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The family of Nigeria’s first military Head of State, General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi, has demanded an official apology, compensation and reconciliation from the Nigerian government over his killing in 1966.
The family made the demand on Thursday through its head, Imo Aguiyi-Ironsi, during an interview with Arise News. He said the family wants a sincere acknowledgement of the events that led to the former Head of State’s death.
“I think the family needs apology. The family needs to be compensated. We need sincere apology. We need sincere reconciliation,” he said.
Imo described his uncle as a visionary and patriotic leader who was wrongly punished 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 said.
Aguiyi-Ironsi served as Nigeria’s Head of State for about six months, from January 16 to July 29, 1966, after taking over following the January coup that claimed the lives of several political leaders.
The family representative said his uncle was targeted because he was the most senior military officer at the time.
“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.
According to him, Aguiyi-Ironsi’s decision to accept leadership after the coup led to his death, despite not being involved in the military takeover.
Aguiyi-Ironsi was killed on July 29, 1966, alongside Lieutenant Colonel Adekunle Fajuyi, during the July counter-coup led by northern soldiers.
His government had introduced Decree 34, which moved Nigeria towards a more centralised system of governance. The decision, alongside criticism over the handling of the January coup plotters, increased tensions among some military officers.
