₦airaland Forum

Christistruth00:
Fajuyi was not part of the Coup, Fajuyi was booked into Eko Hotel by Major Ifeajuna and was supposed to have been killed with Lagerma
but because he spent the Night at a friend's house in Lagos he escaped his assassin's just like David Ejoor had.

After the Coup there was deliberate Misinformation spread by the Coup beneficiaries to Conceal their involvement otherwise the Northern Soldiers would have taken them out immediately they discovered the Truth remember that the deaths of the killed Officers was not even announced till months Later.

The Northern Soldier's eventually found out and staged the Revenge Coup in July.
Unfortunately they carried it out with much bitterness and anger.

My dear Brother, of course there are varied versions of what happened & like I said earlier, you and I were not there when the coup happened. But what is key in ascertaining the veracity of what we are told is to analyze every version with sound reasoning.
Have you ever heard of "Operation Damissa"?
Go and read about it, what it was all about and who and who were involved in that operation. Perhaps it will give you another angle to the whole issue.

However, i have read a couple of reports of the coup that indicated that Operation Damisa was a Tactical Military Training (done at Night) that was organised by Nzeogwu thru which most of the plotters were recruited. Various accounts indicates that Fajuyi sometimes took part in that Training as an Instructor. Many claim, Fajuyi might have been part of the coup OR heard about it through his involvement in Operation Damissa.
Now Here is what Major Ademoyega ( one of the Coup Plotters), Lt Col Walbe and T.Y Danmuma said about Fajuyi's involvement in the coup plot.

Although the western region publication “Fajuyi the Great” published by the Ministry of Information in 1967 after his official burial said he had offered to die rather than “abandon his guest”, those involved in his arrest and assassination insist that he was an even more critical target than Ironsi and made no such offer to die with Ironsi. Lt. Col. William Walbe (rtd) said:

“……..We arrested him as we arrested Ironsi.We suspected him of being party to the January coup.You remember the Battle Group Course which was held at Abeokuta….Fajuyi was the Commander of the Battle Group Course…All those who took part in the January coup were those who had taken part in that course.It gave us the impression that the Battle Course was arranged for the January coup, so he had to suffer it too. I am sorry about that but that is the nature of the life of a military man……..”

General Danjuma confirms this opinion.He says that at another training camp in Kachia commanded by Lt. Col. Fajuyi, Major Nzeogwu rehearsed the assault on Sardauna’s house in the presence of some northern mortar officers who did not appreciate the significance of the exercise until after the coup.In Danjuma’s words, “The chaps could not stomach Fajuyi such that if there was anybody who should die first, as far as they were concerned, it was Fajuyi, not even Ironsi.”

How true are these claims about Fajuyi’s role in the January coup?I found an answer in the book “Why we Struck” by Major Adewale Ademoyega, one of the January mutineers and a Yoruba officer like Fajuyi.Ademoyega states that Fajuyi supported the first coup, knew of it and made suggestions to plotters on how it could be best carried out.According to Ademoyega, that he did not actively participate was only as a result of his posting at the time the coup was launched.However, Ademoyega eulogizes the late Colonel for opposing all efforts in the Supreme Military Council to bring the January 15 coupists to trial.

Christistruth00:
If Gen Ironsi was not Part of the Coup how did he end up as Head of State?

1)
Ironsi and Ojukwu waited for the Pawns Ifeajuna and Nzeogwu who didn't know about the bigger Plot to finish the dirty Work of Murdering the Military and Political leaders before Hijacking the Coup

2) If Ironsi did not pretend to be Countering the Coup the Northern Soldier's would have finished have finished Ironsi off that same day their Military and Political leaders were killed

3 . How come Ironsi's Govt managed to Sentence Adaka Boro for declaring Niger Delta Republic to death for rebellion which happened in February of 1966 but never even arraigned those who had earlier at least Murdered a Whole Prime Minister, 2 Premiers and 2 Generals in Jan 1966( 29 people in all Murdered).

4. Why was Ironsi consolidating on the Coup by failing to Promote Yoruba Soldier's only 1 Olutoye was Promoted while 17 Igbos were Promoted.

But Gen Ademulegan and Col Sodeinde killed in Kaduna were Yoruba their positions were filled by Easterners though there were Westerners who could have filled those Positions

5 Before the Coup the only Easterner heading a Battalion was Ojukwu after the Coup Easterners headed 11 out of 13 Military Formations with troop.

It would have been 12 but the Northern Soldier's at Ibadan rejected Nzefili because their 2 previous GOCs Lagerma and Kur Mohammed had been murdered and they thought there was a secret plan to Wipe them out.

I think there is need to establish the different between "knowing about something" And "Being Part of that thing".
You can know/ be aware of something but not necessarily be part of that thing.
Sources from a Report I just read indicated that both Fajuyi and Ironsi were aware of the coup, but were not part of it, with Fajuyi was alleged to have even been more aware. Ironsi was alleged to have been tipped off at the eleventh hour by one of the coupists (likely by Njoku) for his (Ironsi's) safety, but he was not part of the coup. It was even alleged that the coupists meant to execute him.
Event that later played out later showed that Ironsi took advantaged of the botched coup to sail to power.

Christistruth00:
.

Thanks

1. David Ejoor was one of the Most Senior Officers his Army Number was 17 at a time When
Adebayo, Ogundipe were outside the Country

David Ejoor was Senior to Ojukwu in the Army


https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://maxsiollun./2009/04/17/igbo-soldiers-plotted-coup-from-independence-day-ejoor/amp/&ved=2ahUKEwix6svAyvPtAhWVs3EKHQFlDv4QFjABegQIDxAB

2. Gen Ironsi's takeover was Unconstitutional


3. Capt Oji who was one of the Coup Planners was also of the same Umuahia Town as Gen Ironsi. and was one of those sent to assassinate his own kinsman Ironsi . Deliberate Sabotage !!!!( Who does that? Why wasn't Muritala sent to assassinate Sardauna or Gen Maimailari)

Ademoyega said he requested but was prevented from having the responsibility of dealing with Gen Ironsi by the other Coup Plotters

Is it not easy to now see how Gen Ironsi ended
up the Chief beneficiary of the Coup?


