Lets imagine a scenario.

Most people will agree that Nigeria is in dire straits.

Suppose a group of Hausa-Fulani (with one Yoruba officer) officers staged a coup and killed GEJ, Ihejirika, Alams, Clark, all the SE and SS governors, etc meanwhile Sambo was out of the country and no Northerners were killed. The coup either ends up being crushed and Sambo becomes president or the coup succeeds and a Hausa-Fulani officer emerged president - would we call such a coup a power grab by the Hausa-Fulani?

slimghost:
I have schooled and exposed Katsumoto's arse on this particular thread, with facts from the horses mouth. If you must copy and paste,paste the whole damn article and not twist it to suit your bigoted agenda. I won't join issues with you because you are way below my line of reasoning.

You are schooling yourself. Why don't you let others make up their minds based on what is presented?

slimghost:
From where you lifted your copy and paste thrash, you intentionally forgot this?
Shehu Shagari in quote: "When we reminded Major-General Ironsi if he needed to avail himself of the British pledge of assistance, he replied it was too late as the army was pressing him to assume power. Indeed, he confessed his personal reluctance to take over because of his ignorance of government; but insisted the boys were adamant and anxiously waiting outside. He advised it would be in our interest, and that of the country, to temporarily cede power to him to avert disaster. Accordingly, we acceded to his request since we had no better alternative. Ironsi then insisted that the understanding be written".
Katsumoto, you are obviously confused.
 

See below

'The majority of those murdered were northerners, accompanied by some westerners and two Midwesterners.No easterner lost his or her life.On January 16, rather than approve the appointment of Zanna Bukar Dipcharima, a politician of northern origin, as acting Prime Minister, the acting President, Nwafor Orizu, himself of eastern origin, handed over power to Major-General JTU Aguiyi-Ironsi, the GOC of the Nigerian Army, also of eastern origin. This was allegedly at the behest of the rump cabinet, allegedly to enable Ironsi put down the revolt which, as of then, had already failed in southern Nigeria.Until it became apparent recently in separate testimony by Alhaji Shehu Shagari and Chief Richard Akinjide, it had always been publicly assumed in the lay Press that the hand-over was voluntary although unconstitutional - since no such provision existed in the Nigerian constitution.However, it does seem that as far back as 1969, Martin Dent pointed out the involuntary nature of the so-called hand-over in an academic paper, based on an interview with Alhaji Shettima Ali Monguno.

In July 2000, at a public book launching ceremony in Nigeria, Chief Richard Akinjide stated: “Talking on the first coup, when Balewa got missing, we knew Okotie-Eboh had been held, we knew Akintola had been killed. We, the members of the Balewa cabinet started meeting. But how can you have a cabinet meeting without the Prime Minister acting or Prime Minister presiding. So, unanimously, we nominated acting Prime Minister amongst us. Then we continued holding our meetings. Then we got a message that we should all assemble at the Cabinet office. All the Ministers were requested by the G.O.C. of the Nigerian Army, General Ironsi to assemble. What was amazing at that time was that Ironsi was going all over Lagos unarmed. We assembled there. Having nominated ZANA Diphcharima as our acting Prime Minister in the absence of the Prime Minister, whose whereabout we didn't know, we approached the acting President, Nwafor Orizu to swear him in because he cannot legitimately act as the Prime Minister except he is sworn-in. Nwafor Orizu refused. He said he needed to contact Zik who was then in West Indies.

Under the law, that is, the Interpretation Act, as acting President, Nwazor Orizu had all the powers of the President. The GOC said he wanted to see all the cabinet ministers. And so we assembled at the cabinet office. [b]Well, I have read in many books saying that we handed over to the military. We did not hand-over. Ironsi told us that "you either hand over as gentlemen or you hand-over by force". Those were his words. [/b]Is that voluntary hand-over? So we did not hand-over. We wanted an Acting Prime Minister to be in place but Ironsi forced us, and I use the word force advisedly, to handover to him. He was controlling the soldiers. The acting President, Nwafor Orizu, who did not cooperate with us, cooperated with the GOC. [/b]Dr. Orizu and the GOC prepared speeches which Nwafor Orizu broadcast handing over the government of the country to the army. I here state again categorically as a member of that cabinet that we did not hand-over voluntarily. It was a coup. “ Corroborating Akinjide’s account, according to Shehu Shagari, in his Book “Beckoned to
Serve”, “…, ….At about 7.00 am, I returned to Dipcharima’s residence to meet with some NPC ministers who had gathered there. Dipcharima was then the most senior NPC minister available. We received the latest reports on the situation, first from Alhaji Maitama Sule, Minister of Mines and Power, who had visited the PM’s residence by bicycle! We then heard from Alhaji Ibrahim Tako Galadima, the acting Minister of Defence, who had brought along with him Chief Fani-Kayode.

