Dialogues: December 2010

Don't push us to the wall, Violence
may be inevitable -Atiku warns
By Henry Umoru
A Presidential aspirant on the platform of the
Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Atiku
Abubakar Wednesday warned that if the leadership
of the Party and that of the country jettison the
already existing zoning arrangement, it would
amount to making violence change inevitable.
Speaking Wednesday at National Stakeholders'
Conference, 2010 at the Thisday Dome, Abuja, the
former Vice President who noted that he was not
praying that the political situation of the party and
that of the country should get to the level of
applying violent means to address the nation 's
problems, also stressed that if the PDP fails to
embrace reforms, it stands the risk of making itself
irrelevant.
Meanwhile, Former Senate President, Iyorchia Ayu
has called on Nigerians especially those from the
South to put behind them those eras in the 1960s
which produced coups and counter coups in the
country, just as northerners became Heads of State
during the periods.
According to Ayu, "North is not set out to dominate
anybody. I want you to ignore the Nigerian history
of 60 's that produced coups and counter coups
with its leaders as northerners. It was not
conspiratorial on the part of the Northern political
leaders, it was accidental.
"When we had opportunity we, not only brought
out President Obasanjo who was in prison for
treason out, but the north made him President
even when his immediate community rejected him.
It was the highest show of solidarity by the North.
The least our brothers from the south can do is to
demonstrate and reciprocate the goodwill. "
Ayu who admitted that the task ahead them is
ensuring that the Consensus Candidate for the
north, Atiku Abubakar gets the party 's ticket as
well as become the President of the country come
next year, said, "we are trying to tell you that we
have difficult task ahead of us. If you are not
present here today, the consensus effort would
have been a failure. But with your presence here
today, Atiku ceases to be the Northern Consensus
Candidate but the Consensus Candidate of
Nigeria. "
The Conference which had as its theme, "Building
Consensus for National Unity", was convened by
the Northern Political Leaders Forum, NPLF, the
Igbo Political Forum, the Yoruba Redemption group
and the South South Unity Forum.
Speaking further, Atiku said, "Our coming here is
not about Atiku, it is about the peace, the unity and
stability of Nigeria as exemplified by all the
speakers who spoke to this audience today. Today
is about building consensus for national unity. We
have some elder statesmen on consensus building.
It is about the rule of law, due process and standing
for what is right.
"I am an instrument for realizing these value. I
promise that by the grace of almighty God, we shall
bring this country back to the part of honour.
Before I end this short address let me send a
message to our great party the PDP: if the PDP does
not reform, it stands the risk of making itself
irrelevant. Let me again send another message to
the leadership of PDP that those who make
peaceful change impossible, make violent change
inevitable. "
Also in his remarks, former Senate President Ken
Nnamani who warned that some leaders of the
country were planning to put national unity to the
burner, stressed that rotation and zoning which has
become part of the nation 's history, was beyond
the north, the PDP, adding that it has become a
national challenge.
Nnamani who noted that Nigeria has a lot to learn
from the process that brought out Atiku Abubakar,
stressed that it showed high sense of humility and
patriotism, just as he said that if the choice was
from some parts of the country, there would have
been series of court litigations now, adding that
zoning must be adhered to against the backdrop
that all political office holders were beneficiary of
same process.
The former Senate President who called for the
externalization of the Consensus candidate
process, also called on Nigerians to disregard
comments by the President General of Ohanenze
Ndigbo, Ralph Uwachue, adding that as a country,
we lack political will to implement agreements,
adding that some politicians were over heating the
polity for their gains, even as he said that there
was tension in PDP because of plans to circumvent
the rules.
Roll call
General Ibrahim Babangida, General Mohammed
Aliyu Gusua, Atiku Abubakar, Former Chairman,
Police Affairs Commission, Chief Simon Okeke, Dr.
Iyorchia Ayu; Lawal Kaita; AVM Hamza Abdullahi;
Deputy Governor of Kwara State, Ajia Chinyere
Ogugua Agagbo; Funke Adedoyin; Professor
Babalola Borishade; Alhaji Isa Ozi Salami, Professor
A.T. Abubakar, Professor Sam Oyovbaire; Lawal
Batagarawa; Saleh Hassan; Haruna Adamu and
Saleh Hassan.
Others were former Deputy governor of Kogi,
Patrick Adaba, Air Commodore Ibrahim Alkali,
Farouk Bibi Farouk; Udenta Udenta; Professor
Chukwuma Soludo, Professor Osita Ogbu; Mrs Titi
Ajanaku, Chief Peter Biakpana; Oyewale Fashawe;
Hassan Mohammed; Aboki Shuluwa; Saleh Jambo;
Dr. Sam Egwu, Professor Chinwe Obaje, Professor
A.B.C Nwosu; Kalu Idika Kalu; Ibrahim Kazuare;
Senator Yushua Anka, Senator Hamman Bello,
Dubem Onyia, Representative of Israeli
Ambassador, among others.

www.vanguardngr.com/2010/12/zoning-don't-push-us-to-the-wall-violence-may-be-inevitable-atiku-warns/

Atiku's threat of violence: Group charges security agencies

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Written by Oluwole Ige, Calabar Wednesday, 29 December 2010

A group, National Movement for True Democracy (NMTD), has called on security agencies to investigate the comment credited to the former vice-president and presidential aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, alleging that it was capable of breaching the peace in the country.

The former vice-president, in a recent outburst over the controversial zoning principle in the PDP and alleged rumour of his likely disqualification by the party, was said to have quoted the revolutionary scholar, Frantz Fanon, that "those that make peaceful change impossible make violent change inevitable," alluding to the fact that President Goodluck Jonathan was inviting violence if he should contest the 2011 presidential election on the platform of the PDP.

In a statement entitled "Atiku's unbridled provocation," endorsed by the publicity secretary of the group, Mr Peter Afolabi and made available to Nigerian Tribune in Calabar, the group called on security agencies not to treat the 'threat' lightly because of its implications on the unity of the country.

"We call on security agencies to take the threats seriously and ensure that nobody, no matter how influential he regards himself, takes this country for granted. We are determined that true democracy must reign in Nigeria and we will mobilise Nigerians to resist those who seek power by fraudulent means," the statement said.

