I have only a few personal memories of my Father since he was imprisoned when I was just 5 years old and he was killed a mere 21 months later. However, one thing I seem to remember very clearly was my struggle to keep up with him during our few weekend jogs around our premises at Cooper Road Ikoyi. Probably because of his military profession, he was someone who believed very much in physical fitness and went to great lengths to maintain his, but he was also a family man who wanted to spend time with his son.
I can also remember enjoying barbeques at a place called Mogambo where he would take our mother, my siblings and I during the weekends. He was always looking for opportunities to be involved in the life of the family in spite of his busy schedule. Finally, I remember our visit to the State House in Enugu sometime early in 1967. It was a bittersweet experience for me in a way. Seeing him after he had been away for so long was so exciting for all of us, particularly Mum, who seemed to be permanently in his romantic embrace. I also remember, from that visit, the acute pain I felt when he clinically lanced a massive boil on my right elbow – Dad was surely skilled in many areas.
Since he was killed in the opening months of Nigeria’s civil war, so many things have been said and written about Dad, many of them a distortion of what actually happened while a lot were without any foundation in facts. I sincerely hope the following paragraphs will help rectify some false accounts written by some individuals, either ignorantly or to support disparate selfish agendas. I certainly owe it to his memory to try to help set the records straight for posterity.
Lt Col Victor Banjo was not involved in the 15th Jan 1966 coup d’état. He was neither a conspirator before, nor an accessory after the fact with regard to the January 1966 coup.
Major Adewale Ademoyega, one of the main actors in the January 1966 coup had this to say about Lt Col Victor Banjo:
“Also in detention were Lt Col Banjo and Major Aghanya, both of whom had not taken part in the revolution….”1
“…. After Gowon, was installed in power, from August 1966, Lt Col Banjo made several overtures to him for his (Banjo’s) release. Gowon refused to release him, even though he (Gowon) knew perfectly well that Banjo had not played any part in the coup. The only condition he gave Banjo was that the latter could be transferred back to a prison in Lagos. Banjo did not accept the offer.” 2
Lt Col Banjo was arrested on the 17thof January, 1966 at the police headquarters by Lt Colonel George Kurubo and Major Patrick Anwunah in the ante-room of the Inspector General of Police’s office for no ostensible4 reason while he waited to see Major General J.T.U.Aguiyi-Ironsi, the Supreme Commander of Nigeria’s Armed Forces.
Two weeks after Banjo’s arrest, he was informed by Major C. Ude at Kiri-Kiri prisons that a signal had been sent out to all units that he (Banjo) had been arrested for making an attempt on the life of the Supreme Commander (Ironsi) which was a blatant falsehood. Another reason given for Banjo’s arrest was that he carried a gun, obtained from Major Aghanya, while waiting for a scheduled visit with Ironsi5. For a senior military officer to be armed with a gun for personal protection during such a volatile and dangerous period, especially when he was actively involved in restoring peace and stability to the country, does not seem unreasonable.
On the 17th of January 1966, according to Lt Col Philip Effiong, the following events took place:
“It was later in the morning of 17 January 1966 that Lieutenant Colonel Victor Banjo, Director of Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (EME), driving round to my quarters told me he was trying to get officers together so that he could give them an up-to-date briefing on what had been going on. Could I come round to Electrical and Mechanical Workshop?
"I certainly needed to be briefed since I had no clue as to what had been going on and this, I thought, was a welcome opportunity. My friend, Trimnell, was rather skeptical about the outcome of such a meeting. But he too came along.
When we arrived at EME Workshop on Herbert Macaulay Street, we observed that a number of officers were already assembled there. Lt Col Banjo soon joined us and began there and then to brief us on the events of the past 24 hours or so….
"… He also said he was in touch with the Supreme Commander Major General Ironsi, and, along with some other officers, had tried to influence Ironsi to assume the headship of Government. Indeed, he claimed he had an appointment with the General presently. …. He said that every one was to remain there at EME Workshop while he would go to keep his appointment with the Supreme Commander to obtain further information.