[b]However, we decided to recognize Dipcharima, a Kanuri from Bornu, as our interim leader; and to ask the acting President, Dr. Orizu (President Azikiwe was away on leave), to appoint Dipcharima acting Prime Minister. [/b]We also summoned Major General Ironsi and gave him full authority to use every force at his disposal to suppress the rebellion. He moved his headquarters temporarily to the police headquarters at moloney street to facilitate easy communication with army units in the regions. While at Dipcharima’s residence, we contacted the British High Commission and requested for military assistance in the event that our loyal troops should require any. [b]The response was positive, but the British insisted that the request must be written by the PM; or, in his absence, by a properly appointed deputy. We, therefore, drove to the residence of Dr. Orizu, and requested him to appoint Dipcharima acting prime minister. Dr. Orizu requested to see our NCNC colleagues to confirm whether they supported our proposition, and they joined us soon afterwards. They had apparently been caucusing at Dr. Mbadiwe’s residence. He (Mbadiwe) was their choice of acting Prime Minister. This was naturally unacceptable to us since the NPC was the major governing party.

While we were at Orizu’s residence, Major-General Ironsi, who had seemingly secured Lagos, came in with some armed escorts. He requested for a tete-a-tete with Orizu. The two had a 40 minutes discussion in another room, while we waited anxiously in the sitting room, with the armed soldiers standing and staring at us. When Major-General Ironsi finally emerged, he talked to Dipcharima sotto voce; and then drove off with his troops. Dr. Orizu then joined us, regretted his inability in the circumstances to oblige our request. He suggested we all return to our homes and wait until we were required. All efforts to get any clarification failed, and we left in utter desperation.

In fact President Azikiwe’s personal physician, Dr. Humphrey Idemudia Idehen, abandoned him abroad when he got tired of the “health trip”, having run out of his personal estacode allowance, unaware that there may have been a good reason why Azikiwe did not want to return to Nigeria, after their original planned return date in December 1965 passed.Not even the Commonwealth Leaders’ Conference hosted for the first time by the country in early January was incentive enough for the President to return, for obvious reasons of protocol.[/b]However, after the coup, in a statement to the Press in England on January 16, among other things, Azikiwe did not condemn the coup per se, but said: “Violence has never been an instrument used by us, as founding fathers of the Nigerian Republic, to solve political problems. ….I consider it most unfortunate that our 'Young Turks' decided to introduce the element of violent revolution into Nigerian politics. No matter how they and our general public might have been provoked by obstinate and perhaps grasping politicians, it is an unwise policy……, As far as I am concerned, I regard the killings of our political and military leaders as a national calamity….”

Major Ifeajuna was later to be accused by Major Patrick Nzeogwu, leader of northern operations, of bungling or ignoring an apparent understanding to assassinate General Ironsi in Lagos - an oversight, or “misguided consideration” (to use Nzeogwu’s words)that caused the failure of the coup.Indeed, Nzeogwu bluntly declared publicly that the execution of the coup in the South was tribalistic. Captain Emmanuel Nwobosi (rtd), leader of operations in the Western region, has since corroborated the view that operations in Lagos were compromised by nepotism. For this and other reasons, over the years, some analysts have come to view Nzeogwu, who was recruited two full months after the plot was already in progress, as a tool in a plot he never fully understood.[/b]Indeed, in offering condolences for the death of the Sardauna of Sokoto, ex-Senate President Nwafor Orizu told Alhaji Shehu Shagari that Major Nzeogwu was “an unknown entity among the Ibos (sic) in the Eastern region.”

http://www.citizensfornigeria.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=33&Itemid=45

slimghost:
I have schooled and exposed Katsumoto's arse on this particular thread, with facts from the horses mouth. If you must copy and paste,paste the whole damn article and not twist it to suit your bigoted agenda. I won't join issues with you because you are way below my line of reasoning.

what has darkness has to do with light?
What issue do i have to join with someone whose plimsoll line in stupidity is far above his longest strand of hair.

