EzeUche:

He could not control his troops. Right or wrong? He was the most senior officer after Ironsi was killed in cold blood. Right or wrong?

If it was that easy, Ironsi wouldn't have been shot by his own men. While Ironsi was alive, he was the most senior officer and he couldn't control his troops as well. They were victims of ethnic soldiering.

Secondly, Ogundipe's hands were tied by ethnic circumstances started by groups other than his own.

Always remember that I am watching to puncture any lies or factual inaccuracies that you may have been fed. Ogundipe was one of the finest officers in Nigerian history.

Katsumoto:

What do you call a man who faced the Japs in Burma in WW2 for 3 years fighting in a war that wasn't his? Until you accomplish such a feat, you are not fit to call the man's name. Do you realise that the Japanese WW2 soldier was the most complete soldier?

'Another serious rival of Ironsi's,  Brigadier Ogundipe, had the advantage of not only being the only senior Nigerian officer who had actually seen combat in Burma during World War2 but had also been the first Nigerian to command  a Brigade formation at Lualuaborg in the Congo (before Ironsi assumed overall command of ONUC).'

http://www.dawodu.com/omoigui35.htm

'Brigadier Ogundipe’s personality was more sedate than those of Brigadiers Ademulegun and Maimalari.  When recommending his successor, the departing British GOC, Major-General Welby-Everard said that Maimalari "was younger and considerably more junior to the others (Ironsi, Ademulegun, Ogundipe) and I also considered him to be militarily immature. He never entered seriously into my considerations". Everard went on to recommend (without success) Brigadier Ogundipe as his successor. Everard regarded Ogundipe as "A very capable and efficient officer…Unlike Ademulegun he was very popular within the Army and greatly respected both as a senior officer and as a man. He was also noticeably non-political" (the quotes of Maj-Gen Welby-Everard are reproduced in Chuks Iloegbunam’s "Ironside". The Federal Government ignored the advice of its GOC and gave the top job to Ironsi.'

The Inside Story Of Nigeria’s First Military Coup - Max Siollun

Well Ogundipe did not get the job because the GOC was selected by NPC and NCNC.

You beat me to this.

chyz:


Now firmly in control of the army, northern officers distributed senior military postings among themselves and created a northern military dynasty. Since the counter-coup, 17 officers have occupied the post of Chief of Army Staff. Of these 17, 15 have been northerners (the only two southerners to occupy the post during that time; Lt-Generals Alani Akinrinade and Alexander Ogomudia, were appointed by General Obasanjo in 1979, and 2001 respectively). The northern soldiers who carried out the counter-coup have constituted themselves into Nigeria's de facto ruling class. Of the soldiers who took part in the counter-coup, four (Murtala, Buhari, Babangida, Abacha) became Head of State. Several of them held prominent government and security positions throughout the last three decades.

To think that there are Igbos on NL who support Buhari.

Someone who killed their kinsmen during the counter-coup.  

And then the Buhari supporters wanted us to vote for him?  

Katsumoto:

If it was that easy, Ironsi wouldn't have been shot by his own men. While Ironsi was alive, he was the most senior officer and he couldn't control his troops as well. They were victims of ethnic soldiering.

Secondly, Ogundipe's hands were tied by ethnic circumstances started by groups other than his own.

Always remember that I am watching to puncture any lies or factual inaccuracies that you may have been fed. Ogundipe was one of the finest officers in Nigerian history.

I apologize for insulting him. I did not know that he tried to suppress the counter-coup.

chyz:

Even southerners have learnt, and accepted, that they cannot govern Nigeria without the co-operation of the north and its soldiers. The late Moshood Abiola first sought the blessing of senior northern officers, and the Sultan of Sokoto before contesting for, and declaring himself, President of Nigeria respectively. Quite why a man who won an election should seek another's blessing before asserting himself the winner of that election, is mystifying. Did President Shehu Shagari ask for the blessing of Lt-Gen Alani Akinrinade or the Oba of Benin before contesting for, or declaring himself President following his electoral victory in 1979?



The failure to bring any of the mutineers and murderers of late 1966 to book gave a platform for the numerous military coups of the following years. That coup established that a “successful” coup plotter would never be called to account for his actions. We have paid the price for our failure to enforce discipline, and for our acceptance of the law of the gun. The fact that men who murdered a Head of State, and their professional colleagues can occupy government positions, is itself symbolic of the indiscipline in Nigerian society till today.

This post remains true. That is why the South needs to unite. The truth is staring at us.

We can only unite based on mutual confidence.

Eze,

Sometimes you need to pause, reflect on your thoughts before splatting them on the board.

East and West need treaties of trade alliance and security guarantees, but UNITED as in one sovereignty, hell NO!

I don't know about Easterners but Westerners are ready to start a new march forward and we don't want any attachments.

Negro_Ntns:

Eze,

Sometimes you need to pause, reflect on your thoughts before splatting them on the board.

East and West need treaties of trade alliance and security guarantees, but UNITED as in one sovereignty, hell NO! 

