As A Soldier, You Know That A Senior Officer Doesn’t Take Instructions From Junior Officer -Ikechukwu

According to a report by Daily Post on Friday, July 31, 2026, Okey Ikechukwu, a Professor of Strategic Management and Human Capital Development, has said the actions of the late Major Kaduna Nzeogwu during the 1966 military coup had long-term negative consequences for the Igbo people.

He made the remarks on Thursday while speaking as a guest on Arise Television’s Prime Time, where he reflected on the events surrounding the military takeover.

During the interview, Ikechukwu discussed the circumstances of the 1966 coup, maintaining that many Nigerian elders who witnessed the period understood that there had been widespread misconceptions about what transpired.

He argued that the historical interpretation of the coup had continued to shape public opinion over the years.

He stressed that the Igbo ethnic group should not be held responsible for the actions taken by Major Nzeogwu, insisting that the military officer acted independently.

According to him, there was no mandate or approval from the Igbo people directing Nzeogwu to carry out the coup.

Ikechukwu explained that the structure and hierarchy of the Nigerian military made it highly unusual for an officer of Nzeogwu’s rank to assume authority over senior commanders.

He noted that military discipline required officers to operate strictly within established chains of command.

He further stated that the events of the coup reflected a misunderstanding of military procedures, pointing out that a junior-ranking officer could not legitimately issue directives to officers who held significantly higher positions within the armed forces.

The professor also said the sequence of events during the coup demonstrated why many senior Nigerians of that era recognised that the situation was more complex than it was often portrayed.

He maintained that the actions of one military officer should not have been interpreted as representing the position or intentions of an entire ethnic group.

“As a soldier, you know that a senior officer does not take instructions from a junior officer.

“So, for a Major in the Nigerian Army to enter a radio station, announce he had taken over, and then in the process of that announcement, is instructing the GOCs to take over and be in charge of the areas.

“You’re addressing Brigadiers-General. You are not even a Lieutenant-Colonel,” Ikechukwu said…….See More