Modibbo Claims Northern Nigeria Ended Post-1966 Coup

In an interview with Trust TV, Aliyu Modibbo, a former minister of the Federal Capital Territory, asserted that Northern Nigeria effectively ceased to exist following the 1966 military coup. He emphasized that this coup marked a significant turning point, leading to the loss of the region's historical identity and unity.

Modibbo referenced prominent Northern leaders, including the first Prime Minister of Nigeria, Alhaji Tafawa Balewa, and Alhaji Ahmadu Bello, indicating that they understood the implications of the coup on the Northern region. He criticized the tendency to cling to memories of a monolithic North, suggesting that the historical governance system, particularly the indirect rule in the North, has been overshadowed by the realities post-coup.

Modibbo's comments reflect a broader discourse on the historical and political dynamics that have shaped Northern Nigeria since the colonial era, highlighting the differences in governance and ethnic representation compared to the South.