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THE first Premier of Western Region of Nigeria, Chief Jeremiah Obafemi Awolowo was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment along with others for allegedly planning a coup against Nigeria.
When the military took over power on January 15, 1966, late General Aguiyi-Ironsi became the Head of State. Awolowo was said to have written a petition to Ironsi for his release.
There has been controversy on who actually released Awolowo from prison between General J.T.U. Aguiyi-Ironsi and Lt. Colonel Yakubu Gowon.
While some argued that it was Gowon, not many knew that Aguiyi-Ironsi had worked for his release but could not effect it because he along with Colonel Adekunle Fajuyi were assassinated on the day Awolowo was to be released. Gowon claimed the glory over Aguiyi-Ironsi.
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READ FULL FACTUAL STORY IF THE EVENTS THAT LED TO AWOLOWO’S RELEASE
“Awolowo petitioned the new Head of State, General J.T.U. Aguiyi-Ironsi asking that he be released along with his lieutenants who were also serving various jail terms across the country.
Ironsi was sympathetic and so was the military Governor of the West, Lt. Colonel Adekunle Fajuyi.
But Luis Edet, the Inspector General of Police, IGP advised against it claiming that Awolowo may have known about the bloody coup that took the lives of his bitterest enemies including Akintola, Alhaji Ahmadu Bello, the Premier of the Northern Region, Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa-Balewa, the Prime Minister and Chief Festus Okoti-Eboh, the Minister of Finance.
But Ironsi insisted on releasing Awolowo and his men. He conceded to Edet that security precautions should be taken about his release.
Therefore, he instructed that Awolowo should be moved first from Calabar to Ikoyi Prison in Lagos.
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A modernized cell was prepared for him, putting him under house arrest was also considered. On July 27, 1966, Mr. Olu Olofin, the Editor of Irohin Yoruba brought a message from Colonel Fajuyi to Awolowo in Calabar that the Supreme Military Council had approved his petition and that he will be released very soon. The following morning, the one-engine Plans was dispatched to Calabar to fetch Awolowo.
But he declined to travel in a single engine plane.
On July 29, 1966, another bigger Plane was sent to Calabar, a two-engine Plane, however, on that fateful day Ironsi and Fajuyi were kidnapped in Ibadan and subsequently assassinated.
The Pilot who flew to Calabar could not carry out his assignment. In view of the National crisis, instead, Mr. Luis Edet ordered his arrest and the Pilot was thrown into Enugu Prison.
Awolowo too remained behind bars for three days after Ironsi and Fajuyi were assassinated, Nigeria had no government.
Finally, on August 1, 1966 the coup makers installed Lt. Colonel Yakubu Gowon as the new Head of State.
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He was Ironsi’s Chief of Army Staff and therefore was privy to the Supreme Council decision.
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Two days after he came to power on August 3, 1966, Gowon signed the Executive Order releasing Awolowo from Calabar Prison in the then Eastern Region (now capital of Cross River State) where he had been held for many months.
It was in that Prison that Awolowo wrote his seminal book, “Thoughts On The Nigerian Constitution.”
Though he had prayed and hoped for the freedom, when it came, it took Awolowo almost by surprise because he was not expecting Gowon to act so fast.
He was met early in the morning by the Prison Governor who read to him the proclamation of his freedom.
He was then driven to the Airport and flown to Lagos when he met the new Head of State, Gowon for the first time.
It was a warm encounter. Everything was happening so fast.”
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