On 15 January 1966, Nigeria experienced its first military intervention in politics. A group of young army majors executed a plan to overthrow the civilian government of the First Republic. The most remembered moment from that day is the radio broadcast by Major Patrick Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu, delivered from Radio Kaduna. That speech projected authority and legitimacy for the coup while revealing the limits of the plotters’ reach.
The Coup’s Planning and Early Hours
The coup was conceived by a small group of junior officers frustrated with corruption, ethnic politics, and administrative dysfunction. Among them were Nzeogwu, Emmanuel Ifeajuna, and Adewale Ademoyega. They believed the military had to intervene to salvage the country.
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Their plan aimed to neutralise senior politicians and military officers and seize control of key cities, including Lagos, Kaduna, and Ibadan. In Lagos, the coup was thwarted at critical moments. The conspirators failed to capture the capital’s key targets and did not secure the loyalty of the army’s senior officers. As a result, the uprising began to falter even as it was unfolding.
Nzeogwu’s Radio Broadcast
By mid‑day on 15 January, with the coup failing in Lagos, Major Nzeogwu delivered a public announcement from Radio Kaduna. He claimed to act on behalf of the “Supreme Council of the Revolution of the Nigerian Armed Forces.” He announced the suspension of the constitution, the dissolution of elected assemblies, and the imposition of martial law in the Northern Region.
All political, cultural, tribal, and trade union activities were banned, and unauthorised meetings were prohibited, excluding religious worship. The speech called for order, appealed for public cooperation, and emphasised the need to eliminate corruption and restore national unity.
What the Coup Tried to “Sell” to the Public
A Moral Mandate to Intervene
The coup was framed as a necessary act to end corruption and misrule. The military was presented as a cleansing force that would restore order and justice.
Assurance of Stability
The broadcast aimed to reassure Nigerians that daily life would continue under martial law and that civic order would be maintained.
These messages were designed to create a sense of legitimacy and inevitability for the coup.
The Reality on the Ground
Despite the confident tone of the broadcast, the coup did not achieve full control of Nigeria. Its failure to secure Lagos allowed senior military officers to regroup. Major General Johnson Aguiyi‑Ironsi emerged as Head of State, restored order, and established a Supreme Military Council loyal to him. Nzeogwu’s speech reflected the situation in Kaduna, not the country as a whole.
Revolutionary Language vs Real Control
Nzeogwu’s broadcast used terms like “Revolutionary Council” and “eradication of corruption,” projecting transformative power. Yet, true authority required control over the military, government administration, and infrastructure. On 15 January and the days that followed, the coup plotters lacked sufficient hold outside Kaduna. The broadcast reflected aspiration rather than actual governance.
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Aftermath and Legacy
After Aguiyi‑Ironsi assumed power, Nigeria entered nearly a decade of military rule, punctuated by further coups and civil war. The January 1966 coup is remembered as the moment the military entered Nigerian politics. Nzeogwu’s radio speech became symbolic of the military’s first major public intervention.
Author’s Note
This article tells the real story of the January 1966 Nigerian coup. It explains the events of that day, why Nzeogwu’s broadcast mattered, and what the coup’s message conveyed to Nigerians. The key takeaway is that while Major Patrick Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu’s speech captured a vision of national renewal, its reach and influence were limited by the coup’s failure to secure full control of the country. Readers will understand the broadcast, the public messaging strategy, and the political reality that followed.
References
- Text of Nzeogwu’s radio declaration, Radio Kaduna
- Nigerian press retrospectives on January 15 1966
