EVENTS THAT SHAPED NIGERIA PT 1: THE STORY OF NIGERIA FIRST COUP D’ETAT

Fifty years ago on January 15, 1966, the first military coup d’ etat was carried out in Nigeria by junior soldiers, toppling the government of Nnamdi Azikiwe and Tafawa Balewa thereby rewriting the political, social and military history of the country forever
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THE MAJOR PRINCIPAL ACTORS

I am sure most people way back used that 2B exercise book above, not aware of the significance of that drawing or the impact of the person the drawing represent had on Nigeria history. He is no other person than Emmanuel Arinze Ifeajuna (1935 – 25 September 1967). An Igbo from Onitsha, he was a science graduate University College of Ibadan and became involved in politics, later joining the military. He was a Nigerian army major and high jumper and was the first Black African to win a gold medal at an international sports event when he won at the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games. His winning mark and personal best of 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) was a games record and a British Empire record at the time.

He also played a principal role in the January 15, 1966 military coup, an event that derailed Nigeria's nascent democracy and introduced military rule to Nigeria.

 Ifeajuna has been regarded as one of the intellectual drivers of the conspiracy and he wrote an unpublished manuscript on the reasoning for the 1966 Nigerian coup d'état attempt. He scorned the corruption and anarchy that resulted from mismanagement of the government. Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu was the face of the coup attempt, which involved five other army majors: Timothy Onwuatuegwu, Chris Anuforo, Don Okafor, Adewale Ademoyega and Humphrey Chukwuka. In a 1992 interview, Ojukwu dismissed claims that Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu was the leader of the plot, as was widely believed. A Nigerian Police Special Branch report, its first part partially redacted and the second part missing, stated that Ifeajuna, Don Okafor and Captain Ogbu Oji were the creators and protagonists of the coup plot in 1965, with Ojukwu only becoming involved at a late stage.Ifeajuna is seen by some as the assassin of Prime Minister Balewa, which brought down the First Republic and caused civil war. 

Ifeajuna's legacy within Black African sports history has been overshadowed by his political actions following his feats. He again became involved in the military, this time within the Biafran Army – the Republic of Biafra declared its secession from Nigeria, beginning the Nigerian Civil War. Ifeajuna, Victor Banjo, Phillip Alale and Sam Agbam began negotiating with the federal Nigerian officials, via British agents, hoping to bring about a ceasefire, overthrow Ojukwu, and gain prominent positions for themselves. Ojukwu uncovered this plot and sentenced the four to death by firing squad for treason. Ifeajuna claimed the plan was to preserve civilian life in Enugu from an oncoming assault by federal troops. Ifeajuna and his three co-conspirators were executed on 25 September 1967. Enugu, the Biafran capital, was captured by federal Nigerian forces two days later.

The main face of the coup attempt that was more prominent was Major Patrick Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu, (1937–1967) born in the Northern Region’s capital of Kaduna to Igbo immigrant parents from the Mid-Western Region-Okpanam Town, near Asaba in the present day Delta State. His Hausa colleagues in the Nigerian Army gave him the name “Kaduna” because of his love with the town. He was a Nigerian military officer who played in leading role in the January 15, 1966 military coup. On May 30, 1967 Biafra declared its independence from Nigeria. Nzeogwu was released from close observation, and asked to go into battle on the side of the Biafrans

On July 29, 1967, Nzeogwu - who had been promoted to the rank of a Biafran Lt. Colonel, was trapped in an ambush near Nsukka while conducting a night reconnaissance operation against federal troops of the 21st battalion under Captain Mohammed Inuwa Wushishi.

He was killed in action and his corpse was subsequently identified. After the defeat of Biafra and the end of the war, orders were given by the Head of the Nigerian government, Major General Yakubu Gowon, for him to be buried at the military cemetery in Kaduna with full military honours

HOW THE COUP HAPPENED...

