General Olusegun Aremu Obasanjo is the Greatest Nigerian General. War or otherwise.

If we talk pure military competence as proven in substantive operations, and we exclude coup plotters, some of the most capable officers in the army's history (in no particular order) include:

Gen Martin Luther Agwai
Lt-Gen Chikadibia Obiakor
Lt-Gen Victor Malu
Lt-Gen Salihu Ibrahim
Lt-Gen Domkat Bali
Maj-Gen Aguiyi-Ironsi
Maj-Gen Mohammed Shuwa
Brig Ogundipe
Brig Ademulegun
Brig Maimalari
Lt-Col Alex Madiebo
Major John Obienu

People's views are distorted and some ill-informed


We have just 3 men who qualify as great generals

Pre-Civil War --- Gen Jonny Ironside

Post - Civil War - Gen Obasanjo

Most recently - Gen Martin Luthar Agwai

The nigeria civil, on the nigeria side the 3rd marine commandos was lead by Black scorpia a yoruba man and later Obasanjo a yoruba man. The northerner lead attack , from the north we all know our history fail, they igbos kill nearly all of them. The igbos kill all the northerners and their officer.   so some people saying northerner are great soja, what is the prove. is nonsense. Even on the biafra side another yoruba man victor banjo lead biafra army attack to mid west and capture the mid west.

So our history speak . it was 2nd Infantry Division  were mostly Yoruba and Mid west officers that recapture the mid west. , the third marine commandos were also mostly Yorubas, so which northerner warrior are you talking about. Murtala division loss more men than anyone in the war.

Despite all his bravado, then Col Benjamin Adekunle was actually not that great a commander. He was very fond of gung ho spectacular assaults that produced lots of expended ammunition and impressed reporters, but was not effective. He sometimes also had his own men summarily executed for cowardice.

Col Shuwa was orthodox, disciplined and doctrinally sound. Adekunle was a loose cannon at times. Also we have to properly assess the brilliance of men whose enemies were weary, hungry and ravaged by famine. I don't know how much credit to give for fighting an "army" consisting of shirtless, barefoot, hungry teenage boys carrying one shot rifles.

Col Shuwa's 1 div was the most disciplined and effective div the Nigerian civil war. They suffered the least casualties and inflicted the least atrocities. You will find that 2 Div and 3 Marine Commando Div (commanded by Murtala Muhammed and Adekunle respectively) were the worst perpetrators of atrocities, were ill disciplined, wasted the most ammunition mowing down branches and plants, lost ground continually to the Biafrans, got their equipment captured often and suffered the heaviest casualties.

My take will be Major General J.T.U Aguiyi-Ironsi. The only Nigerian general I could recall that commended a unit during a war with a rank of general. This answer is based strictly on the headline of the original post.

Ironsi never commanded a unit during a war. He was the commander of the UN peacekeeping force in the Congo, and later became the first indigenous GOC of the Nigerian army.

Dede1:

My take will be Major General J.T.U Aguiyi-Ironsi. The only Nigerian general I could recall that commended a unit during a war with a rank of general. This answer is based strictly on the headline of the original post.

When Dimka struck on Feb 13, 1976 OBJ ran away to Queen Drive, Ikoyi and hid himself in the mansion of late Chief S.B. Bakare, the saloro of Ijeshaland. He was there working the phone until he got assurance from T.Y. Danjuma that the rebellion had been put down before he left his hideout to attend to the matter of State as the Chief of Staff, Supreme HQ.
You guys have forgotten other Ecomog commanders like Generals Joshua Dongoyaro, Adetunji Olurin and Ishaya Bakut in your treatise so far.

maxsiollun:


Ironsi never commanded a unit during a war. He was the commander of the UN peacekeeping force in the Congo, and later became the first indigenous GOC of the Nigerian army.

OUCHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!

