This was the first speech by Military Governor Lt. Col. David Ejoor
after the death of Maj. Gen Ironsi and the emergence of Lt. Col Yakubu
Gowon as Head of State:
Mid-West Military Governor's Speech in Support of the New Regime.
Barely one week ago, the people of the Mid-Western Group of Provinces
had the honor and privilege to receive Major-General J.T.U. Aguiyi-
Ironsi as Head of the National Military Government and Supreme
Commander of the Armed Forces. The reception accorded him was such
that he felt reassured of unflinching support for the National
Military Government.
I was shocked to hear that within 24 hours of his departure from
the Mid-West for a conference of traditional rulers at Ibadan, he and
his host, Lt. Col. F.A. Fajuyi, Military Governor of the Western
Group of Provinces, were kidnapped by a section of the Army and taken
to an unknown destination.
It is gratifying however, that, despite these unfortunate and
gruesome incidents, the people of the Mid-Western Group of Provinces
have remained calm and have refrained from violent reactions. This
is no doubt because they are noted to be generally peaceful and law
abiding, especially in times of crisis. I trust that these qualities
will be maintained, whatever the situation, and that law and order
will continue to be preserved in this area. I personally intend to
do everything in my power to see that the balance is maintained.
Although I am deeply touched by the events of the last few days, I
am resolved not to allow what has happened to becloud my sense of
responsibility to the Republic as a whole and to the people of the
Mid-West in particular. A new Military Government, led by Lt. Col.
Gowon, has been announced and we should do our utmost to co-operate
with it.
I am convinced, however, that it is idle and unpatriotic to pretend
that all is now well with the nation. Frankly, the position, as I
see it, is still tense and all true lovers of the country, especially
those in positions of trust and authority, must take all necessary
measures firmly to arrest the situation. Time may well be against us
. . . .
It seems that most Mid-Westerners are giving serious thought to the
following questions:
Are we to have a unitary state with powers centralized at the
national capital?
A federal state with strong Central Government and relatively weak
regional or provincial Government?
A loose Federation with strong Regional (or provincial) Government
and a relatively weak Government at the center responsible only for
limited common services? Or
Should the country be broken up into several new and independent
states?
The questions posed above raise fundamental issues to which the
right answer must be found without delay, not by bullets but by
mutual and friendly discussion.
This is a challenge from which we must not flinch.
I hope that the Head of the new National Military Government will
accept it and arrange in the next few days for a conference to be
attended by representatives of all parts of the Republic and at which
serious and objective attempt would be made to help determine the
future of the country.
Compiled by NOWAMAGBE AUSTIN OMOIGUI, MD