In August 1965 a group of officers (one Yoruba and four Igbo) Majors began plotting a coup d'état against incumbent Prime Minister Abubakar Balewa. The coup was planned because according to the Majors, the men at the helm of affairs were running Nigeria aground with their corrupt ways. Ministers under them were living flamboyant lifestyles and looting public funds at the expense of ordinary citizens.

The President of Nigeria, Nnamdi Azikiwe left the country in late 1965 first for Europe, then on a cruise to the Caribbean. Under the law, Senate President Nwafor Orizu became Acting President during his absence and had all the powers of the President.

In the early hours of January 15, 1966, morning of the coup, Kaduna Nzeogwu, the leader of the coup plotters led soldiers in Kaduna to take over the house of Ahmadu Bello, the leader of the northern region. He was summarily killed after the house was ransacked. Brig Samuel Ademulegun, the commander of 2nd brigade and his wife were reportedly shot by Nzeogwu’s co-conspirator, Maj Timothy Onwuatuegwu.

In Lagos, Sir Tafawa Balewa who was the prime minister was taken out of his mansion at gun point. His body was reportedly discovered six days later. The attack was led by Emmanuel Ifeajuna. The attack in Ibadan was led by Capt. Emmanuel Nwobos and although there was a scuffle, Samuel Akintola was eventually killed. Major General Aguiyi Ironsi took over government as the first military head of state but the nature of the coup made it look like powerful northerners were killed while their Igbo counterparts were spared. Also, most of the key coup plotters were Igbos and although an Igbo, Arthur Unegbe was killed, it was soon tagged an Igbo coup It was to change the history of the country forever.

Late in the morning of January 15, 1966, at a meeting with some local journalists in Kaduna seeking to find out what was going on, it was brought to Major Nzeogwu's attention that the only information about the events then was what was being broadcast by the BBC. Nzeogwu was surprised because he had expected a radio broadcast of the rebels from Lagos. He is said to have "gone wild" when he learnt that Emmanuel Ifeajuna in Lagos had not made any plans whatsoever to neutralize Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi who was the Commander of the Army. Therefore, Nzeogwu hurriedly drafted the following speech which was broadcast on Radio Kaduna sometime around 12 a.m.

In the name of the Supreme Council of the Revolution of the Nigerian Armed Forces, I declare martial law over the Northern Provinces of Nigeria.

The Constitution is suspended and the regional government and elected assemblies are hereby dissolved. All political, cultural, tribal and trade union activitites, together with all demonstrations and unauthorized gatherings, excluding religious worship, are banned until further notice.

The aim of the Revolutionary Council is to establish a strong united and prosperous nation, free from corruption and internal strife. Our method of achieving this is strictly military but we have no doubt that every Nigerian will give us maximum cooperation by assisting the regime and not disturbing the peace during the slight changes that are taking place.I am to assure all foreigners living and working in this part of Nigeria that their rights will continue to be respected. All treaty obligations previously entered into with any foreign nation will be respected and we hope that such nations will respect our country's territorial integrity and will avoid taking sides with enemies of the revolution and enemies of the people.

My dear countrymen, you will hear, and probably see a lot being done by certain bodies charged by the Supreme Council with the duties of national integration, supreme justice, general security and property recovery. As a interim measure all permanent secretaries, corporation charimen and senior heads of departments are allowed to make decisions until the new organs are functioning, so long as such decisions are not contrary to the aims and wishes of the Supreme Council. No Minister or Parliamentary Secretary possesses administrative or other forms of control over any Ministry, even if they are not considered too dangerous to be arrested.This is not a time for long speech-making and so let me acquaint you with ten proclamations in the Extraordinary Orders of the Day which the Supreme Council has promulgated. These will be modified as the situation improves.

You are hereby warned that looting, arson, homosexuality, rape, embezzlement, bribery or corruption, obstruction of the revolution, sabotage, subversion, false alarms and assistance to foreign invaders, are all offences punishable by death sentence. Demonstrations and unauthorized assembly, non-cooperation with revolutionary troops are punishable in grave manner up to death. Refusal or neglect to perform normal duties or any task that may of necessity be ordered by local military commanders in support of the change will be punishable by a sentence imposed by the local military commander. Spying, harmful or injurious publications, and broadcasts of troop movements or actions, will be punished by any suitable sentence deemed fit by the local military commander. Shouting of slogans, loitering and rowdy behaviour will be rectified by any sentence of incarceration, or any more severe punishment deemed fit by the local military commander. Doubtful loyalty will be penalized by imprisonment or any more severe sentence.

