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Did Ojukwu Release Awolowo From Prison - Politics (5) - Nairaland

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Re: Did Ojukwu Release Awolowo From Prison by pentlumpro(f): 5:40pm On Dec 29, 2016
KingsleyJohn:


Ojukwu rejected Gowon and insisted he wasn't the most senior officer so he can take over after Ironsi's kidnap. So its funny when you say Ojukwu had committed no crime, rejecting the authority of your supposedly superior is a crime for men in uniform. Yet the supposedly superior went to Aburi to negotiate with his junior?

Furthermore you claim coup plotters were in Enugu, those you called 'mutineers', in other words you agree there was a heirachy which was under Ojukwu's command yet the same heirachy was set aside to release the prisoners in Calabar and there was no repercussion on those that ignored it?

Ogunewe who you keep mention in Enugu, who was he reporting to Or you think he locked up armoury at his own discretion?? Until you start telling your self the truth, you won't learn.

Moreover if Ojukwu was not in total control of the East as you want us to believe how was he able to negotiate repatriation of troops to their state of origin? Or Gowon chose to negotiate with someone hiding inside a police station

Finally stop emphasizing on the timing because for Ojukwu that was the best time too, having failed to get a Yoruba coward who ran off to UK as high commissioner to take his rightful place as the supreme commander, he had to try the almighty Awolowo. Unfortunately Awolowo disappointed too.
The guy you are quoting is fraudstrated
It's written all over him
See as he is replying himself every minute
Re: Did Ojukwu Release Awolowo From Prison by BermudaTriangle(m): 6:36pm On Dec 29, 2016
pazienza:
Another day, another Afonja trash.

How could Gowon order the release of a prisoner in the East when Gowon power was never recognized in the East until January 1970?
Why is common sense not common to Afonjas?

Gowon offered federal pardon to Awolowo, but that pardon will be useless, if Ojukwu decided to keep Awolowo prisoner, as Gowon won't have access to Awolowo until 1970, that is if Ojukwu wished to keep him alive until then, if not, Gowon and Afonjas will be getting Awolowo corpse in Jan 1970 when the war ended.


Go peddle your silly lies in your village meetings amongst your fellow gullible liepods.
You certainly displsyed your common sense when millions of you blindly rushed into the gullotine. Lieing and twisted logic run in your veins

5 Likes

Re: Did Ojukwu Release Awolowo From Prison by pchukwudi: 6:41pm On Dec 29, 2016
You simply don't have the facts, that's why you are not thinking straight.

1. Awolowo did not go to lagos after his release. He went to Ikenne, his home town in western region - which had a governor that that preceeded Gowon.

2. Ojukwu released Awolowo with the understanding that Awolowo will keep his word of leading the west out of nigeria as soon as the east goes.

3. Gowon had no legitimate power to rearrest Awolowo. If he had tried to rearrest the man he would have lost face in the western region.

4. Gowon knew that rearresting Awolowo will simply make the entire south to oppose his illegitimate goverment vigorously.

Got iy now?

Here's more: https://www.nairaland.com/3544116/yes-indeed-ojukwu-one-released


omonnakoda:
Stop talking Nonsense! Ojukwu took over from Michael Okpara. What did Michael Okpara have to to with the running of federal prisons.
Those of us who are old enough to have lived through several coups in Nigeria know that in the immediate days after a coup every one is looking to Lagos.

Goowon took over August 1 and announced the release of Awolowo and he was released on 3 August. Absolutely nothing to do with Ojukwu.He was not in the loop. How could he be .? Why would he think of Awolowo at that time if he did why would he send him to Lagos ? He was a convict and so he would be going back straight to prison.
What did Ojukwu gain by releasing him if he had such power?

1 Like 1 Share

Re: Did Ojukwu Release Awolowo From Prison by pchukwudi: 6:42pm On Dec 29, 2016
You simply don't have the facts, that's why you are not thinking straight.

1. Awolowo did not go to lagos after his release. He went to Ikenne, his home town in western region - which had a governor that that preceeded Gowon.

2. Ojukwu released Awolowo with the understanding that Awolowo will keep his word of leading the west out of nigeria as soon as the east goes.

3. Gowon had no legitimate power to rearrest Awolowo. If he had tried to rearrest the man he would have lost face in the western region.

