My father warned the Prime Minister they would all be killed–Awosika, Festus Okotie-Eboh’s daughter

7 years ago

My father warned the Prime Minister they would all be killed–Awosika, Festus Okotie-Eboh’s daughter

The January 15, 1966 coup wiped out some of Nigeria’s finest military officers. But not only military officers were killed during the coup, masterminded by Major Kaduna Nzeogwu, Major Timothy Onwuatuewgu and several others, the Prime Minister, Tafawa Balewa and some heads of regional governments were also killed. Notably, only one serving Minister, Chief Festus Okotie-Eboh, was killed during the coup. He was the then Minister of Finance. Interestingly, he had an idea there would be a coup, and he even informed his boss, the Prime Minister, but they ended up being casualties of the same event.

Yes, it’s been over 50 years since they were killed, but it appears the incident is still as fresh in the minds of people who lost their loved ones to the incident. In this interview with TUNDE AJAJA, one of Okotie-Eboh’s children, Dr. Dere Awosika, shares her father’s last moment and why he was the only minister killed in the coup

The day your dad was abducted was your 13th birthday and you got the news in the middle of the celebration, could you still recall all that happened that day?

It was my father’s usual practice to go home to celebrate Christmas holiday with family members in Sapele. So, we had left Lagos for Sapele. On January 10, my dad was recalled to Lagos by the Prime Minister, Tafawa Balewa, because of the crisis in the South West then over an election, especially in Ibadan, under the premiership of Chief Ladoke Akintola. There was an election which people did not accept the result and the crisis had been on even before we travelled, but the crisis had escalated. People were killed and houses were set ablaze. It was obvious then that the crisis was spreading. So, he left the following day; January 11. He was preparing the Itsekiri dancers to go to England and perform for the Queen of England; she had always loved the Itsekiri dancers. He did that from time to time. So, he took some of the dancers along to practice and prepare them to go to London. Two of my cousins who were like our sister and brother, also went with him; while we, his children, remained in Sapele for the holiday. We had a brief singing practice the night before the day he left because he liked music and so we used to have practice with him in the house. He eventually left the following day; we never knew that was the last we would see of him.

He was very fond of you. Did you make efforts to go to Lagos with him?

I actually wanted to travel with him that morning. I remember running after him on the staircase and I remember clearly that he stood on the other side of the stairs, saying to my stepmother that perhaps they should get my things and I should come with him since he would be back in few days. But the preparation for my birthday was already ongoing. On January 15, my birthday, he called at about 12:03am to say happy birthday to me. I had not celebrated my birthday for a couple of years, and he told me he had asked my stepmother to organise a big birthday party for me and assured me that I would enjoy the day. My father was a very strict man, so I thanked him. Many children had been invited and so on that morning, we made use of the guest apartment in the compound for the party. There was music and everywhere was lively. Suddenly, a helicopter landed in our compound. As typical of children, on sighting a helicopter, children started running around, not knowing they came with the news that my father could not be found. I saw my stepmother hurrying somewhere with some people. Our house was very far away from the centre of the town; about three miles away, but people across the town had poured into our compound because they had got the news. The place went into a frenzy and some people were crying. They later told us they could not find my father. They said some soldiers whisked him away. I saw my stepmother driving out in company with some people, apparently to go and ensure that his mother didn’t hear about it. She lived in Orogun which is a bit