4. Gen Gowon himself has Corroborated David Ejoors Story.


Here it is

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.vanguardngr.com/2020/01/ojukwu-banjo-conceived-what-could-have-been-first-coup-in-1964-gowon/amp/


5. Gen Ironsi had Banjo arrested because he saw Banjo as a threat to his takeover of Power

6. After Gen Ironsi took power he made deliberate efforts to Conceal his involvement in the Coup

a) Ironsi dismissed the Special Branch British Police Officers and detectives who were investigating the Jan 1966 Coup with good progress

b) Ironsi had also frustrated the effort of the rump Cabinet to obtain British troops to put down the Jan 1966 Coup and had ended up being the main beneficiary himself

7. Lt Col Pam who was assassinated by the Coup Plotters had phoned Gen Ironsi for help as he was being led away to which Ironsi responded lazily " Is that so, ok I will send help" but Ironsi never sent any help

When Pam's Wife Elizabeth later confronted Gen Ironsi on being part of the Coup and being responsible for her Husband's murder, Ironsi said nothing.

8. When Col Gowon finally found Gen Ironsi at the Police Headquarters instead of Countering the Coup Ironsi and Col Hilary Njoku were eating biscuits with tea they even offered Gowon some
( In the Middle of a bloody Coup !! With the Prime Minister ,Finance Minister missing, 2 premiers dead, 4 Senior Army Officers kidnapped?)

Oh oh something is very Suspicious !!

Gowon led and initiated the Countering of the Jan 1966 Coup:

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.thenewsnigeria.com.ng/2016/06/19/nigerias-first-coup-biafra-british-secret-files-part-two/amp/
,

9. Akinjide who was a Govt Minister confirmed that Ironsi was going around Lagos unarmed the following morning when the Prime Minister Balewa and the Finance Minister were still missing.


Here is Akinjide's account:

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2017/10/01/akinjide-the-story-of-the-first-coup-has-not-been-told-yet/amp/

I must appreciate you in the reasonably matured and intelligent manner with which you bring up your facts. That is why You and I can have a Matured and intellectual discourse without resorting to rancour and abuses as always usual on Nairaland.
I always like to analyze every opinion and points brought forward and process their validity before making me comment. I don't engage in argument until am sure of what I argue about.
You see this matter about Ironsi being part of the Nzeugwu coup or Not, you and I can only argue back and forth based on what we read Or what we derived from various sources. One thing is very certain, that is the fact that You and I was not there. So we can't speak with 100% certainty.
As I speak and argue I am doing detailed research and making findings on what transpired during that coup and other coups. I can share some of the numerous finding with you if you are interested.
Truth be told, there are various account. But am inclined to tilt to the many narratives that claimed Ironsi might not have been part of that coup.
There are a few questions that keep cropping up to me.
1. Why did Ironsi engage and overcome the Coup plotters with Ikeja Battalion with help of Gowon if he was part of the coup plotters.
2. Why did some of the coup plotters planned and tried to kill him during the coup as it was alleged that he escaped to the Police Headquarters? He wouldn't have escaped to the Police HQ if his life was not in danger.

Well like I said earlier, you and I wasn't there during the coup, we can only argue based on sources we read from.
Am still making my findings. I will let you know when I find evidence enough from credible sources indicating Ironsi was culpable on the coup.
Thanks.

The question is;
In the same vein that Buhari was quick to proscribe IPOB as a terrorist group, Why has Buhari not made any effort to proscribe these Fulani herdmen as terrorists despites the many havoc and crimes ( killings and kidnappings) they have committed nationwide?
Rather, he has chosen to coin a sweet name for them by calling them Bandits, and going into negotiations with them and paying them Ransome every time they kidnapped Nigerians.
These Fulani people are destroying the existence of Nigeria and Buhari is treating them nicely because they are his brothers.
God will send his vengeance on Men of Evil.

Hmmmm,
Dino, Biko Calm Down.
Do not Soro- Soke in this one.
If God come and deal with Naija mata, Dino I tell you... Even you will not escape the wrath of God.
I tell you again, Calm down because you are part of the bad government.

Christistruth00:
Ironsi and Ojukwu were part of the Coup!!!

That was why Ironsi didn't even hand back Power to the Civilian Government and Ojukwu was promising Allison Ayida a Permanent Secretary Ironsi would scrap the regions within 6 months.

Things were difficult for Ironsi because the Northern Soldier's and Ogundipe had found out that Ironsi and Ojukwu were part of the Coup that killed their Military Colleagues and Leaders!!!!


Read this from Gen David Ejoor on how Ironsi tried to set traps for him on the day of the Coup and even sent a message to his 2ic in Enugu to take over as Ejoor was not coming back ( They expected the Coup Plotters to have killed him and were shocked when David Ejoor turned up alive )


https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://maxsiollun./2009/04/17/igbo-soldiers-plotted-coup-from-independence-day-ejoor/amp/&ved=2ahUKEwix6svAyvPtAhWVs3EKHQFlDv4QFjABegQIDxAB

After reading the excerpts from David Ejoors narrative (from the link you sent), you will notice I failed to reply you. I don't argue without evidence to counter or corroborate post.
I took days to read more and make further findings from different sources about what happened.
David Ejoors narrative was flawed and can easily be disclaimed. He claimed he was one of the most senior officers then. That was very far from the truth. There were many officers ahead of him in rank. There are other claims he made that contradicts some other sources.
My findings from further research ( even from classified reports about what happened during that coup) still points to the fact that Aguyi Ironsi was not part of the coup. But he did take advantage of the situation.
In my opinion, his fault was that he cashed in on the situation and cajoled the civilian govt go hand over power to the Military by making them understand that only the Military can curtailed the looming Military crisis. But he wasn't part of the coup and he was said to have been targeted by coupist but he escaped.
Later after the coup, Nzeogwu was said to have had a face off with Ifeajuna and accused him of compromising and not killing Ironsi thereby causing the failure of the coup.
A reputable source put it this way : "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.

