Digital Jungle Studio Production, An Adonis Production & Will’s Trust Presentation present, Ramsey Nouah (Capt. Dewa), Rita Dominic (Suzy), Chidi Mokeme (Major Gomos), Ibinabo Fiberisirma (Angelina), Debo Oguns (Major Noel), Memry Savanhu (Eunice), Adonijah Owiriwa (Captain Ajaiye), Daniel K. Daniel (Corporal Obi), Ada Ofoegbu (Aunty Mary), Nelly Ekwereogo (Ikneena), Chinyere Ibe (Captain Obi’s Wife). Story by Izu Ojukwu; Screenplay, Emmanuel Okomanyi; Director of Photography, Yinka Edwards; Associate Producer, Grace Haastrup; Debbie Mangut, Maxwell Mijinyawa Barde, Robert Aft, Clementine Murekatete-Vervelde; Producers Izu Ojukwu, Adonijah Owiriwa; Director, Izu Ojukwu. ©2016
This is a period movie. The lead, Rita Dominic, was born barely when the incident depicted fired its first shot. She was lying on her mother’s lap sucking on Cow and Gate baby formula, saying, “Mama, Dada,” her first word. And Ramsey Nouah was a kindergartener, likely introduced to ABC on a black slate. Rita Dominic was 41, and Ramsey Nouah was 46 when ‘76 dropped in the can. Rita and Ramsey had blossomed in their acting careers, getting comfortable, earning more values and pricing. Rita was calling cues as to how far an actor could go in touching her breast and lip-kissing. That could cost money, you know. Ramsey had begun calling his price for roles in films, and Nollywood film houses could worship all the gods to have him on the set. And now both are featuring here as co-players, rubbing their grace to the story.
’76 is not quite a century away, but we see the display of crimpling material that was fashionable then, belle-bottoms and afro hairstyles. The period is reminiscent of Sweet Mother and Ajai and Who Know Tomorrow, notable songs of the era that live to date. Just as it was a time of bliss, people pleasuring everywhere, so was also a time of precipitous happenings in our countries. Those were the years when military coupes were fair play in Africa. Young military officers who had hardly shed their life feathers overthrew corrupt governments and replaced them with an unscrupulous gang of thieves.
Capt. Dewa (Ramsey Nouah) is the officer, the 1976 military coup attempt plotters, like the Shakespearean-Julius Caesar triumvirates, want to engage. They need him in the plot to overthrow a legitimate elected Nigerian Federal Government of Murtala Mohammed and assume Capt. Dewa could lend them credibility if he joined the scheme, or at least won’t be a snitch. He didn’t quite know the deal, just as he was not prepared to be part of whatever shenanigans his fellow military brass were concocting. From his intelligent point of view, he suspects something ominous is in the making.
The poorly planned coup to overthrow the government of Murtala Mohammed fails and all those involved were summarily executed. Dewa’s involvement remains questionable, though. The actual incident of the coup and its depiction centers around Captain Dewa and, by extension, his wife. The film begins in medias res with the investigation of Dewa’s involvement by Captain Jaiye (Adonijah Owiriwa).
Jaiye, “Hope you know why you are here, Captain. I’m Captain V.M. Jaiye. From the Directorate of military police. I’ve been assigned by provost marshal A to investigate this battalion’s involvement in the coup….Are you aware of the breach of national security recently?”
Dewa, “It was over the radio that some people try to overthrow the government.”
Jaiye, “Then, why did you directly or indirectly aid those involved in the coup?”
Capt. Dewa has come from a long line of Nigerian aristocracy. His father has been a diplomat and has traveled the world. Dewa was young then, when his mother died. His father remarried shortly after, in two months, to be exact. Young Dewa became disgruntled and left the family, and has never looked back. At least he tried to come back by joining the Nigerian military. Dewa had prosecuted military personnel on five occasions before abruptly transferred to this location where a coup is hatching. His Igbo wife, Suzy (Rita Dominic), did not trust him either. Captain Dewa never said much and was always by himself.
At this opening scene, the investigation of Captain Dewa resembles A Soldier’s Story (1984). The Hollywood movie that catapulted Denzel Washinton to stardom. He had late in the evening, warm welcomely received Gomos, ‘Casca’ sort of, a friend of his, also a Major in the army. They had cooked and ate together and went out on the town clubbing at the officers’ mess. Gomos tries setting him up with a girl, which he summarily rejects. But he becomes curious when he had to use a code name ‘Yoland’ to enter the guesthouse for a said meeting. Later that evening, the experience with Gomos weighs heavily on his mind as he sits in the movie theater with his pregnant wife, Suzy. “No worries, I’m fine.” He tells it to her curious face. Actually, he is worried.
Gomos assures the plotters Dewa could be trusted with the secret of their plot:
Capt. Noel, “What does he know?”
Gomos, “He does not know anything about this operation, sir.”
Noel, “I strongly disagree with you, Gomos. Dewa is here on a secret mission.”
Gomos, “If he was here on a secret mission, he would definitely liaise with me….”
“Noel is right. Dewa is already a threat to the operation.”
Gomos, “Dewa was kicked out of the statehouse. I know he’s very disgruntled. We can use that. We can play on that, sir. We can take advantage of that…. Yes, he worked for DMI, but he will never make a decision, big or small, without confiding in me.”
Gomo meets Dewa in a scene that resembles the character motivation of Casca in Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar and tells him what is afoot in the Nigerian military: It bears so much resemblance to the hatching of Caesar’s assassination plot:
Gomos, “This is a high-profile operation, Dewa. Our code is Operation Lion’s Den (Lima, India, Oscar November). Five VIPs have been slated to be assassinated, including the head of state. I’m not surprised that you will rise up in defense of this regime. This government has abandoned our traditions and ideologies and aligned itself with communists.”
Dewa, “Sponsoring the MPLA Angolan army against the UNITA rebels does not turn our country into a communist state, Gomas. Is it not sad that men of your kind would allow themselves to be used to turn Africa into a theatre of war! Is it not sad? I owe allegiance to a more glorious cause, Gomos.”
To assure themselves of his allegiance to the plot, they invite Dewa to the triumvirates’ meeting and demand his name, army number, and signature on paper. “Why?” He asks. “Well, no one goes beyond this point without signing this.” “Well, I’m sorry, I… I am not going beyond this point,” Dewa blankly puts it. Gomos puts Dewa at gunpoint when he refuses to submit his I.D card to him, and there’s a fuss. By now, even Gomos is sure Dewa is a snitch, and they go after him to get killed.
At the end of the trial, Dewa is set free and joins his wife. It is interesting for Suzy to meet with Dewa’s only sister narrates the background of Dewa to her. She is in shock and loves Dewa more for keeping himself out of trouble. Now she understands why Dewa sent her note with Corporal Obinna, so she can get out of the barracks to a secure place because he sensed a coup was in the making.
Dewa’s last statement to Gomos vindicates him: “I owe my allegiance to a more glorious cause.” Now that is a statement that befits the tombstone of any true citizen of a state.