Former Nigerian Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (rtd), has revealed that he had advance warning of the 1975 military coup that removed him from power but chose not to act on the information.
In a rare interview, Gowon disclosed that he was tipped off before the July 29 coup, which occurred while he was attending an Organisation of African Unity (OAU) summit in Kampala, Uganda. He said trusted contacts informed him that a group within his own administration was planning to overthrow him.
“I knew about the plan,” Gowon said. “I was told it was going to happen by a special group. I didn’t bother to find out who they were. I was only told two names very close to me, and I wasn’t surprised.”
The coup was publicly announced by Brigadier Joseph Garba via national radio, and it brought General Murtala Mohammed to power, ending Gowon’s nine-year rule. The plotters cited reasons such as delays in returning to civilian rule, dissatisfaction with the pace of governance, and internal frustrations among top military officers.
But Gowon, now 90, said his main focus then was on Nigeria’s broader international responsibilities, especially in helping to end colonial rule in Africa. According to him, his trip to Uganda was to demonstrate Nigeria’s leadership role in Africa’s liberation struggle.
“I went to Kampala to do exactly what they said Nigeria had come of age to do,” he said. “I wanted to show that no foreign power could dictate to us and that we could lead Africa.”
On claims that he refused to leave power, Gowon denied such accusations, saying his government had initially planned a handover in 1976, but serious internal disagreements among military governors and fears of instability caused a delay.
“The infighting was similar to what happened before the 1966 crisis. I feared that rushing back to civilian rule might break the country apart,” he explained.
Despite being overthrown, Gowon said he held no bitterness towards those who removed him. “They said it was our boys that removed me. I knew many of them personally. But I wasn’t worried. I was doing what I believed was right for Nigeria and Africa.”
The 1975 coup remains one of Nigeria’s most significant political events, marking the end of Gowon’s era and the beginning of General Murtala Mohammed’s short-lived but impactful leadership.
