• Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Education
  • Health
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy Policy
Friday, August 15, 2025
  • Login
No Result
View All Result
NEWSLETTER
Elanza News
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Education
  • Health
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy Policy
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Education
  • Health
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy Policy
No Result
View All Result
Elanza News
Home National

NIGERIAN CIVIL WAR…Northerners First Mooted Secession Idea – IBB

Says it’s depressing fighting Comrades-in-arms

Ojimaojo Abubakar by Ojimaojo Abubakar
February 23, 2025
in National, News
0
Why Gowon Created First 12 States – IBB
0
SHARES
8
VIEWS
FacebookTwitterWhatsappEmailTelegram

…Explains Gowon’s emergence as C-in-C after Aguiyi-Ironsi,
Fajuyi’s disappearance

Former Nigerian Head of State, General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (IBB), has said that Northerners first mooted the idea of secession.

According to IBB, after the disappearance of Aguiyi-Ironsi and Adekunle Fajuyi, Brigadier Babafemi Ogundipe sent Lt-Colonel Yakubu Gowon to the Ikeja cantonment to appeal to a group of headstrong northern officers led by Lt-Colonel Murtala Muhammed, along with Majors Shittu Alao, Musa Usman, and Captain Joe Garba, who were spoiling for a fight and even toying with the idea of secession.

RelatedPosts

Christian Youth Forum Clears Fatoyinbo Of Insulting Apostle Babalola

Bandit kingpin, Turji, Has Yet to Surrender to Military, Says DHQ

Peter Mbah, Alex Otti, Babagana Zulum: Redefining Leadership In A Nation Torn To Nought By Sycophancy And Debauchery

IBB recounted the painful realities of the Nigerian Civil War and described the conflict as a test of leadership and loyalty.

He disclosed this in his newly launched memoir, “A Journey In Service,” unveiled last Thursday in Abuja.

IBB reflected on his experiences as a young military officer during one of the country’s most turbulent periods.

In the book, the former Nigerian military leader describes the emotional turmoil of fighting against former comrades who had become adversaries due to the war.

“There I was, determined to fight to keep the country united. But I also knew that across from us, on the other side, were people we had trained with, lived with, socialised with, and bonded with as comrades-in-arms but who were now our ‘enemies’. It was painful. But I knew it was a job I had to do,” he wrote.

ALSO READ:  INEC Announces New Dates For 2023 Elections

Babangida also highlights the leadership qualities required during the war, stating that soldiers needed an officer to lead from the front.

“The soldiers wanted an officer who would tell them: ‘Follow me; let’s go.’ And they would follow. No officer who lacked courage or conviction could be effective in the situation before us, particularly as the fighting men believed they were fighting for a just cause—to keep the country united,” he said.

The book described the challenge of leading attacks and executing battlefield manoeuvres while managing troops, including ex-servicemen with outdated combat experience.

“We had a few ex-servicemen who were unable to handle sophisticated weapons. But we needed to retrain them and, in doing so, prove that we could handle the same weapons and face the enemy as much as they could,” he explained.

From pages 62-64, the book also explores the events leading up to the war, including the military coups of 1966 and the political crisis that followed.

The former Head of State recounts how the killings and unrest led to mass displacement, with around 50,000 Igbos fleeing northern Nigeria by July 1966.

The memoir provides a detailed account of the behind-the-scenes negotiations that saw Lt-Colonel Yakubu Gowon emerge as Nigeria’s Head of State in August 1966, following intense discussions involving top civil servants and foreign diplomats.

He explained that the build-up to that painful situation began earlier. After the Head of State, General Aguiyi-Ironsi, and Lt-Colonel Adekunle Fajuyi were abducted by rampaging soldiers in the early hours of 29 July 1966 in Ibadan and taken away, the country was left without a government for three days.

ALSO READ:  Gov Lawal commiserates with Gummi flood victims

“Between 29 and 31 July, when their whereabouts remained unknown, an atmosphere of uncertainty enveloped the country.

“Brigadier Babafemi Ogundipe, then the most senior military officer after Aguiyi-Ironsi and considered in some quarters as the ‘natural’ successor to him, broadcasted on the afternoon of 29 July 1966, calling for public cooperation in the government’s efforts to restore law and order.

“In an attempt to further restore calm, Brigadier Ogundipe sent Lt-Colonel Yakubu Gowon to the Ikeja cantonment to appeal to a group of headstrong northern officers led by Lt-Colonel Murtala Muhammed, along with Majors Shittu Alao, Musa Usman, and Captain Joe Garba, who were spoiling for a fight and even toying with the idea of secession. However, those efforts did not yield results.”

 

Tags: Civil war
Ojimaojo Abubakar

Ojimaojo Abubakar

Abubakar Ojimaojo is a graduate of Mass Communication, political and football analyst currently work at elanzanews.ng as Editor. He pride himself as skilled wordsmith with a passion for delving into contemporary political issues on both national and international scale.

Related Posts

Christian Youth Forum Clears Fatoyinbo Of Insulting Apostle Babalola

Christian Youth Forum Clears Fatoyinbo Of Insulting Apostle Babalola

by Ojimaojo Abubakar
August 14, 2025
0

The Concerned Christian Youth Forum (CCYF) has dismissed claims that Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo of the Commonwealth Zion Assembly (COZA) insulted...

Bandit kingpin, Turji, Has Yet to Surrender to Military, Says DHQ

Bandit kingpin, Turji, Has Yet to Surrender to Military, Says DHQ

by Nathaniel Irobi
August 14, 2025
0

The Defence Headquarters has dismissed the reports that the bandit kingpin, Bello Turji, has surrendered to the military. The Director...

Peter Mbah, Alex Otti, Babagana Zulum: Redefining Leadership In A Nation Torn To Nought By Sycophancy And Debauchery

Peter Mbah, Alex Otti, Babagana Zulum: Redefining Leadership In A Nation Torn To Nought By Sycophancy And Debauchery

by Nathaniel Irobi
August 14, 2025
0

I cannot resist much longer the urge to intervene in the serious discussion on the way forward for our nation....

Recommended

How NDLEA arrested wanted drug baron 17 years after – Marwa

Marwa Advocates Collective Action Against Drug Dealers, Cultists, Bandits

5 days ago
As INEC Resumes CVR, Urges New Voters To Register

As INEC Resumes CVR, Urges New Voters To Register

15 hours ago

Popular News

  • Cross River State Triumphs at Prestigious All-women Interstate Debate

    Cross River State Triumphs at Prestigious All-women Interstate Debate

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Sokoto GBV RT Demands Immediate Justice For Brutalized 14 Year Old Bashariya 

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • BRGIE Acting Prime Minister Provides Explosive Testimony to U.S. Congress Calling For Release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu & Simon Ekpa

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Haske: The Rise Of A New Movement

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Rahila Bags Presidential’s NYSC Honours Award For Community Service

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

Connect with us

Facebook Instagram Twitter Youtube
Elanza logo

Elanza News is your NO 1 online platform for all news update.
#SayNoToFakeNews
Contact Us

Category

  • Arts & Literature (25)
  • Business (760)
  • Education (222)
  • Entertainment (314)
  • Health (200)
  • National (2,302)
  • News (8,531)
  • Opinion (313)
  • Politics (1,679)
  • Science (15)
  • Security (407)
  • Sports (462)

Newsletter

© 2023 Elanza News - The No 1 online news platform

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Science
  • National
  • Entertainment
  • Sports
  • Health

© 2023 Elanza News - The No 1 online news platform