Fifty years after, IgboZaraIgbo, a Washington, DC, US-based Igbo group takes a commemorative look at the circumstances surrounding the killing of General JTU Aguiyi-Ironsi in Nigeria’s first military coup in 1966 and its fallouts.

The group recalls in a statement: “This day, July 29, 1966, marks a significant but melancholic day in the annals of Igbo-Biafra history. It was the day, 50 years ago, that marauding ‘Amalekites,’ inmates of the fake and fraudulent enclave called Nigeria, organised a supposed counter-coup, unjustifiably killing the leader of the country, Major-General Johnson Thomas Umunnakwe Aguiyi-Ironsi, supreme commander of the military.

“Before then, General Ironsi, the most senior Nigerian military officer, had been appointed to serve as the head of state following his successful efforts alongside other notable names like late Dim Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu and others in quashing the January 15, 1966 military coup de’ tat. General Ironsi was killed along with his loyal and brave host, Col. Adekunle Fajuyi, military governor of the Western Region of Nigeria. As always, the Fulani nomads relied on the advice of Britain and the cooperation and use of the misguided Middle–Belt as ‘willing tools’ to executive this nefarious act.

“The reason adduced for the extrajudicial killing of General Ironsi was his government’s promulgation of a unitary system of government, approved by the Supreme Military Council, which was, instructively dominated by the Northerners, including born-to-rule Fulani. However, a closer look at the new decree promulgated by General Ironsi showed a mere formality to have a central authority but with the boundaries of the regions and their constituent authorities remaining the same. General Ironsi was murdered simply because he was Igbo. Paradoxically enough, General Ironsi’s successors, beginning with the quisling Lt. Col. Yakubu Gowon, who broke the record in notoriety by having a hand in the unjustified murder of his boss in the guise of a “coup,” until this present day retained the same unitary governmental structure adduced for the unjustified killing of General Ironsi.

“Anyone who does not see a contradiction in the tragic scenario above must be insincere. While many of the counter coup protagonists died violently, two of the main actors, Major T. Y. Danjuma and Lt. Col. Yakubu Gowon remain today, afraid of their shadows and, perhaps wonder why God keeps them alive. These ghoulish ‘willing tools’ of the caliphate still delude themselves that they are heroes of the Nigerian failed experiment while their victims, General Aguiyi-Ironsi, Col. Adekunle Fajuyi, and others remain unsung.

“It is intriguing to know that nine years after participating in killing his boss, nevertheless, after being assured that there was no imminent coup planned by anyone against his government, Lt. Col. Yakubu Gowon himself was overthrown in a coup on the same day and month of July 29, 1975.

“While Gowon has become a prayer warrior hiding in Abuja today, Fulani nomads have been on a killing rampage, raping women, destroying, and occupying and taking over lands in his Plateau State. Yakubu Gowon cannot go home, though shamelessly still believing in his ‘One Nigeria’ fraud project. His co-conspirator, Major T.Y. Danjuma’s story, is no better. Although he still fumes at the mention of Biafra, perhaps still trying hard to impress his caliphate masters, he is not safe either in his hometown as the Fulani headsmen are having a field day over his people.

History vindicates the just and God pays no heed to the nominal prayers of the wicked.

“General Aguiyi-Ironsi, just like the late Nnamdi Azikiwe before you, you embraced nationalism to the detriment of our people. Your belief in national reconciliation and journey to prove it was misplaced, especially, in a strange country and people who never believed in it. Our so-called educated elites who should be leading us back to Zion are clueless; instead, supposedly uneducated street hawkers in Aba reason better than they do. Even recently, our distant cousin and neighbor, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan fell into the same illusion.

“There are many thugs and thieves parading Biafra land today as leaders. Many are also agents of our sworn enemies, the born-to-rule Fulani, only interested in pillaging Ala-Igbo. To all these enemies within, IgboZaraIgbo says your belief in one Nigeria is utterly misplaced since many other ethnic groups in the Fulani-occupied failed state called Nigeria believe in themselves first before the Nigeria abomination. Our so-called Igbo republican nature has become a burden to our survival.

“There is a proverbial snake on the roof that we must work together to eliminate else it destroys us! Today, our sworn enemies, the born-to-rule, remain the Jury, the Judges, and our Executioners. They shoot and kill us at will, even when we protest peacefully to exercise our God given rights. They have even vowed to drown us in the Atlantic Ocean if we dare leave the failed structure they run to the ground. As we write, they are preparing to invade our lands to kill us if we do not stop the peaceful, non-violent agitation by our youths to control our God given resources and stop the relentless destruction of our environment. However, spirit of Aguiyi-Ironsi we are not helpless. We have not forgotten who we are – Umu Chukwu (children of the most High), people with special blessings from God Almighty. We have cried to Him and His mercy is upon us.

“We shall have a peaceful homeland where we will sing a new song, recognising you and millions of Igbo-Biafrans, whose innocent lives Northern Fulani feudalists cut down at the prime of their youth, and whose martyrdom remains unsung. Until then, General Ironsi, rest in peace!”

•Photo shows late Head of State, Gen. Aguiyi-Ironsi.

Update news