Many more writers (and evidences on ground) tilts to the view that Ironsi was not part of the coup.

Guestlander:
I said Murtala because he was behind the coup. This is a fact, Murtala and his gang merely chose Gowon to lead the junta. He came back nine years later to kick Gowon out, this is another fact.
You are getting everything wrong, do you think well trained officers who got their education both in Nigeria and overseas are so naive that they didn't factor in how to take over important military formations when planning a coup?
Sir, Ojukwu was never a threat to Nzeogwu when he took control of the north. The coup was totally successful in the north and that is why Ironsi had to negotiate a surrender rather than forcefully taking Nzeogwu.

So why did the coupist took over Enugu and Kaduna and tried to take over Lagos and Ibadan and not Kano? As in, you mean they didn't need to be in control of Kano Battalion as they took other divisions so as to be fully in control of the Army Stations? That would have been careless for well trained Military officers engaged in a coup.
Mind you, Nzeogwu and the bunch of the coupists when the best trained personnel from Sandhurst as at then. They knew what they were doing, but they failed to fully get control of the Army divisions that's why they failed.
Nzeogwu needed to take hold of Kano Battalion, but he couldn't.

We can go on and on with these argument and it won't help any of us.
So I will let you have your opinion, so l let me let the matter rest.

Guestlander:
Both of you are talking rubbish. Did Nzeogwu need to take Kano in addition to being in control in Kaduna?
Six months later when Murtala and his gang took control of Lagos even when the head of state was killed in Ibadan, did he also need to physically take other formations in the country?
Kaduna was the seat of power in the North, that is why it was taken by Nzeogwu. Whether Ojukwu was the GOC in Kano was irrelevant. Nzeogwu was most certainly ready for any pesky opposition from any quarters.
You are probably learning basic stuff on this forum yourself.

My dear young man, you don't need to resort to insults to prove your point. You don't say people are talking rubbish because you don't agree with their position. Be civil online cos you don't know when you are talking to your elders.
Firstly, let me inform and educate you. The Murtala Mohammed coup did not happen 6months after the Nzeogwu coup. After Nzeogwu coup, Ironsi took over. Then Ironsi was assassinated, then Gowon took over and was Head of State all thru the Civil War and after. When Gowon was removed thru a coup, Murtala Mohammed took over before he was assassinated 6 months into his govt. So your point that Murtala Mohammed coup happened 6months after Nzeogwu is wrong.
Secondly, the Dimka coup that assassinated Murtala Mohammed was the most flawed and badly planned and executed coup ever in the history of Nigeria and Africa. Even the Coup Message was badly written that when it was read, it showed that they were confused on their intentions. And these and other silly mistakes they made were many reasons why it failed. You made reference to Dimka coup as didn't bother to be in control of other army artillery in other locations in the country. My young lad, that was the very key reason why the coup failed. They were very incompetence and foolish to think they can do a military coup without disarming other military locations and taking charge. They failed in that coup cos other Military divisions rose up to close in on them in Lagos.
Now going back to the Nzeogwu coup, there were a few Army Battalions then during Nzeogwu coup. One in 2 Battalions in Lagos, one in Ibadan, One in Enugu, one in Kaduna and one in Kano. All these Battalions needed to be taken over as key to their coup plan. Enugu and Kaduna were taken over by the coupists. Lagos and Ibadan were almost taken over, but Ironsi fought back and overpowered the coupists maned in Lagos. Nzeogwu who was in Kaduna then tries to take Kano, but Ojukwu in Kano fought back and repelled him.
Go and read books written by Army Officers who were on ground and later wrote books about what transpired.
Knowledge is Power. Read and acquire knowledge and stop arguing blindly and insulting people unnecessarily.

nku5:
Nzeogwu was only really in charge of the capital of the north which was Kaduna. Ojukwu in Kano refused to cooperate with Nzeogwu. When the latter sent an emissary to Kano, he was promptly arrested. Nzeogwu never agreed to stand down, he was deceived into meeting with Ironsi in Lagos for peaceful talks and was arrested immediately.

As for Ironsi not executing the plotters, they were all arrested pending investigation and trial. Gowon was directly in charge of supervising the Special Branch (CID) that was conducting the investigation. He was obviously busy planning to seize power instead of getting to the bottom of the coup plot

What most Nigerians don't understand was the difficult situation Aguyi Ironsi faced then. Reading from various books about the Nzeogwu coup, I really felt (and almost cried ) for Ironsi.
He was in a midst of total chaos and surrendered by antagonistic Northern officers who felt his IBO tribe did a coup against the North, and he was also faced with the accusation from his IBO soldiers for not protecting them from the Northern reprisal attacks. To be Neutral and satisfy both ends was even perceived as a weakness on his part. At the end, the Northern soldiers didn't trust him, and his IBO soldiers didn't trust him either. Till today, some ibos don't celebrate Ironsi cos they almost take him to have betrayed them during that progrom.

nku5:
Thanks boss. I love history more than palmy Just one correction, Nzeogwu never surrendered, he was cajoled by Ironsi into flying to Lagos for talks and was welcomed by machine guns at the airport. Ironsi tossed him into jail sharply

No. He surrendered technically. He knew he had no choice and time was running out on him. He negotiated his condition of surrendering. That was the basis of him coming into agreement with Ironsi to leave Kaduna battalion.
Summarily, he surrendered on condition.

nku5:
Nzeogwu was only really in charge of the capital of the north which was Kaduna. Ojukwu in Kano refused to cooperate with Nzeogwu. When the latter sent an emissary to Kano, he was promptly arrested. Nzeogwu never agreed to stand down, he was deceived into meeting with Ironsi in Lagos for peaceful talks and was arrested immediately.

