About forty years after, the wound is still fresh!!!! I understand where Tom is coming from. Great interview. The best thing is for Nigeria to break up.
This is one of the reasons why our problems will never go away. Reluctance to open up history. If we dont know actually what happened, the history, the mistakes made how can resolve them and know how to move forward.
@@judennaaemeka2902 If history is returned, it would only be useful if the curriculum is not designed by biased people, especially writers. And how much do humans learn from history? Would it be right to think that people like Putin did know about histories of Russia and that the knowledge caused him to start the mass murders in Ukraine? May God guide the human race from self destruction, especially with greedy inhuman politicians!
The comments here are warped. What are people talking about? First of all, the guy was 12 years old in 1966. He is also a trained diplomat, who is measured in his choice of words. He's not going to go gung-ho and combative like a street person on the 1966 question. Haba na!
Mr. Tom Agui ironsi spoke so well with vast experiences. The best solution is to practice a true federalism system of Government in which all the regions will develop and maximize their various resources, if not let be cessation or divide as Biafrans agitating, even the ODUA Nation
Ironsi and his brother destroyed the federalism system and gave everything to the Fulanis, now their own people are suffering the most from that stupid ideals
Thanks for the updates. I thank Amb.Tom Aguiyi Ironsi for his submission. I appreciate the contributions of your dad and yourself in our nation. Let's build the bridge and make our land a better place for us all with strength, peace and prosperity. So, that the scars of our Father's and our's won't be in vain. Thanks!
Satisfying Watch and Listen. The beauty of this interview is that with differing opinions(which is inevitable) and civil discussions, there would, most certainly be a middle ground.
Tom Aguiyi Ironsi did not mention Fajuyi, his father's best friend practically speaking He had the option to let TY Danjuma and his men take only Ironsi but he throw himself in to see if that will save Ironsi unknown to him that they had their mind made up to kill Ironsi and any body that dares to save him. Adekunle Fajuyi, do friends still exist that can lay their life down for a friend or colleague Ironsi must have made a lasting good impression on him
How can you say an end to reprisal attack when the other side cannot! All Hail Biafra. Tom Aguiyi is comforted with his compensation. Doesn’t know what’s been going on in Biafra Land since then. Never mind Tom!
@@walkyesdating6659 : many folks don't know that Fajuyi Adekunle was equally a target in that coup .Major Ademoyega in his book, why we struck, said Fajuyi was one of those that sympathised with the Jan '66 Coup plotters . Lt. Walbe and then Major Danjuma who arrested Fajuyi and Aguyi have confirmed in many recent interviews that Fajuyi was a major target of that coup
They used the story of trying to save his friend to justify his killing, but I can say that it is not true. They wanted to kill Fajuyi simple, but the northern boys told that story because they wanted to work with the west.
He is as weak as his father. Igbo went through hell mainly because of his father's ineptitude and pandering to the North, yet he is here doing the same thing. When Fulani, through Danjuma, say that Ironsi was dumb, I no longer doubt them because he had no business touring through Nigeria, at the demand of the North (his son confirmed the North made him do the tour to appeal to them), as he was doing with only 6 months in office. JS Tarkar overheard Fulani's plotting to assassinating Ironsi through the July 29, 1966 method, but he couldn't reach Ironsi, so he reported it to Ojukwu, who immediately reported it to Ironsi. Instead of Ironsi to clean house or alter his security and movement, he dumbly called the Sultan of Sokoto and obsequiously asked him, in Hausa language, if the rumor was true. Of course, the gworo chewing Fulani Sultan denied it and encouraged him to do the tour. Frankly, this interview now makes me want Ironsi's skeletal remains exhumed and given 6 lashes of koboko. Nigeria would not be the mess it is today had Ironsi been a man and handled Nigeria like a man; Igbos would never have suffered and held back but for Ironsi's naivety about Fulani and Nigeria. This Tom Ironsi should never be interviewed again, he is a disgrace to a typical Igbo man -- he doesn't even sound educated or intelligent.
