Footage on Count-Down to the January 1966 Coup
By
Dr. Segun Dawodu
Dr Akinola Maja (Senior) was a known Mentor of
Kwame
Nkrumah and was also known to have sponsored most of
the political groups that Kwame belonged to in the
early days. His Son, Dr. Ladipo Maja (of the famed
Lagos women's song - O'n ro mio, O'n dun mi o , Dr.
Maja rora se - from his great prowess as an
abortionist and doing Ceasarean section under Local
Anaesthetics) was a known braggart who became close to
Nkrumah from the relationship that had earlier
developed between Kwame and Dr. Maja Snr.
As I was told by Dr. Ladipo Maja himself, it was from
this friendship that Kwame arranged his marriage to a
Ghanaian Lady. This is a further proof of the
closeness of Ladipo Maja to Kwame.
Even though he never accepted that he did anything
wrong in this regard, stories from some of his close
friends were that he was privy to plans by Nkrumah for
a coup to topple Balewa and bring Awolowo into Power
and in his usual brash manner went around town telling
everyone in Lagos that the Balewa's Goverment was
going to be overthrown.
When he was arrested, he decided to tell all he knew
becoming the main government witness against Awolowo.
It is of importance that Sir Adetokunbo Ademola was
also his Uncle and was involved in ensuing the
co-operation of Ladipo in the matter.
It was also widely quoted that Awolowo made a comment
later while talking to the older Maja that the son
(i.e Ladipo had a big mouth and was a spoiler).
While it could be true that Ladipo was close to the
government via Adetokunbo Ademola, this was only after
he was indicted and the consequences of a treasonable
felony charge were read to him, forcing him to
betray his friendship. His Dad also never forgave him
for this.
In later years, Ladipo was charged and sentenced for
the murder of innocent labourers in a disputed Tomori
Island (of Apapa Island) and served years in Jail at
the Lagos Island Hospital!!!
He subsequently became close friends to Kam Salem and
Gowon through whom he got a lot of Medical
retainership for NEPA and other Federal government
parastatals.
The above information were gathered in the process of
working for him in 1 year period in Lagos many many
moons ago.
Segun
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