Biafra Anthem

Biafra, though short-lived, had some paraphernalia of statehood. It had a currency, an anthem and a flag. Till date, the flag still continues to be flown by dyed-in-the-wool Biafra supporters. The anthem was called Land of the rising sun. The tune of Jean Sibelius "Finlandia" was adopted for the anthem. Enjoy the lyrics.

Land of the rising sun, we love and cherish,
Beloved homeland of our brave heroes;
We must defend our lives or we shall perish,
We shall protect our hearts from all our foes;
But if the price is death for all we hold dear,
Then let us die without a shred of fear.

The Finger Of God (Delta State)

Delta State is one of the Niger Delta states. It is a state renowned for its distinct pidgin English. Many of us know it as The Big Heart, but the Governor prefers The Finger of God. Enjoy!

Delta State (slogan: The Finger of God) is a state in Southern Nigeria, comprising mainly five major ethnic groups: Urhobo, Isoko, Anioma and Ukwani, Ijaw and Itsekiri. The Urhobos are believed to have been the earliest settlers of Delta State. It was created out of the then Bendel State on 27 August 1991 by the government of General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida. Asaba, located in the northern part, is the capital city of the state, with Warri (located at the southern end of the state) as its economic capital. Other major towns (apart from Asaba and Warri) are Agbor, Ughelli, Oleh, Ozoro, Oghara, Sapele, Koko, Burutu, Okpanam and Ogwashi-ukwu. Its food crops include rice, yam, cassava, fruits and vegetables, while its industrial crops include rubber, oil palm and palm kernel. Check here for a good map of the state.

Abacha's Coup Speech of November 1993

Reproduced below is the speech delivered by late General Sani Abacha, after booting Chief Ernest Shonekan, Head of Interim Government (ING), out of office. Abacha was ‘Vice President, Defence Secretary and Senior Minister’ by virtue of Decree 61promulgated by the General Ibrahim Babangida. With all those positions, it was only a matter of time before Abacha struck. He didn’t have to wait long, as a court declared ING illegal.

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Fellow Nigerians,

Sequel to the resignation of the former Head of the Interim National Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Chief Ernest Shonekan and my subsequent appointment as Head of State and Commander-in-Chief, I have had extensive consultations within the armed forces hierarchy and other well meaning Nigerians in a bid to find solutions to the various political, economic and social problems which have engulfed our beloved country, and which have made life most difficult to the ordinary citizen of this nation.

Chief Ernest Shonekan took over as Head of State and Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces at a most trying time in the history of the country.  Politically, economically, and socially, there were lots of uncertainties.  Things appeared bleak and the atmosphere was heavy with uncertainties.  However, driven by a belief in himself, his countrymen, and love for his country, he accepted to face the challenges of our time.  I will, therefore, like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to him for his selfless service to the nation.  He showed great courage at taking on the daunting task of heading the Interim National Government and even greater courage to know when to leave.

October in History

In the spirit of our Independence Anniversary, I decided to compile this list. It highlights some important days in the month of October in the history of Nigeria. Enjoy!

October 1, 1960: Nigeria gained independence from Britain.

October 1, 1961: Southern Cameroon ceases to be a part of Nigeria and became a part of Cameroun, following the UN-organised plebiscite of Febuary 11, 1961. 

October 1, 1963: Nigeria became a republic. This republic (the first) was brought to an abrupt end by the coup of January 16, 1966 (also the first coup).

October 1, 1979: Alhaji Shehu Shagari was sworn in as president. Thus, the Second Republic began on this day, eventually meeting its demise on December 31, 1983 through a military coup. Shehu Shagari was just beginning his second term when the coup plotters struck.

Nigeria and African Cup of Nations (CAN)

This list is about the checkered history of Nigeria at the African Cup of Nations. The obvious is omitted: Nigeria are reigning champions. Enjoy!

1) 1978 CAN

The tournament heralded the beginning of great things to come. Segun Odegbami shared the highest goal scorer prize with 2 other players.

2) 3 in 1

Nigera hosted and won the 1980 edition of the African Cup of Nations, with individual prizes to boot. Segun Odegbami (a.k.a mathematical) was joint-highest goal scorer and ex-Super Eagles coach Christian Chukwu was most valuable player.

3) The ‘thing’ between Nigeria and Cameroun

They have been Nigeria’s nemesis literally. Cameroun have won the African Cup of Nations 4 times, three of these titles have been won by besting Nigeria. Nigeria to them lost in 1984 and 1988. History repeated itself: Nigeria lost to them controversially in the 2002 edition of the cup co-hosted by both countries. 

4) Fixation with silver

Nigeria have been runners-up four times—1984, 1988, 1990, 2000. This fixation with second position is shared with Ghana (they have 4 too).

5) Bronze! Bronze! Bronze! Bronze! Bronze! Bronze! Bronze!

7 times have the Super Eagles claimed bronze at the African Cup of Nations. Now if winning silver a record 4 times can be termed fixation, what do we call this? Mania? Madness? No other country comes close—Cote d’ Ivoire has just four. 

6) Never been fourth

This means that they have never lost a third place match. 7 third place matches, 7 wins. What a record. 

