₦airaland Forum

You do not need to take part in a coup d’etat to be chosen as leader. Chief Obafemi Awolowo was in jail for treasonable felony when the first military coup took place on January 15, 1966. The young majors wanted to make him Prime Minister.

As a consultant historian, mine is to say it from a very objective and analytical point of view. The problem with Nigeria is that some of our leaders are insincere, they do not want the people to see the truth. That caused them to remove history from our school books.

I know many will disagree with me. That is alright but I also challenge them to an international debate to fault my claims. I seek not to protect or project Igbo, Yoruba or Hausa. I write as one who understands Nigerian history.

Some of those who took part in the January 1966 coup, came out boldly to say that their plan was to release Chief Awolowo from prison and make him prime minister.

Captain Emma Nwobosi, who led the Western Region operations is still alive. Major Emma Ifeajuna confided in a few friends. Maj. Wale Ademoyega said this much in his book, ‘Why We Struck.’

Much later, it happened in Ghana in 1979. Flt. Lt. Jerry Rawlings was detained at Burma Camp, Accra, awaiting execution after being condemned by the Col. Joe Enninful led court martial for the abortive coup of May 15.

On June 4, his friend, Maj. Kojo Boakye –Djan, led a platoon of other ranks to set Rawlings free. They took him to the radio station to announce himself after which he became Chairman of the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council [AFRC].

It also happened in Bangladesh. In 1975, Maj. Gen. Ziaur Rahman was in captivity when Col. Abu Taher set him free and gave him power.

Back home in Nigeria, Brigadier Murtala Mohammed was flown back from London in 1975, to become Head of State. The plot to oust Gen. Yakubu Gowon was hatched by officers like colonels Alfred Aduloju, Abdullahi Mohammed, Anthony Ochefu and Lt.cols Ibrahim Babangida and Shehu Yar’adua.

That was also how Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari became military leader in 1983. He was doing his job as a GOC in Jos, when younger officers, led by Maj. Haruna Mustapha Jokolo, offered him the big job.

In 1998, Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo was released from gaol by the Minna Mafia. The idea was to pacify the South-West following the death in custody of Chief Moshood Abiola. That was how Obasnjo became civilian President.

Awolowo was the centre piece of the first military coup even if he was in jail. The way the plotters acted, it was obvious they had soft spot for the former leader of opposition.

Ademoyega and Maj. Chris Anuforo had made arrangement in Lagos for Capt Emma Udeaja to fly to Uyo with Prime Minister Abubakar Tafawa Balewa to hand over to Awo after the coup.

The Nigeria Air Force plane to do that was to be made available by Major Theophilus Enwezor Nzegwu, the first Nigerian to be commissioned as an Air Force officer, in 1959.

That probably explained why Maj. Emma Ifeajuna was bent on not hurting the prime minister during the coup. The circumstances surrounding Sir Abubakar’s death remain in the realm of mystery.

The same Ifeajuna that shot his commanding officer, Brig. Zakari Maimalari and killed Lt.col Abogo Largema at Ikoyi Hotel, Lagos tried to be civil with the prime minister.

On sighting Balewa in his bedroom, Ifeajuna was alleged to have said: “I come here with respect. I will take you with me. We know all the trouble going on in the country is not your fault.”

Ifeajuna, accompanied by Lt. Fola Oyewole and other ranks also assured Balewa’s Aide de Camp, Kaftan Nangasu, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, that no harm would befall his boss.

“I will look after him,” the Army officer added. All the soldiers who invaded the Prime Minister’s official residence stood at attention when they saw him and gave out smart compliments.

When Nangasu came out with a revolver, Ifeajuna quickly disarmed him. His grandson, simply identified as Sunday, also struck an Army sage. They beat and let the kid go.

President Nnamdi Azikiwe knew

there was going to be a coup. The Premier of the Northern Region, Sir Ahmadu Bello was also hinted by the Western region Premier, Chief Samuel Akintola.

Some 24 hours to the coup, Akintola, was in Kaduna and spent time at the Premier’s lodge with Brig. Sam Ademulegun, commander, One Brigade, Kaduna. Akintola wanted them to escape to Niger Republic. The Sardauna refused.

Zik quietly went on medical leave abroad. His doctor, Humphrey Idehen and ADC, Lt. John Obada were released by the president.

While Awo was in detention, his party, the Action Group and Zik’s National Convention of Nigerian Citizens formed an alliance. According to a top member of the NCNC, Chief Mbazulike Amaechi, Awo enjoyed some benefits.

The Eastern region government under Chief Michael Okpara pleaded with an Igbo house owner who lived across Uyo prison to vacate the house for Awo. Every night, Chief Awolowo would sleep there only to go back to jail next door in the morning.

Mrs Hannah Awolowo was placed on ministerial salary by the NCNC government and Chief Awolowo had domestic staff whose wages came from Enugu.

There was soft spot for Awo especially after he lost his first son, Segun, in a car crash on July 10, 1963. He heard the news on radio while serving at Broad Street Lagos Prison.

Ademoyega was from Ode Remo, close to Awo’s Ikenne. Ifeajuna taught at Ilesha and was at the University of Ibadan with Awoists like Bola Ige and Wole Soyinka. Nzegwu’s wife was Aina, a Yoruba.

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Even when the majors handed over to Gen. Johnson Aguiyi Ironsi, the man tasked with investigating them, Lt.col Yakubu Gowon, slowed down. Later he chose Awo as his Number Two.

Everything was done to make Awolowo Prime Minister. It was Ifeajuna’s job to spare Balewa. He claimed he did. Balewa was later found dead. Awolowo was released, after another coup.

