IBB Dismisses Claims of 1966 Coup as an “Igbo Coup,” Says Nzeogwu Was “More Hausa” Than Igbo

The former Military Head of State of Nigeria, General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (IBB), challenged the longtime story that the 1966 coup was a “Igbo coup”, arguing that his head , Major Kaduna Nzeogwu, was more culturally aligned with the Hausa people with the Hausa people than with the igbo ethnic group.

In his newly published memories, `a day in service ”, Babangida rejected the idea that the coup was a plan orchestrated by Igbo officers to dominate Nigeria. He pointed out that Nzeogwu, the man in the center of the coup, was raised in Kaduna, spoke commonly about the Hausa and was more assimilated in the culture of the North than the IGBO traditions.

“For example, the chief of conspirators, Major Kaduna Nzeogwu, was only Igbo by name. Born and raised in Kaduna, his immigrant parents came from Okpanam in the state of today’s delta, which, in 1966, was in the old mid-West region.

“Nzeogwu commonly spoke of the Hausa and was as” Hausa “as everything! He and his original team probably thought, even naively, that they could make things go for the best in the country, “he said.

Babangida’s remarks have rekindled conversations on the role of Great Britain in the post-coup crisis, in particular its influence in the labeling of the coup d’etat in January 1966 as an “IGBO coup”. Many historians and commentators say that it was part of British propaganda, largely amplified by the BBC, to justify the role of the British government in the horrible war which followed, which resulted in the death of around three million igbos .

The coup d’etat and the alleged role of Great Britain in Fanning Haine Ethnic

While previous books, such as “Why We Heat” by Major Adewale Admoyega, one of the coup d’etat conspirators, and the first -hand stories of the Nigerian civil war confirmed the history of Babangida, its version should have a significant weight due to its position as former military president. His comments have now recovered attention to how the British government, by controlling the accounts via the BBC, played a role in climbing ethnic divisions in Nigeria.

Many have long argued that the “Igbo Coup” label was a deliberate distortion of events, aimed, among other things, absolutely denounced the British colonial officers of all responsibility in the in -depth political crisis. The coup d’etat, initially drawn by dissatisfaction with political corruption, quickly became an ethnic scapegoat tool, Nigerian leadership supported by British presenting it as a calculated attempt at IGBO officers to seize power.

Bangangida’s account contradicts this widely retained belief, noting that the coup was not only a movement led by IGBO. He stressed that several Non Igbo officers have also played important roles. He also revealed that another IGBO extraction officer, Major John Obienu, had in fact helped crush the coup, contradicting the assertion that all IGBO officers supported the uprising.

“It should also be remembered that some Non Igbo officers, such as Major Adewale Admoyega, Captain Ganiyu Adeleke, LT Pola Oyewole and Olafimihan, participated in the faulty coup. Another IGBO extraction officer, Major John Obienu, crushed the coup, “he said.

He also quoted the murder of LT-COL. Arthur Chinyelu Ungbe, an IGBO officer, by his own “brother”, Major Chris Anuforo, as an additional proof that the coup was not entirely an ethnic conspiracy.

“For example, my former commander of the Reconnaissance Squadron in Kaduna, LT-COL. Arthur Chinyelu Ungbe, was brutally shot down by his own “brother”, Major Chris Anuforo, in the presence of his pregnant wife, in his 7 -point residence in Apapa, to be simply a threat to the revolution. »»

A call for national apologies to igbos

Since the comments of Babangida, many Nigerians have gone to social networks and public forums to demand that the federal government are presenting official apology to the IGBO people for decades of ethnic and marginalization based on false historical stories. Some have also urged Great Britain to recognize its role in the food of war and the atrocities committed against the population of Igbo.

“The whole country should apologize to the IGBO after this revelation # IBBPAGE39,” said a social media commentator named Frank. “Although some of us in the middle belt knew the truth about the coup and the feelings of the reason why it was labeled” igbo coup “, most people from northern and SW really believed this lie and that unconsciously fueled more igbophobia and hatred. “

It is now largely believed that the story of the “igbo coup” was a practical excuse for the ethnic massacres that followed, leading to the Nigerian civil war of 1967-1970. The war is now perceived as in part, a direct consequence of the deep divisions orchestrated by the propaganda supported by British, which sought to maintain control of post-independence affairs of Nigeria.

Ethnic hatred and persistent consequences of the 1966 coup

Even more than five decades after the war, Nigeria has not yet completely recovered from the ethnic divisions sown by the false declaration of the 1966 coup. The revelation of Babangida underlines how the original intention of the coup been twisted in an ethnic conflict, leading to decades of distrust between different groups in Nigeria.

Many analysts believe that the continuous difficulties of Nigeria with ethnic tensions, the political marginalization of IGBO and deep tribal animosities are directly linked to the propaganda stories that have followed the coup. Babangida himself admitted that if the initial intention of the coup could have been patriotic, it was then diverted by those who have ethnic and political agendas.

“From this moment, the putsch was infiltrated by foreigners ” to his alleged intention of origin, and he took an unquestionably ethnic ethnic coloring, aggravated by the fact that there was no ‘Related coup d’etat activities in the Eastern region, “he said.

With Babangida’s latest story, Nigeria is now confronted with the challenge of revisiting its history and confronting uncomfortable truths about how foreign influence and internal propaganda have shaped the country’s trajectory. However, it is not certain that this will lead to formal excuses to igbos or efforts to reconcile and unite the country.