Essay
By Prof. Mike Ozekhome
THE PAST FROM LORD LUGARD TO BALEWA
Nigeria as a nation became one in a visible entity in the year 1914 when
Lord Fredrick Lugard amalgamated the Southern and Northern
protectorates and Lagos colony. Ever since then, what is now known today
as Nigeria steadily evolved. Nigeria was colonized by the British. Nigerians
fought relentlessly before she finally gained her independence on October
1, 1960. Nigeria as an independent nation later became Republican in
1963 with a non executive president. On January 15, 1966, there was a
military coup de’ tat which overthrew the regime of Alhaji Sir Abubakar
Tafawa Belewa. The coup was led by the revolutionary Major Kaduna
Nzeogwu Chukwumah.
THE FIRST COUP DE TAT, IRONSI AND GOWON
The military coup ushered in major General J.T.U Aguiyi-Ironsi which
promulgated the very unpopular unification Decree. On July 29, 1966,
the regime of Aguiyi-ironsi was overthrown by elements of the Nigerian
Military led by colonel General Yakubu Gowon who subsequently
became the Head of State.
THE BLOODY CIVIL WAR
The Skirmishes associated with the coup and the question of who should
be the Head of State coupled with deep-seated animosity and the program
on the Ibos resident in the North eventually led to secession with the
proclamation of the Republic of Biafra Colonel Chukwuemeka
Odumegwu Ojukwu. This latter escalated into a full blown war on July 6,
1967 and lasted till January 10, 1970. During the civil war, Nigerians
loss in human and capital resources was monumental and unquantifiable.
Human resources running into millions of people were lost. The Nigerian
government spends millions of naira to mark every January 15 which is set
aside as “Remembrance Day”. It is pathetic but permit me to say that
the widows and the loved ones of the soldiers that died in the war are without food and many without shelter. Many soldiers who survived the
war are today not being remembered. They spend weeks on queue trying
to collect their meager pension where some of them have died as a result
of the untold hardship which these old men are subjected to.
FROM GOWON TO MURITALA MOHAMMED
Gowon’s Administration which was famed for profligacy and broken
promises was toppled by the Murtala Mohammed junta on July 29,
- The Murtala Administration was hailed as the best Military
Administration as the general was determined to restore Nigeria back to its
past glory. Most regrettably however, enemies of progress, who never
wanted Murtala’s laudible and lofty ideas to come into fruition led by
Colonel Buka Suka Dinka waylaid and assassinated him in a botched coup
on his way from the Mosque to his office on February 13, 1976.
Consequent upon his assassination, General Olusegun Obasanjo being
the second in command to the late Murtala Mohammed took over the
mantle of leadership.
FROM OBASANJO TO SHAGARI
Under Obasanjo’s leadership as Head of State, Nigeria witnessed series of
policies such as “Operation Feed the Nation”, Universal Free Primary
Education, etc. None of these policies improved or ameliorated the
economic situation of the Nigerian people. The regime after three years
finally organized and conducted a presidential election for Nigeria. In the
election, five political parties participated. They were the Unity Party of
Nigeria (UPN), National Party of Nigeria (NPN), Nigerian People’s
Party (NPP), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) and the Great Nigeria
People’s Party (GNPP). The election result showed that the candidate of
Nigeria People’s Party, Alhaji Shehu Shagari won the election by
winning twelve and half states out of nineteen states. The result of the
election was seriously contested by the runner-up, Chief Obafemi
Awolowo wherein the Supreme Court after listening to the opinion of the
revered mathematician, Prof. Chike Obi declared Alhaji Shehu Shagari
as the winner. Even though the Supreme Court had since declared that the judgment should not be followed as a precedent, opinions still linger that
the judgment was nothing short of a political judgment.
THE BUHARI ERA
The Nigerian people had not reaped the dividends of democracy when the
military once again struck on December 31, 1983 under the leadership of
major General Mohammed Buhari. Immediately after Buhari took over,
he sent some of the second Republic Politicians into the gulag. People like
Chief Olabisi Onabanjo of Ogun State and Prof. Ambrose Alli of the
Old Bendel State died as a result of their long incarceration in prison.
Under the Buhari Administration, discipline was forcibly infused into the
Nigerian polity Consequent upon the mantra called War Against
Indiscipline (WAI). But suffice to say that Nigerians economic hardship
continued as discipline alone could not put food on the table of Nigerians.
