MAJOR C. K. NZEOGWU. By Okeleke Peter Nzeogwu

 

This book focuses on the life and times of C.k Nzeogwu usually stated to be the living spirit behind the first military coup in Nigeria.

Yet looking back on it (as clear from this book written by his own little brother) Nzeogwu was a rather strange, startling personality. For example, he was still very young when the coup took place, he was less than 30 years old!

His focus was such that he even avoided women, abstaining from sex, and marriage. Consider it: a young man, comfortable, with a car, single, yet not getting involved with women! He seemed obsessed only with real change, "revolution" in his society.

His "strangeness" was obvious even as a kid, a young schoolboy. He abhorred injustice, tyranny so much, that he even hit (punched) his own father who was giving his (Nzeogwu’s) sister a good spanking!

Nzeogwu would die very young (before 30) yet he was responsible enough to help his parents, siblings etc and put them on the path to self-subsistence before he died. The testimony of the author here (kid brother of Nzeogwu) shows that despite being an enigma, he loved and took care of his siblings with striking generosity. 

For example, Nzeogwu provided whole full chickens for his younger siblings upon a visit to him at his residence.  He pulled out all the stops to ensure that they would have a good start in life.

In the end Nzeogwu a very controversial figure till date, died again under mysterious circumstances. But the man and his family became revered and respected by many. In this book eg the author pays tribute to Gen Obasanjo, Tai Solarin for their love for the Nzeogwus.

All in all - as is also obvious from this book - C. K Nzeogwu was a selfless, intrepid nationalist and revolutionary. He has rightly gone down in Nigerian, African history.

- Henry Ozogula