Former Governor and a chieftain of the People Democratic Party (PDP) in Kogi state Chief Clarence Olafemi has warned Nigerians against the repeat of 1966 crises that almost tore the country apart as a result of political violence.
Olafemi who gave the warning on Wednesday in Lokoja while speaking on the just concluded state House of Assembly election, said the level at which the election was militarised in Kogi state prevented many eligible voters from performing their civic responsibility of voting for the candidates of their chalice.
According to him: “Since my sojourn in politics over 40 years ago, I have never witnessed the worst scenario we are in right now in Nigeria. What has happened in 2019 general elections can only remind us of what happened in 1963 when the country obtained republic.
“We had independent in 1960 the election was not terrible even though there were little skirmishes, but in 1963 when we had republic crises started coming in.
“First it was from the conduct of election in the western Nigeria which was grossly manipulated and the Yorubas resisted which gave rise to operation “wetee” where people were killed , cars , commercial vehicles , houses were burnt while we were shouting and condemning operation “wetee” in the west, “Araba” started in the north and the igbos were victims of Araba then.
“This situation dragged on to 1966 and there was coup which was characterised by tribal sentient within the military. It was very bloody that wipe out a whole generation of leaders which eventually led to Nigerian civil war”
The former governor who appealed to Nigerians and government at all levels to do the right thing in the interest of peace, stated that pushing the country into a precarious situation as a result of election would rather retard the growth of the nation, in terms of economy and infrastructure development.
He however urged members of PDP to remain calm and resolute, saying Nigerians can not tolerate one party system .