You can see him jittering he’s holding a lot of secrets inside he might let the truth out before he joins his father (r.I.p)but u can tell the government are still taking good care of him
Well said my brother ig is always kissing ass of the north what a shame. Till today I had a boss from Abia he names his son Usman to please his northern friends. Chai sometimes I don't know why I am of the race. Is so painful
Your great wisdom of words will resonate for years as regards this shameful illicit son of Igbo. Look at him! The only good of him than his father is that he does not appear to be drunk like his father. When Ojukwu tried to warn Ironsi, he drunkenly continued to his path to his shameful death. The Ironsi's should hide in their covens and forever hold their drunken minds for they destroyed the generations of the IGBO race!!!!
I don’t think the former minister is afraid of anything. He’s trying to lay out the story to the best of his recollection. I also think that he holds dear to the last words of his late father in which the message was to never take vengeance. Those are powerful words, and can be very hard for a twelve year old to digest, especially when they’re the last words of the leader of the most powerful man on the continent at the time. So, to a child as young as he was, it is very difficult to navigate through the life changing episode without holding grudges while grappling with the true meaning of the last words of his beloved father. Therefore, I think he did a very good job in choosing his words carefully in order to honor his last memory of his father.
Everytime I keep wondering the kind of fellow JTU Aguiyi Ironsi was, who despite being the commander in chief sat down folded his arms waiting for a bunch of unruly illiterate subordinates to subdue him, match him into the forest and had him butchered like a common dog. Some hausa soldiers had described as "weak" others call him a desk clerk General( whatever that means) but now watching his son talk, I can't help but agree with them because like father like son. Not to justify the January coup but if he ( Ironsi) was fast enough to foil the JANUARY coup and took over, he should have also manned up to the later events.
And you dont think of how Balewa and sardauna fold their hands to be killed by the most evil tribe in Nigeria, even after Akintola informed them about the evil plan of igbo's, Your tribe has a history of one sided focus without looking at other side, that's what loomed you into trouble
correct brother. let's not forget his unification decree was disastrous. he was even described as a party freak and a lover of wine. made so many mistakes is short time. after the coup by Kaduna how could you surround yourself with northerners even putting them in key positions just to satisfy them only to be killed by them.
Exactly my brother. I lost interest even though he's doing what he's supposed to do. GOD will surely vindicate him the death of his father. His father was a very peaceful leader but he slaughtered in cold flooded mood. LFT. GENERAL T.Y DANJUMA will surely one day pay and he will loose all. An occasion will surely key in where he will pay for his evil device which he used on the first ARMY GENERAL OF NIGERIA AND OF COURSE the first MILITARY HEAD OF STATES.
You see yourselves? The man repeatedly said he was 12 years old at the time, yet 2 of you are reporting here that he was 9 and 13 years respectively. Imagine if this interview had not been recorded, it will become a tug of war.
Hausa/Fulani was handed political power by the British and they cherished it so much in their leader, Tafawa Balewa. When the 1966 coup happened and Tafawa Balewa was murdered, it became a personal and forever war with the Ibos. That is the reason why they insist that an Ibo man can never be a president in Nigeria yet they will not grant restructuring or referendum. Their arrogance and ignorance will consume them at last.
If history was made open in this country, this would not feel like opening any wound at all. Shame on Nigeria for the ignorant decision to abolish history in schools. Any covered wound almost never heals, it spreads.
Had Aguiyi Ironsi knew what was to come, he would have reacted by at least probing the officers who killed the leaders. I can now know the importance of Awolowo in the polity of nigeria at that time, the first to release him got the support, that man was an asset.
Ironsi actually got an intelligence report on a plan to kill him from Ahmadu Bello's brother,but he took it with a pinch of salt. On the issue of Awolowo's release,you can look for Anthony Enahoro's(he was Awo's loyalist till his death)book where he made it clear that Ironsi should be given credit to Awolowo's release.
@@kingsleyoffor6752 But, Awolowo was not released during the regime of Ironsi. He was released by Gowon. Gowon made an official speech at the release, and it is in the achive, so the release was not done in secret. Years after, Gowon still visited the family of Awolowo and made another public statement which newspaper carried. Till date, no public statement from enahoro to denounce that. If you want public reference, i can link you up to that right here for anybody to read
@ayenia2736 It seems from all information and even from the little things this Tom is saying, you can't still figure out who plotted January coup and why North has to revenge? If you still in doubt then check the actions of Ironsi from the night of the coup and also find out why the northern boys insisted on killing Fajuyi. And consider finding out why Ironsi made Ojukwu and Fajuyi governors and why all the coup plotters that did the January killings fought for Ojukwu in civil war. The answer you are looking for is near you if you look a little more. Ironsi's son understood because they must have briefed him with evidence and decided not to talk about things with normal citizens.
