I was told that Major General Johnson Thomas Umunnakwe Aguiyi-Ironsi walked around when he was commander-in-chief with a dead, treated lizard in his hand.

Is there a cultural or political reason for this and do some Igbo's still practice this act? Did Ironsi believe that he derived some sort of supernatural power from this lizard?

Please no bashing, I simply seek to be informed.

I was also told that the reason he was called Aguiyi ironsi, was because of that wooden crocodile . For me, i think it has no supernatural power. Maybe it was a symbol of his authority.

wissezy: I was also told that the reason he was called Aguiyi ironsi, was because of that wooden crocodile . For me, i think it has no supernatural power. Maybe it was a symbol of his authority.

Thanks. So Aguiyi was not his real name, I believe Aguiyi means lizard in Igbio, no?

ndu_chucks:

Thanks. So Aguiyi was not his real name, I believe Aguiyi means lizard in Igbio, no?

This is show of shame both historically, intellectually and culturally.

Dede1:


This is show of shame both historically, intellectually and culturally.

Ndu_chucks is Fulani man bearing an Igbo moniker on Nairaland.

Dede1:


This is show of shame both historically, intellectually and culturally.

I'm not following you, what's the show of shame? The fact that Ironsi carried the lizard around or something else.

@Abagworo is there some common knowledge that a Igbo person should have about the said lizard?

ndu_chucks:

I'm not following you, what's the show of shame? The fact that Ironsi carried the lizard around or something else.

@Abagworo is there some common knowledge that a Igbo person should have about the said lizard?

I heard the same story about Ironsi and the crocodile abi lizard as well and it doesnt call for insults anyways.

I was told it gave him some supernatural powers, but ironsi is not here to confirm such news/rumor. It has nothing to do with being Igbo. His babalawo or jujuman could be Hausa or Yoruba.

Ricky_Ross:

I heard the same story about Ironsi and the crocodile abi lizard as well and it doesnt call for insults anyways.

I was told it gave him some supernatural powers, but ironsi is not here to confirm such news/rumor. It has nothing to do with being Igbo. His babalawo or jujuman could be Hausa or Yoruba.

Aguiyi is crocodile in Igbo language and it symbolizes his name.

Wonders shall never end. Aguyi is a very common Igbo name. General Ironsi's supposed lizard story should have nothing to do with his last name being "Aguyi"-Ironsi. From what I know, General Ironsi was raised by his older sister's husband. Aguyi is his biological father's last name, while Ironsi is the older sister's husband's last name. Since he saw his sister's husband as his father, he combined the two names thus naming himself Aguyi-Ironsi.

Interesting

History 101 class.

wow....such ignorant posts especially about a former head of state

agu = lion/beast,
iyi = water/river
so aguiyi means beast of the water...or crocodile

Johnson was his sister's husbands last name and that's the name he took as his first name : Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi

the dead lizard you people are talking about is most likely his swagger stick that was carved to look like a crocodile (his name)

It wasn't a dead lizard, it was wooden figurine crocodile that supposedly gave him supernatural powers. I heard (beer parlour gist sha) that when ty danjuma and his men came for him, that was the first thing they dispossessed him of before he could be overpowered and killed

ndu_chucks: I was told that Major General Johnson Thomas Umunnakwe Aguiyi-Ironsi walked around when he was commander-in-chief with a dead, treated lizard in his hand.

Is there a cultural or political reason for this and do some Igbo's still practice this act? Did Ironsi believe that he derived some sort of supernatural power from this lizard?

Please no bashing, I simply seek to be informed.

crap

Some of the soldiers that kidnapped him believed that the lizard gave him the power to disappear. They believed that it was the lizard that enabled him to escape when he was captured in the Congo.

