1966 coup: Ohanaeze denies apology to Fulani

As angry reactions continued to trail viral audio alleging plans by Ndigbo to apologize to the Fulani community over the 1966 coup in Nigeria, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, yesterday, denied any such move.

The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation described the viral audio as wicked, false and malicious.

The January 15, 1966, led by Major Kaduna Nzeogwu and called ‘Igbo coup’ in some quarters because the major participants were from Eastern Nigeria, killed 22 people including then-Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa, many other senior politicians, senior Army officers of northern extraction and their wives.

However, the coup was not well received by some northern soldiers led by then – Lt. Cols Murtala Muhammed and T.Y. Danjuma who staged a counter-coup in July 1966. The counter-coup resulted in the murder of Nigeria’s first military Head of State, General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi, and Lt Colonel Adekunle Fajuyi (who was hosting a visiting Aguiyi-Ironsi as Western Region Governor) in Ibadan.

Reacting to the voice note in Owerri, the Imo State capital, the President General of Ohanaeze, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, maintained that the Igbo were not responsible for the coup in 1966 and, therefore, have no reason to apologise to anyone.

Iwuanyanwu also said all Igbo governors were calling for IPoB leader Nnamdi Kanu to be released from custody.

Kanu is facing trial for alleged secession and treason before a Federal High Court in Abuja.

“I was shocked to read a voice message alleging that we held a retreat at Enugu State, and it was poorly attended and that in the meeting we said we were going to Sultan of Sokoto to apologize to them for the killing of Ahmad Bello and the other things that happened in the 1966 coup. The voice message was false, malicious and wicked”, Iwuanyanwu stated.

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“Part of what we agreed in that retreat was that we are going to publish a book called; ’This is our story’. It will tell our story starting from the time of war till this moment. So, as a father, I will forgive those who did the evil voice message. So far, Ugwuh has apologized and I have forgiven him.”

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On Nnamdi Kanu, the Ohanaeze leader said: “I have done a lot, I am the one who started the move to free Kanu, and many were bold to join me because they have respect for me. All our governors are calling for Kanu to be released.”
Meanwhile, the Igbo-Biafra Nationalists, has said it would not accept any plan to apologize to any person or group of persons over the issues surrounding the coup.

The Convener of the group, Uche Mefor, denounced any such suggestion or plan of extending apologies to the Fulani community.

He said: “Our attention has been drawn to a purported shameful plan by some unscrupulous individuals from the South-East, contemplating the notion of extending an olive branch to the Fulani community, seeking forgiveness for the events surrounding the military coup of 1966. Such contemplation, however, must be met with resounding condemnation and a vehement refusal to tow such an ignoble, abominable path to destruction.

“The Igbo-Biafra Nationalists and the Indigenous People of Igbo Nation for Self-Determination categorically denounce any such suggestion or plan, whether genuine, perceived, or manipulated, of extending apologies to the Fulani community. This proposed action, if indeed true, represents a betrayal of the memory of the abominable atrocities committed against the Igbo race throughout the various chequered history of Nigeria’s bumbling political development.

Updated: NNPC blames fuel scarcity on panic buying, hoarding, marketers disagree 

The Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has attributed the ongoing fuel scarcity in the country to panic buying and sharp practices by some petroleum marketers. But the marketers have refuted the claim, asserting that inadequate supply is the primary cause of the persistent scarcity.

The NNPCL assured the public that the fuel queues across the country would disappear by next week.

It stressed that it had sufficient fuel reserves to resolve the scarcity issue. This statement came in response to concerns raised by the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) and other stakeholders regarding the scarcity.

The NNPC spokesperson, Femi Soneye, had earlier indicated that the corporation had over 1.5 billion litres of petroleum products, enough to last for at least 30 days.

But some individuals were allegedly exploiting the situation for profit.

Petroleum marketers maintained they were not responsible for the fuel scarcity, as they are not importers of petrol. According to the National Vice President of IPMAN, Hammed Fashola, blaming marketers for hoarding petrol was unfounded as they could only divert the product if available.

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Furthermore, Chinedu Ukadike, the National Public Relations Officer of IPMAN, emphasized that independent marketers operate their businesses to maximize profit and return on investment. He highlighted the challenges faced by marketers in ensuring product availability and dismissed allegations of sharp practices.

Similarly, the Executive Secretary of the Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria, Clement Isong, acknowledged the existence of sharp practices within the oil sector but argued that it is too simplistic to attribute the fuel scarcity solely to such practices.

To address the fuel scarcity effectively, stakeholders emphasize the need for increased distribution of petroleum products by regulatory authorities. They also call for the involvement of security agencies to deter profiteering and ensure fair distribution to consumers across the country.

Updated: NNPC blames fuel scarcity on panic buying, hoarding, marketers disagree

Lagos issues 48hr quit notice to Ikoyi Towers’ illegal squatters

Lagos State Government has issued a 48 hours ultimatum to illegal squatters at abandoned Ikoyi Towers, Lagos Island to evacuate.

The State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, gave the notice on Saturday, during an inspection of some identified sites, including the abandoned Federal Government property, Ikoyi Towers.

The Ikoyi Towers, located behind the abandoned Federal Secretariat, Ikoyi, comprise of three blocks of 12 floors, tagged: A, B and C.

Wahab said the quit notice has become necessary to protect lives which is the primary function of any responsible and responsive government.

According to him, “Apart from constituting an environmental nuisance, they are security risk to the state which can be used as hideouts for criminal elements to perpetrate their nefarious acts.

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