@@kingsleyoffor6752 Ironsi had no plans to release Awolowo. Ofcourse he can't do that unless the entire coup and overthrown the government was in vain. As his son told you here, Ironsi never did that. If Ironsi could prevent given Balewa a decent biurial and even refused meeting with the emirs after executing their Saduana, all top military officers and their prime minister, then who is Awolowo that was not evem in government? It seems you don't understand the arrogance of that January coup. Maybe you should count the number of decrees Ironsi ditched out in the 6 months following his overthrew of the government.
@@ck-sl3kt i am from ekiti state, where Fajuyi was born. Till date, we have an accurate record of the events because our son was a victim defending Aguiyi Ironsi. This son of Ironsi was a very young boy at that time. His account can never be compared to that of the real actors of the time. The best sieve is a comparative analysis of the different authentic sources of those days with relics left behind, not just what the son of Ironsi says in this era. Each individual could be sentimental in the account. For example, the daughter of Ademulegun( the man fighting for biafra, but was assasinated by ojukwu to the delight of igbos during the civil war) made several videos and read the personal letters of his father and documentaries of event also. So, no single individual has the ultra details, we only have to listen to all and compare, not just making an actor a library of the events
Well Francis fajuyi was a man of honor so was General Johnson Aguyi umunakwe ironsi he stood for one Nigeria as a host fajuyi had to protect his guest . Fajuyi was loyal and was submissive to ironsi if ironsi had not stated the 34 decree fajuyi would have help him more . Those rebels that killed ironsi were just betrayals I remember before his excellency was assasinated at Sango ota (tafawa bale wa) he was informed before hand of an imminent coup but he didn’t take action
Ibos won't cease to amaze me. Pre Independence - Ibos had the most prominent positions in the nation; During/Post Independence: Ibos aligned with the North for a coalition govt at the detriment of the Yorubas; Connived with the North to put Awo in prison for treasonous offences; Shared most of the political offices with the North; Ibos connived to carve out the mid-west out of the Yoruba zone to take out population/power from Yorubas; Spare-headed the coup due to high number of senior officers Ibos had in the military at the time; killed all heads of govt from North and Yoruba zones with No Ibo office holder touched;... When things stopped going their way, they throw tantrums and demanded secession.. How can you fight your 'opponents' and still expect them to feed you?! It baffles me how some Ibos think.
You lie, this is so wrong, I don’t know how you came up with this perspective? How did Igbos imprison Awolowo? Was it not a northern prime minister that did that? The first coup, yes, was dominated by well educated Igbo men but other tribes were included, so does that justify the bloody rematch by the Danjumas and other Hausa military men that killed Ironsi and others ? No. Check history before you continue your gate against the igbos and push this crazy tribalist Evil ideas
If you don't know what to say keep quiet, every body, Yorubas, Hausa/Fulani and Igbos is responsible for what the country is passing through, Gowon had the chance to revert the unification decree of the late Ironsi which he consolidated and Nigeria has never known peace till then.
@Ayoola Ajakaiye you couldn't have said it better omoluabi. They see yorubas as saboteur. As for me, they are just bittered people. Since the inception of Nigeria, they've always join forces with the northerners while we play the opposition. The first recorded grand alliance btw the north and west was in 2015. The yoruba's are called derogatory names till date for this. How i wish they can have a referendum they've been clamouring for.
@@godswilllaks1530 igbo are the problem. igbos are the ones that caused southern cameroon to leave the eastern union and now there issue is with nigeria.
With his late father ineptitude & vagueness, the Igbo may never get anything from the project called, "Nigeria". Opening the can of worms is furthering exposing the tribe to further ridicule,the more our younger generations got to know the past doings of those supposed great n brilliant minds ,the more we're being careful in taking their horrible path.
I WONDER HOW THIS MAN COULD BE LOOKING AT GEN TY DANJUMA AND THE TEAM THAT TOOK HIS FATHER AGUIYI IRONSI FROM HIM AT THE WESTERN NIGERIA GOVERNMENT HOUSE IN IBADAN, JULY 1966.
