Nigeria's UN Envoy Says Coup 'Tragedy' By William Sonzski Nigeria's ambassador to the United Nations, S. O. Adebo, said in Boston yesterday that the overthrow of the country's established government last Saturday was a "tragedy of disappointed expectations." "In every emergent country the problem is to produce results quickly enough," the ambassador said in a press conference at the Ritz Carlton. "Projected into the Atomic Age, the people know about the high standards of life in other countries and expect some advancement in their lifetime." Adebo said the coup, which resulted in military government headed by Maj. Gen. Aguiyi-Ironsi, "caught me by surprise," and shocked UN delegates from other African countries who, along with Western observers, had considered Nigeria one of the most stable governments in Africa. Adebo, a highly respected statesman at the UN and chairman of the body's committee to resolve the voting rights deadlocks, was in Boston last night to speak on "Nigeria's Unique Role in World Affairs" before the World Affairs Council. The ambassador deplored the use of force to change governments as something "Nigeria doesn't like," but said he is relying on the pledge of Ironsi to dissolve the military government and return the nation's parliament to power immediately after order has been re-established. Adebo said that his information from Washington and Lagos was incomplete and did not indicate whether outside forces contributed to the coup which led to the abduction of Prime Minister Abubakar Tafawa Balewa and the assassination of Finance Minister Frestus Okotie Ebon and certain army personnel. He said the swift recognition of the provisional government by President Kawme Nkrumah of Ghana implied only that the Communist-aligned country decided it was desirable and timely to establish diplomatic relations. "It's impossible to forecast the future of the provisional government," Adebo stated. "I can only ask that the friends of Nigeria withhold speculation and offer prayers for the time being."

Dixon, George (Photographer) · [ca. January 1966]

[Information from item housing] Adebo. Chief S.O. Nigeria