PRESS RELEASE! PRESS RELEASE! PRESS RELEASE! PRESS RELEASE!
July 29, 2002

WE REMEMBER GENERAL JOHNSON AGUIYI IRONSI

On this day July 29, 1966, a group of shameless, callous northern Nigeria soldiers, led by then Major Theophilus Danjuma, invaded the Western Nigeria Regional State House, Ibadan and abducted, humiliated and later butchered the then Head of State of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Major General Johnson Aguiyi Ironsi, along with his host Colonel Adekunle Fajuyi, the then Military Governor of the Western region. Today we verily remember!!!

It is on record that the murdered Head of State had no hand whatsoever in the January coup of the same year by a group of Majors from various Nigeria ethnic groups. It is equally on record that General Ironsi aborted and rendered ineffective, the said January coup. Thirty six years after the cold blood murder of this noble man, no one has come forward to prove that he was an accomplice rather than a target on that first coup.

It is clear beyond any doubt that the Head of State was murdered for being an Igbo who believed very strongly in one Nigeria. We at Biafra Foundation, Baltimore/Washington, DC/Northern Virginia Chapter, and indeed the entire people of the Sovereign State of Biafra always remember, and is rest assured that his death will not be in vain!

General Ironsi did not take advantage of the fallen Balewa Government to assume power. It is on record that the then Senate President, after due consultations, invited and handed over the traumatized civilian government to him. This was in line with the simple fact that he was the Chief of Staff of the Nigerian Army, as well as, the most accomplished soldier in the country.

Without doubt General Ironsi was first a Nigerian before identifying himself as an Igbo. Despite the danger of the ethnic tensions that ensued during this period, he set across the country to try to calm nerves – apparently, not knowing he was sealing his own fate. During the short six months that he was Head of State, General Ironsi embraced nationalism. His council was the most diverse till date. He never enriched himself as his successors did. They said he was murdered because he turned the nation into unitary system. But immediately after colluding in the murder of General Ironsi, the man who promoted and appointed him Army Chief of Staff, Yakubu Gowon even straightened the unitary system of government that General Ironsi started till date. What a contradiction!

General Aguiyi Ironsi, we remember today how evil men murdered you shamelessly. We know your killers and their collaborators have never been tried or convicted. In fact, they were rewarded and are still being rewarded for shading your blood. General Ironsi, your brutal murderers did not stop there. All together, from 1966 to 1970, they slaughtered about five million of your people. They are still killing thousands of Igbo since the end of the Biafra-Nigeria war and with the introduction of Sharia Muslim code.

Our beloved General, your death and the rest of your Biafran people shall not be in vain. So decreed our Jehovah!

Arewa nation, you have continuously turned deaf ear at the mention of Aguiyi Ironsi. Oduduwa Republic, you are equally guilty of the same offence. How much longer will you keep talking about “One Nigeria”, knowing deep in your heart that Nigeria is an illusion? We Biafrans have boldly come forward to demand the end of the failed Nigeria experiment. We challenge you to do the same.

General Ironsi, it has been thirty six years you were murdered. We sure remember! May your blood continue to be in the hands of your killers! May your spirit cry no more for we know that our CHI UKWU will soon restore Biafra!

Long live the Sovereign State of Biafra!

Long live the Igbo nation!

Long live the independent nations of Nigeria!