Afam4eva:
I probably would have done what Ogundipe did if i was in his position. I'm saying this as a civilian who has no military background. Ogundipe was simply scared that he'll be wasted just like Aguiyi Ironsi.

gocare:
To stay to rule a country when you do not have a sufficient power base is simply foolish. And even if you do why would you risk civil war. Far better to seek a mutually beneficial arrangement. Especially when you have a family. After he retired he was killed by a stroke. A result of his high blood pressure.

Bialegend:
A true coward of the highest order. As they say, it is in the blood.

Gamesmart:


Some people think until you get yourself killed out of idiocy is the only time you can be seen as "brave", "hero" and "intelligent".

What makes him a Brigadier?

Is it by mere putting the tag on the forehead? Or from an appointment and responsibility to command an army of men?

Some people think it is the former, not the latter.

If those men decide to not take command, how does that reflect on you when you have not done anything out of character to warrant that respond?

Gamesmart:


This is the kind of stupidity many see as heroism and bravery.

What did Fajuyi achieve with his action?

Nothing.

He is dead, the person he tried to protect is dead, the people that killed them ruled Nigeria for years.

Choosing meaningless death is heroic?

maxsiollun:
Fajuyi did not give his life for Ironsi. It seems he was a target of the northern mutineers all along and would have been killed with Ironsi regardless. It was the Western Region publication "Fajuyi The Great" that started the myth that Fajuyi "chose to die with Ironsi". The myth was later embellished in subsequent publications. One of the most ridiculous of which was Fajuyi: The Martyred soldier, by Sanmi Ajiki. Ajiki claimed that Fajuyi told Ironsi: "I make bold to declare to you that, I am with you soul, spirit and body. And mark my words, whatever happens to you today, happens to me. I am your true friend, dear J.U.T like the dove to the pigeon, and by the grace of our good God, so will I humbly yet proudly remain till the very end." [/i]According to Ajiki, Ironsi replied [i]"Yes! Francis, I retain my absolute confidence in you. I have never for once doubted your integrity." That might sound nice and heroic for their family members, but the accounts given by the soldiers that were present suggest that no such fluffy dialogue took place.

William Walbe (one of the officers that led Fajuyi and Ironsi to their death in Ibadan) publicly confirmed in an interview that Fajuyi was destined to share Ironsi's fate and that they (the northern mutineers) wanted Fajuyi dead because they were convinced he was an ally of the Janaury 1966 Majors and helped them plan their coup. The interview is quoted in Gowon's biography entitled "Gowon: Biogrpahy of a Soldier Statesman".

Lt-Gen Danjuma later corroborated Walbe's account in an interview with a Nigerian army civil war historical team. Danjuma went even further than Walbe and said that the soldiers that killed Ironsi and Fajuyi could not stand Fajuyi. They felt he deserved to die even more than Ironsi.

maxsiollun:
Ogundipe was no coward. He tried to take over after Ironsi's dissapearance but could not do much because northern soldiers refused to take orders from him. He gave an order to a northern Sergeant in the Federal Guards, and the Sergeant bluntly refused the order and replied "I do not take orders from you until my (northern) captain comes". The Captain was of course Captain Joe Garba.

Arnold1:


What about Ojukwu who ran to Ivory Coast with millions rather than stay and fight ? Isn't he a coward ?

PFRB:


Ojukwu was a coward. Ogundipe was a coward. Gowon was a coward. Buhari was a coward. Babangida was coward. OBJ was a coward.

Duru1:



Funny story indeed. I guess Ogundipe was no coward because he tried to take over by pacing around and cowering inside NNS Nigeria. Even 2Lt Odu who was physically present at the scene of so-called order said it was a fat lie. In addition, Lt. Cdr. Soroh narrated that Ogundipe never left his ship until he boarded another ship to London.

stonemasonn:
I wonder why there were few yoruba soldiers in the army

slinger:
So, this is 2019 and I'm reading this book - The Biafra Story (The making of an African Legend) - by this British author Frederick Forsyth. In the book, he narrates the events that led to the civil war and mentioned that at some point then Colonel Ojukwu reached out to Brig Ogundipe asking him as the most superior officer to declare himself Supreme Commander that he'd back him.

He says Ogundipe gave a "Crass", 3-minute speech asking everyone to be calm and disappeared to Dahomey from which he migrated to London.

I wouldn't know the exact circumstances and Ogundipe's thought process so I can't say for sure but as a Military Man in that position, I think it is both customary, logical, morally right and even almost honourable that He'd have taken over (Gee! the killings were sporadic and unidirectional - targeting Easterners), get united with the other military governors and prolly given Northern Nigeria their wish for ARABA.

Okay, he eventually migrated to London and became High Commissioner, I haven't found any record of anything he did to assuage tensions in the country from where he was. I think that is messed up.

I wouldn't say he was a coward cos this would be highly opinionated and would depend on perspective, I would say he was a terrible soldier in every sense of the word and doesn't deserve my respect.

And folks who think Ojukwu was a coward, I think you should get your facts right, at least try to. Read about how much wealth his dad amassed across the country and how Ojukwu was fully aware that they'd lose the lot of those if he went to war and still went cos he was fighting for what he believed - that called putting your money and spirit where your mouth is. Have a little respect.

I got a telephone call from Brigadier Ogundipe about ten days after he left the shores of Nigeria. He was speaking from Las Palmas. They had been taken to board the M.V. Aureol the night I dropped them off and the ship set sail the following day at noon.

