1966 in Nigeria

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## Military coup

[edit]

On January 15, 1966, Nigeria was jolted awake to the first Military Coup d'état, all over the top politicians were assassinated by young ambitious officers including the Prime Minister Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Sir Ahmadu Bello, Festus Okotie Eboh and Ladoke Akintola. The coup was masterminded by young majors as a result the coup often referred to as ""Coup of the five majors" spearheaded by Major Kaduna Nzeogwu. The mutineers overthrew several cities but were overpowered and imprisoned after two days.

A new government was formed and Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi became Head of State but six months later a counter coup took place where he and his host Francis Adekunle Fajuyi were assassinated. Yakubu Gowon was his successor.

An attack against those from Eastern Region ensued particularly those of Igbo descent as violence was unleashed on them. Chinua Achebe gave an excellent personal account of this happenings in his book "There was a Country".[1] He described soldiers looking for him at an old address and then his office, apparently because they believed his book A Man Of The People had something to do with the coup.

The Federal Public Service Commission relieved non Eastern Nigeria Workers of their duties giving them an ultimatum to return to work or forfeit their jobs permanently they were 40 of them in number, The men fled for because they feared for their safety in places where they working in other parts of the country during the disturbances. This was to be effective October 31, 1966.[citation needed]

## Agriculture, sport and entertainment

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The Kano pyramids thrived and business boomed. Nigeria had a mostly agrarian economy until the oil boom came. They were found mainly in Northern Nigeria and consisted of thousands of bags of groundnut. The Groundnut Pyramids brought quite a windfall of cash to the farmers and groundnut were exported.

Agriculture in the Sixties.

Commonwealth Games, November 1966 - Nigerian athlete Samuel Igun wins gold in the sophisticated hop setting a new games record and putting Africa on the pedestal of the world. The medal had been won in Kingston, Jamaica. "Joromi", the first Gold Record in Africa won by Sir Victor Uwaifo was presented to him by Mr. Jan Lewen the Managing director Philips Records West Africa in 1966.

See also: Timeline of Nigerian history

* Nigeria portal

Years in Nigeria: | 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969

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Centuries: | 19th century * 20th century * 21st century
Decades: | 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s
Years: | 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969

## Incumbents

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* President:
* Until 16 January: Nnamdi Azikiwe
* 16 January – 29 July: Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi
* 29 July – 1 August: vacant
* Starting 1 August: Yakubu Gowon
* Prime Minister:
* Until 15 January: Abubakar Tafawa Balewa
* Starting 16 January: position abolished
* Vice President:
* Until 16 January: position not in existence
* 16 January – 29 July: Babafemi Ogundipe
* Starting 29 July: Joseph Edet Akinwale Wey
* Senate President:
* Until 15 January: Nwafor Orizu
* Starting 15 January: position abolished
* House Speaker:
* Until 15 January: Ibrahim Jalo Waziri
* Starting 15 January: position abolished
* Commissioner of Defence:
* Until 15 January: Inuwa Wada
* 15 January – 29 July: vacant
* Starting 1 August: Yakubu Gowon
* Chief of Army Staff:
* Until 15 January: Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi
* 15 January – 29 July: Yakubu Gowon
* Starting 29 July: Joseph Akahan
* Chief Justice: Sir Adetokunbo Ademola

## Events

[edit]

### January

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* January 10, 1966 — Diplomats of the British Commonwealth meet in Lagos to discuss the Rhodesian secession crisis.[2]
* January 15, 1966 — The first of many military coups in Nigeria deposes the Nigerian First Republic; Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa, was assassinated along with the premier of Northern Nigeria, Ahmadu Bello, and the Finance Minister, Festus Okotie-Eboh
* January 16, 1966 — The Federal Military Government is formed, with General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi as the Head of State and Supreme Commander of the Federal Republic.

### July

[edit]

* July 16, 1966 —The "Lagos Convention" calls for Nigeria's entry to the Common Market of the European Economic Community. Babafemi Ogundipe signs on behalf of the government. The convention will remain unratified and no agreement will go into effect until the signing of the Lomé Convention in 1976.[3]
* July 29, 1966 — A counter-coup by military officers of northern extraction, deposes the Federal Military Government; General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi is assassinated along with Adekunle Fajuyi, Military Governor of Western Region. General Yakubu Gowon becomes Head of State.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Chinua Achebe. There was a Country. New York: Penguin. ISBN 9780143124030.
2. ^ "Anti-Rhodesia Plan Is Sought At Lagos Talk: Crush Riots Barring Diplomats Route", Chicago Tribune, 11 January 1966.
3. ^ Victor A. O. Adetula, "Nigeria and the European Union: The Lome Years and Beyond"; in Europe at the Crossroads, ed. Basil R. Jones; New York: Nova Science Publishers, 2007; pp. 134–137.

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1966 in Africa

Sovereign states|

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*   *   *   *

States with limited
recognition

*   *   *   * Rhodesia
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Dependencies, colonies
and other territories

* Ascension Island
*   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   * French Somaliland
*   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   * Mauritius
*   *   *   *   *   * Réunion
*   * Saint Helena
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