LILIACFIRE HAMMER

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Posted by Edward Ezeife.

--- On Fri, 31/12/10, LiliacHammer <liliacfire@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:

From: LiliacHammer <liliacfire@yahoo.co.uk>
Subject: [UmuAnambra] Re: NigerianID | PLOT TO DISTABILIZE NIGERIA BY ATIKU $ CO.................COUP DETAT : WHO IS PLOTTING IT ???
To: "African" <africanspolitics@yahoogroups.com>, naijanet@googlegroups.com, naijapolitics@yahoogroups.com, talknigeria@yahoogroups.com, nigerianid@yahoogroups.com, Adey45@yahoo.com
Cc: NIgerianid@yahoogroups.com, umuanambra@yahoogroups.com, UMUIGBO@YAHOOGROUPS.COM, igboevents@yahoogroups.com, Anambra-WorldForum@yahoogroups.com, "icf icbicf" <anambraForum@yahoogroups.com>, Askanambragovernor@yahoogroups.com, Naijaelections@yahoogroups.com, naijainsider Naijainsider@yahoogroups.com, naijainsider Naijaobserver@yahoogroups.com
Date: Friday, 31 December, 2010, 22:37

Bomb explodes at army barracks in Nigeria

AP – This video image taken from NTA International Television shows a man gesturing to a soldier as emergency …

By BASHIR ADIGUN and JON GAMBRELL, Associated Press Bashir Adigun And Jon Gambrell, Associated Press – 5 mins ago

ABUJA, Nigeria – A bomb blast tore through a beer garden at a Nigerian army barracks where revelers had gathered to celebrate New Year's Eve, witnesses said, and state-run television reported Friday that 30 people died, though police immediately disputed that.

A local police spokesman said the blast occurred at about 7:30 p.m. Friday in Abuja, the capital of Africa's most populous nation.

No one immediately claimed responsibility for the explosion in this oil-rich nation where citizens remain uneasy after bombings at other locations had killed dozens of people several days earlier.

"It's unfortunate that some people planted (a) bomb where people are relaxing because of the new year," Air Marshal Oluseyi Petirin told journalists. "Nobody has been able to give accurate figures (of casualties), but we have rescued some people."

An anchor on the state-run Nigerian Television Authority gave a death toll of 30 to viewers Friday night. The channel did not give an estimate on the number of injured.

Local police spokesman Jimoh Moshood immediately disputed the figure, saying only four people had died and 13 were wounded. Death tolls remain contentious in Nigeria, as politicians often inflate or shrink tolls to suit their aspirations.

Witnesses said the market appeared full at the time of the blast. A local journalist at the scene told The Associated Press that soldiers carried injured people away, with one officer saying he feared there were fatalities.

In the minutes after the explosion, police and soldiers swarmed the area, blocking onlookers from entering the area. Later, an AP journalist saw police carrying out covered bodies and putting them in the back of police vehicles. Officers shouted at each other to keep the bodies covered and hidden from onlookers.

The base, called the Mogadishu Cantonment, includes an area of market stalls and beer parlors referred to locally as a "mammy market." There, civilians and soldiers regularly gather for drinks and its famous barbecued fish.

The blasts come days after a similar attack struck a nation that remains uneasily divided between Christians and Muslims. On Christmas Eve, three bombs exploded in the central Nigerian city of Jos, killing dozens of people. That area has seen more than 500 die in religious and ethnic violence this year alone.

Members of a radical Muslim sect attacked two churches in the northern city of Maiduguri the same night, killing at least six people.

The sect, known locally as Boko Haram, later claimed responsibility for both attacks in an Internet message. Police say they are still investigating those attacks.

Boko Haram means "Western education is sacrilege" in the local Hausa language. Its members re-emerged recently after starting a July 2009 riot that led to a security crackdown that left 700 people dead.

The Christmas Eve killings in Jos and Maiduguri add to the tally of thousands who already have died in Nigeria in the last decade over religious and political tension. The bombings also come as the nation prepares for what could be a tumultuous presidential election in April.

This isn't the first time Nigeria's typically quiet capital has seen violence this year. A dual car bombing killed at least 12 people and wounded dozens more during an Oct. 1 independence celebration in the capital. The main militant group in Nigeria's oil-rich southern delta, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, claimed responsibility for the attack.

In a statement, a spokesman for President Goodluck Jonathan said whoever planted the bomb wanted "to turn the joys of fellow Nigerians to ashes."

"This is extreme evil. It is wicked. It defies all that we believe in and stand for as a nation," the statement from Ima Niboro read.

It added: "They must be made to pay. No one, and we repeat, no one, can make this nation ungovernable."
Nigeria, an OPEC-member nation, remains a vital supplier of easily refined crude oil to the U.S. Unrest in the West African nation has affected oil prices in the past. Beyond that, Western diplomats worry ethnic, religious and political violence could hobble the nation of 150 million people forever just as it adjusts to democracy after years of military dictatorships and coups.
___

LILIACFIRE HAMMER

The more you look , the less you see!!

FIRE

LILIACFIRE TELESCOPE / THE PEOPLE'S WATCHDOG

LILIACFIRE REPORTS

LILIACFIRE FANCLUB 999,995

Head Office

Unit 9-11 Gunnery Terrace, Royal Arsenal, London, SE18 6SW

Posted by Edward Ezeife.

--- On Fri, 31/12/10, LiliacHammer <liliacfire@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:

From: LiliacHammer <liliacfire@yahoo.co.uk>
Subject: Re: NigerianID | COUP DETAT : WHO IS PLOTTING IT ???
To: "African" <africanspolitics@yahoogroups.com>, naijanet@googlegroups.com, naijapolitics@yahoogroups.com, talknigeria@yahoogroups.com, nigerianid@yahoogroups.com, Adey45@yahoo.com
Cc: NIgerianid@yahoogroups.com, umuanambra@yahoogroups.com, UMUIGBO@YAHOOGROUPS.COM, igboevents@yahoogroups.com, Anambra-WorldForum@yahoogroups.com, "icf icbicf" <anambraForum@yahoogroups.com>, Askanambragovernor@yahoogroups.com, Naijaelections@yahoogroups.com, naijainsider Naijainsider@yahoogroups.com, naijainsider Naijaobserver@yahoogroups.com
Date: Friday, 31 December, 2010, 22:12

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttYw1ebJrBE&feature=related

IS HE TRULY IN CONTROL ???

