Connect with us

News

Northern Reform Organisation Mourns  The 15th January 1966 Military Coup

Published

6 years ago

on

Sir Abubakar And Sir Ahmadu Bello

 

 

Introduction

The Northern Reform Organization commiserates with Nigerians and mourns the great losses over the tragic Igbo plotted and hatched military coup of January 15th, 1966.

 

It was a watershed betrayal of trust by some misguided military zealots who martyred the top northern political and military leaders and also some southern top political and military cadre who were also assassinated.

 

We hereby extend our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families of the victims of treachery and the nation in general.

The military misadventure inflicted extensive damage to the peace of the North with collateral effect on the families of those who died from the tragic event including, Alhaji Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Prime Minister of Nigeria, Alhaji Sir Ahmadu Bello, Sardauna of Sokoto, and Premier of Northern Region as well as his First wife Hajiya Hafsatu, Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola Premier of the western region, Chief Festus Okotie Eboh Minister of Finance, Brigadiers Samuel Ademologun and his wife Latifah, Zakaria Mai Malari, Colonels Ralph Shodeinde, Kur Muhammad and, Agobo Largema.

Background

The pain suffered, greatly jeopardized the unity of the nation, and endangered its sovereign existence as a nation with grave consequences.

 

SIr Abubakar Tafawa Balewa

SIr Abubakar Tafawa Balewa

 

In particular, it plunged the North into a crisis of identity, cohesion, character, and its values system were since then thrown into turmoil and yet to fully recover.

 

Its social fabric was almost torn into pieces, while its vibrant import substitution economy with much local content has staggered and is struggling as a working strategy. For Nigeria, it was a serious political and constitutional set back.

Advert

The 1966 tragedy stifled and compromised our political initiatives and its vibrant honorable culture of service to people. The North intermittent hold on power has been an enormous sacrifice to the unity and constitutional development of the nation, due to our sense of fair dealing. But this, a noble disposition is often perceived as greed for power by our traducers and weakness in the view of others, failing to see that selflessness is an attribute of our character.

It is, however, noteworthy that much more deserves to be done in the North to optimize its opportunity in power and exploit to the full its natural endowments and utilize the great potential of its useful population and enhance its education system with a planning attitude and aptitude to do away with the unbecoming sights of its many uncompleted projects. It should invest in power supply, high-quality infrastructure, public service delivery, and pursue a coherent agenda. It should also make the utmost priority to deal away with the challenges of insurgency, banditry, kidnappings, and general insecurity.

Current Situation

It should be fully appreciated that the leadership question must be addressed to make people in public responsibilities to be capable, competent, accountable, knowledgeable, and of sound moral character.

NIGERIA@60:The discovery Of Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa’s body by Late Babankowa

For this to happen, the citizenry must change their “unquestioning” behavior and develop the right attitude towards the leadership cadre, through consistent scrutiny. Society must restore its ideals and uphold the values of empathy and a kindred spirit of being one another’s keeper.

Individuals need to become civic citizens and abandon apathy to public affairs. Families have to become positive building blocks of society and emphasize correct children’s upbringing, while communities should become development centers. Our societies need to preserve their core values and stimulate progress by becoming strong cultural entities.

Conclusions

NRO commiserates this eventful date of January 15th by upholding it in memory of our lost heroes and fine leaders and vehemently condemned those who plotted and killed them. We also use the occasion as a wake-up call to our glorious past and an inspiration for better leadership at all levels.

The NRO wish to use this opportunity to mourn the death of our first interim Chairman, Alhaji Bello Isa Bayero, who died in its service recently, May Allah forgive him and grant him eternal rest in paradise, amin.

 

 

Recommendations

There is a need for a thorough examination of these issues with a view to producing the right caliber of leaders who are sincerely committed to the genuine progress and development of the people.

Currently, our political parties are without defined aims and objectives. Our political parties must design, define, and articulate a sound agenda for all our elected officials.

Government business should not be left to politicians alone. The general public must pro-actively propose good policies and hold elected officials to transparency and accountability.

Leaders should be beacons of hope, models of service and icons of culture, champions of causes and standpoints, voices of reason and moderation, reservoirs of knowledge and wisdom who inspire others to do the best.

 

 

Thank you,

For:   Alhaji Ado Muhammed,

Chairman Media & Publicity

Committee.

