Lifestyle
Francis Adekunle Fajuyi: A Symbol of Loyalty and Courage in Nigerian History
Lieutenant Colonel Francis Adekunle Fajuyi holds a revered place in Nigerian history as a military officer whose legacy is marked by loyalty, selflessness, and heroism. As the first military governor of Nigeria’s Western Region, his short but impactful leadership coincided with one of the most turbulent periods in the country’s post-independence era.
Early Military Career and Governorship
Fajuyi, born in 1926 in Ado-Ekiti, began his career in the Nigerian military with a reputation for discipline and excellence. He rose steadily through the ranks and earned recognition for his service during the Congo crisis in the early 1960s, for which he received the Military Cross.
In January 1966, following the first military coup in Nigeria, Fajuyi was appointed the Military Governor of Western Region by General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi, the country’s first military Head of State.
The 1966 Counter-Coup and Martyrdom
On July 29, 1966, a counter-coup led by northern officers unfolded in response to perceived ethnic imbalances following the first coup. General Aguiyi-Ironsi, who was visiting the Western Region at the time, was staying at Government House in Ibadan as Fajuyi’s guest.
When mutinying soldiers came to seize General Ironsi, Fajuyi refused to abandon him. In a remarkable act of loyalty, he chose to face death rather than hand over the Head of State. Both men were abducted, tortured, and executed by the coup plotters.
Legacy
Francis Fajuyi’s unwavering loyalty and willingness to die defending a guest and a friend, regardless of political or ethnic pressures, has become a powerful symbol in Nigerian history. He is celebrated for his integrity, bravery, and moral conviction—qualities that remain rare in the face of danger and betrayal.
Today, Fajuyi’s name is etched into the Nigerian consciousness as a national hero. Monuments and institutions, such as the Fajuyi Memorial Park in Ado-Ekiti, stand in his honor, serving as reminders of a man who put duty and honor above all else.
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Godwin Alabi-Isama (born 24 December 1940) is a Nigerian retired military officer, author and statesman who served as chief of staff to Brigadier Benjamin Adekunle of the 3 Marine Commando during the Nigerian Civil War.
Alabi-Isama was born on 24 December 1940, in Ilorin, Kwara State, to a Ukwani (Delta State) father and a Yoruba (Ilorin) mother. He attended Ibadan Boys High School. In 1960, he joined the Army and attended the Mons Officer Cadet School in the United Kingdom and the Senior Tactics School and Staff College in Quella, Pakistan. Alabi-Isama was a tactics instructor at the Nigerian Military School in Zaria, Nigeria and the Nigerian Military Training College (now Nigerian Defence Academy) in Kaduna prior to the civil war.
Brigadier-General Alabi-Isama served as the commander of the troops stationed at the Niger Bridge in Asaba, He was subsequently transferred by the Army Headquarters to the 3 Marina Commando, 3MCDO, operating on the Calabar front during the war. Alabi-Isama led forces against the Biafran Republic, successfully liberating various locations including Odukpani, Ikot-Okpora, Iwuru, Akunakuna, Itigidi, Ediba, Ugep, Obubra, Afikpo, Oban, and Ekang. He also “closed” the international border with Biafra at Nssakpa, as detailed in his book, The Tragedy of Victory.
In April 1968, Alabi-Isama and his 3MCDO men embarked on a mission to recapture Creek Town, Itu, Uyo, Ikot-Ekpene, Oron, Eket, Opobo, Abak, Etinan, Bori-Ogoni, Akwete, Afam, Aletu Ekene, Elelenwo, Okrika, and Port-Harcourt, successfully completing the operation the following month.” After the war, Alabi-Isama assumed the role of the Nigerian Army’s Principal General Staff Officer. In 1973, he served as the Acting Governor of the Mid-Western Region, where he notably received the first group of National Youth Service Corps members, as recounted in his autobiography. Following his retirement as a Brigadier-General from the Army in 1977, Alabi-Isama relocated to the United States.
