After more than 40years of political instability, corruption, and political back stabbing, I have always wondered why our nation has been quick to forget patriots like Lt. Col. Fajuyi who sacrificed himself to protect, respect, and honor this country by willfully standing between his commander, friend, and guest, Gen. Ironsi against the Danjuma counter-coup group. Instead of having school children learn about love and devotion to country via Fajuyi's action, we are bombarded everyday by treacherous escapades of Awolowo, Obasanjo, etc.
Where're our values?


Succession to Fajuyi: My story - Gen. Adebayo - As Oni urges Nigerian leaders to emulate late Fajuyi

Dapo Falade, Ado-Ekiti - 28.09.2008

FORMER military governor of the old Western Region, General Adeyinka Adebayo (rtd.), has disclosed that he reluctantly took over the reins of governance following the brutal killing of the former governor, Lieutenant Colonel Adekunle Fajuyi, in the July 29, 1966 coup.
Making the disclosure on Saturday in Ado-Ekiti during the official commissioning of the redesigned Fajuyi Memorial Park , Adebayo said that he was prevailed upon by prominent Yoruba leaders to assume leadership since no Yoruba military officer of the rank of a Lieutnant Colonel could be found to replace late Fajuyi.
Gen. Adebayo, chairman of the occasion, said that having served as the Chief of Staff, and with the full rank of a Colonel at the time Fajuyi was killed along with the then Head of State, Gen. Thomas Aguyi-Ironsi, he found it difficult to take a lower position as a military governor, a position which Fajuyi, a junior officer, occupied till his death.
He said immediately after the coup, prominent Yoruba leaders, including traditional rulers, asked him to get a good officer to replace Fajuyi, a task which he said was difficult as there was no Yoruba officer above the rank of a Major then.
Following his inability to get any Yoruba officer to be appointed the military governor of the region, he was prevailed upon to take the appointment, adding that he became the military governor of the region but was made to serve under his junior, General Yakubu Gowon (rtd.), who, with the rank of a Lt. Col., then became the Head of State.
Meanwhile, the Ekiti State Governor, Engr. Segun Oni, yesterday described late Fajuyi as a great patriot who laid down his life to ensure the unity of the country.
Oni described Fajuyi as great patriot who chose to pay the supreme price for a friend and more for the unity of Nigeria. “On that day at the Government House, Agodi, Ibadan, a thick cloud descended on the shining star of a great son of Ekitiland, Lt. Colonel Francis Adekunle Fajuyi.
Commending the courage of the slain former military governor, Oni said; “Only God knows what would have become of the Nigerian nation if he had allowed the arrest and assassination of General Thomas Aguyi-Ironsi on July 29, 1966 in Ibadan . In deed, Lt. Col. Fajuyi chose to pay the supreme price for a friend, and more for the unity of our country. He was indeed a patriot.”
“The story that surrounded his death that fateful day when he was barely six months in office as First Military Governor of the then Western Nigeria, has been told over and over again. We need not over-flog it.
“One indisputable fact is that the course of history of this country would have been different if that exceptional soldier of soldiers, Fajuyi, had behaved differently.
Describing the Park as representing the present dream of Ekiti, Governor Oni said; “In conformity with our vision, we were determined to transform the park to a world standard that would stand the test of time, centuries to come. Ekiti of our dream is what the present look of this park represents. This park qualifies to be as a world tourist centre.
“The facilities include a six-floor tower with four binoculars through which the entire state capital, can be viewed, a mini museum, an eatery, a swimming pool, pedal boats, children playing ground, water fountain, parade ground, conveniences, car park and a borehole to ensure an all round water supply to the complex.”
The ceremony attracted notable Nigerians, including Governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Major General David Jemibewon (rtd), former deputy governor of old Ondo State, Chief Akin Omoboriowo, former governor of Ekiti State, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, former Military administrator of Ekiti State, Col Inuwa Bawa(Rtd) and Mrs Eunice Fajuyi, wife of late Fajuyi.
Other dignitaries included the Minister of State for Energy (Gas), Mr. Babatunde Odusina, Professor Ade Ajayi, former Vice Chancellor, University of Lagos, former Minister of Health, Dr. Julius Adelusi, National Vice-Chairman (South West) of the Peoples’ Democratic Party(PDP), Chief Tajudeen Olanrewaju, members of the State Executive Council, chairman of the State Council of Traditional Rulers and the Alaaye of Efon-Alaye, Oba Emmanuel Aladejare and the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejugbe among other dignitaries.

