OJUKWU AND THE DECLARATION OF BIAFRA

Creation Of States by Gowon

To further destabilize the Ibos, one of the first official acts of the Gowon regime was the creation of new states. On May 27, 1967, he divided the country into twelve states, thus abolishing once and for all the old regions. Gowon immediately released Awolowo from his prison cell at Calabar where he was serving felony sentence. Previously, an agreement was struck between Awo and Ojukwu regarding a bilateral declaration of secession of the Western and Eastern Regions from Nigeria. This move was seen by both leaders as a means of creating a more prosperous Nigeria, and also to move away from the lackluster leadership of the northern politicians. Meanwhile, in retaliation, Ibos in the north and west were being massacred by the Hausas. The creation of states became the last straw that broke the camel's back for the Ibos, as their area of influence was greatly curtailed.

To counter Gowon's move, Eastern Region Consultative Assembly, made up of mostly Ibos, on the same day,May 27, 1967 passed the following resolution that called for the creation of the Republic of Biafra.

It stated, "We, the Chiefs, Elders and Representatives of Eastern Nigeria, gathered at this Joint meeting of the Advisory Committee of Chiefs and Elders and the Consultative Assembly do solemnly declare as follows:

"Whereas we have been in the vanguard of the national movement for the building of a strong, united and prosperous Nigeria where no man will be oppressed and have devoted our efforts, talents and resources to this end;

"Whereas we cherish certain inalienable human rights and state obligations such as the right to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness; the right to acquire, possess and defend property; the provision of security; and the establishment of good and just government based on the consent of the governed; "Whereas in practical demonstration of these beliefs, our people settled in other parts of Nigeria, served their country in many capacities, and contributed immensely to the growth and development of Nigeria;

"Whereas we are living witnesses of injustices and atrocities committed against Eastern Nigeria, among which are the premeditated murder of over 30,000 of our innocent men, women and children by Northern Nigerians, the calculated destruction of the property of our sons and daughters, the shameless conversion of two million Eastern Nigerians into refugees in their own country, all this without remorse;

"Whereas in consequence of these and other acts of discrimination and injustice, we have painfully realized that the Federation of Nigeria has failed, and has given us no protection;

"Whereas in spite of these facts, the Government and people of Eastern Nigeria have persisted in their efforts to find a practical and just solution that would preserve the continued existence of Nigeria as one corporate unit and restore peace and confidence as demonstrated by the initiative of our Military Governor in getting all the military leaders together at Aburi, Ghana;

"Whereas the hopes which the Aburi Agreement engendered have proved to be misplaced and have been destroyed by a series of acts of bad faith and distortions and finally by a refusal on the part of the LagosGovernment to implement these and other Agreements notwithstanding the fact that they were freely and voluntarily entered into;

"Whereas the Federation of Nigeria has forfeited any claim to our allegiance by these acts and by the economic, political and diplomatic sanctions imposed against us by the so‑called Federal Government;

"And whereas the object of government is the good of the governed and the will of the people its ultimate sanction;

"Now, therefore, in consideration of these and other facts and injustices, we, the Chiefs, Elders and Representatives of all the Twenty Provinces of Eastern Nigeria, assembled in this Joint Meeting of the Advisory Committee of Chiefs and Elders and the Consultative Assembly, at Enugu this 27th day of May, 1967, we hereby solemnly:

i) Mandate His Excellency Lt. Col. Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, Military Governor of Eastern Nigeria, to declare at the earliest practicable date Eastern Nigeria a free, sovereign and independent state by the name and title of the Republic of Biafra.

ii) Resolve that the new Republic of Biafra shall have the full and absolute powers of a sovereign state, and shall establish commerce, levy war, conclude peace, enter into diplomatic relations, and carry out, as of right, other sovereign responsibilities.

iii) Direct that the Republic of Biafra may enter into arrangement with any sovereign unit or units in what remains of Nigeria or in any part of African desirous of association with us for the purpose of running a common services organization and for the establishment of economic ties.

iv) Recommend that the Republic of Biafra should become a member

of the Commonwealth of Nations, the Organization of African Unity and the United Nations Organization.

v) Recommend the adoption of a Federal Constitution based on the new provincial units.

vi) Re‑affirm His Excellency's assurance of protection for the persons, properties and businesses of foreign nationals in our territory.

vii) Declare our unqualified confidence in the Military Governor of Eastern Nigeria, Lt. Col. Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, and assure him of our unreserved support for the way and manner he has handled the crisis in the country. So help us God.

Ojukwu’s Declaration Of Biafra

In line with the above resolution, on May 30, 1967, Lieutenant-Colonel Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, the Eastern Governor, made the following declaration of Biafra independence from Nigeria.

