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HISTORY :
Lt. Col.
Odumegwu Ojukwu wrote to Lt. Col. Victor Banjo commanding him to invade and
liberate Western Nigeria (Yorubaland) from the “Hausa/Fulani dominated
Nigeria”.
From: The
Military Governor,
Republic of
Biafra,Enugu,
22nd August,
1967.
My dear
Victor,
1. For some
time now, you and I have been discussing the circumstances that have led to the
current and inevitable disintegration of what was the Federation of Nigeria. We
have been fully convinced that the aim of the Hausa/Fulani complex has ever
been, and will ever remain, the total domination of every other part of what
was known as the Federation of Nigeria. It is impossible to forget that the
crisis which led to the army take over in January 1966, the coup of the
Northern soldiers led by Gowon in July 1966, the wholesale and indiscriminate
massacre of the people of what is now Biafra- and, to a less degree,the people
of the Mid-West and West, including the Yorubas, were all the direct result of
Hausa/Fulani attempt to subjugate and use as tools,the gallant people of
Western Nigeria namely the Yorubas. We do not need to remind ourselves of the
heavy losses in life and property suffered by the Yoruba people in their fight
for justice and freedom during 1965.
2. Sharing
our belief that the people of Yorubaland have a right to live a life of
equality and self-respect and justice free of domination and dictatorship from
any quarter, you have both identified with the cause of the Biafra struggle for
survival and expressed your determination to see the people of Yorubaland freed
from Hausa/Fulani domination.
We, the
people of Biafra, for our part are willing and have decided to give you and the
people of Yorubaland every assistance to achieve your aim.
3. After
clearing the whole question with my Executive Council, I, as the Commander in
Chief of the Biafran Armed Forces, have decided to place at your disposal
Biafran forces, for the liberation of
Yorubaland
on the following clear conditions:-
(i)You will
have nothing to do with the Military Administrator in the Mid-West Territory
during your sojourn there prior to your move to the West.
(ii)The
willingness and preparedness of Biafra to assist any part of the former
Federation of Nigeria wishing and willing to liberate itself from the
Hausa/Fulani domination, does not in anyway whatever
imply any
inclination on her part to compromise her sovereignty or preserve what remains
of the defunct Federation of Nigeria. In other words, our sovereignty and break
with Nigeria is irrevocable. Nothing must, therefore be said or done by you or
any member of the Liberation Army to give a contrary impression.
(iii)Biafra
is determined to maintain and safeguard her sovereignty and ensure that her
integrity and safety are never again threatened.
(iv)Biafran
troops will, after the liberation of the Yorubaland, remain in that territory
only for as long as we in Biafra consider it necessary for the Yorubas to
consolidate their position and sovereignty against any external threat.
(v)On the
liberation of the Yorubaland, you will be appointed as the Military Governor of
that territory.
(vi)The
liberation of Western Nigeria will be a prelude to the liberation of all
Yorubas up to the River Niger and the severance of all connections between the
West and the North at Jebba.
(vii)During
the period of Biafrans troops’ presence in your territory, all political
measures, statements or decrees shall be subject to the approval, in writing by
myself or on my authority.
(viii)Should
our troops arrive and liberate Lagos, the government of the Republic of Biafra
reserves the right to appoint a Military administrator for the territory. Such
an Administrator will remain in office until a merger of that territory with
Yorubaland is effected by Biafran troops.
(ix)As soon
as possible after your appointment as the Military Governor of Western Nigeria
and separation of that territory from Nigeria, you and I must meet to discuss:
(a)the
duration of stay of Biafran troops in your territory;
(b)the areas
and subjects of cooperation between the liberated sovereign states of Western
Nigeria, or by what name it may call itself, and Biafra.
4. I do not
need to remind you that Biafra regards all Yoruba as friends. As such
everything should be done, to ensure the minimum force and loss of life are
involved in achieving the objective of liberation.
5. It is
essential, in order to avoid
misunderstanding or confusion, that
all subsequent requests for
support be formally made to me by you in writing .
6. Will you
please signify in writing, your acceptance of the above conditions so that you
may leave for Western Nigeria and lead the army of liberation.
Yours very
sincerely,
signed : Lt.
Col. Odumegwu Ojukwu,
Military
Governor and Commander in Chief of Biafran Armed Forces.
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