ABSTRACT
The abdication of power to General Ironsi by the former Federal government gave his commands some semblance of legitimacy, but it did not convey effective power. There are a number of indications that the government and those in sympathy with it were anxious about the attitudes of the soldiers. The main points were that "the Federal Military Government shall have power to make laws for the peace, order and good government of Nigeria or any part thereof with respect to any matter whatever". It seems from the decree that they were more in the nature of advisory bodies that the head of the Military Government could disregard at will. He explained that this was 'a consequence of the removal of the former legislators and is designed to remove political influences in the local government of Northern Nigeria'. Ironsi's government not only followed the regions, it also showed itself eager to take advice from other quarters.