As for Ironsi not executing the plotters, they were all arrested pending investigation and trial. Gowon was directly in charge of supervising the Special Branch (CID) that was conducting the investigation. He was obviously busy planning to seize power instead of getting to the bottom of the coup plot

You have good knowledge of what happened. These people have been dragging me with argument back and forth about Nzeogwu taking over Kano battalion during the coup.
What happened was that Nzeogwu had been drafted to temporarily relief the Kaduna Commander when the coup happened. Nzeogwu was already in charge of Kaduna battalion that day and he tried to over run Kano Battalion from Kaduna thinking Ojukwu will let him do that. But Ojuwkwu fought him and pushed him back to Kaduna where he remained until he surrendered several days after the coup.

owobokiri:
You are trying to teach the unteachables... They will never agree to the truth unless you tell them the same story their uncles told them. Most of them are getting their real basic education about these events on this platform for the very first time! This means that all the conjectures and conspiracy theories they have been peddling all along about the Jan 15 coup and the other subsequent coups are utterly wrong! They won't own up to their misunderstanding of facts, events and of course history because by doing so, they will start to see and seem to agree to the treacherous roles played by their uncles during the follow up events. So rather than read and accept the facts as you have stated here continuously, they will argue and argeu and argeu and drag you from all sides till they mess up the whole thread!

What I will not understand is why somebody born many years after an event will choose to speak of the same event that happened years before he was born so authoritatively that even the recorded views of the participants in such events are discarded! Mischief much!? There are books written by participants of January 15, 1966 coup! Both by Ben Gbulie (Nigerias Five Majors) an Igbo and Adewale Ademoyega (Why We Struck) a Yoruba! None mentioned Ironsi as a member of their group!! They rather bemoaned the inability of the Lagos group to track him down and arrest him. Why are these revisionists here desperate to name Ironsi as a member of the coupists plotters then?

These unneccesary back and forth argument with some of these Nairalanders can be so annoying sometimes. Most especially people who have no knowledge about an issue but will come up and be arguing endlessly based on their fixated preconceived and prejudiced mindsets.

seunmsg:
You are really funny. Was Ironsi the next in line to become the head of government after Balewa? After putting down the coup, was it not logical that he should support Dipcharima as the leader of the party with the majority in parliament to take over as prime minister?

Ironsi with the support of other senior officers foiled the coup quite alright. However, he executed another coup immediately in conjunction with NCNC politicians. He took over the government forcefully from elected parliamentarians instead of supporting them to restore normalcy.

Ironsi as the head of the military was not entitled to take over the government after the failed coup. The military must always support civilian government always. He had the choice of helping to restore civilian rule after the murder of Balewa but choose to forcefully impose himself as head of state and supreme commander.

The Problem with you young lads is that you always fail to read to understand and acquire knowledge. All you do is to argue blindly without even understanding scenarios on ground.
Now so you know, after the Nzeogwu coup, the country was in total chaos. The Northern rank and file soldiers were revolting and many of them went into the streets of Lagos, Ibadan, Kano and some cities and were protesting and looting. With tensions brewing in many cities, and Northern Soldiers threatening reprisal attacks (which eventual did), the only way these could be checked was for the Military to be in charge to control its soldiers. Tell mr, was that time to swear in whoever civjlian was nexr in line and allow civilian govt to be in charge? Soldiers are all over the streets. protesting and you say you want to bring in Civilian govt? No. That would be counter productive.
On the other hand, Aguyi Ironsi was the most senior Military officer on ground. Besides, he was the key person that botched the coup. Days after the coup after other members of the coup had surrendered and arrested, Nzeogwu had not surrendered and was still holding Kaduna Battalion. There was chaos, and Military negotiations was ongoing to make him surrender. Was it the civilian govt that was supposed to do the Negotiations?
Eventually when Nzeogwu surrendered, tensions escalated as the Northern soldiers then started the killing spree. They killed at will. Now was that time for Civilian govt to be in control?

Also, I wonder what you people mean when u say Ironsi "Forcefully took over". Do you know what forcefully take over a govt mean? That means by coup or use of gun.
If you fully know the meaning of what you say, I will say No such thing happened. The Military have their way of making their leaders. It was agreed by the MIlitary Council then that Aguyi Ironsi was to be Head of State. So pls stop spreading false info that Ironsi forcefully took power.
And so to let u know, one of the reasons why the Nzeogwu coup took place was that the civilian govt were corrupt and wasteful. Nigerians then understood so and partially welcomed the coup but not the bloodbath that went with it. Nigerians did not want that Civilian rule then.
Lastly My advice to you is to go and do your research well. Read and acquire knowledge to adequately know and understand what you don't know.

OK ooo.
I see trouble brewing. Those pushing this govt to arrest Kukah don't mean well.
The Buhari govt should not heed to such dangerous advice of arresting Kukah and walk itself into a political and religious dilemma.
Kukah is like Hot Potato that needs to be handled with outmost care.
Let sleeping dog lie.

Guestlander:
I never said Ojukwu was part of the coup! Where did you get that from?
Ojukwu did not fight Nzeogwu because the north was effectively under Nzeogwu. Nzeogwu surrendered after some agreements with the authorities in Lagos.

No Sir. The North was not entirely under Nzeogwu control during the coup.
If Nzeogwu had captured Kano Battalion during the coup, where was Ojukwu who was the commander of Kano Battalion then? And what happened to Ojukwu then?
And if Nzeogwu didn't capture Kano Battalion, what stopped him from doing so?
What happened was that, (as alleged) Nzeogwu had been drafted to temporarily relief Lt Col Kurubu as commander of Kaduna Battalion. Nzeogwu was already in charge of Kaduna Battalion the day coup took place, not that he over ran it.
However, Emeka Ojukwu was the commander of the Kano Battalion. And when the coup happened, Nzeogwu tried to over-run Kano from Kaduna, but was repelled by Ojukwu and was pushed back to Kaduna.
Nzeogwu never took control of Kano under Ojukwu during the coup. Nzeogwu only took hold of Kaduna Battalion and refused to Stand down in Kaduna days after the coup had been botched.

