The 1966 coup, often labeled an “Igbo coup,” has once again sparked debate as Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, representing Abia North, presents a new perspective.
His remarks follow revelations from Journey in Service, a book by former Head of State Ibrahim Babangida, which was recently launched in Abuja.
Babangida’s book, already stirring widespread reactions, challenges a long-standing belief by asserting that the coup, led by Major Kaduna Nzeogwu, was not an Igbo coup.
While acknowledging this perspective, Kalu insists there are crucial details missing from Babangida’s account.
Speaking on Channels Television on the 3rd of March, 2025, Kalu pointed out, “There are many other issues the former army general did not capture in his autobiography.”
Among them, he claims, is the role of former Head of State Olusegun Obasanjo.
“When I said the stories are not complete, I wanted President Babangida to write more. It’s not that Babangida just wants to tell a story. There’s more to the story,” Kalu stated.
“There are officers who told Babangida ‘no, you cannot hand over to this man…’”
According to Kalu, Babangida’s revelations should prompt Nigerians to reconsider past assumptions.
READ ALSO: Orji Kalu Criticizes Tinubu’s Tax Reform Bills, Calls for Consultation
“Nigerians are not fair to Babangida. He came out to say what no one had ever said.
We’ve expected people to say, for example, what he said about the Igbos. That the military coup was not Igbo coup.”
He further emphasized that the blame placed on the Igbo people for the coup is misplaced. “And people had held the Igbo on ground for this particular incident which they never committed. Major Kaduna Nzeogwu never spoke Igbo although he is from Igbo land, he was born and brought up in Kaduna.”
Kalu then made a striking allegation about Obasanjo’s involvement. “And he was just a forthright officer who wanted a new Nigeria with other people. Let me be honest with you, President Obasanjo was part of the coup but he exonerated himself as normal.”
He questioned how much Obasanjo knew, given his return from India. “If you ask people, most of those top military officers knew about the coup, he (Obasanjo)came from India… how would he have not known about the coup and he came back to Nigeria from his school.”
Kalu suggested that the coup’s outcome was determined by internal resistance. “So, many of them knew about the coup.
But it was when a few officers refused to do what they were supposed to do that it became a problem.” He further added, “Few officers didn’t do what they were supposed to do. If they had gone ahead to execute the coup in Eastern Nigeria, there would have no problem.”
Kalu’s remarks add yet another layer of controversy to the ongoing discourse about Nigeria’s first military coup, raising questions about hidden details and political narratives that have shaped the nation’s history.