Students of history should label Gowon and it's supporters as tyrants.

All the destructiveness that bedevilled this dream killing nation magnified with his administration.


A keen student of history would recognise the same issues the oppositions raised regarding the administration of the country are the same issues this dream cemetery is still struggling with over 60 years after the war



It's only a brain washed child that'll drum support for Gowon and his supporters. It's only a matter of time, a referendum is coming. Una eyes go year


Yeye country

Hmmm

Gowon is worse than a goat

Nice history check..

Is it safe to now say that, Gowon is the original clueless President Buhari of the century?

They don't teach history in schools for this reason. Southerners and Christians in general think they have a country. Gradually, it will dawn on them as they bury their loved ones who met their untimely death at the hands of the sahelian vampires. We are watching.
Initially, I exonerated Gowon thinking he was just a stooge but his recent stories cleared my doubts. He's a criminal and deserves the same treatment meant for tyrants and genocidists.

A sad history it is...

Gowon! The stooge of the core northern hausa-fulani hegemonist clique of 1966.

Many people never knew this that Lord Lurgard is not actually the cause of the unholy Union, somebody deliberately did it in the late 60s

and the man is some where in Jos seeing the mess he cause. thank God he enjoys bokos bombing

OJODEL10:
and the man is some where in Jos seeing the mess he cause. thank God he enjoys bokos bombing

Even a bird on the wall, thinks it has an opinion.