It was only when they were safely out of the way that the Head of State could make his announcement.

Ogundipe told me they were having a two week holiday in Las Palmas, after which he had been asked to assume duty as the Nigerian High Commissioner in the United Kingdom.

Ogundipe told me that he had been asked to attend the meeting at Lion Building so that he would voluntarily relinquish power to Gowon who was junior to him. As long as Ogundipe was around. Gowon could not assume leadership.

All along, we never knew that this was what was causing the delay in the proclamation of the Head of State.

The 72 hour delay was essential for all key participants to be reconciled, before peace could be restored. My life had taken many strange twists and turns, but never had I imagined that I would be giving shelter to someone who was Head-of-State in waiting!


-Theophilus Oluwole Akindele, a former Director of Communications, narrated this in his ‘Memoir of Mixed Blessings’, The Book Company Limited, 2009, pp.129-140

Bialegend:
A true coward of the highest order. As they say, it is in the blood.

T9ksy:

Gamesmart:


And which human beings (bar mentally-ill patients or drugged up addict) do you know that would not be scared of being wasted?

Once you join the army, you are suppose not to fear death?

gidgiddy:
Ogundipe is a classic case of Yoruba cowardice.

With the death of Ironsi, Brigadier Ogundipe waa next in line to be President as the next highest ranking Officer. But what did he do? He ran away to London without a fight despite the fact that he had the support of two Military Governors, Ojukwu and Ejoor.

Ogundipe could have declared himself commander in chief, rallied his fellow Yorubas in West, Igbos in the East and Governor Ejoor in the Mid-West to stop the Northerners. But he ran away like the true coward he was.

Ogundipe was chased out of Yorubaland, his own fathers land, by Northerners.

At least Ojukwu fought for 3 years before running away, Ogundipe ran away without a fight.

Thats why I laugh at Yorubas who call Ojukwu a coward. At least Ojukwu fought before running away, what did your own son do? Ogundipe submitted to Northern domination like a Chicken

gidgiddy:
Ogundipe is a classic case of Yoruba cowardice.

With the death of Ironsi, Brigadier Ogundipe waa next in line to be President as the next highest ranking Officer. But what did he do? He ran away to London without a fight despite the fact that he had the support of two Military Governors, Ojukwu and Ejoor.

Ogundipe could have declared himself commander in chief, rallied his fellow Yorubas in West, Igbos in the East and Governor Ejoor in the Mid-West to stop the Northerners. But he ran away like the true coward he was.

Ogundipe was chased out of Yorubaland, his own fathers land, by Northerners.

At least Ojukwu fought for 3 years before running away, Ogundipe ran away without a fight.

Thats why I laugh at Yorubas who call Ojukwu a coward. At least Ojukwu fought before running away, what did your own son do? Ogundipe submitted to Northern domination like a Chicken

timekeeper1:


Yes ooo.. My brother you are very right.....

Agbariojuwku fought and ran away... He saved his life and killed 3 millions Igbos... Sacrificed ur fore fathers...


Ogundipe ran and did sacrifice anybody...


Agbariojuwku Ojukwu didn't escape Nigeria as an Ojukwu, he escaped like a pussy ;d


Ogundipe escape like a man with balls n dick

U see the difference so??

Dede1:
As a seasoned soldier, the antics of Brigadier Ogundipe and many other rank and file of Yoruba stock in Nigeria army were not only display of cowardice but lack of vision. If the political actions of Yoruba and the ethnic minorities of southern Nigerian baring the Ibibio, Atama, Annang, Ogoni, Kalabari and Ijo of Bayelsa State were tactical, than it manifested into today’s Nigeria, a complete cesspit. I think the Yoruba sold out for the development of Lagos and few economic leftovers while the ethnic minorities go stadia for their bidding.

maxsiollun:
Fajuyi did not give his life for Ironsi. It seems he was a target of the northern mutineers all along and would have been killed with Ironsi regardless. It was the Western Region publication "Fajuyi The Great" that started the myth that Fajuyi "chose to die with Ironsi". The myth was later embellished in subsequent publications. One of the most ridiculous of which was Fajuyi: The Martyred soldier, by Sanmi Ajiki. Ajiki claimed that Fajuyi told Ironsi: "I make bold to declare to you that, I am with you soul, spirit and body. And mark my words, whatever happens to you today, happens to me. I am your true friend, dear J.U.T like the dove to the pigeon, and by the grace of our good God, so will I humbly yet proudly remain till the very end." [/i]According to Ajiki, Ironsi replied [i]"Yes! Francis, I retain my absolute confidence in you. I have never for once doubted your integrity." That might sound nice and heroic for their family members, but the accounts given by the soldiers that were present suggest that no such fluffy dialogue took place.

William Walbe (one of the officers that led Fajuyi and Ironsi to their death in Ibadan) publicly confirmed in an interview that Fajuyi was destined to share Ironsi's fate and that they (the northern mutineers) wanted Fajuyi dead because they were convinced he was an ally of the Janaury 1966 Majors and helped them plan their coup. The interview is quoted in Gowon's biography entitled "Gowon: Biogrpahy of a Soldier Statesman".

Lt-Gen Danjuma later corroborated Walbe's account in an interview with a Nigerian army civil war historical team. Danjuma went even further than Walbe and said that the soldiers that killed Ironsi and Fajuyi could not stand Fajuyi. They felt he deserved to die even more than Ironsi.