The family of Nigeria’s first military Head of State, General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi, has called on the Federal Government to apologize and compensate them for his assassination during the July 1966 counter-coup.
The family also appealed for reconciliation, saying a formal apology from the government would help address the grievances surrounding the former military leader’s death. Imo Aguiyi-Ironsi, head of the family, made the demand during an interview with Arise News.
“I think the family needs an apology. The family needs to be compensated. We need sincere apology. We need sincere reconciliation,” he said.
Aguiyi-Ironsi, who served as Head of State from January 16 to July 29, 1966, was killed in Ibadan alongside Lieutenant Colonel Adekunle Fajuyi during the military mutiny that became known as the July counter-coup.
Imo described the late leader as a visionary and detribalised Nigerian who was wrongly blamed for the January 1966 coup.
He argued that Aguiyi-Ironsi was targeted because of his position as the most senior military officer at the time, rather than for any involvement in the coup.
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“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 said.
He added that Aguiyi-Ironsi was asked to take charge of the country after the January coup because of his seniority in the military, a decision he said ultimately cost him his life.
“Everybody knows that. 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.
The family head expressed hope that authorities would consider their appeal and take steps towards reconciliation.
Aguiyi-Ironsi, a Major General and former General Officer Commanding the Nigerian Army, became Nigeria’s first military Head of State after the January 1966 coup.
His government lasted about six months before he was overthrown and killed during the July counter-coup, after which Lieutenant Colonel Yakubu Gowon assumed power.
Vanguard