"…. Colonel Victor Banjo left but never came back as he promised. I later learnt that he was arrested on arrival at the Police/Military Headquarters and charged with an attempt on the life of General Ironsi, the Supreme Commander. Colonel Banjo was to deny this allegation and maintain that the whole charge was trumped up”3
Gen Ironsi was well aware of Banjo’s innocence but kept him incarcerated for political reasons to appease certain reactionary 'loyalists' who viewed Banjo’s political views as radical and revolutionary. Interestingly, Gen Ironsi informed Mrs. Banjo (my mother) on 5th May 1966 that he (Ironsi) had found it necessary to keep Lt Col Banjo in detention to protect his life in view of therumours.6
Lt Col Banjo believed very strongly in a united, free, detribalized and equitable Nigeria. He was a very enlightened, independent and objective political thinker and from his privileged position as a top military officer, he could see that the civilian government under Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa (controlled by the Sardauna, Sir Ahmadu Bello) was repressive, retrogressive and to some extent corrupt.
During the 1964 Federal elections and the October 1965 Western Regional elections, the Nigerian National Democratic Party (NNDP), led by the Premier of the Western Region, Chief S.L. Akintola, and its Northern Peoples’ Congress (NPC) ally were alleged to have been responsible for wide-scale voting malpractices that resulted in violence and deaths in the Western Region and other parts of Nigeria.
As a well-informed military leader, who keenly followed the political developments of 1965, Lt Col Banjo could sense that a military coup was a high possibility. Therefore, soon after the murderous January 1966 coup was carried out by a few junior officers, he felt it was his duty to, prevent further bloodshed, unite the troops and persuade Ironsi to take over from the corrupt and discredited civilian government and ensure that security, peace and prosperity was restored.
Lt Col Banjo was deeply saddened about the brutal manner in which the January 1966 coup was implemented. In a letter to his wife from prison, Lt Col Banjo lamented the death of his close friend Brigadier Ademulegun7 and Ademulegun’s wife. However, Banjo still believed that the military needed to seize the opportunity to make the much-needed progress that was lacking under the first civilian government. Unfortunately, Ironsi’s government failed egregiously in restoring the peace and stability needed.
During Lt Col Banjo’s incarceration, he wrote letters to Gen Ironsi seeking his release but unfortunately his efforts fell on deaf ears. He also wrote to advise Gen Ironsi about the grave consequences of his unjust and disloyal action in falsely arresting him, which eventually ended up being eerily accurate predictions of the events of a few weeks later. On 29thJuly 1966, Gen Ironsi and Lt Colonel F.A. Fajuyi (the Military Governor of the Western Region) were savagely killed by troops of Northern Nigerian origin in Ibadan. Fortunately at the time, Banjo was incarcerated at the Ikot-Ekpene prison within Eastern Nigeria, beyond the reach of the rampaging troops.
Victor Banjo was finally released sometime in March 1967 (14 months after his arrest) from prison by his military colleague and ‘friend’ Lt Col C.O. Ojukwu, the Military Governor of the Eastern Region of Nigeria. This was after all efforts to get Lt Col Gowon (the new Nigerian Head of State) release him had failed.
References:
1 Adewale Ademoyega (1981). Why We Struck: The Story of The First Nigerian Coup. p151
2 Adewale Ademoyega (1981). Why We Struck: The Story of The First Nigerian Coup. p199
3 Philip Efiong (2007). Nigeria and Biafra: My Story. p10-11
4 Olayinka Omigbodun (2008). A Gift of Sequins: Letters to my Wife. p51
5 Olusegun Obasanjo (2004). Nzeogwu. P108
6 Olayinka Omigbodun (2008). A Gift of Sequins: Letters to my Wife. p54
7 Olayinka Omigbodun (2008). A Gift of Sequins: Letters to my Wife. p195
8 F. Adetowun Ogunsheye (2001). A Break in the Silence: Lt. Col. Victor Adebunkola Banjo. P87
9 Adewale Ademoyega (1981). Why We Struck: The Story of The First Nigerian Coup. p212
10 Philip Efiong (2007). Nigeria and Biafra: My Story. p184
11 F. Adetowun Ogunsheye (2001). A Break in the Silence: Lt. Col. Victor Adebunkola Banjo. P88
12 Max Siollun (2009). Oil, Politics and Violence: Nigeria’s Military Coup Culture (1966-1976). P132
13 F. Adetowun Ogunsheye (2001). A Break in the Silence: Lt. Col. Victor Adebunkola Banjo. P85-86
14 Adewale Ademoyega (1981). Why We Struck: The Story of The First Nigerian Coup. p231
15 David Ejoor (1989). Reminiscences, (Lago Malthouse Press: 1989, 1964). p116
16 Adewale Ademoyega (1981). Why We Struck: The Story of The First Nigerian Coup. p228
17 Kole Omotosho (1997). Just Before Dawn. p286-287
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