gidgiddy:


Head of the Army? Bassey that didnt even go to secondary school was going to head of the Army? Bassey was not a capable officer, thats why people like Ironsi, Ademulegun, Maimalari and Ogundipe became senior to him in rank. How can anyone compare Bassey who went to Camberley, with Maimalari who went to ROST, Camberley and the Prestigious Royal Military Academy? Thats like comparing HND holder with Masters Degree holder.

Bassey was no where near being qualified to head the Nigerian Army

seunmsg:


Yeah, it was before officers from a particular tribe decided to kill their senior colleagues from other ethnic groups while they were still asleep in the middle of the night because of desperation for power. That was the night they killed professionalism, unity, trust and Espirit de Corps in our military.

Navalsadiq:
Oga it was an Igbo coup because most of the officers killed were top military officers from the north.

The picture doesn't change anything.if an only if MAI malari believed he was standing in the midst of traitors he would have watched his step and probably still be alive till today

Ifejuana killed Mai malari and Kaduna nzogu killed sar dauna of sokoto

Becareful when dealing with an Igbo man betrayal is a cause that flows in their blood stream.

Christistruth00:



Wellington duke Bassey was first commissioned before the 2nd world war ended in 1944

it was adjusted to 1946 when they transferred from the RWAFF to the Nigerian Army.

wellington Bassey was more than 3 years Ironsi's and Ademulegun's Senior Officer.


you can confirm it from the london Gazette of 1953 that lists all their seniority dates in RWAFF

https://www.nairaland.com/attachments/14903912_bassey2_jpeg6a5d6437e8c39c635abca138c3403a48

Idiko1:


The manner in which you "copy and paste" clearly indicated you do not know an iota of the differences between enlistment, commission and backdated seniority. In addition, you have never seen a parade ground in your life.

gidgiddy:


Its not possible that Wellington Bassey would have been commissioned in 1944, in the middle of a raging second world war. Some people think that Wellington Bassey was the first Nigerian to be commissioned, he wasnt, it was actually Louis Ugboma in 1948. Bassey, Ironsi and Ademulegun were all commissioned in 1949 but Bassey was senior to Ironsi and Ademulegun by just three months. All this has been covered previously in the thread below

https://www.nairaland.com/3243963/meet-first-five-nigerians-commissioned

Christistruth00:



I lived in an Army Barracks before

I understand the differences you listed


I have more documentation but just posted the minimum necessary

Racoon:


From Left to Right sitting: Captain Adeyinka Adebayo,Captain Philip Effiong,Captain Imo,Major Samuel Adesoji Ademulegun,Major Wellington Bassey, General Forster, Major JTU Ironsi,Major Ralph Shodeinde,Captain Zakaria Maimalari, Captain Conrad Nwawo, Captain David Ejoor.

Middle Row standing: Lt Igboba,Lt George Kurubo, (non Nigerian standing next to Kurubo), Lt J Akaga,Lt Patrick Anwunah, Lt Louis Ogbonnia, Lt Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, Lt Eyo Ekpo, Lt Arthur Unegbe, Lt Abogo Largema

Back Row: Lt Hilary Njoku, 2nd Lt Nzefili, 2nd Lt Ogunenwe, 2nd Lt Shadrak, Lt Madiebo,2nd Lt Anthony Eze, Lt Yakubu Gowon, 2nd Lt Sylvanus Nwanjei,Lt Yakubu Pam, 2nd Lt Hassan Katsina.

Those not in the picture are Captain Kur Mohammed,Lt Victor Banjo and Lt Michael Okwechime

First Generation of Nigerian Army officers - June 1959.

https://www.nairaland.com/attachments/14899101_1963292firstgenerationofnigerianarmyofficersjpegc6d328613cb16f45af8d201775234a94_jpeg_jpeg9e08be8da716cf7971f989d622e48159

Idiko1:


There is no doubt however, more than half of them are total fabrication. Rubin Lackham, your favorite author, was a hack writer. He foolishly claimed there were only five graduates in Nigerian army by January 15, 1966.