4. Gowon knew that rearresting Awolowo will simply make the entire south to oppose his illegitimate goverment vigorously.

Got it now?

Here's more: https://www.nairaland.com/3544116/yes-indeed-ojukwu-one-released


omonnakoda:
Stop talking Nonsense! Ojukwu took over from Michael Okpara. What did Michael Okpara have to to with the running of federal prisons.
Those of us who are old enough to have lived through several coups in Nigeria know that in the immediate days after a coup every one is looking to Lagos.

Goowon took over August 1 and announced the release of Awolowo and he was released on 3 August. Absolutely nothing to do with Ojukwu.He was not in the loop. How could he be .? Why would he think of Awolowo at that time if he did why would he send him to Lagos ? He was a convict and so he would be going back straight to prison.
What did Ojukwu gain by releasing him if he had such power?

1 Like

Re: Did Ojukwu Release Awolowo From Prison by Dedetwo(m): 7:08pm On Dec 29, 2016
The Afonjas imprisoned Obafemi Backstabber Awolowo. At the time the lead Afonja was imprisoned, the Chief Judge of the Nigeria was Afonja, the Attorney –General of Nigeria was Afonja, the High Court Judge who tried the case and sentenced Obafemi Backstabber Awolowo was Afonja and all the witnesses who testified against the backstabber Awolowo were Afonjas. Yet the deluded Afonjas are wallowing in a stark ignorance about who released Obafemi Backstabber Awolowo from prison. These Afonjas are master of deception. Who gives a ratass about the release of the inveterate backstabber such as Awolowo who was imprisoned by his fellow backstabbers.
Re: Did Ojukwu Release Awolowo From Prison by mensdept: 7:13pm On Dec 29, 2016
So what does this thread have to do with the useless Fulani man leading the zoo to no where? Or is it that Yoruba's are again feeling the backlash for their usual betrayal in 2015 elections?

My goodness
Re: Did Ojukwu Release Awolowo From Prison by ificatchmodeh: 7:40pm On Dec 29, 2016
omonnakoda:
How was it Ojukwu's territory? Awo was released within 2 days of Gowon coming to office.
Before you can talk of Ojukwu accepting or rejecting Gowon's authority first we must be clear when did Ojukwu first speak with Gowon after August 1. What we know to be facts are these
1. Gowon Took over 1 August
2. He signed Awo's release 2 August
3. Awo was released 3 August

So we are being told that somewhere between 2 and 3 August Ojukwu being set in his head that he did not accept Gowon's authority stlll released Awo and sent him off to Lagos to Gowon

That is FANTASY

Military Governors were not Brigade commanders or anything like that they were not even in the Barracks.

Ojukwu was in Government House Enugu. At the time of the Coup ,July 27 he was not in operational command of the soldiers in Enugu not to talk of Calabar before we start talking of the prison.
Nigeria was relatively backward then. No express roads ,the Airforce base in PH was the main airport.

This idea that Ojukwu as Governor of the East or the other Military governors were Military commanders of the regions is PURE FANTASY. The military chain of command did not work that way. That is like suggesting Brigade Commanders or GOCs took orders from governors.

You know nothing..
Don't co join traash to suit your fantasy.
I don't see a big deal..-f Ojukwu released awo..
Or is it pride? That an ibo general save awo?
The truth Is open..

You can visit nda zaria..all records are there..is open to researchers.

Don't come online and argue in bits.

Lot of persons are reading this post..and observing the hypocrite.
Re: Did Ojukwu Release Awolowo From Prison by bi0nics: 7:48pm On Dec 29, 2016
Dedetwo:
The Afonjas imprisoned Obafemi Backstabber Awolowo. At the time the lead Afonja was imprisoned, the Chief Judge of the Nigeria was Afonja, the Attorney –General of Nigeria was Afonja, the High Court Judge who tried the case and sentenced Obafemi Backstabber Awolowo was Afonja and all the witness who testified against the backstabber Awolowo were Afonjas. Yet the deluded Afonjas are wallowing in a stark ignorance about who released Obafemi Backstabber Awolowo from prison. These Afonjas are master of deception. Who gives a ratass about the release of the inveterate backstabber such as Awolowo who was imprisoned by his fellow backstabbers.

