Victoria Aguiyi-Ironsi has been buried in Umuahia.
Glamtush reports that the body of Victoria, the late wife of the first Nigerian military Head of State, Major General Johnson Thompson Umunnakwe Aguiyi Ironsi, was yesterday buried at her country home, Umuana Ndume Ibeku in Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia State.
This online platform understands that while speaking at the funeral service held at Saint Theresa’s Catholic Church, Afaraukwu Umuahia, during the weekend, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, described the late Victoria Aguiyi Ironsi as a great woman who exhibited nobility, hard work, and comportment during her lifetime.
The Governor said that the deceased believed and worked for the peace, progress, and unity of Abia State and Nigeria.
He expressed a deep sense of personal loss as he tapped from the wealth of experience of the deceased.
While noting that the faith of the deceased 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 real father of Nigerian unity since he was the Head of State who promulgated the Decree that unified Nigeria, noting that the murder of the man signaled the start of the threat to the unity of Nigeria.
The Abia Chief Executive, however, urged Nigerians to learn to extend hands of fellowship across various nationalities and prayed that the burial will mark an end to all cases of injustice across the land with a view to giving the people a new hope to live as brothers and build a greater nation.
In a homily, Rev. Fr. Henry Maduka, the Chancellor of Umuahia Catholic Diocese, stressed the need for Christians to turn to the word of God for solutions to the myriads of problems confronting the nation.
The cleric described the late Noble Lady Victoria Aguiyi Ironsi as a worthy Christian who reposed absolute trust in God and the Catholic faith which enabled her to 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, thanked Governor Okezie Ikpeazu and a host of others for identifying with the family.
The former Nigerian envoy to Togo, described his mother as an example to Nigerian women who championed the cause for the rights of women, saying that she will be sorely missed.
The funeral service which was presided over by the Catholic Bishop of Umuahia, Most Rev. Dr. Luscius Ugorji also had in attendance, the Deputy Governor, Sir Ude Okochukwu and his wife, former Governor and Senator representing Abia Central Senator T.A Orji and wife, Senate Minority Leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, former Senate President, Senator Adolphus Wabara, the President, Abia State Customary Court of Appeal, Hon. Justice Okey Nwamuo.
Others are Col. Austin Akobundu, Secretary to 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.
