- Says nation must rise above religious, tribal sentiments
The DikeOha 1 of Uga Kingdom, Air Vice-Marshal John Chris Ifemeje (rtd), is a seasoned military strategist and national security thinker whose career spans decades of distinguished service at the highest levels of Nigeria’s armed forces. Known for his commitment to discipline, institutional integrity and accountable leadership, he represents a generation of senior officers shaped by both operational command and strategic governance.
His career culminated in his appointment as Commandant of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC), Jaji, Nigeria’s premier institution for training junior and senior operational level officers and other ranks in the military operational command and staff responsibilities.
In this interview, AVM John Chris Ifemeje (rtd.) argues that the 1966 coup (15th January and 29th July 1966), were not accidents of history but the outcome of leadership breakdown and institutional failure, with both the civilian and military drawing decades of command and strategic experience for leadership reforms as Nigeria’s only viable path to healing and renewal. He spoke with KALU OKORONKWO. Excerpts…
Recently, you participated in the inaugural conference of the Forum for National Reconciliation and Restoration. What does national reconciliation mean to you, and why do you think Nigeria needs it now?
Nigeria has experienced numerous crises—religious, political, ethnic among others—without adequately addressing their root causes. A divided nation cannot move forward. You cannot expect Nigeria to truly belong to the comity of nations when citizens distrust and resent one another, unable to agree on common national issues.
Many of these divisions stem from unresolved historical grievances, particularly the events surrounding the January 15, 1966 coup. Some parts of the country perceived that the actions of those young military officers represented an ethnic betrayal. While mistakes were made, we cannot continue to live permanently in the past. What we need now is renewed understanding, trust, forgiveness, and belief in one another. Unfortunately, that singular event triggered a chain reaction such as the July 29, 1966 counter-coup, the widespread killing of Easterners, and eventually the civil war, during which between two and three million people died. Conflicts often escalate in this way. We see similar patterns globally. When violence is unleashed, retaliation follows, and innocent people suffer endlessly.
If the January 1966 crisis had been properly managed and if the leadership at that time had adhered strictly to the rule of law, pacified aggrieved parties and acted responsibly, Nigeria might never have experienced a civil war. Sadly, leadership failures compounded the problem. Today, we are still grappling with the same leadership deficiencies because we have never honestly examined where the cancer began. No country can grow when citizens lack patriotism; when they go abroad only to denigrate their own nation. That is why we initiated the concept of National Reconciliation and Restoration to heal old wounds and restore Nigeria to the promising path it was on before January 15, 1966.
At that time, the regions were thriving. The East was a global agricultural powerhouse, driven by palm oil. The West led in cocoa production and pioneered radio and television broadcasting in Africa. The North built institutions like Ahmadu Bello University through proceeds from groundnut pyramids and agriculture. Can we say the same today? Sadly, no. Restoration can only come through reconciliation. That is the purpose of this forum. When Dr. Okechukwu presented the idea to me, I immediately agreed because it aligned with what I had long been thinking. What we held recently was a planning conference to begin that journey.
Your explanation suggests that Nigeria’s unity depends on resolving deep-rooted issues. Can you specify the cultural or structural challenges that must be addressed?
God created us without consulting us on where we would be born, North, South, East, or West or what religion we would practice. Yet today, we use ethnicity and religion as weapons to destroy ourselves. There is nothing inherently wrong with religion; the problem lies in how it is practised. Religious bigotry must be rejected. If leadership choices are based on religion, then leadership itself has failed.
Culturally, mutual respect is essential. Wherever you reside, respect the culture of the host community. As the saying goes, when in Rome, do as the Romans do. If I live in Ghana, I must respect Ghanaian culture. If others live among my people, they must respect ours. Disrespect breeds suspicion, tension, and conflict.
All religions practised in Nigeria—Christianity, Islam, and traditional religions—teach moral discipline and good values. The problem arises when religious leaders manipulate followers for economic gain, poisoning minds to build influence and wealth. That is not the teaching of Prophet Muhammad or Jesus Christ. People should never kill one another in the name of religion. These are the fundamental issues we must confront.
How could the Forum for National Reconciliation and Restoration practically influence governance, especially in engaging government and shaping policies?
We have already begun engaging traditional rulers, religious leaders, and community stakeholders nationwide. The forum enjoys broad grassroots support. The next critical step is engaging political leaders, because they control policy implementation and resources.
Strong governance requires strong, independent institutions. You cannot claim to practice democracy when the arms of government are weak or constantly interfered with. If government embraces reconciliation, it can awaken the conscience of political leaders.
For example, the National Assembly should prioritise policies that benefit ordinary Nigerians. Before passing laws, lawmakers must ask: how will this affect the poor man on the street? Governance must not burden the masses.