Your Senility is so glaring!!!

Where is katsunmoto when you need him!

3 Likes

Re: Did Ojukwu Release Awolowo From Prison by ificatchmodeh: 7:56pm On Dec 29, 2016
omonnakoda:
That is not relevant. Was Ojukwu the comptroller of prisons?
Was he the Head of the Army in Enugu ?

No he was not.
Between July 29 And August 1 when Gowon made his announcements and there were killings in Ibadan ,,Abeokuta and so on.Who was in charge of the Military in Enugu and what did they do
The commander of the Enugu based 1st battalion, Lt-Col David Ogunewe. On learning of the mass murder taking place in other military formations in the country, Lt-Col Ogunewe locked his battalion’s armoury and placed it under the joint guard of northern and southern officers. He also encouraged northern and southern soldiers to live together in the mess and grounds of the battalion

Ojukwu was not at that time in control of Enugu .To pretend he had any say over prisons in Calabar is a perverse joke.
Shehu Musa Yar'adua was adjutant in Enugu and his role allegedly was to kill Ojukwu. Eventually Ojukwu negotiated repatriation of Northern Soldiers but he was most likely in hiding by the time Awolowo was released

Guess you're trying to be mischievous..but to what purpose? Pride?

History is n important part of a nations growth.
The government erase it from school to bury the truth..
But can the truth stay buried? NO!

Gowon never released awo from the calabar prison.
Odumegwu Ojukwu did.

Am not gonna argue much on this..
But believe me..is a known fact in the military circle.
The military government then played politics with Awolowo's release to gather sympathy from the west.
Which some of them were already having sentiments for biafra.

That never discouraged Wole,Solarin, to fight and practice what the believe was right.

Most of this actors are alive..OBJ,buhari danjuma,maitaima sule, IBB, shagari, these men were involve and the know the truth.

Ojukwu's involvement in the 66 coup..kinda killed. The trust they had for him.
He was involved because he knew their ecret..
Zik made lots of mistake..dinning with the north..Ojukwu saw awo as an ally.

Though he never blamed him..for his decisions...it was a lesson learnt.
Re: Did Ojukwu Release Awolowo From Prison by omonnakoda: 8:00pm On Dec 29, 2016
ificatchmodeh:


Guess you're trying to be mischievous..but to what purpose? Pride?

History is n important part of a nations growth.
The government erase it from school to bury the truth..
But can the truth stay buried? NO!

Gowon never released awo from the calabar prison.
Odumegwu Ojukwu did.

Am not gonna argue much on this..
But believe me..is a known fact in the military circle.
The military government then played politics with Awolowo's release to gather sympathy from the west.
Which some of them were already having sentiments for biafra.

That never discouraged Wole,Solarin, to fight and practice what the believe was right.

Most of this actors are alive..OBJ,buhari danjuma,maitaima sule, IBB, shagari, these men were involve and the know the truth.

Ojukwu's involvement and in the 66 coup..kinda killed. The trust they had for him.
He was involved because he knew their ecret..
Zik made lots of mistake..dinning with the north..Ojukwu saw awo as an ally.

Though he never blamed him..for his decisions...it was a lesson learnt.
Do you have a date for the actual release.

Did Ojukwu grant him a State Pardon??

2 Likes

Re: Did Ojukwu Release Awolowo From Prison by Dedetwo(m): 8:01pm On Dec 29, 2016
bi0nics:


Your Senility is so glaring!!!

Where is katsunmoto when you need him!

You know well not to punch above your class weight. I smell a dunce.
Re: Did Ojukwu Release Awolowo From Prison by ificatchmodeh: 8:21pm On Dec 29, 2016
omonnakoda:

Do you have a date for the actual release.

Did Ojukwu grant him a State Pardon??

Stop being mischievous naa..

Awo was never granted state pardon by Ojukwu..

Listen.
One of the end game of the first coup among others...was. to release Awo from prison and make him president..
Now...this was unconditional..no election..but installation. then he will now conduct his election.

Ojukwu, OBJ, Among others..we're deeply in the pre planning of this coup.ObJ left for a military course and could not participate.

Ojukwu was given updates on every step...he was a shadow director..
Facts can be verified from the military archive. NDA zaria..
His name is boldly as part of 66 coup plotters.

