In a groundbreaking revelation from his recent autobiography, former Nigerian military leader Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) has debunked the long-standing claim that the Igbo ethnic group was solely responsible for the infamous January 15, 1966, coup. This historic coup led to the assassination of top northern leaders and ultimately set the stage for the Nigerian Civil War.
Babangida categorically refutes the notion that only Igbo officers orchestrated the coup, highlighting the involvement of key non-Igbo military personnel. He names Major Adebayo, Ademoyegs, Captain Ganiu Adeleke, Lieutenant Fola Oyewole, and Olafimihan—officers who played significant roles yet were not of Igbo descent. In a striking revelation, he emphasizes that John Obienu, an Igbo officer, actively worked to suppress the coup, challenging the narrative that it was an Igbo-led conspiracy against the north.
Shedding light on the real motives behind the coup, Babangida argues that it was not an ethnic-driven plot but rather a political move aimed at securing the release of Chief Obafemi Awolowo from prison and positioning him as Nigeria’s Executive Provisional President. Awolowo, a revered Yoruba leader, was known for his progressive governance ideals, suggesting that the coup had broader political undertones rather than an ethnically motivated agenda.
The former military president acknowledges that the perception of an “Igbo coup” was fueled by the fact that prominent Igbo officers were involved, despite the coup also targeting Igbo leaders. He admits that his understanding of the event was shaped by youthful inexperience at the time, but he has since gained deeper insights into the complex motivations behind the military insurrection.
Recounting his experiences, Babangida recalls leaving London just days after the coup and returning to his reconnaissance unit in Kaduna, where he was met with an atmosphere of palpable tension. “I saw and felt the tension in the air,” he reflects, noting that northern soldiers, mourning their fallen leaders, were also being pressured to retaliate. He describes how a fierce propaganda campaign branded these officers as “cowards” for failing to avenge the assassinations of key figures, including Prime Minister Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa and the Sardauna of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello.
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According to Babangida, the frustration extended beyond military circles, spilling into public discourse. He recounts how wives of northern officers, fueled by media reports, publicly shamed their husbands, even threatening to withhold conjugal rights as punishment for their perceived inaction. This widespread outrage, he argues, further fanned the flames of ethnic division and laid the groundwork for the violent counter-coup that followed in July 1966, ultimately leading to Nigeria’s devastating civil war.
Babangida’s revelations provide a crucial re-examination of one of Nigeria’s most contentious historical events. By dismantling the long-held myth of Igbo culpability, he urges Nigerians to understand the complex interplay of political ambition, military power struggles, and ethnic tensions that shaped the country’s history. As debates over national unity persist, his insights offer a fresh perspective on the need for historical clarity and reconciliation in Nigeria’s journey toward lasting peace.