At the time of the coup OBJ was the Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters (i.e. he was not even holding a military position). He was in a political position, totally disconnected from the army and without command of troops. On the other hand, Danjuma was the Chief of Army Staff and held command of the entire army, and IBB was the head of the armoured corps. Other officers who held political positions and did not command troops also hid. Maj-Gen James Oluleye laid low in his office then went home in mufti.

As for foreign peacekeeping ops. Here is a summary of the commanders of Nigerian peacekeeping ops over the years:

General Martin Luther Agwai
Lt-Gen Joshua Dogonyaro
Lt-Gen Chikadibia Isaac Obiakor
Lt-Gen SVL Malu
Lt-Gen Joseph Owonibi
Maj-Gen Edward Unimna
Maj-Gen Festus Okonkwo
Major General JTU Aguiyi Ironsi
Major General Chris Garuba
Major General Ekundayo Opaleye
Major General Geoffrey Ejiga
Major General S Iliya
Major General Collins Ihekire
Major General Rufus Kupolati
Major General Ishaya Bakut
Major General John Mark Inienger
Major General Timothy Shelpidi
Major General Felix Mujakperuo
Major General Gabriel Kpamber
Major General Mohammed Magoro
Brigadier John Shagaya
Brigadier Adetunji Olurin

Abeem:

When Dimka struck on Feb 13, 1976 OBJ ran away to Queen Drive, Ikoyi and hid himself in the mansion of late Chief S.B. Bakare, the saloro of Ijeshaland. He was there working the phone until he got assurance from T.Y. Danjuma that the rebellion had been put down before he left his hideout to attend to the matter of State as the Chief of Staff, Supreme HQ.
You guys have forgotten other Ecomog commanders like Generals Joshua Dongoyaro, Adetunji Olurin and Ishaya Bakut in your treatise so far.

Hero - Benjamin Adekunle

read extraact :

General Benjamin Adesanya Maja Adekunle, Nigerian Army, (Rtd.) (born June 26, 1936), was a Nigerian military leader.

Adekunle was born in Kaduna. His father was a native of Ogbomosho, while his mother was a member of the Bachama tribe. He underwent secondary education at the government college, Okene (in present day Kogi State). He enlisted in the Nigerian Army in 1958 shortly after completing his school certificate examinations. He passed the army selection examinations and was accepted at the prestigious Sandhurst military academy, where he and his course mates were imbued with a thorough academic grounding in the art of warfare. He was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant on December 15, 1960. As a platoon commander, he served in the Kasai province of Congo with the 1QONR (1st Battalion) during his first tour of duty with UN peace keeping operations in that country (ONUC). In 1962, Lt. Adekunle became Aide-de-Camp to the governor of the eastern region, Sir Akanu Ibiam. The following year, as a Captain, he was posted back to the Congo as Staff Captain (A) to the Nigerian Brigade HQ at Luluabourg - under Brigadier B. Ogundipe. In 1964, Major Adekunle attended the Defence Services Staff College at Wellington, in India. When he returned he was briefly appointed Adjutant General at the Army Headquarters in May 1965 to replace Lt. Col. Yakubu Gowon, who was proceeding on a course outside the country. However, he later ceded the position to Lt. Col. James Pam and was posted back to his old Battalion (1st Bn) in Enugu as a Company Commander.

He later assumed command of the Lagos Garrison as a substantive Lt. Col. When the Biafra civil war erupted in July 1967, Adekunle was tasked to lead elements which included two new battalions (7th and 8th) - to conduct the historic sea borne assault on Bonny in the bight of Benin on 26 July 1967 (carried out by Major Isaac Adaka Boro's unit). This happened after the federal government gained confidence of most south western ethnic groups as a direct result of Biafran push to mid-west state and probe into Western region. Adekunle was promoted to Colonel after the Bonny landing.