Awo was released based on the original ideology of the 66. Coup plotters.
Ojukwu did brief and celebrated him before he left for ibadan..

On getting to ikenna..the military government send delegates to convince Awo on why the country hould remain united and the roles he has to play.

Awo never went straight to dodan to see gowon..fact.

Awo was a respected man within the military circle...because..
.he was face of. Opposition and the young officers believed his accepted him.
.he was the last of the three..bello was dead.Zik went on exile..
.the fact that he carried out a near coup onthe civilian government..earned him trust among junior officers.

Gowon and murtala only played politics with Awolowo's release.

And that has become a controversy till date.

When Ojukwu granted interview that he released Awo..none of them could counter him. Cos they knew the truth.

Maybe someday..you get closed to any of this generals..they might tell you some secrets about this country that will marvel you..

Till then..forget press and talks from them..is all made to protect the sovereignty of nigeria.

2 Likes 1 Share

Re: Did Ojukwu Release Awolowo From Prison by IPOB123london: 8:28pm On Dec 29, 2016
afonjas know your history

ndi anya ufu
Re: Did Ojukwu Release Awolowo From Prison by Reminez(m): 8:33pm On Dec 29, 2016
SirJeffry:
Awolowo was released by Ojukwu but not freed. Eastern Region as at then wasn't taking orders from Lagos no more. Even after released, Awolowo was still a prisoner to the then Nigerian government.

Calabar Prisons being part of the then Biafra could not have held a prisoner sentenced by a Nigerian government. It wasn't only Awolowo that was released. Many were released and given the options of going back home and staying back of which many stayed.

I know a yoruba family in my town today that came to be thanks that arrangement.
Sir Jeffery, there was no biafra as at the 3rd of August 1967 . Folks from that side obviously do not read

3 Likes

Re: Did Ojukwu Release Awolowo From Prison by ificatchmodeh: 8:35pm On Dec 29, 2016
Aigbofa:


Ojukwu a colonel in the army needed Obafemi Awolowo a civilian without a single day of military training to pull the west out of Nigeria? Was Ojukwu really that stupid?

Regarding who released Awo, there are probably documents in the national archives to settle the matter.
Ojukwu deliberately kept quiet about his fabricated war time heroics to fuel this type of distortion.

Gowon came out to categorically proclaim that he released Awo, Ojukwu never mentioned anything, not even the meeting where Awolowo tried to dissuade him from going to war.


My friend..why you guys like distorting facts..
Without evidence ?

Please show me one military archive or gazette that has this your story..

I remembered Ojukwu granted interview first before Gowon.
And no one disputed it.

We need history classes in our school..and some classified documents should be made available for nigerians.

This would help us identify our problems as a country and take necessary step to solved em..taking notes of details.

Cos without this..
This same issues will be argued on in the next 50years..if God tarries.

Nigeria on a long thing.
Re: Did Ojukwu Release Awolowo From Prison by KingsleyJohn: 8:39pm On Dec 29, 2016
omonnakoda:


He had committed no crime on 2 August 1966 when Gowon signed the release order for Awo do not pretend you do not understand

Gowon came to power on 1 August
Signed order for Awo release on 2 August and
Awo released on 3 August

tell WHEN Ojukwu REJECTED him

TELL US THE DATE

Tell us when he should have been arrested at the earliest
As a soldier you react to events that are violent before reporting. Ogunewe reacted immediately and Ojukwu was hiding in a police station

So stop trying to change the subject

What is the connection between Awo release on August 2 and OJukwu rejection

When did Ojukwu make his rejection know to the world?
There was no hierarchy with the Prison

Calabar Prisons are under the Federal government and the line of command is ministerial. Ojukwu had no legal power to release Awo. Was Awo convicted of an offense against the Eastern region? How then can Ojukwu release him . Explain the legal status of the release.Was it a pardon?

That is like saying Rochas releases a coup plotter because he is a prison in Imo state.

Awo was not an Eastern Region prisoner


Why didn't Gowon go to calabar to witness the release and at least smile for the camera?

You can call it a pardon or a favour which Ojukwu expected Awolowo to pay back.

Please can you show us a snapshot of the release papers Gowon signed on August 2.