"Fellow countrymen and women, you, the people of Eastern Nigeria: conscious of the supreme authority of Almighty God over all mankind, of your duty to yourselves and posterity; Aware that you can no longer be protected in your lives and in your property by any Government based outside Eastern Nigeria; Believing that you are born free and have certain inalienable rights which can best be preserved by yourselves; Unwilling to be unfree partners in any association of a political or economical nature;

"Rejecting the authority of any person or persons other than the Military Government of Eastern Nigeria to make any imposition of whatever kind or nature upon you; Determined to dissolve all political and other ties between you and the former Federal Republic of Nigeria; Prepared to enter into such association, treaty or alliance with any sovereign state within the former Federal Republic of Nigeria and elsewhere on such terms and conditions as best to subserve your common good;

"Affirming your trust and confidence in me; having mandated me to proclaim on your behalf, and in your name, that Eastern Nigeria be a sovereign independent Republic;

"Now, therefore, I, Lieutenant‑Colonel Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu,

Military Governor of Eastern Nigeria, by virtue of the authority, and pursuant to the principles, recited above, do hereby solemnly proclaim that the territory and region known as and called Eastern Nigeria together with her continental shelf and territorial waters shall henceforth be an independent sovereign state of the name and title of "The Republic of Biafra". And I do declare that:‑

i. All political ties between us and the Federal Republic of Nigeria are hereby totally dissolved;

ii. All subsisting contractual obligations entered into by the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or by any person, authority or organization or government acting on its behalf, with any person, authority or organization operating, or relating to any matter or thing, within the Republic of Biafra, shall henceforth be deemed to be entered into with the Military Governor of the Republic of Biafra for and on behalf of the Government and people of the republic of Biafra, and the covenants thereof shall, subject to this Declaration, be performed by the parties according to their tenor;

iii. All subsisting international treaties and obligations made on behalf of eastern Nigeria by the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, shall be honored and respected;

iv. Eastern Nigeria's due share of all subsisting international debits and obligations entered into by the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on behalf of the Federation of Nigeria shall be honored and respected;

v. Steps will be taken to open discussions of the question of Eastern Nigeria's due share of the assets of the Federation of Nigeria and personal properties of the citizens of Biafra throughout the Federation of Nigeria;

vi. The rights, privileges, pensions, etc. of all personnel of the Public Services, the Armed Forces and the Police now serving in any capacity within the Republic of Biafra, are hereby guaranteed;

vii. We shall keep the door open for association with, and would welcome, any sovereign unit or units in the former Federation of Nigeria or in any other parts of Africa desirous of association with us for the purposes of running a common services organization and for the establishment of economic ties;

viii. We shall protect the lives and property of all foreigners residing in Biafra; we shall extend the hand of friendship to those nations who respect our sovereignty, and shall repel any interference in our internal affairs;

ix. We shall faithfully adhere to the charter of the Organization of African Unity and of the United Nations Organization;

x. It is our intention to remain a member of the British Commonwealth of Nations in our right as a sovereign, independent nation.

Long live the Republic of Biafra! And may God protect all who live in her!"

This declaration was completely out of taste for the leaders in the North. So on July 6, 1967, a war to make Nigeria one broke out. Following the Ojukwu declaration, instead of Awo declaring the western secession as agreed upon, he reneged on the agreement. He, instead, was lured into accepting a dual position in Gowon's administration as a Finance Minister and a civilian head of government. The Ibos regarded Awo's action as treachery and a serious betrayal. This act would resonate to haunt the Yorubas almost thirty years later during the debate on the June 12, 1993 presidential election annulment.

Ojukwu Absconded to Ivory Coast

The Biafran war raged on for 30 months. When it became clear that it was a no-win war for Biafra, on January 12, 1970 Ojukwu handed power to his second-in-command, Major-General Philip Effiong, and absconded Biafra for self-exile in Ivory Coast. On that day while addressing the troops Effiong declared, "We took arms because of the sense of insecurity generated in our people by the events of 1966. We have fought in defense of the cause. May God help us all in this hour of our need." And on January 14, 1970, Effiong surrendered to Gowon, thus bringing the 30-month old war to an end at the cost of more than one million lives.

Quite unlike the treatment Ojukwu received after returning from exile, Philip Effiong was isolated, ignored by his people for his role in Biafra. He lived almost in penury. However, towards the tail end of his life Akwa Ibomgovernment under Gov. Attah opened up onto Effiong. He was officially engaged by the government and was in the Akwa Ibom State team that negotiated the onshore-offshore deal with Obasanjo government in 2002. Philip Effiong died on November 6, 2003.

Ironsi’s Counter Coup

Nzeogwu's coup almost succeeded, but within two days his government was annulled by counter-coup within the military led by Major General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi, the most senior army officer in the Nigerian army. On Monday, January 17, 1966, Ironsi became the head of the Federal Military Government and Supreme Commander of the Nigerian Armed Forces. On assuming the position, Ironsi made the following maiden broadcast to the beleaguered country on January 28, 1966.

"The Federal Military Government will preserve Nigeria as one strong nation. We shall give firm, honest and disciplined leadership. The Federal Military Government will stamp out corruption and dishonesty in our public life with ruthless efficiency and restore integrity and self-respect in our public affairs.

