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30 years After Gideon Okar Coup: What lessons for Nigeria

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<p><&excl;-- BEGIN THEIA POST SLIDER --><&sol;p>&NewLine;<&excl;-- WP QUADS Content Ad Plugin v&period; 2&period;0&period;95 -->&NewLine;<div class&equals;"quads-location quads-ad4" id&equals;"quads-ad4" style&equals;"float&colon;none&semi;margin&colon;0px&semi;">&NewLine;&NewLine;<&sol;div>&NewLine;&NewLine;<p><&sol;p><div class&equals;"I9i5YFrh" style&equals;"clear&colon;both&semi;float&colon;left&semi;width&colon;100&percnt;&semi;margin&colon;0 0 20px 0&semi;"><script async src&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;pagead2&period;googlesyndication&period;com&sol;pagead&sol;js&sol;adsbygoogle&period;js"><&sol;script> &NewLine;<&excl;-- TV --> &NewLine;<ins class&equals;"adsbygoogle" &NewLine; style&equals;"display&colon;block" &NewLine; data-ad-client&equals;"ca-pub-4403533287178375" &NewLine; data-ad-slot&equals;"4399361195" &NewLine; data-ad-format&equals;"auto" &NewLine; data-full-width-responsive&equals;"true"><&sol;ins> &NewLine;<script> &NewLine; &lpar;adsbygoogle &equals; window&period;adsbygoogle &vert;&vert; &lbrack;&rsqb;&rpar;&period;push&lpar;&lbrace;&rcub;&rpar;&semi; &NewLine;<&sol;script><&sol;div>&NewLine;<div><span style&equals;"font-family&colon; Tahoma&comma; sans-serif&semi;"><span style&equals;"font-size&colon; 18&period;6667px&semi;">By Abbas Yushau Yusuf<&sol;span><&sol;span><&sol;div>&NewLine;<div><&sol;div>&NewLine;<div><span style&equals;"font-family&colon; &quot&semi;Tahoma&quot&semi;&comma;&quot&semi;sans-serif&quot&semi;&semi; font-size&colon; 14&period;0pt&semi; line-height&colon; 115&percnt;&semi;">On April 22&comma; 1990&comma; Gideon Okar led a coup to oust General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida from power&period;<o&colon;p><&sol;o&colon;p><&sol;span><&sol;div>&NewLine;<div><&sol;div>&NewLine;<div><span style&equals;"font-family&colon; &quot&semi;Tahoma&quot&semi;&comma;&quot&semi;sans-serif&quot&semi;&semi; font-size&colon; 14&period;0pt&semi; line-height&colon; 115&percnt;&semi;">In early 60’s&comma; 70’s and 90’s Nigerian military was synonymous with coups and counter Coups&period; But the one that would have been fatal had it succeeded was the Gideon Okar Coup which carried serious ethnic and religious coloration&period;<o&colon;p><&sol;o&colon;p><&sol;span><&sol;div>&NewLine;<div><&sol;div>&NewLine;<div><span style&equals;"font-family&colon; &quot&semi;Tahoma&quot&semi;&comma;&quot&semi;sans-serif&quot&semi;&semi; font-size&colon; 14&period;0pt&semi; line-height&colon; 115&percnt;&semi;">Analysts related the failure of the coup on how it was conceived and the manner of its execution&period;<o&colon;p><&sol;o&colon;p><&sol;span><&sol;div>&NewLine;<div style&equals;"clear&colon; both&semi; text-align&colon; center&semi;"><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;1&period;bp&period;blogspot&period;com&sol;-3YBFz42NvEY&sol;XqCEfsTFl1I&sol;AAAAAAAAAuk&sol;-crV7wPEdTkyBi-3Pnm-558BuCljxDNUACLcBGAsYHQ&sol;s1600&sol;GIDEON&percnt;2BOKAR&period;jpg" style&equals;"margin-left&colon; 1em&semi; margin-right&colon; 1em&semi;"><img border&equals;"0" data-original-height&equals;"606" data-original-width&equals;"506" height&equals;"320" src&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;1&period;bp&period;blogspot&period;com&sol;-3YBFz42NvEY&sol;XqCEfsTFl1I&sol;AAAAAAAAAuk&sol;-crV7wPEdTkyBi-3Pnm-558BuCljxDNUACLcBGAsYHQ&sol;s320&sol;GIDEON&percnt;2BOKAR&period;jpg" width&equals;"267" &sol;><&sol;a><&sol;div>&NewLine;<div><span style&equals;"font-family&colon; &quot&semi;Tahoma&quot&semi;&comma;&quot&semi;sans-serif&quot&semi;&semi; font-size&colon; 14&period;0pt&semi; line-height&colon; 115&percnt;&semi;"><br &sol;><&sol;span><&sol;div>&NewLine;<div><&sol;div>&NewLine;<div><span style&equals;"font-family&colon; &quot&semi;Tahoma&quot&semi;&comma;&quot&semi;sans-serif&quot&semi;&semi; font-size&colon; 14&period;0pt&semi; line-height&colon; 115&percnt;&semi;">General Babangida’s Administration was