Navalsadiq:
Oga it was an Igbo coup because most of the officers killed were top military officers from the north.

The picture doesn't change anything.if an only if MAI malari believed he was standing in the midst of traitors he would have watched his step and probably still be alive till today

Ifejuana killed Mai malari and Kaduna nzogu killed sar dauna of sokoto

Becareful when dealing with an Igbo man betrayal is a cause that flows in their blood stream.

Idiko1:



This picture might not have been taken in 1959, It could have been earlier than and or 1959. However, the General was not Gen. Norman Foster because Foster was not in Nigeria until 1960. In addition, Wellington Duke Bassey resigned his commission before Nigeria gained independence. The British General looks more like Kenneth G. Exham than Norman Foster. Nigerians and their British tutors are incarnate of deceit.

Racoon:

First Generation of Nigerian Army officers - June 1959.

Mrquote:

Do you have history in your SSCE or were you thought history? And when did you leave secondary?

abdulkayus:


In a school that I taught few years ago, History is still being offered as a subject, but the problem is that students going for it are low in numbers, most arts students prefer to go for Government.
History is still being offered as a course of study in university also

ResearchPot:

You finished quite recently...Actually, prior History as a subject was much alive in schools, though it was loosing its prominence, but the Federal Government accelerated the pace of disinterest in the subject in 2007 by deemphasizing it from the teaching curriculum (reasons why it become absent in most schools). Hitherto, while History was not a core subject among the humanities based subjects, it was seen as important.

ResearchPot:

Lol. Absolutely. I wrote both WAEC and NECO exams in 2002 and History was one of the subjects I wrote.

Mrquote:

Lol look at this
https://www.nairaland.com/6967090/bill-enforce-teaching-history-schools

Christistruth00:







Stop lying Idiko

Wellington Bassey was still in the Army when Gowon took Power and Promoted him to Brigadier after Ironsi his Junior had become a Major General

Wellington Bassey was the Commander Of 1 Battalion in Kaduna in July of 1966

In January of 1966 the Coup Plotters had attempted to assassinate Bassey in Zaria but he escaped at the last minute


Give up your Campaign of deliberate misinformation against Wellington Bassey

He served his Country Loyally and well


Wellington Bassey was not Ironsi’s mate,

Bassey was more than 3 years Ironsi’s Senior Officer

It was Azikiwe that tried to use his selfish Tribal Politics to frustrate Bassey’s Army Promotions and Career

The British had been preparing Wellington Bassey to take over as head of the Army , he was both very Loyal, Competent and the highest ranking Nigerian Officer

Azikiwe didn’t want Bassey to put become the head of the Army because he was Calabar

that was why Wellington Bassey was abandoned in a Captains posting in Zaria depot to make way for Ironsi to overtake him

and eventually emerge as head of the Army after Bassey’s Promotions had been deliberately delayed for years

You will agree that Ojukwu who was more than 10 years Wellington Bassey’s Junior Officer had no Business being on the same lt col Rank as Bassey in Jan of 1966 after Gen Ironsi became head of the Army


I don’t want to be Tribalistic but I must say that the British and Non Igbo Officers had very high regard for Wellington Bassey

and I cannot help thinking that there must have been a deliberate smear Campaign against Wellington Bassey by Azikiwe and Ironsi
before the Jan 1966 Coup

It is difficult to understand why Wellington Bassey was almost assassinated during the Jan 1966 Coup

Gen Ejioor Claimed in his interview claimed that Ojukwu tried to recruit Ejoor,Wellington Bassey’ and Gowon for a Coup In 1964 and that the 3 of them had flatly refused


There were attempts to assassinate all 3 of them in Jan 1966 during the Coup

Elizabeth Pam widow of Lt Col Pam also had said there was a Smear Campaign against her husband to justify his killing in Jan 1966

Christistruth00:


Read the London Gazette again

All the Seniority dates are there



Wellington Bassey was over 3 years Gen Ironsi’s Senior Officer

Ugbomah who was an indigene Of Ozubulu left the Army in 1953 to become a Teacher afterwards Bassey was the most Senior Officer


Robin Luckham has all the Equivalent Nigerian Army dates and Wellington Bassey was still more than 3 years Ironsi’s and Ademulegun’s Senior Officer

In Jan of 1966 Ironsi was already a Major General

It was Gowon that finally Promoted Wellington Bassey to Brigadier after Gowon took Power in July of 1966

Wellington Bassey was already a Major in 1954 when he helped to Recruit Gowon into the Army



Wellington Bassey Joined the Army in 1936 , at least 6 years before Ironsi

and he was more than 3 years Gen Ironsi’s Senior Officer , he was about 10 years Ojukwus Senior Officer

Idiko1:


I have the book by Robin Luckham on my table. I have pleaded with you to quit regurgitating the crap written by the author. Robin Luckham was hired to do a hack job by northern and western regions of Nigeria during Nigeria/Biafra war. Louis Ugboma was not an indigene of Ozubulu. He hailed from Ogbaru and taught at the school in Ozubulu before he enlisted in the army. When he resigned his commission from the army, he went back to his teaching job at Ozubulu.

Idiko1:


Academic laziness is one of the reasons Nigeria lacks hopelessly behind the developmental curve. The hatred most Nigerians have for Ndigbo seemed to create a national disgrace. In order to ride the idiotic narrative of Bassey as N1 as to slight Ironsi, particular sections of Nigeria and their idiotic government mounted the wrong Bassey. Wellington Umoh Bassey enlisted in 1949 and commissioned in 1953. Wellington Duke Bassey who resigned his commission before Nigeria gained independence has no place in Nigerian army but RWAFF and RNR. The picture these jackasses had circulated, purported to have been snapped in 1959, contained a person identified as Major General Norman Foster. The truth was Norman Foster was not even in the protectorates which became Nigeria in 1959. The picture might have been taken in 1956 when Major General Kenneth Godfrey Exham was appointed as the GOC of Nigerian army district or in 1958 on his second duty tour as the GOC of Royal Nigerian Regiment. I shall respond to silly claim of smear against her husband by Elizabeth Pam in one of my next posts.

Idiko1:


Academic laziness is one of the reasons Nigeria lacks hopelessly behind the developmental curve. The hatred most Nigerians have for Ndigbo seemed to create a national disgrace. In order to ride the idiotic narrative of Bassey as N1 as to slight Ironsi, particular sections of Nigeria and their idiotic government mounted the wrong Bassey. Wellington Umoh Bassey enlisted in 1949 and commissioned in 1953. Wellington Duke Bassey who resigned his commission before Nigeria gained independence has no place in Nigerian army but RWAFF and RNR. The picture these jackasses had circulated, purported to have been snapped in 1959, contained a person identified as Major General Norman Foster. The truth was Norman Foster was not even in the protectorates which became Nigeria in 1959. The picture might have been taken in 1956 when Major General Kenneth Godfrey Exham was appointed as the GOC of Nigerian army district or in 1958 on his second duty tour as the GOC of Royal Nigerian Regiment. I shall respond to silly claim of smear against her husband by Elizabeth Pam in one of my next posts.

headSmasher:
We know you people always trying to change the narrative, what was the guy's post that got him killed, he is wasn't a top ranking officer that needed to die, he was just part of the casualties and stubbing blocks on the part of the senseless myopic unreasonable callous irresponsible Igbo officers that made him a Scape goat in the Igbo coup