OF all Decrees enacted in Nigeria, none is more controversial than Decree No 34 of 1966. It was promulgated on May 24, 1966 by then Head of State Major General Johnson Thomas Umunnakwe Aguiyi Ironsi(1924-1966). It was called Unification Decree while some critics at that time labelled it De-unification Decree. It was the Decree that started the death of Regionalism-an issue which is still generating controversy presently. Although then Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, repealed Decree 34 on August 31, 1966 through Decree 9, a large portion of the Decree is still effective till date.
General Gowon further compounded it by promulgating Decree 14 of 1967 which broke Nigeria into twelve states and provided for Military Governors for each state. With Decrees 34, 8 and 14 regionalism was finally buried. On assumption to power, General Ironsi promulgated the Constitution (Suspension and Modification) Decree 1966. Decree No 1 dated January 17, 1966 but not published in the Official Gazette until March 4, 1966. He then issued public order Decree No 33 dated May 24, 1966 which dissolved eighty-one political associations and twenty-six tribal and cultural associations.
At the early stage of his tenure, he appointed a three-man advisory team made up of Chief Francis Nwokedi, a Permanent Secretary, Dr. Pius Charles Nwabafor Okigbo (1924-2000) and Colonel Patrick Anwunah, who later became Chairman and Head of the Orientation Committee at that time. He replaced the then Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Dr. Taslim Olawale Elias (1914-1991) with Chief Gabriel Chike Michael Onyiuke (SAN), former Director, Public Prosecution, Eastern Nigeria (1960-1965) who is from Nimo in present Anambra State.
In a speech to the nation on January 28, 1966, he denounced the ills of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa regime and outlined necessary reforms. “All Nigerians”, he declared,” want an end to regionalism. Tribal loyalties and activities which promote tribal consciousness and sectional interests must give way to the urgent task of national reconstruction. The Federal Military Government will preserve Nigeria as one strong nation.” He then went on to promise “administrative reforms” and referred specifically to several matters in which regional as well as personal interests were known to have had decisive influence. These were official appointments, public investments, and the universities.
He promised that”in the public services, efficiency and merit will be the criteria for advancement.” That industrial development would be “coordinated to avoid wasteful duplication of industrial projects”, and that the universities would be “re-orientated to serve the genuine interest of our people”. Immediately after the speech, two Governors kicked against the proposal. They were, Major General David Akpode Ejoor (83) who is from Ovu in the present Delta State, then serving as the Military Governor of the Mid-Western region and Major General Hassan Usman Katsina (1933-1995), who was then serving as Governor of the Northern region.
Lt. Col. Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu (1933-2011), Military Governor of Eastern Region welcomed the decree while Lt.Col. Francis Adekunle Fajuyi (1926-1966), Military Governor of Western Region did not comment on the promulgation of the decree. Lt-Col. Ejoor was reported as saying that the ’National Government’ set up by the army was the prelude to ‘the re-introduction of a unitary form of government’ and insisted that it would create future problems. Shortly afterwards, the Supreme Military Council announced that a senior government official, Mr. Nwokedi, had been asked to consider and to report to the Supreme Military Council on the establishment of ‘an administrative machinery for a united Nigeria’ and the ‘unification of the Public Services and Judicial Services’.
In his own speech on February 19 at the Kaduna Airport, the Governor of Northern region, Lt-Col. Hassan Katsina said he was not aware as a member of the then Supreme Military Council on the modalities of the proposed National Government. “Am afraid the egg is about to be broken”. On February 21, 1966, General Ironsi again addressed the nation on the issue, he said: “On the question of the political future of the country, the experiences and mistakes of the previous governments in the Federation have clearly indicated that far-reaching constitutional reforms are badly needed for peaceful and orderly progress towards the realisation of our objectives. I have already touched on some of the major issues involved in recent broadcast to the nation. It has become apparent to all Nigerians that rigid adherence to ‘regionalism’, was the bane of the last regime and one of the main factors which contributed to its downfall. No doubt, the country would welcome a clean break with the deficiencies of the system of government to which the country has been subjected in the recent past. A solution suitable to our national needs must be found. The existing boundaries of governmental control will need to be re-adjusted to make for less cumbersome administration’.
As a follow up on May 25, General Ironsi promulgated the Constitution (Suspension and Modification) (No. 5) Decree 1966. Decree No. 34 (the ‘Unification Decree’). After the promulgation, the country was thrown into turmoil and crisis which led to demonstration particularly in many parts of Northern Nigeria at that time. On his return to Kaduna on May 27, Col. Hassan Katsina was besieged with demands for an explanation. It was feared that in a unified service Northerners would be at a disadvantage. It was no consolation that the Decree provided for the delegation of appointments and promotions, except the most senior, to Provincial Civil Service Commissions.
.
With its authority challenged and shown to be weak, at least in large parts of the North, the National Military Government had little option but to proffer its assurances and to explain its actions. The Supreme Military Council met on June 7 and 8, 1966 and issued the following statement: “the public must not be led to confuse the Military Government with government by a civilian regime under a constitution approved by the people.
Nobody will expect the present Military Government to cease to function until new constitution has been approved or to be compelled to operate the old system of government with its obvious weakness. It cannot be too seriously emphasised that the Military Government while in office can only run the government as a military government under a unified command. It cannot afford to run five separate governments and separate services as if it were a civilian regime.
Final decisions on the territorial structure of the country and the public services will be matters for the Constituent Assembly and the referendum”.
The Supreme Military Council also decided that General Ironsi should invite traditional rulers from all parts of the country to a meeting to be held in Lagos as soon as possible and that the Military Governors would immediately summon similar meetings in their own Regions. This was presumably an attempt to improve the channels of communications. There had in fact already been a meeting of Northern Emirs and Chiefs in Kaduna on June 4, and the Military Governor had been given a list of grievances and recommendations to take to Lagos”
. The Emirs and Chiefs met again on 16 June to receive General Ironsi’s reply.
Sadly on July 29, 1966, General Ironsi and the Military Governor of Western Region, Lt. Col. Francis Adekunle Fajuyi were murdered in Ibadan during a meeting with the traditional rulers from all parts of the country.
.
Gowon only completed what Aguiyi Ironsi started.
Blame the supreme military council.

