VIDEO: Background and politics of the first Nigerian coup
On January 15, 1966, Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu led the first ever-military coup in Nigeria, and it's exactly 50 years today since the military system of government was first introduced into Nigeria.
Watch a rare video interview by Kaduna Nzeogwu below..
We remember the epic event in Nigeria's history with Major Kaduna Nzeogwu's coup speech
Excerpts of Major Nzeogwu’s coup speech below...
My dear countrymen, no citizen should have anything to fear, so long as that citizen is law abiding and if that citizen has religiously obeyed the native laws of the country and those set down in every heart and conscience since 1st October, 1960.
Our enemies are the political profiteers, the swindlers, the men in high and low places that seek bribes and demand 10 per cent; those that seek to keep the country divided permanently so that they can remain in office as ministers or VIPs at least, the tribalists, the nepotists, those that make the country look big for nothing before international circles, those that have corrupted our society and put the Nigerian political calendar back by their words and deeds.
Like good soldiers we are not promising anything miraculous or spectacular. But what we do promise every law abiding citizen is freedom from fear and all forms of oppression, freedom from general inefficiency and freedom to live and strive in every field of human endeavour, both nationally and internationally. We promise that you will know more be ashamed to say that you are a Nigerian.Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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Nzeogu's speech appears relevant today except that today's political profiteers and swindlers are more daring and bare faced. They now take 60 to 100% of the contract values. Eg Tompolo collected N13 billions for community land but paid them a meagre N360 millions.
ReplyDeleteWhat a way to fund his disruptive militancy
You beat me to it...I never supported Nzeogu's actions but we need him today! E.g $2.1 billion "arms deal".
DeleteNzeogwu was 29 years old when he killed the SARDAUNA* The Guy was too young to know the implication of such action. How wish he was alive today to witness the MEGA CORRUPTION rocking 9ja.*******No one can stop Corruption any where in the world. Corruption is a hydra headed monster, if you cut one head it grows 1000 more heads... So governments should offer good services to its citizen so that they wont be tempted to corrupt practices, just like in advanced countries.. if the PRESIDENT of a country can steal (e.g. Late Gen Sanni Abacha, IBB, OBJ, Goodluck Jonathan, Tinubu. T.Y. DANJUMA ETC) what do you expect the Ordinary man to do, if given an opportunity???????
ReplyDeleteI disagree that Major Nzeogwu )late) at 29, was too young to know the implications of the coup. Please read the speech again and you would agree, they did what needed to be done; except, Ifeajuana and others were too incompetent to handle their assigned tasks. The inability of Gen JTU Ironsi to assert and affirm unconditional military discipline, quickly and justly, led to the sentiment that it was an Igbo coup and the pogrom that ensued. It should and would happen very soon in Nigeria; this insult and injury is too brazen and widespread. If it should happen today, I doubt if Nigerians will mourn any of these 2500+ looter-leaders since the departure of the humble and decent Gen Yakubu Gowon. These openly corrupt swindler-leaders in Khaki or any other attire, have cheated at least 5 generations of Nigerians from being fully able to participate in global socio-economic endeavors... So sad indeed. And we keep recycling these thieves and fraudsters.
DeleteNzeogwu was 29 years old when he killed the SARDAUNA* The Guy was too young to know the implication of such action. How wish he was alive today to witness the MEGA CORRUPTION rocking 9ja.*******No one can stop Corruption any where in the world. Corruption is a hydra headed monster, if you cut one head it grows 1000 more heads... So governments should offer good services to its citizen so that they wont be tempted to corrupt practices, just like in advanced countries.. if the PRESIDENT of a country can steal (e.g. Late Gen Sanni Abacha, IBB, OBJ, Goodluck Jonathan, Tinubu. T.Y. DANJUMA ETC) what do you expect the Ordinary man to do, if given an opportunity???????
ReplyDeleteTime is moving on
ReplyDelete