The helplessness of consecutive Nigerian leaders/ administrators to contain the spate of incessant insecurity of lives and property from independence to date points to serious character deficit that most of them – democratic or military - were mostly unprepared for the political offices they coveted or those that were thrust upon them by providence!

Before the two military coups of 1966; the first by soldiers mostly from the Igbo extraction on 1st January, and the other by the khaki boys from the Hausa invaders, 31st July, Prime Minister, Tafawa Balewa and his management team believed that the Parliamentary system being practiced was on course; completely oblivious to the fact that the military whose rightful position had been strictly restricted to the barracks preferred to be in charge!

The seed of disunity which was birthed between Northern and Southern since then metamorphosed into the attempted secession of the Igbos from the rest of Nigeria which resulted in a 30-month-long Biafra War from 1967-1970, followed by more military coups and counter coups – about 11 of them altogether!

AT 60, IS NIGERIA AN INDEPENDENT OR DEMOCRATIC NATION?
An independent nation, country or state with its residents and population have the rights and privileges to exercise self-governance/sovereignty over the territory occupied while a democratic nation implies a country that operates a system of government in which power and civic responsibility devolve around adult citizens directly or through their freely elected representatives and rests on the principles of majority rule and individual rights.

Although the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, stipulates that sovereignty belongs to the people from whom government derives its constitutional powers, the reverse had been the case due to the bad blood which had been ceded into the polity through mindless military coups in the sixties!
In spite of ELEVEN military coups that made all the khaki generals multi billionaires within junta governments of about 30 years, they still had the audacity to craft/draft a dubious constitution that favours a presidential government as opposed to the Parliamentary System which that they overthrew in 1966, with a view to foisting a Diarchy which enabled them free participation in civil administrations as we have witnessed in the past 21 years in the total militarization of the entire nation of the country!

POLITICS IS A GAME OF NUMBERS!
How true is the pundits claim that politics is a game of numbers; but should the advantage of higher figures be synonymous with winners take all in a country as diverse as Nigeria?

Does the political class meticulously consider the significant role of the Constitution which spells out fundamental rights, federal character posture, faithful distribution of the common patrimony, equality before the law, freedom, equity, and justice when in position of authority either at the Federal or State levels?

Should the political elites always forget to consider the fate of the 250 ethnic groups or the over 500 tribes that amalgamated in 1914 as Northern and Southern Protectorates under the watchful supervision of Sir Lord Lugard, the British Colonial Governor General, and the over 200 million population of the most populous black African nation of the 21st Century which cannot be wished away but embellished in the scheme of administration to ensure the dividends of true democracy or good governance?

Should they always forget that the greatest asset of any nation is a well-nurtured HUMAN CAPITAL BANK chequered to give its best shot in every national assignment without employing parochial mentality/ nepotism to the detriment of fundamental rights etc, in the distribution of social amenities?
The British Colonial Masters were complicit to have given Northern Nigeria the false impression that their massive advantage of large expanse of land tantamount to greater population – a claim which is still being disputed by Southern politicians at every conversation/debate and all past CENSUS had not succeeded to arbitrate successfully!

HOW CAN DISUNITY BE ERADICATED PERMANENTLY?
The derogatory “Common man” parlance among Nigerian politicians must be deleted from the nation’s lexicon because if anyone must be addressed as COMMON, the greedy politicians are most suited like the common thieves in our societies because their motivation into politics was inordinate desire for pecuniary gains and not national service!
Between 1960 and 1999, OXFAM, an international watchdog reported that over US $ 3 trillion dollars were stolen from the common patrimony by these custodians in position of authority!
The NEEDS of the average Nigerian for survival are very minimal if a RIGHTEOUS GOVERNMENT is in place:
He needs a good job and a living wage, and in the alternative to be allotted with a moderate piece of land in his name to cultivate for all-year-round farming livelihood; a good shelter over his head, adequate security for himself and his family, constant electricity to power his machines, (grinding machines, motor bikes, “keke napep” “kabu-kabu taxis”, free education for his children from primary to Senior Secondary, good health care system for his family, flexible investment opportunities etc, etc,

With a conservative package such as mentioned above, the average citizen of Nigeria will dwell in peace without any form of agitation, will be law-abiding, will perform all civic duties without hesitation or coercion and would never engage in any form of confrontation!