SUPERPACK:
OF all Decrees enacted in Nigeria, none is more controversial than Decree No 34 of 1966. It was promulgated on May 24, 1966 by then Head of State Major General Johnson Thomas Umunnakwe Aguiyi Ironsi(1924-1966). It was called Unification Decree while some critics at that time labelled it De-unification Decree. It was the Decree that started the death of Regionalism-an issue which is still generating controversy presently. Although then Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, repealed Decree 34 on August 31, 1966 through Decree 9, a large portion of the Decree is still effective till date.
General Gowon further compounded it by promulgating Decree 14 of 1967 which broke Nigeria into twelve states and provided for Military Governors for each state. With Decrees 34, 8 and 14 regionalism was finally buried. On assumption to power, General Ironsi promulgated the Constitution (Suspension and Modification) Decree 1966. Decree No 1 dated January 17, 1966 but not published in the Official Gazette until March 4, 1966. He then issued public order Decree No 33 dated May 24, 1966 which dissolved eighty-one political associations and twenty-six tribal and cultural associations.
At the early stage of his tenure, he appointed a three-man advisory team made up of Chief Francis Nwokedi, a Permanent Secretary, Dr. Pius Charles Nwabafor Okigbo (1924-2000) and Colonel Patrick Anwunah, who later became Chairman and Head of the Orientation Committee at that time. He replaced the then Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Dr. Taslim Olawale Elias (1914-1991) with Chief Gabriel Chike Michael Onyiuke (SAN), former Director, Public Prosecution, Eastern Nigeria (1960-1965) who is from Nimo in present Anambra State.
In a speech to the nation on January 28, 1966, he denounced the ills of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa regime and outlined necessary reforms. “All Nigerians”, he declared,” want an end to regionalism. Tribal loyalties and activities which promote tribal consciousness and sectional interests must give way to the urgent task of national reconstruction. The Federal Military Government will preserve Nigeria as one strong nation.” He then went on to promise “administrative reforms” and referred specifically to several matters in which regional as well as personal interests were known to have had decisive influence. These were official appointments, public investments, and the universities.
He promised that”in the public services, efficiency and merit will be the criteria for advancement.” That industrial development would be “coordinated to avoid wasteful duplication of industrial projects”, and that the universities would be “re-orientated to serve the genuine interest of our people”. Immediately after the speech, two Governors kicked against the proposal. They were, Major General David Akpode Ejoor (83) who is from Ovu in the present Delta State, then serving as the Military Governor of the Mid-Western region and Major General Hassan Usman Katsina (1933-1995), who was then serving as Governor of the Northern region.
Lt. Col. Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu (1933-2011), Military Governor of Eastern Region welcomed the decree while Lt.Col. Francis Adekunle Fajuyi (1926-1966), Military Governor of Western Region did not comment on the promulgation of the decree. Lt-Col. Ejoor was reported as saying that the ’National Government’ set up by the army was the prelude to ‘the re-introduction of a unitary form of government’ and insisted that it would create future problems. Shortly afterwards, the Supreme Military Council announced that a senior government official, Mr. Nwokedi, had been asked to consider and to report to the Supreme Military Council on the establishment of ‘an administrative machinery for a united Nigeria’ and the ‘unification of the Public Services and Judicial Services’.
In his own speech on February 19 at the Kaduna Airport, the Governor of Northern region, Lt-Col. Hassan Katsina said he was not aware as a member of the then Supreme Military Council on the modalities of the proposed National Government. “Am afraid the egg is about to be broken”. On February 21, 1966, General Ironsi again addressed the nation on the issue, he said: “On the question of the political future of the country, the experiences and mistakes of the previous governments in the Federation have clearly indicated that far-reaching constitutional reforms are badly needed for peaceful and orderly progress towards the realisation of our objectives. I have already touched on some of the major issues involved in recent broadcast to the nation. It has become apparent to all Nigerians that rigid adherence to ‘regionalism’, was the bane of the last regime and one of the main factors which contributed to its downfall. No doubt, the country would welcome a clean break with the deficiencies of the system of government to which the country has been subjected in the recent past. A solution suitable to our national needs must be found. The existing boundaries of governmental control will need to be re-adjusted to make for less cumbersome administration’.
As a follow up on May 25, General Ironsi promulgated the Constitution (Suspension and Modification) (No. 5) Decree 1966. Decree No. 34 (the ‘Unification Decree’). After the promulgation, the country was thrown into turmoil and crisis which led to demonstration particularly in many parts of Northern Nigeria at that time. On his return to Kaduna on May 27, Col. Hassan Katsina was besieged with demands for an explanation. It was feared that in a unified service Northerners would be at a disadvantage. It was no consolation that the Decree provided for the delegation of appointments and promotions, except the most senior, to Provincial Civil Service Commissions.
.
With its authority challenged and shown to be weak, at least in large parts of the North, the National Military Government had little option but to proffer its assurances and to explain its actions. The Supreme Military Council met on June 7 and 8, 1966 and issued the following statement: “the public must not be led to confuse the Military Government with government by a civilian regime under a constitution approved by the people.
Nobody will expect the present Military Government to cease to function until new constitution has been approved or to be compelled to operate the old system of government with its obvious weakness. It cannot be too seriously emphasised that the Military Government while in office can only run the government as a military government under a unified command. It cannot afford to run five separate governments and separate services as if it were a civilian regime.
Final decisions on the territorial structure of the country and the public services will be matters for the Constituent Assembly and the referendum”.
The Supreme Military Council also decided that General Ironsi should invite traditional rulers from all parts of the country to a meeting to be held in Lagos as soon as possible and that the Military Governors would immediately summon similar meetings in their own Regions. This was presumably an attempt to improve the channels of communications. There had in fact already been a meeting of Northern Emirs and Chiefs in Kaduna on June 4, and the Military Governor had been given a list of grievances and recommendations to take to Lagos”
. The Emirs and Chiefs met again on 16 June to receive General Ironsi’s reply.
Sadly on July 29, 1966, General Ironsi and the Military Governor of Western Region, Lt. Col. Francis Adekunle Fajuyi were murdered in Ibadan during a meeting with the traditional rulers from all parts of the country.
.
Gowon only completed what Aguiyi Ironsi started.
Blame the supreme military council.