Major-General Onyeabo Azubuike Ihejirika is the new Chief of Army Staff (COAS). He is the first Igbo COAS since 1966, when Major-General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi was the GOC of the Nigerian army.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjsVpTNJGDM

COUPS D'ETAT IN NIGERIA: HISTORY, SURVIVORS and VICTIMS.

COUPS: THE VICTIMS, THE SURVIVORS

.

THE mere mention of coup d'etat, the unconstitutional and violent overthrow of incumbent governments, sends down shivers and evokes traumatic memories from any country's nationals. It recreates those anguished images that overwhelmed the populace when the finger pulled the trigger.

Every citizen is haunted by mortal fear of the day's uncertainty and discusses it in hushed tones, cautious that nobody eavesdrops. The penalty for participation is maximum: death. It, therefore, makes it a condemnable high risk venture. But some initiators still damn the consequences. It is all because it possesses limitless attractions and guarantees inexhaustible opportunities.

Its charm is almost irresistible. Those who get hooked hardly would divorce their other collaborators. They, somewhat, lose every sense of reason and would muster whatever resources to actualise such a dream. When successful, they become instant heroes.

APRIL 1990 COUP D'ETAT SPEECH

Fellow Nigerian Citizens,

On behalf of the patriotic and well-meaning peoples of the Middle Belt and the southern parts of this country, I , Major Gideon Orkar, wish to happily inform you of the successful ousting of the dictatorial, corrupt, drug baronish, evil man, deceitful, homo-sexually-centered, prodigalistic, un-patriotic administration of General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida. We have equally commenced their trials for unabated corruption, mismanagement of national economy, the murders of Dele Giwa, Major-General Mamman Vasta, with other officers as there was no attempted coup but mere intentions that were yet to materialise and other human rights violations.

The National Guard already in its formative stage is disbanded with immediate effect. Decrees Number 2 and 46 are hereby abrogated. We wish to emphasise that this is not just another coup but a well conceived, planned and executed revolution for the marginalised, oppressed and enslaved peoples of the Middle Belt and the south with a view to freeing ourselves and children yet unborn from eternal slavery and colonisation by a clique of this country.
Our history is replete with numerous and uncontrollable instances of callous and insensitive dominatory repressive intrigues by those who think it is their birthright to dominate till eternity the political and economic privileges of this great country to the exclusion of the people of the Middle Belt and the south.
They have almost succeeded in subjugating the Middle Belt and making them voiceless and now extending same to the south.
It is our unflinching belief that this quest for domination, oppression and marginalisation is against the wish of God and therefore, must be resisted with the vehemence.
Anything that has a beginning must have an end. It will also suffice here to state that all Nigerians without skeleton in their cupboards need not to be afraid of this change. However, those with skeleton in their cupboards have all reasons to fear, because the time of reckoning has come.
For the avoidance of doubt, we wish to state the three primary reasons why we have decided to oust the satanic Babangida administration. The reasons are as follows:

(a) To stop Babangida's desire to cunningly, install himself as Nigeria's life president at all costs and by so doing, retard the progress of this country for life. In order to be able to achieve this undesirable goals of his, he has evidently started destroying those groups and sections he perceived as being able to question his desires.
Examples of groups already neutralised, pitched against one another or completely destroyed are:
(1) The Sokoto caliphate by installing an unwanted Sultan to cause division within the hitherto strong Sokoto caliphate.
(2) The destruction of the peoples of Plateau State, especially the Lantang people, as a balancing force in the body politics of this country.
(3) The buying of the press by generous monetary favours and the usage of State Security Service, SSS, as a tool of terror.
(4) The intent to cow the students by the promulgation of the draconian decree Number 47.
(5) The cowing of the university teaching and non-teaching staff by an intended massive purge, using the 150 million dollar loan as the necessitating factor.
(6) Deliberately withholding funds to the armed forces to make them ineffective and also crowning his diabolical scheme through the intended retrenchment of more than half of the members of the armed forces.

Other pointers that give credence to his desire to become a life president against the wishes of the people are:
(1) His appointment of himself as a minister of defense, his putting under his direct control the SSS, his deliberate manipulation of the transition programme, his introduction of inconceivable, unrealistic and impossible political options, his recent fraternisation with other African leaders that have installed themselves as life presidents and his dogged determination to create a secret force called the national guard, independent of the armed forces and the police which will be answerable to himself alone, both operationally and administratively.
It is our strong view that this kind of dictatorial desire of Babangida is unacceptable to Nigerians of the 1990's, and, therefore, must be resisted by all.
Another major reason for the change is the need to stop intrigues, domination and internal colonisation of the Nigerian state by the so-called chosen few. This, in our view, has been and is still responsible for 90 percent of the problems of Nigerians.
This indeed has been the major clog in our wheel of progress.
This clique has an unabated penchant for domination and unrivalled fostering of mediocrity and outright detest for accountability, all put together have been our undoing as a nation.
This will ever remain our threat if not checked immediately. It is strongly believed that without the intrigues perpetrated by this clique and misrule, Nigeria will have in all ways achieved developmental virtues comparable to those in Korea, Taiwan, Brazil, India, and even Japan.
Evidence, therefore, this cancerous dominance has as a factor constituted by a major and unpardonable clog in the wheel of progress of the Nigerian state. (Sic) It is suffice to mention a few distasteful intrigues engineered by this group of Nigerians in recent past. These are:
(1) The shabby and dishonourable treatment meted on the longest serving Nigerian general in the person of General Domkat Bali, who in actual fact had given credibility to the Babangida administration.
(2) The wholesale hijacking of Babangida's administration by the all powerful clique.
(3) The disgraceful and inexplicable removal of Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe, Professor Tam David-West, Mr. Aret Adams and so on from office.
(4) The now-pervasive and on-going retrenchment of Middle Belt and southerners from public offices and their instant replacement by the favoured class and their stooges.
(5) The deliberate disruption of the educational culture and retarding its place to suit the favoured class to the detriment of other educational minded parts of this country.
(6) The deliberate impoverishment of the peoples from the Middle Belt and the south, making them working ghosts and feeding on the formulae of 0-1-1- or 0-0-0 while the aristocratic class and their stooges are living in absolute affluence on a daily basis without working for it.
(7) Other countless examples of the exploitative, oppressive, dirty games of intrigues of its class, where people and stooges that can best be described by the fact that even though they contribute very little economically to the well being of Nigeria, they have over the years served and presided over the supposedly national wealth derived in the main from the Middle Belt and the southern part of this country, while the people from these parts of the country have been completely deprived from benefiting from the resources given to them by God.
(8) The third reason for the change is the need to lay a strong egalitarian foundation for the real democratic take off of the Nigerian state or states as they circumstances may dictate.
In the light of all the above and in recognition of the negativeness of the aforementioned aristocratic factor, the overall progress of the Nigerian state a temporary decision to excise the following states namely, Sokoto, Borno, Katsina, Kano and Bauchi states from the Federal Republic of Nigeria comes into effect immediately until the following conditions are met.

