₦airaland Forum

ZombieNation:
On assumption of power, General Aguiyi-Ironsi promulgated the Constitution (Suspension and Modification) Decree 1966. Decree No 1 dated January 17, 1966 but not published in the Official Gazette until March 4, 1966.

Of all the decrees enacted in Nigeria, none is more controversial than Decree No 34 of 1966. It was promulgated on May 24, 1966 by then Head of State, Major General Johnson Thomas Umunnakwe Aguiyi-Ironsi (1924-1966) . It was called Unification Decree while some critics at that time labelled it the De-unification Decree.

It was the decree that started the death of regionalism – an issue which is still generating controversy till now. Although the next head of State General Yakubu Gowon repealed the Decree 34 on August 31, 1966 through Decree 9, a large portion of the Decree is still effective till today.

On assumption of power, General Aguiyi-Ironsi promulgated the Constitution (Suspension and Modification) Decree 1966. Decree No 1 dated January 17, 1966 but not published in the Official Gazette until March 4, 1966. He then issued Public Order Decree No 33 dated May 24 1966 which dissolved eighty-one political associations and twenty-six tribal and cultural associations.

At the early stage of his tenure, he appointed a three-man advisory team made up of Chief Francis Nwokedi, a Permanent Secretary, Dr. Pius Charles Nwabafor Okigbo (1924-2000) and Colonel Patrick Anwunah, who later became Chairman and Head of the Orientation Committee at that time. He replaced the then Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Dr. Taslim Olawale Elias (1914-1991) with Chief Gabriel Chike Michael Onyiuke (SAN), former Director, Public Prosecution, Eastern Nigeria (1960-1965) from Nimo in the present Anambra state.

In a speech to the nation on January 28 1966, he denounced the evils of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa regime and outlined necessary reforms. ”All Nigerians”, he declared,” want an end to regionalism. Tribal loyalties and activities which promote tribal consciousness and sectional interests must give way to the urgent task of national reconstruction. The Federal Military Government will preserve Nigeria as one strong nation.” He then went on to promise “administrative reforms” and referred specifically to several matters in which regional as well as personal interests were known to have had decisive influence. These were official appointments, public investments, and the universities. He promised that in the public services, efficiency and merit will be the criteria for advancement”. That industrial development would be “coordinated to avoid wasteful duplication of industrial projects”, and that the universities would be “re-orientated to serve the genuine interest of our people.”

Immediately after the speech two Governors kicked against the proposal. They were, Major General David Akpode Ejoor from Ovu in the present Delta State, then serving as the Military Governor of the Mid-Western region and Major General Hassan Usman Katsina(1933-1995), who was then serving as Governor of the Northern region.

Lt. Col. Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu (1933-2011), Military Governor of Eastern Region welcomed the decree while Lt. Col. Francis Adekunle Fajuyi (1926-1966), Military Governor of Western Region never commented on the promulgation of the decree.

Lt-Col Ejoor was reported as saying that the ’National Government’ set up by the army was the prelude to ‘the reintroduction of a unitary form of government’ and insisted that it would create future problems. Shortly afterwards, the Supreme Military Council announced that a senior government official, Mr. Nwokedi, had been asked to consider and to report to the Supreme Military Council on the establishment of ‘an administrative machinery for a united Nigeria’ and the ‘unification of the Public Services and Judicial Services.’


In his own speech on February 19 at the Kaduna Airport, the Governor of Northern region, Lt-Col. Hassan Katsina said he was not aware as a member of the then Supreme Military Council of the modalities for the proposed National Government. ”I am afraid the egg is about to be broken”.

On February 21 1966, General Aguiyi-Ironsi again addressed the nation on the issue. He said: “On the question of the political future of the country, the experiences and mistakes of the previous governments in the Federation have clearly indicated that far-reaching constitutional reforms are badly needed for peaceful and orderly progress towards the realization of our objectives. I have already touched on some of the major issues involved in recent broadcast to the nation. It has become apparent to all Nigerians that rigid adherence to ‘regionalism’, was the bane of the last regime and one of the main factors which contributed to its downfall. No doubt, the country would welcome a clean break with the deficiencies of the system of government to which the country has been subjected in the recent past. A solution suitable to our national needs must be found. The existing boundaries of governmental control will need to be re-adjusted to make for less cumbersome administration.’