Can you imagine any one of these greedy politicians of today giving their lives for what they strongly believe in?

Here is a true Nigerian that die for what he believes in, unlike the monkeys that are running the affairs of Nigeria today, they have nothing to offer and they stll wont vacate the sseat for those that wanna help the nation, shameful goats.

naijaking1:

Can you imagine any one of these greedy politicians of today giving their lives for what they strongly believe in?

no diss, fajuyi was more loyal to a friend/superior than to his country. i don't see how he is a national hero.

no diss, fajuyi was more loyal to a friend/superior than to his country. i don't see how he is a national hero.

Coup plotters wanted to kill the president and he offered to die with the Head of State.

The guy who took a bullet meant for Reagan was he loyal to Reagan or to the U.S?

Coup plotters wanted to kill the president and he offered to die with the Head of State.

courageous man, but i still don't see how that fostered Unity or makes him a national hero.

The guy who took a bullet meant for Reagan was he loyal to Reagan or to the US?

he was an SS operative, that's his job. didn't u see those bodyguards cover the georgian president during Russian bombings.

bawomolo:

no diss, fajuyi was more loyal to a friend/superior than to his country. i don't see how he is a national hero.

If you don't see how following his gut instincts to protect his country by preventing a definitive breakdown of law and order that followed after the assasination of Ironsi makes him a hero, I can't help you. Your definition of a hero must be counter to that of most rational people. You did not see that his loyalty to Nigerian unity and stability transcended personal affiliation to Ironsi, or are you blinded by your usual ethnic bias?

yeah, whatever anybody might think, the guy was a true role model. at least he is far better than the present crop of leadership we have been unfortunate to have had all these years. i wonder what his role might have been in contemporary nigeria had he lived. the fact that as one of yoruba decent he stood by an igbo officer, even up till death shows loyalty, courage, principle and an orientation that transcends the politics of ethnic sentimentalities that has continued to plague the nation since those early years of the nations history.

his murderers are still alive today, they have been responsible for his being relegated to the background of nigerias history. but mark my words, when the true history of this country be told, the heros would not be the ones in todays textbooks. . .

naijaking1:

If you don't see how following his gut instincts to protect his country by preventing a definitive breakdown of law and order that followed after the assasination of Ironsi makes him a hero, I can't help you. Your definition of a hero must be counter to that of most rational people. You did not see that his loyalty to Nigerian unity and stability transcended personal affiliation to Ironsi, or are you blinded by your usual ethnic bias?

cut out the ethnic bias argument, am yoruba. wasn't there a bread down of law and order after the Ist coup detat?? his loyalty was more to his superior than to protect the unity of the country. Him being part of a military government started the cycle of coups and counter-coup in Nigeria today. His act was courageous but not worthy of being a national hero.

at least he is far better than the present crop of leadership we have been unfortunate to have had all these years

here we go with the history revisionism. can u list his achievements while been head of the western region??

ajadrage:

yeah, whatever anybody might think, the guy was a true role model. at least he is far better than the present crop of leadership we have been unfortunate to have had all these years. i wonder what his role might have been in contemporary nigeria had he lived. the fact that as one of yoruba decent he stood by an igbo officer, even up till death shows loyalty, courage, principle and an orientation that transcends the politics of ethnic sentimentalities that has continued to plague the nation since those early years of the nations history.

his murderers are still alive today, they have been responsible for his being relegated to the background of nigerias history. but mark my words, when the true history of this country be told, the heros would not be the ones in todays textbooks. . .

Thank you, I'm relieved someone is objective here.

bawomolo:


cut out the ethnic bias argument, am yoruba. wasn't there a bread down of law and order after the Ist coup detat?? his loyalty was more to his superior than to protect the unity of the country. Him being part of a military government started the cycle of coups and counter-coup in Nigeria today. His act was courageous but not worthy of being a national hero.

here we go with the history revisionism. can u list his achievements while been head of the western region??

Yoruba ke? You're one uninformed yoruba. Get yourself some reading materials from that era.

naijaking1:

Yoruba ke? You're one uninformed yoruba. Get yourself some reading materials from that era.

here is a simple task, please list things that was achieved by Lt.Col fajuyi while he was head of the western region is the ADC that died with muritala mohammed a national hero

bawomolo:

here is a simple task, please list things that was achieved by Lt.Col fajuyi while he was head of the western region is the ADC that died with muritala mohammed a national hero

You are not only an uninformed yoruba but also an uninformed nigerian.