The conditions to be met to necessitate the re-absorption of the aforementioned states are as following:
(a) To install the rightful heir to the Sultanate, Alhaji Maccido, who is the people's choice.
(b) To send a delegation led by the real and recognised Sultan Alhaji Maccido to the federal government to vouch that the feudalistic and aristocratic quest for domination and operation will be a thing of the past and will never be practised in any part of the Nigeria state.
By the same token, all citizens of the five states already mentioned are temporarily suspended from all public and private offices in Middle Belt and southern parts of this country until the mentioned conditions above are met.
They are also required to move back to their various states within one week from today. They will, however, be allowed to return and joint the Federal Republic of Nigeria when the stipulated conditions are met.
In the same vein, all citizens of the Middle Belt and the south are required to come back to their various states pending when the so-called all-in-all Nigerians meet the conditions that will ensure a united Nigeria. A word is enough for the wise.
This exercise will not be complete without purging corrupt public officials and recovering their ill-gotten wealth, since the days of the oil boom till date. Even in these hard times, when Nigerians are dying from hunger, trekking many miles to work for lack of transportation, a few other Nigerians with complete impunity are living in unbelievable affluence both inside and outside the country.
We are extremely determined to recover all ill-gotten wealth back to the public treasury for the use of the masses of our people. You are all advised to remain calm as there is no cause for alarm. We are fully in control of the situation as directed by God. All airports, seaports and borders are closed forthwith.
The former Armed Forces Ruling Council is now disbanded and replaced with National Ruling Council to be chaired by the head of state with other members being a civilian vice-head of state, service chiefs, inspector general of police, one representative each from NLC, NUJ, NBA, and NANS.

A curfew is hereby imposed from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. until further notice. All members of the armed forces and the police forces are hereby confined to their respective barracks.
All unlawful and criminal acts by those attempting to cause chaos will be ruthlessly crushed. Be warned as we are prepared at all costs to defend the new order.
All radio stations are hereby advised to hook on permanently to the national network programme until further notice.

Long live all true patriots of this great country of ours. May God and Allah through his bountiful mercies bless us all.

Conversely, they are society's villains once the plot is aborted by superior strategies or gun-power of the man in the saddle. Curiously, the coupists seek escape routes. Once arrested, investigated and convicted, they begin the final journey to the firing range or long periods of incarceration.

Suddenly, the world invokes sympathy from all quarters to avoid blood-letting. Coups have their prizes and the other prices.

Usually, in every attempt, there are victims and the survivors. Afterall, human beings in authority are the targets. The mission is almost always to eliminate the regime's henchmen and take over power or to simply shove them aside without wasting lives. In this case, a coup can either be bloody or bloodless.

Coup making is, certainly, not a Nigerian creation. Neither is it an African origination. According to Encyclopaedia Americana, one of the first modern coup d'etats was initiated and executed by Napoleon Bonaparte 200 years ago, precisely on November 9, 1799. Showing awesome trickery, he deceived the first French Republic to a Paris suburb where they were surrounded by battle-ready soldiers and the council sacked.

Africa was initiated into the coup cult 47 years ago. The ugly monster reared its ugly head on July 23, 1952 when Lt. Col Gamal Abdel-Nasser led the putsch which terminated the reign of King Farouk in Egypt, ironically the cradle of civilization. Two years later, Gen. Mohammed Naguib's administration became history, no thanks to Nasser again.

Suddenly, the flood-gate of coups had been thrown wide open. Sudan embraced it in 1958 before Gnassingbe Eyadema, a sergeant pushed aside the government of Mr. Sylvanus Olympio. Thus, mutinies found their ways into the West African sub-region in 1963. The whirlwind was to swirl to the Central African Republic two years after to allow East Africa taste the bitter pill.

Between 1952 when Nasser's experiment put the continent on world focus and September 1, 1969 (a period of 17 years), African nations had incredibly witnessed 26 forceful take-overs! There were expressed worries: Is Africa, indeed, the Heart of Darkness or is it being taken back to the dark age?

From Sudan to Benin Republic (then Dahomey), Algeria, Zaire, Burkina Faso (then Upper Volta) and on to Liberia and Ghana among others, the nationals woke up to martial music highlighting the coming of a new government.

In 1980, Sergeant Samuel Doe had stormed the stage to "liberate Liberians" but the whole globe was perplexed when the octogenarian former President, William Tolbert and members of his family were tied to the stakes and primarily executed! Nine years later, Doe was killed in such ridiculous fashion. Within the same period, Capt. Thomas Sankara who commanded amazing followership from Burkinabes, was similarly killed in a coup that brought the incumbent President, Blaise Compaore to power.

Today, Nigerians are celebrating the release and selective pardon granted convicts of the 1990, 1995 and 1997 alleged coup plots by the Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar-led regime. From Lagos to Odogbolu, Ilorin, Kaduna and Ehor (Edo), families and relatives of the freed men have been rejoicing and supplicating to God for sustaining the lives of their beloved ones until this day. Though, the Yar'Aduas and the Akinyodes were not as lucky.