Finally say the truth and shame the devil, Who was in control of the troops in Eastern Nigeria?
Re: Did Ojukwu Release Awolowo From Prison by ificatchmodeh: 8:41pm On Dec 29, 2016
Reminez:

Sir Jeffery, there was no biafra as at the 3rd of August 1967 . Folks from that side obviously do not read

Your right bro..
There was no biafra..but the country was technically divided with much tension.

A military coup just took place..
The head of state was missing..
Military was divided among ethnic lines..
There was no central command..
Refusal to take orders..

The choas provided an opportunity for separation.
The east was holding it. Down for ironsi..who was their kinsman..

The rest is history.
Re: Did Ojukwu Release Awolowo From Prison by Reminez(m): 8:47pm On Dec 29, 2016
BudeYahooCom:



Gowon also claimed there was no genocide but the rest of world know otherwise.

We know you would have preferred we listen to Gowon's megalomaniac brag and disregard International record-keepers and historians unfortunately our brains are not 50% Ewedu and 50% Amala. We'll keep referring to international unbiased journals and texts which maintains that Emeka Ojukwu released your lord Awo from prison after been locked by hausas. LWKMD

International historians like MAX SIOLLUN you meant ??...You need to read more than you listen to Emma Powerful.
Re: Did Ojukwu Release Awolowo From Prison by omonnakoda: 8:49pm On Dec 29, 2016
KingsleyJohn:


Why didn't Gowon go to calabar to witness the release and at least smile for the camera?

You can call it a pardon or a favour which Ojukwu expected Awolowo to pay back.

Please can you show us a snapshot of the release papers Gowon signed on August 2.

Finally say the truth and shame the devil, Who was in control of the troops in Eastern Nigeria?
I have already dealt with all of that so go back and read the thread

2 Likes

Re: Did Ojukwu Release Awolowo From Prison by omonnakoda: 8:53pm On Dec 29, 2016
omonnakoda:
The reason the armory had to be locked was simple. The majority of riflemen in Enugu at the time were northern and if they had access to the armory there would have been only one,terrible,outcome for Ojukwu
If the troops in Enugu were loyal and under his control why was it necessary to lock the Armory.
Why was Ogunewe begging Gowon for the Black scorpion(Adekunle),Jalo and Yar'adua to return to Lagos

2 Likes

Re: Did Ojukwu Release Awolowo From Prison by KingsleyJohn: 8:55pm On Dec 29, 2016
omonnakoda:
I have already dealt with all of that so go back and read the thread

I still can't find the snapshot of the release papers?
Re: Did Ojukwu Release Awolowo From Prison by Reminez(m): 8:56pm On Dec 29, 2016
KingsleyJohn:
I have read your argument @op, its interesting how you are working hard to convince us that Gowon released Awolowo.

Let's look at it carefully.

Why would Gowon order the release of Awolowo and not order the arrest of Ojukwu in the east. You claim Adekunle, Jalo, Shehu Yaradua were all there in the east and the riffle men were northerners. So if Gowon could order Awolowo's release then he could have ordered Ojukwu arrest too. You claim Ojukwu was hiding and guarding himself with 'mobile police' then the army which you claim was loyal to Gowon could not arrest someone guarded by 'mobile police'?

The truth is at that point Ojukwu needed Awolowo to pull the West out of Nigeria that is why he released him while Gowon needed a united West in order to be able to fight the East that is why he allowed Awolowo enjoy his freedom. The only Advantage Gowon had was that federal troops were stationed in Lagos and Awolowo and the West has no standing army, Awolowo couldn't say no to Gowon and so had to betray Ojukwu.

Stop trying to twist facts.




For fvck sake, stop lying through your teeth . How many times do you want me to write it that THERE WAS NOTHING LIKE BIAFRA ON AUGUST 3RD 1967 .

1 Like

Re: Did Ojukwu Release Awolowo From Prison by omonnakoda: 9:02pm On Dec 29, 2016
ificatchmodeh:



My friend..why you guys like distorting facts..
Without evidence ?

Please show me one military archive or gazette that has this your story..

I remembered Ojukwu granted interview first before Gowon.
And no one disputed it.

We need history classes in our school..and some classified documents should be made available for nigerians.

This would help us identify our problems as a country and take necessary step to solved em..taking notes of details.