Illegal possession or carrying of firearms, smuggling or trying to escape with documents, valuables, including money or other assets vital to the running of any establishment will be punished by death sentence. Wavering or sitting on the fence and failing to declare open loyalty with the revolution will be regarded as an act of hostility punishable by any sentence deemed suitable by the local military commander. Tearing down an order of the day or proclamation or other authorized notices will be penalized by death. This is the end of the Extraordinary Order of the Day which you will soon begin to see displayed in public.

My dear countrymen, no citizen should have anything to fear, so long as that citizen is law abiding and if that citizen has religiously obeyed the native laws of the country and those set down in every heart and conscience since 1st October, 1960. Our enemies are the political profiteers, the swindlers, the men in high and low places that seek bribes and demand 10 percent; those that seek to keep the country divided permanently so that they can remain in office as ministers or VIPs at least, the tribalists, the nepotists, those that make the country look big for nothing before international circles, those that have corrupted our society and put the Nigerian political calendar back by their words and deeds. Like good soldiers we are not promising anything miraculous or spectacular. But what we do promise every law abiding citizen is freedom from fear and all forms of oppression, freedom from general inefficiency and freedom to live and strive in every field of human endeavour, both nationally and internationally. We promise that you will no more be ashamed to say that you are a Nigerian.

I leave you with a message of good wishes and ask for your support at all times, so that our land, watered by the Niger and Benue, between the sandy wastes and Gulf of Guinea, washed in salt by the mighty Atlantic, shall not detract Nigeria from gaining sway in any great aspect of international endeavour.

My dear countrymen, this is the end of this speech. I wish you all goodluck and I hope you will cooperate to the fullest in this job which we have set for ourselves of establishing a prosperous nation and achieving solidarity.

Thank you very much and goodbye for now.

FINALLY...

Acting President Nwafor Orizu made a nationwide broadcast, after he had brief President Nnamdi Azikiwe on the phone the decision of the cabinet, announcing the cabinet's "voluntary" decision to transfer power to the armed forces. Major General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi then made his own broadcast, accepting the "invitation". On January 17, Major General Ironsi established the Supreme Military Council in Lagos and effectively suspended the constitution.^[2]

All of the coup leaders, except for Maj. Ifeajuna who had fled to Ghana, were placed under arrest. Maj. Nzeogwu handed over control of the Northern Region to Ironsi's appointed designee, Maj. Hassan Katsina, before being escorted by Lt Col. Conrad Nwawo to Lagos where he surrendered to Maj Gen. Ironsi. General Ironsi used the coup as a pretext to suspend the Federal Government and bring an end to Nigeria's first republic

COUP CONSPIRATORS

·         Maj. Kaduna Nzeogwu (Igbo)

·         Maj. Timothy Onwuatuegwu (Igbo)

·         Maj. Emmanuel Ifeajuna (Igbo)

·         Maj. Chris Anuforo (Igbo)

·         Maj. Don Okafor (Igbo)

·         Maj. Adewale Ademoyega (Yoruba)

·         Maj. Humphrey Chukwuka (Igbo)

·         Capt. Emmanuel Nwobosi (Igbo)

·         Capt. Ben Gbulie (Igbo)

·         Capt. Ogbo Oji (Igbo)

COUNTER COUP

Six months after the first coup, a counter coup was carried out leading to the death of Ironsi. The coup, popularly referred to as the ‘return match’, was planned and carried out by northern officers. It was evident that the attack was retaliation for the first coup. Although the officers that carried out the January coup were still in detention, the fact that they had not been tried for treason and were still on the payroll of the government sent a signal to the northerners that the Igbos wanted to dominate