But these aborted plots, as declared by the last two military administrations, did not herald the introduction of coup making in Nigeria's political lexicon. Rather, it all began in the early hours of January 15, 1966 when Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu conspired with four other majors to strike. And with the summary sacking of the First Republic by these Five Revolutionaries, the course of Nigeria's political history was irreparably altered. Soon after that intervention, Nzeogwu offered reasons to justify their action.

His broadcast identified as enemies "the political profiteers, the swindlers, the men in high and low places that seek bribes and demand ten per cent, those that seek to help the country divided permanently so that they can remain in office as ministers or VIPs at least, the tribalists, the nepotists, those that make the country look big for nothing before international circles, those who have corrupted our society and put the Nigerian political calendar back by their words and deeds."

Nigerians, today, harbour sundry perceptions about the Nzeogwu coup which marked the beginning of a new era in Nigeria's history, certainly negatively. However, there is still an agreement that before the putsch, there were barely tolerable acrimonies and dichotomies along tribal lines.

Commentators continue to question the propriety and timeliness of that action even as the topic remains open to individual interpretations and rationalisations.

However, ascertainable facts can only aid our collective appreciation of where coups have left Nigeria as a nation. Prior to January 15, 1966, there were blatant electoral malpractices. There was palpable distrust and tribal hatred. The future was uncertain. Then dramatically, five army majors decided that it was time to effect change at the centre. When they finally struck, it was damn bloody.

Victims of Jan. 15, 1966 coup

The citizens were terribly shocked when top-ranking government functionaries including the Prime Minister, Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, were killed in a selective elimination that tended to give the whole exercise an ethnic coloration. Others who died were the premier of Northern Region, Sir Ahmadu Bello; the premier of Western Nigeria, Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola and the Finance Minister, Chief Festus Okotie-Eboh.

Also, Brig. S.A. Ademulegun, Major S.A. Adegoke, Lt. Col. J.Y. Pam, Brig. Zakari Maimalari and Col. Kur Mohammed died. Others who lost their lives included Lt. Col. Largema, S/Lt. James Odu, Col. S.A. Shodeinde and Lt. Col. A.G. Unegbe.

Survivors

Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe was at this time the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria but he had shortly left for overseas shortly before the coup. This way, he survived. But tongues were sent wagging as to whether his trip was a result of any privileged information. Dr. Michael Okpara, the premier of Eastern Region was also a survivor of the first military intervention in Nigeria, among others.

But despite the resistance mounted by troops loyal to the incumbent regime, Chief Nwafor Orizu who was the then Senate President and acting President would not be convinced that there was enough peace for democratic governance. As a result, he handed over power to Major-Gen. Thomas Umunnakwe Aguiyi-Ironsi. The latter's introduction of a unitary system of government was most ill-advised and roused some ill-tempers.

Owing to the high number of Northern casualties, the intervention was seen as one directed at that tribe. And when the North took its pound of flesh on July 29, 1966, it was such a colossal tragedy for the Igbos.

Victims (July 29, 1966)

The then Head of State, Ironsi was assassinated in Ibadan with his host, Lt. Col. Adekunle Fajuyi, the governor of Western Region who would not give up his guest. Other officers of Igbo extraction suffered similar fate. They comprised Lt. Col. I.C. Okoro, Majors Dennis Okafor, Nzegwu, P.C. Obi, J.K.

Obienu and lieutenants E.C.N. Achebe, Ekedingyo, Ugbe, S.A. Mbadiwe and A.D.C. Egbuna.

Equally sent to the great beyond were other officers in J.O.C. Ihedigbo, E.B. Orok, I. Ekanem, A.O. Olaniyan, B.Nnamani, A.R.O. Kasaba, F.P. Jasper, H.A. Iloputaife, S.E. Maduabum and J.I. Chukwueke. In addition to these 42 officers killed plus no less than a hundred non-commissioned officers who died, thousands of innocent civilians mostly of Eastern Nigeria origin lost their lives as a consequence of this coup.

Survivors

Yakubu Gowon, a 32-year-old lieutenant colonel then and Chief of Army Staff was to mount the throne. He was one main survivor and key beneficiary. Add to this list other Northern officers of the same rank in Murtala Muhammed and Theophilus Danjuma. As Major-Gen. David Ejoor, the Chief of Staff, Nigerian Army between 1972 -1975 was to react later; "the reaction of the Igbos to this coup culminated in the bloody civil war that lasted for about 30 months."

For nine years, Gowon pioneered the affairs of the country. During the days of the oil boom, he occasioned some developments even though there were whispers about corrupt enrichment by some of his officials.

Having accomplished the return of the political adminsitration of Nigeria to the North, Gowon set out to restore the Nigerian federalism and created 12 states to decentralise and bring government nearer to the people.

Again, his administration had fashioned a democratisation process that was designed to enthrone civilian governance but when he played the midwife in aborting that dream, he had won more enemies, relentless critics and unyielding cynics.

July 29, 1975

And while Gen. Gowon was attending an OAU Heads of Government summit in Ethiopia, some disenchanted officers in a broadcast by the then Col. Joseph Garba took over the reins of power in a bloodless coup d'etat on July 29, 1975.

Consequently, Gowon and his other surbodinates were the major victims in the change of baton that took the nation, as usual, by surprise.

Gen (then Brig) Murtala Ramat Muhammed became the biggest beneficiary as he was installed the next ruler. Born in Kano, he climbed the rostrum in style and endeared himself to the national heart, courtesy of his crusade against corruption and the war he waged to ensure accountability.

Bloody Feb. 13, 1976

The coming of Murtala was short-lived. On February 13, 1976, he became the second Head of State after Ironsi to be assassinated while in office. The nation grieved over this overthrow which was orchestrated by Col. Bukar Sukar Dimka. He had other collaborators in mostly young officers of the Middle Belt origin.