one of the military regimes that<span style&equals;"mso-spacerun&colon; yes&semi;">&nbsp&semi; <&sol;span>suffered<span style&equals;"mso-spacerun&colon; yes&semi;">&nbsp&semi; <&sol;span>coup attempts but they all turned out to fail&period;<o&colon;p><&sol;o&colon;p><&sol;span><&sol;div>&NewLine;<div><&sol;div>&NewLine;<div><span style&equals;"font-family&colon; &quot&semi;Tahoma&quot&semi;&comma;&quot&semi;sans-serif&quot&semi;&semi; font-size&colon; 14&period;0pt&semi; line-height&colon; 115&percnt;&semi;">The first coup that welcomed General Ibrahim Babangida Administration was the botched Mamman Vatsa coup&comma; but some pundits described the coup as phantom&period;<o&colon;p><&sol;o&colon;p><&sol;span><&sol;div>&NewLine;<div><&sol;div>&NewLine;<div><span style&equals;"font-family&colon; &quot&semi;Tahoma&quot&semi;&comma;&quot&semi;sans-serif&quot&semi;&semi; font-size&colon; 14&period;0pt&semi; line-height&colon; 115&percnt;&semi;">But other people said the coup was masterminded to ease out Vatsa who was General Ibrahim Babangida’s close friend from the Nigerian Army&period;<o&colon;p><&sol;o&colon;p><&sol;span><&sol;div>&NewLine;<div><&sol;div>&NewLine;<div><span style&equals;"font-family&colon; &quot&semi;Tahoma&quot&semi;&comma;&quot&semi;sans-serif&quot&semi;&semi; font-size&colon; 14&period;0pt&semi; line-height&colon; 115&percnt;&semi;">With two attempts to remove General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida from power&comma; the mission was not accomplished till after he voluntarily stepped aside after annulling the June 12 1993 elections&period;<o&colon;p><&sol;o&colon;p><&sol;span><&sol;div>&NewLine;<div><&sol;div>&NewLine;<div><span style&equals;"font-family&colon; &quot&semi;Tahoma&quot&semi;&comma;&quot&semi;sans-serif&quot&semi;&semi; font-size&colon; 14&period;0pt&semi; line-height&colon; 115&percnt;&semi;">The coup staged by Gideon Okar was unique in the sense that they<span style&equals;"mso-spacerun&colon; yes&semi;">&nbsp&semi; <&sol;span>made serious blunders which no one would have said to do it in the history of coups and counter coups in Nigeria&period;<o&colon;p><&sol;o&colon;p><&sol;span><&sol;div>&NewLine;<div><&sol;div>&NewLine;<div><span style&equals;"font-family&colon; &quot&semi;Tahoma&quot&semi;&comma;&quot&semi;sans-serif&quot&semi;&semi; font-size&colon; 14&period;0pt&semi; line-height&colon; 115&percnt;&semi;">The biggest blunder was excising some parts of Nigeria from the rest of the federation which included Kano Katsina Sokoto and Borno States to other countries&period;<o&colon;p><&sol;o&colon;p><&sol;span><&sol;div>&NewLine;<div><&sol;div>&NewLine;<div><span style&equals;"font-family&colon; &quot&semi;Tahoma&quot&semi;&comma;&quot&semi;sans-serif&quot&semi;&semi; font-size&colon; 14&period;0pt&semi; line-height&colon; 115&percnt;&semi;">Gideon Okar’s coup would have set a precedence for other Nigerians who felt that dismembering Nigeria was the only solution to its myriad of problems as an entity and independent nation since 1st October 1960&period;<o&colon;p><&sol;o&colon;p><&sol;span><&sol;div>&NewLine;<div><&sol;div>&NewLine;<div><span style&equals;"font-family&colon; &quot&semi;Tahoma&quot&semi;&comma;&quot&semi;sans-serif&quot&semi;&semi; font-size&colon; 14&period;0pt&semi; line-height&colon; 115&percnt;&semi;">Coups and counter coups are not solutions to donkey problems facing Nigeria&comma; the first coup of January 15&comma; 1966&comma; that eliminated northern top notch from the army and the political leadership of the country did not offer the solution the mutineers agitated for&period;<o&colon;p><&sol;o&colon;p><&sol;span><&sol;div>&NewLine;<div><&sol;div>&NewLine;<div><span style&equals;"font-family&colon; &quot&semi;Tahoma&quot&semi;&comma;&quot&semi;sans-serif&quot&semi;&semi; font-size&colon; 14&period;0pt&semi; line-height&colon; 115&percnt;&semi;">The military was always against itself in overthrowing its fellow from top position and carry on with the leadership aiming to proffer solutions but to no avail&period;<o&colon;p><&sol;o&colon;p><&sol;span><&sol;div>&NewLine;<div><&sol;div>&NewLine;<div><span