Former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (retd.), has revealed how he attempted to save the life of former military ruler, Gen. J.T.U. Ironsi, during the July 29, 1966 counter-coup that eventually led to Ironsi’s assassination.
Gowon made the disclosure in his autobiography, My Life of Duty and Allegiance, unveiled in Abuja on Tuesday.
According to the former Head of State, he became alarmed after receiving reports of a mutiny in Abeokuta and immediately feared Ironsi’s life was in danger.
“My immediate worry was that General Ironsi’s life might be in danger if I did not make an effort to reach him as quickly as possible to give him a situation report,” Gowon stated.
He explained that Ironsi was originally expected to travel by road from Ibadan to Lagos, but he feared mutineers might attack him along the route.
“I felt it might be a lot safer for him to fly from Ibadan to Lagos,” Gowon said.
The former military leader revealed that he instructed Major Paul Dickson at Ikeja Airport to send a helicopter to evacuate Ironsi from Ibadan.
“On impulse, I called the airport at Ikeja to instruct Major Paul Dickson, who oversaw the airport, to send a helicopter to Ibadan to evacuate the Supreme Commander,” he recalled.
However, Gowon later discovered that Dickson was allegedly part of the coup plotters and never intended to carry out the order.
Gowon also recounted calling Government House in Ibadan to warn Ironsi, only for the call to be answered by then-Major Theophilus Danjuma.
“I requested that he pass the call to the Supreme Commander, but he told me it would not be possible then, as Ironsi had been placed under close arrest by some officers,” Gowon said.
Concerned about the tension among northern officers angered by the January 1966 coup, Gowon said he urged Danjuma to avoid bloodshed and ensure Ironsi’s safety.
“Not willing to take chances, I instructed him to ensure that Ironsi was kept safe,” he added.
Gowon said he suggested moving Ironsi to a safer location around Bida or Ilorin, but unknown to him at the time, Ironsi and his host, Col. Adekunle Fajuyi, had already been taken away by mutineers before further arrangements could be made.
Ironsi and Fajuyi were later killed during the coup.
Meanwhile, Gowon also used the occasion of the book launch to urge Nigerians not to lose hope ahead of the 2027 elections.
“Ignore the naysayers. Nigeria did not fail under my watch and Nigeria will not fail,” he said.
President Bola Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, described Gowon’s autobiography as an important national document that should be widely read across the country.
“A nation that misplaces its memory soon begins to quarrel with its own reflection,” Tinubu stated.
The President praised Gowon’s role in preserving Nigeria’s unity after the civil war, particularly his famous “No victor, no vanquished” reconciliation policy.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan, Bishop Matthew Kukah, traditional rulers, military leaders and top government officials were among dignitaries present at the launch in Abuja. I Tried To Save Ironsi During 1966 Coup — Gowon Reveals In New Memoir
Former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (retd.), has revealed how he attempted to save the life of former military ruler, Gen. J.T.U. Ironsi, during the July 29, 1966 counter-coup that eventually led to Ironsi’s assassination.
Gowon made the disclosure in his autobiography, My Life of Duty and Allegiance, unveiled in Abuja on Tuesday.
According to the former Head of State, he became alarmed after receiving reports of a mutiny in Abeokuta and immediately feared Ironsi’s life was in danger.
“My immediate worry was that General Ironsi’s life might be in danger if I did not make an effort to reach him as quickly as possible to give him a situation report,” Gowon stated.
He explained that Ironsi was originally expected to travel by road from Ibadan to Lagos, but he feared mutineers might attack him along the route.
“I felt it might be a lot safer for him to fly from Ibadan to Lagos,” Gowon said.
The former military leader revealed that he instructed Major Paul Dickson at Ikeja Airport to send a helicopter to evacuate Ironsi from Ibadan.
“On impulse, I called the airport at Ikeja to instruct Major Paul Dickson, who oversaw the airport, to send a helicopter to Ibadan to evacuate the Supreme Commander,” he recalled.
However, Gowon later discovered that Dickson was allegedly part of the coup plotters and never intended to carry out the order.
Gowon also recounted calling Government House in Ibadan to warn Ironsi, only for the call to be answered by then-Major Theophilus Danjuma.
“I requested that he pass the call to the Supreme Commander, but he told me it would not be possible then, as Ironsi had been placed under close arrest by some officers,” Gowon said.
Concerned about the tension among northern officers angered by the January 1966 coup, Gowon said he urged Danjuma to avoid bloodshed and ensure Ironsi’s safety.
“Not willing to take chances, I instructed him to ensure that Ironsi was kept safe,” he added.
Gowon said he suggested moving Ironsi to a safer location around Bida or Ilorin, but unknown to him at the time, Ironsi and his host, Col. Adekunle Fajuyi, had already been taken away by mutineers before further arrangements could be made.
Ironsi and Fajuyi were later killed during the coup.
Meanwhile, Gowon also used the occasion of the book launch to urge Nigerians not to lose hope ahead of the 2027 elections.
“Ignore the naysayers. Nigeria did not fail under my watch and Nigeria will not fail,” he said.
President Bola Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, described Gowon’s autobiography as an important national document that should be widely read across the country.
“A nation that misplaces its memory soon begins to quarrel with its own reflection,” Tinubu stated.
The President praised Gowon’s role in preserving Nigeria’s unity after the civil war, particularly his famous “No victor, no vanquished” reconciliation policy.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan, Bishop Matthew Kukah, traditional rulers, military leaders and top government officials were among dignitaries present at the launch in Abuja.
