- Nigerian VP, Atiku Abubakar was barred from crucial elections
- Wings Airline 19-seater Plane Missing, 3 Feared Dead
- Militants detonated two car bombs near a public building where officials were discussing an amnesty deal
- Gunmen stormed Kaduna village, killed ten people
According to Golda Meir, one can not and must not try to erase the past merely because it does not fit the present.
History plays a vital role in the society. It serves two important purposes in life. It provides a setting for reflection and learning. In order to go forward and make decisions for the present, we must acknowledge that it is our duty to actively take into account our history.
In an effort to raise awareness and encourage reflection on the past, WITHIN NIGERIA highlighted four key events that occurred on 15th of March in the history of this country, Nigeria.
Nigerian VP, Atiku Abubakar was barred from crucial elections
On this date, 15th of March in 2007, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) barred then Vice President, Atiku Abubakar from Nigeria’s crucial elections.
His name was also omitted from the roster of two dozen approved candidates vying to lead Africa’s most-populous nation. Abubakar’s camp said it would contest the ruling in court.
The electoral commission gave no reason for its exclusion on Thursday of Abubakar, who is involved in a public feud with the president and is one of three front-runners in the race, but listed constitutional prohibitions on candidates indicted for crimes before a court or executive panel.
A panel arranged by President Olusegun Obasanjo’s executive branch earlier concluded that Abubakar had embezzled state funds.
Abubakar’s camp called the panel unconstitutional and denied the allegations, saying they stemmed from a public spat between Abubakar and his boss, who’s now an ardent political foe.
Wings Airline 19-seater Plane Missing, 3 Feared Dead
On this date, 15th of March in 2008, a 1900D Beec-hcraft turbo prop aircraft belonging to Wings Avia-tion reportedly missing over 10 hours after it was expected to have landed at its destination.
A pilot, standardisation officer and a cabin crew member who were on board the plane that took off from Lagos to Obudu Cattle Ranch in Cross River State were feared dead.
The aircraft with registration number 5N JAH was said to be on a routine flight to pick up the Governor of Cross River State, Mr. Liyel Imoke who was billed to attend a function outside the state.
The governor and members of the state executive council as well as top politicians in the state have been on a retreat at the Ranch since the end of the Peoples Democratic Party national convention which held in Abuja penultimate Saturday.
Managing Director of Wings Aviation, Capt Nogie Meggison, told newsmen yesterday that the aircraft, which departed Murtala Moha-mmed Airport; Lagos at 7.35 am with three crew members, was expected to arrive Bebi Airstrip at Obudu at approximately 8.45 am.
Militants detonated two car bombs near a public building where officials were discussing an amnesty deal
On this date, 15th of March in 2010, militants in Nigeria’s oil-producing region detonated two car bombs Monday near a government building where officials were discussing an amnesty deal, showing their resolve to resume attacks after an agreement to bring peace and economic benefits to the area unraveled.
Two people were injured and windows were blown out of the meeting room in an attack that was heard on live TV. The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, or MEND, warned that the bombings in Warri are part of a new wave of attacks coming to Delta state, which remains deeply impoverished despite its oil wealth.
Gunmen stormed Kaduna village, killed ten people
On this date, 15th of March in 2012, gunmen raided a mainly Christian village in Kaduna State, killing 10 people, including a pastor and injuring four others.
“Ten people were killed in an attack on Nayi village in Chikun local government by unknown gunmen,” said state police spokesperson Aminu Lawan.
“Four other people were injured in the attack. The gunmen raided homes of their victims on Thursday night. A pastor was among the dead,” he said.
He said police had deployed to Nayi outside the town of Zonkwa in the mainly Christian-dominated southern Kaduna where hundreds were killed in violence which erupted following the April 2011 election victory of President Goodluck Jonathan.