Lt col. Francis Fajuyi barely spent 6 months in that office before he was killed and you are talking about his achievements. OBJ that had the opportunity of ruling nigeria twice, first (1976-1979) and secondly for 8 wasted years (1999-2007), what are his achievements??

Murtala Mohammed's ADC died along with his boss unprepared. He was not ready to die; infact if he had his way he would have escaped. Fajuyi had every opportunity to remain alive but he chose to die with his boss Aguiyi Ironsi; that makes him a hero.

bawomolo:

here is a simple task, please list things that was achieved by Lt.Col fajuyi while he was head of the western region is the ADC that died with muritala mohammed a national hero

@ bawomolo

If you understand the political mood in the country when Fajuyi was killed , you will understand that his death saved a lot of other death. There was great mistrust and suspicion in the land at that time.

The fact that Ironsi was killed on a visit to the head of western region was enough proof that the Yorubas colluded with Hausas to kill Ironsi
Not to talk about Fajuyi walking out alive.,.,.,.,.
Today, history would have recorded that the Yorubas and the Hausa planned the death of Ironsi.

deor03:

@ bawomolo

If you understand the political mood in the country when Fajuyi was killed , you will understand that his death saved a lot of other death. There was great mistrust and suspicion in the land at that time.

The fact that Ironsi was killed on a visit to the head of western region was enough proof that the Yorubas colluded with Hausas to kill Ironsi
Not to talk about Fajuyi walking out alive.,.,.,.,.
Today, history would have recorded that the Yorubas and the Hausa planned the death of Ironsi.

Thank you again, another reason we should salute and thank Fajuyi from the bottom of our heart. This Bawomolo and the Danjuma group can cover up the truth all they want, but until unbiased history of Nigeria is written we can never expect to have peace and progress.

The fact that Ironsi was killed on a visit to the head of western region was enough proof that the Yorubas colluded with Hausas to kill Ironsi
Not to talk about Fajuyi walking out alive.,.,.,.,.
Today, history would have recorded that the Yorubas and the Hausa planned the death of Ironsi.

Big lie. Yorubas had nothing to do with the death of Ironsi. Are you telling me that they decided to kill their own because he refused to let go. They would've killed Ironsi anyways and just tie fajuyi up without messing with his life. Stop shifting the Ironsi murder on Yorubas because you and I know that Hausas killed him and continued to kill others in Nigeria. Next, somebody will come here and claim that Yorubas colluded with Abacha to wipe out their own kinsmen. Nonsense.

tell them funmi

deor03:

@ bawomolo

If you understand the political mood in the country when Fajuyi was killed , you will understand that his death saved a lot of other death. There was great mistrust and suspicion in the land at that time.

The fact that Ironsi was killed on a visit to the head of western region was enough proof that the Yorubas colluded with Hausas to kill Ironsi
Not to talk about Fajuyi walking out alive.,.,.,.,.
Today, history would have recorded that the Yorubas and the Hausa planned the death of Ironsi.

it's pretty obvious the active participants in the coup plot were hausa junior officers who felt slighted at the disproportionate amount of hausa officers that were killed in the ist coup and the death of the saraduna. fajuyi committed a courageous act but that still doesn't make him a national hero.

This Bawomolo and the Danjuma group can cover up the truth all they want, but until unbiased history of Nigeria is written we can never expect to have peace and progress.

you are the one trying to rewrite history. a man that was at the forefront of nigeria's path into coups and countercoups shouldn't be regarded as a national hero. this is one reason, army officers in the US are expected to be politically neutral. it's not as if he achieved anything in the battlefield nor was he regarded as a great military administrator.

DeepZone:

Big lie. Yorubas had nothing to do with the death of Ironsi. Are you telling me that they decided to kill their own because he refused to let go. They would've killed Ironsi anyways and just tie fajuyi up without messing with his life. Stop shifting the Ironsi murder on Yorubas because you and I know that Hausas killed him and continued to kill others in Nigeria. Next, somebody will come here and claim that Yorubas colluded with Abacha to wipe out their own kinsmen. Nonsense.

I think he meant that 'had Fajuyi not vigorously tried to protect his host-Ironsi' then it would have looked like a yoruba job. Everybody knows that the northern junior officers led by Danjuma killed Ironsi. This Yoruba association with the coup was one of the reasons Fajuyi laid his life on the line, and that is why when the unbiased history of Nigeria is written, he would be positively remembered.

pls explain this so-called yoruba association with the coup??

bawomolo:

please explain this so-called yoruba association with the coup??

