
Dame Victoria Aguiyi-Ironsi
Abia Governor harps on unity among Nigerians, as Dame Aguiyi-Ironsi is buried

[From BONIFACE OKORO, Umuahia]
Abia Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, has urged Nigerians to learn to extend hands of fellowship across various nationalities in order to ensure peace and unity of the country.


Ikpeazu made the call during the funeral Mass for a former First Lady of Nigeria, Late Noble Lady Victoria Aguiyi Ironsi, who was the wife Nigeria’s slain Head of State, General Thomas Umunnakwe Aguiyi-Ironsi who was brutally murdered in July 1966.
Referring to the late Head of State role in holding Nigeria together, the Abia Governor, said the Late General Aguiyi Ironsi was the real father of Nigeria’s unity since he was the Head of State who promulgated the Decree that unified Nigeria. The Governor equally submitted that the murder of Gen. Ironsi signaled the start of the threat to the unity of Nigeria.
He therefore prayed that the burial of Lady Aguiyi-Ironsi would mark an end to all cases of injustice across the land with a view to giving the Nigerians a new hope to live as brothers and build a greater nation.
Ikpeazu who was speaking at the funeral Mass for the late Lady Victoria Aguiyi Ironsi held at the St Theresa’s Catholic Church, Afara Ukwu, Umuahia said that the deceased believed and worked for the peace, progress and unity of Abia State and Nigeria.
The Requiem Mass presided over by the Catholic Bishop of Umuahia Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji.
Lady Aguiyi-Ironsi died at the Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia on August 23, 2021 at the age of 98.
The Governor described the Late former First Lady as a great woman who exhibited nobility, hardwork and comportment during her life time, noting that the faith of the deceased in the unity of Nigeria never waned.
The Governor said he felt a deep sense of personal loss as he tapped from the wealth of experience of the late Lady Victoria Aguiyi Ironsi, adding that her death marks the end of a glorious chapter in Nigeria’s history.
In a homily, the Chancellor of Umuahia Catholic Diocese, the Rev. Fr. Henry Maduka, stressed the need for Christians to turn to the Word of God for solutions to the many problems confronting the nation.
He described the late Noble Lady Victoria Aguiyi Ironsi as a worthy Christian who reposed absolute trust in God and the Catholic Church which enabled her surmount the difficult task of bringing up her children after the painful death of her husband.
In a remark on behalf of the Aguiyi Ironsi family, the first son of the deceased and former Minister of Defense, Ambassador Thomas Aguiyi Ironsi, described his mother as an example to Nigeria women who championed the cause for the rights of women, saying that she will be sorely missed.
The funeral Mass also had in attendance, the Deputy Governor, Sir Ude Okochukwu and his wife, Vivian; a former Governor of Abia who is now the Senator representing Abia Central Senator T.A Orji and wife, Odochi; Senate Minority Leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, a former Senate President, Senator Adolphus Wabara; the President, Abia State Customary Court of Appeal, Hon. Justice Okey Nwamuo; Col. Austin Akobundu, Secretary to Abia State Government, Barrister Chris Ezem and other members of the State Executive Council; Chairman of the State Traditional Rulers Council, Eze Sir J N Nwabeke, Service Commanders, Chairman of the Abia State Advisory Council, Ezeogo Dr. Anagha Ezikpe and other distinguished Nigerians graced the ceremony.