HOW MUCH WILL COST THE NIGERIAN FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO PAMPER ITS CITIZENS?
Blockage of all wastefulness in the very unpopular Presidential System and a quick reversal to the Parliamentary which was aborted by the military shortly after independence.
Immediate move by Buhari Administration to close down the SENATE and pruning of the House of Representatives 360 members to 74!
Ministerial appointments to be limited to ONE per State and one for the Federal Capital Territory!
Employment opportunities for tertiary institution graduates and all able-bodied men/women to be engage in the various cadres of the SMSMEs.
Others to be absorbed by the Private Sector as government restores industrialisation through massive manufacturing/production and Exportation of FINISHED PRODUCTS; (there are 35 mineral deposits across the 36 States and the FCT.)
Continuous diversification to Agriculture, Mineral Extraction, Entertainment, Tourism, Film Industry, Information/Communication Technology, etc, etc,.
Re-organisation of the electoral process through necessary amendments to the ELECTORAL ACT, 2010?
Introduction of ELECTRONIC VOTING by 2023, in view of recent progress achieved by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in the electronic transmission of results from polling to collation centres in the recently concluded EDO GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION!
Re-furbish the existing refineries through OPEN transparent biddings, encourage the construction of new MODULAR REFINERIES through private sector incentives; re-visit the recent WATER REGULATION BILL to favour all stake holders and douse all areas of tension!
Total extermination of CORRUPTION from the polity, assuring all ACTIVISTS and PRESSURE groups that all forms of nepotism in government circles are eschewed to pacify the IPOB, MASSOB, OHAN’NEZE, O’ODUA, REVOLUTION NOW, etc, etc, “PAPER ALL CRACKS IN THE POLITY AND HEAL ALL THE AGGRIEVED”, then and only then can the current administration gain the co-operation of all and sundry for peace to reign supreme!
As a matter of urgency, creation of STATE POLICE for the 36 States of the Federation should occupy the front burner of President Buhari’s agenda for urgent execution.
It is the Will of God that Nigeria should remain; ONE INDISSOLUBLE NATION and so it shall be forever and ever! WHAT GOD HAS JOINED TOGETHER, LET NO MAN PUT ASUNDER!


I am, yours sincerely, Dr. David B.A. Olufon. 08130669886, 08098194390. 08080243066. G-mail- dvdolufon@gmail.com.

Afonjas and revisionism joined with outright taqiya lies.
Anybody in doubt should Google the nepotistic activities of Ahmadu Bello which invariably led to the 1st coup.
What about the Jos 1945 killings or the Kano 1953 killings?
We have never been one.

Ogbuu101:
Afonjas and revisionism

Mai bloda,
I tire for this people. They are only doing this to save obafemi awolowo, their evil grand father who initiated tribal politics with the transmutation of egbe omo ofuduwa into a tribal party in Nigerias politics as Action Group. History will never be kind to that man for tearing Nigeria apart for no reason. Before him, politicians from different parts of the country contested for positions in different regions. That all ended with his perculiar brand of tribal politics.. Every opportunity that comes their way, they will like to rewrite history in broad daylight. Very very annoying set of creatures.

How about Dimkas coup that was basically a very bloody action taken by northern minorities against the Hausa/fulanis usurpation of power post Gowon? How about Orkars coup that boldly slized off the far north from Nigeria and dashed them to Niger republic so the rest of the country can have some peace? Why are these two coups not always mentioned whenever sectional coups are talked about? Simple; because the Lagos-Ibadam expressway branch of Nigerias mercenary press has refused to weave any sort of ethnic intent behind those..

