The family of Nigeria’s first military Head of State, Major General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi, has called on the Federal Government to issue an official apology and provide compensation, 60 years after his assassination.
The demand was made by the head of the family, Imo Aguiyi-Ironsi, a nephew of the late Head of State, during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme on Thursday.
Imo described the late military leader as a detribalised patriot, a visionary and a committed public servant who served the country with dedication.
He lamented that Aguiyi-Ironsi occupied the office of Head of State for only six months before he was assassinated, adding that the family has never received a sincere apology from the Nigerian government.
According to him, the late Head of State committed no offence and only answered the call to lead the country following the 1966 military coup.
“The only crime he committed was that he was the most senior officer at the time, and he was called upon to take over after the coup. He did not take part in the coup. He accepted the call to serve his fatherland before he was gruesomely assassinated,” he said.
“After he was assassinated, people moved on. The family needs to be compensated, given a sincere apology and reconciliation.”
Major General Aguiyi-Ironsi became Nigeria’s Head of State following the January 1966 military coup, which led to the deaths of then Prime Minister Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa and several senior military officers.
He was later assassinated in July 1966 during a counter-coup that brought his six-month administration to an end.