Obasanjo Calls Nigeria's Past "Black Days" at Memorial

On Wednesday, former President Olusegun Obasanjo referred to the January 15, 1966 coup, the July 29, 1966 counter-coup, and the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election as some of Nigeria's "black days." He made these remarks during the 60th memorial service for Nigeria's first military Head of State, Gen. Johnson Thomas Umunnakwe Aguiyi-Ironsi, who was assassinated on July 29, 1966, in Umuahia.

Obasanjo emphasized the importance of learning from Nigeria's past to foster national unity and development, advocating for the reintroduction of History as a subject in schools. He noted that many of Nigeria's historic crises were marked by exclusion and division, urging for inclusion and cooperation instead.

Reflecting on Aguiyi-Ironsi's legacy, Obasanjo described him as a father figure who respected younger officers and highlighted his military achievements, including his role in the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Congo.