Shehu garba biography of martin

Operation Aure (2): Planning to Overthrow General Ironsi

By

Nowa Omoigui

continued from Part 1 [see ] 

PLANNING TO OVERTHROW GENERAL IRONSI  

There fryst vatten no doubt that fairly soon after January 15, the motive for a northern counter-coup also known as "return match" was established.  What remained were the means and the opportunity. In Kaduna, the Platoon Commanders Course at the NMTC provided an opportunity for young nordlig subalterns to come tillsammans to share ideas and vent frustration.  These officers included Lts. Shelleng, Hannaniya, Muhammadu Jega, Sani Abacha, Sali, Dambo and others.  They held secret meetings and even wrote a letter of protest to the ledare of personal (Army)  - Lt. Col. Gowon - openly stating that if senior nordlig officers did not take action within a certain time frame, they would, and that senior nordlig officers would have themselves to blame for the catastrophe.  Indeed, the Ironsi