The former president Olusegun Obasanjo, has finally spoken his mind on the January 15, 1966, military coup in Nigeria.

Speaking yesterday, January 15, in Lagos state
at the Nigerian Institute of International
Affairs (NIIA) on the occasion of the 50th
anniversary of the assassination of the First
Republic politician and minister of finance,
Chief Festus Okotie-Eboh, Obasanjo described
the January 15, 1966 coup as a monumental
error.
The Nation reports that Obasanjo said the
1966 coup that was orchestrated by the late
Major Chukwuma Nzeogwu brought the
military into politics.
“Exactly 50 years ago darkness enveloped
Nigeria. Many who were around then were
confused; many of us were taken by surprise.
“That we are able to gather here today to
remember and in a way acknowledge the life
of our early leader who, whatever may be his
deficiency, is a testament to the fact that he
gave us the best,” Obasanjo said.
Speaking also, Alhaji Yusuf Maitama Sule, a
colleague to Okotie-Eboh, said the former
minister of finance was a true Nigerian.
“Festus was a friend of the people; he was a
friend of the East, friend of the West and
friend of the North.
“He had fantastic public relations. That was
why he was loved by all; you could never
guess the political party he belonged to,” he
said.
According to him, whenever Okotie-Eboh
walked into parliament, his nickname,
Omimiejor would take over the air.
“He was full of humour, even when members
of the opposition were attacking him. But, it
was not the kind of attack you have today,” he
said.
Speaking also, Chief Mbazulike Amaechi, a
First Republic politician, said Okotie-Eboh was
one of the financial pillars of the defunct
NCNC. He said even after his Itsekiri kinsmen
left the party for the Action Group (AG),
Okotie-Eboh remained in the NCNC.
He described Okotie-Eboh as a man of vision
who managed the finance and the economy of
the country far beyond the expectations of
everyone.
The ceremony, which was chaired by Obasanjo,
also witnessed the public presentation of the
book, “Chief Okotie-Eboh, in Time and Space”
and it attracted many dignitaries, including
the former vice president Alex Ekwcueme,
Chief Akintola Williams, Ahmed Joda, Philip
Asiodu, Great Ogboru, Dr. Wale Babalakin,
royal fathers from all parts of the country
including the Emir of Kano, Alhaji
Muhammadu Sanusi and a host of others.
The minister of power, works and housing,
Babatunde Fashola, in a tribute to Okotie-
Eboh called for the establishment of a
foundation in his name, to teach young
Nigerians the country’s history.
The 1966 coup also claimed the lives of Prime
Minister Abubakar Tafawa Balewa; Northern
Region Premier Ahmadu Bello and
Western Region SLA Akintola, among others.
Obasanjo, speaking during a public discussion
of the Biafra issue in Abuja organized by
Nextier Advisory on January 15, Friday, urged
Nigerians to give up the agitation for Biafran
independence.