http://www.guardiannewsngr.com/news/article03


1966 Coup Plotters Planned To Hand Over Power To Awo, Says Ofeimun
BY SUNDAY ORISAKWE

FOUR decades after the 1966 military putsch and 20 years after the death of the sage and political giant of the defunct Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, his former secretary, Mr. Odia Ofeimun has disclosed that the coup plotters planned to hand over power to the late sage.

Ofeimun, who spoke with The Guardian on the 20th anniversary of the passage of Chief Awolowo, said 20 years after, many people still did not know the real intention of the 1966 coup plotters.

Nigerians only remembered the January 15, 1966 coup from the viewpoint of those who told the story, he said.

The renowned poet added: "People were told that it was an Igbo coup but that is not correct. It is a very interesting part of the Nigerian story. In the first place, there have been many serious lies that have been told by our leaders in the last 45 years of Nigeria's history. Our leaders have not been bold enough to tell us the truth."

"The interesting part of the Nigerian story and Awolowo's story would have been explained in the book written by Chukwuma Ifeajuna. It would have been clearer what actually happened. That book said the plan of the coup makers was to release Awolowo from jail and make him their own leader. And if Awolowo, because of his principles, refused to be their leader, they would lock him up in the State House and issue decrees in his name. If that book had been published early, the story that it was an Igbo coup would have been debunked and it would have been a different ball game," Ofeimun disclosed.

Ofeimun said the Aguiyi-Ironsi, Emeka Odimegwu-Ojukwu group that took over after the coup did not see Nigeria in the way the January 15 coup plotters saw it. And till today, it is difficult to convince many Igbo that men of Igbo extraction would plan a coup and hand power over to a Yoruba man, who is believed to hate them, because as far as many of them were concerned, Awolowo just hated the Igbo, whereas what those young Igbo officers saw in Awolowo was a leader who had performed better than anybody could have done in West Africa or in Africa.

"And they saw a leader who fought hard to free Nigeria from all the bondages that afflicted us as a Nation. He championed a development format, socialist in orientation that was different from others. He had become the hope of the younger generation in terms of what Nigeria could be, or become. So, when those coup plotters saw in Awolowo, the man who will lead them, they knew what they were doing," he added.

Ofeimun continued: "They were comfortable with Awolowo's ideas and believed they would help the nation. But the point is that the average Yoruba man could never really believe that some Igbo would plan a coup and hand over power to Awolowo because that is not the way Nigeria is seen. Many people do not see Nigeria as one country."

He stressed that many saw Nigeria as a divided soul, where ethnicity had created suspicion and distrust, but those coup plotters saw in Awolowo the only man who had an idea of building a true Nigeria.

So, those who call the 1966 coup an Igbo affair should shut up. Ofeimum is from Edo state.

If they believed so much in Awo, why would they lock him up and issue decrees in his name, just because he refuses to go along with a wrong? I am pretty sure he would have turned them down at that, because he was a just man who believes in equity for all.
Still the question lingers, were these men not acting out a sectional agenda by only murdering politicians of Northern and Western extraction?

One of the coup plotters, Ademoyega was a Yoruba. So which sectional interest are you talking about? YoruIgbo?

chrisokw:

One of the coup plotters, Ademoyega was a Yoruba. So which sectional interest are you talking about? YoruIgbo?

good comeback, i have to think about that for a while, IjebuIgbo

It is this same Awo who is so respected by many that Obasanjo ridiculed saying he wanted to be president so much it eluded him. Obasanjo and PDP even went as far as pulling down his statue in Ibadan.

20 years after the death of the great sage, people still have nothing but good things to say about him.
Obasanjo is still fighting with his ghost, trying to be relevant. what a shame on the evil one

Another Conspiracy Theory.

The story continues.

His name Ofeimun sound like Yoruba

hmm......

You know what?
All these theories and counters makes me feel like looking for "rod" Luggard's grave.
Bring him back to life, use a hammer to knock his head, until he dis-amalgamate what he mis-amalgamated.

Yorubas are the most wicked Black Race, make sure you have the longest spoon when dining with them,

Wicked People

WilyWily5:
Wicked People

Guy, you must not use such words to describe a people. However, like someone asserted, be careful when dealing with the Yoruba man. If possible do not take action before he does. They are good at betraying to show their loyalty. I will stop there and just wish GMB goodluck.

Bankole01:
It is this same Awo who is so respected by many that Obasanjo ridiculed saying he wanted to be president so much it eluded him. Obasanjo and PDP even went as far as pulling down his statue in Ibadan.

20 years after the death of the great sage, people still have nothing but good things to say about him.
Obasanjo is still fighting with his ghost, trying to be relevant. what a shame on the evil one

Why do you call somebody that commuter suicide sage why do you call somebody that is treacherous sage ..do you know the meaning of sage

Obasanjo was correct in his action.
Has his widow died

Xetima:


Guy, you must not use such words to describe a people. However, like someone asserted, be careful when dealing with the Yoruba man. If possible do not take action before he does. They are good at betraying to show their loyalty. I will stop there and just wish GMB goodluck.

My brother we know them and we igbos nor any other tribes in south will severe work with them they are just bunch if betrayals

Even everyday I see it in real life ..if I start telling you stories about their betrayals

Look at tinubu
Then look at Kayode fan I

So many ..they are always known to talk with both sides of their mouth

That's cowardice

Truth cannever be hidden.Let them keep lying against Igbos,but average Nigerian,are seeing clearer now.

These Bastardds have started their wahala again.

Pls let us be abegiiii

Afterall, No Be Yoruba Spoil Unna Life.

As Unna Lay Unna Bed Na, So Unna Take Sleep Ontop Am.

This fixation is becoming something else. High Blood Pressure is real ooooooooo.

Sheygey Feofle.

Shiorrr.

OP your post is accurate. Captain Nzeogwu of the NAF was to fly Awolowo to Lagos to take over power. All these were present in the Jan 15 1966 coup blueprint.


Even Adewale Ademoyega confirmed this, but you know Nigerians: we never listen; always like following the bandwagon of illitrate and uninformed opinion.

Y1bos are always trying to re-write history.

Why did they not announce that at the point of executing their coup. Was the writer part of the coupists? It is a big lie. They killed the leaders of other regions, saved theirs, installed their own as the president and their own refused to prosecute the coupists that were largessing around, glorifying in their evil deed.

1million lies can never make a lie the truth. Achebe tried to doctor history in his useless book, but alas, lies can never become truth, no matter how well you paint it. He failed woefully. It was an igbo coup and so it will be forever.