Nearly 60 years after the death of Nigeria’s first military Head of State, General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi, his family is demanding an official apology, compensation and reconciliation from the Federal Government.
The family head, Imo Aguiyi-Ironsi, made the call during an interview with Arise News, saying the family wants recognition of the circumstances surrounding the former leader’s death.
“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 man of vision” and “a detribalised Nigerian”, Imo Aguiyi-Ironsi said the former Head of State was wrongly blamed for the January 1966 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”, he said.
Aguiyi-Ironsi assumed office in January 1966 after the military coup that claimed the lives of several political leaders. He was killed alongside Lieutenant Colonel Adekunle Fajuyi during the July 1966 counter-coup.
The family says his death was a consequence of his position as Nigeria’s most senior military officer at the time, rather than any wrongdoing.
