1966 Coup: It Was Unfair That Igbo Coup Plotters Killed Hausa, Yoruba Soldiers – Ademulegun’s Son

Mr. Bankole Ademulegun, the son of Brig Samuel Ademulegun who was killed during the first coup in Nigeria in January, 15 1966 has lashed at the coup plotter who he accused of targeting a particular section of the country. He however expressed delight that a former military officer was at the realm of affairs to set things right.

The coup which was spear headed by Kaduna Nzeogwu and other young Igbo soldiers was tagged as an Igbo coup as it claimed the lives of elite persons from the north and west.

In an interview with The Punch, Ademulegu when asked about whether the coup was an Igbo coup said it was looking at the ethnicity of the coup plotters and the ethnicity of the victims.

READ ALSO: How January 1966 Coup Changed Nigeria

“I think it is an obvious fact. Look at the crop of officers that were eliminated during the first coup. Most of them that were killed were from the northern and western regions. If you wanted a better Nigeria and you thought that some people would prevent you from achieving your aim, why did you pick out core officers and individuals from a section of the country? I feel it was unfair and improper.”

He said the idea that the soldiers were corrupt then was not true as his father had just a single house. He however said he was glad that President Muhammadu Buhari, a former military personnel was in power to right all the wrongs.

“The people that took over wanted a better Nigeria, according to them. But have they been able to achieve a better Nigeria? They were talking about 10 per cent at the time and that politicians were tagged ‘10 percenters’ at the time but is it not worse today? But the only thing that I am happy about is that today, after all the ‘wahala’ (trouble) we have gone through, a soldier is now coming to right the wrongs of Nigeria in civilian uniform. My father was not a politician; he wasn’t taking 10 per cent. When he died he had just one house. So, I don’t know why they snuffed life out of him. They are the ones that can really say why but at the end of the day, all they wanted to achieve, did they achieve it? I really don’t know. You see, the finest officers in Nigeria were just wiped out by that single action which was a misnomer. There could have been better ways to right the wrongs of Nigeria like we are doing today; letting our democracy grow and letting us use our votes to decide whoever should be in charge of our future. The first coup, as adjudged by so many writers, was a one-sided coup.”

You may read the rest of the interview here.

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