Guestlander:
Perhaps you have a beef with the truth. If Ojukwu foiled the coup in the north why then would Ironsi enter into an agreement with Nzeogwu to stand down.

Mister Man, If Ojukwu was part of the Nzeogwu coup, why was he never arrested or named as one of the plotters long after the coup plotters were arrested? Why was Ojukwu still allowed to command the Kano Battalion after the Coup?
Why is it that till today, no one has ever linked Ojukwu to the Nzeogwu coup, except you?
It is you, that is coming with such erroneous narrative.
Sources and writers has it that Ojukwu who was commander of the Kano Battalion then, fought and repelled Nzegwu (who was said to be relieving Lt Col. Kurubo and temporarily overseeing the Kaduna Battallion the day the coup happened), as Nzeogwu tried to takeover Kano Battalion from Kaduna.


Point of information, Ojukwu left Kano to Onitsha after he protested the ending killings of many Ibo officers following the Nzeogwu coup.

Guestlander:
What credible writers? Ojukwu did not foil any coup, if anything he could have acted as an intermediary between Lagos and Nzeogwu. Stop spreading lies and distortion of history.

Perhaps you have a personal beef against Ojukwu.... that's your cup of tea. Let me leave you to it.

Guestlander:
Ojukwu did not foil any coup from Kaduna. Nzeogwu was effectively in control of the northern region, he was persuaded to stand down after the coup had failed in Lagos and other parts of Nigeria. This is probably one of the reasons why Ironsi was reluctant to execute the plotters, eventually leading to his own downfall.

You are entitled to your opinion, am not going to argue with you unnecessarily.
I have told you what happened as narrated by credible writers and sources.
Go and do your research.

nku5:
Nzeogwu was a close friend of Katsina and told him about the coup beforehand. He played a very minimal role from the shadows but he was involved and was a very very sly fox. When Nzeogwu left for Lagos after the coup he put Katsina in charge of Kaduna pending his return.

See both of them answering questions from journalists in Kaduna the day after the coup.The picture in the bottom half is the most popular one of Nzeogwu (with the bandage on his neck). The interesting thing is that Katsina was cropped out of it to preserve a narrative.

Regarding why the plotters were not tried immediately, see my comment on it earlier

Nzeogwu was a likeable person in the Military then. He was said to be vocal and friend to many officers. He was friend to Obasanjo and many others. It wouldn't surprise me if he friends to Hassan Katsina, but that doesn't neccesarily mean he was part of the plot. It was alleged that Nzeogwu was not even the Mastermind of the coup, he only came in midway, and given his vocal and jolly good way round with officers he was allowed to play a key role in using his popularity to draft people into the plot.

Xyz001:
Ojukwu? ���

Many authors wrote their views on the Nigerian military coup, which is normal.

What can't be argued was that the first coup saw many northerners both Military officers and civilians killed, and the aftermath of the coup saw the promotion of Igbos.

Though officers from South West were also killed but the most hit region is the North.

No, that is not exactly true.
The IBO's were already the top ranking officers in the Military after the independence. They constituted over 50% of the Top and Middle cadre Officers, not necessarily true that they were promoted after the Nzegwu coup.
Not exactly true that "Many" Military officers were killed in the coup. But true that the North suffered most casualties in the death toll from the coup.
I take an exception to your use of the word "Many" Northerners were killed. Unless you do not understand the connotation of the word "Many".

seunmsg:
It’s so interesting reading how our friends from the east are blaming everybody other than theirs. To start with, was the first coup necessary? There was absolutely no justification for the first coup. The way and manner Ifeajuna and his co-plotters went about the coup in a very bloody and clannish manner made it more despicable. The January 15, 1966 coup ruined the camaraderie in the military and ruined the fragile unity among our political elites till today. Every event that happened thereafter was a chain reaction to the bloody Ifeajuna coup.

Let’s even assume Ifeajuna and co were young and blinded by ambition, what came over an old conservative soldier like Ironsi that he had to force the senate to handover power to him? Was that the only option available to him at that point? Dipcharima had already been selected has acting prime minister, all he needed was the support of the military to help stabilize the government and the country but no, Ironsi with the backing of the Igbo senate president forcefully took over power. Sadly, he wasn’t knowledgeable enough to manage a diverse country like Nigeria. He became overwhelmed and started listening to only Igbo advisers. The pogrom and the July counter coup was the result of his poor leadership.


TY Danjuma faced the same dilemma that Ironsi faced but he appreciated the situation better and handled it differently. If Danjuma had taken over the government after the Dimka coup like Ironsi did after Ifeajuna’s coup, he would have ended up like Ironsi. He was smart enough to support Obasanjo who was the next in line. He even refused to accept the position of CGS and instead promoted Yar’adua who was very junior to him to the position. That is how to navigate the murky waters of Nigeria’s military and ethnic politics.

Point of Correction, Aguyi Ironsi did NOT forcefully take over the govt, Pls dont mislead readers.
He became Head of state as the Most senior military officer after the coup.
Secondly, you are absolutely wrong by saying that Ironsi was only listening to IBo advisers. Rather, he failed to listen to his fellow IBO officers who had warned him and informed him that there was a coup plot on ground. He failed to listen and take measures, and that led to his death.
Infact, Ironsi leaned too much to the Northerner Officers so much that he fell out with some of his fellow Ibo officers.

gudugudumeje:
Murtala Mohammed was the target of the Fulani/ Kanuri flank and Sokoto caliphate. He was considered an unbiased umpire in then coming 1979 elections and a stumbling block to Hausa/Fulani/Kanuri rigging plans against Awolowo and Awo's monumental public policy campaigns and civil resistance routes and stamina which Obasanjo stifle.... USA has a hand in the coup too with plan to thwart M/Mohammed for not honouring IV to Washington. The coup had 3 plots wt OBJ in one... And OBJ was to be played out at last...until Akinrinade Alani& Alabi-Isama thwarted it... And more.

