Jerry Okaha's  Mr. Soboyejo Alaba Akinboyede Awosika-Coker

By

Soboyejo Awosika-Coker

I normally do not respond to electronic vituperations regarding articles written by myself or anyone else for that matter. However, in this particular instance, I felt it absolutely imperative that I set the records straight, and reiterate once more, that I will not be deterred in any way, form or fashion from calling a spade as I see it, or encouraging others to do the same. I believe that if Nigeria is to truly realize its enormous potential, and consequently be a launching pad for the impending black renaissance, then we all, regardless of our ethnicity or geographical location, must resolve to be forthright and relentless in our pursuit of the truth, no matter whose ox is gored.

I do take particular exception to the idea or notion, that there are "sacred cows" and that for some inconceivable reason or rationale (or is it irrational?), we must bury the truth so as not to offend a section or group of people. My response, in this piece, is directed not just at Mr. Okaha, whom I actually must "commend" for exhibiting an appreciable level of emotional intelligence and courtesy, but more so at some hare-brained harlequins, who rather than objectively decipher the crux of the article in question, chose to allow their emotions run roughshod over their sense of perception and objectivity.

Furthermore, in as much as the article was not written by me (since my antecedents show a penchant for consistently brutal honesty and brazen abrasiveness… while disclosing who I am ALWAYS), I am at a loss as to why the focus is on who wrote the article, rather than the veracity of the content of the article! If AA of Lagos State chooses to render his or her opinion on the Nigerian Civil War by using the pseudonym of his or her initials, why attack me for forwarding the article (that I happened to find in a Nigerian paper on the web) which I felt provided another (but true) perspective on the tragedy, that was the Nigerian Civil War. Not once in Mr. Okaha’s piece did he dispute the veracity of the article in question. However, he goes on to render false and misleading interpretations of another article written by me. I will respond to Mr. Okaha below and my responses to selected paragraphs from his piece will be in italics enclosed by the parentheses {}…

Here goes…

Mr. Okaha: Reading through your fowarded Anonymous article"AA"(Which I think is written by you). The name abbreviation of this Anonymous person "AA" sound very close to your initials, and it is so funny and an irony why you are so interested in this article if you are not the one that wrote it. It is interesting that You have sent this article to everywhere and to every media site and with the interest you have placed in this article some thing is fishy and you know you are behind it (Nigerian factor). Some intelligence can show that you are behind this article, because from your introduction in this forwarded article, you are the Anonymous "AA", because you collaborated in a dubious ways to promote it and you could not hide your self anymore from the intro of the article because of your hate for tribe, together with your lack of sophistication and amature level both in your writings and your posture shows that you have a serious interest in this article.

Myself: {Yes, sounds (you mean looks?) close to my initials, and could also represent Ade Adebanjo or even Adamu Abdullahi. Anyone who has read my writings will know that it is not my writing style, in particular, I do not refer to the Hausa, Fulani, Igbo and Yoruba as tribes, as these are in fact nationalities that transcend the borders of Nigeria (the Hausa, Fulani and Yoruba in particular). As I have said before, I merely found this article interesting and decided to forward it to Gamji and the www.NigerdeltaCongress.com . As I stated in my introduction to AA’s piece, I also intend to still delve further into the issue of the hypocrisy of the Igbo leadership machinery, and if you or anyone else has a problem with that, I presume you know what my e-mail address is}.

Mr. Okaha: This article was published in Nigerian newspapers and in websites and the world saw it, but my question is this - what is your interest in this article that the world have already seen by resending it all over again to the whole world if you do not have any selfish and wicked reasons. You know it because you wrote it from common sense, and because you do not have common sense you exposed yourself by the way you carried on with it.

