Radio broadcast by major chukwuma kaduna nzeogwu announcing nigerias first military coup on radio nigeria, kaduna on january 15, 1966 culled from vanguard newspaper on september 30, 2010 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. However, even in countries with coupfriendly institutions, military offi cers. According to reports, the planning of this coup began a year earlier. History of military rule in nigeria pdf summary yes, i know youd want to keep this for offline use, so weve created the military rule in nigeria pdf file.
The constitution is suspended and the regional government and elected assemblies are. The first military coup in nigeria and how it changed the. History of coup detat in nigeria the first coup in nigeria on january 15, 1966, chukwuma kaduna nzeogwu led the first evermilitary coup in nigeria that led to the death of sir ahmadu bello, the sardauna of sokoto and premier of northern nigeria, chief s. Wars, conflicts, and coups of nigeria the history guy. In the early hours of january 15, 1966, citing a laundry list of complaints against the political class, there was a military rebellion in nigeria against the first republic. Growth of military statesas late as 1961 the african image had not been tarnished to any great extent by the incidence of military coups. I would not like to dwell so much on the past as it is very speculative.
Since leaving the military, momah has spent most of his time writing books on the. The inside story of nigerias first military coup i. Army command and general staff college in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree master of military art and science general studies by fredrick c. The rivers state governor, rotimi amaechi, on wednesday traced nigerias problems to the 1966 military coup which he said derailed federalism and replaced it. The military succeeded in the aspect of creating new states and local councils. History of coup detat in nigeria the first coup in nigeria on january 15, 1966, chukwuma kaduna nzeogwu led the first ever military coup in nigeria that led to the death of sir ahmadu bello, the sardauna of sokoto and premier of northern nigeria, chief s.
Civil defence recruitment past questions and answers pdf download. Military coups in africathe african neocolonialism that. However the actions and motivation of the principal actors has been the subject of misintepretation over the years. The country was at its infantile stage and was still trying to adapt to. Military and politics in nigeria the group of army officers involved in the military take over of janua ry 15, 1966, consisted of mostly southeastern igbo officers including major chukuma kaduna. In this interview, he blames the entire problems of nigeria on the three military coup detats of 1966, 1975 and 1983, as he forecasts that getting out of the current economic recession may not. Nigeria the 1966 coups, civil war, and gowons government. Nzeogwu and major ifeajuna, who were backed by other ibo officers. The impact of military coup detat on political development in nigeria olorungbemi simeon toyin ph. Mar 29, 2009 history of coup detat in nigeria the first coup in nigeria on january 15, 1966, chukwuma kaduna nzeogwu led the first evermilitary coup in nigeria that led to the death of sir ahmadu bello, the sardauna of sokoto and premier of northern nigeria, chief s. The 1966 coups, civil war, and gowons government nigeria table of contents by the time a disparate group of junior officers struck first in january 1966, the officers were still politically naive and had yet to master the art of coup planning and execution. Military coup, also known as, coups detat or coup detats, is usually a violent overthrow of an existing government by the military. Major chukwuma kaduna nzeogwu, made in an interview with dennis ejindu africa and the world may 1967 after the coup.
First, as predicted by my model, nigeria saw coups both against poorly performing. May 23, 2006 military rule commenced in nigeria on january 15, 1966 when a military coup detat led by an army major, chukwuma nzeogwu, overthrew the government of prime minister abubakar tafawa balewa. Even if the coup, was not completely successful, it laid the groundwork for later coups and counter coups in nigeria. It stretched through the shortlived regime of majorgenera. History of democracy in nigeria and when did nigeria became a. Ethnic and religious clashes have continued in africas most densely populated nation. The 1966 nigerian coup detat began on 15 january 1966, when mutinous nigerian soldiers led by chukwuma kaduna nzeogwu and emmanuel ifeajuna killed 22 people including the prime minister of nigeria, many senior politicians, many senior army officers including their wives, and sentinels on protective duty. Nigeria s first military junta began following the 1966 nigerian coup detat which overthrew prime minister alhaji sir abubakar tafawa balewa. Radio broadcast by major chukwuma kaduna nzeogwu announcing nigerias first military coup on radio nigeria, kaduna on january 15, 1966. The coup plotters attacked the cities of kaduna, ibadan, and lagos while also.
A military coup is the violent or nonviolent overthrow of an existing political regime by the military. Sam momah, a retired major general, served as minister of science and technology during the military regime which terminated in 1999. Aguiyiironsi speaking at the first press conference of the nigerian military regime established after the overthrow of the civilian government in january 1966. You said something about the first coup detat in nigeria as having some kind of negative impact on the army. Not many realize that several officers of northern origin took part in nigerias first military coup. Top 8 facts about the first military coup in nigeria. It was then possible to restore the democratic model for a couple of years in 1978. Nigeria gained independence on the first of october, 1960.
