- On 60th memorial anniversary
Abia State governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has paid glowing tribute to Nigeria’s first indigenous Major-General and military Head of State, Major-General Johnson Thomas Umunnakwe Aguiyi-Ironsi, on the 60th anniversary of his death, describing him as a national hero whose life was defined by courage, discipline and selfless service.
In a commemorative message marking the anniversary on Wednesday, the governor said Aguiyi-Ironsi’s contributions to nation-building and military professionalism remain an enduring legacy that should inspire future generations of Nigerians.
Born on March 3, 1924, in Umuahia, Aguiyi-Ironsi rose through the ranks of the Nigerian Army after joining the Royal West African Frontier Force during the Second World War. He later became one of Nigeria’s earliest commissioned military officers, served as Military Attaché in London, distinguished himself during the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Congo and, in 1965, became the country’s first indigenous Major-General and General Officer Commanding the Nigerian Army.
Following the January 15, 1966 coup, Aguiyi-Ironsi assumed leadership as Head of State amid deep political instability. His administration, however, was cut short when he and the Military Governor of the Western Region, Lt. Col. Adekunle Fajuyi, were killed during the July 29, 1966 counter-coup in Ibadan.
Reflecting on the events, Otti said remembrance should not reopen old divisions but serve as a reminder that sacrifice, unity and peace remain essential to Nigeria’s progress.
To immortalise the late military leader, the governor directed the immediate reconstruction of the road leading to Aguiyi-Ironsi’s ancestral home at Ndume Otuka in Umuahia and approved the rehabilitation of his alma mater, Ibeama Primary School.
According to Otti, the projects are more than infrastructure interventions, describing them as efforts to preserve history, honour distinguished service and restore the dignity of one of Nigeria’s foremost military leaders.
He urged Nigerians to remember Aguiyi-Ironsi not only for the tragic circumstances surrounding his death but for his commitment to national service, while also paying tribute to Lt. Col. Fajuyi and all those who lost their lives during the political crises of 1966.
The governor prayed for the repose of their souls and called on Nigerians to remain committed to the ideals of justice, unity and peaceful coexistence.