As a follow-up on May 25, General Aguiyi-Ironsi promulgated the Constitution (Suspension and Modification)(No. 5) Decree 1966. Decree No. 34 (the ‘Unification Decree’).

After the promulgation, the country was thrown into turmoil which led to demonstration particularly in many parts of Northern Nigeria at that time. On his return to Kaduna on May 27, Col. Hassan Katsina was besieged with demands for an explanation. It was feared that in a unified service, Northerners would be at a disadvantage. It was no consolation that the Decree provided for the delegation of appointments and promotions, except the most senior, to Provincial Civil Service Commissions.

With its authority challenged and shown to be weak, at least in large parts of the North, the National Military Government had little option but to proffer its assurances and to explain its actions. The Supreme Military Council met on 7 and 8 June 1966 and issued the following statement:

“The public must not be led to confuse the Military Government with government by a civilian regime under a constitution approved by the people. Nobody will expect the present Military Government to cease to function until new constitution has been approved or to be compelled to operate the old system of government with its obvious weakness. It cannot be too seriously emphasized that the Military Government while in office can only run the government as a military government under a unified command. It cannot afford to run five separate governments and separate services as if it were a civilian regime. Final decisions on the territorial structure of the country and the public services will be matters for the Constituent Assembly and the referendum.”

LOL this is fake news.. No source!!!
Ironsi didn't do any of these things, the only truth there is be banned tribal associations, I know he destroyed the Ibo federal union.

Let me assume this is true,
North was against
Midwest was against
West was indifferent
East was for it..

Aguiyi lasted just 6months? Why didn't the Northern region that was against such revert back after the revenge coup...
Aguiyi didn't do anything special or major during the period he held sway... Which is rather disappointing, he wanted to Bury ethnic identities and enthrone Merit.. Without securing the crown first what a dunce

ZombieNation:
[s][/s]

Why do you Igbos like to lie like this.

The IGBO Marxist Coup was staged for one purpose only:

To prevent the creation of COR region out of the defunct Eastern Region out of greed towards controlling the newly discovered oil wells.

To prevent COR being removed out of old Eastern region, Igbos staged a coup (backed by ZIk and teleguided by Victor Rothschild) to dismantle the regional assembly and usher in a powerful centrist Igbo dictatorship.

Can you deny Decree 34 and the Igbotic nature of the Ironsi Military dictatorship?

If anything, Decree 34 was a facsimile of Zik's radical MARXIST ambitions for Nigeria under a powerful centrist govt with Igbos solely in power.

YOU WERE NO VICTIMS.

Your linear thought process in thinking that this misadventure is akin to your petty trading is what pushed you into this foolish ploy.

Ask yourself why only Ojukwu as Military Governor of Eastern Nigeria welcomed Decree 4 but every other Military governor opposed it?

Why then did Ojukwu change his mind on Decree 4 in July of that same year after Ironsi was assassinated and deposed?

Why did the Igbos without consultation decide to drag the already Igbo weary minorities into their Biafra?

Can you also tell me what reasons western Cameroun adduced for wanting to leave Nigeria in 1959? Let me answer this for you: IT WAS BECAUSE THEY HAD GROWN TIRED OF IGBO MARGINALIZATION OF THE SO-CALLED MINORITIES IN THE OLD EASTERN REGION.

You idiots should stop twisting history and stop stupidly trying to dismiss the Marxist Igbo coup of Jan 15 as a non-Igbo affair because it sure damn was.

It's on Record Ironsi was not a dictator if he was anything its clueless and unpleasantly aloof.
Also Ironsi decree 34 didn't change the status quo pre-coup..

Show me where ojukwu supported decree 34 and others were against it, I've never read that anywhere before.
There was no talk about the creation of COR before the coup, read up the timeline properly


It was Insurgency in the western region and Obafemi and Akintola war
The Coup
The revenge coup
The creation of COR and Killing of Eastern Region Tribrs
Aburi accord
The war


Pre coup and even before the war some of the groups termed ethnic minority were part of the Ibo federal union, so reasonably no one was against the formation of COR, and some of the ethnic minorities backed Ojukwu move even the non-Igboid one's you'll know that if you check out what made the defunct Biafra Republic
Of course Gowon wanted to carve out the minorities, but that wasn't the only factor playing out, all tribes from the Eastern Region were being targeted and killed outside the Eastern Region..

