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Was 1966 handover, or takeover?

By Eric Teniola
12 January 2016   |   4:11 am
TIME passes swiftly. On Friday January 15, it will be 50 years that the Military took over power or were handed over power – depending on one’s interpretation – in this country.
Prime Minister of Nigeria, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa

Prime Minister of Nigeria, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa

TIME passes swiftly. On Friday January 15, it will be 50 years that the Military took over power or were handed over power – depending on one’s interpretation – in this country. During the encounter there were casualties on that day. I am aware that the children, friends, grandchildren and supporters of those who were killed in the encounter, are making arrangements to mourn the 50th anniversary of the demise of their loved ones.

I am aware that Kole, Gbenga and Solape, all children of Brigadier Samuel Ademulegun are making preparations to remember their late father. Likewise the children and grandchildren of late Chief Okotie-Eboh are equally making arrangements in Warri to remember their Dad and grandfather. Same goes to the children and grandchildren of late S.L. Akintola who will remember him in Ogbomoso.

In Kaduna, arrangements are also being made to remember the Sardauna of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello. Those who were mudered in the January 15, 1966 coup are: the first and only Prime Minister of Nigeria, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa (1912-1966), the Premier of Northern Nigeria, Alhaji Sir Ahmadu Bello, Sardauna of Sokoto (1909-1966), the Premier of Western Nigeria Sir Samuel Ladoke Akintola (1910-1966), the former Finance Minister, Chief Festus Sam Okotie- Eboh (1912-1966), the wife of Brigadier Ademulegun, Mrs Lateefat Ademulegun, the wife of the then Premier of Northern Nigeria, Hafusat Sardauna, Zarumi Sardauna, the Senior Assistant Security for Security to the then Premier, Ahmed Ben Musa and the Government Driver to the then Premier Ahmed Pategi.

The Military and Police Officers who died in the encounter were Brigadier Sam Ademulegun, Brigadier Zakariya Maimalari, Colonel Ralph Shodeinde, Colonel Kur Mohammed, Lt-Colonel Abogo Largema, Lt-Colonel Yakubu Pam, Lt-Colonel Arthur Unegbe, Sergeant Daramola Oyegoke, PC Yohana Garkawa, Lance Corporal Musa Nimzo, PC Akpan Anduka and PC Hagai Lai.

There is an ongoing debate whether the Military took over power or were handed over power by the President of the Senate, Dr. Nwafor Orizu, who later became Acting President in place of Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe. Only five Ministers are still alive to tell the story of what really happened on that day, January 15, 1966. And they are Alhaji Yusuf Maitama Sule (86), Chief Richard Osuolale Abimbola Akinjide (84), Alhaji Shettima Alli Mongunu (89), no relation to the present Security Adviser, Major General Baba Gana Mongunu (rtd.), Alhaji Abdul Ganiyu Folorunso Razak (88) and Alhaji Shehu Usman Aliyu Shagari (91).

The sixth Minister, Alhaji Inua Wada died recently in Kano. He was an uncle to the former Head of State, Late General Murtala Mohammed (1938-1976). Alhaji Shehu Shagari who later became President (1979-1983) is still insisting even till today that the Military took over under duress. In his book, Beckoned to Serve he wrote that “I was about to break the Ramadan fast on Sunday January 16, when all ministers were asked to report to the Cabinet Office at 6.30p.m. The whole premises were surrounded by soldiers in battle order that some of us initially hesitated to enter.

In the Cabinet chamber were Major General Ironsi, Bukar Dipcharima and Ibrahim Tako Galadima. There were no officials present. Major General Ironsi admitted to us that he had been unable to suppress the rebellion, which he said was getting out of hand. He stated that the mutineers were in control of Kaduna, Kano and Ibadan, and had killed two regional premiers, Sir Ahmadu Bello and Chief Akintola.

They had also murdered a number of his best officers, including Brigadiers Maimalari and Samuel Adesujo Ademulegun, the Commander 1st Brigade Headquarters in Kaduna. Ironsi was full of emotion and even shed some tears. When we asked him about the whereabouts of Sir Abubakar and Chief Okotie-Eboh, he said he still did not know but averred efforts were being made to locate them.

