Given the fact that we are still commemorating the fifty year anniversary of the January 15th 1966 coup I have decided to write a follow-up essay to last week’s column. It is interesting to note the fact that virtually every single one of those that actually carried out the killings and pulled the triggers during the course of that horrendous night of slaughter met a terrible end themselves.
On the night of January 15th 1966 a coup d’etat took place in Nigeria which resulted in the murder of a number of leading political figures and senior army officers.
This was the first coup in the history of our country and 98 per cent of the officers that planned and led it were Igbo. From the political class those that were killed included the following: Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, the Prime Minister, who was abducted from his home and whose body was dumped somewhere along the Lagos-Abeokuta road.
Mr. President, you will recall that I wrote you an open letter on December 28th, 2015 which I sincerely hope that you found most gratifying, illuminating and helpful.
That was two days before your Presidential media chat which took place on December 30th. I hereby humbly crave your indulgence to add an addendum to that open letter. That is what this contribution represents.
The Fulani were at their most influential in Gobir.Then a dispute broke out between their Imam,Usumam Fodiyo,and Sarkin Gobir Yunfa.The Fulani rallied behind their leader,who encouraged them to defy their…
What were you like? Shit! You were FFK. You were a beautifully sculpted Adonis of a man.
You were arrogant and dangerous. Always had a frisson of violence and mad passion ... just beneath the elegant and preppy surface.
Mr. President, as one of your most loyal and faithful subjects who has nothing but the utmost respect for your person and your office I am constrained to write you this open letter.
This is because there are a number of issues that I believe that it is important for you to clarify and to come clean on. I say this because some of your assertions of late are at best contradictory and at worst patently dishonest.
"African, Asian, West Indian and black British, STAND FIRM in a England. Cos no matter what they say, come what may, we are here to stay in a England."
…
It is 3 a.m. in the morning: the time that is commonly referred to as the bewitching hour.
This is the moment that darkness and silence stalks the land.
This is the moment that is pregnant with fear, uncertainty and mystery.
"Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look. He thinks too much...l do not know the man l should avoid so soon as that Cassius..such men as he, be never…
Yes Aunty, I want a man. I want to settle down and have all that you have gone on about, but you see, I want a man that is like me; a shattered man.
She recalls the familiar tune of happy days and nights past. She was once innocent and carefree and would never worry about the morrow. The world was her oyster, the sky was not a limit, it was a stepping stone! She was untouchable, she was passionate and full of life, she could take on the world! But suddenly, everything fell apart.
"These days people know the price of everything and the value of nothing."
______________ Oscar Wilde.