, Awka, Enugu, and Calabar with a view to arranging armistice. I urge on General Gowon, in the name of humanity, to order his troops to pause while an armistice is negotiated in order to avoid the mass suffering caused by the movement of population.
We have always believed that our differences with Nigeria should be settled by peaceful negotiations. A delegation of our people is therefore ready to meet representatives of Nigeria Federal Government anywhere to negotiate a peace settlement on the basis of OAU resolutions. The delegation will consist of the Chief Justice Sir Louis Mbanefo, as leader, Professor Eni Njoku, Mr. J. I. Emembolu, Chief A.E. Bassey, Mr. E. Agumah. The delegation will have full authority to negotiate on our behalf. I have appointed a council to advise me on the government of the country. It consists of the Chief Justice Sir Louis Mbanefo, Brigadier P.C. Amadi - Army, Brigadier C. A. Nwanwo - Army, Captain W. A. Anuku - Navy, Wing Commander J. I. Ezero - Air Force, Inspector-General of Police, Chief P. I. Okeke, Attorney-General Mr. J. I. Emembolu, Professor Eni Njoku, Dr. I. Eke, Chief A.E. Udoffia, Chief A.E. Bassey, Mr. M.T. Mbu, Mr. E. Agumah, Chief Frank Opuigo, Chief J.N. Echeruo. Any question of a government in exile is repudiated by our people.
Civilian population are hereby advised to remain calm and to co-operate with the Armed Forces and the Police in the maintenance of law and order. They should remain in their homes and stop mass movements which have increased suffering and loss of lives.
On behalf of our people, I thank those foreign governments and friends who have steadfastly given us support in our cause. We shall continue to count on their continued help and counsel. I also thank His Holiness the Pope, the Joint Church Aid and other relief organizations for the help they have given for the relief of suffering and starvation. I appeal to all governments to give urgent help for relief and to prevail on the Federal Military Government to order their troops to stop all military operations.
May God help us all.
franklyne ogbunwezeh
Until the injustice of Biafra is addressed, Nigeria will never see or know peace, and progress. The mediocrity that the Nigerian government enthroned in its bid to chase out what it termed "Igbo domination", is still alive and well. Nothing works here. Square pegs are all over the round holes across Nigeria. I wonder what has ever functioned since after Biafra.
Nothing!!!
Franklyne Ogbunwezeh
What constitutes a disservice to our faculty of judgment, however, is to place obstacles in the way of assembling truth's fragments, remaining content with a mere one- or two-dimensional projection where a multidimensional and multifaceted apprehension remains open, accessible and instructive.
From: Mobolaji Aluko <alu...@gmail.com>
To: USAAfrica Dialogue <USAAfric...@googlegroups.com>; NaijaPolitics e-Group <NaijaP...@yahoogroups.com>; naijaintellects <naijain...@googlegroups.com>; OmoOdua <Omo...@yahoogroups.com>; "niger...@yahoogroups.com" <niger...@yahoogroups.com>; ekiti ekitigroups <ekiti...@yahoogroups.com>; Ra'ayi <Raay...@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, October 24, 2012 4:48 AM
Subject: USA Africa Dialogue Series - STAR INFORMATION: Effiong and Gowon Announce Cessation of Nigeria's Civil War (January 15, 1970) {Fwd: [EKITIPANUPO] STAR INFORMATION: Lt.-Col. Effiong Announces Surrender of Biafra (January 12, 1970)
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Ayo Obe
Ayo
franklyne ogbunwezeh
If these and like crimes were complete in themselves, if they ended in their own occurrence and had no implications for the future beyond the unpleasant memory, we would be content to bury our dead, console the maimed and proceed with a calmed will into the future. But with the certain knowledge that such events are unresolved, and that their lack of resolution promotes their own kind a hundred-thousand fold, with increasing sophisticated machinery of outrage and camouflage, in increased boldness and cynicism which only pauses when a people’s will is wholly dominated, one recognizes the sanctimonious opiate inherent in popular slogans like “bygones is bygones”.[1]
Franklyne Ogbunwezeh
What constitutes a disservice to our faculty of judgment, however, is to place obstacles in the way of assembling truth's fragments, remaining content with a mere one- or two-dimensional projection where a multidimensional and multifaceted apprehension remains open, accessible and instructive.
From: Ayo Obe <ayo.m...@gmail.com>
To: "usaafric...@googlegroups.com" <usaafric...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, October 24, 2012 3:04 PM
Subject: Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - STAR INFORMATION: Effiong and Gowon Announce Cessation of Nigeria's Civil War (January 15, 1970) {Fwd: [EKITIPANUPO] STAR INFORMATION: Lt.-Col. Effiong Announces Surrender of Biafra (January 12, 1970)
Ayo Obe
Ayo
Rex Marinus
Obi Nwakanma
OLUWATOYIN ADEPOJU
I personally, am losing interest in the issue.
