Obasanjo Labels 1966 Military Overthrow, Subsequent Backlash, and June 12 Incident as Nigeria's Darkest Moments

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo characterized the January 15, 1966 coup, the July 29, 1966 counter-coup, and the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election as pivotal moments that have left an indelible mark on Nigeria's history, dubbing them the nation's "black days".

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Obasanjo made this assertion while addressing attendees at the 60th memorial service for Nigeria's first military Head of State, Gen. Johnson Thomas Umunnakwe Aguiyi-Ironsi, who was assassinated on July 29, 1966, in Umuahia, emphasizing the need for Nigerians to draw lessons from these episodes to foster unity and national development.

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The former President reiterated his call for the reinstatement of History as a subject in Nigerian schools, cautioning that a nation that disregards its past risks perpetuating the mistakes of previous generations, and noting that Nigeria's history is replete with "black days" that serve as stark reminders of the importance of historical awareness.

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Obasanjo exhorted Nigerians to engage in introspection regarding the nation's most defining tragedies, focusing on the instructive lessons they offer rather than the divisions they created, and posed a poignant question: "what lessons do we learn from them?"

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He identified July 29, January 15, and the annulment of June 12 as notable "black days" in Nigeria's history, underscoring the imperative of distilling valuable lessons from these events to inform the nation's trajectory.

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Obasanjo observed that many of the nation's historic crises have been marked by exclusion, destruction, and division, advocating instead for a paradigm shift towards inclusion, cooperation, and national integration, and noting that "most of these black days excluded, destroyed and separated us".

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He reflected on his personal relationship with Aguiyi-Ironsi, describing the late military leader as a paternal figure who treated younger officers with kindness and respect, and commended Aguiyi-Ironsi's distinguished military career, which included his service during the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Congo.

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Obasanjo highlighted Aguiyi-Ironsi's remarkable ascent through the military ranks, becoming Nigeria's first indigenous Captain, Major, Lieutenant-Colonel, Brigadier, and Major-General, and urged Nigerians to preserve the memories of leaders who have made sacrifices for the nation, drawing inspiration from their examples to promote unity and cooperation.