At this stage Kingsley Ozumba Mbadiwe (1917-1990) broke down and kept crying: “Please where is the Prime Minister?” When we reminded Major-General Ironsi if he needed to avail himself of the British privilege of assistance, he replied it was too late as the army was pressing him to assume power. Indeed, he confessed his personal reluctance to take over because of his ignorance of government; but insisted the boys were adamant and anxiously waiting outside.
“Surprisingly, there was no stationery to write the agreement; and all the offices were locked while no official was around. Alhaji AGF Abdulrazaq, the Minister of State for the Railways (former NPC legal adviser), managed to secure a scrap paper on which he drafted a statement, which we endorsed. That was the so-called voluntary hand-over of power by the Balewa Government to Major General Ironsi! It was agreed that the statement would be typed and Dipcharima would sign it on our behalf. We were then asked to return home and await further instructions. I only got to break my Ramadan fast around 9.30p.m.”

In taking over power on January 16, 1966, the then Head of State, General Ironsi made the following broadcast to the country.” The Military Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria wishes to state that it has taken over the interim administration of the Federal Republic of Nigeria following the invitation of the Council of Ministers of the last Government for the Army to do so.

For some time now there have been escalating political disturbances in parts of Nigeria with increasing loss of faith between political parties, and between political leaders themselves. This crisis of confidence reached a head during the elections in the Western Region in October last year. There were charges by the opposition parties rigging of the elections and general abuse of power by the regional government in the conduct of the elections. Riots, arson, murder and looting became widespread in Western Nigeria since October. The situation deteriorated and certain army officers attempted to seize power.

In the early hours of the morning of January 15 , 1966, these officers kidnapped the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance and took them to an unknown destination. The revolt was widespread throughout the country and two Regional Premiers and some high-ranking army officers were killed. The whereabouts of the Prime Minister is still unknown. The vast majority of the Nigerian Army under the command of the General Officer Commanding the Nigeria Army remained completely loyal to the Federal Government and immediately took steps to control the situation.

The Council of Ministers of the Federal Government met and appraised the problems confronting the government. They appreciated the immediate need to control the serious situation which threatened the Federation. They also saw quite clearly a possible deterioration of the situation in the light of developments on Saturday, January 15, 1966. On Sunday, January 16, the Council of Ministers unanimously decided to hand over voluntarily the administration of the country, with immediate effect, to the Nigerian Army.

In his own words, Chief Richard Akinjide said the Ministers did not hand over to Ironsi. In 2000, he said: “Under the law, that is, the interpretation Act, as acting President, Nwazor Orizu had all the powers of the President. The GOC said he wanted to see all the cabinet ministers. And so we assembled at the cabinet office. Well, I have read in many books saying that we handed over to the military. We did not hand over.

Ironsi told us that ‘you either hand over as gentlemen or you hand-over by force’. Those were his words. Is that voluntary hand-over? So we did not hand over. We wanted an Acting Prime Minister to be in place but Ironsi forced us, and I use the word advisedly, to hand over to him. He was controlling the soldiers. The acting President, Nwafor Orizu, who did not cooperate with us, cooperated with the GOC. Dr. Orizu and the GOC prepared speeches which Nwafor Orizu broadcast handing over the government of the country to the army. I here state again categorically as a member of that cabinet that we did not hand over voluntarily. It was a coup.

A lot has happened to our country since then and a lot will still happen. In the New Year, it is my hope and prayer that the best years of Nigeria are still to come.
• Teniola, a former director in the Presidency, stays in Lagos.

18 Comments

  • Author’s gravatar

    While it could have been difficult to defend the Government of acting Prime Minister Orizu, it can not be argued that it wasn’t a military coup. Nigeria will continue to shake until the county is politically restructured or breaks. No one can prevent either of these two ends. It is a matter of time and the clock is ticking.

  • Author’s gravatar

    So between Shagari and Akinjide who do we believe because obviously one of them is not telling the truth,to me,since Akinjide is a lawyer,people reputed to twist words,I suspect that he is the one telling lies about that incident.