I don't know about Easterners but Westerners are ready to start a new march forward and we don't want any attachments. 

How can you expect this to happen, when we are both trapped in this dungeon called Nigeria, because the Northerners wish to keep this nation one?

The Igbos would make natural allies to the Yoruba, because both groups are similar in terms of education and affluence.

That is why outside observers say the WEALTHY south.

EzeUche:

How can you expect this to happen, when we are both trapped in this dungeon called Nigeria, because the Northerners wish to keep this nation one?

The Igbos would make natural allies to the Yoruba, because both groups are similar in terms of education and affluence.

That is why outside observers say the WEALTHY south.

Not happening

Its a pity each time i read accounts of the events before and after the war i go numb. Lessons learned in blood are not easily forgotten, so it beats me silly why we have allowed murderers and coup plotters to rule us for so long. And even put the face of a brutal murderer on our 20 naira note. No one should ask why, or blame the igbos for hating northerners, for "there can be no love where there has been blood".

It is ego on both sides that stops the Yoruba and Igbo from uniting. I was at a Igbo/Yoruba wedding in beltsville, md in may and it wasn't only the hispanic waiters who couldn't tell the difference between the two groups; I COULDN'T TELL THE DIFFERENCE!

Ego? Ego keeps Yoruba from uniting with Igbo? Ahh!

What is that? I don't know anything about ego. What's an ego?

Negro_Ntns:

Ego? Ego keeps Yoruba from uniting with Igbo? Ahh!

What is that? I don't know anything about ego. What's an ego?

pride and pettiness

lagcity:

It is ego on both sides that stops the Yoruba and Igbo from uniting. I was at a Igbo/Yoruba wedding in beltsville, md in may and it wasn't only the hispanic waiters who couldn't tell the difference between the two groups; I COULDN'T TELL THE DIFFERENCE! 

Agreed. . . It is still foolish, because as we fight, the North continues to rule us.

Muhehe, same ish .

As una dey talk, the North is taking over the army, navy, police etc again. Look, my own is, whoever wants to get fried best not come near Ekiti state.

EzeUche:

Agreed. . . It is still foolish, because as we fight, the North continues to rule us.

rubbish, who is ruling who

who is our current president in nigeria, a northerner?

To my Igbo brothers,

We don't need to ally with anybody in Nigeria. What we need is a "cultural revolution" in Igboland.

There are too many things wrong with the way we approach life and how we chose to relate with others in the Nigerian dungeon.
We need to make FUNDAMENTAL changes in our mindset, philosophy and worldview; else, we will not survive.  There have been too many wicked acts and conspiracies against us in Nigeria, yet we never return same to the perpetrators.
Some things need to die in Igboland for us to survive, and they are the following:

(1)Lack of understanding of how others see us:  We need to understand that our way of life attract envy from other humans, even non-black groups. I see it every time we organize our parties and cultural events overseas. We are different. Hence we must learn to expect hate.

(2) We are too material conscious: I have come to understand that we are a highly progressive people. However, we are mixing "quest for achievement" with "love of money". They are not the same. We can keep the former while keeping the later under check. If you excel in positive output or work, money will come. Naturally.

(3)We need to learn from our Jewish kins NEVER TO FORGIVE any crime against us: We must learn to pursue those who wronged us FOREVER till they meet their demise.

(4) We must embrace violence with a passion: We must meet our enemies at the gate with the understanding that we must keep our guns FOREVER because the way of man is violent. We should stop expecting peace when we are surrounded by deeply entrenched enemies of our survival. See how the northern coup plotters continued killing us even after they had killed the Head of state and thousands of Igbo and easterner army personnel. They still continued killing CIVILIANS in THOUSANDS. We should really go home and reflect on these.

When we are  done with this cultural revolution, we should emerge different and be like the Israelis - A people who stop their enemies BEFORE the enemy strikes. A people who win ALL their wars even in far away territories.

We can do these even now in Nigeria. If we do it right, stoopid crimes will vanish from Igboland, and we can even wake up one day to announce to the whole world that we want to secede (if that is what we want) and NOBODY would dare try to stop us. 
We can do these. Yes we can.

^^
They are not necessarily in the order listed.
If I were to lead it, I would go after "love of money" first.

When you come to Igboland and nobody is answering Chief Dr Barrister . . . blah blah
things would have started changing.

Onlytruth:

To my Igbo brothers,

We don't need to ally with anybody in Nigeria. What we need is a "cultural revolution" in Igboland.

There are too many things wrong with the way we approach life and how we chose to relate with others in the Nigerian dungeon.
We need to make FUNDAMENTAL changes in our mindset, philosophy and worldview; else, we will not survive.  There have  been too many wicked acts and conspiracies against us in Nigeria, yet we never return same to the perpetrators.
Some things need to die in Igboland for us to survive, and they are the following:

(1)Lack of understanding of how others see us:  We need to understand that our way of life attract envy from other humans, even non-black groups. I see it every time we organize our parties and cultural events overseas. We are different. Hence we must learn to expect hate.