style&equals;"font-family&colon; &quot&semi;Tahoma&quot&semi;&comma;&quot&semi;sans-serif&quot&semi;&semi; font-size&colon; 14&period;0pt&semi; line-height&colon; 115&percnt;&semi;">Still after Gideon Okars 1990 coup&comma; which is thirty years today Nigerian Tracker observed that the leadership question in Nigeria is not about one&&num;8217&semi;s ethnicity or religion but ability to deliver good governance&period;<o&colon;p><&sol;o&colon;p><&sol;span><&sol;div>&NewLine;<div><&sol;div>&NewLine;<div><span style&equals;"font-family&colon; &quot&semi;Tahoma&quot&semi;&comma;&quot&semi;sans-serif&quot&semi;&semi; font-size&colon; 14&period;0pt&semi; line-height&colon; 115&percnt;&semi;">With the attitude of we are the one’s ruling or they ruling the country&comma;no major or minor tribe has changed the fortunes of its fellow ethnic groups even when they hold power&period;<o&colon;p><&sol;o&colon;p><&sol;span><&sol;div>&NewLine;<div><&sol;div>&NewLine;<div><span style&equals;"font-family&colon; &quot&semi;Tahoma&quot&semi;&comma;&quot&semi;sans-serif&quot&semi;&semi; font-size&colon; 14&period;0pt&semi; line-height&colon; 115&percnt;&semi;">Nigerian Tracker has viewed Gideon Okar Coup for its thirty years anniversary as a lesson for the country&comma; the political leadership and all Nigerians who see their ethnicity and religion of a fellow leader a way of changing their fortune<o&colon;p><&sol;o&colon;p><&sol;span><&sol;div>&NewLine;<p><&sol;p><div class&equals;"cZoPCu28" style&equals;"clear&colon;both&semi;float&colon;left&semi;width&colon;100&percnt;&semi;margin&colon;0 0 20px 0&semi;"><script async src&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;pagead2&period;googlesyndication&period;com&sol;pagead&sol;js&sol;adsbygoogle&period;js"><&sol;script> &NewLine;<&excl;-- TV --> &NewLine;<ins class&equals;"adsbygoogle" &NewLine; style&equals;"display&colon;block" &NewLine; data-ad-client&equals;"ca-pub-4403533287178375" &NewLine; data-ad-slot&equals;"4399361195" &NewLine; data-ad-format&equals;"auto" &NewLine; data-full-width-responsive&equals;"true"><&sol;ins> &NewLine;<script> &NewLine; &lpar;adsbygoogle &equals; window&period;adsbygoogle &vert;&vert; &lbrack;&rsqb;&rpar;&period;push&lpar;&lbrace;&rcub;&rpar;&semi; &NewLine;<&sol;script><&sol;div>&NewLine;<p><&excl;-- END THEIA POST SLIDER -->&NewLine;<&excl;-- WP QUADS Content Ad Plugin v&period; 2&period;0&period;95 -->&NewLine;<div class&equals;"quads-location quads-ad4" id&equals;"quads-ad4" style&equals;"float&colon;none&semi;margin&colon;0px&semi;">&NewLine;&NewLine;<&sol;div>&NewLine;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<&excl;-- WP QUADS Content Ad Plugin v&period; 2&period;0&period;95 -->&NewLine;<div class&equals;"quads-location quads-ad1" id&equals;"quads-ad1" style&equals;"float&colon;none&semi;margin&colon;0px&semi;">&NewLine;&NewLine;<&sol;div>&NewLine;&NewLine;<script async src&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;pagead2&period;googlesyndication&period;com&sol;pagead&sol;js&sol;adsbygoogle&period;js"><&sol;script> &NewLine;<ins class&equals;"adsbygoogle" &NewLine; style&equals;"display&colon;block" &NewLine; data-ad-format&equals;"autorelaxed" &NewLine; data-ad-client&equals;"ca-pub-4403533287178375" &NewLine; data-ad-slot&equals;"1004305389"><&sol;ins> &NewLine;<script> &NewLine; &lpar;adsbygoogle &equals; window&period;adsbygoogle &vert;&vert; &lbrack;&rsqb;&rpar;&period;push&lpar;&lbrace;&rcub;&rpar;&semi; &NewLine;<&sol;script>&NewLine;<&excl;-- WP QUADS Content Ad Plugin v&period; 2&period;0&period;95 -->&NewLine;<div class&equals;"quads-location quads-ad5" id&equals;"quads-ad5" style&equals;"float&colon;none&semi;margin&colon;0px&semi;">&NewLine;&NewLine;<&sol;div>&NewLine;&NewLine;<&excl;-- WP QUADS Content Ad Plugin v&period; 2&period;0&period;95 -->&NewLine;<div class&equals;"quads-location quads-ad3" id&equals;"quads-ad3" style&equals;"float&colon;none&semi;margin&colon;0px&semi;">&NewLine;&NewLine;<&sol;div>&NewLine;&NewLine;

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