ResearchPot:
Methinks this issue of Ironsi becoming Head instead of Bassey had to to with musings within the army on who is competent enough to lead, or probably personal interests of some powerful political blocs in Nigeria as at that time and such interests were beyond sectional...well at least from my findings after reading excerpts from a book titled "A Right Honourable Gentleman". The book written by Trevor Clarke, a British Colonial Administrator was about Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa.
According to the book, the last British General Commanding Officer, Major General Everard was set for retirement in 1965. He recommended Brigadier Ogundipe[b] (NA/6)[/b] to succeed him while Sir Ahmadu Bello wanted Brigadier Ademulegan (NA/4), [/b]but senior officers within the army favoured Brigadier Maimalari (NA/ eight). However, at the end, then defense minister (a very powerful figure as at then, also the grand father of Aisha Buhuri), Alhaji Muhammadu Rbadu selected Brigadier Ironsi [b](NA/3), who was appointed as GOC. Ironsi, Congo war veteran was later promoted Major General. Clarke described the appointment as very contentious. The question that arises from this is why was Ironsi Alhaji Ribadu's choice? Is it because it takes more than seniority to make an army chief? I guess that might be the answer as some persons on this thread have explicated that it takes more than seniority to be an army chief. Otherwise, Bassey (NA/1) should have been made army chief.

christistruth01:




Wellington Bassey enlisted in 1936 and became an Officer in the Royal West African Frontier Force in 1944 April more than 3 years before Ironsi


If you had done your Academic homework you would know that Wellington Bassey was not Ironsi's mate in the Army

https://www.nairaland.com/attachments/14913221_a6efea53e56f48d882a2ec508f42f36a_jpeg_jpeg76b88e3e27fab39bdc9bf8701ca2bdc6

SlayerForever:




My boss.

Idiko1:


Bros Slayer, how body?

Idiko1:


The above crap is a mere figment of wild imagination. Officers are not numbered as NA. Officers are numbered simply as N. Other ranks are numbered as NA. Ugboma is the only person senior to Ironsi both in enlistment and commission. Ugboma enlisted in 1936 and commissioned in 1948. Ironsi enlisted in 1942 and commissioned in 1949 as 2Lt and promoted the same day to Lt. The so-called Wellington Duke Bassey enlisted in 1946 and commissioned in 1949 as 2Lt. He resigned his commission as did Ugboma. Any officer or any soldier who did not transition to Nigerian army when Nigeria gained independence in 1960 cannot be numbered with N or NA instead WA. Ugboma and Duke Bassey cannot be said to be "N" since they resigned their commission before Nigeria gained independence. Due to inherent academic laziness and fear of Igbo, most Nigerians were unable to strike a difference between Duke Bassey and Umoh Bassey. Wellington Umoh Bassey enlisted in1949 and commissioned as 2Lt in 1953. He was the Lt Col who commanded S&T Depot in Zaria before January 15, 1966.

Idiko1:


I have pleaded with you to stop posting craps from Robin's book. They were fakes. On the above link, where was Patrick Anwunah who was course mate of Gowon, Madiebo, Unegbe and Okwechime at RMA, Sandhurst, UK? Where were Emma Ekpo and Tony Eze?

ResearchPot:
Methinks this issue of Ironsi becoming Head instead of Bassey had to to with musings within the army on who is competent enough to lead, or probably personal interests of some powerful political blocs in Nigeria as at that time and such interests were beyond sectional...well at least from my findings after reading excerpts from a book titled "A Right Honourable Gentleman". The book written by Trevor Clarke, a British Colonial Administrator was about Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa.
According to the book, the last British General Commanding Officer, Major General Everard was set for retirement in 1965. He recommended Brigadier Ogundipe (NA/6) to succeed him while Sir Ahmadu Bello wanted Brigadier Ademulegan (NA/4), but senior officers within the army favoured Brigadier Maimalari (NA/ eight). However, at the end, then defense minister (a very powerful figure as at then, also the grand father of Aisha Buhuri), Alhaji Muhammadu Rbadu selected Brigadier Ironsi (NA/3), who was appointed as GOC. Ironsi, Congo war veteran was later promoted Major General. Clarke described the appointment as very contentious. The question that arises from this is why was Ironsi Alhaji Ribadu's choice? Is it because it takes more than seniority to make an army chief? I guess that might be the answer as some persons on this thread have explicated that it takes more than seniority to be an army chief. Otherwise, Bassey (NA/1) should have been made army chief.