Go and read the minutes of the Aburi conference. For two hours Ojukwu was insisting that the northerners should tell them what happened to Ironsi and Fajuyi and that Ogundipe or Adeyinka Adebayo should take over as head of state instead of a junior officer called Gowon.

But Ojukwu was shocked that Yoruba sitting their including Ogundipe and Adebayo, not only sided with the killers of Fajuyi their brother but also agreed to stoop to salute their junior officer in Gowon on their return from Aburi, and considering that at that particular point the coprses of both men had not still been found. That is what led to the suspicion of any Yoruba association.

The final straw was when the East seceded, the Yoruba joined those that murdered Fajuyi to fight the East with such enthusiasm that the like of Adekunle and OBJ claimed to be heros of that war.

The final straw was when the East seceded, the Yoruba joined those that murdered Fajuyi to fight the East with such enthusiasm that the like of Adekunle and OBJ claimed to be heros of that war.

the midwest and the western region were neutral until the biafran invasion of the midwestern region that changed the opinion of the yoruba.  Ogundipe and Adebayo although superior were obviously scared of assassination by officers.

The biafrans Invaded The Midwest and were towards lagos until they were stopped at Ore.

bawomolo:

the midwest and the western region were neutral until the biafran invasion of the midwestern region that changed the opinion of the yoruba.  Ogundipe and Adebayo although superior were obviously scared of assassination by officers. 

So if I use the word cowardice now for Ogundipe and Adebayo, you will shout tribalism but this is a fact many Yorubas tend to forget very quickly that army generals from Yorubaland were so scared of 29 year old Yakubu Gowon and ceded head of state position because they are afraid to do what is right and be real soldiers. So it's a record you cannot dispute that Yoruba nation sacrificed Fajuyi because they are scared. And they sacrificed the Igbo nation because they wants to be alive, so they joined the north against the East.
Funny this are the same people that had the gut to call Ojukwu a coward, when he was alone ranger against group of wolves in Aburi. I will find a Aburi text again and publish here for all to see. Those that killed Fajuyi are still alive as we speak, we are waiting for the day you will ask them what happened to Fajuyi.

I don't want to go into the argument of Igbos invading midwest again, people that are hail bent in bending history, I don't know how old you are but if you witness the history you are now telling us, Biafra did not declare war on Nigeria but Nigeria did, the war started in 1967 but Ore incident did not happen until late 1969 as defence, I am telling you because I was there, I did not read it from a book.

Unless you can tell me what Yoruba were doing between 1966-1969? The Biafran reached Ore in 1969 to stop Egyptian/Soviet pilots crossing into Biafra for air raids which they don't have the anti aircraft detection device once they are inside the Biafran airspace and then it's too lat.  If they joined the Hausa because of Ore according to your theory HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN THE TIME GAP since the war ended few months later?

bawomolo:

the midwest and the western region were neutral until the biafran invasion of the midwestern region that changed the opinion of the yoruba. Ogundipe and Adebayo although superior were obviously scared of assassination by officers.

You've said it all. Do you need any more reasons why these 2 are not heros?

Fajuyi is the only Yoruba Army Officer who didn't devoted his life in Looting Nigeria coffers, unlike his Yoruba military kinsmen that unleash their looting culture with the Fulani/Hausa that brought Nigeria to this Economic mess we are going through today.

I heard some people describe Fajuyi in glowing religious terms as a forgotten saint Nigeria never had. While I know that Col. Adekunle Fajuyi might not have been Jesus Christ, but sacrificing one's life for a higher purpose comes close to my own definition of a hero/saint/.

You've said it all. Do you need any more reasons why these 2 are not heros?

the same reason fajuyi isn't a NATIONAL hero. all these officers were after personal interests.

Yorubas tend to forget very quickly that army generals from Yorubaland were so scared of 29 year old Yakubu Gowon and ceded head of state position because they are afraid to do what is right and be real soldiers.

first and foremost they weren't generals, and what makes u think yoruba's were behind adebayo and ogundipe?? awolowo remained at the forefront of yoruba politics after the death of ladoke akintola. Real soldiers should stay in the barracks and away from politics.

So it's a record you cannot dispute that Yoruba nation sacrificed Fajuyi because they are scared. And they sacrificed the Igbo nation because they wants to be alive, so they joined the north against the East.

most northern troops left the western region until the invasion of the midwest broke out. the igbo nation sacrificed itself fighting a war it couldn't win.

I don't want to go into the argument of Igbos invading midwest again

because the truth is hard to swallow. their is evidence of hausa progoms in the midwest by biafran soldiers. there is evidence that some non-igbo midwesterners were arrested as traitors during the war. FACT remains that the midwestern region was lightly defended and declared neutrality before the war.