(2) We are too material conscious: I have come to understand that we are a highly progressive people. However, we are mixing "quest for achievement" with "love of money". They are not the same. We can keep the former while keeping the later under check. If you excel in positive output or work, money will come. Naturally.

(3)We need to learn from our Jewish kins NEVER TO FORGIVE any crime against us: We must learn to pursue those who wronged us FOREVER till they meet their demise.

(4) We must embrace violence with a passion: We must meet our enemies at the gate with the understanding that we must keep our guns FOREVER because the way of man is violent. We should stop expecting peace when we are surrounded by deeply entrenched enemies of our survival. See how the northern coup plotters continued killing us even after they had killed the Head of state and thousands of Igbo and easterner army personnel. They still continued killing CIVILIANS in THOUSANDS. We should really go home and reflect on these.

When we are  done with this cultural revolution, we should emerge different and be like the Israelis - A people who stop their enemies BEFORE the enemy strikes. A people who win ALL their wars even in far away territories.

We can do these even now in Nigeria. If we do it right, stoopid crimes will vanish from Igboland, and we can even wake up one day to announce to the whole world that we want to secede (if that is what we want) and NOBODY would dare try to stop us. 
We can do these. Yes we can.

A true nwa afo Igbo!

But we do need allies or groups with similar interest. We do not have to like them, but they can assist us.

ROTFLMAO!!! "

A true nwa afo Igbo!

But we do need allies or groups with similar interest. We do not have to like them, but they can assist us.

I would rather ally with a strategic African country than with any group in Nigeria.

Israel has no single ally within the middle East, yet no one dares mess with Israel there.

Until we fix ourselves and make sure we are complete from within, no relevant group ( a group that shares in our philosophy) would ally with us.

We need more Igbos like this man.

www.nairaland.com/attachments/430746_Nzeogwu_jpgd42c44919b9e49d3b3ca17d01c8cbfb3

But instead of being loyal to Nigeria, he needs to be loyal to Alaigbo.

^^

I would only lionize Nzeogwu if he actually did that coup to stop Igbo enemies in Nigeria. Fact is he did not.
If the January 1966 was actually an "Igbo coup", there should not have been a counter coup. EVER.

Onlytruth:

^^

I would only lionize Nzeogwu if he actually did that coup to stop Igbo enemies in Nigeria. Fact is he did not.
If the January 1966 was actually an "Igbo coup", there should not have been a counter coup. EVER.

I lionize the man, because he did what he believed what was right for a better Nigeria. The other groups perceived it was an "Igbo coup" and that perception still lingers. It is not much we can do about that.

Posted by: EzeUche

[b]I lionize the man, because he did what he believed what was right for a better Nigeria. [/b]The other groups perceived it was an "Igbo coup" and that perception still lingers. It is not much we can do about that.

Well, the cultural revolution would start with people who hold your view then, because Nzeogwu was indirectly responsible for MILLIONS of Igbo deaths in Nigeria. I would not lionize him.
If Ifeajuna for instance actually plotted an "Igbo coup", I would respect him more. Fact is that people like them need to be stopped in Igboland because they did not know what they were doing.

Make up your mind, are u jew or not? I saw your reference to your kins.

There wont be a counter coup if there wasnt a first coup to start with

Ezeuche, I used to contribute a lot in politics but these days only watch from the sidelines but I tell you what: you are either very stupid or unable to objectively assess situations! Imagine reading and knowing all the calamities that has befallen Nigeria and still continuing today, you are one of the most ardent tribalists and racist on this website. People like you and others (who know themselves) are the reason why so much blood has been shed in Nigeria. Your only contribution is always along tribal lines and when Nigeria burns to the ground because of all this tribal madness, will you be satisfied? As old as you are, you should be very ashamed of yourself!

@Topic, I am very saddened when I read about the killings of so many Igbos, Yorubas, Hausas and every other tribes. Nigeria will one day be divided to make progress and live peacefully.

I think they igbos were the cause of their predicament. They war would certainly have been avoided if those igbo officers did not act the first coup.

That's some awesome gist.That is why playing with fire is not advisable.You may start it but may not be able to predict it's end.When the Igbo man started the killing and coup he didn't know just how far that would come back to hunt him.When the Northern senior officers thought of the counter coup they never thought the NCO will become uncontrollable.So the ripple effects goes on and on.To blame one person or group will be wrong.Every group played a significant role.

You should also know that after the coup you said Ironsi shouldn't have trusted the Northern officers.That is simply why the North too, felt the Igbo officers in the force remain a serious treat to them unlike Ironsi, they learnt a valuable lesson about dealing with the treat.

Are you sure if the north had stop at Ironsi,the other Igbo officers wouldn't go for another counter coup?So you see the Igbos suffered a crushing defeat in there own game and that is the fact.All the north did was respond and eliminate a treat to secure there interest.You don't expect them to fold arms and watch you spite and bring carnage to them or there folks.

Lastly i would still say our beloved Yoruba folks played the best part to survive unharmed and in the long run become a unifying actor.Like today and always.They are a good example and truly calculative about there actions.