Racoon:
Correction OP; Lt.Louis Ugboma(Native of Anambra State) is the very first Nigerian to be commissioned into the army but he was said to have left before this generation came up.

This is the best generation of refined Nigerian Army officers bequeathed to us by the British based on academic merit before they later allowed the Sarduna to introduced the defective and unmerited "quota system" that give rise to the man Nigeria has as president today.

Some of the officers of the quota system clique include; late Maj.Gen.Martin Adamu, Gen.Sanni Abacha, Lt.Col.Bukar Sukar Dimka, Lt.Col.James Pam etc.Read "NIGERIAN FIVE MAJORS"-Ben Gbulie then you will appreciate how the Nigerian military remained bastardized till date.

Perkins2018:
You guys will never disappoint with your hatred. When was quota system introduced in Nigeria and by who?

Racoon:
So all the nepotism as documented in the then pre-independence Nigeria and now are new to you?

helinues:
Tribalistic posts as usual

gidgiddy:
Below are the names and picture of the first 30 officers of the Nigerian Army. But what happend to these 30 men? Where are they now 60 years on? I will answer that question in batches of 10 starting with ones sitting down.


Date: June, 1959

Left to right sitting: Captain Robert Adeyinka Adebayo, Captain Philip Effiong, Captain Umeh Ogere Imo, Major Samuel Adesoji Ademulegun, Major Wellington Bassey, Major General Norman Forster (GOC, Nigerian Army), Major Aguiyi Ironsi, Major Ralph Adetunji Shodeinde, Captain Zakaria Maimalari, Captain Conrad Nwawo, Captain David Akpode Ejoor.

2nd Row Standing: Lt Igboba, Lt George Remunoiyowun Kurubo, (non Nigerian standing next to Kurubo), Lt J Akahan Akaga, Lt Patrick Awunah, Lt Louis Ogbonnia, Lt Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, Lt Eyo Ekpo, Lt Author Unegbe, Lt Abogo Largema.

3rd Row Standing: Lt Hillary Mbilitem Njoku, 2nd Lt Macauley Nzefili, 2nd Lt David Ogunewe, 2nd Lt Shadrack, Lt Alexander Madiebo, 2nd Lt Anthony Eze, Lt Yakubu Gowon, 2nd Lt Sylvanus Nwanjei, Lt Yakubu Pam, 2nd Lt Hassan Katsina. 

gidgiddy:
Wellington Bassey
He joined the Army in 1936 and rose to the position of NCO. He was selected to go on a short service officers course in England in 1949. On his return, he became the first commissioned officer with the Army number N1. Bassey held several positions in the Nigerian Army such as commander of the Nigerian Military Training School, Zaria. Ironsi appointed him commander of the 1st Division, Kaduna, after the death of Ademulegun.

After Gowon came to power, he was allowed to retire to his hometown

Johnson Thomas Umunnakwe Aguiyi Ironsi
A native of Ndume, in Ibeku in present day Abia state. Ironsi also rose through the ranks of the Nigerian Army and became an NCO. On Wellington Bassey's return from Army officers course in England, Ironsi and another NCO called Ademulegun were sent to England for the same course. On their return, Ironsi became the second Nigerian to become a commissioned officer with Army number N2. Ironsi led the Nigerian military expedition to the Congo in 1960. He was promoted to Brigadier General in 1964. In 1965, Ironsi became the first Nigerian to attain the rank of Major General and was appointed the first indigenous GOC of the Nigerian Army. In January 1966, a bloody military coup by mid level officers was put down by Ironsi who then assumed power. 6 Months later, Northern elements of the Nigerian Army staged a military coup in which Ironsi was killed.

Adesoji Ademulegun
He and Ironsi were sent for short officers course in 1949 and on their return, Ademulegun was given the Army number N3 making him the third officer of the Nigerian Army. In 1964 both Ademulegun and Ironsi were promoted to Brigadier General and a rivalry began between both men on who would become the first indigenous GOC of the Nigerian Army to replace the departing British GOC, General Christopher Welby-Everard. Ironsi was later appointed to that position while Ademulegun was appointed as GOC of the 1st Division Kaduna. Ademulegun was killed in Kaduna during the January 1966 coup.

Ralph Shodeinde
He was NCO who was sent on officers course in 1950. He has the Army number N4. Shodeinde was Deputy GOC to Ademulegun in Kaduna. He too was killed during the January 1966 coup.

Zakari Maimalari
He was actually the first officer of the Nigerian Army to attend secondary School. He attended Barewa college, which was at the time the only college in the entire North. From Barewa college, Maimalari was recruited into the Nigerian Army and sent to Regular Officers Training School, Teshie Ghana(ROST). From ROST, Maimalari went to Eaton Hall cadet course, Chester, England then proceeded to the prestigious Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst. He returned to Nigeria in 1953 and was commissioned a second Lieutenant with the Army number N5. Maimalari was promoted to Brigadier in 1964 and was appointed commander of the second Brigade, Lagos. He was killed during the coup of January 1966. His son, Lt Col Abubakar Maimalari, would later become Military Governor of Jigawa State.

Ume Imo
like Bassey, Ironsi, Ademulegun and Shodeinde, Imo rose through the rank to become an NCO and was sent on short service officers course to Chester, England. He was promoted to Captain in 1958, Major in 1960 and Lieutenant Colonel in 1964. He was deputy Commander of the Nigerian Defence Academy Kaduna in 1966 when the July coup of that year happend. As Northern Soldiers searched for Igbo officers to kill, Imo managed to smuggle him self back to the East. He was promoted to Brigadier in 1967. When Ojukwu declared Biafra on May 30th 1967, Brigadier Imo was appointed the Biafran minister of environment and resources. He held that position until the end of the war the retired to private life. He is now late.

joyandfaith:
we got independent at wrong time. Britain could have stayed till year 2000. Those that fought for Nigeria independent were greedy for power and lack foresight. they were local champions who thought about themselves.

itsme01:
Its funny how the Ibo coupist killed The top Yoruba Military Officers and that of the North and expected no retaliation

WATCHOVER:

People who fought for independence are not the problem, but the anger from the British by handing over power to the "Emirates " who are illiterates, but have access to "Nigeria Armoury" so that they can continue their colonialism indirectly.

Awolowo, Enahoro etc., should not be blamed here. The bitter truth is that British where not happy leaving Nigeria, hence never wanted us to rise to our full potential. The saddest thing is that our present democratic leaders and politicians still dance and romance with them.

joyandfaith:

yes they were not happy because they knew we were not ready.

itsme01:
Its funny how the Ibo coupist killed The top Yoruba Military Officers and that of the North and expected no retaliation

T9ksy:




That's ibo logic 110 there for you. After killing our top military officers and politicians (whilst sparing their 's), they then impose unity govt on us. That's the ibo man at Doran barracks will now be looking after future development. Very clever chaps..................but only by halves.

And they wondered why the north pogromised their sorry lil' a.r.ses

Or why the "black scorpion" shot at every moving objects in their villages including stationary objects as well.