Victims

Muhammed was the ultimate loser. He lost his life as well as the headship of Africa's giant. Having lost their bread winner, his family became a major victim in the bloody coup. Col. Ibrahim Taiwo, who was at that time the governor of Kwara State was also killed by the coupists.

Between the Hausa/Fulani muslims and the Middle Belt christians, there was evident tension that spread to the nooks and crannies of the country. One, Gowon who is a christian Middle Belter was replaced by Murtala, a Hausa/Fulani Muslim while officers from the former geo-political area had planned a coup that toppled and killed Muhammed.

A military tribunal was set up to try the coup suspects. When the trial was over, no less than 30 officers mostly from the Middle Belt were summarily executed. These included Dimka who led the coupists, Defence Commissioner, Major-Gen. I.D. Bisalla and the Benue-Plateau Governor, Joseph Gomwalk.

There were also Colonels A.D.S. Wyas, A.B. Umoru, Isa Bukar; Majors Dabang, J.K. Afolabi, K.K. Gagara, J.W. Kasai, Ola Ogunmekan, I.B. Rabo and M.M. Mshella as well as Lieutenants Mohammed, Wayah, William Seril and O. Zagmi.

Plus Captains J.F. Idi, Austin Duwarang, M.R. Gotip, A.A. Aliyu and Parvwang among others.

Survivors

Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo, the second-in-command was not hit by the coupists' bullets. He was also a stabilising factor that would cool the tempers and avoid any confrontation between the Middle Belt and the Muslim North. Shehu Musa Yar'Adua, a young Hausa/Fulani Colonel was promoted to a Brigadier and subsequently a Major-General as he became the Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters, only next to the incumbent helmsman, Obasanjo. There were other key members of the cabinet who survived the February 13 coup. Such included Major-Gen. T.Y. Danjuma and Major-Gen. Joe Garba who was the Federal Commissioner of External Affairs. Other generals in Martin Adamu (GOC 2 Mechanised Division, Ibadan), Emmanuel Abisoye, Alani Akinrinade came out unscathed in the scare. So did Vice Admiral Alani Adelanwa, the Chief of Naval Staff, Air Marshal Yisa Doko, the Chief of Air Staff and Alhaji M.D. Yusufu, the Inspector-General of Police.

Obasanjo was to set up a transition programme which he religiously implemented until Alhaji Shehu Shagari was sworn in as the first Executive President of Nigeria, notwithstanding the controversies which accompanied the election result announcement and inauguration.

Putsch of Dec. 31, 1983

Having been installed on October 1, 1979, Shagari ended his first term four years after. It was a turbulent period for the ruling National Party of Nigeria and the incumbent Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. Nigeria's economy had taken a downward slide and the standard of living was nothing to be discussed in the open. There were other allegations of reckless squandering of the national wealth.

But all these did not stop Shagari from being re-elected in 1983 even with protests of electoral fraud by the other parties. Barely three months into the second term of that regime, the overthrow bug crawled back to suck the blood of Nigerians. Amid national outcry of wasteful spendings by some government functionaries, Brig. Sani Abacha came on air, December 31, 1983 to announce the administration's death.

Losers

Though Brigadier Ibrahim Bako was recorded to have died in that change of power, the intervention of the military in another democratic dispensation, was one in which blood was not shed. Most of the civilian administrators voluntarily reported at the offices of the security agencies from where their journeys to long agonising imprisonments started. In the usual cycle, the man who is overthrown becomes the biggest loser. In this regard, Shagari was the topmost casualty. Then, there was Dr. Alex Ekwueme, the Second Republic Vice-President as well as Drs. Olusola Saraki, Joseph Wayas and Chief Edwin Umezuoke, the leaders of the National Assembly (Senate and House of Representatives).

At the state levels, the governors as well as their deputies and assemblymen also were forced to say bye to their dreams of running their full term. It was the same fate for NPN, NPP, UPN, GNPP and PRP, the five parties that were proscribed following the mutiny.

Survivors

Major-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari took over from where Shagari left. He had Major-Gen. Tunde Idiagbon as the man next to him. There were also collaborators in Ibrahim Babangida, Sani Abacha plus others. But the beauty of the take-over was that again, it was bloodless. And so was the one which brought in Gen. Babangida two years later.

Coup of Aug. 27, 1985

Marial music at dawn had become a familiar tune to the ears of Nigerians, and when one blared from radio speakers in the morning of August 27, 1985, the nationals knew that another batch of soldiers had struck. They were not mistaken. When the identities of those behind the plot finally emerged, Gen. Babangida had forcefully snatched the baton from his former boss, Buhari.

Again, both Buhari and Idiagbon had lost out in the military intrigues and in like manner, there were all accusations of high-handedness and insensitive to the sufferings of Nigerians as justifications for seizing power.

IBB's regime toyed with the idea of having Nigeria as a member of the Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC) as well as taking the IMF loan and later the introduction of the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP). At each point, the government encouraged the public to debate such measures. Babangida ruled the country for eight years, earning for himself the sobriquet "Maradona" for his deft dribbles in administering Nigeria. The anti-climax of his regime was the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election presumably won by late Chief M.K.O. Abiola.

But in all these, the beneficiaries of his ascension to power were Admirals Augustus Aikhomu, Ebitu Ukiwe (who fell out with the administration at a point and had to go) plus numerous Nigerians who benefitted either by appointments or being awarded lucratrive contracts.

Vatsa's coup

At every point, the former Head of State, Gen. Babangida would not cease to say it loudly that Major-Gen. Mamman Vatsa (late) was his good friend. But when both crossed their different parts in a treasonable felony allegation, friendship took the back bench. Vatsa was accused of planning to violently overthrow IBB's government in 1986. A Special Military Tribunal was set up to try him and co-conspirators. At the end of it all, they were found guilty of the act as charged.

There were pleas for clemency by well-meaning Nigerians and other international figures and bodies. But they were to pay the maximum price. No less than 13 officers were shot.

These victims included Major-Gen. Vatsa, Lt. Col. Bitiyong, Lt. Col. Mike Iyorshe, Major D.I.Bamidele, Lt. Col. C.A. Oche and Naval Cdr. A.A. Ogwiji.

