Abia State has honoured the memory of Nigeria’s first military Head of State, the late Major General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi, who was assassinated on July 29, 1966, with President Bola Tinubu, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Governor Alex Otti and other prominent Nigerians paying tribute to his service and legacy.

The 60th Memorial Anniversary of the late General Aguiyi-Ironsi was held yesterday in Umuahia, the Abia State capital, with the event bringing together the Aguiyi-Ironsi family, government officials, military officers, traditional rulers, political leaders and other dignitaries to commemorate the life of the former military leader.

President Bola Tinubu, represented at the event by the Minister of Defence and former Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, described General Aguiyi-Ironsi as a patriot whose life and service remain an important part of Nigeria’s history.

Musa, while delivering the President’s message, said the occasion was an opportunity not only to remember the late General but also to reflect on a significant chapter in Nigeria’s national history.

Obasanjo urged Nigerians to confront the nation’s painful historical experiences and draw lessons that will promote unity, inclusion and national development.

The former President also expressed concern over the removal of History from Nigeria’s school curriculum, warning that a nation that forgets its past risks repeating the mistakes of previous generations.

“Nigeria has many black days, and because of these black days, we must remember history to learn the right lessons,” Obasanjo said.

He described the January 15, 1966 coup, the July 29, 1966 counter-coup, and the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election as some of the country’s darkest moments.

Speaking at the ceremony, Governor Alex Otti said the memorial was an opportunity to honour a man who once occupied the highest office in Nigeria and who came from Abia State.

The Governor said the event was not about revisiting the controversies surrounding the events of 1966 but about remembering the late General’s place in the history of the country.

“In 60 years, there have been all sorts of things written and discussed. I’m not going to be discussing them. But what we are talking about today is that a man was number one, and he came from here,” Otti said.

Reflecting on the late General’s death at the age of 42, Otti said the actions and mistakes of the principal actors of that era should be considered within the context of their ages and the circumstances of the time.

“We wanted to celebrate Aguiyi-Ironsi. He died at 42. Some of the mistakes that were made at that time are permissible, given the ages of the major actors,” the Governor said.