NIGERIA: HEAD OF MILITARY GOVERNMENT, MAJOR-GENERAL IRONSI, OUTLINES HOW COUNTRY WILL BE ADMINISTERED

Record ID: 237522

  • Title: NIGERIA: HEAD OF MILITARY GOVERNMENT, MAJOR-GENERAL IRONSI, OUTLINES HOW COUNTRY WILL BE ADMINISTERED
  • Date: 18th January 1966
  • Summary: 1. GV EXT. PAN PARLIAMENT BUILDING, LAGOS. 0.05 2. MV INT PAN..JOURNALISTS 0.12 3. MV IRONSI (SOF). 1.32 4. IRONSI (VOICE IN B/G ASKS IF THERE WILL BE PRESS CENSORSHIP DURING THE CURRENT REGIME.) AT 62 FT. 1 MIN. 40 SECS. IRONSI REPLIES (SOF). 1.54 5. CU IRONSI (SOF). 2.11 TRANSCRIPT: IRONSI "IN THE REGIONS, THERE WILL BE MILITARY GOVERNMENTS UNDER A MILITARY GOVERNOR, ASSISTED BY AN ADVISER WHO IS THE LAST PERSON TO HOLD THE OFFICE OF REGIONAL GOVERNOR. THE NORMAL FUNCTIONS OF GOVERNMENT IN EACH REGION WILL BE CARRIED ON BY THE PERMANENT SECRETARIES IN THE REGIONS, AND THEY WILL BE DIRECTED RESPONSIBLE TO THE MILITARY GOVERNMENTS THERE. "THE REGIONAL MILITARY GOVERNMENTS ARE DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE TO THE HEAD OF THE FEDERAL MILITARY GOVERNMENT AND THE SUPREME COMMANDER OF THE ARMED FORCES, FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA. "PUBLIC CORPORATIONS AND OTHER STATUTORY BODIES, SUCH AS LOCAL GOVERNMENT, WILL CONTINUE TO FUNCTION UNDER THEIR APPROPRIATE MINISTRIES. "ALL EXISTING LAWS, REGULATIONS, ORDERS AND OFFICIAL INSTRUCTIONS REMAIN IN FORCE, WHEREVER APPLICABLE, UNTIL EITHER MODIFIED OR ABROGATED BY THE FEDERAL MILITARY GOVERNMENT." INTERVIEWER: "WILL THERE BE PRESS CENSORSHIP DURING THIS REGIME?" IRONSI: "I DO NOT THINK THAT I SHALL START OFF WITH PRESS CENSORSHIP. BUT I MAY IMPOSE CENSORSHIP IF IT BECAME NECESSARY." IRONSI: "MAY MAIN CONCERN IS TO RESTORE LAW AND ORDER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE." Initials PBS/V/JF/BB Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 2nd February 1966 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: LAGOS, NIGERIA
  • Country: Nigeria
  • Reuters ID: LVAEH25RXRG8TB51JC93C12DGTDK
  • Story Text: MILITARY RULE HAS BEEN FIRMLY ESTABLISHED IN NIGERIA FOLLOWING THE ABORTIVE COUP D'ETAT ON SATURDAY BY CERTAIN UNITS OF THE ARMED FORCES. ADMINISTRATION OF THE COUNTRY HAS BEEN TAKEN OVER BY A MILITARY GOVERNMENT, UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF THE SUPREME COMMANDER, MAJOR-GENERAL IRONSI.

    YESTERDAY (MONDAY) GENERAL IRONSI OUTLINED A SEVEN-POINT STATEMENT HOW POWER WOULD BE EXERCISED UNDER THE NEW ADMINISTRATION. PERMANENT MINISTERIAL SECRETARIES WILL CONTINUE THEIR NORMAL FUNCTIONS BUT WILL BE RESPONSIBLE TO THE MILITARY GOVERNMENTS.

    THE NEW ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN WELCOMED BY MANY NIGERIANS, AN ALL MILITARY UNITS, INCLUDING THE KADUNA GARRISON WHICH SPEARHEADED THE COUP, HAVE GIVEN THEIR SUPPORT TO MAJOR GENERAL IRONSI.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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