EmperorIsaac:
Imagine the narrative! And Ironsi succeeded the coup plotters!

ajailer:
I get tired with all these attempt to change the narrative of what happened, but guess what? It's not gonna fly.

ajailer:
I get tired with all these attempt to change the narrative of what happened, but guess what? It's not gonna fly.

iamnotillicit:
So ifeajuna didn't kill Balewa...

Stupid story

EmperorIsaac:
Imagine the narrative! And Ironsi succeeded the coup plotters!

AndroBlaze:
Their have been many coups in Nigeria, in fact in West Africa, why is this the only one people keep trying to rewrite history over and over again?

In the last successful coup in Nigeria, Abacha took over power with the full support of M.K.O Abiola, with what history showed us, does that now mean it was an Abiola coup...who was the ultimate beneficiary.

Look only God knows the hearts of men, people can say they love you like there is no tomorrow, but ACTIONS speak louder than words!

These young men embarked on a bloody coup that was 95% successful and all of a sudden when their kinsmen spoke to them in hushed voices they reversed course and gave up without a fight. Eventually their kinsman took over. That is a fact...and Awolowo continued to stay in jail till Gowon ensured he was released, another fact.

Anything else is just idle chit chat.

2mch:
Lmaoo. Post the names of the coup plotters, the victims of the coup plotters and the beneficiaries of the coup now. You will see all of them running kiti kiti. Una wan rewrite history abi as that coup hook Igbo people for throat with Yoruba and Hausa till today. Instead of una to come out and say sorry and change. Una still de lie. It is well.

XerXers:
Awolowo treachery failed because Obienu squash his coupe and Ironsi was the highest ranking officer to benefit. When northerners did their own Yoruba was next in line but he ran away like a coward

ajailer:
Now this is their narrative.....

A military man wants to hijack a civilian govt in order to hand over government to another civilian (Awo) who happens to be imprisoned at that time..

On what legality/ illegality will he, Awo be able to hold-on to power since he does not have access to guns to create fear like the military?
Will the military in an impossible scenario guide Awo, a civilian, where else in the world has this ever happened?

Now the coup was executed and their real intent became known when they killed leaders from other tribes and left theirs alive. They even added salt to injury by handing over the reigns of government to their tribal military colleague, and Awo who they deceived others that they were fighting for was never set free.....


Make these ibo guys keep on living in fool's paradise. We know them and we are not deceived by their efforts to change the narrative cos we know them better now...... only thing we are just waiting for is the time to be right for we, Yorubas to send them all packing back to their enclave.... I know the D-day is getting nearer.

FuckFuckPastor:
https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/01/awolowo-coup-of-january-1966/

Mrexcell:
This is really very deep and well detailed so many untold stories about nigeria the young generation of nigerians don't even know anything about.

XerXers:
You be mumu. Abacha coup was planned by Abiola if you don't know. The plan was to make Abiola president but Abacha went rogue.

Gandollar:
Some where asking how Awo who was in prison could have been a beneficiary of the so called Igbo coup?

Nnaa see question o.

Reinvented:
When will this hit front page, when it is not a theatrics from Reno Omokri?

RZArecta:
Change which narrative ? Admit the fact that you know nothing so you'll have a chance to learn the truth

PressMyButton:
Is that lipstick on the lips of Awo? 🙄

Make I no talk wetin dey mind fes.









By Emeka Obasi...


Bia, becareful, what else do you expect from an ibo man, aside revisionism. People that have been running from pillar to post, looking for how to take down the burden that is choking their neck since they committed the historic atrocities since 1966. A loser cannot write the history of a winner.. it's a sacrilege.

And you, fuckfuckpastor aka coffinseller, Ndilucifer, etc, your monicker is plenty, I can't remember all of them. Next time, don't fucck your brain away to put the writer of the silly article, you hear me so?

Gandollar:
Is that lipstick on the lips of Awo? 🙄

PressMyButton:
E no bad na, Ojukwu wore a woman's skirt, allow baba too wear his lipstick in peace, abeg.

ajailer:
Make we wait 20 yrs from now...... Ibos will start saying it was a Yoruba man that imposed Monday sit at home all through the east cos he wanted to pressure the FG to release Igboho.

The lie they can't concort does not exist but we are not deceived. One day, we go drive them all back to their enclave.

ajailer:
Now this is their narrative.....

A military man wants to hijack a civilian govt in order to hand over government to another civilian (Awo) who happens to be imprisoned at that time..

On what legality/ illegality will he, Awo be able to hold-on to power since he does not have access to guns to create fear like the military?
Will the military in an impossible scenario guide Awo, a civilian? where else in the world has this ever happened?

Now the coup was executed and their real intent became known when they killed leaders from other tribes and left theirs alive. They even added salt to injury by handing over the reigns of government to their tribal military colleague, and Awo who they deceived others that they were fighting for was never set free.....

Now, let's even agree that their initial intent was to set Awo free, then I ask this question. What is their concern with freeing Awo, is he their family member? Only a foolish man will leave his own issue and say he wants to help another man out with his own issue. Do you use Panadol for another man's headache? Only a fool does that.


Make these ibo guys keep on living in fool's paradise. We know them and we are not deceived by their efforts to change the narrative cos we know them better now...... only thing we are just waiting for is the time to be right for we, Yorubas to send them all packing back to their enclave.... I know the D-day is getting nearer.

Shivisee1:
How does this even make sense to anybody with a head! I still don’t believe how this obi people reason ! THIS THEIR 2025 lies carry weight, An old man told me that everything the ibos are going through in this country, God supported it for a reason ! Their mind towards their neighbours!