The planners of those two coups stressed the reasons for their actions but nobody talks of those in derisive terms, meanwhile Nzeogwu boldly stated the patriotic reasons for his coup, yet tribal revisionists won't still rest.... Alright,the coup failed, you revised all the planned actions by the coupists, you had thrilions of dollars from stolen oil revenue to biuld an egallitarian society afterwards. But you chose the path of marginalisation, oppression and maladministration! All these were condemned by Nzeogwu and co. What else do you need to transform Nigeria into that eldarado free of tribalism that you accuse one Nzeogwu of...?

Ogbuu101:
Afonjas and revisionism joined with outright taqiya lies.
Anybody in doubt should good the nepotistic activities of Ahmadu Bello.
What about the Jos 1945 killings or the Kano 1953 killings?
We have never been one.

The diversity Of People is what makes Nigeria unique like the United Sates, How the people manage themselves is another thing, yesterday when Nigeria played Algeria I saw Hausa, ibo, yoruba, Beni , Urhobo on the pitch, and they were representing Nigeria

Rugaria:


Mai bloda,
I tire for this people. They are only doing this to save obafemi awolowo, their evil grand father who initiated tribal politics with the transmutation of egbe omo ofuduwa into a tribal party in Nigerias politics as Action Group. History will never be kind to that man for tearing Nigeria apart for no reason. Before him, politicians from different parts of the country contested for positions in different regions. That all ended with his perculiar brand of tribal politics.. Every opportunity that comes their way, they will like to rewrite history in broad daylight. Very very annoying set of creatures.

How about Dimkas coup that was basically a very bloody action taken by northern minorities against the Hausa/fulanis usurpation of power post Gowon? How about Orkars coup that boldly slized off the far north from Nigeria and dashed them to Niger republic so the rest of the country can have some peace? Why are these two coups not always mentioned whenever sectional coups are talked about? Simple; because the Lagos-Ibadam expressway branch of Nigerias mercenary press has refused to weave any sort of ethnic intent behind those..

The planners of those two coups stressed the reasons for their actions but nobody talks of those in derisive terms, meanwhile Nzeogwu boldly stated the patriotic reasons for his coup, yet tribal revisionists won't still rest.... Alright,the coup failed, you revised all the planned actions by the coupists, you had thrilions of dollars from stolen oil revenue to biuld an egallitarian society afterwards. But you chose the path of marginalisation, oppression and maladministration! All these were condemned by Nzeogwu and co. What else do you need to transform Nigeria into that eldarado free of tribalism that you accuse one Nzeogwu of...?

Alas it was the same ibo army officers that betrayed your hero Nzeogwu, General Ironsi & Odumegwu Ojukwu.

blacknp:
The diversity’s Of People is what makes Nigeria unique like the United Sates, How the people manage themselves is another thing, yesterday when Nigeria played Algeria I saw Hausa, ibo, yoruba, Beni , Urhobo on the pitch, and they were representing Nigeria

Nigeria is not diverse, Nigeria is divided.

Noneroone:
Nigeria is not diverse, Nigeria is divided.

Maybe In your own mind?, I attended a Federal Government Secondary School, & a Federal University, including NYSC, so maybe my orientation differs from yours, The Federal Republic of Nigeria is beyond your myopic imagination, from Calabar to Lagos, from Yobe to Enugu, they say Charity begins at home, are the different ethnic groups in your own state united, before you talk of Nigeria in general?

This is why we are here. The deal with Lagos Ibadan expressway media lies.


