Forty-four years after, the controversy over how Nigeria’s first Prime Minister, Alhaji Tafawa Balewa died may have been finally laid to rest.

Contrary to the widely-held belief, Nigerian soldiers did not kill the country’s first Commander- in-Chief in the bloody coup of 1966. Rather, Prime Minister Balewa succumbed to asthma, according to a key player in his government. He reportedly died while soldiers were taking him out of Lagos in the aftermath of the putsch.

Nigeria’s first High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and one of only three surviving members of the first Federal cabinet, Dr. Mathew Taiwo Mbu made this known to The Nation in an exclusive interview in Lagos.

Prime Minister Balewa died as a result of an asthmatic attack while he was being driven to Calabar by soldiers under the command of Major Emmanuel Ifeajuna who arrested him, Mbu said. Veteran journalist Chief Segun Osoba, who led the Police to the bodies of the late Prime Minister and his Finance Minister, Chief Festus Okotie-Eboh, could not be reached last night for a corroboration.

Previous accounts of what actually happened on the night of January 15, 1966 have been hazy. Even BBC archive reports on the day of infamy only spoke of a kidnapping of the Prime Minister by soldiers.

Most on-site accounts to date, only reported that the body of the late Prime Minister was found in a seating position by a tree, in a plantation, on the road to Abeokuta, near Ifo, some 35 kilometres from his Ikoyi residence where he was arrested by soldiers on the night of January 15, 1966. The Prime Minister’s body was found beside the bullet-riddled body of Chief Okotie-Eboh, Nigeria’s first Minister of Finance.

No report of the macabre events of January 15, 1966, has been categorical that the Prime Minister was shot death; and no autopsies were carried out on the bodies discovered several days after the two had been reported kidnapped from their official residences by soldiers.

But Dr. Mbu, who was a close confidant of the late Prime Minister, recounted a momentous encounter 44 years ago, with the late poet Christopher Okigbo, one of the last people to see the late Prime Minister alive before he was arrested by the coup plotters.

He said Christopher Okigbo, who was also a close friend of Major Ifeajuna, who led the coupists in Lagos, recounted the arrest of the Prime Minister to him first hand. Okigbo and Ifeajuna themselves were killed in action during the Nigerian civil war.

Mbu, who many also regarded as Tafawa Balewa’s de-facto foreign minister, was ironically sent out to India for a State funeral by the Prime Minister, only hours before the coup. He had warned the late Prime Minister of an impending coup just days earlier.

He said he was reliably informed that Prime Minister Balewa had been accosted by the soldiers who first gave him the salute due to a Commander-in-Chief before informing him that they were effecting a change of government. They allowed him to say his Islamic prayers before taking him in a car.

The plans of the putschists according to Mbu’s account, did not include killing the Prime Minister. He was to be taken to Calabar and forced to release and handover power to Chief Obafemi Awolowo, then in prison for treasonable felony.

Balewa unfortunately did not make it out of Lagos. He reportedly suffered an asthmatic attack and died in the car. The announcement by the Army chief, General Aguiyi Ironsi of a failed coup, led to the dumping of the late Prime Minister’s body in the forest off the road to Abeokuta.

Okotie-Eboh, against whom the military high command then, had the most serious of the allegations of bribery and corruption the Balewa regime was accused of, was apparently executed at close range in the forest, leading to speculations that the Prime Minister too was shot to death. The several days that lapsed before the bodies were discovered must have made it difficult to find out the real cause of the Prime Minister’s death. His body was taken to Bauchi for burial.

Mbu spoke with The Nation Databank, in one of several interviews the country’s premier private digital archive conducted with senior Nigerian citizens and elderstatesmen. The interviews, on historical and contemporary events in Nigeria over the last 50 years, are to be packaged in special video and data discs to mark Nigeria’s golden jubilee independence anniversary. Two million copies of the discs, coming as the Nigeria’s premier national e-Reference ,will be given out FREE to Nigerians, particularly Nigerian youths.

http://thenationonlineng.net/web3/news/12210.html

Why has it taken Mbu so long to make this revelation. Should I say Mbu is a coward?.

@ andre uweh

nope, dt doesnt translate into cowardice. some matters r so sensitive dt it takes some time b4 it can be brought up for public knowledge, otherwise it may lead to what foolish insensitivity induced chaos.

homerac7:

@ andre uweh

nope, dt doesnt translate into cowardice. some matters r so sensitive dt it takes some time b4 it can be brought up for public knowledge, otherwise it may lead to what foolish insensitivity induced chaos.

What if Mat Mbu had died since?.