  • Author’s gravatar

    So it was only igbo men tht really shed tears for d killings of non igbos, Sarduana n Tafawa Belewa?..Aguiyi Ironsi himself n Ozumba Mbadiwe?..These are d real human beings among d rest..No other tribes pple has ever had remorse or shed tears for d women n children of igbo extractions,killed by Nigeria,UK ,Russia in d 60’s..Still some ignoramuses will tell u tht it was an igbo coup”…Or stupidly asking why d boys” lead by Nzeogwu didnt kill Ironsi n Azikiwe? ..Hail Biafra

    • Author’s gravatar

      THEY WERE SHEDDING CROCODILE TEARS, IT IS OBVIOUS IRONSI LIED TO THE CABINETS MINISTERS, LIED TO THE NATION AND HE GOT HIS REWARD ACCORDINGLY.
      NIGERIA CAN NEVER TRUST NDIGBO, NIGERIA TRIED TO FORGET THE PAST AND TRUSTED NDIGBO COUSINS( GEJ) AND WE WERE ADEQUATELY REWARED FOR THAT WEAKNESSES.
      NEVER AGAIN WILL IT HAPPEN. NEVER.

      • Author’s gravatar

        Son of a weakling…U…The drunk behind your papa hut…Your mama can tell u better…..Hehehehe ?

        • Author’s gravatar

          TRUTH HURT, NDIGBO ARE LIERS, GENERATIONAL LIERS AND CROOKS, AND AN UNREPETANT MANIPULATORS.
          THERE TENDENCIES TO WANT TO BE THE BOSS AND DOMINATE ANYBODY AND EVERYBODY, WITHOUT THE INTELLECTUAL AND PSYCHO-SOCIAL SKILLS TO DO THAT LEAD TO THEIR SECOND CLASS STATUS IN NIGERIA AFFAIRS. UNFORTUNATELY, THE NEWER GENERATIONS THAT SUPPOSE TO KNOW BETTER ARE EVEN WORSE. THAT IS THE REASON I HAD USED THE WORD GENERATIONAL LIERS AND CROOKS. NZEOGWU CLAIM HE WAS FIGHTING FOR NIGERIA INTEREST. HE PLANNED A COUP, HE MURDERED NIGERIANS LEADERS WITH OBVIOUS EXCEPTION OF NDIGBO LEADERS. WHEN CIVIL WAR STARTED, HE RAN AWAY TO BIAFRA, IF HE WANTED NIGERIA UNITY PRIMARILY, HE WOULD HAVE FIGHT ON THE SIDE OF NIGERIA.
          HE WAS MURDERED BY HIS OWN BROTHER OJUKWU, OUT OF RIVALRY AND EGOISM. ARE THOSE THE KIND OF PEOPLE THE WORLD CAN TRUST. NDIGBO CAN NOT BE TRUSTED, THEY DONT EVEN TRUST EACH OTHER, THE REASON WHY THEY ARE PERPETUAL UNDER ACHIEVERS.

    • Author’s gravatar

      They were shedding tears for the Igbos that would soon be murdered by their haters

  • Author’s gravatar

    This stupid Yoruba bigot thinks he is still in the era when the Yorubas used the preponderance of the media in their axis to misinform the other tribes. Thank God he was able to reveal that what prompted the Army to strike was the political strife in the West. He should please also tell us why David Ejoor who led the coup in the East was unable to kill Okpara, Akanu Ibiam and Zik. Did the Igbos barricade him from executing his plans? People like Gowon, OBJ, IBB and even GMB know the truth of what happened but choose to remain quiet to create the wrong impression that the coup leaders who are mainly Igbos killed other tribes and left their own to justify the unwarranted killing of Ironsi and the pogrom against the Igbos in the North that followed. Abandoned Property etc. all acts designed to exterminate the Igbos were unleashed. Yet this idiot have the nerves to talk about two Igbos mourning the death of Balewa and Okotie Eboh. Let him give us the names of non-Igbos that mourned the millions of Igbos that were exterminated in a war that was precipitated by the problems caused by the Yorubas. The good thing is that a lot of Nigerians now know that the problem of this country is the Yorubas and no other tribe. Their cup will soon full.