Myself: {Yes, I found this article in a Nigerian newspaper on the web and I am at a loss as to why you do not want the whole world to see it. Is it because its view of the Nigerian Civil War runs counter to the Igbo version, which is steeped in "Water Power" and debauchery? By the way, I am also " befuddled" as to how I can write from common sense and at the same time not have common sense (assuming I wrote the piece that is!)}

Mr. Okaha: You should be man enough to say or proclaim that you are the writer of this article, but you are a coward and an unsophisticated pretender and you have proven it. Your write ups in these websites are always childish and unrefined and yet you claim to be exposed (E-Commerce executive). The Igbos in Oputa Panel express their feelings and what is wrong with that. Every group have done the same. During the hearing in Lagos we all saw how Yoruba Generals were crying and pleading in a Video tapes, and what do you make of that drama? We saw how Yorubas, Hausas, Ogonis, Ijaws, etc expressed their feeling; my brother what is wrong with what the Igbos did?

Myself: {You are more than entitled to your opinion about my write-ups, but I can assure you in all confidence that you are not in a position to tender a "certification" regarding my level of sophistication or otherwise. I can also assure you that, just as no mainstream Hausa, Fulani or Middle-Belter would consider the likes of Babangida and Abacha in the same vein as a Murtala Mohammed, Gowon or Dangiwa Umar, no mainstream Yoruba person from a reputable family would consider the likes of Adisa and Diya in the same vein as a Fajuyi, Adekunle, Taiwo, Idiagbon, Ademulegun or even Obasanjo for that matter, in terms of competence, discipline and accomplishments. And in case you have conveniently forgotten, the Yoruba were the harshest critics of Diya and Adisa sic Dr. Reuben Abati’s scathing columns in the Guardian Newspapers… just the same kind of objectivity we all would like from the Ndigbo}.

Mr. Okaha: Why are you so hateful (one Million Igbos died) and is that not more crime than what happened to Yoruba during four years of Gen. Abacha and Chief Abiola June 12? Igbos problem with Nigeria was a full warfare and Yoruba problem was just an internal political problems. Which one has more gruesome results and destruction than the other?

Have we become so blind and inhuman not to feel the pain of our fellow Nigerians. What is wrong with a people talking about their problems? Here in America different ethnic group talks about, celebrate, march to remember, talk about, and even right now the justice system in this country is retrying injustices done in the 1960s and 1950s against blacks and other minorities. Why are we African so hateful and with so much disregard for our fellow African feelings.

Mr. Okaha: The Igbos were killed because Igbos participated in a coup that other leaders from other tribes were killed, why not punish the Igbos who committed the crime. Yorubas have participated in every coup in Nigeria and some leadership from other tribes were killed, does that make the whole Yoruba nation to be killed or convicted. If Col. Nzeogwu, Col. Ifeajuna etc, Participated in Coup I think they deserved to be punished but not innocent Igbos because they are Nigerians too.

Finally, since I would not like to take undue advantage of the generosity of the owners of this website, in allowing me to rebut your piece (as much as I deemed necessary), I will close by drawing attention to a clear case of misrepresentation, on your part, of an article written by me. This particular article was titled, "In Pursuance of the Yoruba Agenda." In this particular piece, which I felt was quite balanced and fair to all concerned (assuming they have their objective rather than subjective "lenses" on), I did in fact state as follows, "Also, if one takes a look at reputable International Organizations such as the World Health Organization and the United Nations among others, Yorubas occupy positions requiring high levels of political and technical sophistication." You, Mr. Okaha, alluded to the veracity of this statement by stating thus, "I checked all the International organization ever headed or in leadership by an African formerly or presently and found out that the leadership of these organization are not what you tried to make it to be. Yorubas do work in some of these organizations (Midlevel to senior level positions like other people), but you claim that Yorubas are leaders in all the International organizations. Why this low just for bragging and it is falsehood."

What exactly is your point Mr. Okaha? It seems you are fervently trying to "split hairs" where there are none! You merely confirmed what I stated in my article (see underlined parts of quotes)! What do you think a mid-level or senior-level executive is? A non-leader?? This is another clear example of your emotions taking over your sense of objectivity and perception.

Please understand that if we, as a people, are truly committed to moving this nation forward, we must be resolved and committed to the time-tested ideals of honesty, integrity and transparency. That, I’m afraid, is the only way forward…

Everything else, as they say, is embellishment!!

Soboyejo Alaba Akinboyede Awosika-Coker,

Seattle, Washington