Unless you can tell me what Yoruba were doing between 1966-1969?

fighting a war. overstretching the biafran army to the midwest was a dumb move. it's hillarious how ojukwu put the blame on col.banjo and co.

If they joined the Hausa because of Ore according to your theory HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN THE TIME GAP since the war ended few months later?

what time gap??

The war began on 6 July 1967 [i]when Nigerian Federal troops advanced in two columns into Biafra. The Nigerian army offensive was through the north of Biafra led by Col. Shuwa and designated as 1 Division. The division was led mostly by northern officers. The right-hand Nigerian column advanced on the town of Nsukka which fell on 14 July, while the left-hand column made for Garkem, which was captured on 12 July. At this stage of the war, the other regions of Nigeria (the West and Mid-West) still considered the war as a confrontation between the north (mainly Hausas) against the east (mainly Ibos)[4]. But the Biafrans responded with an offensive of their own when, on 9 July, the Biafran forces moved west into the Mid-Western Nigerian region across the Niger river, passing through Benin City,[[/i]b] till they were stopped at Ore just over the state boundary on 21 August,[/b]


biafra was shrinked to one-tenth of it's original size by 1969 and had little offensive capability

I heard some people describe Fajuyi in glowing religious terms as a forgotten saint Nigeria never had. While I know that Col. Adekunle Fajuyi might not have been Jesus Christ, but sacrificing one's life for a higher purpose comes close to my own definition of a hero/saint/.

why aren't all slain nigerian police men saints no one can still mention one thing fajuyi contributed while he was administrator of the western region.

Some of the comments here about events that preceded the civil war and the war itself are so shocking because of complete disregard for historical facts of that period. Fajuyi was a loyal officer to Ironsi and insisted that the coup plotters cannot take away his guest away from government house in Ibadan and sought to prevent them from arresting Ironsi. He was said to have jumped into the army truck at the risk of his own life, just to prevent them from killing Ironsi and in the process got himself killed. The leader of the gang was T Y Danjuma, and the guy that was alleged to have pulled the trigger that ended Ironsi's life was one Col Musa Bitiyong, who himself was executed by IBB in Vatsa's coup of 1985. Even though a fight was said to have broken out among the coup plotters and they exchanged fire among themselves because some regretted the death of Fajuyi, he had already paid the supreme price. So there was nothing about Yoruba conspiracy or cowardness in the matter of Ironsi's death.

On to the civil war, even some Biafran officers admitted that Ojukwu's decalaration of Biafra was premature. Awolowo had assured him if the East seceded the West would follow suit, but in the ensuing panic and confusion, without alerting the West he went ahead with the proclamation, while the preparation were still being made by all the parties. Ojukwu and the Eastern officers were safe in the East, Northern soldiers were still occupying Lagos and Ibadan immediately after their counter coup. For Yoruba officers to declare war on them would have been an express invitation to wholesale massacre, like they had done to the Ibo officers. Even at that, it was still a Yoruba officer, Col Victor Banjo, whom Ojukwu later executed  that led the Biafran invasion of the West.

pearl2:

Some of the comments here about events that preceded the civil war and the war itself are so shocking because of complete disregard for historical facts of that period. Fajuyi was a loyal officer to Ironsi and insisted that the coup plotters cannot take away his guest away from government house in Ibadan and sought to prevent them from arresting Ironsi. He was said to have jumped into the army truck at the risk of his own life, just to prevent them from killing Ironsi and in the process got himself killed. The leader of the gang was T Y Danjuma, and the guy that was alleged to have pulled the trigger that ended Ironsi's life was one Col Musa Bitiyong, who himself was executed by IBB in Vatsa's coup of 1985. Even though a fight was said to have broken out among the coup plotters and they exchanged fire among themselves because some regretted the death of Fajuyi, he had already paid the supreme price. So there was nothing about Yoruba conspiracy or cowardness in the matter of Ironsi's death.

On personal, military, and political levels, Fajuyi's action was undeniably selfless. How many people would sacrifice their lives for those of their best friends today? How many people would sacrifice their lives for fellow soldiers today? And finally, how many people would sacrifice their lives for whatever their understanding of their nation may be?
Answer: few, if not zero.

It reminds me of the early days of pirates fraternity in nigerian universities,as a little boy i use to see and listen to my uncles and friends who were members,men with true principles,characters and disciplne,even as a child,you feel their aura,nigeria need such people.Sacrifice.