Slimghost, Nnaa,i dey feel you wella. *grins*

Ngwakwe:

What I'm saying is that everybody has chosen to believe the narrative that favours his/her agenda but unfortunately the aftermath of the war is still glaring and the wounds not healed.

As Godswill Akpabio will like to put it, if the war has actually ended, why is there no plan to implement the Rehabilitation and Reconstruction in the region where the war was actually fought and facilities / infrastructures bombed to stone age. On a second look, the reconstruction and rehabilitation started and were focused in the North and Western Regions of Nigeria.

There is a grand plan to suffocate the people of Eastern Nigeria and continue the devastation through skewed policy implementations by falsifying Census figures to favour the victors of the civil war, negligence to providing minimal life sustaining infrastructures that will spur growth and development that would help to stop these uncontrollable mass movement of the Igbo youths to other regions where these amenities are readily available.

Today, the North is killing the Igbos after the Igbos have surrendered to one Nigeria while the West is threatening fire and brimstone preparing its people to unleash genocide on the Igbos in the South West unless they surrender their wealth and liberties to the Yorubas and forgo their political rights as enshrined in the constitution of One Nigeria.

Bros, the Igbos need breathing space, equal right and justice after surrendering to One Nigeria but alas what we are seeing is more hostilities, threats and call for genocide of our people

But we've igbo governors in place in the region collecting allocation, so who's suppose to rebuild the ruinsif war from both sides?

This your logic funny o.

slimghost:
So it was no longer a power grab coup by igbos?. Hahahahahahaha. Who even listens to this guy? Smh

Your brain must be slow. How is it that stating that Nzeogwu was unaware of the true intentions of the coup implies that it is no longer an Igbo coup? Must everything be explained to you? Ifeajuna was the coup leader; afterall Ademoyega would never have joined the coup if he was told it was a power grab.

Katsumoto: And why would anyone with a brain believe the excuses Ifeajuna gave for not killing Okpara?

If Ifeajuna had no qualms killing Largema in a hotel or shooting his boss and mentor, Maimalari, dead in the middle of the night and on the street, why should he care about the presence of an ArchBishop?

I ask again, why was a Lieutenant sent to arrest Okpara and not a unit of similar force as those sent to Akintola and Bello? Why the need for Ifeajuna to go and complete a task that was assigned already?

Furthermore, why did they refuse to give the assignment of arresting nronsi to ademoyega even when he pleaded for it? Why was ironsi informed about the coup before hand?
Why was shodeinde and the other yoruba brigadier slaughter ed even when they were not resisting arrest?
The answer is simple. The igbo officers wanted to establish an igbo domination of the army and the country.
It is very obzvious fact that only IGBOS will argue.

slimghost: A touching excerpt from, Why We Struck: The Story Of The First Nigerian Coup ~ by Major Adewale Ademoyega. Page.142-3
"The next most important cause of our failure was the behaviour of Ifeajuna himself. Having seen that Ironsi had got loose and was already raising troops against us, Ifeajuna took Okafor with him and both of them suddenly disappeared from our midst. This raises the serious question of whether or not there was a common collusion between the two of them, and whether Okafor's failure to arrest the GOC was not a case of deliberate or willful omission. To my mind and to be quite honest, Ifeajuna should have been angry with Okafor the same way that I was angry with him. Then, if Ifeajuna had been faithful to me like I was to him, he should have stuck to me and both of us together would have planned the next line of action. This ought to be the natural course of things because Ifeajuna and I had worked together alone on this Lagos sector project for the previous three months, and more or less to the exclusion of the other majors who were brought in individually as the need for them arose. Why the sudden change of front? This matter later brought a serious argument between myself and Ifeajuna when we were both detained together at the Uyo Prison. That was in early April 1966, a few weeks after he had been repatriated to Nigeria. This argument became so serious that both of us exchanged blows and it was Dr Mbanugo, then a political detainee in the same prison, who separated us. After the fight, we became friends again."

Is this not supporting my position? If Ifeajuna executed as agreed during the planning stages, why did they have to fight when they met up?

honeric01:

Whats stopping you from copying and pasting yours too?

