Today, Monday, January 15, 2018, makes it exactly 52 years since Nigerians woke up to the news of the military taking power for the first time in Nigeria.

It was the day when mutinous Nigerian soldiers led by Kaduna Nzeogwu and Emmanuel Ifeajuna killed 22 people including the Prime Minister of Nigeria, many senior politicians, many senior Army officers (including their wives), and sentinels on protective duty.
This January 15,1966 coup would culminate in a civil war that would end on another January 15, 1970.

This day is now celebrated as the Armed Forces Day, also known as Remembrance Day in Nigeria in commemoration of the surrender of Biafran troops to the Federal troops on 15 January 1970, thus concluding the Nigerian Civil War that sought to tear apart the unity of Nigeria.

Is the time not right for a film to be made about this particular day in Nigeria’s history?

Some 9 years ago,history was yanked off the curriculum of primary and secondary schools in the 2009/2010 academic session. An article by the Vanguard Newspaper described this decision by the Federal Government in these words.
http://www.nollyconnect.com/isnt-time-film-january-15-1966-coup-made/

How can it be written when everybody and every tribe is claiming victim in the war? The Hausas claim they were the victims because the Sir Ahmad Bello and other Hausa leaders were killed. The Yorubas are of the same opinion, too. The Igbos are termed to be the architects and masterminds of the coup and as such it is an Igbo coup. From whose angle do you want to make the movie? Whose story do you want to tell? The history of Nigeria with regards to the civil war would always remain twisted, contorted and incomplete for as long as possible. Nigerians would remain divided alone religious and ethnic lines. Its a sad and sorry situation we have. And dicey, too. Let me not even include the part played (still being played) by Britain and America.

K9Uneet:
How can it be written when everybody and every tribe is claiming victim in the war? The Hausas claim they were the victims because the Sir Ahmad Bello and other Hausa leaders were killed. The Yorubas are of the same opinion, too. The Igbos are termed to be the architects and masterminds of the coup and as such it is an Igbo coup. From whose angle do you want to make the movie? Whose story do you want to tell? The history of Nigeria with regards to the civil war would always remain twisted, contorted and incomplete for as long as possible. Nigerians would remain divided alone religious and ethnic lines. Its a sad and sorry situation we have. And dicey, too. Let me not even include the part played (still being played) by Britain and America.

I understand your concerns K9Uneet, but the truth is that in order for us to change our future we have to start by confronting our past.
If you read the full article, It was suggested that if such a film is to be made it can be done from the angle of the prominent historical figures leaving out the political and gory details till when we are ‘ready’.
Film can be extremely valuable to support an historical investigation into a prominent historical figure such as Tafawa Balewa, Nnamdi Azikwe, or Obafemi Awolowo.