Pls where did you get these your story from?
There was nothing like 1979 election while Murtala Mohammed was alive so there was no way he could have been an unbiased umpire.
It was after Murtala Mohammed was assassinated and Obasanjo became Head of State, that Obasanjo made plans to hand over to Civilian rule in the 1979 election.
And just to inform you, after the death of Zakairia Maimalari ( who was assasinated in the Nzeogwu coup), Murtala Mohammed became the most senior, loved and feared Northern Military Officers. The likes of Muhammed Buhari, Sani Abacha and IBB were Murtala Mohammed staunch followers. There was no way the Hausa/ Fulani boys in the Military could have worked against him.
His assasination was said to have been a revenged for the coup against Gowon.

nku5:
So you think Ironsi should have just ordered them all executed without investigation or trial just to appeal to frayed nerves? The aim of the investigation was to unearth how deep the conspiracy went in the armed forces and civilian circles. If it was really an "Igbo coup" wouldn't it have been good to know those behind the plot. Are you aware that Hassan Katsina who was part of the Fulani coup that removed Ironsi, was also part of the Nzeogwu coup? You think he would have liked the report to come out?

Besides are you aware that the coup was celebrated at first all over the country? It was the British that incited the northerners into believing the ethnic angle. Ironsi as a leader was not wrong to first investigate and he put the northern officers in charge. What more do we expect the man to have done?

Firstly, There were names that featured prominently in the Nzeogwu coup, the Ironsi Coup, and the Murtala Mohammed coup.
I cant really recall Hassan Katsina's name in the Nzeogwu's coup, and doubt he was part of that coup.
Many of those that were seemingly like perpetual coupists were either executed or retired as a deterent when Obasanjo became Head of State.
Secondly, it wasnt really the British that incited the Northern Officers. It was actually the anger that Nzeogwu and the coup plotters killed Zakaria Maimalari ( the highest ranking Northern officer) and the Tafawa Balewa, while Nnamdi Azikiwe was left free. The anger was even more fuelled when Aguyi Ironsi emerged as Head of State, and he was hesitant in trying the coup plotters who were arrested.

owobokiri:
Handled the matter poorly? Maybe, but how really? The country plotters were all under arrest and he has already promised that they will all be tried. All the arrested coup plotters were under arrest as at the night Ironsi was killed. .. Secondly, don't forget that Ironsi ONLY neutralized the coup in Lagos. Nzeogwu had the whole northern and eastern Nigeria under his ontrol, even if the allegiance of all the commanding officer in those areas were in doubt, which was the reason he willingly handed over to Ironsi. It wasn't as if Ironsi crushed the coup in northern nigeria. Ironsi wasn't even very sure of total control in southern nigeria. Nobody knows the agreement reached between him and Nzeogwu that propelled Nzeogwu to hand himself over to federal forces in Lagos without firing a shot....

Finally, while I do agree that with the benefit of hindsight, one can look at the lopsided casualty figure after the coup and wonder if there were ulterior motives, it's also very important to remember that there were no laws mandating mandatory death sentences during ironsis brief rule! Coup plotting and subsequent judicial processes following failure were somewhat uncharted territories within the nigerian judicial system because there were no serious previous cases apart from Awolowos case. Other newly independent countries had the same problems.. Essentially, it wasn't even only in nigeria that we had such dilemmas.., Ghana had coups but never mowed down the plotters... It was Obasanjo that enacted those brutal laws that led to the killings of many subsequently.. So while it's fair to pile on some on Ironsi, we have to also situate the context under which his actions and inactions were permissible as at that time...

Just a little point of correction:
Firstly, Nzeogwu didnt entirely capture the North in the botch coup. He had boys planted in Kano and Kaduna, but Emeka Ojukwu who was commandant of the Nigeria Army in North ( Kano and kaduna bases) didnt agree with the Nzeogwu coup plotters, so he fought back and foiled the coup from Kaduna, while Ironsi fought back from Lagos and ibadan. Onitsha and the entire South East and middlebelt was already in the hands of the coup plotters, but they needed to be in control of Lagos and kaduna for them to succeed.
Ironically, while many till today call the Nzeogwu coup an Ibo coup, what many dont understand is that it was IBO Military officers ( Ironsi and Ojukwu) that aborted the coup.

Secondly, Aguyi Ironsi was a little weak and indecisive in his bid to desperately please the officers of the Northern extract. He made careless mistakes by overlooking and undermining some officers who he was warned about as planning a coup. He failed to take decisive actions when neccessary. The Nigerian Military then was not where you played weak and indecisive.. Or you will pay dearly for your actions. Ironsi tried desperately to unified the divided army then, and he was caught in between accusations by the Northerners in the Military on one hand, and accusations by his fellow Ibo officers who said he failed to protect them.
While the Northern Military officers saw Ironsi as an impostor and beneficiary of the Nzeogwu coup, they found more reason to take him out on the basis that he failed want to conduct Military Trial for the coupists who were still being under arrest.
Ironsi used to walk with a Staff that was alleged to be Legendary in saving Ironsi in many battles he had fought outside the country where he was posted to, and rumours were rife in the army then that Ironsi was killed to test the potency of the staff and debunk the legendary tale about Ironsi.
All in all, Aguyi Ironsi was a fine soldier and meant well. He didnt deserve the kind of death he was subjected to.

kraftysprouts:
Where can i see it?

