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@bubusn Thank you for the reply. I actually am enjoying reading from your perspective (PLEASE READ THIS)
Although motives r debatable, lets be honest about concrete facts. One thing we certainly have never had in nigeria is security managed correctly.
This is from the routine ethnic and religious rioting/massacres, to OPC having free reign in Lagos, to MEND and Boko threatening the government, to Coups and potential coups.
The subsequent massacres from the mutinies were not new. Northerners had been conducting routine massacres decades before independence for various reasons.
The mutiny escalated things like bubsun said but I believe that the northerners used it as an excuse to murder all igbos they felt was in competition from military superiors, to fellow civil servants, to business men/traders, to property owners. If you have seen Ahmadu Bello's interview you will know what I am talking about.
I think this violence was inevitable, due to socio-economic and political competition similar to Rwanda.
And I believe it was Ironsi's fault, but for different reasons. Ironsi failed to correct the poor handling of security that exists in Nigeria till today. The bad management that allowed coups, mutiny, massacres and general insecurity flourish unchecked. This mistake lead to his junior officers openly plotting and executing mutinies against their own government (TWICE IN ONE YEAR)and to the end of his life.
Countries like the US and the UK are not Safe/secure because they Heavenly places of acceptance. Infact there is a tremendous amount of racial, political, and social tension. BUT THEY MANAGE IT!!! Through their comprehensive, unrelenting, well managed security systems, intelligence and internal security mechanisms.
Until Nigeria (and Africa) gets this right. We will always continue to have instability and routine violence and any Tom, Dick and Harry will be able to cause it and later on rationalize a "WHY WE STRUCK" arguement.
Although motives r debatable, lets be honest about concrete facts. One thing we certainly have never had in nigeria is security managed correctly.
This is from the routine ethnic and religious rioting/massacres, to OPC having free reign in Lagos, to MEND and Boko threatening the government, to Coups and potential coups.
The subsequent massacres from the mutinies were not new. Northerners had been conducting routine massacres decades before independence for various reasons.
The mutiny escalated things like bubsun said but I believe that the northerners used it as an excuse to murder all igbos they felt was in competition from military superiors, to fellow civil servants, to business men/traders, to property owners. If you have seen Ahmadu Bello's interview you will know what I am talking about.
I think this violence was inevitable, due to socio-economic and political competition similar to Rwanda.
And I believe it was Ironsi's fault, but for different reasons. Ironsi failed to correct the poor handling of security that exists in Nigeria till today. The bad management that allowed coups, mutiny, massacres and general insecurity flourish unchecked. This mistake lead to his junior officers openly plotting and executing mutinies against their own government (TWICE IN ONE YEAR)and to the end of his life.
Countries like the US and the UK are not Safe/secure because they Heavenly places of acceptance. Infact there is a tremendous amount of racial, political, and social tension. BUT THEY MANAGE IT!!! Through their comprehensive, unrelenting, well managed security systems, intelligence and internal security mechanisms.
Until Nigeria (and Africa) gets this right. We will always continue to have instability and routine violence and any Tom, Dick and Harry will be able to cause it and later on rationalize a "WHY WE STRUCK" arguement.