The January 15, 1966 coup was conceived and planned by Majors Chukwuma Nzeogwu, Emmanuel Ifeajuna and Ademola Ademoyega. ‘Why We Struck: The story of the first Nigerian Coup’ published by Evans Brothers, Ltd Ibadan, 1981, is the original work of the only surviving member of the trio that conceived and planned the coup. Here is the background to the January 15 coup given by Major Ademoyega. ‘By November 1965, the people (of Western Nigeria) had started to fight the unpopular Akintola government. They sang war songs and fought on the streets. They invented the ‘wetie’ (meaning soak him up), a practice in which a political opponent and his house or property were sprayed with petrol and set ablaze. Somehow, in ‘wetie’ only the intended victim suffered. By December 1965, there had been a total breakdown of law and order in Western Nigeria. The lawlessness had gone beyond the control of the mobile (anti-riot) police and the Akintola government was seen to be tottering to its collapse….. This was the appropriate time for a state of emergency to be declared in the West and for a caretaker government to be set up, pending the conduct of a free and fair election. However the Balewa government was more anxious to preserve Akintola (whose political party NNDP was in alliance with Balewa and Sarduana’s party, NPC, to form the NNA led by Alhaji Ahmadu Bello, Sarduana of Sokoto; the NCNC, AG, and UMBC were also in alliance as the UPGA led by Dr. M. I. Okpara) as the premier of the region than to restore law and order. Therefore Balewa announced that the situation in the West was normal and that everything was under control.’p.22.


Excerpts from "Why we struck " by Major. Ademoyega.

A yoruba and two Igbos planned the coup.

But the author cunningly omitted this very important part.

Major Ademoyega continues on page 60 and 33.

'Contrary to the load of wicked propaganda that had since been heaped upon us, there was no decision at our meetings to single out any particular ethnic group for elimination or destruction. Our intentions were honourable, our views were national and our goals were idealistic.’P.60. Ideologically, ‘We also believed in the immediate release of political prisoners of those days, namely Chief Awolowo, Jakande, Anthony Enahoro, Onitiri, Omisade and so on. As we saw it, these actions would bring immediate relief to the suffering masses of the West and North and would generate peace and concord throughout the Federation.’ P. 33.


Infact the western elites and activist were angry that the Jan 1966 heroes were jailed. See attached below their letter to Aguiyi Ironsi.

gwafaeziokwu:


Major Ademoyega continues on page 60 and 33.

'Contrary to the load of wicked propaganda that had since been heaped upon us, there was no decision at our meetings to single out any particular ethnic group for elimination or destruction. Our intentions were honourable, our views were national and our goals were idealistic.’P.60. Ideologically, ‘We also believed in the immediate release of political prisoners of those days, namely Chief Awolowo, Jakande, Anthony Enahoro, Onitiri, Omisade and so on. As we saw it, these actions would bring immediate relief to the suffering masses of the West and North and would generate peace and concord throughout the Federation.’ P. 33.


Infact the western elites and activist were angry that the Jan 1966 heroes were jailed. See attached below their letter to Aguiyi Ironsi.

Nzeogwu was with nothern army officers in the north and they never revolted against him until he handed over to Hassan katsina and co before wilfully surrendering to Ironsi at Lagos... The general mood in the country including the north was more of "good riddance". It was the BBC Hausa service that dutifully changed the narrative and introduced a dangerous ethnic slant to the whole episode thereby riling up folks with igbophobia just to achieve predetermined imperialists goals... Folks in ibadan whose leaders were already in prison , no thanks to the NPC/Akintola collabo, were happy with actions already taken that will lead to their probable release. The whole "igbo domination" scenerio were nothing but cleverly dreamed up impressions by counter revolutionary forces hell-bent on maintaining the status quo... We can see how good Nigeria has become under their wonderful ideas..

gwafaeziokwu:


‘We also believed in the immediate release of political prisoners of those days, namely Chief Awolowo, Jakande, Anthony Enahoro, Onitiri, Omisade and so on. As we saw it, these actions would bring immediate relief to the suffering masses of the West and North and would generate peace and concord throughout the Federation.’ P. 33.