Reconciliation leads to restoration. Citizens must be central to policy decisions; not an afterthought. Otherwise, our efforts become mere social media noise. When citizens are enlightened, they can identify and reject bad leadership.
Read Also: If you know Tinubu’s background, you’ll know he understands how to fix Nigeria — Olubadan
Good leadership should never be based on religion, ethnicity, or sentiment. Whether Muslim-Muslim, Christian-Christian, or mixed tickets, what matters is competence, integrity, and results. In the 21st century, Nigeria must rise above tribal psychology.
In discussing reconciliation, we must also confront insecurity. As a senior military officer, how do you assess Nigeria’s current security architecture? What in your opinion is working and what is broken?
Security is everyone’s responsibility, not just the military’s. Insurgency thrives when it gains local support and often by exploiting religion or grievances. Without local backing or political sponsorship, insurgency collapses.
Our armed forces are well-trained and capable. The problem is not competence; it is leadership direction. In a democracy, soldiers act on political directives. They cannot move without clear authorization. Body language from political leaders matters.
Intelligence gathering is another major challenge, not because intelligence is lacking, but because it is poorly utilised. Agencies like the DSS are excellent at intelligence collection. I have worked with them, and their information is often accurate. The failure lies in ignoring or delaying action.There is no war won without intelligence. Too often, we adopt a fire-brigade approach, responding only after the damage has been done.
Border security is another weakness. Even technologically advanced countries fence and monitor their borders. Nigeria’s porous borders enable insurgents to retreat, regroup, and return. Border fencing, surveillance drones, satellites, and controlled entry points are achievable solutions.
We also must address morale. Soldiers observe how political leaders live. If leaders enjoy luxury while troops suffer hardship, motivation collapses. Soldiers must be properly paid, equipped, and respected. In countries like the United States, soldiers are publicly honored. We must do better in Nigeria.
Beyond security, does the military have other roles in national development?
Absolutely! In disasters, the military provides immediate relief. Retired officers can also contribute immensely to intelligence gathering at the grassroots. In countries like the Philippines, retired soldiers serve as community-based intelligence assets. Here, we retire trained personnel and abandon them. That is wasteful. They can still serve the nation.
The military can also contribute to agriculture and economic development. In Bangladesh, the military runs large-scale fisheries, mushroom farming, and exports agricultural products. Why can’t we convert ungoverned spaces like Sambisa Forest into agricultural zones? Security and development must go hand in hand.
Many believe the Igbo are losing relevance in national affairs. As an Igbo leader, what must be done?
The Igbo must learn to listen to informed leadership. Too many people speak confidently without accurate information and refuse guidance. We must organise politically and respect leadership. Governors responsible for security are insulted instead of supported, even when they possess critical intelligence. This attitude undermines progress.
Historically, the Igbo were organised and respected, especially during the First Republic under leaders like Nnamdi Azikiwe. Today, disunity weakens us. Youth disrespect for elders has grown, traditional institutions are compromised, and even religious institutions have lost moral authority. Religious leaders must preach responsibility, productivity and truth, not encourage idleness or crime. Leadership is the key. Reconciliation will only succeed if people are carried along from the grassroots upward.
Since retiring from the military, you have been active in civic engagement. What inspired this transition?
I believe in objective analysis, not sentiments. Even in service, I was deeply involved in civil-military relations and governance. I served as military assistant to a governor, attended executive and security council meetings and managed civil crises.
Military officers are not isolated from governance. Many of us have managed civil affairs at strategic levels. Retirement does not mean irrelevance. Society still benefits from our experience. That is why I engage in politics, not for personal gain, but to contribute to building visionary leadership and solving societal problems.
You were recently honoured with the Sir Ahmadu Bello Leadership Award. What does this recognition mean to you?
Sir Ahmadu Bello was a leader for all without religious or ethnic discrimination. I admire that model of leadership. The award reassures me that integrity and fairness are noticed, even when you are unaware. Throughout my service, I never favoured tribe or religion. Merit always came first. Leadership must be just. Mentorship, fairness and patriotism are values I tried to instill in those I trained. That recognition is deeply humbling.
Finally, what message would you leave for Nigerians on peace, unity, and shared destiny?
When Nigerians go abroad, they unite proudly as Nigerians. Why can’t we replicate that unity at home? Our national motto is Peace and Progress. Without peace, progress is impossible. We must respect one another’s cultures and religions, uphold the rule of law and reject injustice. Injustice breeds bitterness, and bitterness breeds conflict.
Nigeria is rich in resources, yet poverty persists because we are divided and disorganised. Unity will empower citizens to hold leaders accountable. Let us embrace reconciliation, peace and patriotism for the sake of our children and the future of this nation.
