The family of Nigeria’s first military Head of State, Major General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi, has called on the Federal Government to formally apologise for his assassination in 1966, insisting that the former leader was unjustly killed for a coup in which he played no role.
Speaking during an interview on Arise News on Thursday, the head of the Aguiyi-Ironsi family, Imo Aguiyi-Ironsi, said the family also deserves compensation and genuine national reconciliation over the circumstances surrounding the late military leader’s death.
“I think the family needs an apology. The family needs to be compensated. We need a sincere apology. We need sincere reconciliation,” he said.
He described Aguiyi-Ironsi as a patriotic and detribalised Nigerian whose leadership was cut short by political events beyond his control.
“He was a man of vision. He was a detribalised Nigerian. He was a good leader,” he stated.
According to him, the late Head of State governed the country for only six months before he was assassinated, despite having no involvement in the January 15, 1966 military coup.
“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.”
Imo Aguiyi-Ironsi maintained that it is widely acknowledged that his uncle had no hand in the coup and only assumed leadership because he was the most senior military officer at the time.
“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.
He expressed hope that those in positions of authority would heed the family’s appeal for justice and reconciliation.
“Well, I hope there are people who are in positions to make this happen that are listening to you tonight,” he added.
Major General Aguiyi-Ironsi became Nigeria’s Head of State on January 16, 1966, following the coup that claimed the lives of several top political leaders. Although he suppressed the mutiny and restored order, his administration later faced criticism over the promulgation of Decree No. 34 and the perceived failure to prosecute the coup plotters.
On July 29, 1966, he was assassinated alongside his host, Lieutenant Colonel Adekunle Fajuyi, during the counter-coup staged by northern military officers, bringing his brief tenure to a violent end.
