Jan 1966 Coup was a plan to install Awolowo as Prime Minister – franchasng

A Nairalander using the moniker franchasng has revealed what his uncle who participated in the January 15, 1966 coup told him. He said the coup plotters planned to install Chief Obafemi Awolowo as Prime Minister of Nigeria, after killing the democratically elected Prime Minister, Abubakar Tafawa Belewa.

He said:

“Nwafor Orizu the then Senate President of Nigeria had no power, had no visible contribution to the corruption happening among the first republic politicians.

“And mind you, their plan was to kill the Prime Minister Tafawa Belewa, Ahmadu Bello the Northern Emir who was leading Tafawa Belewa on towards an Islamic agenda, and then President Azikiwe who always danced to northern politicians tune.

“They planned to arrest others until Awolowo is installed as Prime Minister, but you know the man that has gun + alcohol + narcotics can go nuts cos they were under the influence of alcohol too according to my uncle.

“My late uncle that participated in the coup said they only planned to kill 3 major politicians, namely:

1.) Tafawa Belewa
2.) Nnamdi Azikiwe
3.) Ahmadu Bello”

The January 1966 coup plotters should simply have retired from the army and joined the Action Group political party to campaign for Awolowo instead of conducting a coup.