Here is the letter that Lt. Gen. Biafran, the Biafran Armed Forces’ commander in chief, wrote. Col. Odumegwu Ojukwu wrote a letter to Lt. Col. During the Nigerian civil war, Victor Banjo gave him the order to “invade and liberate” Western Nigeria (Yorubaland) from the “Hausa/Fulani dominated Nigeria.”.
From The Military Governor.
Enugu, Republic of Biafra.
August 22, 1967.
Victor, please.
1. We’ve been talking about the events that brought about the current and inevitable dissolution of the Federation of Nigeria for a while. We are adamant that the Hausa/Fulani complex’s goal has always been and always will be the complete hegemony over every other region of the former Federal Republic of Nigeria. It is impossible to forget that the Hausa/Fulani attempt to subjugate and use as tools the valiant people of Western Nigeria, namely the Yorubas, was the direct cause of the crisis that resulted in the army taking control in January 1966, the coup of the Northern soldiers led by Gowon in July 1966, the wholesale and indiscriminate massacre of the people of what is now Biafra- and, to a lesser extent, the people of the Mid-West and West, We don’t need to be reminded of the significant losses in life and property that the Yoruba people endured during the 1965 struggle for justice and freedom.
2. You have both expressed your determination to see the people of Yorubaland liberated from Hausa/Fulani dominance and shared our belief that the people of Yorubaland have a right to live in equality, self-respect, and justice free from domination and dictatorship from any quarter.
For our part, we, the Biafran people, have decided to support you and the Yoruba people in any way we can to help you reach your goals.
3. As the Commander in Chief of the Biafran Armed Forces, I have decided to put Biafran forces at your disposal for the liberation of Yorubaland under the following precise conditions, after discussing the entire matter with my Executive Council.
(i) During your stay in the Mid-West Territory before moving to the West, you won’t interact with the military administrator there.
(ii) Biafra’s willingness and readiness to support any region of the former Federation of Nigeria that desires and is willing to free itself from Hausa/Fulani dominance in no way implies any desire on her part to compromise her sovereignty or maintain the remnants of the former Federation of Nigeria. In other words, our independence from Nigeria and the rift between us are permanent. Therefore, neither you nor any other Liberation Army member may say anything or do anything that could be interpreted as doing the opposite.
(iii) Biafra is determined to protect her sovereignty, uphold her integrity, and make sure that neither of those things are ever in danger.
(iv) Biafran forces won’t stay in Yorubaland after it has been freed; rather, they’ll only stay there as long as Biafra believes it’s necessary for the Yorubas to strengthen their position and sovereignty in the face of any external threats.
(v) You will be chosen to serve as the military governor of Yorubaland following its liberation.
(vi) The liberation of Western Nigeria will be followed by the release of all Yorubas up to the River Niger and the severing of all ties between the West and the North at Jebba.
(vii) During the time that Biafran troops are stationed on your territory, any political actions, statements, or decrees must receive the written approval of me or someone acting on my behalf.
(vii) The government of the Republic of Biafra reserves the right to appoint a Military administrator for the region should our troops arrive and liberate Lagos. Such an Administrator will continue to serve until Biafran troops successfully merge that region with Yorubaland.
(vii) We must meet to discuss the following as soon as we are able to after you are named the Military Governor of Western Nigeria and that region is cut off from the rest of Nigeria.
(a) how long Biafran troops will remain on your territory;
(b)the areas and topics of cooperation between Biafra and the liberated sovereign states of Western Nigeria, or by whatever name they may choose.
4. I don’t have to tell you that Biafra considers all Yoruba to be friends. As a result, everything should be done to ensure that the goal of liberation is achieved with the least amount of force and loss of life possible.
5. It is imperative that you formally submit all future requests for support to me in writing to avoid any misunderstandings or confusion.
6. Please confirm in writing that you agree to the aforementioned terms so that you can depart for Western Nigeria and command the liberation army.
Sincerely, Yours.
Signed Lieutenant. Col. Odumegwu Ojukwu,
Military Governor and Biafran Armed Forces’ Chief of Staff.