    • Author’s gravatar

      WHAT STOPS ORIZU FROM ACTIVATING THE PROTECTORATE CLAUSE WITH BRITISH THAT COULD HAVE SUMMARILY END THE BLOOD BATH? EASY,I WILL ANSWER FOR YOU, HE WANT IGBO DOMINATION, HE AND HIS NDIGBO HAD BEEN DREAMING ABOUT IT, AND FINALLY IT ARRIVED.
      HE HAS NO EXCUSE, THE TOTAL NUMBER OF THE MUTINEERS ARE NOT MORE THAN THE TOTAL NUMBER OF NIGERIA ARMY PERSONEL COMBINE WITH BRITISH ARMY. THE NDIGBO CAN CONTINUE TO DEFEND THIER STUPID DECISIONS, IT WILL NEVER HOLD WATER.
      YES, THERE WERE PROBLEM IN THE WEST, THE WEST WAS UNDER STATE OF EMERGENCY, WAS THERE STATE OF EMERGENCY IN THE NORTH, EAST OR MID WEST?
      WHAT EVER HAPPEN TO NDIGBO IN NIGERIA, THEY ARE THE ARCHITECT OF THEIR PROBLEM.

    • Author’s gravatar

      You are an idiot of the highest order.
      You people will never change. You think you are wise.
      You will continue to pay for the innocent people you murdered in the Ibo coup.
      Alugijo coward.

    • Author’s gravatar

      You Alugijo coward bastards.
      Your mad brother Nzeogwu shot Ademulegun’s wife for nothing. What a coward. Even book haram spares women.
      But your blood tasty gene would not let you spare a woman who was not in the military.
      May sorrow be your companion till you perish unfulfilled like your fore-fathers

    • Author’s gravatar

      Think about that. Major David Ejoor that was designated to kill the Eastern Region stalwarts at the time was from Western/Midwest Region. If you ask any Yoruba kid today the region Nzeogwu is from they’ll say Igbo in ignorance. The media gurus will never harp on that. The Igbo’s have the softest human feelings. You can read that in Mbadiwe and the towering General Ironsi. I am telling you they were not thinking about politics at those moments but the pain of their colleagues and the Nation. K. O. Mbadiwe built Kano International Airport during his Aviation Ministry years. Ironsi’s quarters was a hangout for all – Igbo, Youruba, Housa and all. Ask the surviving old hogs who even had a hand in decapitating him. That’s leadership. That’s love of Country. And those are sacrifices at the maximum. For the trepidating Chief Sen., he had the effrontery to have told Ironsi he did not agree with his rendition of the situation. Standing up now to say so is a 50-year irritability and an afterthought. They propagated the Coup as an Igbo one. The truth will be told one day and like you wrote dear ‘McGeorge’ the only line that mattered was “Thank God he(the writer) was able to reveal that what prompted the Army to strike was the political strife in the West.” The errors of the then Western Nigerian Government were strategically manifold and if you want to take count, listen:
      1). The Awo/Akintola feud .
      2). The Western Regional Election Debacle.
      3). The support in scuttling the ABURI ACCORD.
      4). Their continued support of denying the East, reasonable Federal inclusion in development in successive
      Governments they have substantial influence.
      5). Awo’s vaunting ambition and the intrigues to achieve it.
      6). Abdication from realism in National matters which they had, trusted on them to re-align.
      7). Isn’t it time we heard from our brothers in real National terms?

    • Author’s gravatar

      You idiot.The sins of your fore-fathers are already visiting you. Offspring of Ape.
      Half human, half animal.

  • Author’s gravatar

    It obvious and known that the coup was setup to rescue Awo who is held in prison but unfortunately the story turn around in different view

  • Author’s gravatar

    comments from self inflicted Ignorance

  • Author’s gravatar

    you Alugijo Ibo coward are paying for your crimes. You will continue to pay. Even Boko haram has an ideology backing their madness.
    But which Ideology backs the Ibos madness of 1966 killing .
    Nothing. Just sheer Ibo madness of feeling intimidated.