USA Africa Dialogue Series - THE TWO COUPS OF 15TH JANUARY 1966

In the early morning of Saturday, 15 January 1966, 51 years ago, a political volcano erupted in Nigeria while citizens were deep asleep. It was not until 12:30 noon that unsuspecting Nigerians were made to be aware of the erupted political volcano when they heard the voice of Major Patrick Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu broadcasting in the name of the Supreme Council of the Revolution of the Nigerian Armed Forces and declaring martial law over the Northern Provinces of Nigeria. At 14:30 noon, Radio Lagos contradicted Nzeogwu's broadcast stating that what happened was a military mutiny and that the GOC and vast majority of the Army were loyal to the Federal government. Nigerians have since been fed with history based on emotion and lies that the coup of 15th January 1966, was unsuccessful and failed because the loyal GOC, Ironsi, quelled, quashed or foiled the coup of the Majors. This dishonest claim paved way for the tragedies that followed the illegal seizure of power by General Ironsi.

The historical distortions and falsifications about the two coups of January 15, 1966, have caused misdirected anger from those who were born after the civil war or were too young during the time of the tragic coups and war. Although the Nigerian Constitution states that appointments in government and parastatals should reflect Federal Characters, in order to give citizens sense of belonging, Nigerian leaders / officials have no sense of belonging to Nigeria, but to Dubai, London, Paris, New York, Washington, Tokyo, Rome, Brussel etc. Distorted history has made it impossible for Nigerians to know that we have the same socio-economic problems to solve. We are indoctrinated to believe that an official represents his/her tribe in office and  that generates a sense of belonging in individuals. Why should someone have sense of belonging with those who steal appropriated funds for collective good? It is because of dishonest and distorted history of events in Nigeria since October 1960 that we are today still confronted with political and economic problems worse than 51 years ago.

The attached is a compressed corrections of the falsified history of the two coups of 15th January 1966  and the following tragedies.

S.Kadiri