Rather, it all began in the early hours of january 15, 1966 when chukwuma kaduna nzeogwu conspired with four other majors to strike. The inside story of nigerias first military coup part 1. The coup plotters attacked kaduna, ibadan and lagos and blockaded the niger and benue rivers over a period of two days before they were eventually subdued. The balewa led administration could not help matters and the young military boys felt they will do better. Without fail, nigerian infopedia presents to you, top 8 facts about the first military coup in nigeria that you might be unaware of. The civil war then broke out in 1967 and lasted all through 1970. Nigerian coup of 1966 january 15, 1966the first of two military coups in 1966 was carried out primarily by ethnic ibo officers the ibo are an ethnic group in southern nigeria, including major k. Nigeria, july 2008 2 of slaves flowed north across the sahara for a millennium, ending only at the beginning of the twentieth century. 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. Civil defence recruitment past questions and answers pdf.
How 1966, 1975 and 1983 military coups destroyed nigeria. Military rule commenced in nigeria on january 15, 1966 when a military coup detat led by an army major, chukwuma nzeogwu, overthrew the government of prime minister abubakar tafawa balewa. Togo was the first country in west africa to experience a military coup when on january 1963 togolese soldiers, recently demobilised from the french colonial armies and facing unemployment as a result of refusal of their applications to join the miniscule togolese army, staged an armed coup that led to the assassination of president. The coup was carried out by young officers in the nigerian army, and it was also a boldly one, making it the first bloody coup in the history of the country. The history of coup detat in nigeria it is all about the. Nigeria has therefore been governed for a longer period over thirty years of her independence by the military. We know of course that he was one of the major brains behind the first military coup in nigeria which engendered so many deaths, massacres, horrors, including the. Coupfriendly institutions and apolitical militaries. Although 50 years have passed since the first coup in nigeria was staged, its legacy haunts the country even today. Nigerian military juntas of 196679 and 198399 wikipedia. Between 1966 and 1999 the army held power in nigeria without interruption apart from a shortlived return to democracy between 19791983.
Jan 15, 2016 the fiftieth anniversary of nigerias first military coup. The inside story of nigerias first military coup 2. This account in all honesty does justice to it, it can be said to be laced with personal bias but in goes a long way in throwing light on certain issues that would been distorted. The source of this myth is the we were five in number comment, which the coups most visible, participant. The impact of military coup detat on political development in nigeria. But these aborted plots, as declared by the last two military administrations, did not herald the introduction of coup making in nigerias political lexicon. Although what is today known as the armed forces were called constabularies. We all know that nigerias first military coup took place on january 15 1966. Ltcol anthony nyiam retd is one of the few surviving men, who staged a coup against the regime of former military president, gen. Nigerias first military junta began following the 1966 nigerian coup detat which overthrew prime minister alhaji sir abubakar tafawa balewa. If there was no coup detat in 1966, where do you think nigeria would have been now. Jan 15, 2009 today is january 15 2009, the 43rd anniversary of nigeria s first military coup on january 15, 1966.
History of democracy in nigeria and when did nigeria. The inside story of nigerias first military coup part 1 editor apr 27, 20 9. First, in april, 1990, when the civilianization process was fully. Nigeria is complex, understanding its history and events that led up to the first coup and subsequently the civil war is mind boggling. Instead, major general johnson aguiyi ironsi, commander in chief of the army, became nigerias first military ruler. Nov 20, 2017 the first military coup in nigeria took place on january 15, 1966. This coup was led by major kaduna nzeogwu and his cohort. Major patrick chukwuma kaduna nzeogwu19371967was an infantry and intelligence officer of the nigerian army, led nigerias 1st military coup on 15th january 1966. In short, the 1965 western nigerian imbroglio was the real cause. T he inside story of nigerias first military coup part 1. The first military intervention in nigeria occurred in january 1966 when the civilian government was overthrown in a military coup.
Military coups and military regimes in africa scientia. Indeed, a field study tour conducted in 1960 1 the year of independence as it has been called to investigate the place of the armed forces in societies in africa did not provide the evidence on which to forecast the eventual spate of coups. To commemorate this anniversary i have reproduced the full text of the famous radio broadcast made by major chukwuma kaduna nzeogwu announcing the coup in nigeria s northern region. Continue reading to know more interesting facts about the first military coup in. The western region crisis led to ibo soldiers killing other regional leaders and sparing theirs.
Unfortunately the military struck in january 16 1966 and ruled the country for over 30 years. This book is a collection of past test questions and supplied answers for the nigerian security and civil defence corps nscdc service from. Nigeria is a nation of vast human and natural resource potential that has experienced. D student of political science at the department of political science university of ibadan ibadan, nigeria abstract the military is not by inclination trained to rule, but to defend.
