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Read Zik's version of what transpired between him and Ojukwu during the Biafra war. It is an eye opener and must present some good lessons for the present generation. Zik's account of events here presented is long but worth a reading and come to your own conclusions. Enjoy..
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"Yes. I played a prominent role in Biafra for the unity of the country in order to restore peace and bring about unity of the country. That’s the role I played! ......"
"Yes. I played a prominent role in Biafra for the unity of the country in order to restore peace and bring about unity of the country. That’s the role I played! ......"
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I advised Ojukwu. I said well look, you have declared secession. What we should do is to get the elder statesmen and women of the nation to reconcile you and Gowon. I said by declaring secession, you get so many people who do not believe you to remain there.
I advised Ojukwu. I said well look, you have declared secession. What we should do is to get the elder statesmen and women of the nation to reconcile you and Gowon. I said by declaring secession, you get so many people who do not believe you to remain there.
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You see all of us were interned. Hence, we couldn’t express our own views as we see it because, he made Decree Number 5 which vested absolute powers in himself and if you were against his views, it then constituted an act of subversion and the penalty was death by shooting.
You see all of us were interned. Hence, we couldn’t express our own views as we see it because, he made Decree Number 5 which vested absolute powers in himself and if you were against his views, it then constituted an act of subversion and the penalty was death by shooting.
5.
Well, it was a war-time measure and that is understandable. So, I advised him. I said go to the conference table and iron out your differences. Allow elder statesmen and elder stateswomen to bring the two of you to the conference table and settle this matter so that there will
Well, it was a war-time measure and that is understandable. So, I advised him. I said go to the conference table and iron out your differences. Allow elder statesmen and elder stateswomen to bring the two of you to the conference table and settle this matter so that there will
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...no more be civil war and the country may be united. He agreed. But Gowon was advised by the Ministry of External Affairs to insist on pre-conditions.
...no more be civil war and the country may be united. He agreed. But Gowon was advised by the Ministry of External Affairs to insist on pre-conditions.
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That is that befor he could negotiate with the secessionists,that they must accept certain terms; accept the 12-state structure and all. So,it was quite obvious that the Federal Government wanted Biafra to come to the conference table with their hands tied and their feet tied.
That is that befor he could negotiate with the secessionists,that they must accept certain terms; accept the 12-state structure and all. So,it was quite obvious that the Federal Government wanted Biafra to come to the conference table with their hands tied and their feet tied.
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But they won’t be free agents. That was the diplomatic mistake on the part of the Federal Government. So, when they did that, then Lt- Col. Ojukwu told me, “How can I go to the conference table based on these ultimatums?
But they won’t be free agents. That was the diplomatic mistake on the part of the Federal Government. So, when they did that, then Lt- Col. Ojukwu told me, “How can I go to the conference table based on these ultimatums?
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Still I advised Ojukwu to go to the OAU and ask them to use their good offices to settle the dispute and that we should avoid loss of lives. He accepted my advice in good faith. Then he said, ‘Now, you have some heads of state in Africa who are your friends,..
Still I advised Ojukwu to go to the OAU and ask them to use their good offices to settle the dispute and that we should avoid loss of lives. He accepted my advice in good faith. Then he said, ‘Now, you have some heads of state in Africa who are your friends,..
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.would you mind going to appeal to them to use their good offices so that the Nigerian civil war could be an item on the agenda for OAU summit in Kinshasa?’I said I would gladly go. So he sent me to Monrovia as a peace envoy. I went there and met my friend, President Tubman.
.would you mind going to appeal to them to use their good offices so that the Nigerian civil war could be an item on the agenda for OAU summit in Kinshasa?’I said I would gladly go. So he sent me to Monrovia as a peace envoy. I went there and met my friend, President Tubman.
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Tubman expressed his willingness to use his good offices. He told me he would see another mutual friend, the late Haile Sellassie, Emperor of Ethiopia, and both of them would see that the civil war was placed as first item on the agenda of the OAU Summit in Kinshasa.
