Sixty years after the January 15, 1966 military coup led by Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu, retired Major-General Ibrahim Bata Malgwi (IBM) Haruna says the takeover was almost bound to happen because of long-standing political and regional problems in Nigeria, a new interview shows.

Haruna spoke about the coup and its effects on national unity, politics and security.

Haruna, a former Federal Commissioner for Information and Culture (1975–1977) and past Chairman of the Arewa Consultative Forum, told Vanguard that Nigeria’s system of government after independence in 1960 was deeply flawed.

He said the way the country was set up — with unequal regions and unclear power sharing — created tension among leaders and ordinary citizens.

He explained that Nigeria had been given a kind of independence that still kept some British influence, and that the three main regions — North, East and West — were very different in size, population and resources.

These differences made it hard to run the country fairly, he said, and added that the regions often argued over political power and money.

Haruna said tensions spread beyond politics into the military and police, which felt they were being used for political advantage rather than national protection.

He said young army officers believed they could run the country better, fight corruption and unite Nigeria, and that this belief helped lead to the 1966 coup.

He noted that most officers involved in the coup were young majors and that the structure of the army and security services at the time contributed to the crisis.

According to Haruna, recruitment and leadership roles were skewed toward officers from one region, which fuelled division within the armed forces.

Asked whether Nigeria could have avoided the coup, Haruna said the political setup of the time made violence almost unavoidable.

He said the underlying issues of inequality, ethnic tension and disputes over power and resources had been present since colonial rule and carried into the post-independence era.

He also reflected on the lessons of the coup and the 1967–1970 civil war that followed, saying Nigeria has moved toward democratic rule and more credible elections over time.

Haruna said these democratic gains are important, even if security challenges and conflict still exist.

Haruna urged Nigeria’s leaders to maintain peace and build strong institutions that can handle disagreements without violence. He said credible elections, secure environments and inclusive political processes are key to preventing upheaval like the one in 1966.