Alabi-Isama played a pivotal role in leading the troops that successfully liberated the remaining parts of Cross River State following Colonel Adekunle’s amphibious sea landing at Calabar. Furthermore, he commanded the 3 Marine Commando troops that effectively captured the present-day states of Akwa Ibom, Rivers, and Bayelsa. His strategic planning, specifically the implementation of the Pincer 2 strategy, played a crucial role in bringing an end to the Nigerian Civil War.
The Tragedy of Victory: On-the-Spot Account of the Nigeria-Biafra War in the Atlantic Theatre is a sequential narrative of the war that lasted from 6 July 1967 to 15 January 1970 which was published in 2013. By Godwin Alabi.
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Until he left the world on February 17, 2018 at 78, Professor Akinwunmi Isola championed and promoted the Yoruba culture and language with his literary works. In 1986, he wrote and composed the college anthem that is currently sung in Wesley College Ibadan.
Among his works are:
Agogo Eèwò (2002) as Ifa Priest.
Sawo-Segberi (2005).
The Campus Queen (2004) as Professor.
Thunderbolt: Magun (2001) as Professor.
Brass Bells (1999) as Babalawo.
Efunsetan Aniwura (1981).
Efunsetan Aniwura (2005).
Isola was born in Ibadan on December 24, 1939, he studied at the University of Ibadan, earning a B.A. in French and was appointed professor at Obafemi Awolowo University in 1991. Isola wrote his first play, Efunsetan Aniwura around 1961-62 while still a student at the University of Ibadan. This was followed by a novel, O Le Ku.
He ventured into broadcasting at a time, creating a production company that has turned a number of his plays into television dramas and films.
On May 4, 2015, his book Herbert Macaulay and the Spirit of Lagos was staged at the Performing Arts Theatre of the University of Ilorin in Kwara State.
In 2000, in recognition of his immense contributions, he was awarded the National Merit Award and appointed a Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Letters. He was also a visiting professor at the University of Georgia.
BEAUTIFUL MOMENT HE PASSED AWAY
A day before his passing, his wife, Mrs Adebola Isola, said he ate amala and gbegiri and finished everything. The next day, around 9am after his bath, Mrs. Isola fed him with custard.
However, unlike before, he only took a little and continued saying: “Thank you, my wife.” She didn’t take it seriously at first because he had always appreciated her that way. But when he continued non-stop, she had to call his doctor and the children who were in Lagos.
She and the nurse who had bathed him earlier, decided to move him from the chair to the bed. Immediately his body touched the bed, he departed the world.
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Long before colonial conquest and modern borders, a fearless African woman carved her name into history through strength, strategy, and leadership—her name was Queen Amina of Zazzau.
Born in the 16th century in what is now Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria, Amina was a princess of the Hausa city-state of Zazzau (now Zaria). She was the granddaughter of King Sarkin Nohir and daughter of Queen Bakwa Turunku, the founder of the Zazzau dynasty. Amina trained as a warrior from an early age, mastering the art of war, horse riding, and governance—unusual for women of her time.
When she became queen around 1576, Amina transformed Zazzau into a powerful empire, commanding armies of up to 20,000 soldiers. She led over 34 military campaigns, conquering vast territories across what is today Northern Nigeria and parts of Niger, Cameroon, and beyond. Every land she conquered paid tribute to Zazzau, expanding its wealth and influence across the Sahel.
One of her most legendary contributions was the construction of city walls—now known as “Amina’s walls”—fortifications built around cities to protect them from invasion. These walls still stand today as historical monuments, symbols of her foresight and military genius.
Queen Amina was not only a warrior but also a builder of civilization. She promoted trade, especially in Kola nuts, leather, salt, and metals, making Zazzau a commercial hub. Under her rule, women had significant roles in governance and society—she redefined what leadership looked like.
Though she died in battle (reportedly around 1610), Queen Amina’s legacy lives on. She shattered gender norms and proved that African women were never just behind the scenes—they were kings, generals, and visionaries. Her story is a powerful reminder that Africa’s past is rich with heroes who led with courage, brilliance, and honor.
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