It was masterminded by Lt Colonel Murtala Muhammed and many northern military officers. The coup started out as a mutiny at roughly midnight on July 28, 1966 and was a reaction to the killings of Northern politicians and Officers by mostly Igbo soldiers on January 15, 1966. The July mutiny/counter coup resulted in the murder of Nigeria's 1st military Head of State General Aguiyi Ironsi and Lt Colonel Adekunle Fajuyi (who was hosting a visiting Ironsi) in Ibadan by angry northern Non Commissioned Officers (NCOs).Upon the termination of Ironsi's government, Lt Colonel Yakubu Gowon was appointed Head of State by the July 1966 coup conspirators.

REASONS

According to historian Max Siollun northern soldiers had a list of grievances following the aborted January 15, 1966 coup which led to the planning of the counter-coup. Lists of their grievances were:

·         The murder of northern military and civilian leaders in the aborted January 15, 1966 coup

·         The January 15, 1966 coup conspirators (mostly Majors) had not been tried for treason and were being paid while in detention

·         The passage of the Unification Decree

·         Rumours of an "Igbo coup" to eliminate northern soldiers

·         The promotion of several Igbo Majors to Lt Colonel

·         Rumours of General Ironsi's ethnic favouritism toward Igbos

·         Plans to swap the 1st and 4th battalions and plans to rotate the military governors of the different regions

COUP PLOTTERS

The principal coup plotters are listed below:

·         2nd Lieutenant Sani Abacha (3rd Battalion Kaduna)

·         Lieutenant D.S. Abubakar (Abeokuta Garrison)

·         Major Martin Adamu (2nd Battalion Lagos)

·         Lt Colonel Joseph Akahan (Commander, 4th Bataillon Kaduna)

·         Major Shittu Alao (Nigerian Airforce HQ, Lagos)

·         Lieutenant Ibrahim Babangida (1st Reconnaissance Squadron, Kaduna)

·         Lieutenant Ibrahim Bako (4th Battalion, Ibadan)

·         Lieutenant Muhammadu Buhari (2 Brigade Lagos)

·         Captain Isa Bukar (Federal Guards Lagos)

·         Lieutenant Yakubu Dambo (3rd Battalion Kaduna)

·         Lieutenant Garba A. Dada (Adjutant 4th Battalion Ibadan)

·         Major Theophilus Danjuma (Principal Staff Officer, Army HQ, Lagos)

·         Sergeant Paul Dickson

·         Lieutenant Buka Suka Dimka (Nigerian Military Training College Kaduna)

·         Lieutenant Garba Duba (1 Reconnaissance Squadron Kaduna)

·         Captain Joseph Garba (Federal Guards Lagos)

·         Lieutenant Mohammed Balarabe Haladu (4th Battalion, Ibadan)

·         Major Abba Kyari (Artillery, Kaduna)

·         Sergeant Sabo Kwale (Abeokuta Garrison)

·         Lieutenant Colonel Murtala Muhammed (Inspector of Signals, Lagos)

·         Second Lieutenant Muhammadu Gado Nasko (Artillery, Kaduna)

·         Lieutenant Malami Mahe Nassarawa (2nd Battalion, Lagos)

·         Lieutenant James Onoja (4th Battalion, Ibadan)

·         Corporal John Shagaya (2nd Reconnaissance Squadron, Abeokuta)

·         Lieutenant Abdulahhi Shelleng (Company Commander, 4th Battalion, Ibadan)

·         Captain Ibrahim Taiwo (Lagos Garrison Yaba)

·         Lieutenant Paul Chabri Tarfa (Federal Guards, Lagos)

·         Captain Baba Usman GSO (Grade II), Army HQ, Lagos)

·         Major Musa Usman (Nigerian Air Force, Lagos)

·         Lieutenant William Walbe (2nd Battalion, Lagos)

·         Lieutenant Mamman Vatsa (4th Battalion, Ibadan)

·         Captain Abdul D.S. Wya (3rd Battalion, Kaduna)