Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah has spoken about Nigerias unhealed wounds and the lasting impact of the January 1966 coup that claimed the lives of Sir Ahmadu Bello the Sardauna of Sokoto and Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Nigerias first Prime Minister According to him many Northerners particularly those now in their seventies and eighties still find it difficult to come to terms with those assassinations He believes that this inability to heal continues to affect Nigerias unity governance and national identity .
The Unhealed Wounds
Persistent Grief Among Northern Elders
Bishop Kukah explained that the trauma of losing these two revered leaders has remained with many elders in the North For them the killings were not just political events but deeply personal losses that left scars on the regions sense of pride and representation Decades later the pain is still evident and many have not fully reconciled with that dark moment in history .
Failure to Confront the Truth
He criticized Nigerias culture of brushing painful history aside with the phrase forgive and forget According to him such a superficial attitude prevents true healing He used the image of burying the hatchet but leaving the handle visible to show how unresolved issues continue to haunt the nation The unwillingness to face historical truths has left divisions and mistrust festering beneath the surface .
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The Unfulfilled Dreams of the Founding Fathers
Bishop “ Kukah ” lamented that “Nigeria ” has not lived up to the vision of its founding fathers What began as a hopeful journey to :;greatness has become a story of missed He argued that the violent break in leadership in 1966 disrupted the nations unity undermined meritocracy and weakened the institutions that could have carried Nigeria forward .
Historical Context The 1966 Coup and Its Legacy
The January 1966 Coup
On January 15 1966 Nigeria experienced its first military coup The violent overthrow claimed the lives of Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa and Northern leader Ahmadu Bello among others This event triggered countercoups a brutal civil war and years of military dominance changing the countrys course permanently .
Symbolism and Regional Memory
For the North both leaders symbolized stability representation and strength within the federal system Their sudden deaths created a deep sense of betrayal and vulnerability The emotional weight of that loss became part of Northern political memory shaping how the region relates to power and the rest of the country .
Institutional Decay and Ethnic Fracturing
The coup set the stage for decades of instability Successive military regimes sidelined democratic institutions and deepened ethnic divisions Kukah traced many of todays governance challenges back to that rupture arguing that Nigeria has never truly repaired its foundations since then .
Broader Themes in Kukahs Reflection
The Myth and Narrative of Nationhood
Bishop Kukah argued that Nigeria has struggled to create a unifying national story that inspires collective identity While independence in 1960 brought hope and vision the subsequent years lacked the kind of symbolic leadership that could sustain a sense of common purpose .
Intellectual Space Versus Military Rule
He highlighted how the military era weakened intellectual and civil discourse Each time democratic debate and civic engagement gained ground authoritarian responses emerged to silence them This cycle in his view damaged Nigerias democratic culture and accountability .
Memory and Truth in Nation Building
Kukah emphasized that genuine nation building requires honesty and courage in confronting painful history Without truth any progress becomes shaky and temporary The challenges of ethnic tension weak institutions and political mistrust he argued all stem from unresolved historical wounds .
Implications and Challenges
Trust Deficit
The Norths enduring pain over the assassinations has left many feeling that their loss was never acknowledged or fairly addressed This contributes to mistrust between regions and toward central governance .
Generational Divide
While younger Nigerians may not feel the same depth of loss the unhealed trauma of the older generation continues to influence politics and shape identity in ways that often go unnoticed .
Difficulty of Institutional Redress
Decades later addressing these grievances is complicated Any attempt at reconciliation faces political resistance selective memory and competing versions of history .
Symbolic Versus Substantive Healing
Kukah cautioned that symbolic gestures like memorials or public statements are not enough Without structural reforms and genuine inclusion such acts risk being empty while deeper wounds remain unresolved .
Conclusion
Bishop Matthew Kukahs reflections serve as a reminder that Nigerias journey to unity and stability cannot succeed without an honest confrontation of its past The assassinations of Ahmadu Bello and Tafawa Balewa were more than political tragedies They marked a turning point that still shapes Nigerias destiny For true healing and progress he insists that the nation must face its history with courage honesty and commitment to justice Only then can Nigeria build a future that reflects the dreams of its founding fathers and the hopes of generations to come .
Disclaimer
The news information presented here is based on available reports and reliable sources Readers are encouraged to cross check updates from official news outlets .