How my trusted security aide contributed to overthrow me — Gowon
Gowon Claims Betrayal from Former Security Chief in 1975 Coup
LAGOS — Former Nigerian Head of State Gen. Yakubu Gowon (retd.) has alleged that his once-trusted security aide, Joseph Garba, played a role in his overthrow during the coup of July 1975. In his newly released autobiography, My Life of Duty and Allegiance, Gowon described the incident as one of the most profound betrayals of his public life, citing both trust and familial ties as reasons for his disillusionment.
Gowon revealed that only days before the coup, Garba, who served as the Commander of the Federal Guards Unit, assured him he was unaware of any plots against the government. This assurance came despite warnings from M.D. Yusuf, Gowon’s Chief Security Officer, who had alerted him to coup plans by some military officers in the lead-up to the Organization of African Unity summit in Kampala, Uganda. Yusuf specifically identified Garba and Anthony Ochefu, the then Provost Marshal of the Nigerian Military Police, as key figures in the conspiracy.
The former head of state expressed that these warnings placed him in an acute dilemma, as he had appointed Garba to a critical role in his security apparatus, a position entrusted with his personal protection.
Gowon also noted that Garba’s appointment was influenced by their shared Christian faith and their similar backgrounds from Benue Plateau State. “As commander of the Federal Guards, Garba was supposed to have unquestionable loyalty. I had grown to like and trust him over the years,” Gowon stated.
This revelation adds to the complex narrative of Gowon’s tenure and the challenges he faced during a turbulent period in Nigeria’s political history.
