By Prof ECHEFUNA? R G ONYEBEADI

I am still wondering how IBB got the ?courage? as a military Head of State, to kill his best friend, best man, classmate and colleague, General Vatsa, but lacked the same ?courage? to merely sack his ?insubordinate? General Abacha, whom he claimed and accused posthumously, derailed his transition programme and annulled MKO?s victory at the polls without his knowledge, consent and authority!

Which one was easier? To kill or to sack?

If IBB could muster ?courage? to sack his second in command, Admiral Ebitu Ukiwe, for questioning his dragging Nigeria, a ?secular? State, into the membership of Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC), why couldn?t he do the same to General Abacha for allegedly sabotaging and annulling the most credible election in Nigeria without his knowledge and consent?

How come IBB himself made a national broadcast affirming the annulment of June 12, 1993 election for which General Abacha is now posthumously blamed?

Can IBB?s belated confession that MKO won the 1993 presidential election restore the lives lost, families destroyed and businesses ruined?

By the way, has military coups ceased to be a treasonable offense for which a ?presidential library? would be built for a head of a military junta, with humongous amount of money extorted from our Commonwealth?

Some Takeaways

?January 15, 1966 coup was not an Igbo coup.

?Major Kaduna Nzeogwu, the supposed leader of the failed January 15, 1966 coup, was a Northerner of the then Midwest Region extraction.

?January 15, 1966 coup was meant to release Chief Obafemi Awolowo from prison and install him as Head of Government (Prime Minister)/Executive President.

?January 15, 1966 coup was foiled by Col. Obienu, an army Colonel of Igbo extraction, who was later murdered in a counter coup reprisal of July 29, 1966 by army officers of northern Nigeria extraction.

?An Igbo Officer (Anuforo), assassinated another Igbo Officer (Unegbe), who was the Quartermaster-General of Nigerian Army, for not cooperating with the January 15, 1966 coup plotters.

?IBB blamed General Yakubu Gowon for failing to stop the massacre of Ibos and non-northerners in the North, thus necessitating the unfortunate and avoidable civil war of 1967 to 1970.

?The killing of renowned journalist Dele Giwa is still a mystery!

?The killing of over 170 best and brightest military officers in a plane crash is still a mystery.

?Our rulers and elites of sorts, past and present, military and civilians, tormentors and tormented, oppressors and oppressed, were all united to honour one of their own at the expense of the vanquished downtrodden and lamenting masses.

?IBB is now sorry, but takes full responsibility for his actions and/or inactions while in office as a military Head of State.

?Professor Echefuna? R. G. ONYEBEADI [DBA; PhDs; CEng. Etc], Professor of Engineering Economy, Strategic Management Expert and the Inegbese of Oligbo Kingdom, writes from FCT Abuja.

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