You spoke with fear, your father wss a wrong person at a wrong time. Upon all inpunity under Buhari government you still said that he is a man of good intention. All hail Biafra
Major General Aguiyi Ironsi was the intellectual conspirator of the coup and soldiers such as Nzogue, Ifeaguna e. t. c. , being "executor" of the coup, acted under his command.
What about TY Danjuma? The man who personally killed your father in cold blood? You are a caward for not calling TY Danjuma's name. And you did not acknowledge the man who gave his life for your father.
Mark213 Mark TY Danjuma betrayed and arrested Gen Ironsi but didn’t personally kill him as he wasn’t at Lalupon where Ironsi and Fajuyi were killed so he can’t mention his name. Hiwever he could have mentioned Walbe, Useni, Shelleng and the other murderers of his father and Fajuyi . Read Max Siollun’ s Oil Politics and Violence (full of eyewitness accounts) and other books about the period.
TY Danjuma is still a powerful force in Nigeria politics viz a viz wife Daisy still a senator even through his connections. Please Tom is wise to choose his words carefully.
TY Danjuma was responsible for Ironsi's and Fajuyi's deaths although he did not personally shoot them. He claimed that he "lost control" to subordinate soldiers after he [Danjuma] had arrested the duo as, according to him, "seniority does not apply" in coup situations. He pre-planned their arrests and murders and was amply rewarded down the line by the oligarchy with oil blocks that enabled him to become overnight dollar-denominated billionaire. He was once quoted as flipping an oil block [he "bought" for $500 million] for $1 billion [at 💯 percent profit] and "I did not know what to do with the money"! Blood money! 'nuff said.
He is not a 12 year old now. He has been part of the government and a diplomat for a long time. He is in a position to know a lot which I'm sure he does. At 62 if you are still scared about telling the truth then you are either a collaborator or a coward
His countenance and his carriage can tell you that he was raised as a spoiled brat who was not intune with the reality of life. But he turned out to make something of himself after his father passed away. That's great of him.
Mr Aniagolu, the coup was not carried out by IGBOS alone, Yorubas, Tiv and a Northerner, Major Garba. Please you Journalists are a group of people who don't spell things the way they are.
@chinnyamuche5354 Army has command structure. In army, it is oga that give command and boys must obey. Coup was plotted by only one man! He used his boys to execute. His boys were majority Igbos. In the counter coup, the northerners tried to execute oga and all his boys, but the few that he his in prison in south east survived and those ones join Ojukwu who was the most senior surviving of oga boys, for the war.
For sure look at his physical appearance a kind of enjoyer of life, amala+egusi+okra all with kpanla smatched and swallow in a blink of eye. Trashed go-getter who was eating the shits of the most horrific human in Africa Olusegun Obasanjo.
So, even that early in our history, Nigerian rulers had no faith in the Education system they were running that the Head of State had his son abroad for secondary school‽
Obasanjo is an evil man, I say so he knows the truth behind the Jan 15th 1966 coup and as a non Igbo officer. he is one of the few people in the position to say the truth but the fear of Hausa Fulani would not let him clear his mind. He would rather publish " NZEOGWU A HERO" and make Aguiyi Ironsi's son a minister in compesation.
My dear, please don't join the chorus of many NAIVE people in that their NONSENSE "HAUSA/FULANI" PHRASE . IT DOESN'T EXIST AT ALL. IT'S FULANI ON THEIR OWN. HAUSA PEOPLE ARE NO MORE IN NIGERIA. THEY WERE CONQUERED, SUBJUGATED, AND ANNIHILATED. MAKE YOUR RESEARCH. FULANIS ONLY USE THE HAUSA LANGUAGE AS PER "NORTHERN NIGERIA PHRASE" IN QUOTE. WHY ONLY THAT RUBBISH PHRASE. WHY NOT KANURI/FULANI...? WHY NOT JUKUN/FULANI...?. HAUSA/FULANI IS AS A RESULT OF THE CALIPHATIC FULANI CONQUEST SUCCESS OF THE HAUSAS THAT BROUGHT ABOUT THE RUBBISH PHRASE. WELL, MEET THE REAL HAUSA PEOPLE IN SUDAN/KHARTOUM AND HEAR FROM THEM THE UNTOLD STORY. THANKS
Ignorance ejiogu how old where then? That is if u where even born then. People like are just bunch of social media niosr maker. If you think you are that brave then remove d vein cover on ur face let know u like this man being interview.
