Victor EzejaTHE wife of a former military head of state, Lady Victoria Aguiyi-Ironsi, is dead.
According to a statement signed by a member of the family, Ambassador Tom Aguiyi-Ironsi, she passed away in the early hours of Monday August 23, 2021 at the age of 97.
Going by her birth date, she would have been 98 on November 21, 2021.
Her husband, the late Major General Johnson Thomas Aguiyi-Ironsi, was Nigeria’s head of state between January 17, 1966 and July 29, 1966 when he was assassinated in a countercoup.
Details of her burial will be announced by the family.
President of Credibility Group and former President of Aka Ikenga, Chief Goddy Uwazurike, eulogised Lady Aguiyi-Ironsi.
According to him, she did not fall apart after the death of her husband.
He said, “Lady Victoria Aguiyi-Ironsi was a lady in word and deed. She sheltered with her children in my village, Umunakanu, Ehime Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State during the Biafra War. She carried herself with dignity and earned the respect of people.
“After the war, she lived in Umuahia town with her children. That she is a survivor is seen in the way she took care of her children who turned out to be highly respected members of the country. An example is Amb. Thomas who became a minister of defence.”
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
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