You can search and read these books online on : https://books.google.com.ng/books

Liposure:
even ironsi staged his own coup in order to take power

No, he didnt do any coup.
Go and Read and Understand what happened then before you comment.
General Aguyi Ironsi, Samuel Ademelegun and Zakariya Maimaliari were the most senior ranking Military officers then ( From SE, SW and NW respectively).
After the Nzeogwu coup and the ouster of the Tafawa Balewa/ Nnamdi Azikiwe civilian regime, Aguyi Ironsi was made Head of state( as the most senior of the three officers by Course ranking) with a view to conducting an election and returning power to Civilians as soon a possible.
By this time, there was serious rife in the Military between the North and the South East (Ibos) following the Nzeogwu coup, and some northerners perceived that the coup was done to enthrone Ironsi.
But what many Nigerians dont know is that the Nzeogwu coup which was said to be an Ibo coup was actually aborted by Aguyi Ironsi and Emeka Ojukwu. Ironsi fought the coup plotters from the Lagos/ ibadan axis, while Emeka Ojukwu repelled the poltters from the Kaduna/Kano base of the Military.
What many Nigerians dont also know also is that, the Nzegwu coup would have succeeded if not for Ironsi and Ojukwu that foiled it. Infact, Many Ibo Officers saw Ironsi as siding with the Northerners and not doing enough as Head of state to protect the Ibos during the Massive killings of the Ibos that was going on during the Ironsi tenure. While Ironsi tried to be balance and even favor the North in his govt, he was still perceived as unfair by both the Ibos on one hand, and the North on the other hand.
To tell the truth, Aguyi Ironsi caused his own death by trying to please the north too much. Despite several warnings giving to him that some northern elements within the Military were planning to oust him and he should remove many of his Northern aides, Ironsi failed to listen and continued to surround himself with officers of northern extract, and majority of his personal aides were northerners. On the day Ironsi was assasiinated, it is said that it was his personal and most trusted aide that connived and pave way for T. Y Danjuma and co to arrest and eventually killed Ironsi.

Olakunleyakub:
They wanted TY danjuma to be the new head of state after gown elimination but him and some other few reasonable officers said no that the new military leadership should come from South to dose tension and probably trauncated the ongoing battle between soldiers perceived to be loyal to gowon and muritala. If not the coup would had continue endlessly.

That is why obasanjo succeeded as the new head of state without any coup till he handed over power back to civilian sheu shagari in 1980 I think and instructed all the soldiers to return back to the baracks.

But unfortunately, after obasanjo handed over to the civilian the coup continued.

Buhari and idiagbon overthrown shagari government while IBB also overthrown both of them after six months in power.

IBB spent 6 to 7 years before appointing Ernest shonekan as the interim head of state after the annulment of his close freind well deserved election victory MKO abiola in 1992.

After some time IBB and abacha connived to overthrown the interim government and handed over the power to abacha and it continues like that until abacha died in 1999 and thief General Abdulsalam was appointed as the new interim head of state for 8motnhs and later handed over back to obasanjo for full democracy to take place but unfortunately we are practicing crazy demo.

The truth is that Nigerian military are our major problem and set backs since time immemorial cos of their greediness they don't care to raze down the whole country to actualise their greedy mission.

Obasanjo, gowon, IBB ,buhari, TY danjuma And the likes should be held responsible for Nigerian failure.

The truth is that the civil warwas another suicide
mission that contributed to the backwardness of this great country.
The only time Nigeria seems to be working and doing fine was before the civil war and that was when they created some good universities like UI, Nsuka , OAU, ABU Zaria, UNi Ben and Uni lag but every stopped working after the war .

That is why yakub gowon can never be an hero to me for the role.he played in the civil war.

The war was truly a national tregedy that should never be allowed to repeat it self never and Never again in the history of Nigeria

Peace!

You are correct about Obasanjo.
Many Nigerians dont know the key roles Obasanjo had played in unifying the Country at the brink of collapse.
He was brought in the save the Nation from eminent Military bloodbath and Collapse of the country following the Murtala Mohammed death. He was also brought in to douse the tension following tension and compensate the South after Abiola death and Sani Abacha saga.
Hate him or Like him, but i think Obasanjo is one of the most brilliant military strategist in Nigeria. He knows the Military more than any Retired Military Officer living.
If not for his strategic Military insights, Obasanjo wouldnt have survived as Head of State following the Murtala Mohammed coup. There were known coupists who had vowed that the coups and the bloodbaths will continue. Obasanjo would likely not have survived his First tenure as President as there were some elements in the Military who did not agree that power should go to the south as at then.
Both Obasanjo survived both.
When he became Head of State, he first of all executed all the Coup plotters of the Murtala coup. It was the very first time coup plotters were executed in Nigeria. It served as a deterent to many that were planning coups. Obasanjo also quickly dismantled the Military structured and retired some officers, and posted many other officers out of their domain were they had become too powerful. These neutralised many officers who had become too powerful and able to incite others.
As Civilian President, Obasanjo survived his tenure because of how he quickly deployed same strategy he used to survived as Head of state. Obasanjo as Civilian President dismantled Mililtary hierachy and retired many senior officers. One of the most strategic decision he took then was to re-distribute Military Armoury to the South. During Abacha tenure as Head of State, Abacha had relocated most of the Military Armoury to the North ( Kaduna and Kano) and the South was almost without effective armoury. Obasanjo quickly redistribute these Armory back to the south and brought about a balance in the distribution. These weakened perceived opposition in the Military.

Racoon:
I have all Max Siollun three books and cherish them a lot because they gave clear succinct dirty histroy of all these past military leaders Nigerians are venerating today as gods especially the role the sitting president played in the July 28-29 1966 northern counter-coup killings @ Ikeja Barracks.I have a copy of the "76" movie.I even watch clips yster night.