GEN. IBRAHIM BABANGIDA
Buhari’s regime was finally toppled by his former school mate, Major
General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (IBB) in August, 1985. He
called himself “military president” instead of “Head of State”. Babangida
promised to hand over to a dully democratically elected president on
October 1, 1999. Babangida later reneged on his promise to hand over to
a civilian government in 1990 Nigerians suffered unprecedented deceptive
tendencies. His double speak was o unparalleled that Nigerians nicknamed
him “Maradona”. Abiola and June 12 After several failed promises to
hand over to a civilian government, he finally organized and conducted an
election in June 12, 1993 wherein Chief M.K.O Abiola contested under the
umbrella of Social Democratic Party (SDP) The National Republican
Convention (NRC) fielded Alhaji Bashir Tofa as its presidential candidate
in the June 12, 1993 election. The election was adjudged the freest and
fair election ever conducted in Nigeria. Chief M.K.O Abiola indisputably won
the election with a landside margin. But to the chagrin of Nigerians and the
international community, Babangida annulled this freest and fairest election
in Nigeria. The annulment triggered off reactions from within and outside
Nigeria. There were protest and demonstrations across the length and
breadth of Nigeria, including the North which resulted in the laws of many lives and wanton destruction of property. Chief M.K.O Abiola, the acclaimed
winner of the election fled abroad for security reasons.
FROM SHONEKAN TO ABACHA
The agitation for the validation of the June 12 election persisted. The
pressure on the Babangida administration became so unbearable, that he
“stepped” aside on August, 27, 1993 thereby handing over to Ernest
Shonekan as the Head of an Interim National Government. Despite the
declaration of a court of law (Coram: Dolapo Akinsanya) that the interim
National Government was illegal, Shonekan remained on his seat until
November 17, 1993, when he was shoved aside by the dark goggled
General, Sanni Abacha in what can be termed a palace coup. The day
Abacha took over was the day Nigeria entered the darkest days of military
brutality. Abacha’s regime unleashed a reign of terror on Nigerians he
suspected at any slightest opportunity to be antagonizing his regime.
Consequent upon this unprecedented doctorial tendencies, various
pressure groups sprang up. The most vibrant and confrontational were the
National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) and the Joint Action
Committee of Nigeria (JACON). Some of the Chieftains of NADECO like
Prof. Wole Soyinka, Sen. Bola Armed Tinubu among others were sent
on exile. Jacon paraded the likes of Chief Gani Fawehinmi, Chief Mike
Ozekhome, Mr. Femi Falana, Dr. Tunji Abayomi, Dr. Fredrick Fashehun and
so on.
Chief M.K.O Abiola Declaration
In June 1994, Chief M.K.O Abiola, the acclaimed winner of June 12 election
declared himself the president. Consequent upon this Chief M.K.O Abiola
was charged with treason, an act which engineered reaction from within
and outside the country.
Some NADECO Chieftains who remained in Nigeria were terrorized and
brutalized by Abacha’s “Killer Squad” Abacha planned to succeed himself
in office despite contrary agitation by Nigerians. Abacha was desperate. He
went ahead with the plan until June 8, 1998 when the cold arm of death
snatched him away. Update, the details of Abiola and Abacha’s death are
still sketchy.
GENERAL ADBUDULSALAMI ABUBARKAR
The sudden death of Abacha ushered in the regime of General
Abdusalam Abubarkar, who many thought would hand over to M.K.O
Abiola thereby bringing into effect the aspiration and wishes of Nigerians
who had voted for M.K.O enmass in the June 12 election. Abdulsalam did
not do this. He rather allowed some unknown persons to kill M.K.O Abiola
in Government custody under the watchful eye of Kofi Anna, the then
secretary General of the United Nation Organization (U.N.O). Nigerians
are still asking: why was M.K.O killed? Till now, nobody has come out
openly to tell Nigerians how and why Abiola was murdered in Government
custody. But one thing Nigerians know for sure is that, the blood of M.K.O
Abiola and all those who lost their lives in the heat of the June 12 crisis
shall continue to hunt the perpetrators. (To be continued).
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
“There is beauty and power in unity. We must be united in heart and mind.
One world, one people”. (Lailah Gifty Akita).
15th February, 2024.
C.E.
Tags: Prof. Mike Ozekhome
