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Biafran War (July 6, 1967- January 15, 1970)

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Biafran War (July 6, 1967- January 15, 1970) MADMUN XI Biafra Cabinet The Nigerian Civil War— Biafran War (July 6, 1967- January 15, 1970) History: How It All Began. The colonization of African nations by imperialist European nations is no new history. By the 1900s, much of Africa had been colonized by seven nations: Britain, France, Germany, Belgium, Spain, Portugal, and Italy. Britain, though centered in the Southern and Eastern regions of Africa had taken into liking the vast resources and land the soon to be Nigeria had. In 1914, through the efforts of Sir Frederick Lurgard, the northern and southern protectorates were combined and named Nigeria with Lagos as its capital. Named by Lurgard’s wife, Flora Shaw, the name Nigeria pays homage to the discovery of the River Niger. While the British commemorated this new nation, they disregarded the difference in customs, values and policies of these two regions. The effects of their ignorance factored into play during the time of Nigeria’s Independence on October 1, 1960. Nigeria, though made up of over 50+ entities, consisted mainly of the Igbo who made up 70% of the population in the South-East; the Yoruba who made up 75% of the South-West; and the Hausa-Fulani who made up 65% in the Northern part of Nigeria. With differences in cultural, social, and regional demographics, these ethnicities set out to live different lives in their respective regions: The Yoruba were ruled by the Obas (leaders stemming from the Benin Kingdom) who gave way for social mobility. Being the first of all three ethnicities to accept western values and education, the Yorubas had the highest literacy rate with occupation such as: civil servants, lawyers and doctors. The Igbos were led by their Eze’s and Obi’s (tradition rooted in the Onitsha and Arochukwu Kingdoms), which allowed for both men and women to participate in decision making. The Igbos came second to the Yorubas in western literacy as they too accepted the European values, missionaries, religion and education; the wealthy families would send their sons to Britain to continue higher education.They made up the tradesmen and blue-collared workers of Nigeria. Some Igbos spread out to different parts of Nigeria in search of better wages and opportunities. The Hausa-Fulani had an authoritarian system headed by Emirs. They were said to be the most underdeveloped tribe as they refuted British imperialism and stuck to their conservative values ensued by ancient Hausa-Fulani Kingdoms dating back to the 14th century. Politically, however, Nigeria became the Federal Republic of Nigeria under a constitution that made room for a parliamentary government and a self-government for three main ethnicities. From 1959-1960, Jaja Wachuku succeeded Sir Fredrick Metcalfe and became the first Nigerian Speaker of the Nigerian Parliament— the House of Representatives. Wachuku received the Freedom Charter on October 1st from Princess Alexandra of Kent, the Queen’s Representative. Though Queen Elizabeth II was monarch of Nigeria and Head of State, legislative power was vested in a bicameral parliament; executive power in a prime minister and cabinets; and judicial authority in a Federal Supreme Court. The Federal government was granted authority in executive powers in defence, foreign policy, relations, commercial and fiscal policy. The Nigerian Parliament comprised of three main parties: The Nigerian People’s Congress (NPC), which took 134 seats in a 312 seat parliament, represented the Hausa and Fulanis of the North, The National Council of Nigerian Citizens (NCNC), representing the Igbo of the South, obtained 89 seats, and the Action Group (AG) of the Yoruba westerners captured 73 seats. The remainder of the 16 seats embodied smaller entities within Nigeria, though, not strong enough to form their own coalition.The first national government was formed by the coalition of NCNC and NCP. These two parties widely accepted and expected that Ahmadu Bello, affluent leader who represented the North, should become the Prime Minister of the new Federation. However, having more interest in his leadership at NPC he nominated Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa who was later on declared the First Prime Minister of Nigeria. The alliance between NCNC and NPC meant the Yoruba AG became the opposing party ruled under the charismatic and well loved Obafemi Awolowo. Not all Yorubas supported this pact. Over time, it became clear that the Yorubas were on the outskirts of political power. A faction within the Action Group under the leadership of Ladoke Akintola argued that the Yoruba people were losing positions in the government to the Igbo due to the alliance with the NPC. Balewa agreed with this and sought out the unification of all three parties, but Awolowo disagreed and replaced Akintola with a favored leader. Akintola’s followers did not support this; hence, the disagreement with both groups led to a massive dispute with violence, anarchy and rigged elections as its products. Enraged