Nigeria may experience a repeat of the January 15 1966 military coup. - Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II

 

The emir made the disclosure on Thursday, January 14, in his brief remarks during the 50th commemoration of the death of the Sardauna of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello.

He pointed out that it was such issues of disaffection from a section of the country then that ignited the coup that claimed the life of the premier of Northern Nigeria, the Sardauna of Sokoto, and other national leaders in the country at that time.

Sanusi said Nigerians have moved beyond the 1966 coup, but according to him, it appears history is being repeated.

He stressed the importance of letting bye-gones be bye-gones, saying: “We must not allow history to repeat itself.”

The former CBN governor maintained that Nigerians who are allegedly fanning the embers of violence and disunity of the country should stop it to avoid a backlash.

He noted that every section of the country had at one time tasted power and as well produced bad or good leaders, adding that all sections of the country must come together and move on as one country.

“We must not fail to learn from the past. We cannot get back to religious and ethnic divides. We are calling for tolerance and peace but we will not be allowed to be disrespected,” the emir of Kano said.

Meanwhile, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Sule emphasized the need for northern leaders to ensure the good values left behind by Sardauna and his colleagues were not thrown overboard.

In his keynote address, entitled ‘The North, 50 Years After Sir Ahmadu Bello’, Maitama Sule noted that in the days of the late Sarduana, northern Nigeria was a united region.

He noted saying: “We were our brothers’ keepers, we are no longer our brothers’ keepers, things have gone astray.

“We used to respect our elders and the constituted authority, but today the respect is no longer there, today there is chaos in politics, immorality in the society. We need leaders, not rulers.”

“If we follow the philosophy of Sardauna, Nigeria will be better for it. However, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel for a better Nigeria,” the ambassador said.

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However, he expressed optimism that under the present leadership Nigeria will overcome its problems.