Wife Of First Military Head Of State, Lady Victoria Aguiyi Ironsi, Is Dead

 

Wife Of Gen JTU Aguiyi-Ironsi, Nigeria's First Military Head Of State Has Passed On At The Age Of 86.

Lady Victoria Aguiyi Ironsi, wife of Nigeria’s first Military Head of State, Major Gen Johnson Thomas Umunnakwe Aguiyi-Ironsi is dead. She died at the age of 86.

Lady Aguiyi-Ironsi died at 4am on  Monday August 23 2021, after a prolonged battle with mild stroke.

According to sources in the family, she died at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Umuahia where she was admitted few days ago.

The news of her demise comes less than 24 hours after another titanic Amazon and wife of late Premier of defunct Eastern Region, Dr Michael Iheonukara Okpara died in her country home Umuekwu Okpuala in Ohuhu Clan of Umuahia North LGA of Abia State.

Both Amazons and their spouses hailed from Umuahia North LGA and had kept low profile lifestyles since the demise of their husbands many years ago. Aguiyi Ironsi died in July 29, 1966 during a counter coup which was led by some Northern military officers, while Okpara died in December 15, 1984 after celebrating a cultural festival in Umuekwu Okpuala.

Dr Michael Okpara ruled the Eastern Region as a civilian Premier from 1959 to January 15, 1966, while Thomas Umunnakwe Aguiyi-Ironsi started his journey of ruling Nigeria from January 15, 1966. Aguiyi-Ironsi seized power amidst the ensuring chaos following January 25, 1966 military coup.

The states in the defunct Eastern Region which Okpara ruled as a democratic Premier are: Abia, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bayelsa, Cross River, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo and Rivers States.