They should keep it coming

The truth will help the next generation a lot better in Nigeria's healing process.

ours is already beyond repair

Its rather unfortunate he is giving us the information after 44 years, after millions of Nigerian died because Nigerians believed the Kaduna Nzeogwu led coupists killed the prime minister, he should not have told us now after all, he has been quiet since then. Had it been he told Nigerians then, there wouldn't have been a counter coup that was led by the northern soldiers, some of the soldiers that took part in that coup gave the killing of Balewa as one of the reasons for embarking on such mission. May be there wouldn't have a civil war, because it was the mistrust that took place on 15th jan 1966 that eventually led to the civil war. May be there wouldn't have been this mistrust today in the country. May be there wouldn't have been the need for zoning, may be, may be,

better late than never

the truth gets muddled in politics during the heat of events

but for the sake of the next generation let more people come forward.

that may just help ensure that our next 50years do not look like the last.

Doesnt really change the overall story that much. Coupist struck, and indirectly or directly as a result, Balewa died.

omamokta:

Its rather unfortunate he is giving us the information after 44 years, after millions of Nigerian died because Nigerians believed the Kaduna Nzeogwu led coupists killed the prime minister, he should not have told us now after all, he has been quiet since then. Had it been he told Nigerians then, there wouldn't have been a counter coup that was led by the northern soldiers, some of the soldiers that took part in that coup gave the killing of Balewa as one of the reasons for embarking on such mission. May be there wouldn't have a civil war, because it was the mistrust that took place on 15th jan 1966 that eventually led to the civil war. May be there wouldn't have been this mistrust today in the country. May be there wouldn't have been the need for zoning, may be, may be,

Gbam!

He said he was reliably informed that Prime Minister Balewa had been accosted by the soldiers who first gave him the salute due to a Commander-in-Chief before informing him that they were effecting a change of government. They allowed him to say his Islamic prayers before taking him in a car.
The plans of the putschists according to Mbu’s account, did not include killing the Prime Minister. He was to be taken to Calabar and forced to release and handover power to Chief Obafemi Awolowo, then in prison for treasonable felony.

This is the truth Mr Mbu hid from Nigerians for 44 years! I don't think Mr. Mbu's soul will rest in peace.

This revisionist crap keeps coming - for what purpose I don't know. There are many things wrong with this story:

1. The coupists killed him period - whether they shot him or caused him to have an ashmatic attack is immaterial.
2. Please keep Pa. Awolowo out of it. If handing over to Awolowo was their real objective there is no need to be take PM Balewa to Awolowo for anything. Not for release, not for handing over - the coup would itself have a component specifically releasing Awo from jail and flying him to Lagos. They were already conducting a coup for God's sake, what need is there for Balewa to be "forced to handover". This roping in of Awolowo by hearsayists is convenient but egregious. We are no mumus you know, and all these lies continue to add to the deceit - just let it rest without roping yourself up each passing day.
3. If I were to summarize, the PM died before they reached his execution place, so there was no need to shoot him up, but Okotie-Eboh had to go the hard way.
4. So they left the PM's body there to rot - I will not say more than that. People need to figure out the implication of that for a Muslim!
5. This is third party hearsay: Ifeajuna - Okigbo - Mbu - NL. Take your teeth out of it, it is half-truth (worse than outright lie).

omamokta:

He said he was reliably informed that Prime Minister Balewa had been accosted by the soldiers who first gave him the salute due to a Commander-in-Chief before informing him that they were effecting a change of government. They allowed him to say his Islamic prayers before taking him in a car.
The plans of the putschists according to Mbu’s account, did not include killing the Prime Minister. He was to be taken to Calabar and forced to release and handover power to Chief Obafemi Awolowo, then in prison for treasonable felony.
Balewa unfortunately did not make it out of Lagos. He reportedly suffered an asthmatic attack and died in the car. The announcement by the Army chief, General Aguiyi Ironsi of a failed coup, led to the dumping of the late Prime Minister’s body in the forest off the road to Abeokuta.
Okotie-Eboh, against whom the military high command then, had the most serious of the allegations of bribery and corruption the Balewa regime was accused of, was apparently executed at close range in the forest, leading to speculations that the Prime Minister too was shot to death. The several days that lapsed before the bodies were discovered must have made it difficult to find out the real cause of the Prime Minister’s death. His body was taken to Bauchi for burial.

He died of asthma and they waited this long to tell us!

Wonders never amaze me.

Now when will the true killers of Adaka Boro speak up. Let the Ijaws know who killed their beloved leader.

EzeUche22:

He died of asthma and they waited this long to tell us!

Wonders never amaze me.

Now when will the true killers of Adaka Boro speak up. Let the Ijaws know who killed their beloved leader.