I wonder

Katsumoto:

See below

'The majority of those murdered were northerners, accompanied by some westerners and two Midwesterners.No easterner lost his or her life.On January 16, rather than approve the appointment of Zanna Bukar Dipcharima, a politician of northern origin, as acting Prime Minister, the acting President, Nwafor Orizu, himself of eastern origin, handed over power to Major-General JTU Aguiyi-Ironsi, the GOC of the Nigerian Army, also of eastern origin. This was allegedly at the behest of the rump cabinet, allegedly to enable Ironsi put down the revolt which, as of then, had already failed in southern Nigeria.Until it became apparent recently in separate testimony by Alhaji Shehu Shagari and Chief Richard Akinjide, it had always been publicly assumed in the lay Press that the hand-over was voluntary although unconstitutional - since no such provision existed in the Nigerian constitution.However, it does seem that as far back as 1969, Martin Dent pointed out the involuntary nature of the so-called hand-over in an academic paper, based on an interview with Alhaji Shettima Ali Monguno.

In July 2000, at a public book launching ceremony in Nigeria, Chief Richard Akinjide stated: “Talking on the first coup, when Balewa got missing, we knew Okotie-Eboh had been held, we knew Akintola had been killed. We, the members of the Balewa cabinet started meeting. But how can you have a cabinet meeting without the Prime Minister acting or Prime Minister presiding. So, unanimously, we nominated acting Prime Minister amongst us. Then we continued holding our meetings. Then we got a message that we should all assemble at the Cabinet office. All the Ministers were requested by the G.O.C. of the Nigerian Army, General Ironsi to assemble. What was amazing at that time was that Ironsi was going all over Lagos unarmed. We assembled there. Having nominated ZANA Diphcharima as our acting Prime Minister in the absence of the Prime Minister, whose whereabout we didn't know, we approached the acting President, Nwafor Orizu to swear him in because he cannot legitimately act as the Prime Minister except he is sworn-in. Nwafor Orizu refused. He said he needed to contact Zik who was then in West Indies.

Under the law, that is, the Interpretation Act, as acting President, Nwazor Orizu had all the powers of the President. The GOC said he wanted to see all the cabinet ministers. And so we assembled at the cabinet office. [b]Well, I have read in many books saying that we handed over to the military. We did not hand-over. Ironsi told us that "you either hand over as gentlemen or you hand-over by force". Those were his words. [/b]Is that voluntary hand-over? So we did not hand-over. We wanted an Acting Prime Minister to be in place but Ironsi forced us, and I use the word force advisedly, to handover to him. He was controlling the soldiers. The acting President, Nwafor Orizu, who did not cooperate with us, cooperated with the GOC. [/b]Dr. Orizu and the GOC prepared speeches which Nwafor Orizu broadcast handing over the government of the country to the army. I here state again categorically as a member of that cabinet that we did not hand-over voluntarily. It was a coup. “ Corroborating Akinjide’s account, according to Shehu Shagari, in his Book “Beckoned to
Serve”, “…, ….At about 7.00 am, I returned to Dipcharima’s residence to meet with some NPC ministers who had gathered there. Dipcharima was then the most senior NPC minister available. We received the latest reports on the situation, first from Alhaji Maitama Sule, Minister of Mines and Power, who had visited the PM’s residence by bicycle! We then heard from Alhaji Ibrahim Tako Galadima, the acting Minister of Defence, who had brought along with him Chief Fani-Kayode.

[b]However, we decided to recognize Dipcharima, a Kanuri from Bornu, as our interim leader; and to ask the acting President, Dr. Orizu (President Azikiwe was away on leave), to appoint Dipcharima acting Prime Minister. [/b]We also summoned Major General Ironsi and gave him full authority to use every force at his disposal to suppress the rebellion. He moved his headquarters temporarily to the police headquarters at moloney street to facilitate easy communication with army units in the regions. While at Dipcharima’s residence, we contacted the British High Commission and requested for military assistance in the event that our loyal troops should require any. [b]The response was positive, but the British insisted that the request must be written by the PM; or, in his absence, by a properly appointed deputy. We, therefore, drove to the residence of Dr. Orizu, and requested him to appoint Dipcharima acting prime minister. Dr. Orizu requested to see our NCNC colleagues to confirm whether they supported our proposition, and they joined us soon afterwards. They had apparently been caucusing at Dr. Mbadiwe’s residence. He (Mbadiwe) was their choice of acting Prime Minister. This was naturally unacceptable to us since the NPC was the major governing party.

