Soldiers Overthrow Politicians; The Tactless Rule of Maj-Gen. Ironsi
In
January 1966, a clique of army officers mainly from the Ibo tribe (and
led by Maj. Patrick Nzeogwu) staged a military coup, and hastily
assassinated Premier Balewa, Sir Ahmadu Bello (Northern Premier), Chief
Akintola (Western Premier), and many Northern and Western army
officers.
The coup-makers also captured the cities of Lagos (federal
capital), Ibadan (Western capital), Kaduna (Northern capital), and
Enugu (Eastern capital). But alas Ibo politicians were not killed.
Fortunately, a good number of Ibo officers did not support the coup.
Maj.Gen. Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi (army boss and an Ibo) rallied the rest
of the army and swiftly defeated the rebels.
Maj-Gen. Ironsi, who had started his military career as a private with
little education became the ruler of Nigeria by chance. At first,
Ironsi placated the North by appointing Maj. Katsina Military Governor
of the North, and Lt Col. Yakubu Gowon (a Christian from the Northern
minority Angas tribe) became Army Chief-of-Staff. Ironsi also did not
release the imprisoned anti-Northern Chief Awolowo.
Ironsi's rule lasted only some six months. He was overthrown and killed
by the officers and men from the North for the following reasons:
1. He had issued a decree abolishing the regions and thus creating a
unitary Nigeria. The less educated Northerners saw the decree as a
deliberate move to entrench domination by the well-educated Ibos;
2. With the advice of a clique of Ibo tribesmen, Ironsi had delayed the
trial of the Ibo army officers who had killed Northern officers and
politicians.
3. Furthermore, the Ibos living in the North openly praised those yet
untried Ibo officers, and talked of Ibo superiority in the entire
Nigeria. Ironsi, on his part, did nothing to discourage those divisive
Ibos;
4. Much against the advice of his military cabinet, Ironsi promoted
rather too many Ibos into senior military posts, and increased the
enlistment of Ibo privates. He also drastically reduced the enlistment
of Northern privates.
National Movements and New States in Africa