Ekiti Son, Adekunle Fajuyi: The Uncommon Hero

The story of the Nigeria Army cannot be told without the brave deeds of one of the country’s finest officers, Lt. Col. Francis Adekunle Fajuyi, a man who died loyal to his guest and Commander–in- Chief and the First Nigerian fighter to be decorated by the United Nations....


Fajuyi will be eternally remembered as a gallant officer who had a choice to save his head and give away his boss but chose to die with his Superior officer. Major General Johnson Thomas Umunnakwe Aguiyi- Ironsi, the country’s first Two-Star General and Military leader was on a tour of the Western Region after visiting the Northern Region. Fajuyi was governor of the West and both were at the Government House Ibadan. At exactly 6.30 a.m.

Captain Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma stormed the area with troops who were originally stationed to protect the Head of State. Lt. William Godang Walbe was in charge of Ironsi’s personal escorts but was like a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

He joined forces with those whose mission was to kill his master. With Lt. Garba Dada Paiko and other ranks like Clement Dabang, Tijanni Maiduguri, Useni Fagge and Ibrahim Rabo they rendered Danjuma powerless, dragging Ironsi out into the open. Fajuyi was shocked by the rascality of the guardsmen and their disgruntled leaders.

He resisted their attempt. In plain language, the boys asked him to stay away since their target was the General. The governor refused to give way.

The two senior officers were bundled into a Land Rover, driven to a lonely bush at Olodo on the Ibadan-Iwo road, humiliated, tied to two palm trees and executed.

Fajuyi could not stand the shame of having the Commander– in–Chief killed in his presence in the West by Northern soldiers who could have done that conveniently in their region which Ironsi had visited before travelling down to Ibadan.

That would be a huge stain on his honour. It was much expected. A Japanese officer of the Samurai would choose harakiri [belly cutting or suicide to dishonour. Fajuyi was Yoruba but had travelled far and wide in the course of training.

He trained in Britain, had served the British in Germany, worked for the United Nations in the Congo and also was in Pakistan. In the Congo, Fajuyi was Military Assistant to the Supreme Commander of the UN Forces in 1960. As a Major, he earned the Military Cross for gallantry and courage; the First Nigerian Army officer to be so decorated.

Therefore, when confronted by the Coup plotters in 1966, he displayed his trade mark bravery by choosing not to abandon his Commander-in- Chief. They spent their last moments together, a harrowing experience where subordinates stripped their seniors, beat them to pulp and shot them like animals.

Their bodies were later retrieved by officers of the Police Special Branch under Maigari Dikko and including Joseph Dechi Gomwalk and buried at the Ibadan Military Cemetery.

It was not until six months later, in January 1967 that Fajuyi’s body was exhumed and taken to his home town Ado Ekiti for proper burial. Fajuyi remains a pride to the Nigeria Army. By staying with Ironsi even in death, he sent a message to future generat ion of officers and men especially in this era of insurgency where there have been reported cases of trained soldiers running away from battle in the North –East.

The governor was loyal to the end. Ironsi had appointed him military governor of Western Region even when there were insinuations that Col. Robert Adeyinka Adebayo, a fellow Yoruba could have been favoured for the position.

The latter only became governor under Lt.Col. Yakubu Gowon following the assassination of Ironsi and Fajuyi. It could be argued that because Fajuyi spent quite sometime as an officer in the Eastern Region, he was prepared not to be labeled a traitor. Fajuyi was once at the First Battalion Enugu as Weapons Training Officer and later as Company Commander.

Upon return from the Congo and wearing the rank of Lt.Col, he was posted to the Coal City to Command the Battalion there. In 1964, Fajuyi traveled to Pakistan for a Senior Tactical Course.

When he returned, the Colonel was again sent to Enugu. With all his accomplishments, Fajuyi was a decent man who did not believe in looting the peoples Commonwealth. When he died, there was no palatial home anywhere in the country not even in Ado Ekiti attached to his name.

The building he was putting up before appointment as governor suffered neglect immediately after the elevation. Fifty years after the demise of this warrior, Nigeria is filled with corruption. Governors are buying houses overseas, some soldiers are richer than their states and public officers pledge loyalty to their pockets not to the nation.

By remembering heroes like Fajuyi, younger Nigerians have something to look up to. His wife Eunice died in 2013, his second son Dayo departed in the same year but the Fajuyi name still rings a bell. His first son Donald Femi is proud of his father and has continued to maintain the good name.

Today, Fajuyi should be celebrated as an exceptional Nigerian, a brave soldier and one that compatriots should emulate. Loyalty may lead to death but it is a thing of honour to die as a man than to live as a coward.