NZEOGWU. By Olusegun Obasanjo

Another controversial work by sterling statesman, Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria who also happens to be a dynamic, prolific writer. This is a very important work despite the polemics that surrounded its publication. 

Looked at objectively, this is an intimate profile of the man who more than anybody else was the pivot around which the first military coup in Nigeria revolved (Nzeogwu). The reader gets to know and understand Nzeogwu from the beginning of his life to his untimely death, as it were. 

The author buttresses this work with a series of letters, correspondence shared between him and Nzeogwu over the years. Many have wondered: since Nzeogwu was so close to the author (Obasanjo) and they were both (young) soldiers at the time, how come Obasanjo never had any idea that his good friend was planning something so momentous as a coup involving the most populous country in the world (Nigeria)?

I suppose “close friendships” vary, perhaps in the way that very close friends who share intense love for certain sports might yet have other very close friends who have absolutely no interest in same sports! But this is just conjecture…
 
Many contemporary reviews tend to easily conclude - especially because of this impressive work/ tribute - that Obasanjo was Nzeogwu's best friend. But perhaps this is a simplistic verdict. Adewale Ademoyega 's perspective (he was close to both of them in those days, and was one of the key men who orchestrated Nigeria's first coup) might be somewhat damning: 

"Obasanjo was also Nzeogwu's friend, so that whenever he was around, he shared the same bed with Nzeogwu. At that time Obasanjo was in the Nigerian Army Engineering Corps. He was a quiet colourless and easy going officer who did not attract any personal recognition and would not be reckoned with as revolutionary. His friendship with Nzeogwu derived mainly from the latter's ready friendliness towards all officers that were close to him." (from the book, Why We Struck). 

But no matter. The formidable scholar, Isawa Elaigwu who has published major works on Yakubu Gowon (former Nigerian Head of State) has written: "Many Nigerians believe that Nzeogwu was not guided by ethnic bias but was let down by his colleagues in the execution plot". 

What is also clear is that in this work, Obasanjo presents a comprehensive picture of Nzeogwu, essentially a panegyric, but also intermittently mildly critical. We get to know Nzeogwu a lot, and hence this is a very important work for record and scholarly purposes.
- Malome Eric  (Bolaji)