Are you eager to read about Nigeria’s military coups and the factors that necessitated the various coups in the country? Max Siollun’s work is the best in this aspect. As a lover of history, I have read many write ups and articles on the Nigerian military coups and mutiny none is so precise and in-depth like the one I am about to review. The book is so concise such that it covers strategic locations in Nigeria and the events that occurred there as well as the time the event occurred. The book is made up of seventeen chapters, each with a unique event that captures the readers mind towards the purpose of the book. One of the things that stands this book out is the method of narratives adopted by the author. He writes as if the event happened right in his eyes. He applies suspense which makes readers glued to the book till the end. This book is a worthy material for historians and educators as well as the general public.
Let’s look at chapter to chapter analyses
Chapter one The book begins with Chapter one with the title “pre-coup days”. This chapter focused on the origin of the country called Nigeria, how it gained independence from the British in 1960 and the system of governance that was in practiced. According to the author, the making of the country is attributed to colonial mistake accentuated by the colonialist. He pointed out that the various entities brought together to form a federal has nothing in common that could eventually united the people. The northern part of the country is made of people with different cultures and religions from those from the southern part, hence it will be difficult for the federation to be at peace. He also talked about the regional political parties that was in existence. To sum it all, chapter one is like a precursor to the first military interregnum in Nigeria.
Chapter two
Chapter two is titled “the Nigerian Army: the way things were”. This chapter traces the origin of the Nigerian army as well as all the commanding officers. Commanders like Maimalari, Ademulegun, Aguiyi Ironsi, Ogundipe and many others. The author captures the roles these army officers played in the political system of the country.
Chapter three This chapter focuses on the involvement of soldiers into the body politics of Nigeria. The author noted that it is not the responsibility of soldiers to be involved in politics but the affiliation and romance of the civilian leaders with the military brought about such, hence, the need for the execution of the first military coup in Nigeria. Chapter three is titled soldiers and politics.
Chapter four The title of the chapter is Enter the five Majors. This chapter analyses the first coup plotters in Nigeria. According to him, five military boys under the rank of Majors orchestrated and executed the first military coup in Nigeria. According to the author, these boys were from the Igbo extraction, one of the ethnic groups in Nigeria. However, the northerners suffered the highest blow of the coup because the victims were majorly the Hausa’s and the Fulani’s.
Chapter five
From civilian to military rule: history in the making is the title of this chapter. Here the author analysis the response and reactions toward the first military coup. He explained how the coup was a success in some part of the country and a total failure in some parts. These led to the inability of the mutinied soldiers to take over the leadership of the country. Consequently, they were arrested and a new military head of state took over the leadership of the country.
chapter six Chapter six talks about the new type of government that which was the military rule in the country as well as the retaliatory or counter coups by the northern soldiers against the Igbos living in the north. As a result of this, the first military head of state was assassinated.
In chapter seven, the author talks about the face offs that occurs amount soldiers. This face off was basically between Brigadier Ojukwo and General Gowon.
Chapter eight, nine and ten focuses on the various other coups that occurs in Nigeria. According to the author, the more the coups the more the killings continued unabated.
In chapter eleven, the author makes conscious effort in addressing the five majors who staged the first military coup. He dismissed the fact that the coup was Igbo coup as was widely held by the members of public.
Chapter twelve focuses the political conference that took place in Ghana to ascertain the unity of Nigeria, since some part of the country wanted to secede.
In chapter thirteen, the author describes the Nigerian civil war which lasted for three years claiming the lives of many Nigerians. According to him, the Igbos suffered the greatest casualty.
Chapter fourteen is about the post war years. The policies adopted by the state to reconstruct the broken country and to reconcile all members of the state toward unity and progress.
Summarily, the book, Oil, politics and violence-Nigeria’s military coup culture is an invaluable piece of writing that the general public ought to read especially Nigerians and Africans who might be interested in knowing their culture and history. Meanwhile, this book will also serve as a guide to historians and those in the research field