I agree with the other parts.
But why wasn't the bold the first thing they did after the coup?

gwafaeziokwu:


This is why we are here. The deal with Lagos Ibadan expressway media lies.


The January 15, 1966 coup was conceived and planned by Majors Chukwuma Nzeogwu, Emmanuel Ifeajuna and Ademola Ademoyega. ‘Why We Struck: The story of the first Nigerian Coup’ published by Evans Brothers, Ltd Ibadan, 1981, is the original work of the only surviving member of the trio that conceived and planned the coup. Here is the background to the January 15 coup given by Major Ademoyega. ‘By November 1965, the people (of Western Nigeria) had started to fight the unpopular Akintola government. They sang war songs and fought on the streets. They invented the ‘wetie’ (meaning soak him up), a practice in which a political opponent and his house or property were sprayed with petrol and set ablaze. Somehow, in ‘wetie’ only the intended victim suffered. By December 1965, there had been a total breakdown of law and order in Western Nigeria. The lawlessness had gone beyond the control of the mobile (anti-riot) police and the Akintola government was seen to be tottering to its collapse….. This was the appropriate time for a state of emergency to be declared in the West and for a caretaker government to be set up, pending the conduct of a free and fair election. However the Balewa government was more anxious to preserve Akintola (whose political party NNDP was in alliance with Balewa and Sarduana’s party, NPC, to form the NNA led by Alhaji Ahmadu Bello, Sarduana of Sokoto; the NCNC, AG, and UMBC were also in alliance as the UPGA led by Dr. M. I. Okpara) as the premier of the region than to restore law and order. Therefore Balewa announced that the situation in the West was normal and that everything was under control.’p.22.


Excerpts from "Why we struck " by Major. Ademoyega.

A yoruba and two Igbos planned the coup.

But the author cunningly omitted this very important part.

OK but why was zik or Michael okpara spared because even hassan katsina na Fulani yet his leaders were killed same as ademoyega, That's why till today the north and west will continue to believe its an Igbo coup nothing More you can ask an average Fulani/Hausa man they all belive it

blacknp:
Maybe In your own mind?, I attended a Federal Government Secondary School, & a Federal University, including NYSC, so maybe my orientation differs from yours, The Federal Republic of Nigeria is beyond your myopic imagination, from Calabar to Lagos, from Yobe to Enugu, they say Charity begins at home, are the different ethnic groups in your own state united, before you talk of Nigeria in general?

unfortunately, the killings, tribalism and bitterness are not happening in my mind and I wish your unsolicited miserable life story would end it.

DEROXMAN:
OK but why was zik or Michael okpara spared because even hassan katsina na Fulani yet his leaders were killed same as ademoyega, That's why till today the north and west will continue to believe its an Igbo coup nothing More you can ask an average Fulani/Hausa man they all belive it

First ask your self , what was the essence of the coup? Who were the main reasons why the coup happened.

Did the coupists discovered any sinister plan on the side of Azikwe and Okpara to achieve Igbo parochial agenda. The coup took care of those whom it was intended to take care of and the nation including northerners rejoiced over the outcome.

Xisnin:

I agree with the other parts.
But why wasn't the bold the first thing they did after the coup?

The idealist coupists were no longer in charge of subsequent development. The coup failed in many places including kano where ojukwu stopped them right in their track and Ironsi by twist of fate took charge.

Ironsi unfortunately, did not share the ideals of the coupists. It is understandable because he never planned the coup with them. He was just an average human who obtained power and want to consolidate. Till now the Igbos consider him stupid. He was too ignorant to read the handwriting on the wall.

Ojukwu warned him. He understood only too late.

Revisionist done start again..

Statistics said the who west is bankrupt

they paid different firm to change the data

now na this one Dem see.

ndi ala

gwafaeziokwu:


First ask your self , what was the essence of the coup? Who were the main reasons why the coup happened.

