By Augustine Onwutalobi
At exactly 12:15pm on October 16th been Saturday 1965 at Lagos House, Rt Hon Dr Akweke Abyssmia Nwafor orizu was sworn in as the Acting President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces before justice of the federation, Sir Adetokumbo Ademola, shortly after the first military coup in the country narrating the events that actually made him to take over the post at the critical point in time, in the political history of Nigeria.
Dr Akweke Nwafor Orizu disclosed in one of his books “LIBERTY OR CHAINS, AFRICA MUST BE “ an autobiograph of himself published in 1999.
He wrote: ”WHEN THEREFORE I FIND MYSELF SWORN IN TO HOLDFORTH THE REIGNS OF THE STATE MY HUMILITY HEIGHTENED AND ONE OF MY GREATEST ASSIGNMENTS SINCE I WAS BORN IS TO BECOME THE ACTING PRESIDENT OF FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA FROM OCTOBER 16 1965 TO JANUARY 16 1966”..
However, it is very important to note that Dr Nwafor Orizu on that capacity as a full Acting President and Commander-in-Chief of Nigeria Armed Force acted and performed so many national duties and functions meant for the offices ..
For example, Dr Nwafor Orizu in company of all service chiefs by then such as General Agui Ironsi head of the Army forces, Oba of Lagos and others laid a warth, in honour of the unknown soldiers during the celebration of Armed forces Remembrance Day in 1965 in Lagos which is being repeated today January 2024 by the President Bola tinubu in Abuja ..
It would equally be recalled that during the process of Dr Nwafor orizu handing over power back to the military, his official office was stormed by soldiers fully armed with armoured jeeps and his children were crying that they have come to kill their father even the wife was shocked with fear over her husband safety..
But according to Dr Nwafor Orizu: “I was dressed in pure white, togo suit, I decided to see whomever they were in parlour and not in my office, if they were going to shoot me I restored I will like to face them courageously to receive the bullets in my forehead or chest, I would not like to be shut from behind as If I was running away or from my side as if I was hiding, I didn’t for one moment entertain any fear of death even though I was aware that the Prime Minister and others had been killed before I went to them, I stood up in my office and said in prayers God of Africa take care of thy servant this day ,fearlessly I met with the military commanders and asked them to go back and put their request of handing over government to them in writing which they obeyed and later come back with..
Dr Akweke Nwafor Orizu on midnight of 15th January 1965 handed over the government of Nigeria to Major general Aguiyi Ironsi as the head of the state..
The army fully armed had to escourt Dr Nwafor Orizu with his family back to his home town, Nnewi shortly after handing over..
Therefore, it is very vital that Nigerians youths and historians indeed government should and must give Dr Nwafor Orizu regard’s and honour as the one time Acting President and Commander-in-Chief of the federal republic of Nigeria and one that contributed to the restoration of peace and order in Nigeria after the Military coup …