Yes it was his swagger stick

Agiliti: wow....such ignorant posts especially about a former head of state

agu = lion/beast,
iyi = water/river
so aguiyi means beast of the water...or crocodile

Johnson was his sister's husbands last name and that's the name he took as his first name : Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi

the dead lizard you people are talking about is most likely his swagger stick that was carved to look like a crocodile (his name)

Whaaat! Did I hear Lizard? Dammit! I hate that creature! "Pukes and Runs out of thread"

naptu2: Some of the soldiers that kidnapped him believed that the lizard gave him the power to disappear. They believed that it was the lizard that enabled him to escape when he was captured in the Congo.

If nigerians still believe in the 21st century that witches cause flooding,i wonder what they believed in those days of real darness?

Lazurus.

ndu_chucks: I was told that Major General Johnson Thomas Umunnakwe Aguiyi-Ironsi walked around when he was commander-in-chief with a dead, treated lizard in his hand.

Is there a cultural or political reason for this and do some Igbo's still practice this act? Did Ironsi believe that he derived some sort of supernatural power from this lizard?

Please no bashing, I simply seek to be informed.

ndu_chucks: I was told that Major General Johnson Thomas Umunnakwe [b]Aguiyi-Ironsi walked around when he was commander-in-chief with a dead, treated lizard in his hand.

Is there a cultural or political reason for this and do some Igbo's still practice this act? Did Ironsi believe that he derived some sort of supernatural power from this lizard?

Please no bashing, I simply seek to be informed.

[/b]

ndu_chucks: I was told that Major General Johnson Thomas Umunnakwe Aguiyi-Ironsi walked around when he was commander-in-chief with a dead, treated lizard in his hand.

Is there a cultural or political reason for this and do some Igbo's still practice this act? Did Ironsi believe that he derived some sort of supernatural power from this lizard?

Please no bashing, I simply seek to be informed.

..thank God u said u wer told

In those days and even till now, most officers carried totems/charms for their protection, not having one was even more unusual. This definitely crosses tribal boundaries even though it is more common among particular tribes serving. No big deal at all. I even know personally of a high ranking SW officer that died unnaturally and I just recently found out someone close to him substituted his charm innocently- even after his mother had warned against it.

I am surprised why any true African should be shocked at this.

Is this a test?

Abagworo:

Ndu_chucks is Fulani man bearing an Igbo moniker on Nairaland.

Wrong...he is a Yoruba bearing an igbo moniker

berem: Whaaat! Did I hear Lizard? Dammit! I hate that creature! "Pukes and Runs out of thread"

Aje buta or Aje kpako, Which one?

Whatever it was for didn't save him from Danjuma.

The swagger stick with a stuffed crocodile mascot carried by Gen Aguiyi-Ironsi was called Charlie. Legends had it that the crocodile mascot made Aguiyi-Ironsi invulnerable and that it was used to dodge or deflect bullets when he was on mission in the Congo. Despite the stories, the crocodile mascot probably had something to do with the fact that the name "Aguiyi" translates into "crocodile" in Igbo.

damola1: The swagger stick with a stuffed crocodile mascot carried by Gen Aguiyi-Ironsi was called Charlie. Legends had it that the crocodile mascot made Aguiyi-Ironsi invulnerable and that it was used to dodge or deflect bullets when he was on mission in the Congo. Despite the stories, the crocodile mascot probably had something to do with the fact that the name "Aguiyi" translates into "crocodile" in Igbo.

#wikipediathings

No wonder una dull

Read More abot him here

http://www.umuahiaibeku.com/Death-of-Genironsi.html

I heard he carried a staff(possibly carved as a lizard) with him as some form of charm to offer him protection & that it was secretly replaced on the day he was killed. I heard it oo.The veracity of these claims can not be ascertained!

igbo boy:

#wikipediathings

No wonder una dull

No wonder.. u dey ask questions wey don get answer....u sabi read at all?

ndu_chucks:

Thanks. So Aguiyi was not his real name, I believe Aguiyi means lizard in Igbio, no?

aguiyi actually means water leopard and is another name for a crocodile. He probably moved about with a carved crocodile which can otherwise be referred to as his "ofo". That's what I think.

Ricky_Ross:
...... Yoruba.

An act of omission or commission?