With a barrage of decrees, Major General Johnson Aguiyi Ironsi's regime last week began clearing away the rubble of black Africa's bloodiest military coup. "Firm, honest and disciplined leadership" was what he promised a nationwide radio audience. More important, if less certain, was his pledge that "the federal military government will preserve Nigeria as one strong nation."
National unity had been the question ever since the nation won independence in 1960, and it was no less a question after the rebels swept away the government of Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa. Ironsi proposed to deal with the old bogy of tribal rivalry...
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