Cos without this..
This same issues will be argued on in the next 50years..if God tarries.

Nigeria on a long thing.

What East? Were soldiers distributed along ethnic lines? No

Benjamin Adekunle was in Enugu. The later nemesis of Ojukwu.
Yar'adua who would later return from Lagos to lead an assault on Onitsha was in Enugu.

Like I asked befored .Why was Ogunewe locking the armory if the troops were loyal and under control

One thing you say is true there was al ot of chaos for several days and Ojukwu took sanctuary in a police station grin

Many people writing here are childfren and have no idea what Nigeria looked like in those days.

There was not asingle express road anywhere not even Lagos Ibadan or the Port Harcourt Aba.

So to Imagine that somehow Ojukwu would under all that chaos have the thought that the next thing to do is to release Awo and send him to Lagos really defies logic.

How he would have enforced that in Calabar from Enugu in such chaos is hard to imagine.

I have asked what was the status of the release? No answer. Was it a State Pardon ? No Answer.

Can a regional governor give orders to release a federal prisoner convicted of treason?

5 Likes

Re: Did Ojukwu Release Awolowo From Prison by KingsleyJohn: 9:02pm On Dec 29, 2016
omonnakoda:

If the troops in Enugu were loyal and under his control why was it necessary to lock the Armory.
Why was Ogunewe begging Gowon for the Black scorpion(Adekunle),Jalo and Yar'adua to return to Lagos

Please can you show us a link to where Ogunewe was begging Gowon for the 'mutineers' to return to Lagos...

Who was Ogunewe taking orders from?
Re: Did Ojukwu Release Awolowo From Prison by omonnakoda: 9:05pm On Dec 29, 2016
KingsleyJohn:


Please can you show us a link to where Ogunewe was begging Gowon for the 'mutineers' to return to Lagos...

Who was Ogunewe taking orders from?
Did I call them mutineers

1 Like

Re: Did Ojukwu Release Awolowo From Prison by KingsleyJohn: 9:05pm On Dec 29, 2016
Reminez:

For fvck sake, stop lying through your teeth . How many times do you want me to write it that THERE WAS NOTHING LIKE BIAFRA ON AUGUST 3RD 1967 .


Read again, I never mentioned Biafra young man.
Re: Did Ojukwu Release Awolowo From Prison by KingsleyJohn: 9:09pm On Dec 29, 2016
omonnakoda:
Did I call them mutineers


Leave trivialities, where is the link to where Ogunewe was begging Gowon and also the Snapshot of the release papers
Re: Did Ojukwu Release Awolowo From Prison by omonnakoda: 9:14pm On Dec 29, 2016
http://www.waado.org/nigerdelta/nigeria_facts/MilitaryRule/Omoigui/NorthCounterCoup.htm

Indeed, official circles in the eastern region were “blacked out” initially from information flow, particularly during the first 24 hours of the revolt.The commander of the 1st battalion in Enugu, Lt. Col. David “Baba” Ogunewe, a thoroughly professional and experienced officer who had risen from the ranks, found out about the Abeokuta mutiny late at night on July 29 by accident.Captain Ogbonna had tried to reach the battalion from Abeokuta.

The duty officer at the 1st battalion (who happened to be a northerner) was not on seat when Ogbonna’s message came through, so it was passed directly to Lt. Col. Ogunewe, thus giving him an early insight into events, which proved to be crucial.He went to the messin the early hours of July 30 and found a group of northern officers (including Lts. Shehu Musa Yar-Adua, A. A. Abubakar, Sale Mamood, Daudu Suleiman, Captains Muhammadu Jega, Gibson S. Jalo and others) fully dressed in combat fatigues and apparently talked them out of taking precipitate action, tapping an incredible reserve of goodwill he had always had with the boys.Ogunewe’s successful confrontation with the northern officers is all the more remarkable when it is realized that he was unarmed and had only been in command of that battalion for six months.It was truly a testimony to his man-management skills in crisis, well worth study for future reference.It turns out though, that these officers had already been having meetings behind Hotel Presidential in Enugu to discuss their own contributions to the “Aure” plot and the neutralization of Lt. Col. Ojukwu. However, they had decided after careful appreciation of the situation, surrounded by a hostile population, to restrict themselves to self defence to avoid reprisals against their families.

