Let’s avoid another civil war, Danjuma warns – The Nation
December 5, 2009 by tim
Former Defence Minister, Lt. Gen. Theophilus Danjuma said yesterday in Kaduna that the nation must do everything humanly possible to avoid another civil war which he said would be detrimental to the unity of the country.
Speaking while commissioning an Officer’s Mess named after the first Nigerian soldier to be commissioned into the Artillery Corps of the Nigerian Army, the late Col. Yakubu Pam. Gen. Danjuma recalled the sad memories of 30-month civil war and warned: “Nigeria must not be allowed to pass through that phase again.”
He traced events leading to the war to the January 15, 1966 military coup in which prominent Nigerian leaders, such as the late Premier of the North, Sir Ahmadu Bello and many others, including Col. Pam were killed in their homes by the coupists.
Danujama, whose account of the incident invoked a lot of emotions at the gathering, described the late Col. Pam as an exemplary officer, pointing out that “As a Captain, I had the opportunity to serve under him in Kaduna, in Tangayika (Tanzania) and at Army headquarters.”
The former Army Chief commended the Artillery Corps for considering Col. Pam worth of recognition, saying: “After the civil war, the Head of State decided that there would be no medals awarded for gallantry before, during and after the war because the war was a brotherly fight.
“However, let me say that we should not allow the blood of all those who died in active service before, during and after the war to go in vain. We must make efforts to recognise their contribution. That is why I want to appreciate the Nigerian Army for this recognition at this time in the nation’s history.”