While we were at Orizu’s residence, Major-General Ironsi, who had seemingly secured Lagos, came in with some armed escorts. He requested for a tete-a-tete with Orizu. The two had a 40 minutes discussion in another room, while we waited anxiously in the sitting room, with the armed soldiers standing and staring at us. When Major-General Ironsi finally emerged, he talked to Dipcharima sotto voce; and then drove off with his troops. Dr. Orizu then joined us, regretted his inability in the circumstances to oblige our request. He suggested we all return to our homes and wait until we were required. All efforts to get any clarification failed, and we left in utter desperation.

In fact President Azikiwe’s personal physician, Dr. Humphrey Idemudia Idehen, abandoned him abroad when he got tired of the “health trip”, having run out of his personal estacode allowance, unaware that there may have been a good reason why Azikiwe did not want to return to Nigeria, after their original planned return date in December 1965 passed.Not even the Commonwealth Leaders’ Conference hosted for the first time by the country in early January was incentive enough for the President to return, for obvious reasons of protocol.[/b]However, after the coup, in a statement to the Press in England on January 16, among other things, Azikiwe did not condemn the coup per se, but said: “Violence has never been an instrument used by us, as founding fathers of the Nigerian Republic, to solve political problems. ….I consider it most unfortunate that our 'Young Turks' decided to introduce the element of violent revolution into Nigerian politics. No matter how they and our general public might have been provoked by obstinate and perhaps grasping politicians, it is an unwise policy……, As far as I am concerned, I regard the killings of our political and military leaders as a national calamity….”

Major Ifeajuna was later to be accused by Major Patrick Nzeogwu, leader of northern operations, of bungling or ignoring an apparent understanding to assassinate General Ironsi in Lagos - an oversight, or “misguided consideration” (to use Nzeogwu’s words)that caused the failure of the coup.Indeed, Nzeogwu bluntly declared publicly that the execution of the coup in the South was tribalistic. Captain Emmanuel Nwobosi (rtd), leader of operations in the Western region, has since corroborated the view that operations in Lagos were compromised by nepotism. For this and other reasons, over the years, some analysts have come to view Nzeogwu, who was recruited two full months after the plot was already in progress, as a tool in a plot he never fully understood.[/b]Indeed, in offering condolences for the death of the Sardauna of Sokoto, ex-Senate President Nwafor Orizu told Alhaji Shehu Shagari that Major Nzeogwu was “an unknown entity among the Ibos (sic) in the Eastern region.”

http://www.citizensfornigeria.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=33&Itemid=45

You are arguing pointlessly! If you read my very first post on this thread, you would see where I laid the whole blame on Ifeajuna! My issues started with you when you mischieviously stated that the coup was a power grab by the igbos.

Katsumoto:

Is this not supporting my position? If Ifeajuna executed as agreed during the planning stages, why did they have to fight when they met up?

was that not my own point? That Ifeajuna and some other igbo soldiers started using their hearts instead of their head. You were very wrong to term the coup "a power grab by Igbos". That 's twisting facts!

slimghost: well, I will ask you to get Ademoyaga's book yourself and read. Only then would you see the lies and deceitts in katsumoto's copy and paste thrash. Thank God Ademoyega is not an igboman. He clearly stated their reasons for the coup and why it failed. He laid the bulk of the blames on Ifeajuna and Major Don Okafor, the same thing I wrote earlier on.

Except you read a diffrent book from the why we struck I read. My conclusion was that ifeajuna and okafor etc used nzeogwu and ademoyega to surreptitiously carry out a igbo coup.

software man:
Furthermore, why did they refuse to give the assignment of arresting nronsi to ademoyega even when he pleaded for it? Why was ironsi informed about the coup before hand?
Why was shodeinde and the other yoruba brigadier slaughter ed even when they were not resisting arrest?
The answer is simple. The igbo officers wanted to establish an igbo domination of the army and the country.
It is very obzvious fact that only IGBOS will argue.

Ignorance at its peak sir! According to all reports I have read, Ironsi was never informed about the copu before hand. According to Ademoyega's account, it was Colonel Sam Pam who telephoned and informed Ironsi minutes before he (Pam) was killed. Please let's deal with facts here if we are to achieve anything.

slimghost:
You are arguing pointlessly! If you read my very first post on this thread, you would see where I laid the whole blame on Ifeajuna! My issues started with you when you mischieviously stated that the coup was a power grab by the igbos.

Start debating by articulating your point cogently and stop resorting to diversionary tactics. Everything up there supports my position.

