• Orji Kalu urges Babangida to name June 12 culprits
• Calls for Abiola’s official recognition
Moved by revelations made by former military Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd), that the 1966 coup was not an Igbo coup, an Igbo group, Njiko Igbo Forum, has demanded N100 trillion from the Nigerian Government on account of the injustice suffered by Igbo people from 1966 till date.
Babangida had, in his new book, ‘A Journey in Service’, released last week, exonerated Igbo as plotters of the coup.
Reacting to the development, Njiko Igbo, an affiliate of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, in a statement by its President, Rev. Okechukwu Obioha, therefore, asked members of the National Assembly from the South-East to come up with a bill for a N100 trillion compensation to be paid to Igbo for the injustices suffered as a result of the wrong impression.
“This is compensation for the rejection, hate, marginalisation, pogrom/genocide and millions killed during the civil war, economic losses due to destruction of properties, businesses, seized properties, and so on, as a result of the false narrative.
“It is now very clear that the Commanders and leaders of the January coup of 1966, popularly characterised as an ‘Igbo coup’, were Kaduna Nzeogwu (Delta), Adewale Ademoyega (Yoruba), Capt. G. Adeleke (Yoruba), Lt. Fola Oyewole (Yoruba), Emmanuel Ifeajuna (Igbo), Lt. Tijani Katsina (Hausa), Capt. Gibson Jalo (Niger Delta) and Lt. O. Olafemiyan (Yoruba)”, the group said.
It added that more revelations have emerged that the coup was meant to free Obafemi Awolowo from prison and install him as Nigeria’s Prime Minister.
“It has been confirmed by some who were directly involved or had firsthand knowledge of the coup’s planning.
“In other words, if the coup had gone exactly as planned, Awolowo would have been released and made the Prime Minister,” the statement explained.
MEANWHILE, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has called on Babangida to give the full details behind the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election, urging him to disclose those responsible for preventing its declaration.
Speaking on governance, economic reforms, and national development, Kalu took a strong stance on historical and political matters, particularly the role of the military in Nigeria’s democratic evolution.
On Babangida and June 12, Kalu expressed his anticipation for the second volume of Babangida’s memoir, stating that the first edition failed to reveal all the realities behind the annulled election.
“I was present during the events of June 12, and I know what happened. Babangida should call out the names of those responsible for preventing the election declaration.
“He agreed with the assertion that Moshood Abiola won that election, adding that there is no doubt about it,” he said.
He insisted that since Abiola won the election, his image should be placed among Nigeria’s past presidents.