You are right Uchenna. Also, those Ikwerre parents who lied to their kids about their Igbo identity should confess their sins. This happened within that same period.
Let it keep coming.

Obiagu1:

Gbam!
This is the truth Mr Mbu hid from Nigerians for 44 years! I don't think Mr. Mbu's soul will rest in peace.

No that would be the lie he was attempting to hide inside the loaf of twisted truth. Facts:

1. Soldiers, specifically Major Ifeajuna and co who arrested him, CAUSED PM Balewa's death - simply said they killed him.
2. Awolowo had nothing to do with the coup - not in foreknowledge and not in being part of the coupists' plans. It is amazing how gullible people can get when they have an objective in mind. How is it possible that a group of people would conduct a coup (risking life and limb) to install somebody that was siting in jail, yet he was still sitting in jail b/4, during and after the coup? Wonders shall never end. This is revisionist crap of the highest order.

Andre Uweh:

You are right Uchenna. Also, those Ikwerre parents who lied to their kids about their Igbo identity should confess their sins. This happened within that same period.
Let it keep coming.

Ikwerre people will never claim Igbo.  They dress like Igbos, dance like Igbos, have Igbo names, but still claim they are not Igbo.  Anytime you call an Ikwerre person Igbo, the deny it very quickly, but they are able to easily fit into any Igbo surroundings because they have Igbo names and can speak Igbo very well.  Maybe some of them do claim they are Igbos, but the ones I have met always say they are not.

koruji:

This revisionist crap keeps coming - for what purpose I don't know. There are many things wrong with this story:

1. The coupists killed him period - whether they shot him or caused him to have an ashmatic attack is immaterial.
2. Please keep Pa. Awolowo out of it. If handing over to Awolowo was their real objective there is no need to be take PM Balewa to Awolowo for anything. Not for release, not for handing over - the coup would itself have a component specifically releasing Awo from jail and flying him to Lagos. They were already conducting a coup for God's sake, what need is there for Balewa to be "forced to handover". This roping in of Awolowo by hearsayists is convenient but egregious. We are no mumus you know, and all these lies continue to add to the deceit - just let it rest without roping yourself up each passing day.
3. If I were to summarize, the PM died before they reached his execution place, so there was no need to shoot him up, but Okotie-Eboh had to go the hard way.
4. So they left the PM's body there to rot - I will not say more than that. People need to figure out the implication of that for a Muslim!
5. This is third party hearsay: Ifeajuna - Okigbo - Mbu - NL. Take your teeth out of it, it is half-truth (worse than outright lie).

Two thumbs up to u, dear Sir. You, My friend, are clearly brighter than these Neanderthals. They think anyone believes these new lies they stay cooking up. lol.

@ koruji,

Why reposting your imagination twice? once is enough I guess. 

Obiagu1:

@ koruji,
Why reposting your imagination twice? once is enough I guess. 

You are the ones imagining things by taking third party hearsay, provided to you 44 years later, as gospel truth - go back and count how many people had come out and say the story was truth.

I grant you have a fertile imagination, but we are no mumus - leave Awo out of it!

LOL, our Yoruba peeps will never accept this new theory.  If we like, let Tafe Balewa and co come back to life to give their own version exonerating Igbos our Yoruba peeps (at least some) will never buy it.

Unfortunately I agree koruji. This latest outburst from Mbu wont change the next election. Balewa was kidnapped and whatever happened under that kidnapping will always be attributed to the kidnappers.

Whether or not the coupist did the right thing by ousting him is another story.  

What about the Sarduana? Maimlari? Akintola?

Even Ironsi and Fajuyi nko?

Are we to say that they actually died of this and that 40 years later?

It would have made more sense to say that the coupist in January and those in July 66 regretted causing alot of confusion and death to Fulani, Igbo, and Yoruba families, and as a result, destroying Naija as a whole.

Asthma my foot,he died as a result of the coup.will he have died if they hadn't kidnap him ?

yarodin:

Ikwerre people will never claim Igbo. They dress like Igbos, dance like Igbos, have Igbo names, but still claim they are not Igbo. Anytime you call an Ikwerre person Igbo, the deny it very quickly, but they are able to easily fit into any Igbo surroundings because they have Igbo names and can speak Igbo very well. Maybe some of them do claim they are Igbos, but the ones I have met always say they are not.

Those Ikwerre parents who lied to their kids are in the same age bracket as M.Mbu. When lies are continually repeated, it becomes true, but I believe they can reverse that now that they are still alive.
True confession.

~Bluetooth:

Asthma my foot,he died as a result of the coup.will he have died if they hadn't kidnap him ?

Since you know better than Mbu, may be the one who pulled the trigger was Ademoyega, the Yoruba among the coup plotters.

