Aguiyi Ironsi

Aguiyi Ironsi was a Nigerian military officer who served as the country's first military Head of State from January 1966 until his assassination in July 1966. He came to power after a coup that overthrew the civilian government, and his administration was marked by attempts to unify Nigeria amidst ethnic tensions. Ironsi introduced the Unification Decree, which aimed to centralize the governance structure of Nigeria, a move that was controversial and contributed to regional discontent, ultimately leading to his downfall.