Fifty years after the duo of Major General Aguiyi-Ironsi, Nigeria’s first military ruler and Lt. Colonel Adekunle Fajuyi, former Military Governor of old Western region, were murdered, a think-thank of prominent Nigerians have decided to honour them in what they described as a “handshake across the Niger”.

A statement jointly signed by the conveners of the initiative, Yinka Odumakin and Senator Chris Anyanwu said that the idea is to remember the labour of the past heroes, “to reconstruct the narratives of our existence and to open a new vista of relationship between the Igbo and Yoruba ethnic group.”

It said: “Over 50 years after the gruesome event, Igbo Think-Tank Group (Nzuko Umunna) under the auspices of Afenifere and Ohanaeze has decided to have a joint celebration of the martyrs who have endured in the inner most recesses of their peoples and admirers.

It would be recalled that a bloody coup had occurred on January 15^th, 1966 which claimed the lives of the Prime Minster, Tafawa Balewa and other top government officials.

This resulted in a counter-coup by some aggrieved officers who sought vengeance in the January coup of 1966, stormed the government house in Ibadan where the Late General Ironsi who was on a visit to the region was killed. (Silverbird TV)