In an October 1979 interview with the FRCN,Major-General Shehu Musa Yar'Adua (rtd), now deceased, recalled his role as the Adjutant of the 1st Battalion in those dark days.According to him, therewas no plan initially to kill anyone although he clearly intended to arrestLt. Col C. Ojukwu, then Military Governor.He corroborates other sources who have since said that the coup date had in fact been put off when informal word came late on Friday night, more likely early Saturday July 30, from Captain Remawa in Abeokuta, that violence had broken out.At first Yar'Adua did not know what to make of it since Remawa was not part of the original "Aure" plot.But then he got dressed and alerted other northern officers. By the time he returned to the office at about 4 am, as he put it:"........my CO and all the Igbo officers had been there at three, because somebody had also rang them from Abeokuta and told them what was happening."This "somebody" was none other than Captain Ogbonna.

A joint guard, consisting of northern and southern soldiers was then posted to guard the armoury, choking off weapon flow.Ogunewe then notified Lt. Col Ojukwu and later ordered that all officers irrespective of regional origin should live together in the mess while all Other Ranks were to live onthe parade ground.In this manner, no group could conspire or make a move without detection.The only officer authorized to be armed at this point was Ogunewe himself who sat with the other officers while everyone looked at everyone.

At 11am on July 30, Ojukwu called a meeting of the regional executive council at which they were briefed on events in other parts of the country.Before then Ojukwu had been on the telephone all morning contacting units and eastern officers all over the country to get a picture of events.He is quoted by NU Akpan, former Secretary to the Government of the Eastern region after one of his calls, as saying:“One thing is clear, however; these people are quite bent on annihilating the Ibos.”Later that day, for reasons that have never been clarified, he slipped out of Enugu (leaving Ogunewe behind) and went to Onitsha from where he was making his calls to Ogundipe in Lagos encouraging him to stand firm.Much later that night, urged by Mr. P. Okeke who was then Commissioner of Police, he returned to Enugu, moving his office, home and relatives to the Police HQ, surrounded by a special guard of Mobile Policemen of Igbo origin.That same evening, eastern chiefs and traditional rulers arrived back from the Traditional Rulers meeting in Ibadan, bringing with them information about the kidnapping of Ironsi and Fajuyi.

By Sunday July 31st, when Ojukwu called the executive council again, he announced that Brigadier Ogundipe had since told him that the situation was out of control.Shortly thereafter, Ogundipe himself could not be contacted.It was not until Lt. Col. Gowon’s broadcast on August 1st that a transient semblance of order became discernible.Ojukwu made a broadcast in response in which he said, inter-alia,

“In the course of this rebellion, I have had discussions with the Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters, Brigadier Ogundipe, who as the next most senior officer in the absence of the Supreme Commander, should have assumed command of the Army………”

”During those discussions, it was understood that the only condition on which the rebels would agree to cease fire were: that the Republic of Nigeria be split into its component parts; and that all southerners in the North be repatriated to the South and that Northerners resident in the South be repatriated to the North……”

“…….the brutal, planned annihilation of officers of Eastern Nigerian origin in the last two days has again cast serious doubts as to whether the people of Nigeria, after these cruel and bloody atrocities, can ever sincerely live together as members of the same nation….…”

“….I have further conveyed to the Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters, my fellow military governors and the Chief of Staff, Army Headquarters, my understanding that the only intention of the announcement made by the Chief of Staff, Army Headquarters today is the restoration of peace in the country whilst immediate negotiations are begun to allow the people of Nigeria to determine the form of their future association.Good night and thank you.”

Ojukwu thenspent the next one week insisting that northern soldiers in Enugu (who comprised no less than two thirds of the battalion) be removed from the city before he would consider leaving the safety of the Police HQ back to the State House.

Through all this, Ogunewe kept in touch with Gowon in Lagos and was crucial to arrangements that were subsequently made to successfully repatriate non-eastern soldiers and their families out of the region - a remarkable achievement for which he was rewarded by being fully reabsorbed into the Nigerian Army without loss of rank after the civil war.But even this was not so straightforward.For one, Ogunewe had to resist all kinds of entreaties to allow vengeful Igbo mobs gain entry into the barracks to liquidate the northern troops there.Secondly, according to then Major (later Brigadier) Benjamin Adekunle, Lt. Col. Murtala Muhammed had contacted Lt. Yar’Adua secretly and ordered him to break into the armoury to secure arms and ammunition for northern soldiers - to the exclusion of others.This led to a clash between them which almost cost Adekunle his life later on.