The divide in the Nigerian military can to a large extent be traced to the Nzegwu coup ( though Max Siullon claims Nzegwu was not the mastermind of the coup, but he came into the plot midway and was the most vocal and the last man standing an refusing to stand down after every other of the coup plotter had been arrested).
The Ibos dominated the Nigerian Military after independence. They constituted over 50% of the TOP military Ranks then, as they were more schooled and had gone for more military course. The North had very few Top officers. they were mostly lower soldiers of rank and file.
Ironsi, Ojukwu,and many others of Ibo extracts were Top Guns in the Military then. Nzegwu and other fellow Majors were a new breed of brilliant soldiers who had a different view and orientation from the Old Guns, and they sought to do things their own way.
Nzegwu and his co plotted actually meant well to carry out the coup and deliver Nigerians from the corrupt and very wasteful hands of the civilian govt then. The careless mistake they made was killing the most highest ranking Northern officer, the Prime Minister- Tafawa Balewa and the Saduana and his wife, while Nnamdi Azikiwe who was President was spared. ( he was out of the country for official duty). The Northern Military Officers took it as an Ibo coup against the North and that Nzegwu had tipped Azikiwe of the coup and told him to leave the country.
The North decided to take revenge and thousands of lives were wasted in the unslaught that followed.
Max Siolliun vivid described the venegeful killings by Northeners following the Nzegwu coup. They meant to wipe out Ibos out of the Nigerian Military, and they to a large extent succeded.
The North dont ever Forget or Forgive. Till today, the North has never forgiven the Ibos for the Nzegwu coup.

Alpha100:
I have both of Max Siollun's books if anyone is interested.

I had hard copies of his books. Friends borrowed them and never returned them. Pls kindly send me a link if you have soft copies. i would love to read them all over again these holidays.
Thanks

zionzoe:
Sir, do you have soft copies of this books ?

NO. but you can order online from Jumia

kraftysprouts:
Where can i see it?

You can order the books - "OIL, POLITICS and VIOLENCE" and the Sequel - "SOLDIERS of FORTUNE" online Or go to some of the big bookshops around you.
You will be very glad you read the books.
I highly recommend both books for anyone who wants to understand the intricacies of the country called Nigeria.
The Nigerian Military had long ago mapped out how Nigeria will play out.

owobokiri:
Somebody help me; Why is Dimkas coup not defined by Dimkas ethnicity? I mean it was stated clearly that the main reason that led Dimka to unleash that coup was to get rid of core northerners that upstaged Gowon, a fellow middle belter! This led to the killings of Murtala Mohammed and Ibrahim Taiwo, including the attempted elimination of officers that helped Murtala ascedence to power, nost of them northerners! Gowons name was so glaringly written all over the coup that the federal government sought for his repatriation to Nigeria for trial.

He will later be left in the UK to rot while Ojukwu whom he fought against during the war, was pardoned to come back to Nigeria! My questions are; who and who here even know Dimkas ethnic group? Why was the ethnic/regional/sectional motivations behind Dimkas military interjection always downplayed by the media, the government and even the military while Nzeogwus military uprising is conveniently used as an excuse to propel an unending devilish policy of containment against the good people of the former eastern Nigeria!?

There were lot of Bad Blood in the Military during that time. Very perilous times it was then when Top Military Officers had to be looking over their shoulders for fear of being killed.
Dimka's Coup against Murtala Mohammed was shrouded in vengefulness and distrust for the Murtala Mohammed govt by loyalists to ousted Gowon. Some top officers (Mostly Middle-belters) felt Murtala Mohammed was erratic, stubborn and difficult and had become Head Of State through a coup, and should be removed as a revenge for his coup against Gowon.
However, the initial Bad blood started after the Nzeogwu coup and the killing of the highest Northern Military Officer - Maimaliari. And subsequently after the Nzeogwu coup, the Northern Military officers ganged up and eliminated most of the Top Ibo officers. It got so bad that they even started killing Top officers from Rivers, Cross Rivers, Benue, Bendel states and even Yoruba officers who were sympathetic to the Ibo officers. Then Aguyi Ironsi was the head of State and despite all his bid to stop the senseless killings, the Northern Soldiers sought blood and revenge for the killing of their highest Military Officer - Mamaliari by the Nzegwu coup. The tension got so bad that some soldiers began to insinuate that Nzegwu carried out the coup so as to pave way for Aguyi Ironsi ( an Ibo man) to be Head of State. And so Ironsi was killed in a Coup by the Northern soldiers, and Gowon took over. But the killings of Ibo officers continued, which led to Ojukwu and many other Ibo soldiers fleeing to Onitsha ( Ojukwu was at that time the Commandant of Kaduna Military base).
Ojukwu had to start opposing the unwanton killings of Ibos and southerners and threatened to fight back. Ofcourse, this led to the Nigerian Civil war.
After the Civil War, the bad blood and killings in the Military had even gone worse. Gowon who was then the Head of state tried to stop the senseless killngs carried out by the Northern Military soldiers, but they turned and perceived him to be weak and sympathetic to the Ibos. Some Top Military Officers challenged him to his face (Murtala Mohammed was said to have done that often), and eventually, Gowon was ousted and Murtala Mohammed began Head of State.
However, the coup against Gowon (a Northern Military Christian) by Murtala Mohammed (a Nothern Military Muslim) tore the Northern Military bloc apart and marked the beginning of the divide that saw the emergence of the Langtang Military officers and some Northern Christian Military officer aligining with themto formed what was perceived to be a Christian bloc of the Northern Military - Domkat Bali, T.Y Danjuma, Jeremial Useni, Joshua Dogoyaro etc.
The coup against Gowon brought about a new Dimension to the distrust and bitterness in the Military as the northern Christians in the Military felt they have been surcharged by their Northern Muslim counterparts in the military. Perhaps that led to the coup against Murtala Mohammed by soldiers said to be loyal to Gowon.

In my opinion, one subtle coup that took place and Nigerians never knew about was the Ibrahim Babangida ouster.
From all indications from Max Sioullion's book - "The Soldiers of Fortune", it was more like Babangida was muscled out by Sani Abacha in what was seen as a Voluntary "Stepping Aside".
The whole charade of the Earnest Shonekan led Interim National Government was grandstanding, but in actual sense, there was more to it than we all knew. It was more like pre-planned for Sani Abacha to take over, as it was said that Babangida retired senior officers with himself except Sani Abacha.