THE family of Nigeria’s first military Head of State, Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi, has called on the Federal Government to formally apologise for his killing in 1966, while also demanding compensation and genuine reconciliation.
News Point Nigeria reports that the head of the Aguiyi-Ironsi family, Imo Aguiyi-Ironsi, made the demands during an interview with Arise News on Thursday, insisting that the family deserved justice decades after the assassination of the former Head of State.
“I think the family needs apology. The family needs to be compensated. We need sincere apology. We need sincere reconciliation,” he said.
Imo Aguiyi-Ironsi described his late uncle as a visionary and detribalised Nigerian leader who was unjustly punished for a coup in which he played no role.
“He was a man of vision. He was a detribalized Nigerian. He was a good leader,” he said.
He recalled that Aguiyi-Ironsi’s tenure as Nigeria’s Head of State lasted only six months before it was brought to a violent end.
“He occupied the seat of head of state for only six months, and he was taken away from us.
“Not because of a sin he committed, because he wasn’t part of the January 1966 coup.”
He insisted that the former Head of State’s innocence regarding the January 15, 1966 coup was widely acknowledged.
“Everybody knows that,” he said.
According to him, Aguiyi-Ironsi ultimately lost his life not because of any wrongdoing but because he was the most senior military officer at the time and was called upon to assume leadership.
“Only because of his position as the most senior military officer, he was told to take charge. And then that cost him his life,” he said.
He expressed hope that those in positions of authority would hear the family’s appeal and take steps toward reconciliation.
“Well, I hope there are people who are in positions to make this happen that are listening to you tonight,” he said.
Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi served as Nigeria’s Head of State from January 16 to July 29, 1966, assuming office in the aftermath of the January 15, 1966 military coup that claimed the lives of several members of the country’s political leadership.
Although he survived the coup and played a key role in suppressing the mutiny, his subsequent decision to centralise power through Decree No. 34, coupled with his failure to prosecute the coup plotters, generated widespread resentment among some northern military officers.
On July 29, 1966, Aguiyi-Ironsi was killed alongside his host, Lieutenant Colonel Adekunle Fajuyi, during a mutiny by northern soldiers that became known as the July counter-coup, bringing his brief administration to a tragic end.