I have read many texts about the coup and the subsequent massacre of Igbos. Nothing in this article is new to me (except the sierra leonian lineage of Ironsi) but I appreciate the author\'s attempt to present same facts in a different light-taking no sides. The three regions of Nigeria see the coup in different perspective. Most older generations see it as an Igbo coup. Younger generations are beginning to read this episode of our national history from different writers and I only hope they understand that coups for whatever reasons set a country backwards. But then again, when our leaders forbid peaceful transition of govt. through a free and fair elections, they force a violent take-over of the reins of govt by a gang of greedy, ill-educated, unethical violators of a constitution all in the name of fighting for the general masses.

If this coup had succeeded in installing Chief Awolowo as Prime Minister, I wonder how Nigeria would be today. That question can never be answered I suppose.


I will still make commentaries especially on the Igbo of the Midwest after the part 2 of this article.