Permit me to start this contribution from the January
coup that was called an Igbo coup which the northerners always quote to justify
their genocide they claim to be a counter coup.
The January coup was widely acclaimed all over the
country including the northern region of Nigeria, where top civil servants
celebrated its success and apparently happy endings by holding parties both in
their homes and public places. Hassan Katsina visited Ironsi and brought with
him his entire entourage of police outriders and patrol cars and a carload of
drinks. In his speech, he said we drank to the health of Ironsi, we drank to
the health of the governors, we drank to the survival of a new Nigeria. He was
actively part of the coup and during the coup while Ojukwu rendered the coup immobile,
Katsina was quoted to have told Ojukwu in a telephone conversation that he
takes orders from nobody except Nzeogwu.
Western Nigeria probably benefited from the revolutionary
turn out of events, the military takeover brought an end to the long nightmare
of bloody riots which were triggered off by the rigged western Nigeria
parliamentary elections. Read ‘Why we struck’ written by Wole Ademoyega, he was
also active player in the planning and execution of the coup.
In the east Midwest and Lagos, the entire people hailed
the change with absolute Joy and optimism for the emergence of a New Nigeria
free from corruption, tribalism and nepotism. Therefore, when people argue
nowadays that eastern Nigeria where massacred in retaliation for their role in
the January 1966 coup it sounds ridiculous, the January revolution was not a
total failure for it achieved its primary objective and the removal of the
discredited civilian regime. What went wrong was the inability of the coup to
exploit its success.
The worst genocide in the history of Africa in the name
of counter coup was planned by northerners in April 1966, the press and radio
of the north had joined in the hostile campaign against the south. These mass information media were then fully
employed in preparing the minds of the people for the upcoming counter coup.
Starting from the beginning of May 1966 radio Kaduna
played every day for three weeks, recorded speeches of late Sir Ahmadu Bello
and Sir Tafawa Balewa, these political campaign speeches where carefully
selected to arouse tribal feelings, passion and hatred against the people of
the south. While the radio networks blared the speeches, the official
government newspaper, the new Nigerian, carried daily for sometimes serialized
articles on Islamic war of conquest or Jihad both in English and local
vernaculars.
On 29th of May 1966 was the "ARABA" TEST RIOTS
that means we should separate, southerners where being beaten up and their cars
smashed by northern mobs. What surprised me though, was the fact that policemen
were said to be actively participating in some areas, reports of more bloody
and widespread riots had been received from such big northern cities like Kano,
Zaria and Jos.
On 30th of May 1966, the riots began again rather early
the rioting was very fiercer than the previous day, private homes, schools,
churches, and markets stalls belonging to southerners in flames, Children
crying the young and old, both men and women being chased about and being
beaten to death while their homes were looted. A story of a whole family that
was locked up inside their house and the house set ablaze. A story of an
incident in Kano Railway Station where a large number of southerners had
gathered waiting to escape by train they were attacked by a mob which killed or
maimed most of them and their properties were looted.
Following Katsina assurances of safety to both Ojukwu and
Ironsi, Ojukwu the then Governor of eastern Nigeria encourage those who have
fled the north to go back there and resume their normal lives. Even then
tension in the north was on the increase but, that notwithstanding many
southerners particularly those from eastern region went back in large numbers. Rumours
of another Igbo coup were rife during the month of June 1966
May 1966 was a
failure because even though the southerners suffered heavy casualties, the
objective of changing the government in Lagos was not achieved. Northern
soldiers where now been pressured to strike back, quickly in self defense
before the Igbo second coup. After the May test riot, Lagos military government
even redoubled effort to placate the north instead of admonishing the
atrocities of the region this tended to confirm that something more drastic
could be done against the regime in Lagos without meaningful opposition.
I think this is tip of the iceberg. The contraption
(Nigeria) was created by fraudsters and everything that comes out from her is
lies and deceit. The only option left is to dissolve this unholy marriage and
then let the great people of Biafra go peacefully. Nigeria is a crime against
humanity.
Written by:
Mazi Malaki
Chukwuokikeabiamadi Ajah
Edited by:
Mazi Dimkpa Ikenna
Ikenga Amadioha-Gbo
For: Rivers State Media (Igwuocha Province)
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