The family of Nigeria’s first military Head of State, Major General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi, has called on the Federal Government to issue a formal apology and provide compensation, 58 years after he was killed during the 1966 military coup crisis.
The call was made by the head of the Aguiyi-Ironsi family, Imo Aguiyi-Ironsi, during an interview on Arise News on Thursday.
He said the family deserved justice and reconciliation, insisting that the late military leader was wrongly blamed for the January 1966 coup despite having no involvement in its planning or execution.
“I think the family needs an apology. The family needs to be compensated. We need a sincere apology. We need sincere reconciliation,” he said.
Imo described him as a visionary and detribalised Nigerian whose leadership was cut short by political violence.
“He was a man of vision. He was a detribalised Nigerian. He was a good leader,” he said.
He noted that Aguiyi-Ironsi served as Nigeria’s Head of State for only six months before he was assassinated.
“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 added.
According to him, it is widely accepted that Aguiyi-Ironsi had no role in the coup that overthrew Nigeria’s First Republic.
Imo argued that he lost his life solely because he was the most senior military officer at the time and was called upon to assume leadership after the coup.
“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 also expressed hope that the Federal Government would respond to the family’s appeal.
“I hope there are people who are in positions to make this happen that are listening tonight,” he said.
Aguiyi-Ironsi became Nigeria’s Head of State on January 16, 1966, following the January 15 military coup
However, on July 29, 1966, he was overthrown and killed alongside his host, Lieutenant Colonel Adekunle Fajuyi, during a counter-coup led by northern soldiers including Major Theophilus Danjuma