Former President, Chief Olusegun
Obasanjo, monday reflected on the 1976 coup, saying that Nigerians
thought it would end the nation called Nigeria.
Obasanjo explained that the
misconception stemmed from the fact that most of those involved in the
coup were Christians and for killing the Head of State, who was a
Muslim, were seen as a bad signal for Nigeria.
The former president who was a host in
the cast and crew of the yet-to-be released film, ‘1976’ (‘76) at the
Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta, said there were
misconceptions about the coup, which upturned the political situation at
the that time.
According to Obasanjo, the killing of a
Muslim on a Friday by a gang thought to be Christians, particularly when
we remembered the first coup, which upturned the political situation
gave a bad signal. Where what will amount to; where will it lead us to
and where will it lead us out? These were what Nigerians had in mind.
While describing the film which abridged
parts were shown as “a mixture of sweet and sorrow”, Obasanjo commended
the team for the production.
He said: “It will make us to remind ourselves not to go back to the dark days, which put us in go-no-go situation.”
He added: “We can have more of this, as
there are more national issues that can be portrayed. We are capable of
the best and that is what this film has shown,” he said.
However, the Executive Producer of the film, Prince Tonye Princewill, said the cast and crew of ‘1976’ were on tour of the country to seek support and endorsement for the film, billed to premier in November.
However, the Executive Producer of the film, Prince Tonye Princewill, said the cast and crew of ‘1976’ were on tour of the country to seek support and endorsement for the film, billed to premier in November.
“The youth of today need to have a sense
of the past, hence the resolve to have the film 1976, which is simply
called ‘76”, he said.
Princewill said the visit to Obasanjo
was important, “considering his position at that time in the country. We
deemed it fit to come and show him the film and curry his endorsement,
which as you can see we have got,” he said.
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