Before 15 January 1966, Nigeria’s First Republic faced severe political challenges. The country was experiencing intense ethnic competition, contested elections, and regional rivalries. Civilian leaders struggled to maintain authority, and public confidence in the government was waning. Amid this climate, the Nigerian military, officially under civilian control, observed the chaos, setting the stage for the nation’s first military intervention.
Political Turmoil and Election Crises
Nigeria’s early post-independence politics were dominated by ethnically aligned parties. The Northern People’s Congress (NPC) controlled the Northern Region, the National Council of Nigerian Citizens (NCNC) was dominant in the Eastern Region, and the Action Group (AG) led in the Western Region. This alignment heightened regional rivalries and weakened national cohesion.
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The 1964 federal elections and the 1965 Western Region elections were marred by violence, intimidation, and accusations of rigging. These incidents undermined trust in the electoral process and eroded faith in the government’s ability to manage disputes.
Operation Wetie and Breakdown of Law and Order
In the Western Region, political tensions escalated into violent factionalism between supporters of Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola. The crisis, known as Operation Wetie, involved arson, street battles, and attacks on political opponents. The violence symbolised the collapse of law and order in the region and demonstrated the inability of civilian authorities to enforce stability.
Civil–Military Relations Before the Coup
Formally, the military remained under civilian authority, with ministers and premiers responsible for defence and security. However, the political instability and growing perception of corruption created unease among some officers. While the army had no institutional mandate to intervene, junior officers observed the country’s political crises and began questioning the government’s ability to lead.
Discontent within the military was limited to a small group of junior officers. Their concerns included the mismanagement of national affairs, political corruption, and the perceived inefficiency of the civilian government.
The January 1966 Coup
By late 1965, a group of mainly junior officers had started planning a takeover. The key figures included Majors Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu, Emmanuel Ifeajuna, Adewale Ademoyega, Donatus Okafor, Chris Anuforo, and Timothy Onwuatuegwu.
On 15 January 1966, coordinated attacks targeted political and military leaders in cities including Kaduna, Lagos, and Ibadan. Several senior politicians and military officers were killed. Although the coup did not immediately secure nationwide control, Major-General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi, the highest-ranking officer not involved in the plot, assumed authority and established military rule.
Military Motivations and Public Perception
The coup plotters were motivated by frustration with corruption, political violence, and the collapse of civilian governance. While many of the officers involved were of Igbo origin, the coup was driven primarily by governance concerns rather than ethnic agendas.
The military’s intervention marked a turning point in Nigeria’s political history, highlighting the fragility of the First Republic and signalling the start of repeated military involvement in governance.
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Aftermath and Legacy
The coup ended the First Republic and led to military rule under Aguiyi-Ironsi. It did not resolve the country’s underlying ethnic tensions and political instability. Instead, it set the stage for a counter-coup in July 1966 and the eventual Nigerian Civil War (1967–1970). The events also entrenched the perception of the military as a key actor in Nigerian politics, a dynamic that would persist for decades.
Author’s Note
Before January 1966, Nigeria’s civil–military relations were defined by the tension between formal civilian authority and national instability. Ethnic rivalries, contested elections, and violent regional crises like Operation Wetie undermined confidence in the government. Junior officers, motivated by frustration with corruption and lawlessness, staged the coup that ended the First Republic. This event marked the first major rupture of civilian governance in Nigeria, reshaping the country’s political trajectory.
References
Political Instability and the Collapse of Nigeria’s First Republic 1960–1966, RSIS International
Operation Wetie Historical Overview
The January 1966 Military Takeover: Planning and Execution, Historical Nigeria
