NewStats: 3,261,915 , 8,175,537 topics. Date: Saturday, 31 May 2025 at 01:56 AM 3d365b

In 1954, five young Nigerian men were selected to attend the prestigious Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, England. Four of the men were Igbos, while one was from the Angas tribe of Northern Nigeria. Their names and Army number are Michael Okwechime(N22), Patrick Anwunah(N19),  Arthur Unegbe(N23),  Alexander Madiebo(N21) and Yakubu Gowon(N20)

All five men ed out of the Academy in December 1956 and and returned to Nigeria where they became officers of the Nigerian Army. Ten years later in 1966 all five men had become Lt Colonel's when the first coup happened. Unegbe was killed. The second coup of that year, targeted at Igbos, saw Madiebo, Anwunah and Okwechime escaping to the East. By the time the Nigerian civil war broke out, Gowon had become Military head of state, Madiebo had become commander of the  entire Biafran Army, Okwechime had become commander of the Biafran 11th Division, Anwunah had become Adjutant General of the Biafran Army and Principal Staff Officer (PSO) to Biafran leader, General Ojukwu.

General Alexander Madiebo commanded the Biafran Army from the start of the war until the end. He flew into exile with Ojukwu.

With Ojukwu, Anwunah and Okwechime now all late, the last two Major actors of the civil war on either side  is Major General Alexander Madiebo, Officer Commanding The Biafran Army, Republic Of Biafra.

And Major General Yakubu Gowon, Head Of State And Commander Of The Armed forces, Federal Republic Of Nigeria

Madiebo returned to Nigeria in 1980 and wrote one of the greatest book about the Nigerian civil war "The Nigerian Revolution And The Biafran Civil War". He now lives in his hometown, Awka.

Gowon went on to become Nigeria's longest serving head of state, he was in power for 9 years. He was overthrown in 1976 and lived in exile in London for many years before returning to Nigeria

Both men are almost 90. It would be good if both men had a debate about the civil war

Pic 1. Present day Yakubu Gowon

Pic 2. Present day Alexander Madiebo

Pic 3. Madiebo and Gowon as part of a guard of honour that recieved the Queen and her family at Heathrow Airport after she returned from a trip to Nigeria in 1956

Pic 4. Madiebo, late Brigadier Tony Eze and Yakubu Gowon, as young officers in Lagos, 1959.

Pic 5. Okwechime, Madiebo, Unegbe, Anwunah, Addo and Gowon, during their time at Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst.

Pic 6 . Madiebo at Sandhurst

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My hats off for General Madiebo

Back in those days when Igbo dominated almost everything in the country by rigging, yet with nothing to show for it.

When other regions/tribes retaliate, Igbo start crying of marginalization.

The atrocities committed by Igbo between 1914-1966 is the real reasons they can never be trusted with Power again.

For all that matters - Nigeria should break!

History is good to tell it to the Indomy & white maggi genaration is another Good thing.

Ok

Backstabbing afonjas were conniving with the north to destroy these brilliant soldiers due to envy, shame.

KarlWest:
Back in those days when Igbo dominated almost everything in the country by rigging, yet with nothing to show for it.

When other regions/tribes retaliate, Igbo start crying of marginalization.

The atrocities committed by Igbo between 1914-1966 is the real reasons they can never be trusted with Power again.

For all that matters - Nigeria should break!

You that can be trusted with power, what have you achieved more than the Igbos?

I have heard of the exploits of this great man, General Alexander Madiebo. Wish I could lay hands on his books.

Can anyone help with that?

KarlWest:
Back in those days when Igbo dominated almost everything in the country by rigging, yet with nothing to show for it.

When other regions/tribes retaliate, Igbo start crying of marginalization.

The atrocities committed by Igbo between 1914-1966 is the real reasons they can never be trusted with Power again.

For all that matters - Nigeria should break!

Zombie spotted

KarlWest:
Back in those days when Igbo dominated almost everything in the country by rigging, yet with nothing to show for it.

When other regions/tribes retaliate, Igbo start crying of marginalization.

The atrocities committed by Igbo between 1914-1966 is the real reasons they can never be trusted with Power again.

For all that matters - Nigeria should break!

yen yen yen for your mind now you've made a comment.... Go take your pills and leave Igbos alone.

Both of them are murderers.

Karlovych:
Backstabbing afonjas were conniving with the north to destroy these brilliant soldiers due to envy, shame.

Zik - Ahmadu/Balewa

Zik once connived with the North and they end up dealing with him in the language he understand.

The only thing that can come out from Igbo is IPOB - another terrorist organization who claim to be fighting for self-actualization. Choosing Igbo over FULANi is like choosing Meet-pie over Fish-pie. They both bend the same way.

