Fallen heroes and their remembrance
By Abah Michael
THE Nigerian Army (The mother of all forces) was established under the umbrella of the West African Frontier Forces (WAFF) when Nigeria and its sister African country were under colonial power controlled by King George VI of England.
Before 1960, what is today known as the Nigerian Army has played paramount roles in ensuring world peace by actively participating in the First and Second World Wars which ended in 1946. By September of the same year, the Nigerian Army then called the Nigeria Regiment despatched the following message to King George VI of England through the 82 (WA) Division as it embarked on a journey home from India.
“82 (WA) Division now beginning final phase of embarkation at Rangoon for repatriation and demobilization, offered his majesty their humble duty and affirm their resolution to continue to serve him with all loyalty and devotion as soldiers and civilians whatever may be their faith.
In reply to this message was the following statement from the office of the Secretary of State Colonial Office, London. “Your telegram of 2nd September has been laid be- fore the king his majesty and he has commanded me to thank you for the message of loyalty, a loyalty which has been actively expressed by your service, in Burma. He wishes you God’s speed in your journey home and hopes that you will face further effort at peace with the same resolute courage as you fought the terror of war”.
During the Second World War, men of the Nigeria regiment fought against the Italians in East Africa and Abyssinia and against the Japanese in Burma. The role of the Nigerian Regiment did not however stop after the Second World War. The Nigerian Regiment after the war continued their role in the maintenance of peace, internal security duties, and taking part in ceremonial parade. To this, the Nigerian Regiment took part in the victory parade in London in 1946 during the funeral of King George VI and the coronation of HM Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. Nigerian Regiment was later called the Queen’s Own Army in 1959 and was later renamed and called the Nigerian Army in 1960 after Nigeria became an independent nation. With our destiny in our hands, many elite war heroes continued to exercise the duties of ensuring a country that was known for her loyalty, gallantly and steadfastness in ensuring that our country is protected from all enemies and kept on the right path.
The post-indepence political situation in Nigeria was characterized by struggle for power by the major political parties, both at federal and regional levels thus leading to hostile ethnic rivalries, victimization and threat to peaceful co-existence of the various ethnic groups which is still in vogue today in the country. This chaotic situation became unbearable for all citizens in most parts of the country, especially in the west when people in Ibadan had to flee to other parts of the country for safety. It thus became very clear that the authority could no longer hold the country together, and therefore, in the interest of the entire country, to keep all together, it became inevitable for the military to come in to salvage the entire nation from total collapse.
This led to the first military intervention which took place on 15th January 1966. The coup which was code-named “Damisa” (meaning leopard in Hausa) was led by Major Chukwu Kaduna Nzeogwu, an Igbo from the Mid-West region but was born in Kaduna and attended St John College, Kaduna.
The whole idea behind the intervention was borne out of the desire to get rid of corrupt and selfish politicians, political parties and the whole clumsy attitude associated with the government in operation. In a broadcast to that effect it was said that the military then intervened to bring an end to gansterism and disorder, corruption and despotism. “My compatriots, you will no longer be ashamed to be a Nigerian” he said.
It is worthy of note to assert that the intervention was organized with good motives but it was however not generally acceptable to all as it was believed to be regionally organised, especially for the fact that a man from the Mid-West was in the fore front of the whole event.
Furthermore, as a result of discontentment and misconception from various quarters one thing led to the other and consequently, another coup toppled the Ironsi government which saw General Yakubu Gowon becoming the next Commander-in-Chief. That coup was a turning point in the history of the nation especially the Army as it was marked by period of erosion of the usual bond of loyalty and comradeship which was a feature of the military society, a bond which has been weakened by the events of the past.
This however led to repatriation of so many military personnel to the original region of origin. Those in the Eastern region where Lt Col. Odumegwu Ojukwu was the governor, refused to recognize the new Gowon-led government as a legitimate one because of the killing of so many civilians from the Eastern region in Northern region cities such is Kano, Zaria, and Kaduna and an exodus of many Igbos to the Eastern region. As a result the conference of Eastern leaders mandated Lt Col. Odumegwu Ojukwu to break away from Nigeria.
With this, it was clear that the situation in the country had gone way beyond onenness as all efforts to keep our great country as one proved abortive, thus giving birth to the Nigeria Civil War in 1967. This war was fought by the federal troops and won with their sweat and blood even though the verdict of “no victor, no vanquished” as endorsed by the federal government on 15th January, 1970, on the occasion of acceptance of Biafra’s surrender message broadcast by General Phillip Effiong of the Biafran army.
To this end, it is important to note that precious lives were lost to keep our dear nation one indivisible entity, therefore it is presumed that the great dreams of those who shed their blood for our oneness and the aspiration of our fallen heroes is to ensure a country where all would have a sense of belonging without being ashamed of being called Nigerians. The desire of this patriotic citizens is indeed a noble one, as I strongly believe that our today’s “society is devoid of people that think like the past heroes on whose effort we celebrate the very important day in the life our armed force.
The question is therefore, do we think and work towards oneness in the present Nigeria?
Do we protect the effort vigorously fought for by the fallen heroes? It is apt to at this end say that those who fought for what we are enjoying today are gone forever. Therefore, their legacy of ensuring one in- divisible country should not be relegated to the background. Our leaders should not just wait for this important day just to perform the ceremonies at our various states of the federation but, more effort directed at achieving a better society should be made to ensure good governance, such that, corruption, manipulation, gangsterism and the whole clumsy element associated with our government at all levels be eliminate for a better Nigeria.
Let us do more to keep the memories of the fallen heroes alive by continuing the legacies they left behind. Let us give every Nigerian a sense of belonging such that we are not ashamed of who we are as citizens of the country.

MICHAEL is an intern with Sunday Triumph