Tubman expressed his willingness to use his good offices. He told me he would see another mutual friend, the late Haile Sellassie, Emperor of Ethiopia, and both of them would see that the civil war was placed as first item on the agenda of the OAU Summit in Kinshasa.
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I returned and broke the news to Ojukwu. He was very pleased. Then, when the OAU summit opened, Chief Awolowo, as Vice-Chairman of the Federal Executive Council and Commissioner for Finance, led a strong Nigerian delegation to Kinshasa and raised a very strong objection..
I returned and broke the news to Ojukwu. He was very pleased. Then, when the OAU summit opened, Chief Awolowo, as Vice-Chairman of the Federal Executive Council and Commissioner for Finance, led a strong Nigerian delegation to Kinshasa and raised a very strong objection..
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on the Nigerian civil war being placed as an item on the agenda on the grounds that according to the OAU Charter, this was a domestic affair & member states were precluded from interfering in the domestic affairs of each other,which was really sound according to international
on the Nigerian civil war being placed as an item on the agenda on the grounds that according to the OAU Charter, this was a domestic affair & member states were precluded from interfering in the domestic affairs of each other,which was really sound according to international
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.law. But we wanted to solve it in the African way,to use mediation& conciliation to bring brothers together.The OAU accepted the submission of Chief Awolowo so it was not put into the agenda. History will show now btw Chief Awolowo & myself, who actually accentuated the war.
.law. But we wanted to solve it in the African way,to use mediation& conciliation to bring brothers together.The OAU accepted the submission of Chief Awolowo so it was not put into the agenda. History will show now btw Chief Awolowo & myself, who actually accentuated the war.
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I was trying to get the OAU to settle the dispute so they could go to the conference table and he was thinking of legalism, that it would amount to interference in the domestic affairs of a member-state. But meanwhile here you have two brothers killing each other.
Well,
I was trying to get the OAU to settle the dispute so they could go to the conference table and he was thinking of legalism, that it would amount to interference in the domestic affairs of a member-state. But meanwhile here you have two brothers killing each other.
Well,
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..Ojukwu told me, I've done my best. You see, Nigeria was relying on law & we are relying on humanity. What’s next? I said why not try other heads of states & see what could be done to bring about peace? He then said he left the initiative with me.
..Ojukwu told me, I've done my best. You see, Nigeria was relying on law & we are relying on humanity. What’s next? I said why not try other heads of states & see what could be done to bring about peace? He then said he left the initiative with me.
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I suggested going to some heads see what can be done. But his advisers led by Dr. Nwakama Okoro suggested recognition. That if we can get other states to recognize Biafra, maybe the hands of Nigeria may be forced to go to the conference table.
I suggested going to some heads see what can be done. But his advisers led by Dr. Nwakama Okoro suggested recognition. That if we can get other states to recognize Biafra, maybe the hands of Nigeria may be forced to go to the conference table.
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Well,I thought that was a sound idea & I placed my services at their disposal so as to meet my friends. We had in mind President Senghor of Senegal, President Houphouet Boigny of Ivory Coast, President Julius Nyerere of Tanzania, President Milton Obote of Uganda,
Well,I thought that was a sound idea & I placed my services at their disposal so as to meet my friends. We had in mind President Senghor of Senegal, President Houphouet Boigny of Ivory Coast, President Julius Nyerere of Tanzania, President Milton Obote of Uganda,
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..,President Kenneth Kaunda of Zambia and of course Francois Bongo, he is now Omar. He now has become a Muslim. He was then a Christian. The long and short of it all was that I and these great African statesmen agreed that if Gowon persisted with pre-conditions,
..,President Kenneth Kaunda of Zambia and of course Francois Bongo, he is now Omar. He now has become a Muslim. He was then a Christian. The long and short of it all was that I and these great African statesmen agreed that if Gowon persisted with pre-conditions,