Igbo are Scally-wag in nature.
Yoruba is not your friend and can never be.

Deborah98:
yen yen yen for your mind now you've made a comment.... Go take your pills and leave Igbos alone.

You have zero knowledge on topics/article like this.

Go to another section of the forum where twerking and $£x is the order of the day.

KarlWest:
Back in those days when Igbo dominated almost everything in the country by rigging, yet with nothing to show for it.

When other regions/tribes retaliate, Igbo start crying of marginalization.

The atrocities committed by Igbo between 1914-1966 is the real reasons they can never be trusted with Power again.

For all that matters - Nigeria should break!

Oga hate can never turn white to black, or truth to false! It cannot no matter how much you hate!

I sometimes wonder why Igbo even bothered to lead the nationalist movement for Nigeria's independence.

British rule favored Igbo by far, because it recognized and rewarded merit, which was why Igbo dominated civil service and military during British rule.

Even when the British were leaving, the British Supreme Military Commander Gen Everald handed over to Gen Ironsi, an Igbo son. ALL BY MERIT.

And Nigeria was actually working because all persons who witnessed that era keep lamenting that things were good then compared to now.

There were quality schools and hospitals and everything ran by MERIT.

Today, darkness is covering the land, and Nigerians are paying MORE for it, while our leaders run to overseas hospitals for treatment and even checkups!

What a turn of events!

You can keep hating though.

onumadu:


Oga hate can never turn white to black, or truth to false! It cannot no matter how much you hate!

I sometimes wonder why Igbo even bothered to lead the nationalist movement for Nigeria's independence.

British rule favored Igbo by far, because it recognized and rewarded merit, which was why Igbo dominated civil service and military during British rule.

Even when the British were leaving, the British Supreme Military Commander Gen Everald handed over to Gen Ironsi, an Igbo son. ALL BY MERIT.

And Nigeria was actually working because all persons who witnessed that era keep lamenting that things were good then compared to now.

There were quality schools and hospitals and everything ran by MERIT.

Today, darkness is covering the land, and Nigerians are paying MORE for it, while our leaders run to overseas hospitals for treatment and even checkups!

What a turn of events!

You can keep hating though.

If it's by Merits, Britain would definitely ed Biafra during the civil war.

Brits rule Nigeria not by merits but favouritism. They needed who they can control like homeless dogs.

South East would have been the most developed today if everything is based on Merits.

Every good thing in the country started in Western Nigeria/South West.

Igbo always trying to claimed other state and region is also one of the reasons the civil war failed woefully. Other tribe in the New SS region saw it coming how they'll be treated like unexist minorities, hence, most of them feel it's better to stay in Nigeria than Biafra. Afterall the devil that appears develish is better than one that acts like friend but with devil agenda.

Azikiwe, afterall, handed over the country to FULANi.

onumadu:


Oga hate can never turn white to black, or truth to false! It cannot no matter how much you hate!

I sometimes wonder why Igbo even bothered to lead the nationalist movement for Nigeria's independence.

British rule favored Igbo by far, because it recognized and rewarded merit, which was why Igbo dominated civil service and military during British rule.

Even when the British were leaving, the British Supreme Military Commander Gen Everald handed over to Gen Ironsi, an Igbo son. ALL BY MERIT.

And Nigeria was actually working because all persons who witnessed that era keep lamenting that things were good then compared to now.

There were quality schools and hospitals and everything ran by MERIT.

Today, darkness is covering the land, and Nigerians are paying MORE for it, while our leaders run to overseas hospitals for treatment and even checkups!

What a turn of events!

You can keep hating though.

No wonder the South-yeast is the most developed region in the country, you guys are running your affairs based on merit

KarlWest:


You have zero knowledge on topics/article like this.

Go to another section of the forum where twerking and $£x is the order of the day.

You're obviously sick in the head.

aycorporat:
I have heard of the exploits of this great man, General Alexander Madiebo. Wish I could lay hands on his books.

Can anyone help with that?

I met Madiebo some years ago in Enugu, he is the highest ranking officer that was in Biafra still alive

Chai! This was the pre-independence Nigerian era when the colonial masters do things by merit hence the Igbos dominated the corps of the Nigerian military and other parts of our national life. Until the mallos came to bastardised everything with mediocrity.

KarlWest:
Back in those days when Igbo dominated almost everything in the country by rigging, yet with nothing to show for it.

When other regions/tribes retaliate, Igbo start crying of marginalization.The atrocities committed by Igbo between 1914-1966 is the real reasons they can never be trusted with Power again.For all that matters - Nigeria should break!

So why is the hausa-fulani and Yorubas afraid of breakup? Let them agree for the nation to have a referendum first. Even the other minority tribes/nationals are long tired of this contraption of a country