Word: ibos
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Dates: during 1970-1979
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...evidence could be seen of the deliberate genocide against which Biafra's General Odumegwu Ojukwu had warned before he hastily departed from his collapsing nation three weeks ago. Nigerian leaders, for the most part, made genuine efforts to see that Biafra's Ibo tribesmen were cared for. Nigerian money was rushed in to replace worthless Biafran currency, Ibo civil servants were rehired and their 30-month defection listed as "leave of absence without pay." Gowon, wearing a flowing blue African robe instead of a general's uniform, led a thanksgiving service at Lagos' Anglican cathedral...
...government in exile, but Houphouet-Boigny coldly informed him that there were to be no government, no political activities and no statements to the press out of Yamoussoukro. Perhaps it was just as well, for Ojukwu supporters are as scarce as food in his former enclave nowadays. An elderly Ibo, gaunt from hunger and weary from walking, was typical. Pausing on the road near Owerri and staring at the desolation around him, he said slowly: "It's Ojukwu's fault...
Though the countercoup restored power to the Hausas, their choice to lead the government was Yakubu Gowon, who is both a Christian and a member of a minority tribe (see box following page). Gowon tried to stop the pogroms. At the same time, he firmly limited Ibo power by regrouping Nigeria's four regions (North, East, West and Midwest) into twelve smaller units. The Ibo East was gerrymandered into three states, two of which had non-Ibo majorities. The move also deprived the Ibos of control over much of the oil that was making Nigeria rich. Ojukwu...
...present stage of development, Black Africa is gripped by primeval tribal loyalties that stand in the way of nation building. Had the Ibo secession worked, some of Africa's 6,000 other tribal groups would undoubtedly have been encouraged to seek independence, setting back the process of political modernization indefinitely. Conversely, the victory of the central government may strengthen the forces that hope to create strong federal systems in Africa...
...once tough enough and shrewd enough to win an ugly civil war without splintering what was left of the fragile Nigerian coalition. At a time when hardliners within his government were urging a more ruthless prosecution of the war, Gowon told them: "We have no enemy, the Ibos are not our enemy." Looking to war's end and the problem of reintegrating the Ibos, he ordered his government to collect rent on Ibo-owned property outside the breakaway area and keep the money in trust for its owners. "I swear to you," he told reporters recently, "there will...