It was a power grab. The execution of the coup exposed their real intentions.

Igbo actions also confirmed this

1. After the Police completed its interrogation, the January coup suspects were transported to different prisons in the South but mainly in the East

2. A court-martial panel was nominated, headed by Lt. Colonel Conrad Nwawo (Nzeogwu’s friend and the man responsible for negotiating Nzeogwu’s surrender). Yet every time this panel was to sit, directives came from Supreme headquarters to postpone

3. Ironsi’s advisory team comprised Francis Nwokedi, Pius Okigbo, and Lt. Colonel Patrick Anwunah

4. Ironsi made Nwokedi the sole commissioner forthe establishment of an administrative machinery for a unified Nigeria

5. Ironsi abolished the compulsory Hausa test for civil service positions in the North, meaning that non-Hausa speaking people could take positions in the North.

6. Ironsi promulgated decree 34 which divided Nigeria into 35 provinces and made all civil servants part of a unified civil service despite being advised not to do so by Katsina, Gowon, Bassey, and Kam Salem. The day after the promulgation of decree 34, Lt. Col.Ojukwu publicly announced in Enugu that on the basis of seniority, Igbo civil servants would be transferred to other regions and Lagos.

7. Eleven (11) Majors were promoted substantive Lt. Cols while fourteen (14) Majors were made temporary Lt. Cols.Of these, 19 were Igbo or Igbo speaking easterners and midwesterners, 5 northerners (Katsina, Akahan, Shuwa, Muhammed, Haruna) and one Yoruba (Olutoye). These promotions happened even though there was a moratorium on promotions in the military.

8. In an interview back in the early eighties with Radio Kaduna, then Brigadier (later Major General) Mamman Vatsa, now deceased, is quoted by Elaigwu as saying:
“The July coup was motivated by the actions in January 1966 whereby an illegal action was legitimized.If you do that, you expect a counter reaction. July 29, 1966 was a reaction to an inaction against an illegal action….Right from the beginning, the GOC, Nigerian Army regarded these people as ‘rebels’.If that was accepted, the immediate thing was to take the necessary action to get them disciplined legally. If this was not done, then the GOC was condoning indiscipline or treason.Rather than punish men from his army who were on mutiny, he was now asking the civilian government to hand over to him before he could maintain discipline in an organization of which he was in charge….In the first instance, he shouldn’t even have taken over the power……”

software man:
Except you read a diffrent book from the why we struck I read. My conclusion was that ifeajuna and okafor etc used nzeogwu and ademoyega to surreptitiously carry out a igbo coup.

And Chris Anuforo was not igbo? Ifeajuna and don Okafor obviously wanted something else but that doesn't make it an Igbo coup! Unless Anuforo and Nzeogwu are/were no longer igbos. I advice you to further read ben Gbulie's "the five Majors".

slimghost: was that not my own point? That Ifeajuna and some other igbo soldiers started using their hearts instead of their head. You were very wrong to term the coup "a power grab by Igbos". That 's twisting facts!

Their hearts pushed them to execute non-igbos while sparing Igbos. At the end of the coup, Igbos benefitted from the actions of their 'hearts'. So how is that not a power grab? Why were Pam and Maimalari killed? Should they not have targeted Ironsi first?

Katsumoto:

Start debating by articulating your point cogently and stop resorting to diversionary tactics. Everything up there supports my position.

It was a power grab. The execution of the coup exposed their real intentions.

Igbo actions also confirmed this

1. After the Police completed its interrogation, the January coup suspects were transported to different prisons in the South but mainly in the East

2. A court-martial panel was nominated, headed by Lt. Colonel Conrad Nwawo (Nzeogwu’s friend and the man responsible for negotiating Nzeogwu’s surrender). Yet every time this panel was to sit, directives came from Supreme headquarters to postpone

3. Ironsi’s advisory team comprised Francis Nwokedi, Pius Okigbo, and Lt. Colonel Patrick Anwunah

4. Ironsi made Nwokedi the sole commissioner forthe establishment of an administrative machinery for a unified Nigeria

5. Ironsi abolished the compulsory Hausa test for civil service positions in the North, meaning that non-Hausa speaking people could take positions in the North.

