Thread by @prince_of_nimo

Summary of Nigeria's history up till the civil war.
Post 1960, Northerners occupied most top govt positions while Southerners comprised most top military positions.
The govt was rife with nepotism & Ethnocentric appointments.

Wike #Obasanjo Nnamdi Kanu Mikano #vawulence Lawyers

9 soldiers (8 Igbo 1 yoruba), citing political corruption & marginalization, attempted a coup that targeted key govt & military officials, most of whom were Northerners,few eastern, western & mid-westerners in a bid to install a Westerner political prisoner (Awolowo) as president

Most of the key Northern, western & midwestern figures were killed. 1 Easterner was killed, 2 arrested; 1 escaped (the GOC) & crushed the coup.
The Eastern soldier that crushed the coup became Head of State (Aguiyi Ironsi) and in an attempt to reconcile with the Northerners,

made them key members of his cabinet, security and key figures in strategic positions all over the country.

The Northern soldiers believing the Head of State was complicit in the attempted coup (sentimentally dubbed an Igbo coup) exerted their revenge by mutineering and killing

hundreds of Easterner soldiers, including the Head of State.
They didn't stop there. They, along with mobs of notherners, went into various Nothern cities killing over 30,000 civilians of Eastern extraction, prompting a mass exodus of Easterners back to the Eastern region.

The soldiers only stopped after an agreement was made to install a Northern Head of State (Gowon) instead of his seniors who were southerners.
An Eastern soldier (Ojukwu), who contributed in thwarting the first coup attempt but was targeted in the 2nd coup, negotiated for equity

An accord was reached (Aburi accord). The new northern Head of State reneged on the agreement.
The Easterner soldier in response to the breach of agreement, declared a secession of the Eastern region (Biafra).
War ensued & the Nigerian forces carried out one of d bloodiest wars

in African history against Biafra.
After 3 years of war, with over 2.5 million casualties, Biafra surrendered.

It continues, but I'll stop here for now.

Why did I write this?

For you to know what divides us today, you have to understand where the cracks in the foundation begun

Nigeria is long overdue for a reconciliation on all sides, otherwise we may not be able to find a path to peace.

It may be too late for reparations, but a reconciliation is still achievable.

End.

Wike Olumide Akpata Nnamdi Kanu Kubwa Inibehe Effiong #vawulencespace #History

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Summary of Nigerian History from 1960 up till the civil war.

Wike Olumide Akpata Nnamdi Kanu Kubwa #vawulencespace Inibehe Effiong #History #Obasanjo Lawyers