"In the public service, efficiency and merit will be the criteria for advancement. The government will study very carefully the questions posed by those who recklessly abused their public offices through the acquisition of state lands and financial deals. The Federal Military Government will introduce administrative reforms. It will also restore the laid down procedures for lenders and awards of contracts, so as to eradicate corrupt practices and ensure maximum benefit from the expenditure of taxpayers' money.

"The government realizes that a few unscrupulous foreign and Nigerian businessmen and contractors have contributed their own share of the tragic plunders and waste of the past. There will be no place in the new order for such profiteers and adventurers. An end will be put to extravagance and waste in public expenditure. I have already reduced the numbers of federal ministries and I have ordered the military governors to take similar steps in their areas."

Against all advice, Ironsi promulgated Degree Number 34 of 1966, which abrogated the federal system of government and substituted with a unitary system. This reinforced fears from other groups, especially the north, of the Ibos taking control of everything.

The Northern Coup: An Eye For An Eye

Major Nzeogwu's January 1966 coup had no doubt split Nigeria in two and sent both parties rolling down the road to a civil war. Ironsi's reign was marked by increased ethnic tension as the northern Hausa-Fulani ethnic group perceived him to be partial towards his Igbo group. After six months of the first military coup, on Thursday, July 28, 1966, the "return match" for the January coup was launched by the northern soldiers. This was in line with the 18th century Babylonian king, Hammurabi. One of his laws called for response with equal retribution: an eye for an eye. It was bloodier; more than 100 officers, mostly of Ibo's origin were killed. Ironsi was assassinated during a tour of the northwest. His host, the governor of the West, Lt. Col. Fajuyi, who refused to give up Ironsi, was also killed. From July 29 through August 1, Nigeria had no leadership or a central government. The highest ranked military officer from the north, Lt. Colonel Yakubu Gowon, was handpicked by the coup leaders to succeed Ironsi. This marked the beginning of northern control of Nigerian army and government.

On accepting his new position, Col. Gowon, on August 4, 1966, made the following announcement to the country. "You are all aware of the circumstances of the past weekend in the country which brought me into this office. I had the responsibility thrust upon me, and I had to accept it in the national interest. I hasten to assure the people of Nigeria that plans would be laid on for an early return to civilian government. I wish to add that meanwhile no major constitutional or other changes will be effected without the fullest consultation with the people."

The First Military Coup

The devastation that is witnessed today in Nigeria, almost forty years after independence, is an antithesis to the promise of January 15, 1966. On that day, Major Kaduna Chukwuma Nzeogwu and his army boys staged the first coup operation dubbed "Damisa", meaning leopard in Hausa language. The promise then was that a new Nigeria was to be built from the ashes of the First Republic. Even the success of that coup foreshadowed the attractive danger the military was luring itself into. The coup was swift, brutal and merciless. When it ended, northern Nigerian leaders such as the Prime Minister Abubakar Tafawa Balewa; Ahmadu Bello, the Saduana of Sokoto and a powerful premier of the north; Festus Okotie-Eboh of the Midwest, a federal minister of finance; and Ladoke Akintola, the self acclaimed premier of the west were all killed. But no leader in the Ibo's East was killed. Because Nzeogwu himself was a Midwestern Ibo from Asaba, hence the coup took ethnic undertone.

Taking to the airwaves, Nzeogwu said, "The aim of the Revolutionary Council is to establish a strong united and prosperous nation, free from corruption and internal strife. My dear countrymen, no citizen should have anything to fear so long as that citizen is law abiding. Our enemies are the political profiteers, the swindlers, the men in high and low places that seek bribes and demand ten percent, those that seek to keep the country divided permanently so that they can remain in office as ministers or VIPs, at least the tribalists, the nepotists, those that make the country look big before the international circles; those that have corrupted our society and put the Nigerian political calend ar back by their words and deeds. Like good soldiers, we are not promising anything miraculous or spectacular. But what we do promise every law-abiding citizen is freedom from fear and all forms of oppression, freedom from general inefficiency and freedom to live and strive in every field of human endeavor, both nationally and internationally. We promise that you will no more be ashamed to say that you are Nigerians.

"You are hereby warned that looting, arson, rape, embezzlement, bribery or corruption, obstructing the revolution, sabotage, subversion, false alarms and assistance to foreign invaders, are all offenses punishable by the death sentence. Illegal possession or carrying of firearms, smuggling or trying to escape with documents, valuables including money, or other assets vital to the running of any establishment will be punished by death sentence. Tearing down an order of the day or proclamation, or other notices will be penalized by death." (Extract from Beyond the Execution)

Sincerely,

Dr. Tom Mbeke-Ekanem, REA
Moderator
Author, Beyond the Execution -

Understanding The Ethnic and Military Politics in Nigeria
Los Angeles, California
Tel: (951) 640-0737
E-Mail: tedey@aol.com