After the January 1966 coup, Major Emmanuel Ifeajuna was asked why did the Army struck?,he replied and said (In his personal account of the coup"INDICTMENT")"politics has become the best paying profession. An incompetent woman secretary could get appointed on a fabulous pay with quarters as a matter of priority because she knew some minister or Alhaji.when corruption was criticised more corruption appeared. When it was said that salaries were too high for a particular group like the legislators who met only 64 days in the year, their salaries would be raised. When people cried that there were too many ministers,they would appoint some more. On the 14th January, the eve of the coup, more ministers were appointed. They used the Army to terrorise the population"
He went further to say,"They prostituted the military institution, which should be sacred to our people. And they expected that we should go on slaughtering our own people for a few criminals to stay in power forever"
Finally he said"By 1945 our people would say,"Iam a Nigerian,I come from Kano"But by 1960,they would say"Iam a Northerner. I come from Kano".
While our people were fighting and dying, those who ruled in Lagos and Kaduna and had but to say one word or raise a finger and peace as well as justice would return, merely looked on.It did not matter much to them that the country side was aflame with rage and violence. The last act of the regime was an epitaph befitting their bankruptcy.The cabinet was enlarged to include more ineffective people.On the last day of the regime, the ex_prime minister granted a press interview in which he virtually admitted that he could not control the affairs of the state. Never was such dereliction of duty practiced upon a people by their own leader.
This is the reason according to Ifeajuna, the leader of the coup why the five Army Majors struck against the first Republic in January 15th,1966.
When I read through this account,l was strucked by the coincidence of events and occurrence of the same issues in the 60s today in our polity. Just yesterday the president increased ministerial nominees to 47, from 38 or 41 Buhari left behind.
Last Monday the Senate president told us that the legislators pay are too small and needs upgrading. The security agents have been used against the population,yet our leaders kept mute. Today we are happy to declare our ethnic origin than our nationality. Is this coincidence or what.
The sickness of 1960,has come to afflict us in this 21st century because our Doctors have JAPA.Men and brethren we need to prayer for God to intervene or the nation perish if it actually remains still in existence.
We must push for more reforms in our electoral system. The input of electronic system in our electoral system as seen in the use of BVAS in the 2023 election should be strengthened and Nigerians must stand up against the judicial system not to torpedo the use of BVAS in their rulling on the electoral matters. I have discovered that, the judiciary is one of the institutions that needs serious reforms and reorganisation because of the penetration of political class into their Chambers with Dollar Power.
Iam yours Dr Jude Uche Onwuhanze.
