Aguiyi-Ironsi’s Family Demands Compensation, Apology 58 Years After Counter-Coup

The family of Nigeria’s first military Head of State, Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi, has demanded an apology from the Federal Government over his killing in 1966. The family also called for compensation and reconciliation.

The family’s head, Imo Aguiyi-Ironsi, made the demand during an interview with Arise News on Thursday. He said the family needs an apology and compensation, and that they need a sincere apology and sincere reconciliation. He described his uncle as a visionary leader who was wrongly punished for a coup he had no role in. He said his uncle was a man of vision, a detribalized Nigerian and a good leader.

Imo Aguiyi-Ironsi noted that his uncle’s tenure as Head of State was brief and ended violently. He said his uncle occupied the seat of Head of State for only six months, and was taken away from them. He added that it was not because of a sin his uncle committed, because he wasn’t part of the January 1966 coup. He insisted this fact was widely established.

According to him, Aguiyi-Ironsi’s death resulted from his position rather than any wrongdoing on his part. He said that only because of his position as the most senior military officer, he was told to take charge, and that cost him his life. He expressed hope that his appeal would reach those with the power to act on it

Background

Aguiyi-Ironsi served as Nigeria’s Head of State from January 16 to July 29, 1966, taking charge in the aftermath of the January 15, 1966 coup that had claimed the lives of the country’s political leadership. He survived that coup and helped crush the mutiny, but his later decision to centralise power under Decree 34, along with his failure to prosecute the plotters, fuelled resentment among northern officers. He was killed on July 29, 1966, alongside his host, Lieutenant Colonel Adekunle Fajuyi, in a mutiny by northern soldiers that became known as the July counter-coup.

Written by News Room