THE BIG LIE IS DEAD:THAT THE MINORITIES WERE OPPRESSED BY IGBOS IN OLD EASTERN REGION

THE BIG LIE IS DEAD:
THAT THE MINORITIES WERE OPPRESSED BY IGBOS IN OLD EASTERN REGION

THE BIG LIE IS DEAD:
THAT THE MINORITIES WERE OPPRESSED BY IGBOS IN OLD EASTERN REGION

They keep telling this lie to divide us. To keep lying against the Igbos, they removed history from schools because they know if history is taught, all their lies will be exposed.

Here is the truth with EVIDENCE.

1. IN THE OLD EASTERN REGION HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY, EVERY TRIBE WAS REPRESENTED

In the Eastern Regional House of Assembly in Enugu, representation was by division and by population.

According to the COR Memorandum presented to the Willink Commission of 1957:
Total seats were 84 seats
Igbo had 51 seats
Ethnic minorities had 33 seats

Breakdown:
Onitsha (Igbo) 5, Bende (Igbo) 6, Ogoni 2, Degema (Ijaw) 2, Brass (Ijaw) 2, Calabar (Efik) 2, Eket (Oron/Ibibio) 3, Uyo (Ibibio) 3, Ikot Ekpene (Annang/Ibibio) 3, Abak (Annang) 3 and so on.

So where is the oppression? Every group had a voice.

And it was not just seats. Positions were given by merit because the Igbos, Ibibio, Annang, Efik were the most educated at that time, yet inclusiveness was still considered to avoid lopsidedness.

2. EVEN IN BIAFRA, NON-IGBOS WERE NOT OPPRESSED

It is on record that before Ojukwu declared Biafra, he consulted the Eastern Regional Consultative Assembly. Of the 335 members, 165 were non-Igbo.

Non-Igbo Easterners held the highest positions:
Gen. Philip Effiong was second-in-command, Ntiyong Akpan was Secretary to the Government, Ignatius Kogbara was High Commissioner to the UK, and many more like Ekukinam Bassey, Frank Opigo, Emmanuel Aguma, Samuel Cookey, Okokon Ndem. a709

Even under Ironsi, three Service Chiefs were from Eastern minorities. Kurubo became first Nigerian Air Force Head, Captain Edet Wey led the Navy, and Louis Edet was Police Chief. 326b

3. IT WAS A NEW GOVERNMENT THAT DID NOT LAST LONG

Know that this was a new regional government that didn’t last long. If I am to say the truth, it was the greed of “have-it-all” syndrome by some opposition minority tribe that destroyed the progress of the East.

Remember, the Eastern Region then was the fastest growing and most progressive economy in the world at that time.

What made you think that more ministries and more opportunities would not have been created if the Region lasted longer? Compare it to today, the current government you love so much, how many years does it take to implement one policy?

Check well, it was not Igbo oppression. It was the greed, the fast-fast syndrome of your fathers, the politicians who wanted COR State by all means, that destroyed everything.

The political issues between Azikiwe and Prof. Eyo Ita and between Dr. Michael Okpara and some Ibibio/Annang leaders were all resolved before Biafra was declared.

So stop the lies. Igbos never oppressed minorities. They carried everyone along.

LEARN YOUR HISTORY, DON’T LET THEM LIE TO YOU.