Military Formation: Background
Military Rank
The army is divided into 3 part
- The Enlisted Ranks (Non-Commissioned Officers - NCOs): These ranks consist of soldiers who perform frontline tasks and gradually take on leadership roles.
- Commissioned Officer Ranks: These are leadership and command roles
- General Officer Ranks: These are high-level strategic leaders.
Chapter 1 - 6: Nigeria Coup
Nigeria’s problems likely began with the January 1966 coup, but the subsequent events exacerbated the situation. The military, which initially gained control of the disgruntled soldiers who carried out the coup, could have managed the aftermath.
One of the key issues was the ineptitude of those entrusted with the government after the coup in persecuting the coup operators. Additionally, Agu Ironshi’s Unification Decree, intended for administrative ease, further angered the Northern Region. The region, already dissatisfied with the killings of most of its leaders in the recent coup, saw the decree as an attempt to impose the Igbo agenda on the North.
Chapter 7: The Army Implodes
Introduction
In the context of Nigeria's turbulent political landscape during the mid-20th century, while the broader Nigerian populace grew increasingly disillusioned with politicians, likely supporting a hypothetical referendum to stop the executions during the coup, the Northerners were largely indifferent to the political debates of the time.
Their focus was on the aftermath of the January 1966 coup, which saw the assassination of several key Northern leaders and military personnel. This fueled a sense of betrayal among the Northerners, who revered their leaders and were troubled by the specific targeting and execution of their regional leaders and soldiers, leading to questions about the motives behind these actions and exacerbating regional tensions.
4th Battalion army commander
The 4th Battalion army commander, a Northerner, was among those who were killed during the coup, and the Aguiyi Ironshi was insensitive to the hypocrisy, and still send a Igbo commander to head this unit. Following this, most of the officers in the formation showed high level of indiscipline, and not until the removal of the commander. Still, this unit can be considered as a starting point of taking arms again against the General!
Reshuffling the Pack
Part of the strategy adopted was to reshuffle the army and replace those officers who had been killed in the coup. Despite the Aguiyi preference to favor the Northern in view of placating them, the number of available officers from the Eastern part still outnumber the Northern. This is no fault of anyone because most of the available senior officers who can be considered for a senior commanders were Eastern, and a few from the West.
Telling Tales
As much as the situation is getting worse in the country, Aguiyi did not provide explanations when it is most needed. This triggered people opinions and ideology that the coup was Igbo agenda to cleanse the Northern from the Army. Though it is revealed that some Northerners and Yoruba gave support to the Coup plotters, but it is inabilities of the government to sell its own propaganda to curtail what people insinuating that cause further unrest in the country. The Yoruba were more of satisfied with the outcome of the coup because the deposed government had imprisoned their leader; Awolowo, and imposed Akintola on them.
CHAPTER 9: MUTINEERS IN POWER
OGUNDIPE DISTRESS
Following the killing of Aguiyi, Ogundipe was saddled with the responsibility to take charge as the most senior officer in the country. He took the challenge head on and immediately declared the affected areas (Ibadan, Ikeja, and Abeokuta) as military restricted zones, imposing a curfew from 6pm. In an effort to find a solution and communicate with the soldiers carrying out these activities, he sent Gowon to appeal to them. However, Gowon discovered that the operation was being led by Northerners.
Following the information reaching Ojukwu in Asaba of the killing of the Igbo, he contacted Ogundipe of the update on the matter, and in which Ogundipe assured him of the control of the issues. In addition, Ogundipe relay the message from the Northern that they want to succeed.
It is surprising to know that the idea of succession came from the Northern first, unlike the information we heard about the event. Their action was not just a threat without substance but they gave all the civil servant working out the Northern area to return home, thereafter, they vowed in destroying all the federal authority symbol in the region.
A THREE DAY DEBATE IN LAGOS JULY 29 - 31 1966
Sending of Gowon to the Northern region did not bring any chance of those solders clamoring for succession to drop their ideas, instead, their leader; Murtala Muhammad was very strong in his argument that the Igbo had murder their leaders, thus, it is unsafe for them to stay in the Nigeria together as one. Following this development, a meeting was arranged between the Murtala, Gowon, and the head of police in view of understanding their claim and advising them to drop their ill-fated claim.
THE ROLE OF CIVIL SERVANT
Ogundipe was relent to assume to the power because of two reasons. First is the support of the other officers who has not accepted him as the leader, and secondly, he needs a legal advise to replace Aguiyi-Ironsi. Thus, Nigeria was without a head of state at a second time. First was when Prime Minister was killed and nobody’s knows his whereabouts until the other officers asked Aguiyi to take charge. Secondly is this instance because the existing Decree that supersedes the constitution did not make provision for the lacuna that the immediate chief of staff would succeed the head of army.
The civil servant visitation to the IKEJA barracks was to asked the intrusive questions of what is their fate of the current government. Head of government have always had their interests, and it is behold on you to find out what is that interest, because without alignment of interest, you will be the subject of crush. Knowing this imbalance of power, the civil took the initiative to align themselves with the government by initiating the move to ask question.
The Ogundipe indifferent to assume power might be informed from what had happened to Aguiyi Ironsi. He has tactically studied the context of his emergence being the next president in view of Northern aggressive for succession, and nothing would give them the re-assurance of wanting to remain in Nigeria again, except with a Northen president.
The emergence and endorsement of Gowon as the next president was a factor of the Northern solder demand for succession, and Ogundipe would not have play a good role in placating them. Though, Ojukwu wanted Ogundipe to become the next president but the tense situation has kept that unfulfilled. Following the declarations and adoption of Gowon as the President by SMC, Ojukwu did not hide his feelings on the outcome, and showed not support for Gowon adoption. This created a new wave of issues between the Northern and the Igbo.
AUGUST 1, 1966 - GOOD OLD JACK
Gowon emerged as the president following his general adoption. Though Ogundipe did not agree with this and felt betrayed by Gowon, the fact remains that if Ogundipe had become the next president, it would have prevented what later happened after making Gowon the president.