1980 AFCON CHAMPION CHARLES BASSEY DIES AT 71.(PHOTO)..

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 1980 AFCON Champion Charles Bassey Dies at 71 Charles Bassey, a member of Nigeria’s historic 1980 Africa Cup of Nations-winning squad, has died at the age of 71 after a prolonged illness. He passed away on Saturday in his hometown, Eket, Akwa Ibom State. The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) confirmed his death in a statement released on Monday by its General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, describing the loss as part of a “day of double tragedy” following the earlier death of team captain Christian Chukwu. Bassey was part of the Green Eagles team that secured Nigeria’s first AFCON title with a 3-0 victory over Algeria at the National Stadium in Lagos on March 22, 1980. After retiring as a player, he transitioned into coaching and managed several clubs, including Calabar Rovers, Mobil Pegasus, BCC Lions, Flash Flamingoes, Akwa United, and Wikki Tourists. His passing brings the number of deceased members of the 1980 squad to nine.

IBB REVEALS GOWON'S BROKEN PROMISE TO PROTECT IGBOS AS ROOT CAUSE OF CIVIL WAR. (PHOTO)



Former Nigerian Military Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida, has revealed a shocking truth about the events leading up to the Nigerian Civil War. In his new book, "Journey in Service," Babangida claims that General Yakubu Gowon's promise to protect the Igbos in northern Nigeria was broken, leading to the devastating 1966 pogrom that resulted in the deaths of thousands of Igbos across northern Nigeria.


According to Babangida, the tension between Gowon and Lt-Col. Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu began when Ojukwu rejected Gowon's appointment as Military Head of State and Commander-in-Chief. Ojukwu had insisted that Brig Babafemi Ogundipe, the most senior army officer at the time, should take the position instead.


In an attempt to restore confidence in the country, Gowon assembled regional politicians, known as the Leaders of Thought, to find a way forward. Babangida described Gowon's decision to release Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the leader of the Yorubas, from prison as a "political masterstroke" that secured the support of the Yorubas.


However, Gowon's failure to fulfill his promise to protect the Igbos in northern Nigeria had disastrous consequences. The killings of Igbos in northern Nigeria on September 29, 1966, were particularly horrific, leading to a massive influx of refugees into eastern Nigeria. Ojukwu's subsequent decision to bar the eastern Nigerian delegation from attending Gowon's Peace and Reconciliation Talks in Lagos marked a turning point in the conflict.


The events that followed, including the Aburi Accord and the federal government's promulgation of Decree 8, ultimately led to the outbreak of the Nigerian Civil War. Babangida's revelations provide a fresh perspective on the complex events that shaped Nigeria's history.

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