The 6th (under Major Jalo) and 8th (under Major Ochefu) battalions of the Lagos Garrison subsequently took part in operations to liberate the Midwest following the Biafran invasion of August 1967. The 7th (under Major Abubakar) stayed behind to hold Bonny. Because Major Jalo's outfit was seconded to Lt. Col. Murtala Mohammed's 2nd Division, Adekunle was left with only the 8th Battalion at Escravos. He, therefore, protested to Army HQ and got the Lagos garrison upgraded to Brigade status through the creation of the 31 and 32 Battalions (under Majors Aliyu and Hamman, respectively). This formation, combined with elements of the Lagos garrison along the eastern seaboard, was officially designated the 3 Infantry Division.[1] However, Colonel Adekunle did not think the name "3 Infantry Division" was sensational enough nor did it project the nature of the unique terrain in which his men had to fight. Therefore, without formal approval from Army HQ, he renamed it the " 3 Marine Commando (3MCDO)." The "Black Scorpion" as he came to be known, was easily the most controversial, celebrated and mythologized figure[citation needed] in the war of attrition that laid the foundations for Nigeria's contemporary crisis; and threw a wedge into the national fabric.

On opening the war front, the now 3MCO was able to push the Biafra army inward and clear it off most of the ethnic minorities area, allowing the new 12 state structure of Federal Government to be implemented. This also undermine Biafran dominant ethnic group, the Ibos in influencing the other ethnics in the area. Two governors of the two new minority state were able to be installed and functional after the 3MCO offensive. Adekunle popularity during Nigeria civil war was due to the speed at which he defeated Biafran army in major battles and speed of advances. However, the advance became stalled and Biafra was able to push back and recaptured Owerri. Also, Biafra was able to launch various ambushes while the division gain little. This was the state of 3MC before Adekunle was redeployed back to Lagos for a new commander, Colonel Olusegun Obasanjo who latter use the troop to defeat Biafra. What was remarkable was that, the division came late into the war and gained more territory compare to other divisions fighting from the north of Biafra.

Adekunle was latter put in charge of decongesting Lagos port that was having a chronic problem of clearing imported goods. This was his position before he was put on compulsory retirement.

He attributed his problem during and after the war to his rivals in army. In his various interviews, he said there always a rumour of coup linked to him until the army authority feel concern to do something about it. He had large followings in both the army and public at large and is the most popular military commander during the war apart from Obasanjo who succeeded him and brought the war to an end with same 3MC.

Adekunle led the Third Marine Commando Division with such great panache and determination, and the foreign media, in looking for human angle stuff about the Biafran war found Adekunle a ready source of news. Benjamin Adekunle was promoted Brigadier-General in 1972. On August 20th, 1974, he was compulsorily retired from the Army.

Maxsolli, must defer my judgement on Nigerian war generals to you, read quite a lot of your posts, know you are well versed on Nigerian Military history,
A few points here,
Adekunle can't be denied glory for his war effort, a soldier in battle is a soldier and fights real enemies, the preponderance of any side is irrelevant, lets give him credit,
Credit should also be given to Aguiyi-Ironsi, to command a UN battalion in the dangerous Central African Republic called Congo, in the early 60's is no mean feat, worth commending,

, Someone commented on Hitler’s prowess as a General, but for Hitler's ignorance and flagrant disregard for opinions from tried Generals like Rommel, Keitel etc. Germany would have ruled the world, at least for a while,
Germany did not invade Russia in winter, started well before Winter, Leningrad and Moscow where there for the taking, The under-belly of the Croc laid bare waiting for the fatal blow, alas Hitler ordered a detour,
Long and interesting story of the intrigues of WW2,

You are right, Ironsi was a great soldier. The best of his generation.

