Browsing: IBB

In addition to state creation, IBB established important institutions like the Federal Road Safety Corps, State Security Service (SSS), National Intelligence Agency (NIA), and Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA). These agencies played critical roles in maintaining national security and intelligence gathering during his tenure.

Forty-three years ago, on the 15th of January 1966 to be precise, a certain Major Chukwuma Nzeagwu addressed Nigerians through Radio Kaduna announcing martial law and the takeover of power by the Supreme Council of the Revolution. Their aim, he said, was to establish a strong, united and prosperous nation free of corruption and internal strife. Our method of achieving this is purely military”. By the end of the day, a significant part of the political class in the North and the West had been wiped out and the military had taken over the political system. In his column in Daily Times (3/2/1966), the late Tai Solarin blasted the civilian political class for destroying Nigerian politics through their twin evil practices of corruption and election rigging. He confidently boasted that Now we have been saved and we want to stay saved. Today, we are all wiser and almost nobody believes the military can save any country.

Our “dear old man”. How time flies! When at the peak of our conspiracies to save our country from Dictatorship I suggested the nick name “The Old Man” to disguise your persona. The “Old Man” theory was truly our great prayers for you to accomplish what was being intended for you and having accomplished that, to live long on the planet earth. We therefore, thank the almighty Allah today, because all our wishes for you then, have come to pass. At 82 today, you are therefore, the quientessial old man and congratulations on this momentous occasion, and happy birthday.