Just under two weeks after Gowon came to power, Major Adekunle was tasked to lead the 1st battalion detachment by train which was granted safe passage to transport non-eastern soldiers and their families to Kaduna enroute to Lagos in exchange for surviving eastern soldiers in other regions.The suspicion was so high that Adekunle gave orders that every individual soldier was to guard every other individual soldier.When Adekunle got to Kaduna, some Igbo officers released from Kaduna Prison were placed onboard the train (without his knowledge, he says, but with his knowledge others say) on their way to Lagos enroute to the eastern region.Some of the northern soldiers on the train did not like the arrangement seeing as they felt they had not yet contributed their quota to the mayhem going on elsewhere, so they mutinied, killing the Igbo officers.As Brigadier Adekunle (rtd) put it:

“Yar’Adua arranged for their heads to be cut and threw their bodies over the door, chained with other officers …….”

Other sources say the bodies were thrown into a river near Minna.It turns out that there were a few pregnant women onboard the train who went into labor when they witnessed this spectacle.Therefore, Adekunle ordered the train stopped at Minna Station to take the women in labor to hospital.It was there that he says Lt. SM Yar’Adua attacked him with a bayonet.

2 Likes

Re: Did Ojukwu Release Awolowo From Prison by Reminez(m): 9:15pm On Dec 29, 2016
pchukwudi:
You simply don't have the facts, that's why you are not thinking straight.

1. Awolowo did not go to lagos after his release. He went to Ikenne, his home town in western region - which had a governor that that preceeded Gowon.

2. Ojukwu released Awolowo with the understanding that Awolowo will keep his word of leading the west out of nigeria as soon as the east goes.

3. Gowon had no legitimate power to rearrest Awolowo. If he had tried to rearrest the man he would have lost face in the western region.

4. Gowon knew that rearresting Awolowo will simply make the entire south to oppose his illegitimate goverment vigorously.

Got iy now?

Here's more: https://www.nairaland.com/3544116/yes-indeed-ojukwu-one-released


s
So Ojukwu planned declaring BIAFRA as early as August 2nd 1966 ?? How could Ojukwu planned such when he wasn't even sure of the whereabouts of Ironsi yet . So , Awolowo couldn't have been released to take out the West outta Nigeria . PCHUKWUDI , please read up. It pains me to the marrow when I see ignorant folks spreading ignorance .

5 Likes

Re: Did Ojukwu Release Awolowo From Prison by omonnakoda: 9:15pm On Dec 29, 2016
Looking at this version of events it is IMPOSSIBLE to imagine that Ojukwu found time to think of Awolowo who was RELEASED ON 3 AUGUST

2 Likes

Re: Did Ojukwu Release Awolowo From Prison by Nobody: 9:16pm On Dec 29, 2016
Interesting. Afonjas have been trashed again. Those of us who have relaible facts of history know that Ojukwu released Gowon from Calabar prison. In fact, after Ironsi was killed and Gowon took over; the tension in the East was immeasurable. Gowon could not send orders to the East knowing fully well that Ojukwu would Never tolerate such. The whole East was firmly under Ojukwu.
However, when Awo was released by the East/Ojukwu; he was still a convict to the Northern led Nigeria. It was only after Gowon's pardon that he became really free. The facts are there within the military records.
Re: Did Ojukwu Release Awolowo From Prison by Nobody: 9:20pm On Dec 29, 2016
omonnakoda:

If the troops in Enugu were loyal and under his control why was it necessary to lock the Armory.
Why was Ogunewe begging Gowon for the Black scorpion(Adekunle),Jalo and Yar'adua to return to Lagos


Did you say Ogunewe was begging. Lol. I swear, you afonjas and your biased media distort facts a lot. And it takes lots of effort to correct these lies being spread by yoruba media. Ogunewe foiled the coup in the east. Fact. In fact, after the war, Ogunewe, an igbo officer, was reinstated back in the army. Go and ask why. I dont take pleasure in correcting ignorant lies.

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