ETL_Dude:

Maxsolli, must defer my judgement on Nigerian war generals to you, read quite a lot of your posts, know you are well versed on Nigerian Military history,
A few points here,
Adekunle can't be denied glory for his war effort, a soldier in battle is a soldier and fights real enemies, the preponderance of any side is irrelevant, lets give him credit,
Credit should also be given to Aguiyi-Ironsi, to command a UN battalion in the dangerous Central African Republic called Congo, in the early 60's is no mean feat, worth commending,

, Someone commented on Hitler’s prowess as a General, but for Hitler's ignorance and flagrant disregard for opinions from tried Generals like Rommel, Keitel etc. Germany would have ruled the world, at least for a while,
Germany did not invade Russia in winter, started well before Winter, Leningrad and Moscow where there for the taking, The under-belly of the Croc laid bare waiting for the fatal blow, alas Hitler ordered a detour,
Long and interesting story of the intrigues of WW2,

You simply have to give it up for Aguiyi Ironsi period.

Max , are you serious, look at your list for God sake. nearly all the commanders are southerner,
What does that tell you.  Adekunle was a great man.

And Col Shuwa  how many nigerian hear that name before. Even some military officer just call me now to ask who is he. 

Adekunle 3rd  marine commandos was the nigeria version of special force in the USA army.  So what are you talking about.  Even the name Adekunle made other scared. Even Gowon was scared of Adekunle that he look for ways to get rid of him. If Adekunle was sure a coward why were the igbos looking for ways to have him face the world court. and your col Shuwa name was not included.


you send southerner to face dead while your people who sit in offices are promoted. All your soja have never face war before. Even if war occur, we would beat you all. look how do you call a soja a hero because he over thrown a civilian.

Lt-Gen Chikadibia Isaac Obiakor     southerner,

Lt-Gen Joseph Owonibi    southerner,
Maj-Gen Edward Unimna     southerner,
Maj-Gen Festus Okonkwo   southerner,
Major General JTU Aguiyi Ironsi     southerner,

Major General Ekundayo Opaleye    southerner,
Major General Geoffrey Ejiga      southerner,
Major General S Iliya
Major General Collins Ihekire      southerner,
Major General Rufus Kupolati         southerner,

Major General John Mark Inienger     southerner,

Major General Felix Mujakperuo     southerner,
Major General Gabriel Kpamber

Brigadier Adetunji Olurin            southerner,


Northerners
General Martin Luther Agwai     
Lt-Gen Joshua Ogonyaro
Major General Mohammed Magoro
Brigadier John Shagaya
Major General Timothy Shelpidi
Major General Ishaya Bakut
Lt-Gen SVL Malu
Major General Chris Garuba

Becomerich, I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about. Apart from you not knowing which officers are northerners or southerners, your syntax makes it really difficult to understand what you are saying.

Since when is John Mark Inienger from Benue State a southerner?!

Contrary to what you said, most of the peacekeeping ops commanders on that list are NOT southern! Of the 22 commanders on the list, 11 are from the south, and 11 are from the north = 50:50 between the north and south! Check your facts before you post.

Also do you know that Adekunle is half northern? He is mixed race. You are probably not aware of that fact.

BecomeRich:

Max , are you serious, look at your list for God sake. nearly all the commanders are southerner,
What does that tell you. Adekunle was a great man.

And Col Shuwa how many nigerian hear that name before. Even some military officer just call me now to ask who is he.

Adekunle 3rd marine commandos was the nigeria version of special force in the USA army. So what are you talking about. Even the name Adekunle made other scared. Even Gowon was scared of Adekunle that he look for ways to get rid of him. If Adekunle was sure a coward why were the igbos looking for ways to have him face the world court. and your col Shuwa name was not included.


you send southerner to face dead while your people who sit in offices are promoted. All your soja have never face war before. Even if war occur, we would beat you all. look how do you call a soja a hero because he over thrown a civilian.