Ironsi did not start anything. Ironsi's decree 34 did not tamper with the essential ingredients of true federalism such as resource control, fiscal federalism or the boundaries of any of the 4 Regions. The only thing decree 34 did was to unify the civil service

But Gowons decree 14 of 1967, dissolved all 4 Regions, replaced them with 12 state, took away resource control, killed fiscal federalism and changed the revenue sharing formular

gidgiddy:


Ironsi did not start anything. Ironsi's decree 34 did not tamper with the essential ingredients of true federalism such as resource control, fiscal federalism or the boundaries of any of the 4 Regions. The only thing decree 34 did was to unify the civil service

But Gowons decree 14 of 1967, dissolved all 4 Regions, replaced them with 12 state, took away resource control, killed fiscal federalism and changed the revenue sharing formular

Keep wailing, who told you we were practicing federalism before Gowon? regionalism, is not federalism, just curious, is it a mistake that you were born of your family? If yes, then i concur to your argument.

gidgiddy:


Ironsi did not start anything. Ironsi's decree 34 did not tamper with the essential ingredients of true federalism such as resource control, fiscal federalism or the boundaries of any of the 4 Regions. The only thing decree 34 did was to unify the civil service

But Gowons decree 14 of 1967, dissolved all 4 Regions, replaced them with 12 state, took away resource control, killed fiscal federalism and changed the revenue sharing formular

Other than oil & gas, please mention one resource the Federal Government has held against a State Government. Zombies open your eyes the lazy state Governments still control their agricultural resources, nothing was taken from them, number 1 trait of a Failure, he always has someone else to blame.

gidgiddy:


Ironsi did not start anything. Ironsi's decree 34 did not tamper with the essential ingredients of true federalism such as resource control, fiscal federalism or the boundaries of any of the 4 Regions. The only thing decree 34 did was to unify the civil service

But Gowons decree 14 of 1967, dissolved all 4 Regions, replaced them with 12 state, took away resource control, killed fiscal federalism and changed the revenue sharing formular

Gowon killed regionalism in 1967, for Federalism because the minority tribes were been suffocated, and oppressed by the majority tribes, number 1 offenders the igbos. Go and read your history properly, it is there in black and white, take a look at the Wilkinson Constitution, it was drafted to address those facts about the oppressed minority tribes, like the Ijaws, ogonis, Urhobos, itsekiris, igalas, nupe, against wicked ipob oppressors, today they are the ones wailing, What an irony?

blacknp:
Other than oil & gas, please mention one resource the Federal Government has held against a State Government. Zombies open your eyes the lazy state Governments still control their agricultural resources, nothing was taken from them, number 1 trait of a Failure, he always has someone else to blame.

In a true federal structure, all resources are controlled by indigenous people of the land. The government has no business being involved in Oil and Gas.

For your information, Agriculture is not a natural resource, it is just another business.

.

blacknp:
Gowon killed regionalism in 1967, for Federalism because the minority tribes were been suffocated, and oppressed by the majority tribes, number 1 offenders the igbos.

The same minorities later took up arms as Niger Delta Militants. That means their feelings of oppression only got worse

gidgiddy:


In a true federal structure, all resources are controlled by indigenous people of the land. The government has no business being involved in Oil and Gas.

For your information, Agriculture is not a natural resource, it is just another business.