by this disruption and difference in political ideals, Balewa arrested Awolowo and his fellow officers for treason, and appointed Akintola as the leader. This gave rise to a small but mighty AG party. In 1963, Nigeria declared itself as the Federal republic of Nigeria with former Governor Nnamdi Azikwe becoming the country’s first president. This proclamation didn’t stop the rise of religious and social tensions as well as discrimination within the nation. Having been occupied by these obstacles, the AG was conspired against and its destruction led to the birth of a new pro-government Yoruba association— The Nigerian National Democratic Party (NNDP). This partnership became the new found “mistress” of the NPC leaving the NCNC party with nothing but scraps of power. Given the north’s authoritarian reputation, the government was adverse with malpractices, corruption and unfair elections. This despotism served as a catalyst for the first coup on January 15, 1966 by the Young Major (mostly Igbos) under the leadership of Major Patrick Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu. The majority of senior military and political officers killed were from the north and west thus this paucity of leadership led to the collapse of the first republic. Infuriated by the supposed conspiracy of the easterners trying to take away power, the Northerners started out their plan for a counter coup. General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi succeeded Nwafor Orizu (former President of the Senate and acting president of Nigeria) making him the first acting military president of Nigeria. Aguiyi-Ironsi failed to appease the northerners as they felt justice wasn’t executed thus further igniting the resentment the Hausa-Fulanis had for the Igbos. On July 29, 1966, a counter coup staged by Northern military officers aimed at two goals: vengeance and the break up of an already collapsed republic. General Yakubu Gowon succeeded Aguiyi-Ironsi after he and other eastern officers were killed. The coup did not only target political officers but Igbo civilians as well. An estimate of 100,000 easterners were murdered on northern soil, and their goods and properties looted. All seemed to be going well for the Northerners. The Federal Republic of Nigeria was restored on August 31, 1966; however, more sentiment grew for a secessionist Igbo state as it became clear that the Igbo were going to remain marginalized, seeing as all Gowon did was address the Igbo massacres as “reckless” and “irresponsible” with no affirmation that justice will be sought. Enough was enough and on May 30, 1967, the Igbo people called it quits: General Chukwuemeka Odumegwe Ojukwu announced the secession of the eastern Region. Welcome to the Republic of Biafra. Current Situation ❖ Domestic Affairs On May 30th, 1967 a new flag was hoisted over the city of Enugu. For on this day, the city became the capital of a new state; the Republic of Biafra. For the next three years, this small Igbo state in southeastern Nigeria would wage a war that grabbed the international attention of a world gripped by proxy conflicts, social unrest, and the ever-looming threat of nuclear annihilation. The military junta that ruled over Biafra would beat back the forces of the rest of Nigeria, and would almost accomplish the impossible by conquering the nation’s capital city of Lagos. Almost. The defeat of the Midwest Invasion in the first year of the Biafran War was apparently already the beginning of the end for the Biafran fight for independence, and eventually the dream of an independent Igbo state was squashed following the short-lived republic’s ultimate defeat in the Biafran War on January, 15th 1970. But as a member of the Biafran military junta in the spring of 1967, the fall of your government has yet to happen. The fate of the Igbo people is up in the air and can fall wherever you want it to. Under your influence, the Republic of Biafra can win its war for independence, can become the newest nation on the African continent, and can successfully wield the chaotic geopolitics of the Cold War to its advantage. But for any of this to happen, a functioning internal government is absolutely paramount. Historically, infighting between the stratocrats that ruled over Biafra contributed to the republic’s defeat, so ensuring that all of our compatriots stand in solidarity with one another in the war effort against our Nigerian oppressors would be within our best interests. Of course, time and time again, history has proven that military juntas aren’t exactly known for their stable internal leadership. First, let’s understand the political structure of the Republic of Biafra. While the Biafran declaration of independence did mention that “the object of government is the good of the ​ governed and the will of the people its ultimate sanction,” it was very blatant (including in the very same declaration of independence that apparently gave lip service to a democratic government) that the Republic of Biafra was officially a military junta led by General-turned-President Chukwuemeka Odumegwe Ojukwu.
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