The body of Victoria, the late wife of the first Nigerian military head of state, Major General Johnson Thompson Umunnakwe Aguiyi Ironsi, was buried yesterday at her country home, Umuana Ndume Ibeku, in the North Umuahia local government area of the state. of Abia.
Speaking at the funeral held at St. Teresa’s Catholic Church, Afaraukwu Umuahia, over the weekend, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu described the late Victoria Aguiyi Ironsi as a great woman who exhibited nobility, hard work and demeanor throughout her life.
The governor said the deceased believed and worked for peace, progress and unity in Abia State and Nigeria.
He expressed a deep sense of personal loss as he tapped into the richness of the deceased’s experience.
While noting that the deceased’s faith in the unity of Nigeria never waned, Governor Ikpeazu said that her death marks the end of a glorious chapter in our history.
He noted that the late General Aguiyi Ironsi was the true father of the Nigerian unit as he was the Head of State who promulgated the Decree that unified Nigeria, noting that the murder of the man marked the beginning of the threat to Nigerian unity.
However, the executive director of Abia urged Nigerians to learn to extend the hand of fellowship among various nationalities and prayed that the burial marks the end of all cases of injustice across the country in order to give to the people a new hope of living as brothers. and build a bigger nation.
In a homily, Rev. Fr. Henry Maduka, Chancellor of the Catholic Diocese of Umuahia, emphasized the need for Christians to turn to the word of God for solutions to the myriad problems facing the nation.
The clergyman described the late noble lady Victoria Aguiyi Ironsi as a worthy Christian who had absolute trust in God and the Catholic faith, allowing her to overcome the difficult task of raising her children after the painful death of her husband.
In a comment on behalf of the Aguiyi Ironsi family, the deceased’s first son and former Defense Minister, Ambassador Thomas Aguiyi Ironsi, thanked Governor Okezie Ikpeazu and many others for identifying with the family.
The former Nigerian envoy to Togo described her mother as an example for Nigerian women who stood up for the cause of women’s rights, and said she will be deeply missed.
Newslodge reports that the funeral service that was presided over by the Catholic Bishop of Umuahia, Most Reverend Dr. Luscius Ugorji was also attended by the Lieutenant Governor, Sir Ude Okochukwu and his wife, former Governor and Senator representing the Central Senator of Abia TA Orji and his wife, Senate Minority Leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, Former Senate Speaker, Senator Adolphus Wabara, President, Abia State Customary Appeals Court, H.E. Judge Okey Nwamuo, Colonel Austin Akobundu, Secretary of Government, Attorney Chris Ezem and other members of the State Executive Council, Chairman of the Council of Traditional State Rulers, Eze Sir JN Nwabeke, Service Commanders, Chairman of the Abia State Advisory Council , Ezeogo Dr. Anagha Ezikpe and other distinguished Nigerians graced the ceremony.
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