Former Nigerian Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, has categorically denied having any prior knowledge of the 1966 counter-coup that led to the overthrow and assassination of General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi.
Speaking during an interview with Arise News on Wednesday, Gowon revealed that he only became aware of the mutiny in the early hours through phone calls alerting him to the unfolding situation in Abeokuta.
"By the time I got the government house telephone, something had already happened. The instructions I left were that Gen. Aguiyi-Ironsi should be taken to a safe place until we were able to address the instrumentation that had already started, but he was unfortunately assassinated by then," Gowon explained.
The Unexpected Rise to Power
Gowon recounted the chaotic period following the July 1966 counter-coup and how he unexpectedly found himself assuming leadership of a deeply fractured nation. The coup, which was largely carried out by northern officers, was in retaliation for the January 1966 coup led predominantly by officers of eastern Nigerian origin.
This revelation comes amid ongoing discussions about Nigeria's turbulent political history and the events that eventually led to the Nigerian Civil War (1967-1970). Gowon, who has previously stated that he "was not prepared to rule Nigeria" and that he "wasn't trained to rule," found himself thrust into leadership during one of the most volatile periods in the country's history.
The former Head of State has consistently maintained that the Biafra civil war "was not my choice" and that he "never wanted the Biafra civil war to be against Igbos," emphasizing that he had given specific orders to soldiers regarding conduct during the conflict.
Gowon's statements come at a time when various groups, including an Igbo women's organization, have called on him to provide clarity on the events surrounding the 1966 coup and its aftermath, which remain contentious aspects of Nigeria's history.
The July 1966 counter-coup not only resulted in the death of General Aguiyi-Ironsi but also claimed the lives of several other military officers and sparked a chain of events that deepened regional tensions in the country.
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