Northern Reform Organisation Mourns  The 15th January 1966 Military Coup

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

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.

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.