What Do You Make Of This Picture That Was Taken In The 60's

@gadogado
I have seen this picture many times. Here is what comes to my mind everytime I see it.

First, you need to look at the guns on those two in the foreground (their arms is what I mean). These four and the others in the group both alive and gone (by which I mean Muritala Mohammed, Shehu Yar'adua) were no doubt well-trained soldiers physically. That they were also brilliant and ambitious individuals is evidenced by how at least three of these have managed to rule Nigeria at one point or the other - more than 20 of 49 years in total. Besides, all of Nigeria's regime since 1966 - Gowon, Buhari, Shagari, Abubakar and Umaru Yar'adua were their handiwork - these other ones were outsiders as I see it, except for Umaru Yar'adua who is actually ruling in place of his brother.

Most of all, I see Nigeria's missed greatness in these picture in that these brilliant generals directed their efforts at politics, rather than their chosen profession. I wish I had the opportunity to serve in the armed forces - THERE IS NO OTHER PROFESSION MORE GLORIOUS WHEN UNCORRUPTED BY POLITICAL AMBITIONS. Imagine if these guys had helped resolve Nigeria's teething problems at independence, rather than take advantage of it. Allowing those who had devoted intellectual capital to the problem of development and received the necessary life-training for political leadership to man the civil affairs of state. Just imagine how good Nigeria's armed forces and civilian life would be. All they had to do in 1966 was stand as a GUARD OF THE POLITICAL PROCESS' INTEGRITY, rather than take it over. 

But no, they had to dabble in an area for which they had no training. In the history books their names would now be written in pencil, rather than gold, of greatness - when Nigeria's true great leader of the people finally arrives their records would be put in its proper perspective.

It should be clear that this is the dominant "faction of the armed forces", that has managed to rout other factions since 1966. They turned the armed forces into a mini-country with its own political "parties". No doubt the Obasanjo group see themself as the "vanguard" of Nigeria's unity, but all they have really achieved is personal greatness - of which Obasanjo is no doubt the greatest of them all. In terms of serving their country, despite flashes of brilliance they, all of them together, CANNOT BE PROUD OF THEIR 43 YEARS OF WORK taken together. The day they realize this is the day Nigeria begins to move forward. Unfortunately, we seem to have a long wait ahead of us judging by the number of the same group that now at the helms of our government, even under a democracy!

You know what is common to all of them - Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.

My 2 cents.