If I'm wrong correct me civilly, I don't respond to discourteous remarks...
I'm willing to learn..

Tissaia:
it's just coincidence right

The plotters were of various ethnic nationalities, do I think it's a coincidence?
Yes absolutely.
If it was planned Aguiyi wouldn't have been so clueless and ineffectual with his Follow up actions..
I don't believe it was a planned ethnic coup.

The coup started from Operation Wetie and declaration of state of emergency in Western region, that was the first time the word terrorist was used in Nigeria history...

anyone talking about the coup in ethnic light is being mischievous..

I don't even blame the coup plotters only Aguiyi Ironsi deserves to be blamed no wonder he isn't celebrated or revered anywhere

Never heard that name before

There's no point of laundering image, if evil herders will still go about killing and destroying farmlands.. Ending that nonsense is the solution not appointing a class Z politician

Abeg who won't be, election money must reach ffk Hand na..

Personal interests only

Expect DSS and Efcc at the launching ceremony...

richmond500:
So na Wike hold SS votes?

One thing I know is that if PDP gives their votes to north, they will loose lots of votes from the south assuming Osinbajo takes APC ticket.

Also if they zone it to the south, they will finally loose the north and Osinbajo will still share votes in the south.

hilarious

NE 2023 for equality
SE 2023 for fairness and equity

Lol...she too wants to launder money like MO abudu and kemi adetiba

all the best tho!

Umahi

Ganduje was in London for his son graduation and decided to meet BAT..

Good to. See he's not wielding a walking stick..

Politics seems too easy

Lmao, ffk little finger? NEVER..
Op are you sure you watched GOT

Ffk is similar to Andy Bernard in the Office (US version)

Mastakija:
Senseless talk
So bcus he want to appoint someone for a post he should leave the qualified ones and start looking for indigenes upandan

Abi Is she not a yoruba too

All this illiterates ppl sha

Lmao the kind of analysis some Nairalanders make sometimes sef

... 6 years In opposition no be small thing..

As long as APC maintains their current form and Nigerians remain docile, APC will hold sway

they are just repeating themselves 3 times they've met now...
at least reasonable results sha on open grazing..

But 2023 remains for the north if we're talking about equality

IF it's on the ground of equity or fairness then South east

IPOB see yourself, rubbish

Too early to be vocal about your preferred candidate umahi

Let them just give this guy the money already and end the show.. Make person rest

It's for a movie

Rolings:
We thought OBJ was a mistake until we had GEJ
we thought GEJ was a mistake until we have Buhari

I completely agree...we will make a bigger mistake in 2023....but theres a positive side to it.....maybe by 2030 we will have made enough mistakes to reset our medula oblangata to be making right decisions and hopefully leave a better Nigeria for our chlidren

People say Atiku is terrible because Obj said so, they claim he used his position as VP to influence obj government, now under this same constitution they want us to believe osinbanjo is powerless and unable to influence or even advice buhari whether positively or negatively..

It's a shame some people are not looking at the long haul, they just want to like the name of person that wins they election, they don't care the effect and loss that follows after election day..
And it's worse since those kind of people are the majority

Premiumwriter2:
i dont have 10k to spend in a week ma

secondly i dont eat only rice and garri. read the post again

as a student there are food stuffs you take from home which you dont count as expenses like yam, beans, garri, potato, plantain, etc. i have those.

so my expenses comes primarily from buying ingredients

Now I get it, you weren't exactly explicit at first I guess

The mods themselves create the tribal wars, don't be deceived

Way to go!

Davash222:
After his analysis, you're still doubting him??

Yes I doubt him

chatinent:
Read again.

He has rice and garri.

So he eats only rice and garri

Even low income earners if they spend 10k in a week they rejoice

1k to 1.3k per week? So you can survive on 5k per month in 2021? Even in 2015 sef impossible

That's a lie, even in a day how's that possible