July 29 is an unforgettable date in Nigeria history. It was a date the country witnessed the overthrow of two military regimes-the first in 1966 and the second in 1975.
It is reflection time today as Nigeria marks the 50th anniversary of July 29, 1966 coup that toppled the regime of late Major General Johnson Aguiyi Ironsi, and 42nd anniversary of the overthrow of his successor, General Yakubu Gowon on July 29 1975.
The 1966 military putsch, which was dubbed counter-coup to Nigeria’s first coup of January 15, 1966, claimed the live of Ironsi and the then military Governor of Western Region, late Lt. Colonel Francis Adekunle Fajuyi, among several others.
Ironsi was only 6 months in power. Conversely,the one that deposed Gowon after being in power for nine years were bloodless.
Ironsi seized power in the ensuing chaos following the January coup and was in Ibadan as part of his reconciliation tour after the first coup which saw the killing of mostly prominent Northern politicians and army officers, when he and Fajuyi were arrested and murdered by a group of mutinous soldiers of Northern extraction.
More to follow…
[George’s print]
