Isaac Boro, Secession and Today’s Nigeria: Omokri’s History Lesson Sets Internet Ablaze
By Passman Akpos
Reno Omokri has stirred a nationwide debate after revisiting the 1966 death sentence of Niger Delta separatist leader Isaac Adaka Boro, using the historical episode to caution Nigerians against what he described as “the habit of repeating history while blaming history itself.”
In a lengthy post that quickly went viral on Tuesday, Omokri recalled the events of June 21, 1966— the day Boro was sentenced to death for treason by the government of Major General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi. Boro had led the Niger Delta Volunteer Force in an attempt to secede from the Federal Republic of Nigeria, a move that the Military Governor of the Eastern Region, Lt. Col. Emeka Ojukwu, formally declared illegal and requested federal intervention to suppress.
Omokri noted that although Boro faced the most severe punishment for his separatist uprising, Nigeria neither collapsed nor erupted in nationwide outrage. “It was not considered an injustice then,” he wrote, suggesting that contemporary reactions to separatist cases differ sharply from responses in the past.
He also reminded the public that Boro never faced execution because Ironsi’s government was overthrown on July 29, 1966 — barely days before the sentence would have been carried out.
> “History does not repeat itself. People repeat history, then falsely accuse history of repeating itself,” Omokri wrote, signing off with his characteristic monikers: Gospeller, Deep Thinker, Table Shaker.
A Storm of Reactions
His post immediately triggered heated exchanges across social media platforms.
Many users praised Omokri for “educating” Nigerians on forgotten details of Boro’s life, with several commenters expressing admiration for his command of history and ability to link past events with modern political discourse.
Others, however, accused him of presenting a one-sided narrative and attempting to use history to attack contemporary separatist sentiments.Some argued that Boro’s motivations—economic marginalisation, resource control, and political neglect—differ significantly from circumstances surrounding other separatist figures in Nigeria’s current political climate.
Another group cautioned against reigniting ethnic tensions or weaponizing historical episodes during a period of rising national sensitivity.One commenter warned: “This is not the best time to be posting all these. The country is tense. What we say today may backfire tomorrow.”
Still, supporters insisted that confronting the past is essential to understanding Nigeria’s present instability.“Knowledge of the past helps you predict the future,” one wrote.
Boro’s Contested Legacy Resurfaces
The conversation also pulled in historical reminders:– Boro was later pardoned and commissioned into the Nigerian Army to fight in the civil war.– He became a platoon commander in the 3rd Marine Commando under Benjamin Adekunle and Alabi Isama.– His military efforts, particularly in the creeks, remain a defining contribution to Nigeria’s wartime operations.
A Familiar National Tension
The fiery exchanges following Omokri’s post highlight Nigeria’s fragile sentiments around secession, justice, and federal power — issues that continue to echo loudly from the 1960s into the present day.
For some, Omokri’s message was a timely reminder.For others, an unnecessary provocation.
But one thing was clear:Half-told histories still have the power to ignite full-blown debates in a country where the past refuses to sit quietly.
