The primary ring leaders of the coup were Majors Nzeogwu, Ademoyega, Ifeajuna, Okafor, Chuk Nwuka, Onwuatuegwu and Obienu. After the initial national euphoria which followed the coup, it was not surprising that the northerners would begin to take a different view of events: the majority of the ring leaders were Ibo in origin, the Northerners had paid the highest price in terms of men and political power, and the entire 'national' operation had been executed on their soil. While Nzeogwu had successfully secured his area of operation in Kaduna, Major Ifeajuna and Capt. Nwobosi failed to secure Lagos and Ibadan.

In the midst of the confusion, and the bungled execution by the coupists, the GOC of the Nigerian army, General Aguiyi Ironsi, intervened and outmaneuvered Major C.K Nzeogwu. Luckily for him, Lieutenant Colonel Ojukwu, Commander of the 5th Battalion in Kano, had been able to seize Kano Airport on behalf of the rallying military. Ironsi later appointed him Military Governor of the Eastern region.

With the smell of blood choking our collective nostrils, the remnants of the Balewa government needed little persuasion to hand over the reigns of power to Army Commander-in-Chief, Major-General Ironsi. The new Head of State proceeded quickly to suspend the Constitution, dissolve all legislative bodies, ban political parties, and as an interim measure, formed a Federal Military Government. By January 18, 1966 he had announced the appointment of the Military Governors of all four Regions of the Federation: Lieutenant Colonel C. Odumegwu Ojukwu, East; Lieutenant Colonel F.A Fajuyi West; Lieutenant Colonel D.A. Ejoor, Midwest; Lieutenant Colonel Hassan Katsina, North.

Ironsi made several serious political mis-calculations. His handling of the coupists, who after all, had been mutineers, lacked directness, and betrayed insensitivity to the feelings of northern officers, who now felt vulnerable (and resentful). He also seemed to lack a full appreciation of the importance of taking steps to restore the espirit de corps in the military.

However, it was a difficult situation and I did not envy him one bit. There were skirmishes between Northern troops and their Southern counterparts throughout the country. Some five months after the coup, Ironsi announced his intention to institute a Unitary government- another serious mistake.

Predictably, this was misinterpreted by the northern elite as further proof of an Ibo plot to consolidate their hold on national political power. The abrupt termination of the Ironsi regime by a revolution by the 'heirs apparent' to Nigerian power politics should have surprised no one. It was an inevitable end and established later political patterns of Nigeria.

The counter-coup masterminded by the senior northern officers in July 1966 reversed the political pendulum that had swung to the political advantage of the south. It re-established the status quo to domination of political power by the North, which they had held since 1966 and justified through irregular census figures.

The Head of State was abducted in the company of Colonel F.A. Fajuyi, by a group of junior northern officers. (Months later, Major Usman Katsina finally confirmed that his abductors had assassinated him with the Western Governor). Thus began another traumatic period for the military. In Lagos, Kaduna, Ibadan, and Kano and throughout Nigeria (except the eastern region under the command of Lieutenant. Colonel C. Odumegwu Ojukwu), senior Ibo officers were rounded up- often by soldiers under their command and shot.

At the time the power leverage changed hands to the northern group, I was at Enugu. The Commanding Officer being Ibo was relieved of his duties and I was ordered to assume them. The tense atmosphere was not helped by the trigger-happy northern soldiers at Enugu who were hell bent on killing Ibos in their homeland. This I prevented with all the persuasive authority at my disposal. Sanity prevailed, but I had to pay with my blood to appease the bloodhounds that were given a 'rousing' welcome by their people on their arrival at Kaduna.

There was a complete blanketing of information to the troops, which generated unprecedented rumor mongering. The chain of command had completely broken down and in thc atmosphere of lawlessness that prevailed at the time, arson, illegal imprisonment, and gross indiscipline by soldiers became the order of the day.

@Naptu2

Very Educative Thread,When are we going to get the rest of the interview

May 1 was initially recognised as Workers' Day in Nigeria by the late Kano state governor in 1980.

Shehu Shagari later adopted it as a National Holiday on May 1, 1981.

@ Debosky: your attention is needed here https://www.nairaland.com/1274126/governor-fashola-builds-first-suspension

olaadegoke: @Naptu2

Very Educative Thread,When are we going to get the rest of the interview

Thank you very much. Hopefully I'll continue today.

@Naptu... Am still following.. Thanks.

Afam4eva:
What a joke! Is it the same man that said that Igbos must be exterminated? Some Igbo people sure don't know their history.

I am a student of life and history, I do not dwell in hear say besides this is one great soldier we are talking about.

The tense atmosphere was not helped by the
trigger-happy northern soldiers at Enugu who
were hell bent on killing Ibos in their homeland.
This I prevented with all the persuasive
authority at my disposal... Benjamin adekunle

@Naptu2 thanks for the interview by Benjamin adekunle. He is truly a great soldier but is he still alive and there is this story that he was demoted by the army. pls shed more light

Obiagelli:
I am a student of life and history, I do not dwell in hear say besides this is one great soldier we are talking about.

The tense atmosphere was not helped by the
trigger-happy northern soldiers at Enugu who
were hell bent on killing Ibos in their homeland.
This I prevented with all the persuasive
authority at my disposal... Benjamin adekunle

Adolf hitler was also a great soldier and master tactician,but the jews will never forgive him for the massacre of six million of them.
Your attitude is disgusting,and a spit on the face of dead biafran heroes.

One of the great things about democracy is that each person is free to hold his/her own opinion. We can't all agree and sometimes we have to agree to disagree (one man's meat is another man's poison).

I'm liking this thread.

naptu2: One of the great things about democracy is that each person is free to hold his/her own opinion. We can't all agree and sometimes we have to agree to disagree (one man's meat is another man's poison).

Are you the editor of the monthly newspaper called historical ........ Cant remember the other name now

debetmx:

Are you the editor of the monthly newspaper called historical ........ Cant remember the other name now

No, I'm not.

@ naptu, kindly revive this thread with new stories pls. God bless you

WOW!
@naptu2; thanks!

naptu2: Lieutenant General Donaldson Oladipo Diya (Chief of General Staff)

puzzy

N_girl: WOW!
@naptu2; thanks!

Thank you

debetmx: @ naptu, kindly revive this thread with new stories pls. God bless you

Thanks. I still have a lot more to post, but I'm constrained by time.

Wow! It seems someone has just discovered this thread and is rapidly copying the pictures from this thread and posting them on NNP 60-80, even though the pictures violate the rules of the group.

naptu2: Wow! It seems someone has just discovered this thread and is rapidly copying the pictures from this thread and posting them on NNP 60-80, even though the pictures violate the rules of the group.

I hope they acknowledged you, if they didn't, that's just sad.

grafikii:
I hope they acknowledged you, if they didn't, that's just sad.

The admins deleted her pictures, reposted one of the pictures and provided a link to this thread.

naptu2:

The admins deleted her pictures, reposted one of the pictures and provided a link to this thread.

Good response from that admin.

WOW. I lOVE this post, a book or an encyclopedia has to be made from this, spent 3hrs reading this, lovely lovely. Wish other parts of Nigeria showed up from the archives tho

shopyboy: WOW. I lOVE this post, a book or an encyclopedia has to be made from this, spent 3hrs reading this, lovely lovely. Wish other parts of Nigeria showed up from the archives tho

Thank you.

naptu2: Happy independence day everybody!

come continue oo

Please, Does anyone knows why Odutola tyres, Adebowale electronics, Vista bakery in Ibadan and stationery stores discontinued after the death of the founders. these were indeed great indigenous businesses when the owners were alive.