Emmanuel Okotie-Eboh’s testimony

By Sunny Ikhioya

IN these times of gathering storms and drum beats of war by different  ethnic nationalities in Nigeria, we must tread carefully. We must realise that either by omission or commission, no ethnic nationality is innocent in this matter. It is unfortunate that we have consigned history to the background in our education curricula, if not, the immediate and remote causes of Nigeria’s present state of affairs, including the civil war of 1967 to 1970 would have been known by now to all.

I am sure that if they are properly educated, most of them shouting war and secession now will prefer other means of arriving at a solution. It is important that we address the challenges facing us, according to Jay Bens in his Facebook post: “Until we are able to define our diversity and not superiority, true federalism will elude us and chaos will be sustained.”

Our present leadership must be wise to the challenges posed by the present situation. Nigeria is a complex, fractious, multi-cultural nation. If we must remain as one, the people must be allowed to decide that. Like my friend Felix Jarikre also noted in his Facebook page: “If we must move Nigeria more forcefully in alignment to our own convictions of peaceful resolution, it is not too late for Nigerians to pull back from the brink of mutually assured destruction. We must never capitulate in panic to the threats of war mongers. When they shout WAR, we shout PEACE.” So, without malice or hostility, we must articulate urgently and persuasively the inevitability of a referendum in Nigeria and stay on the message without wavering.”

If we truly love this country and want it to remain as one nation, we must be able to face the truth and tell it as it is. Our history has been distorted for too long, all parties are guilty in this matter. Sometimes the actions and utterances of a few individuals have snowballed into genocidal consequences on whole ethnic groups. We will not want to go through that route again, that is why I have chosen to present here the narrative of Mr. Emmanuel Okotie-Eboh. Emmanuel is the son of Chief Festus Okotie-Eboh, minister of finance, in the first republic, who was assassinated in the January 15 1966, coup, alongside others like Abubakar Balewa – prime minister, Ahmadu Bello – premier of the northern region, Samuel Ladoke Akintola – premier of the western region, Brigadier Zakari Maimalari – an influential military officer from the north and many others, especially from the northern extraction

This is Mr Emmanuel Okotie-eboh’s narrative; “The genesis of Nigeria’s problem- my witness, (1). That coup carried out in January 1966, was mismanaged by the soldiers. It was made to look like an Ibo coup. While officers from other tribes were killed, no Ibo officer was touched. No Ibo minister, leader or soldier was touched. Col. Victor Banjo met the premier of the eastern region, Chief Michael Okpara with his visitor Arch Bishop Ferdinand Marcus of Greece, Okpara, an Ibo man was let go. So that coup was tagged an Ibo coup and that is where the ‘cookie crumbled’.  What do you expect from the Hausas? Should they sit down and look? They retaliated by killing Gen. Aguiyi Ironsi, who became the head of state after the senate head Nwafor Orizu, an Ibo man, handed over to him.

Same time, many Ibo top military officers were rounded up and killed. Yakubu Gowon was made head of state by the northern coup plotters but Odumegwu Ojukwu who was military governor of the eastern region wanted to know the whereabout of Aguiyi Ironsi. With no proper response from Gowon, tension rose up in the country, killings started in the north, Ojukwu called all Ibos to come back home. Talks started, more talks, Aburi etc and when the centre could no longer hold, things fell apart. That is part one. I do not think we need part two. The mistake of the coup plotters; If Michael Okpara was killed, no one would have tagged that coup an Ibo coup and maybe, we would not have fought the civil war….”

I have quoted Emmanuel Okotie-Eboh verbatim. It is left for us all to learn from our past. As stated as the  beginning of this copy, no side is innocent in the whole matter. Let us therefore, come together, in a collaborative effort  to find a permanent solution to our problems. For starts, let there be a referendum, it must be left to the people to decide.

*Mr. Ikhioya, http://ift.tt/2aHoDkF
Twitter: @sunnyIkhioya

 

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