Major Okonkwo's Address to Mid-West

After much bickering between Benin and Enugu and Banjo and Ojukwu, Major
Okonkwo was appointed Administrator.
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My dear fellow Mid-Westerners, only yesterday I, Maj. Albert O.
Okonkwo, was appointed Administrator of Mid-Western Nigeria. Some of
you know me better as Dr. Okonkwo. Indeed, in normal circumstances, I
would prefer to continue to be known as Dr. Okonkwo, but , as fate
would have it, my duty to this nation surpasses all other things, and
I expect that I can confidently count on the support of every one of
you in the Mid-West in the performance of the responsibilities which
have been thrust upon me. . . .

For several months now we in the Mid-West had hoped and prayed. We
thought that our position should be that of a mediator and that we
should take the middle course. This was the unanimous will of our
people. But what did we find in the last few months? Instead of
keeping their heads, those who held the reins of government in the
Mid-West succumbed to the fear of the force of arms of the Northern
soldiers and gradually dragged the Mid-West into war. It was
inevitable, therefore, that the people of Biafra should come to our
rescue. . . . Today, we the people of the Mid-West, now have to form
a Government of Biafra. The new government shall be a government of
the people of the Mid-West and for the people of the Mid-West. There
are several reasons why this move ahs become inevitable. First, we
the people of the Mid-West refuse to allow our territory to be used
as a theatre of war. We intend to maintain this pledge, and it is
undoubtedly true that all our people will support this stand.
Secondly, the previous government has failed us in this respect.
Contrary to the wishes and pronouncements of our Obas, Obis, elders,
and the representative assembly of the majority of the people of
Mid-Western Nigeria, the former government allowed the situation
whereby part of our territory was being used by Lagos for the
movement of Northern troops and for acts of war. Thirdly,
Mid-Western soldiers were sent to Lagos and deployed for war against
Biafra, thereby exposing us and our territory to unknown and
unwarranted dangers of war, death and destruction. We of the
Mid-West refuse to allow such a course. WE refuse to be used by
anybody or any government. We do not believe that the best interests
of the Mid-West will be served by dragging ourselves into war . . . .
If we search our hears aright, we know that the Lagos Government does
not represent the true aspirations of the people of this region. We
also know that the Lagos Government does not represent the
aspirations of the majority of the people of Nigeria in general. It
is to this end that I have been called upon to assume control of the
government of the Mid-West . . . . Any miscalculation by the Lagos
Government will only lead to unpleasantness to people outside this
territory. It has come to my notice that the Lagos Government is now
forcing Mid-Westerners to enlist in an army to fight the people of
the Mid-West. I consider this act of the Lagos Government highly
criminal in nature. All Mid-Westerners should rise with one voice to
protest against this act intended to lead to the destruction of our
sons. I am aware that all Mid-Westerners will support our task to
keep the war away from the borders of this region. I also note that
the Lagos Government has done everything possible to prevent those
Mid-Westerners of Lagos and Western Nigeria who wish to return home
from doing so. I implore you, all of you, to take heart, and I
assure you that this government will take all necessary steps to
ensure the safety of the Mid-Westerners resident in Lagos and Western
Nigeria. In carrying out my duties, the government will consist of
myself and the administrative council. After consultation with
various sections of the community, I have decided on the persons who
shall be members of the administrative council and their names will
be announced within the next few days . . . . No price will be too
much for us to pay if we, all of us Mid-Westerners, are to survive.
We must be prepared to defend ourselves from aggression from the
North and Lagos.

Compiled by NOWAMAGBE AUSTIN OMOIGUI, MD