- Ironsi’s family seeks FG apology and compensation
- They say he was wrongly blamed for the 1966 coup
- Aguiyi-Ironsi was killed during the July 1966 counter-coup
The family of Nigeria’s first military Head of State, General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi, has appealed to the Federal Government to apologise and provide compensation over his death in 1966.
Eko Hot Blog gathered that the request was made by the family’s representative, Imo Aguiyi-Ironsi, during an interview with Arise News on Thursday, where he called for genuine reconciliation over the circumstances surrounding the former leader’s assassination.
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According to him, the family believes an official apology and compensation would help address the injustice they feel was done to Aguiyi-Ironsi.
“I think the family needs apology. The family needs to be compensated. We need sincere apology. We need sincere reconciliation,” he said.
Describing his uncle as a visionary and patriotic Nigerian, Imo said Aguiyi-Ironsi was unfairly blamed for a coup he was not involved in.
“He was a man of vision. He was a detribalised Nigerian. He was a good leader,” he stated.
He explained that Aguiyi-Ironsi’s time as Head of State lasted only six months before he was killed, not because of any offence he committed, but due to the position he held.
“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.
Imo added that Aguiyi-Ironsi became a target because he was the most senior military officer at the time and was asked to take control of the country following the coup.
He expressed hope that government officials who have the authority to address the family’s concerns would listen to the appeal.
Aguiyi-Ironsi became Nigeria’s Head of State on January 16, 1966, following the military coup that led to the death of several political leaders. He later introduced Decree 34, which moved the country towards a more centralised system of government.
His leadership faced opposition, particularly among northern military officers, partly due to his decision not to prosecute those behind the January coup.
On July 29, 1966, Aguiyi-Ironsi was killed alongside the military governor of the Western Region, Lieutenant Colonel Adekunle Fajuyi, during the counter-coup carried out by northern soldiers.
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