WITHIN NIGERIA highlights one notable event that occurred on April 22 in the history of this country, Nigeria in an effort to increase the level of awareness and historical alertness of our esteemed readers.
Major Gideon Orkar failed coup d’etat attempt
On this day, April 22 in 1990, a faction of Armed Forces officers, led by Major Gideon Orkar, attempted to overthrow the government of General Ibrahim Babangida.
According to reports, rebel troops seized the FRCN radio station and various military posts around Lagos, including the military headquarters and presidential residence, the Dodan Barracks.
Babangida was present when the barracks were attacked but managed to escape by a back route. In the coup address, Orkar called for the excision of five northern states of Nigeria, he accused Babangida of planning to install himself as Nigeria’s life president, accused the Federal Military Government of marginalization of the people of Niger Delta and the entire Southern part of the country.
In his letter addressed to the nation through a live broadcast at around 4am of April 22, 1990, they made a stunning announcement expelling indigenous people of far North states of Bauchi, Borno, Katsina, Kano and Sokoto from Nigeria.
Although, the coup was identified to be masterminded by Major Gideon Orkar, the trial of the April 22, 1990 coup and other evidences shows that he was just a conduit and not the original mastermind behind the coup.
The ideological arrowheads of the coup were Lt. Colonel Anthony Nyiam, Major Saliba Mukoro, Major Cyril Obahor and it was only in the latter stages of the coup that Orkar was recruited into the plot. It must also be said that millionaire businessman Chief Great Ovedje Ogboru was the top financier of the coup.
