Former Nigerian military ruler Ibrahim Badamasi Babajda (IBB) said that the 1966 coup led by Major Kaduna Nzeogwu was not an Igbo coup, refuting a long time A statement about the racial motivation behind military takeover.
According to Service journeythis coup was not driven by Igbo’s racial interests. The highlight of the book is that Nzeogwu, the head of the coup planner, was the “Ibo name”, but was born and raised in Kaduna, born in Kaduna, fluent Hausa ( Hausa) and met the northern region. It also noted that the coup had initially nationalist intentions and its leaders believed they could reform Nigeria.
Babangida revealed in his book that the main goal of the coup planners was to release Chief Obafemi Awolowo from prison and to appoint him as prime minister. He stressed that officials of different ethnic backgrounds, including non-grace officers such as Major Adewale Ademoyega, Captain Ganiyu Adeleke and Lieutenant Fora Fola Oyewole and Olafimihan further made the claim that it was an Igbodriven coup.
In addition, some senior Igbo officials were also victims of the coup, such as LT-COL. Arthur Chinyelu Unegbe was executed by fellow countryman Chris Anuforo. This further undermines the argument that the coup was intended to serve Igbo’s interests.
Furthermore, Babangida pointed out that the coup was eventually crushed by Major John Obienu, an official extracted by Igbo, strengthened the argument that this was not a national uprising, but a failure of military intervention on specific political goals.
The former leader’s rhetoric challenged the long-standing narrative that the coup was an Igbo-led conspiracy and added historical debates around the 1966 events that led to the Nigerian civil war.
IBB is in the Igbo coup. polite @Paide @afamddeluu @ chudiweets042 pic.twitter.com/ocjkisuadm
-CIA (@inno4chi) February 21, 2025
All of this further emphasizes that the most powerful person in the world is the one who controls your media and information.
“Ibo Coup” is obviously not a substantial reality – it is a story invented out of thin air and is subject to the usual suspects of interest… https://t.co/qnpf2a7srg
– David Hundeyin (@davidhundeyin) February 21, 2025
Igbo coup? IBB clears the air.
Don’t say anything. Just forward! 🥺 pic.twitter.com/noyb9zt4pf
– Igbohistofs History and Facts (@igbohistofs) February 21, 2025
So after all, nothing like the “Ibo Coup”
IBB said in his book that the “Ibo Coup” is a false narrative.Nigeria’s injustice against Igbo is enough.
To this day, they have blocked an Igbo president based on lies.
Enough. pic.twitter.com/yolckwihx8– Hover Ibrahim (@thekerahibrahim) February 21, 2025
With all these revelations, it makes senselessly appeal to the hatred of Ibos from those who are not yet ready to repent. Ojukwu said in his book “There is a country” that now IBB says the same thing in his book.
This has never been an Igbo coup. pic.twitter.com/sdknvwvouf– bcn (@bekechindu) February 21, 2025