The crisis in the then western nigeria led the first coup. Dec 07, 2006 not many realize that several officers of northern origin took part in nigeria s first military coup. Other states also had records of predatory attacks by their military forces. The person in power at that time was president nnamdi azikiwe, while tafawa balewa was the prime minister.
A special feature on the 50th anniversary of nigerias first military coup, aired on television continental tvc a special feature on the 50th anniversary of. In the same year, 1966, major general yakubu gowon led what was called a countercoup to overthrow the earlier coup plotters. Akintola, the premier of western region, sir abubakar tafawa balewa, prime minister of. Jun 16, 2015 in the early hours of january 15, 1966, citing a laundry list of complaints against the political class, there was a military rebellion in nigeria against the first republic. The nigerian press and the first republic military coups and press. After nigeria gained independence in the year 1960, the country experienced its first military coup in the year 1966. The fiftieth anniversary of nigerias first military coup. Speech by major kaduna nzeogwu announcing the first coup of. Military rule in nigeria first started on january 15, 1966, when a group or army officers overthrew the npcnndp government and killed many of the countrys political rulers. Some of the remote causes of the coup included the use of soldiers to quell unrest, such as the riots among the tiv people of the lower northern region, and calls on the. Republished in 2012 by the ruth first papers project. This was the first attempt aimed at evolving the nigerian military. Feb 27, 20 radio broadcast by major chukwuma kaduna nzeogwu announcing nigerias first military coup on radio nigeria, kaduna on january 15, 1966 major patrick chukwuma kaduna nzeogwu19371967was an infantry and intelligence officer of the nigerian army, led nigerias 1st military coup on 15th january 1966.
Jan 30, 2016 a special feature on the 50th anniversary of nigeria s first military coup, aired on television continental tvc a special feature on the 50th anniversary of nigeria s first military coup, aired. Between 1966 and 1999 the army held power in nigeria without interruption apart from a short. Speech by major kaduna nzeogwu announcing the first coup. The first military coup in nigeria took place on the 15th of january, 1966, it has strongly influenced the life of nigerians in every area of life. The nigerian military juntas of 196679 and 198399 were a pair of military dictatorships in nigeria that were led by the nigerian armed forces, having a chairman or president in charge. Today is january 15 2009, the 43rd anniversary of nigerias first military coup on january 15, 1966. To commemorate this anniversary i have reproduced the full text of the famous radio broadcast made by major chukwuma kaduna nzeogwu announcing the coup in nigerias northern region. The military history of nigeria since the colonial rule began precisely on the 1 st october 1966. Anniversary of nigerias first military coup nigerian. First military coup halted nigerias development momah.
D in strategic studies, he was categorized among the emerging generation of intellectuals in the nigerian military. It is also interesting to note that the first colonial governor general, lord lugard was a british soldier. Below is major chukwuma kaduna nzeogwus speech announcing the first military coup in nigeria on january 15, 1966. The igbo coup tag attached to the majors assault ignores the fact that scores of northern officers took part in the lagos operations, and even assisted nzeogwu when he stormed the residence of the northern regions premier. Akintola, the premier of western region, sir abubakar tafawa balewa, prime minister of nigeria, chief festus okotieeboh, federal. The political unrest during the mid1960s culminated into nigerias first military coup detat.
Power seized in armed coup jump to media player by the end of 1983, the civilian government in nigeria was overthrown by a military coup led by majorgeneral muhammadu buhari. One enduring myth is that nigerias first military coup was carried out by five igbo majors. The impact of military coup detat on political development. Within nigeria, slavery was widespread and bore social implications that are still evident.
Kaduna nzeogwu on this day january 15, 54 years ago 1966, five army majors and accomplices of the nigerian military read more. In the quest for power and control of the nigerian state, there arose a group of young soldiers in the nigerian army who were not satisfied about how the affairs of the country was run and sought to correct the system. Oct 01, 2016 in this interview, he blames the entire problems of nigeria on the three military coup detats of 1966, 1975 and 1983, as he forecasts that getting out of the current economic recession may not. On 15 january 1966, major chukwuma kaduna nzeogwu and his fellow rebel soldiers most of who were of southern extraction and were led by major emmanuel ifeajuna of the nigerian army, executed a bloody takeover of all institutions of government. The history of coup detat in nigeria it is all about. Library of congress federal research division country profile. For example the first military coup detat in nigeria was in january of 1966, approximately six years after the nation gained her independence. There have been a large number of successful and failed military coups in nigeria since the countrys independence from the british empire in 1960. The conspirators killed prime minister alhaji abubakar tafawa balewa, who. First military coup bane of nigerias problems amaechi. Nnamdi azikiwe and nigerias first military coup youtube. Since the first military coup in january 1966, a number of questions on the role and place of the military in nigeria have been raised1. This post is about the first ever military coup in nigeria.
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