Related Topics:

News

Bank of Ghana Appoints Prof. Bashir to Chair Islamic Banking Council

Published

21 minutes ago

on

August 20, 2026

By

 

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The Bank of Ghana has appointed Professor Bashir Aliyu Umar, a distinguished Islamic scholar from Nigeria’s Bayero University, Kano (BUK), as chairman of its newly constituted council for interest-free (Islamic) banking operations.

Governor Johnson Pandit Asiama formally inaugurated the council members during a brief ceremony in Accra. Professor Umar, a seasoned lecturer in Islamic studies at BUK, will lead the body in ensuring that Ghana’s non-interest banking sector operates in full compliance with Sharia law and its associated ethical principles.

Advert

The appointment marks a significant step for Ghana’s financial sector, underscoring the central bank’s commitment to diversifying its banking landscape amid the rapid global expansion of Islamic finance.

Umar’s selection also highlights the increasing reliance on expert scholarly oversight to maintain regulatory integrity and religious adherence within this growing alternative banking model.

Continue Reading

News

MURIC Writes ICPC, Demands Access to Elrufai

Published

28 minutes ago

on

August 20, 2026

By

 

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC, has formally requested permission from the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, to visit former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, who is currently in the custody of the anti-corruption agency.

MURIC made the request in a letter submitted to the ICPC on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, by the chairman of its Abuja branch.

The group said the visit was intended to enable its representatives to meet with the former governor and assess his condition while in custody.

According to the organisation, a three-man delegation has been nominated to undertake the visit. The delegation comprises MURIC’s Executive Director, Prof. Ishaq Akintola; the chairman of the Abuja branch, Ustadh Yunus Salahudeen; and the branch’s assistant secretary, Shehu Ahmad Lemu.

Advert

MURIC urged the ICPC to grant the delegation access to El-Rufai, stressing that the request was made in line with its civil liberties advocacy and concern for the welfare and rights of persons in detention.

The group noted that Mr El-Rufai had been in ICPC custody since Monday, February 16, 2026, following his detention by the anti-corruption commission.

MURIC said that, as of Tuesday, August 18, 2026, the former governor had spent approximately six months and two days in the custody of the commission.

The organisation did not disclose the specific conditions it intended to assess during the proposed visit, nor did it state whether the request was prompted by any particular complaint concerning El-Rufai’s treatment in custody.

The former Kaduna governor has been under scrutiny by anti-corruption authorities over allegations linked to his administration in the state. His continued detention has also attracted public attention, particularly given the length of time he has spent in custody.

MURIC’s latest request adds a civil liberties dimension to the ongoing case, with the organisation seeking direct access to the former governor through a formally constituted delegation.

The group said it was awaiting the response of the ICPC to its request.

Continue Reading

News

President Tinubu Appoints Abel Olumuyiwa As Head Of Service

Published

24 hours ago

on

August 19, 2026

By

 

 

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Mr Abel Olumuyiwa Enitan as the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, effective August 27, 2026.

Mr Enitan succeeds Mrs Didi Esther Walson-Jack, who will retire soon from the Federal Civil Service upon attaining the statutory retirement age of 60.

Mr Enitan, from Osun State, is the most senior Permanent Secretary in the Federal Civil Service.

He has served as Permanent Secretary for seven years and seven months, working at the Ministry of Police Affairs, the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, and the Office of the Vice President. He is currently the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Education.

Advert

He brings considerable institutional experience and a deep understanding of how the Federal Civil Service works to his new responsibility.

President Tinubu expresses his profound appreciation to Mrs Walson-Jack for her distinguished service to the nation and for the reforms, impact and innovations witnessed in the Civil Service during her tenure.

The President wishes her a fulfilling and successful life after service and conveys the nation’s gratitude for her years of dedicated and impactful public service.

President Tinubu charges the incoming Head of the Civil Service of the Federation to consolidate on the reforms and innovations already underway, deepen professionalism and efficiency across the service, and build a more effective and responsive Civil Service capable of delivering on the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

The President further urges Mr Enitan to lead a Civil Service that is professional, merit-driven, accountable, innovative, and responsive to Nigerians’ needs and aspirations.

Enitan was born on December 12, 1966. He had his secondary education at Ajibode Grammar School, Ibadan and the College of Arts and Science, Ile-Ife. He later attended the University of Lagos and graduated in 1988 with a B.Sc. in Finance and Banking.

In 2015, Enitan obtained an M.Sc. in Public Policy Analysis from Nasarawa State University, Lafia.

 

Continue Reading

Trending