Others were Lt. Col. M. Effiong, Sqdn. Ldr. Marthin Luther, Wing Cdr A.C. Sakaba, Sqdn. Ldr. A. Ahura, Wing Cdr. B. Ekele and Lt. P.Odoba.

IBB and his entire cabinet as well as their families and other military governors are those who gained from the plot that was foiled.

Bloody coup of April 22, 1990

Perhaps, no overthrow bid has been as bloody in recent times as the one embarked upon by Major Gideon Orkar and his collaborators on April 22, 1990.

Lagosians were shaken to their marrows with the bombardments that sent Obalende and its environs quaking.

The intent, of course, was to dislodge Babangida and his lieutenants. The coupists had taken over the radio station from where they were able to broadcast to a panicky nation. In what the majority saw as extremist in conception, the plotters were condemned for excising some parts of Nigeria in their broadcast.

A strategist in matters pertaining to coup d'etats himself, IBB succeeded in crushing that rebellion. But it was not without a scar. Lt. Col. U.K. Bello, the ADC to Babangida was felled by the coupists' bullet and it was one that left obvious bitterness in the mouth of the Minna-born General. And soon, the perpetrators were rounded up to face trials being sentenced. Orkar and his fellow "dissidents" were forwarded to the shooting range. This was outside other Nigerians who were reported to have died in connection with the mutiny.

Victims

Major Orkar, Lt. Cyril Ozoalor, Capt. Perebo Dakolo, Lt. E. Akogun, Lt. A. Mukoro and Capt. Harley Empere paid the maximum penalty for treason. Also executed were Sergeants M. Ademokhia, Pius Ilegar, J. Itua and Lt. N. Odey.

No less traumatised by the deaths handed over to their husbands and fathers were the wives, children and even dependent relations of those killed.

Again, Babangida and his cabinet ministers, state governors, service chiefs and their families were the survivors of that deadly attempt to overthrow the government.

Abacha's days

After he assumed power as a military Head of State when Chief Ernest Shonekan "resigned" as the Head of the Interim National Government, Gen. Sani Abacha was a character that amazed as he dazed his subjects.

Oftentimes, he was under-estimated. And it took time for Nigerians to appreciate that behind those dark glasses was a man of steel who would not blink to get his act done.

In his own words, he came in as a "child of circumstance" but the pro-democracy groups mounted pressures on the Kano general to revalidate the mandate of Chief Abiola. At a time, MKO was to announce himself "President" and that was when the citizens came face-to-face with the reality that their ruler was one tough being. Abiola was arrested and later incarcerated and never returned until he died in prison.

Like it happened under Babangida, there were two alleged plots to remove Abacha from power. But the characters behind the two stories made one more awesome. Aside Major-Gen. Vatsa, there was no other military man of note in the two coups of 1986 and 1990 that confronted IBB's administration.

In the case of Abacha, it involved the heavyweights. In the alleged plot of March 1995, a former Head of State, Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo and his second-in-command, Major-Gen. Yar'Adua were hounded into prisons in what they all termed to be a "phantom coup." Then, there was Col. Lawan Gwadabe, a former Niger State governor and Principal Staff Officer to Abacha himself.

Will they be killed? Can Abacha kill Obasanjo and Yar'Adua? Was there really a coup? The civilian populace did not dare dabble into the last issue because coup making is an entirely military business.

Throughout the investigations, trials and pronouncement of the sentences, Nigeria seemed to be sitting on a keg of gun powder. Will it explode?

Outside the trio, the best brains in the military like Cols. Bello Fadile, Roland Emokpae among others were also implicated in the alleged plot.

Death sentences were handed over to the key convicts but worldwide appeals for the government to temper justice with mercy, saw Abacha and his men commutting the death verdicts to various years of jail terms. In a twinkle, all the convicted coupists were distributed to different prisons all over Nigeria. Thus, they began to languish in jails.

In December 1997, Nigerians woke up to another bafflement when Lt. Gen. Oladipo Diya, the Chief of General Staff; Major-Gen. Abdulkareem Adisa, former Works Minister and Major-Gen. Tajudeen Olanrewaju, ex-Communications Minister were all handcuffed and brought before the Special Military Tribunal for plotting to overthrow their boss, Abacha. Col. Yakubu Bako, a former military admninistrator was among those who were to be jailed for their alleged complicity in the putsch.

Abubakar's coming

Following the death of Abacha via no coup, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar was to inherit his predecessor's assets and liabilities. Obasanjo, Diya, Adisa, Olanrewaju, Gwadabe fell in the latter category.

Obasanjo was to lead the first batch of pro-democracy activists and journalists out of the cells, courtesy of a presidential pardon. He was later to join the political train and backed by retired generals and all, the Otta farmer stands in our midst today as the country's president-elect.

On Thursday, last week, the prison gates were flung open once again for Diya, Adisa, Olanrewaju and no less than thirty other convicts to walk home as free men. Celebrations trailing their release still persist.

But the undying question remains; have we heard the last of coup making as a nation?

Everyone recognises its illegality and proffers that the Nigerian military must be re-orientated to appreciate their real functions and their true places in the barracks.

More than that, so much souls had been wasted and as the country embraces the Fourth Republic, it ought to cast a glance back and see that it has, indeed, paid so painful prices for coups.

Successful or aborted, bloody or bloodless, coups are undesirable and condemnable.

