colleagues and members of the Nigerian Armed Forces.
Fellow country men, the intervention of the military at the
end of 1983 was welcomed by the nation with unprecedented enthusiasm.
Nigerians were unified in accepting the intervention and looked forward hopefully to
progressive changes for the better. Almost two years later,
it has become clear that the fulfillment of expectations is
not forthcoming.
Because this generation of Nigerians and indeed future
generations have no other country but Nigeria, we could not
stay passive and watch a small group of individuals misuse
power to the detriment of our national aspirations and
interest.
No nation can ever achieve meaningful strides in its
development where there is an absence of cohesion in the
hierarchy of government; where it has become clear that
positive action by the policy makers is hindered because as
a body it lacks a unity of purpose.
It is evident that the nation would be endangered with the
risk of continuous misdirection. We are presently
confronted with that danger. In such a situation, if action
can be taken to arrest further damage, it should and must
be taken. This is precisely what we have done.
The Nigerian public has been made to believe that the slow
pace of action of the Federal Government headed by Major-
General Muhammadu Buhari was due to the enormity of the
problems left by the last civilian administration.
Although it is true that a lot of problems were left behind by
the last civilian government, the real reason, however, for
the very slow pace of action is due to lack of unanimity of
purpose among the ruling body; subsequently, the business
of governance has gradually been subjected to ill-motivated
power play considerations. The ruling body, the Supreme
Military Council, has, therefore, progressively been made
redundant by the actions of a select few members charged
with the day-to-day implementation of the SMC’s policies
and decision.
The concept of collective leadership has been substituted by
stubborn and illadvised unilateral actions, thereby
destroying the principles upon which the government came
to power. Any effort made to advise the leadership, met with
stubborn resistance and was viewed as a challenge to
authority or disloyalty.
Thus, the scene was being set for systematic elimination of
what, was termed oppositions. All the energies of the
rulership were directed at this imaginary opposition rather
than to effective leadership.
The result of this misdirected effort is now very evident in
the country as a whole. The government has started to drift.
The economy does not seem to be getting any better as we
witness daily increased inflation.
The nation’s meager resources are once again being wasted
on unproductive ventures. Government has distanced itself
from the people and the yearnings and aspirations of the
people as constantly reflected in the media have been
ignored.
This is because a few people have arrogated to themselves
the right to make the decisions for the larger part of the
ruling body. All these events have shown that the present
composition of our country’s leadership cannot, therefore,
justify its continued occupation of that position.
Furthermore, the initial objectives and programmes of action
which were meant to have been implemented since the
ascension to power of the Buhari Administration in January
1984 have been betrayed and discarded. The present state
of uncertainty and stagnation cannot be permitted to
degenerate into suppression and retrogression.
We feel duty bound to use the resources and means at our
disposal to restore hope in the minds of Nigerians and
renew aspirations for a better future. We are no prophets of
doom for our beloved country, Nigeria. We, therefore, count
on everyone’s cooperation and assistance.
I appeal to you, fellow countrymen, particularly my
colleagues in arms to refrain from any act that will lead to
unnecessary violence and bloodshed among us. Rest
assured that our action is in the interest of the nation and
the armed forces.
In order to enable a new order to be introduced, the
following bodies are dissolved forthwith pending further
announcements: (a) The Supreme Military Council (b) The
Federal Executive Council (c) The National Council of States.
All seaports and airports are closed, all borders remain
closed.
Finally, a dusk to dawn curfew is hereby imposed in Lagos
and all state capitals until further notice. All military
commanders will ensure effective maintenance of law and
order. Further announcements will be made in due course.
God bless Nigeria.
Source:thecable
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