6. Ironsi promulgated decree 34 which divided Nigeria into 35 provinces and made all civil servants part of a unified civil service despite being advised not to do so by Katsina, Gowon, Bassey, and Kam Salem. The day after the promulgation of decree 34, Lt. Col.Ojukwu publicly announced in Enugu that on the basis of seniority, Igbo civil servants would be transferred to other regions and Lagos.

7. Eleven (11) Majors were promoted substantive Lt. Cols while fourteen (14) Majors were made temporary Lt. Cols.Of these, 19 were Igbo or Igbo speaking easterners and midwesterners, 5 northerners (Katsina, Akahan, Shuwa, Muhammed, Haruna) and one Yoruba (Olutoye). These promotions happened even though there was a moratorium on promotions in the military.

8. In an interview back in the early eighties with Radio Kaduna, then Brigadier (later Major General) Mamman Vatsa, now deceased, is quoted by Elaigwu as saying:
“The July coup was motivated by the actions in January 1966 whereby an illegal action was legitimized.If you do that, you expect a counter reaction. July 29, 1966 was a reaction to an inaction against an illegal action….Right from the beginning, the GOC, Nigerian Army regarded these people as ‘rebels’.If that was accepted, the immediate thing was to take the necessary action to get them disciplined legally. If this was not done, then the GOC was condoning indiscipline or treason.Rather than punish men from his army who were on mutiny, he was now asking the civilian government to hand over to him before he could maintain discipline in an organization of which he was in charge….In the first instance, he shouldn’t even have taken over the power……”

You are obviously not so intelligent! This thrash you posted above happened post coup after Ironsi had taken power, right? Initialy, you called it a coup planned by Zik and now you are asserting that Ironsi was involved too?. You are really confused sir.

slimghost:
You are arguing pointlessly! If you read my very first post on this thread, you would see where I laid the whole blame on Ifeajuna! My issues started with you when you mischieviously stated that the coup was a power grab by the igbos.

Dude hes agreeing with you!

However you want to see it, the truth remains:

1. Nzeogwu an Igbo man went into the coup with noble intentions.

2. Ifeajuna, an Igbo man went into the coup with ulterior motives.

3. Almost all the participants of the coup were Igbo.

4. All the Igbo leaders survived the coup, as opposed to leaders of other tribes who were murdered in cold blood.

5. An Igbo man benefitted from all this shenanigans and became Head of State.

How else do you expect the rest of the country to see the coup? Igbo and Yoruba coup? If even the North refuses to buy your cries that the Yorubas should be blamed too, dont you think normalcy dictates that you should have some introspection and see where others are coming from instead of trying convince them otherwise? The facts are the facts, deal with them "As Is".

Katsumoto:

Their hearts pushed them to execute non-igbos while sparing Igbos. At the end of the coup, Igbos benefitted from the actions of their 'hearts'. So how is that not a power grab? Why were Pam and Maimalari killed? Should they not have targeted Ironsi first?

According to Ademoyega, they didn't want to kill Maimalari but decided to go for it because: 1. He was loved and respected by many officers and could stand in their way. 2. Becasuse of his relationship with sarduana. Note: colonel Unegbe too was shot point blank range after he refused to hand over keys to the armory. Oh, I forgot Unegbe is not igbo.

slimghost:
You are obviously not so intelligent! This thrash you posted above happened post coup after Ironsi had taken power, right? Initialy, you called it a coup planned by Zik and now you are asserting that Ironsi was involved too?. You are really confused sir.

You are a donkey - are Zik and Ironsi both not Igbo?

The aim of the coup was to effect a change of power. The planners left Ironsi because that was plan B; otherwise, Ironsi as GOC should have been killed first.

After Balewa was killed, why were the Igbo having meetings to nominate a new PM? Why did they nominate Mbadiwe? Was NCNC not the junior partner in that government? I ask again, why were Igbo ministers caucasing to nominate an Igbo PM after a Hausa PM was killed by an Igbo soldier?

slimghost:
You are arguing pointlessly! If you read my very first post on this thread, you would see where I laid the whole blame on Ifeajuna! My issues started with you when you mischieviously stated that the coup was a power grab by the igbos.