Cries like :
"Until the injustice of Biafra is addressed, Nigeria will never see or know peace, and progress. The mediocrity that the Nigerian government enthroned in its bid to chase out what it termed "Igbo domination", is still alive and well. Nothing works here. Square pegs are all over the round holes across Nigeria. I wonder what has ever functioned since after Biafra."
What turns people off totally, is this messianic/hagiographic image of Biafra that Biafra priests, Achebe at the head, want to foist on Nigeria.
When the Igbocentric development principle, as articulated by Achebe and elaborated by some of his disciples is factored in, the whole soup becomes nauseating.
One of the reasons why I am so determinedly vocal against this one eyed parade being conducted in the name of Biafra and Igbos is my direct encounter with this facist mentality.
Confronted by this bigoted alliance, I decided to educate myself on the civil war, and came to conclude that these warriors are fighting on a field of illusion, on a foundation of quicksand.
Until the Biafra genocide advocates are ready to take seriously the changes and possibly admit that the Nigerian Cvil War is not a black and white story, with Nigeria as villian and Biafra as hero, Nigerians will not take them seriously.
If they continue to invoke the Igbo-as-centre-of-development theory, they will be seen as even more deluded.
We should come of this illusion that Nigeria is a failure.
It is not.
Achebe, for one, is homeless in time and space.
He is locked in the 1960s with no country he can identify with as his own.
He has rejected Nigeria's idolization of him, across the length and breadth of the country. Even after his narrow essay and book came out, a Northern Nigerian commentator was arguing that Achebe deserved the Nobel prize more than Soyinka, and he is not the first to make such a comment.
In return, Achebe has chosen to spit in the eye of that country and declare it as an evil place that needs redemption by his ethnic group.
He has given ammunition to those who now argue that Nigeria has a problem with Igbos, and who chose to igbnore the fcat hile Igbos thrive vigorously in Nigeria.
He has empowered cries of violence as a way of pressing questionable genocide charges against Nigeria.
Meanwhile, the violence advocate, Chidi Anthony Opara, is home and dry in Port Harcourt, where he is secure enough to write poetry everyday, poetry he is sufficiently confident of to post widely online and offer for sale in self published books, developing a global literary and information dissemination profile, thereby developing a level of achievement higher than that of many in the Diaspora who might not have the luxury of writing poetry, people who are happy to live without developing the extra personal global presence of a Chidi, all from the same country that some say is not working.
Meanwhile, Chidi has become so angry about the starvation he suffered in 1960s that he says he sees violence as an option to press home his grievance.
Before now, he had forgotten he starved in 60s and chose to write poetry that makes no reference to his starvation of more than 40 years ago
If this starvation issue issue had been presented in a balanced manner, in terms of a need for some public recognition of the horrible suffering of Biafra, then Nigerians would have been sympathetic.
A holiday for the dead on both sides, , as Nwosu suggested on another group, or even a monument to the war dead, alonside the National War Museum at Umuahia, then it would have made sense.
But the way it is being drummed, in terms of sole responsibility of Nigeria coupled with tales of Igbo exceptionalism make a very bad smell.
I would have been happy to help make a case for such commemorative acts, but not only have I lost interest story, I will revive that interest only to combat this redmail being directed against Nigeria except top combat it as necessary.
Some are speaking of an Igbo Presidency in the context of marginalization. What of the more than 100 other ethniocties in Nigeria?
Achebe and his disciples can wish all they want, Nigeria will not stand still nor regress in time for them.
They should make themselves part of tyhe new reality.
thanks
toyin
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Compcros
OLUWATOYIN ADEPOJU
You want your position accepted without question:
"Ayo, let us start first by ACKNOWLEDGING the genocide"
I hope Biafran atrocities will also be acknowledged?
On the question of rights of indigenes vs settlers, it is a general Nigerian problem, not exclusive to Igbos.
'Everybody thinks the Igbo are fair targets.'-fiction based on historical regression.
This must stop, please:
"I mean since 1970, no Igbo has been appointed Chief Justice of the Supreme Court; or Chancellors of universities at Ibadan and Lagos, just for instance."
Igbos are only ONE out of more than 100 ethnicities.
Argue for a detribalized Nigertia and you will reach people. Like this no one is interested.
It would be interesting to know how non-Igbos fare in universities in Igboland.
An Igbo scholar has been VC at University of Benin, even before a Benin person.
"A simple public apology by the rest of Nigeria."
Will Biafrans apologise for dragging Nigeria into an avoidable war where everything was being done to assuage the fears of the South East and where they dragged on the war more than was realistic?
This Igbo centred crusade is so shallow it is tragic.
The issue needs a broader analytical lens.
The Achebe school of pro-Igbo polemics has lost the plot.
toyin
shina7...@yahoo.com
My worry is that Nigeria is so lopsided under the rule of idiots that what is necessary may take ages to come.
Adeshina Afolayan