A radio broadcast by an unknown Army officer speaking from the northern city of Kaduna. Confidence exudes from his voice as he lays out a new order to every corner of the nation. It is tabula rasa , a fresh start away from disaffection that many in newly independent Nigeria were feeling and muttering under their breaths while riding their bicycles to work, or at beer parlours, and around the dinner table in just five years of independence. Although uncertain what this new government order was, the listening public felt anything but their present crop of civilian “political profiteers” will do. All were unaware at the time of this broadcast that top officials of the ousted government, objects of public cynicism: a perceived overtly corrupt Finance Minister, Festus Okotie-Eboh; an ex-school teacher and proxy Prime Minister, Tafawa Balewa; the northern region Premier, Ahmadu Bello, whom had undermined the PM by referring to him as his “lieutenant”; and western region Premier, Samue
follow @koleheth on twitter!