Lt-Gen Chikadibia Isaac Obiakor southerner,

Lt-Gen Joseph Owonibi southerner,
Maj-Gen Edward Unimna southerner,
Maj-Gen Festus Okonkwo southerner,
Major General JTU Aguiyi Ironsi southerner,

Major General Ekundayo Opaleye southerner,
Major General Geoffrey Ejiga southerner,
Major General S Iliya
Major General Collins Ihekire southerner,
Major General Rufus Kupolati southerner,

Major General John Mark Inienger southerner,

Major General Felix Mujakperuo southerner,
Major General Gabriel Kpamber

Brigadier Adetunji Olurin southerner,


Northerners
General Martin Luther Agwai
Lt-Gen Joshua Ogonyaro
Major General Mohammed Magoro
Brigadier John Shagaya
Major General Timothy Shelpidi
Major General Ishaya Bakut
Lt-Gen SVL Malu
Major General Chris Garuba

General John Mark Inienger home town is a boundary town between cross river and Benue. And inienger name look more cross river, but that not , and what do you mean by North. If Benue is North why did Major Orkar( TIV) tried to cut you northerner out of Nigeria.

It tell you where the north is. And get that into your head those of you above the River Niger and Benue are northnerner and those of us below the 2 rivers are southerner. There 21 state in the south and 15 state in the North. You people better start stop day dream and face reality.

You people story is like a mad man who believe everybody is mad and they are ok. Is it not only a mad man that believe kwara state is in the North. how many normal person would believe that. You people have an imaginary north in your head, get it out now. We southerner know who we are and you northerner know yourself. Any one below the river niger and benue is a southerner and above the River niger and benue is a Northerner.

You northerner assume we are fool. You think we do not know what is going. if you look at the map below, nearly all northern state have had there turn at the presidency of nigeria, the only one that have not had their turn. You would notice those are the state YAr adua is given is children to the governor. Do not be shock Jigawa and Yobe governor would still get married too.


It is turn by turn of the 15 northerner state. The real north know who they are, state like benue are just been used when needed.

interesting

By "north" I mean the Northern Region that was in existence when Nigeria consisted of 4 regions (East, West, North and Mid-West). Present day Benue state was in the old Northern Region.

Once again, do your research before you post.

here is my reply,  it is a yoruba proverb" It  says a mother know who her children is and can tell which of them is a bastard""" 


In sure it on that map do you see any name from benue or Kwara.  northerner know who they are and they know how to rotate it within themself. Ok if Kwara is northerner can Yar Adua please resign and Bukola saraki please replace him. ?

Max this is what we want as yoruba people. We want to join the republic of benin, this way Umaru if he likes, he can can win 3 term ,

you see the map. Max, i know you are an ex military man, tell your Oga to let Our people go. And He would allow him to have third term, if He help us to join the republic of benin. But our joining of the republic of benin must first be approve before term extension or more state.

see map, this is our demand.

quote maxsiollun : Also we have to properly assess the brilliance of men whose enemies were weary, hungry and ravaged by famine. I don't know how much credit to give for fighting an "army" consisting of shirtless, barefoot, hungry teenage boys carrying one shot rifles.

in my opinion the criteria for a "great army general" would be impressive strategic performance leading to victory; i wonder which nigerian general exhibited this. from the quote above, the Nigeria army deserves no medal for winning the civil war.

apart from this war they had many escapades in Liberia sierra Leone but at the end of the day the rebel leaders over there still triumphed.
Nigeria army never conquered any territory for the country, even bakassi was taken away. what is the glory of Nigeria military self? apart from harassing civilians.

another thing that baffles me is this. how do they promote in the army? is is just by spending time in service and finding favor among superiors? a lecturer cant become professor without adding to knowledge in a university. likewise i would have thought a general should be made after exploits in the battle front, but in Nigeria you rise in the military by politicking and corruption. please educate me if I'm wrong.

the best organized political party in Nigeria is the military. cant remember who said this but i believe he is correct!

Lt-Gens Joshua Dogonyaro, Victor Malu and Chikadibia Obiakor all made a strategic impact during the ECOMOG peacekeeping operations in Liberia.

The Generals of the 1960's thru early 80's are the Generals I respect in Nigeria, not those who never went to war and became Academic General.


