As Nigeria observes the Armed Forces Remembrance Day in 2024, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) expresses sorrow over the events of January 15, 1966. The group asserts that this historical incident set Nigeria on a regrettable path in its political development, one from which it has yet to recover.
In a statement released by its National Publicity Secretary, Professor Tukur Muhammad-Baba, the ACF condemns attempts to rewrite history and emphasizes that the North still grapples with the aftermath of the war.The statement underscores the significance of January 15, 2024, as the 58th anniversary of a dark day in Nigeria’s political history. It goes beyond a day of remembrance for the armed forces who sacrificed their lives in defense of the nation. On this date in 1966, the first military coup occurred, marked by the ruthless assassination of 21 individuals.For the ACF, January 15, 1966, remains profoundly significant because it resulted in the loss of prominent figures from Northern Nigeria, ending their distinguished political and military careers at the hands of the coup plotters.The statement contends that the 1966 coup signaled the demise of Nigeria’s fledgling democracy, leaving a lasting negative impact on national political history. The ACF firmly rejects any attempts, especially through social media, to distort the facts of the coup and its grim significance. It emphasizes that historical revisionism will not be tolerated, and the Arewa region will not forget the ethnic undertones evident in the planning and execution of the coup.The ACF criticizes and condemns any efforts to revise history or disrupt the unity of Arewa, considering such strategies as immature and provocative. January 15, 1966, remains a day of infamy in the nation’s history, and the commemoration serves as a reminder of its dire consequences. The statement concludes by stressing the importance of guarding against similar actions in the future.