Addendum
List of those Killed in the April 1990 Coup Trial

KILLED

Major Gideon Orkar
?Major Charles Idele
Captain NH Empere
Captain PA Dakolo
Capt AA Nonju
Lt. AE Akogun
Lt. CO Odey
Lt. CO Ozualor
Lt. NEO Deji
2/Lt AB Umukoro
2/Lt EJ Ejesuku
SSgt Julius Itua
Sgt Martins Ademokhai
Sgt. Pius Ilegar
WO2 Monday Bayefa
L/Cpl Francis Ogo
L/Cpl Jepta Inesei
Cpl. Sunday Effiong
L/Cpl Sam Mbakwe
L/Cpl Albert Ojerangbe
L/Cpl Godfrey Deesiiyira
L/Cpl Emma Oyemolan
Sgt. Stephen Iyeke
Cpl. Joseph Efe
WO Afolabi Moses
L/Cpl Idowu Azeez
WO Jonathan Ekini
S/Sgt Solomon Okungbowa
Private Richard Iseghoei
Private Egwolo Makpamekun
L/Cpl Edogamen Friday
S/Sgt Jolly Agbodowi
Sgt. Etim Umoh
L/Cpl Sam Obasuyi
Ex. Serviceman LC Otajareiri
Ex. Pvt Osazuwa Osifo
Ex. Pvt CP Wasiu Lawal
Ex. Pvt Peter Unuyoma
Ex. Pvt Synalman Goodluck Emefe
Ex. S/Sgt Samson Idegere
Pvt. Emmanuel Onoje
Trooper Roland Odogu
Corporal Lateef Awolola
Pvt. Dickson Omenka
Corp Ehietan Pius
Private Iroabuchi Anyalewechi
Private Henry Eguaoyi
L/Cpl Martins Odey
L/Cpl Sunday Asuquo
Trooper Celestine Ofuoku
Pvt. Anthony Korie
Pvt Thomas Angor
Pvt Edem Basi
Pvt Joseph Odey
Trooper Obioma Esiworo
L/C Magnus Ekechi
WO2 Godwin Donkon
Sgt. Ojo Adegboyega
Pvt Peter Abua
Pvt. Phillip Akamkpo
Sgt. Shehu Onleje
Corp Olanrewaju Ogunshola
L/Cpl Luka Yang
Trooper Malkily Ayogu
L/Cpl Andrew Onah
Michael Ebeku
***********************
JAILED

L/Cpl Ezekiel Akudu
Pvt Ibrahim Egwa
Sgt. John Alilu
Sgt. Andarich Eladon
L/Cpl David Amo Amo
L/Cpl Vitalis Udzea
************************
DISMISSED

L/Cpl Celestine Nebo
L/Cpl Wapami Adigio
L/Cpl Mike Odeniyi
L/Cpl Kingsley Aromeh
Sgt. Lawrence Ademola
Signal Man Fatai Daranijo
Pvt. Godwin Airomokha
Sgt. John Benson
L/Cpl Vincent Ozigbo
L/Cpl David Oke

CASUALTY

Lt. Col. UK Bello (General Babangida's ADC)
*******************

NOTE: Quite a number of other officers were retired vindictively for no just cause because of the coup attempt.

LILIACFIRE HAMMER

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Posted by Edward Ezeife.

--- On Fri, 31/12/10, Adey <adey45@yahoo.com> wrote:

From: Adey <adey45@yahoo.com>
Subject: NigerianID | Laurent Gbagbo exit 'could worsen Ivory Coast crisis'
To: "African" <africanspolitics@yahoogroups.com>, naijanet@googlegroups.com, naijapolitics@yahoogroups.com, talknigeria@yahoogroups.com, nigerianid@yahoogroups.com
Date: Friday, 31 December, 2010, 19:13

31 December 2010 Last updated at 13:54 ET

Laurent Gbagbo exit 'could worsen Ivory Coast crisis'

Ivory Coast's incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo has said the country could face greater violence if he were to resign.

The UN says some 200 people have been killed or have disappeared in the past month - mostly supporters of his rival, Alassane Ouattara.

UN human rights chief Navi Pillay has told Mr Gbagbo he could be held criminally accountable for abuses.

Some of Ivory Coast's neighbours have threatened to oust Mr Gbagbo by force.

But analysts say intervention in Ivory Coast would be far more difficult than West Africa's previous operations in Liberia and Sierra Leone.

The UK has said it would back military intervention, if sanctioned by the UN.

Mr Ouattara is holed up in a hotel in the main city, Abidjan, protected by UN peacekeepers.

Some of Mr Gbagbo's allies have threatened to storm the hotel on Saturday - a threat which UN chief Ban Ki-moon has said could spark renewed civil war.

The election was intended to reunify the country which has been divided since a 2002 conflict.

France accused

Mr Ouattara was initially proclaimed the winner by Ivory Coast's election commission.

But as it was doing this, the Constitutional Council cancelled the vote in parts of the north still controlled by New Forces rebels who back Mr Ouattara, and said Mr Gbagbo had won with 51% of the vote.

Both men have been sworn in as president.

During the month-long stand-off, men in uniform, often accompanied by militia or civilians, have been targeting people associated with the opposition, say UN human rights monitors.

They say 179 people have been killed in recent weeks, and more than 27 have disappeared.

But Mr Gbagbo told Euronews that his departure would not necessarily end the unrest.

"If I said I would leave office right now, who could provide an assurance that it would bring peace and that it would not bring even greater violence?" he said.

However, he said his resignation was not on the agenda "for now".

Mr Gbagbo also said he would be prepared to accept a recount, although he did not give any details of his proposals.

"We are negotiating. I ask myself why those who claim to have beaten me oppose a recount of the votes," he said.

The UN helped organise the poll and says Mr Ouattara won.

Analysts say it would be unlikely to agree to a recount.

As international pressure increases on Mr Gbagbo to step down, the EU has agreed to widen a travel ban to 59 Gbagbo allies, diplomats say.

Mr Gbagbo accuses France, which retains considerable economic interests in its former colony, of mobilising international opinion against him.

"Amongst today's great global powers, each has its own sphere of influence. When it's something to do with Francophone Sub-Saharan Africa, France speaks and the rest follow," Mr Gbagbo said.

He has ordered the 9,500 UN peacekeepers to leave Ivory Coast and there have been some attacks on them by Mr Gbagbo's supporters.

BBC News

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Friday, December 31, 2010

Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Ivry Coast: W.African states 'will oust Gbagbo if talks fail

USA Africa Dialogue Series - Fwd: [NaijaElections] Don’t push us to the wall, Violence may be inevitable -Atiku warns [POLITICAL TENSIONS BEFORE NIGERIA BOMB BLASTS]

Atiku's threat of violence: Group charges security agencies

Bomb explodes at army barracks in Nigeria

Victims of Jan. 15, 1966 coup

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Bloody Feb. 13, 1976

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Putsch of Dec. 31, 1983

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