Ambassador Thomas Aguiyi-Ironsi, a former Nigerian Ambassador to Togo, and the first person of Igbo extraction to be made Minister of Defence, is one of the children of the late former Head of Stat...
Ambassador Thomas Aguiyi-Ironsi, a former Nigerian Ambassador to Togo, and the first person of Igbo extraction to be made Minister of Defence, is one of the children of the late former Head of State, Major General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi. Thomas was about 13 years old when his father was murdered during his official visit to Western Region Government House, Ibadan, on July 29, 1966 by some soldiers in a counter-coup.
You were about 13 years old when your father was murdered in a counter-coup by some soldiers of northern extraction in Ibadan. What do you remember of that day, July 29, 1966? How did you feel when your father told you that soldiers had surrounded the Government House, Ibadan and how were you able to escape on that day?
As I was looking at him, I didn’t even understand why he was telling me not to exact vengeance, but as the years went by, I was able to realise that the vengeance he was speaking about was spiritual and had to do with the fact that God is the one that exacts vengeance. As far as his exploits in the Congo were concerned, he was a hero, especially with the Austrians whom he saved their lives. He was awarded their highest medal.Yes, my father was a man of many firsts. The late Ikemba Nnewi, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, also acknowledged my father as a great man. My father was first captain, first major, first lieutenant colonel, first colonel, first brigadier, and first major general from Nigeria.
Clearly in Nigeria, the Igbo must be allowed to sit at the table in all federal structures in order to have a sense of belonging. I know that Buhari is an experienced leader and his kitchen cabinet do not want to be remembered for splitting Nigeria.I don’t want to really discuss security on the pages of newspapers as a former Minister of State and first Southern Minister of Defence since independence.
We must single out Chief Olusegun Obasanjo; his aide-de-camp, Col Sani Bello; Gen Adebayo; and Uncle Abah of Man-Must-Wack Estate, Port Harcourt; and a former Deputy Chairman, South, defunct National Party of Nigeria, when the party reigned supreme.
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