Thomas Aguiyi was an idiot and a weak man, infact most igbos in top military position and politicians from 1950 till date are useless and full of betrayals.they like listening to outsiders than there people's, JS Taka heard the rumors that their is a plan to assassinate him and gave the hint to Chukwuemaka Odumegu which Ojukwu passed to Thomas, now, what stops him from rearranging his security detail? Instead he prefers to call his enemies in the north in other to know if it is actually truth and obviously what do u expect them to tell him, of course no. Thomas Aguiyi was not supposed to be a general but an alter boy serving mas in a Catholic church.my igbo brothers stupidity does not start today where they always loved to pleased the north in detriment of their people. Who do you tell this that your brother called to informed you about what is about to unfold, even if it right on wron on that security information, the first thing expected of him was to beef up security around himself and suspend the tour until tensions doused down but his stupidity never allowed him think properly, it was stupidity of Thomas Aguiyi that put our parents, our brothers, sister's and grandparents to early grave because of that his singular mistake caused the civil war, Gowon and Ojukwu was never going to have friction if the idiot general called Thomas had worked with information given to him by the Ojukwu concerning the coup by changing his security detail with the ones that will be more loyal to him but he chose to moved around with TY Danjuma who handed him over to his northern brother without any resistance from any angle.
Igbos always watered things down look subdued and defeat when talking about Biafra/ Nigerian war. It’s true leaders from other religions were killed but not only by Igbos officers, over 300 Igbos officers were murdered , millions civilians were butchered in several parts of Nigeria, but still no one firmly highlighted those. Murtala Mohamed were killed by northerners, you hardly hear that from other Nigerian, History need to be thought sincerely people, not criminally minded people
Some one you thank can call a spade a spade will be talking trash! Tom Aguiyi Ironsi called buhari a man of intergrity because he helped hin when his volvo car spoilt on the way, imagine? I was 4 years during the war, but let me tell you, if I have means I will avenge that 1966 counter coup, they increased my seal with 14th September 2017 invation Ohamadike's Compound to kill him but killed 28 of his members and slaughtering of Biafrans in Biafran land that is going on till today. Tom Aguiyi Ironsi, you made no point hear at all, Charles, you're not a journalist, please turn on CNN BBC or even Al Jazzela to lean a bit what a journalist is all about. Last time I heard you said that IPOB alleged that Nigerian Army invaded Ohamadike's compound, what stopped you from going to Ahiala Ukwu Umuahia to see things by yourself??????
Well I don't blame Nigeria journalist because they working under duress so Charlies and others are asking they questions according to the zoo direction.
@ike8947 If he answered the questions honestly, Igbos would hate him. Have you thought of what happens when you suddenly realized you had been told a lie all your life? Tom does not want to ruin your memory of his dad.
Nope I don't believe that bro, the man never messed up at all, their are enemies within and their is nothing the man could do when the North plan the coup all bcos the northern leaders we're killed which brought Agu Ironsi to power. So their is nothing he can do when the man was drag on the floor in the bush in Ibadan
@@thugrighteous8755, He messed up big time ok. As a soldier he suppose to know that the North will definitely strike ok. So he suppose to put his house and his government in other. For example, since after the civil war the Hausas took over the power and never allowed the igbos to come up on top ok. Because they knew that if they give them that chance, definitely they will strike, and avenge.
U lost a caring father? Big deal, have U ever thought of the families of Ahmadu Bello, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Akintola etc? What about the families of the millions of Igbos who were slaughtered because of the lone wolf? The feeling is bidirectional.
Aguiyi ironsi brought all the regions together to wat will see today.the hatred the north and the south west have for the igbos today for continuing sitting down on them is because they are still angry that aguiyi ironsi has a hand iin d death of tafawa balewa and the then leader of yorubas
Ironsi's son has a very poor knowledge of what happened in the 1966 coup. He is only expressing the traumatic experience of loosing a father. However, he sound more as Nigerian dubious, devious, greedy, clueless and idiotic politicians. What am I even saying, he was friend to OBJ and the queen.