Nchara:

Since you know better than Mbu, may be the one who pulled the trigger was Ademoyega, the  Yoruba among the coup plotters.

And what is this for? Hope we haven't forgotten that those who fought in the war (IBB) to conquer the ENTIRE south are planning on coming back to power in months.

Fine, no problem, but at least when can unity begin for those in the south, even if its to produce a southerner like Fashola or Amaechi as Prez?

How was Akintola killed? I was told that Sarduana was not captured alive.

mens dept:

And what is this for? Hope we haven't forgotten that those who fought in the war (IBB) to conquer the ENTIRE south are planning on coming back to power in months.

Fine, no problem, but at least when can unity begin for those in the south, even if its to produce a southerner like Fashola or Amaechi as Prez?

This is where I always have a problem with you Yoruba folks. Who told you that there will ever be a "southern unity"?

For as long as you keep denying the intentions of the coup plotters, there will NEVER be a southern unity. You guys are incorrigible. 

If IBB is promising something good to ndigbo, we WILL vote for him. 

Onlytruth:

This is where I always have a problem with you Yoruba folks. Who told you that there will ever be a "southern unity"?

For as long as you keep denying the intentions of the coup plotters, there will NEVER be a southern unity. You guys are incorrigible.

If IBB is promising something good to ndigbo, we WILL vote for him.

Yes, Onlytruth. The intention of the coup plotters was to hand over power to Awo. The Yoruba must recognize that intention or kiss everything goodbye.

Some people will stop at nothing to re-write history. Was Mbu a witness to the death of Balewa? What makes his testimony credible? Mbu alleges that Ifeajuna was taking Balewa to Calabar to free Awo; what a load of crap. Did Balewa need to be in Calabar to have Awo freed? So Balewa died of a heart attack and Ifeajuna proceeded to see Okpara in Enugu instead of Calabar as planned. Balewa was killed by the coupists just as Bello, Akintola, Okotie-Eboh, Ademulegun, Maimalari, Shodeinde, Pam, Largema, etc were.

Mbu and others like him can continue to lie but not all Nigerians are fools.

supereagle:

How was Akintola killed? I was told that Sarduana was not captured alive.

Oh, this means u didnt read the whole interview. Ok, here goes:

1. Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa died of asthma.

2. The Sardauna El Hajj Ahmad Bello died of cholera.

3. Chief Akintola died of chronic diabetes

4. Col.Fajuyi died of a heart attack.

5. Brig.Maimalari died of "OverJoy" at the thoughts that Ibos were "finally" going to violently take over the reins of the country. It is reported that he laughed himself to death.

6. Chief Okotie-Eboh actually lived to old age, ignore the reports of these "Know nothing" Western and Northern media.

  Oh and the coup was to install Chief Awolowo. . . . . and Maj.Nzeogwu was really Hausa!

Nchara:

Since you know better than Mbu, may be the one who pulled the trigger was Ademoyega, the  Yoruba among the coup plotters.

Ademoyega did not kill anyone in that coup. If you want a list of who was killed and by whom, I can assist you.

bk.babe97y:

Oh, this means u didnt read the whole interview. Ok, here goes:

1. Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa died of asthma.

2. The Sardauna El Hajj Ahmad Bello died of cholera.

3. Chief Akintola died of chronic diabetes

4. Col.Fajuyi died of a heart attack.

5. Brig.Maimalari died of "OverJoy" at the thoughts that Ibos were "finally" going to violently take over the reins of the country. It is reported that he laughed himself to death.

6. Chief Okotie-Eboh actually lived to old age, ignore the reports of these "Know nothing" Western and Northern media.

  Oh and the coup was to install Chief Awolowo. . . . . and Maj.Nzeogwu was really Hausa!

You are cracking me up.

Katsumoto:

You are cracking me up. 

Yeah, these folks think theyre really smart. I dont know why they havent learned the art of "shutting the hell up". their attempts to lie are so stu*pid its unbelievable! lol.

By the way, how u been?

bk.babe97y:

Oh, this means u didnt read the whole interview. Ok, here goes:

1. Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa died of asthma.

2. The Sardauna El Hajj Ahmad Bello died of cholera.

3. Chief Akintola died of chronic diabetes

4. Col.Fajuyi died of a heart attack.

5. Brig.Maimalari died of "OverJoy" at the thoughts that Ibos were "finally" going to violently take over the reins of the country. It is reported that he laughed himself to death.

6. Chief Okotie-Eboh actually lived to old age, ignore the reports of these "Know nothing" Western and Northern media.

  Oh and the coup was to install Chief Awolowo. . . . . and Maj.Nzeogwu was really Hausa!

Another load of rubbish from the hispanic dimwit . . . . .