Did the coupists discovered any sinister plan on the side of Azikwe and Okpara to achieve Igbo parochial agenda. The coup took care of those whom it was intended to take care of and the nation including northerners rejoiced over the outcome.

lol liar the north rejoiced that you killed it's leaders? in fact till today they are still bitter hence they showed you on the 31st July same year called counter or revenge coup abeg we all know it's an Igbo coup nothing can ever change that perspective in the north and west.You killed others leaders but left yours and they were rejoicing,So it means your own leaders were saints right? history had it that the ipob all over the nation were rejoicing about killing the saraudana(ahmadu bello) never knowing time will tell which later did

DEROXMAN:
lol liar the north rejoiced that you killed it's leaders? in fact till today they are still bitter hence they showed you on the 31st July same year called counter or revenge coup abeg we all know it's an Igbo coup nothing can ever change that perspective in the north and west.You killed others leaders but left yours and they were rejoicing,So it means your own leaders were saints right? history had it that the ipob all over the nation were rejoicing about killing the saraudana(ahmadu bello) never knowing time will tell which later did

All you have said is heresay. Street gossip. While I gave you qoutes from a book written by one of the coup plotters. A yoruba man who had no need to defend the Igbos.

You have serious reading to do. There is a reason history was expunged from our curriculum in school. Research read and form your own opinion.

DEROXMAN:
lol liar the north rejoiced that you killed it's leaders? in fact till today they are still bitter hence they showed you on the 31st July same year called counter or revenge coup abeg we all know it's an Igbo coup nothing can ever change that perspective in the north and west.You killed others leaders but left yours and they were rejoicing,So it means your own leaders were saints right? history had it that the ipob all over the nation were rejoicing about killing the saraudana(ahmadu bello) never knowing time will tell which later did

Awolowo was the then Paramount leader of the Yorubas! He was the leader of the AG and of course the leader of the SW at the federal level. At the night of the coup, awolowo was lying hopelessly at the Calabar prisons, deep inside the coupists controlled east! The east from that night till the end of the war was in the hands of igbo officers! So the question is; if the plan was to eliminate all leaders of the other regions, why didn't the coup plotters simply walk into the Calabar prisons to drag him out and waste him? How many other officers and politicians apart from those involved in the mayhem prior to the coup, with their support for the NPC were targeted? Actually, my grouse with that coup has to do with the fact that a lot of people both military and civilians, who were supposed to be targeted, were left of the hook. Those were the folks who regrouped to haunt down the initial coup plotters.. Imagine aworld without babangida abacha danjuma and the herdman terrorising you today...

gwafaeziokwu:


All you have said is heresay. Street gossip. While I gave you qoutes from a book written by one of the coup plotters. A yoruba man who had no need to defend the Igbos.

You have serious reading to do. There is a reason history was expunged from our curriculum in school. Research read and form your own opinion.

The general opinion till today is that its an Igbo coup both north and SW believes it with clear evidence

Rugaria:


Awolowo was the then Paramount leader of the Yorubas! He was the leader of the AG and of course the leader of the SW at the federal level. At the night of the coup, awolowo was lying hopelessly at the Calabar prisons, deep inside the coupists controlled east! The east from that night till the end of the war was in the hands of igbo officers! So the question is; if the plan was to eliminate all leaders of the other regions, why didn't the coup plotters simply walk into the Calabar prisons to drag him out and waste him? How many other officers and politicians apart from those involved in the mayhem prior to the coup, with their support for the NPC were targeted? Actually, my grouse with that coup has to do with the fact that a lot of people both military and civilians, who were supposed to be targeted, were left of the hook. Those were the folks who regrouped to haunt down the initial coup plotters.. Imagine aworld without babangida abacha danjuma and the herdman terrorising you today...

OK why didn't they free Jim after the coup? I know if awolowo was not in prison he would have been killed or was it not under the guise of restoring good governance in the west that they struck