Throwback Picture Of Ironsi, Fajuyi And Fadahunsi At Ibadan Airport Shortly Before 1966 Bloody Countercoup

A throwback picture of late Major General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi, late Lt. Colonel Adekunle Fajuyi and late Sir Odeleye Fadahunsi at the Ibadan Airport shortly before the July 29, 1966 countercoup has surfaced online.

Late Major General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi had become the nation’s Head of State following the military coup that was carried out by a group of soldiers led by Major Kaduna Nzeogwu.

The military coup in question had claimed the lives of the then Prime Minister, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Premier of Western Region, Chief Ladoke Akintola , Premier of Northern Region, Alhaji Ahmadu Bello and top military officers including Brigadier Ademulegun and Col. Raph Shodeinde.

Some young military officers from the north including Majors Murtala Muhammed and Theophilus Danjuma organized what they called countercoup or July Rematch to oust Ironsi.

The late General Ironsi , who was in Ibadan for a meeting with traditional rulers in the country, was killed less than 24 hours after he was received at the Ibadan airport by the governor of Western Region, Lt. Colonel Adekunle Fajuyi, Fadahunsi and other top government officials.

Lt. Colonel Adekunle Fajuyi was also killed during the bloody countercoup.

Sir Odeleye Fadahunsi became the Governor of Western Region after Late Oba Adesoji Aderemi voluntarily left his position in 1962 following intraparty conflict in the Action Group.

He was later appointed as Special Adviser by Lt. Colonel Adekunle Fajuyi and that was why he had joined him in receiving Ironsi at the airport.

Team@orientactualmags.com reports that Sir Odeleye Fadahunsi, who was a National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC) bigwig during the first republic, later died on May 12, 1986 at the age of 85–Team@orientactualmags.com  Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08035023079,  08059100286, 09094171980 or get in touch via orientactualmag@gmail.com.  Thank you