Not under Nigerian law, The Lands Use Act 1978, and the oil mineral Act of 1978, gives exclusive rights to the Federal Government, one question, so the oil and gas in Saudi Arabia (Aramco), and Other Opec Countries belongs to the people, not the Government? Please try borrow common sense, before you jabber rubbish, even in the United States, only a percentage of oil on private land belongs to the land owner, while those on land in places like Alaska, belongs to Washington. When a company destroys the environment, whose duty is it to fix it up? The Government, no sane Government will leave oil and gas, in private hands to ruin the Eco, they must be heavily regulated.by the Federal Government.

blacknp:
Not under Nigerian law, The Lands Use Act 1978, and the oil mineral Act of 1978, gives exclusive rights to the Federal Government, one question, so the oil and gas in Saudi Arabia (Aramco), and Other Opec Countries belongs to the people, not the Government? Please try borrow common sense, before you jabber rubbish, even in the United States, only a percentage of oil on private land belongs to the land owner, while those on land in places like Alaska, belongs to Washington. When a company destroys the environment, whose duty is it to fix it up? The Government, no sane Government will leave oil and gas, in private hands to ruin the Eco, they must be heavily regulated.by the Federal Government.

This is not just a question of oil, this is about Nigeria calling its self a federation when it is not. Before Gowon, the Regions kept 50% of whatever whatever was realised in their domain, they paid government a certain percentage. The centre was weak and the Region's were powerful

Today we have a powerful centre and everyone is shouting marginalisation.

Gowon singlehandedly destroyed federalism and Regionalism with his decree 14 of 1967

see as OP don spoil market for so many propagandists who claim Ironsi erased our regional government

Gowon the stooge is the one who wrecked Nigeria finally with his state creation

Wow interesting thread

nku5:
see as OP don spoil market for so many propagandists who claim Ironsi erased our regional government

Gowon the stooge is the one who wrecked Nigeria finally with his state creation

Ironsi was not the one that destroyed Regional governance. Its one of the many lies that have been told over the years

It was Gowon destroyed the Regions with his Decree 14 so as to make his fellow Northerners masters of Nigeria

blacknp:
Other than oil & gas, please mention one resource the Federal Government has held against a State Government. Zombies open your eyes the lazy state Governments still control their agricultural resources, nothing was taken from them, number 1 trait of a Failure, he always has someone else to blame.

The Federal Government still controls Solid Mineral Mining , Aviation, Foreign Affairs , University Admissions and Electricity Generation

gidgiddy:


Ironsi did not start anything. Ironsi's decree 34 did not tamper with the essential ingredients of true federalism such as resource control, fiscal federalism or the boundaries of any of the 4 Regions. The only thing decree 34 did was to unify the civil service

But Gowons decree 14 of 1967, dissolved all 4 Regions, replaced them with 12 state, took away resource control, killed fiscal federalism and changed the revenue sharing formular

You are dealing with Nigerians who would rather walk through the bush than cleared path. The same so-called controversial decree 34 is being used today in Nigeria. The Emirs thought unification of civil service took away their power in local authority. Therefore they incited their cronies and sons who were army officers to think revolt.

blacknp:
Even a bird on the wall, thinks it has an opinion.

It takes another bird to recognize.

blacknp:
Keep wailing, who told you we were practicing federalism before Gowon? regionalism, is not federalism, just curious, is it a mistake that you were born of your family? If yes, then i concur to your argument.

The manner you respond to post does not indicate you are manned or even slightly know what the crap you seemed to vomit. If you do not know that Nigeria has federal system of government before Gowon changed it into stately units begs for attention.

blacknp:
Not under Nigerian law, The Lands Use Act 1978, and the oil mineral Act of 1978, gives exclusive rights to the Federal Government, one question, so the oil and gas in Saudi Arabia (Aramco), and Other Opec Countries belongs to the people, not the Government? Please try borrow common sense, before you jabber rubbish, even in the United States, only a percentage of oil on private land belongs to the land owner, while those on land in places like Alaska, belongs to Washington. When a company destroys the environment, whose duty is it to fix it up? The Government, no sane Government will leave oil and gas, in private hands to ruin the Eco, they must be heavily regulated.by the Federal Government.

Please limit your ignorance on Nigeria and leave USA out of it. In USA, there individual, State and Federal lands.