7) Rashidi Yekini

The iconic forward was highest goal scorer at two consecutive African Cup of Nations tournaments. He led 1992 tournament with four goals, and 5 goals at 1994 tournament. Overall, he’s no push-over: he has 13 CAN goals. Only Cameroun Samuel Eto’o (18) and Ivory Coast Laurent Pokou (14) have more. 

8) Jay Jay Okocha

Jay jay okocha was joint-highest goal scorer and most valuable player at Tunisia 2004.

9) Julius Aghahowa

Julius aghahowa, the back flip expert, was joint-highest goal scorer at Nigeria/Cameroun 2002. No player scorer more than a meagre 3 goals.

10) Emmanuel Emenike

He was Nigeria's goal hero at the last CAN in South Africa. He scored four goals to claim joint-top scorer.

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Abacha's 1983 Coup Speech

General Sani Abacha (1943 – 1998), the late dictator, made this speech after the 1983 military coup that kicked out President Shehu Shagari. He is reputed to have made the most coup speeches on air, starting with the one below.

                                                  

Late General Sani Abacha

THE 1983 MILITARY COUP SPEECH

Fellow country men and women,                                                                                    

I, Brigadier Sani Abacha, of the Nigerian Army address you this morning on behalf of the Nigerian Armed Forces.

10 Top Firsts I

This is a list of firsts. Not your run-of-the-mill list about first this, first that. This is the first in the series, expect more lists like this.

FIRST MUSEUM: This dictinction goes to Esie museum, Kwara State. It was established in 1945 during colonial rule. It houses thousands of soapstones and tombstones. Though the ages of the soapstone have not been scientifically determined, some locals believe that they are as old as creation. A festival is usually held every April at the museum.

President Olusegun Obasanjo's Inaugural Speech on May 29, 1999

The speech below was delivered by President Olusegun Obasanjo following his swearing-in as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on May 29, 1999.
                                

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Fellow Nigerians, we give praise and honour to God Almighty for this day specially appointed by God Himself. Everything created by God has its destiny and it is the destiny of all of us to see this day.  Twelve months ago, no one could have predicted the series of stunning events that made it possible for democratic elections to be held at the Local Government level, the State level, and culminating in the National Assembly Elections. Thereafter, you the good people of Nigeria elected me, a man who had walked through the valley of the shadow of death, as your President, to head a democratic civilian administration. I believe that this is what God Almighty has ordained for me and for my beloved country Nigeria and its people. I accept this destiny in all humility and with the full belief that with the backing of our people we shall not fail.

Major Gideon Orkar Failed Coup Speech

APRIL 1990 FAILED COUP D'ETAT SPEECH

                                                                                       

Fellow Nigerian Citizens,

Late Major Gideon Orkar

On behalf of the patriotic and well-meaning peoples of the Middle Belt and the southern parts of this country, I, Major Gideon Orkar, wish to happily inform you of the successful ousting of the dictatorial, corrupt, drug baronish, evil man, deceitful, homo-sexually-centered, prodigalistic, un-patriotic administration of General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida. We have equally commenced their trials for unabated corruption, mismanagement of national economy, the murders of Dele Giwa, Major-General Mamman Vasta, with other officers as there was no attempted coup but mere intentions that were yet to materialise and other human rights violations.

The National Guard already in its formative stage is disbanded with immediate effect.  Decrees Number 2 and 46 are hereby abrogated. We wish to emphasise that this is not just another coup but a well conceived, planned and executed revolution for the marginalised, oppressed and enslaved peoples of the Middle Belt and the south with a view to freeing ourselves and children yet unborn from eternal slavery and colonisation by a clique of this country.

Random Facts About Nigeria V

Here is yet another list of amazing and mostly obscure facts about Nigeria. Enjoy it!

Farin Ruwa Falls is a waterfall that bestrides the boundary between Plateau and Nassarawa states, with its source on the Jos Plateau. It is said to be the highest waterfall in Nigeria and one of the highest in Africa, even higher than the more popular Victoria Falls.

On Aburi we Stand --Ojukwu

Nigerians leaders met in Aburi, Ghana on the 4^th – 5^th of January, 1967 to try to resolve their differences. Unfortunately, the meeting only served to ‘postpone the evil days’—the Civil War. On May 30, 1967 Lt.-Col. Odumegwu Ojukwu spoke his mind about the non-implementation of the Aburi Agreement through is now-famous ‘On Aburi we Stand’ Speech. The speech is reproduced below:

                                         

                     ON ABURI WE STAND            

Anybody who was present at the Aburi meeting or has read the minutes, the communiqués, statements, and verbatim reports would be surprised that a person who calls himself a head of state could so deliberately mislead accredited representatives of foreign governments by saying that the implementation of each item of the conclusions required prior detailed examination by the administrative and professional experts in the various fields. The conclusions in Aburi were no proposals but decisions taken by the highest authority in the land.

Quotes by Obafemi Awolowo

One way to determine a man’s character is by checking out his words—effectively reading his mind. The list below contains quotes by the late sage Obafemi Awolowo, one of Nigeria's founding fathers.                                                                                                                                                     

·        “Any people that is starved with books, especially the right type of books, will suffer intellectual malnutrition, stagnation and atrophy”

·        “After rain comes sunshine; after darkness comes the glorious dawn. There is no sorrow without its alloy of joy; there is no joy without its admixture of sorrow. Behind the ugly terrible mask of misfortune lies the beautiful soothing countenance of prosperity. So, tear the mask!”