₦airaland Forum

gidgiddy:
Well it may interest you to know that the ethnic killings were already a routine thing before the coup. Hundreds of Igbos were killed in the 1945 Jos massacre and the Kano massacre of 1953. So anyone who thinks that the massacre started with the coup is someone who doesnt know Nigerian history. The crux of the issue is that Ojukwu and Gowon met and signed an agreement that would prevent war and keep Nigeria one. Gowon caused the war by going back on that agreement

T9ksy:
....and an equally discerning mind would ponder on the rational behind the killings of ibos ( in the northern region) in 1945 and 1953. However, in spite of all these killings, ibos did not ask to seceed from the union rather they were the ones singing the discordant song of One Nigeria among all the regions.

In fact, when self-rule came to the regions, ibos chose to wait for their killers up north before attaining self-rule for their people.

No be today, the north don dey slaughter ibos in their midst however the only difference was the fact that the killings in 1966 was after the ibos had sucessfully satisfied their dream of being in charge of the newly independent nation and the power and domination they dreamt off had swiftly filtered through their fingers.

Christistruth00:
There was inter regional peace from 1953 to 1966. 13 years of peaceful coexistence! That was shattered in one night because of over ambition of some officers.

EternalTruths:
Was Nigeria an independent country in 1945.?

gidgiddy:
Not true. I don't think there has been any period of peace in Nigeria. Leading up to the January coup of 1966 was the jailing of Awolowo for treason in 1962, the census crises of 1963, discontent with the election of 1964, state of emergency declared in the western Region, operation wetie amongst others were amongst the many national crises that bedevilled Nigeria.

So it was not like everything was fine with Nigeria when Nzeogwu and others struck in 1966.