Like Diya,

Army promotions are governed (at least on paper) by length of service, courses, examinations and aptitude. Officers are normally required to attend certain courses and pass promotion exams prior to being promoted. The Nigerian Defence Academy has been given degree awarding status so that officer cadets who successfully complete its full 4 year regular combatant training course and get commissioned into the military are awarded a degree on completion.

Mid-level ranks have to attend courses at the Command and Staff College (for promotion to Colonel), and senior ranks usually have to attend the National Defence College before becoming Generals.

initiate:

quote maxsiollun : Also we have to properly assess the brilliance of men whose enemies were weary, hungry and ravaged by famine. I don't know how much credit to give for fighting an "army" consisting of shirtless, barefoot, hungry teenage boys carrying one shot rifles.

in my opinion the criteria for a "great army general" would be impressive strategic performance leading to victory; i wonder which nigerian general exhibited this. from the quote above, the Nigeria army deserves no medal for winning the civil war.

apart from this war they had many escapades in Liberia sierra Leone but at the end of the day the rebel leaders over there still triumphed.
Nigeria army never conquered any territory for the country, even bakassi was taken away. what is the glory of Nigeria military self? apart from harassing civilians.

another thing that baffles me is this. how do they promote in the army? is is just by spending time in service and finding favor among superiors? a lecturer cant become professor without adding to knowledge in a university. likewise i would have thought a general should be made after exploits in the battle front, but in Nigeria you rise in the military by politicking and corruption. please educate me if I'm wrong.

the best organized political party in Nigeria is the military. cant remember who said this but i believe he is correct!

Adekunle, Ojukwu, Ironsi.
Generals of the 60's.

maxsiollun:


Ironsi never commanded a unit during a war. He was the commander of the UN peacekeeping force in the Congo, and later became the first indigenous GOC of the Nigerian army.

You are dead wrong. If he was the commander of a peacekeeping force, didn't he command them? 

See below
Lieutenant Colonel Ironsi led the 5th battalion to the Kivu and Leopoldville provinces of Congo.His unit proved integral to the peacekeeping effort, and he was soon appointed the Commander of the United Nations Operation in the Congo.

In 1960 he lead the Nigerian contigent in congo.There he single handededly negotaited the release of Austrian medical personnel and Nigerian troops when they were ambushed by Katangese rebels.For this He was awarded the 1st class Ritta KreuzAward. He also single handedly confronted an angry mob in the Leopoldville, disbanding them.This an many other exploits earned him the name "Johnny Ironside" a corruption of his name "ironsi" with reference to various British Military historical parallels.

Not a mean feat that one eh?

Boyscout
your information is at best faulty, I wonder how anybody can deny the fact that Obj is a brialliant General, you don't have to like him or his personality, but give it to him, he's a brilliant General, he may not be a good politician. Obj is not only a good General, he's also very intelligent one for that matter.

by the way, who told you IBB was the one that foiled the coup? he actually played the in-between, but he had the benefit of knowing where the pendulum swing will go and he toed the line, for your information and as attested by IBB, were it not for Obj, IBB military career would have ended with coup.

I'm struggling to see the point of this topic. Are you celebrating genocide?Or any new strategies? To truly judge success in any field, you need to appraise the legacy. What legacy have these people left? Where is the greatness?

According to Brig Gen Alabi-Isama,
Obasanjo was no war hero!
They called on him to come end the war, he was in Ibadan when the heat was on in the East.

When he was asked to come to the war front, he started claiming to be an Engineer, forgetting that a Military Engineers job was to build booby traps and blow up bridges!

And indeed he was under the bed during Dimka's coup! Believe that!

Talk about people that fought the war,
Dont forget to mention Col. Utuk, among this men that fought for their country to the last!

Plus all the others that lost their lives in the war from gunshots, snake bites, diseases e.t.c! Those were the true war heroes! Not the ones that didnt want the war to end because they were gaining from it in fraudulent and dubious ways!