@@fordodion7499 bcos you don't know what happened at that time,bcos I believe their will be somethings that the old man will always tell his son at that time.......m
Not many people understand what this man is saying. He was clearly briefed exactly what happened in the first coup and he understood why those officer took revenge. He understood it and even gave a hint about what led to the counter coup. I believe many Igbos still believed in the lies they were told like Charles is repeating and Tom who knew the truth just ignored him. It baffles me that many Igbos can't even ask themselves simple question that how is it possible that Ironsi whom they believe to be magically lucky to be alive in the first court, and help stopped the coup then suddenly appeared to claim that the same government that the coup plotter were overthrowing has eventually handed power to him. As in, how did Ironsi change from person stopping coup plotters in the morning to person who completed the job of the coup plotters in the evening of same day by overthrowing the same government in the absence of few northern officers that survived? Igbos should listen to this Tom carefully. he was fully briefed with clear evidence and he knew exactly why his dad was killed.
Now he is being dishonest, once the issue of corruption came up, he had nothing tangible to say, than to go around the issue, & be untrue to himself & his listeners!!!!!
Ironsi was a weak leader. He had the opportunity to savage the situation and establish his authority. But rather he chose to play ethnic politics and went about partying, enjoying himself, happy with his new status.
He wanted an oil block as ministry of defence. Just add corrupt as they come in Nigerian politics. Makes no sense that individuals should've oil blocks.
Junior Ironsi, you are not bold as your father. You said Buhari has good intentions. Where were u when 28 Ipob innocent souls died, and the herdsmen killings of which Buhari kept quiet???? . And now the 38 retired staff from Southern region & no structural balance.???? If He fixed your car and you are targeting oil well from Him /Obasanjo, then what else? And There is still some reserved comments u reserved for who? You father was the one with good intention not Buhari. Your Daddy should be credited for working to unite Nigerians by then. You must not speak economic truth about the whole issues because of threats of Your accredited enemies. Actually, Buhari & Obasanjo , Gowon should be arrested for their mess and corruption and the need to give account in the genocide the committed in the country . Yet they still want to rule Nigerians and looter the oil & our economy. They love oil blocks and hate the owners of the oils and wants them dead? Please wake up dear Ironsi. May the souls of those who died during the civil war rest in peace. Nothing is working for good in Nigeria apart from corruption. May God deliver Nigerians or else and faithfully, u better join Ipob and have your total economic & humanitarian freedom.
Well you know nothing, a 12yr old knows a little, and he has come to express himself well in his own capacity,and you are there saying he is not brave as his father, my question is this, how bold do you think Gen Agu ironsi was then? Bcos I believe that even you we're not born in then......I don't know why you people will just come in a platform and talk shit.......what experience do you have in this issue, you are not part of them that was killed back then,you are alive talking shit..
I suggest a DNA be carried out on this man, I strongly believe the mom was not faithful to the late father, I believe an Hausa soldier whom claims to be a family friend must be responsible for his conception, fool
Emmy Global My brother that's not domination. It's called self preservation. My people first. Hausa First. Don't forget that OBJ was there for 8 years GEJ was there for 6 years so why the complained? Point finger to what this idiots did when they were in office? 1999 constitution gave president powers to create more state, restructure the country, declared state of emergency but OBJ and GEJ were busy eating and party like fools The question you will ask yourself is that, what are the impacts of OBJ government to Nigeria or Yorubas? The lgbos control the National Assembly during GEJ in office, did any lgbo talk about Biafra 🤣 No one sir. That's why we called it Biafraud Somebody like Tinubu is a Yoruba conservative leader who think Yoruba first! If your leaders are selfish you will suffer just like what is happening in lgboland Your governors don't care about lgboland development and lgbo people like investing in other man land. One day they we ask you to leave either by easy way or force as the Kano did in North
Korede Akingbemi please get your facts right before any comment...it’s out there in the public domain so make your own research on what transpired the whole period that led to the coup as well as the number of military officers involved including their agenda if succeeded.
Some of the people involved in the coup are still alive today and still have influence among the military so it is alright for him calculated and cagey in comments