I have carefully gone through every single book on the first coup . I always find it laughable when IGBOS try to advance the argument that ifeajuna acted alone and selfishly. What is easily deductible was that ifeajuna and all the other igbo officers knew the agenda of that coup and their agenda has nothing to do with with whatever the noble objective mzeogwu or ademouega may have had.
The coincidence that there was no serious plan in the east, that ojukwu who comamdimg a battalion in kano and nronsi were spared while other officers from the north and west were mercilessly murdered by IBO officers like tim onwiategu and ifeajuna is utter nonsense.
The January 15th coup was an igbo coup pure and simple.

wesley80: Besides the circumstances surrouding Fajuyi's death, I dont see any huge 'revelation' from this interview. He only failed to disguise his bitterness with Igbos - as most would - which very much captures the overall feeling of Northerners that experienced Nzeogwu's lame coup.

The truth is that people were relieved at the initial success of the coup until the northern elite did what many people still do today - they spun a tale of an igbo plot for domination and its very easy to inflame passions that way especially as igbos had been on the receiving end of suspicion and antagonism in the north long before 1966.

slimghost: According to Ademoyega, they didn't want to kill Maimalari but decided to go for it because: 1. He was loved and respected by many officers and could stand in their way. 2. Becasuse of his relationship with sarduana. Note: colonel Unegbe too was shot point blank range after he refused to hand over keys to the armory. Oh, I forgot Unegbe is not igbo.

So how did they get the guns which they used to kill Unegbe?

Could Ironsi not stand in their way? Was Ironsi not senior to Maimalari?

nku5:

The truth is that people were relieved at the initial success of the coup until the northern elite did what many people still do today - they spun a tale of an igbo plot for domination and its very easy to inflame passions that way especially as igbos had been on the receiving end of suspicion and antagonism in the north long before 1966.

Yeah, people couldn't analyse the event and issues on their own. You think others are as dumb as you are.

kingoflag:

Dude hes agreeing with you!

However you want to see it, the truth remains:

1. Nzeogwu an Igbo man went into the coup with noble intentions.

2. Ifeajuna, an Igbo man went into the coup with ulterior motives.

3. Almost all the participants of the coup were Igbo.

4. All the Igbo leaders survived the coup, as opposed to leaders of other tribes who were murdered in cold blood.

5. An Igbo man benefitted from all this shenanigans and became Head of State.

How else do you expect the rest of the country to see the coup? Igbo and Yoruba coup? If even the North refuses to buy your cries that the Yorubas should be blamed too, dont you think normalcy dictates that you should have some introspection and see where others are coming from instead of trying convince them otherwise? The facts are the facts, deal with them "As Is".

Of course, am always the first to accept that the coup was flawed but terming it a power grab by igbos is unacceptable.

I have to step out, will be back later to deal with more lies, factual inaccuracies, and inconsistencies.

slimghost:
And Chris Anuforo was not igbo? Ifeajuna and don Okafor obviously wanted something else but that doesn't make it an Igbo coup! Unless Anuforo and Nzeogwu are/were no longer igbos. I advice you to further read ben Gbulie's "the five Majors".

I have read it and I have also read madiebo and njoku's accounts of that coup. My conclusion is that despite the noble intentions of nzeogwu and ademoyega, what was planned was an igbo coup. It was from the account of njoku that I confirmed that nronsi had foreknowledge of the coup but was assured they won't kill anybody.

Katsumoto:

So how did they get the guns which they used to kill Unegbe?

Could Ironsi not stand in their way? Was Ironsi not senior to Maimalari?

Don't you know what an armoury is? Maimalari standing in their way is not about his rank but the respect he commands among officers. He was highly loved by most officers then because of his charisma,courage and efficiency.

Afam4eva: This man is really bold to come out and say all these things he said. Did he think we would not get the English Transcript or not?

I never knew Fajuyi's death was collateral damage.

I think Ironsi's death was a collateral damage too. Given how his wife described events up to it, from her angle. I don't think Johnny was the type to engage in a coup.

slimghost:
Of course, am always the first to accept that the coup was flawed but terming it a power grab by igbos is unacceptable.

In effect, that is how it occurred.

software man:
I have read it and I have also read madiebo and njoku's accounts of that coup. My conclusion is that despite the noble intentions of nzeogwu and ademoyega, what was planned was an igbo coup. It was from the account of njoku that I confirmed that nronsi had foreknowledge of the coup but was assured they won't kill anybody.

Do more research on that. Most accounts reported that it was Colonel Sam Pam who telephoned Ironsi and informed him. Ironsi truly had no prior knowledge because he was marked to die too but Ifeajuna and Okafor had other plans. Calling it an igbo power grab islike spiting no the graves of true revolutionaries like Nzeogwu,Anuforo and Ademoyega.