In the last week of February 1990, a single phone call changed the course of Nigerian history.
Lt. Colonel Lawan Gwadabe, then Military Governor of Niger State and a senior Armoured Corps officer, received an urgent call from a trusted course mate at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA). The voice on the other end was calm but serious. What he revealed was explosive: a coup plot was already in motion against President Ibrahim Babangida, and one of the key plotters was Major Gideon Orkar.
Gwadabe was stunned. Orkar was not just any officer — he was a fellow Armoured Corps colleague whom Gwadabe had known for years. The caller named Orkar as one of the central figures in the conspiracy, alongside other officers mostly from the Niger Delta.
The Urgent Confrontation
Without wasting time, Gwadabe immediately summoned Major Gideon Orkar to Minna. When Orkar arrived, Gwadabe confronted him directly and firmly:
“Major Orkar, you are one of us [a Northerner], and I don’t care what these people [Niger Delta officers] have been telling you.”
Gwadabe warned Orkar about the grave consequences of the plot and advised him strongly to travel to Lagos immediately and disclose everything to President Babangida’s Aide-de-Camp, Lt. Colonel Usman Kakanda Bello (popularly known as U.K. Bello). He assured Orkar that he would be protected if he cooperated.
Orkar’s Decision and trip to Dodan Barracks
Shaken by the confrontation and Gwadabe’s direct intervention, Orkar followed the advice and travelled to Lagos.
The Missed Meeting That Triggered Panic
Orkar arrived in Lagos and met with U.K. Bello, who was supposed to arrange a meeting with Babangida. However, due to scheduling conflicts and the President’s busy routine, the meeting could not be secured immediately.
This delay proved critical. When the plotters learned that Orkar had travelled to Lagos and had been in contact with the President’s inner circle, they panicked. They assumed their plans had been compromised and that arrests were imminent. Believing they had been exposed, the core conspirators made a rushed decision to move their timeline forward.
This premature action is widely cited as one of the major reasons the coup ultimately failed. The plotters launched their attempt before they were fully prepared, giving loyal forces time to respond effectively.
Why This Coup Attempt Was Significant
The 1990 Orkar Coup attempt was one of the most daring challenges to Babangida’s regime. It highlighted deep grievances from the Niger Delta region and exposed cracks within the military establishment. The swift intervention by Gwadabe and Orkar’s eventual cooperation prevented what could have been a major destabilisation of the government.
The event also showcased Babangida’s political astuteness — his network of loyal officers and intelligence apparatus helped him survive multiple threats during his eight-year rule.
Source: Historical narration by @omolokun1 (featured in the Instagram reel by current_andconvo).
Daily Trust interview with Lawal Gwadabe
