Column

Column

June 12, annulled dreams and the unending agony – abiodun KOMOLAFE.

June 12, annulled dreams and the unending agony – abiodun KOMOLAFE.

June 12, 1993 marked a significant setback for Nigeria, harking back to the January 15, 1966, coup-d’etat. This unfortunate event pushed the country back by at least a century, primarily due to the suspension of the 1963 Republican Constitution. Although the masterminds behind the coup never explicitly stated that they had abolished the constitution, the consequences of its suspension continue to manifest in Nigeria’s persistent underdevelopment. Ayo Ademiluyi, a civil rights lawyer and political activist, recently pointed out that the General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida government, similar to previous and succeeding military administrations, was characterized by diarchy. This system of governance,…
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Beyond the Veil of Hate: Unpacking the Fani-Kayode Fallacy – Chidiebere J. Okoh

Beyond the Veil of Hate: Unpacking the Fani-Kayode Fallacy – Chidiebere J. Okoh

As Nigeria continues to grapple with the complexities of its past, it's astonishing to see politicians like Femi Fani-Kayode perpetuating divisive narratives that only serve to widen the ethnic chasm. In a recent outburst, Fani-Kayode claimed that the Igbos were responsible for the 1966 coup, a notion that has been thoroughly debunked by historians and scholars. But let's set the record straight. The Igbos weren't responsible for the assassination of Dele Giwa, the imprisonment of Obafemi Awolowo, or the assassination of Bola Ige. They weren't responsible for the killing of MKO Abiola and his wife, Kudirat. And they certainly weren't…
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Kalu Drops Rebuttal to Femi Fani-Kayode’s Misinterpretation of Nuances Surrounding 1966 Coup

Kalu Drops Rebuttal to Femi Fani-Kayode’s Misinterpretation of Nuances Surrounding 1966 Coup

I am compelled to respond to Femi Fani-Kayode's recent claims that the 1966 coup was an "Igbo coup." As someone who has studied Nigeria's history and is passionate about setting the record straight, I must correct the inaccuracies and misconceptions perpetuated by Fani-Kayode. While it is true that the coup leaders, led by Major Chukwuemeka Nzeogwu, were predominantly Igbo, it is misleading to characterize the coup as exclusively Igbo-driven. The motivations behind the coup were multifaceted, driven by a desire to overthrow the corrupt government and address regional imbalances, rather than advancing narrow ethnic interests. Furthermore, it is essential to…
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1966 Coup:  Jude Ndukwe Responds to FFK’s Misleading Claims, Makes Shocking Relations

1966 Coup:  Jude Ndukwe Responds to FFK’s Misleading Claims, Makes Shocking Relations

Chief Jude Ndukwe, a former aide to Femi Fani-Kayode, has delivered a sharp rebuke to his ex-boss for his relentless criticism of the Igbos regarding the 1966 coup. Chief Ndukwe warned the former Minister that he is biting off more than he can chew and questioned the depth of his animosity towards the Igbos, particularly given that Ndukwe, as an Igbo man, has risked his own property for FFK. Chief Ndukwe’s response reads; “Sir, you are biting more than you can chew. You have insulted our people enough and I have taken it in with calmness because I don’t squeal…
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Legends lost! An era closes! A nation mourns! By abiodun KOMOLAFE

Legends lost! An era closes! A nation mourns! By abiodun KOMOLAFE

The passing of Chief Ayo Adebanjo, a renowned elder statesman and Afenifere chieftain, and the breaking news about Chief Edwin Clark, mark the end of an era. Focusing primarily on Adebanjo, he represented, very much like Clark, the spirit of emancipation, which arose out of the earlier stages of the agitation for an end to the colonial incursion in Africa. Indeed, Clark was actually, as a student at Holborn College of Law in London, an active member of the West African Students’ Union (WASU). Between 1952 and 1965, he was also a member of the Honourable Society of Inner Temple,…
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