On-ojukwus-circulated-interview-video-the-question-of-the-real-coup-plotters-of-1966-and-nigerias-deplorable-status

 
ON OJUKWU’S CIRCULATED INTERVIEW VIDEO – THE QUESTION OF THE REAL COUP PLOTTERS OF 1966, AND NIGERIA’S DEPLORABLE STATUS
Having seen the video of the interview of the highly respected late Chief Chukwumeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, in which he touched on some national issues that are still relevant today, particularly on those who plotted the January 15, 1966 coup, and the reason for the coup, I would like to highlight some of the things he said and throw light on some areas as regards the Nigerian entity and its unfortunate status.
While I agree with Ojukwu on some of the issues he noted in the said interview, however, I disagree with him that the 1966 coup was not an Igbo-led coup, as being propagated since time past. Perhaps, the intentions of the coup plotters might be to foster national interest and balance the imbalance of the Federating Units as claimed by Ojukwu, or that it was not an Igbo coup as they claimed, but the undeniable fact is that, with the way and manner the said coup was carried out, it is evident that it was indeed an Igbo coup. Even with his statement that they had in mind to create a National Commission that would eventually appoint Chief Obafemi Awolowo to preside over the country, it still did not explain the turnout of events when the coup was executed.
In my own opinion, I think the 1966 coup was secessional because of the way it was executed. If it was not an Igbo coup, then why were all those targeted and killed in the coup, persons of the other two major ethnic groups? Why were the coup plotters majorly Igbos? The 1966 Nigerian coup d'état began on 15 January 1966, when mutinous Nigerian soldiers led by Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu and Emmanuel Ifeajuna killed 22 people, including the then Prime Minister of Nigeria, Abubakar Tafawa Belewa, many senior politicians, many senior Army officers (including their wives), and sentinels on protective duty. The coup plotters attacked the cities of Kaduna, Ibadan, and Lagos, while also blockading the Niger and Benue River which connects the East, within a two-day span of time before the coup plotters were subdued. The General Officer Commanding, of the Nigerian Army, Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi then used the coup as a pretext to annex power, ending Nigeria's nascent democracy. It was one of the events that led to the Nigerian Civil War. So, in a situation where the two prominent leaders of the North (Abubakar Tafawa Belewa and Ahmadu Bello) were killed, prominent leaders of the West (Yorubas) assassinated, and Festus Okotie-Eboh from the Midwest region was also killed. But in the East, none of their prominent leaders (like Nnamdi Azikiwe, Akanu Ibiam, Michael Okpara and Dennis Osadebay), were touched, then what do we call that kind of a coup? All the prominent Igbo leaders then were even protected throughout the coup period.
This has made it difficult for anyone to agree with the argument that it was not an Igbo coup. And as Ironsi ascended power, he practically delayed or refused to put on trial, the stated coup plotters and make them pay for their crime for about six months until he was assassinated in a counter-coup. Obafemi Awolowo was the only person that was spared in the said Igbo coup, and this was because he was in prison then in Calabar over issues of treason. I am sure Awolowo would have been killed as well if he was not in prison then. So, the manner the said coup was executed made it look like an Igbo coup.
In my own view, the two major “root problems” in Nigeria, which has kept us as a divided and complex nation to govern, are our Religious and Tribal divides. On the issue of Tribalism, while it is officially believed that no Federating Unit should predominantly be above the others, the three major ethnicities/tribes (Igbo, Hausa/Fulani and Yoruba), plus the over 295 tribes in Nigeria, have made it near impossible to create, or have a balance in Government and its activities. Once any ethnic nationality is in Power, be it at the State or Federal Government level, the usual narrative is to see that individual favouring more of his/her tribesmen/women in their political appointments, allocation of State and Federal Projects, etc. And this is done, regardless of the fact whether such individuals are qualified or not to adequately handle/manage the responsibilities of the Public Offices or Project/Programm Contracts concerned.
We have seen this play out in past and present times across all levels of Government. In my State, Delta, former Delta State Governor, James Ibori, was elected Governor right from 1999 and he served for eight years, but he concentrated development in his home base Oghara Town/kingdom far and above the other towns and tribes. For instance, the Teaching Hospital that ought to be in Abraka or be in Eku or Warri, was taken by force to Oghara. The Mobile Police Base (MPB) 61 meant for Effurun or Warri was also taken to Oghara. A Polytechnic was taken to Oghara, a stadium was built in Oghara and till today, that stadium is not used by anybody for any sports competition because it is wrongly located. Almost everything Ibori did was more to favour his home town Oghara, even to the detriment and disadvantage of all Deltans.
