Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, representing Abia Central Senatorial District, has urged former Military Head of State General Yakubu Gowon to write a memoir, detailing his firsthand account of the pivotal 1966 coup led by Major Kaduna Nzeogwu.
The aftermath of the infamous coup, often labeled an "Igbo coup" by some citizens, continues to stir debate across the nation.
This appeal comes in light of revelations from another former Head of State, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB), whose recently published autobiography presents his interpretation of the events surrounding the bloody coup.
IBB’s account challenges the longstanding narrative suggesting that the coup was predominantly executed by officers of Igbo descent, who allegedly targeted leaders of other major ethnic groups.
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Babangida posits that while Nzeogwu was of Igbo origin, he was raised in Kaduna, spoke fluent Hausa, and aligned more closely with the northern region.
He characterizes Nzeogwu as “Hausa in character,” undermining the notion that the coup was orchestrated to advantage the Igbo.
Abaribe challenges Gowon on the 1966 coup
In response to inquiries about the controversy ignited by IBB’s book, Abaribe addressed the media during a press conference on Thursday, February 27, 2025, in anticipation of his 70th birthday celebration.
The Senator criticized several assertions made by Babangida, particularly those aimed at absolving himself of contentious decisions made during his leadership.
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Abaribe, a former Minority Leader in the Senate, contended that labeling the 1966 coup as an “Igbo coup” was a calculated effort to malign the Igbo community.
“Throughout Nigeria’s history, they always use the Igbo head to break the coconut,” the lawmaker lamented.
He called on Gowon to provide a more accurate historical narrative regarding the events leading to and during the Nigerian Civil War, emphasizing the necessity for a fair and united Nigeria, where all ethnic groups are respected.
“We are still waiting for General Gowon’s book, as he was a central figure in those events. He possesses crucial information that Nigerians need,” Abaribe stated.
