Ojukwu declined to support the 1966 coup – Senator Victor Umeh

DDM News

Senator Victor Umeh, representing Anambra Central, has revealed that the late Biafran leader, General Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, rejected the 1966 coup.

During an Arise TV interview, Umeh stated that Ojukwu had a telephone conversation with Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu about the coup, Diaspora digital media (DDM) reports.

According to Umeh, Ojukwu explicitly declined to support the coup and remained committed to the existing military hierarchy.

The 1966 coup was one of Nigeria’s most significant historical events, leading to political instability and a civil war.

It was led by young military officers who claimed they wanted to end corruption and misgovernance in Nigeria.

However, the coup resulted in the assassination of top political and military leaders, mostly from the northern and western regions.

The selective nature of the killings made many Nigerians, especially in the North, believe the coup was an Igbo conspiracy.

For decades, this belief fueled ethnic tensions and contributed to the marginalization of the Igbo people in Nigerian politics.

Senator Umeh argued that historical evidence contradicts this narrative and proves that Ojukwu never supported the coup.

Ojukwu’s position on the 1966 coup

Ojukwu was the commander of the Fifth Battalion in Kano when the coup occurred.

Despite being an Igbo officer, he remained loyal to the Nigerian government and refused to endorse the coup.

Umeh stated that Ojukwu had personal conversations with Nzeogwu but maintained his stance against military intervention in governance.

“At various times, I discussed these matters with him to get the truth,” Umeh explained.

He added that his close relationship with Ojukwu as APGA’s National Chairman allowed him to understand the leader’s true position.

“Ojukwu had a telephone exchange with Major Nzeogwu where he declined to support the coup,” Umeh emphasized.

This statement challenges the long-held perception that all Igbo officers supported the coup.

The coup and Igbo marginalization

Umeh lamented that the coup’s aftermath led to the long-term marginalization of the Igbo people in Nigeria.

“The Igbos of Nigeria have been held in so much contempt with successive administrations,” Umeh said.

He noted that from General Yakubu Gowon’s regime onward, the Igbo were sidelined from national affairs.

Many policies were designed to punish the Igbo for what was perceived as their role in the coup.

However, Umeh argued that not all Igbo people were involved in the coup’s planning or execution.

Several Igbo officers even opposed the coup and played roles in stopping it.

This fact, he said, should encourage Nigerians to reassess their views about the 1966 coup.

IBB’s revelations and national reconciliation

Umeh referenced former President Ibrahim Babangida’s recent revelations about the coup.

He believes Babangida’s account presents an opportunity for Nigeria to embrace national healing.

“We should take advantage of this revelation and the clear statement made by General Babangida,” Umeh said.

Babangida’s book suggests that the coup was not an Igbo-dominated plot but a complex political event.

According to Babangida, some Igbo officers were instrumental in resisting and stopping the coup.

“Major Obienu was credited to be one person who played a very pivotal role in crushing the coup,” Umeh stated.

This contradicts the notion that the coup was an organized Igbo agenda against the rest of Nigeria.

Ojukwu’s resistance to the coup

Further highlighting Ojukwu’s stance, Umeh noted that Ojukwu never disobeyed military hierarchy.

“Ojukwu was a disciplined officer who valued order and structure,” Umeh asserted.

He explained that Ojukwu’s refusal to support the coup was due to his belief in military professionalism.

When the coup was announced, Ojukwu did not acknowledge Nzeogwu’s authority in the northern region.

Instead, he aligned himself with General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi, the highest-ranking military officer at the time.

Ojukwu’s resistance to the coup placed him in direct confrontation with the coup plotters.

Despite this, he was later accused of being part of the problem that led to Nigeria’s civil war.

Rewriting the 1966 coup narrative

Umeh urged Nigerians to reconsider the historical accounts of the coup.

For years, history books and political discourse have framed the coup as an Igbo conspiracy.

However, Umeh argued that the coup was far more complex than this simplistic ethnic explanation.

“The truth is that Nigeria’s history has been largely written from the perspective of the victors,” Umeh stated.

He urged Nigerians to reexamine historical records and separate fact from political propaganda.

By doing so, he believes the country can move forward with a more accurate understanding of its past.

Call for unity and national healing

Umeh emphasized the need for Nigeria to overcome past divisions.

Ethnic mistrust has hindered the country’s progress for decades.

He believes correcting misconceptions about the 1966 coup can help heal old wounds.

“We have spent too much time blaming one another instead of working together,” he said.

For Nigeria to move forward, it must embrace historical truth and foster national reconciliation.

Umeh encouraged historians, researchers, and policymakers to ensure an accurate record of events.

By doing so, he hopes Nigeria can finally achieve lasting peace and unity.

Conclusion

The 1966 coup was a defining moment in Nigeria’s history.

It led to deep political and ethnic divisions that persist today.

Senator Victor Umeh’s revelations challenge the long-held belief that the coup was an Igbo conspiracy.

His account confirms that Ojukwu rejected the coup and remained loyal to the military structure.

With new evidence from Babangida’s book, Nigeria has an opportunity for national reconciliation.

If Nigerians accept historical facts and let go of biases, the country can finally move toward unity.

Reevaluating the 1966 coup with an open mind is a crucial step in Nigeria’s healing process.

For Diaspora Digital Media Updates click on Whatsapp, or Telegram. For eyewitness accounts/ reports/ articles, write to: citizenreports@diasporadigitalmedia.com. Follow us on X (Fomerly Twitter) or Facebook