When Olusegun Obasanjo (Rtd. Gen.) was elected President in 1999, one of his first actions was to relocate the Nigerian ports Authority’s head office at ship house from Abuja to Lagos because he is from the south – west, with the excuse that there was no marine business in Abuja. But then again, I wonder why Obasanjo did not relocate the head office of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) in Abuja to Warri (An oil rich city of the Niger Delta Region) owing to the fact that Abuja has no trace of oil & gas business. The city of Warri in particular is oil rich and geographically blessed to have a functioning port near Forcados and Escravos known for export of Crude oil and Petroleum products alike.
In the then Bendel State, we had only the Federal University in Benin and Auchi Polytechnic. The plan then was to establish an institution in Abraka, as the best preferred proposed location. But Ambrose Ali took the State institution project to his home town, Ekpoma. These are just few examples of the negative impact tribalism/favouritism have on us as a nation. Even within every tribe in Nigeria, there are still obvious divisions and distrust amongst us. We saw this tribalism issue play out during Obasanjo’s era, Jonathan’s era, and now Buhari. And the basic reason for this is simply because we do not trust each other. But how can we? With an estimated population of over 185 million people, and being a multi-ethnic, multi-religious, multi-cultural diversity with about 520 languages, and over 1150 dialects, Nigeria can be said to be one of the most controversial, complicated and complex countries in the world. And with this, we would therefore understand why it will not be easy for anyone to successfully rule or govern the country. Mind you, I did not say that it is not possible to successfully rule or govern the country as it ought to be governed, I only said that it will not be an easy task. It is as if our “multi-everything” bearings have over the years, made us to be more self-serving/self-centered and not trusting one another when it comes to governance and the appropriation of our collective wealth as a people in the entity called Nigeria. And if you do not favour your tribesmen/women while in Government or positions of authority, you are being ostracized, castigated and ridiculed by your people when you leave office. It is that bad!
Our Religious practices have further complicated the issue. While our Traditional religious practices is no longer seen as in vogue in these modern times, the two prominent religions in Nigeria, Christianity and Islam, have seriously affected our national progress as a nation. When a Christian is in Government or positions of public authority, he/she tend to favour more of members of his faith. The same applies with a Muslim in power. What makes the matter worse is the fact that even within the Christendom and Islam, there are still evident “divisions” of doctrines and faith practices.
We can see that the Nigerian problem is really a huge and complex one. So, it is not as many would think. Building a national front is not as easy as that.
Still on Ojukwu’s interview, yes, agreed that some Igbos were sidelined and persecuted then, but I also believe they misused the opportunity they had then to try to create a “balance” in the polity, no matter how frail or fragile it might have looked then. Firstly, there was no justification for the said Nigerian coup. I am against any sort of coup because I believe that the best way to change any government is through the ballot box. But since they decided to tour the path of a coup, they would have made the said coup to have a “national outlook”, and not by killing mostly members of the other major tribes. This was the “great error”, which many are still finding it hard to forgive and forget. And that singular act culminated into the Nigerian civil war. The issues of Tribalism and Religion have been with us since time immemorial. These issues were strong even before the said coup. For instance, despite the fact that Nnamdi Azikiwe won the election in Ibadan through the NCNC party in Western region, the Yorubas could not bear the thought of having an Igbo man over them in the West, especially when they are already in the East, and are planning to be at the Center. Hence, the next day, there was a mass cross-carpeting of Yorubas from the NCNC to form a formidable force in the Action Group of Obafemi Awolowo. That is the sort of politicking we still see today playing out across the Nigeria – where everything is done on tribal/ethnic and religious lines, and not on nationalist interest.
 
 
Zik Gbemre
 
 
 
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