Abia State Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu has extolled the virtues and role played by the Late former first Lady, Victoria Aguiyi Ironsi, towards sustaining the unity and progress of the State and Nigeria in general, saying that her death has marked the closure of a great chapter.
Aged 89, Lady Victoria Aguiyi Ironsi was married to Nigeria’s First Military Head of State and first Indigenous Army General, Johnson Thomas Umunnakwe Aguiyi Ironsi and is survived by her children and a host of other relatives.
Speaking at a funeral service held at the St Theresa’s Catholic Church,Afara-Umuahia, Governor Ikpeazu noted that “during her life time, the late Lady Aguiyi Ironsi exhibited virtues of nobility,hard work,comportment, gentleness and everything one would require from a mother.
“Despite the fact that she was broken in heart on account of the loss of her husband, and circumstances around that loss,her faith in the unity and progress of Abia state and Nigeria never waned.The image of the Aguiyi Ironsi family was never diminished”.
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.
Ikpeazu, who recalled the events that led to the assassination of the former military head of State, Late Gen. Thomas Aguiyi Ironsi, urged the Federal Government to extend hands of fellowship across various nationalities in order to pave the way for a greater nation.
“The events that led to the assassination of the late military head of state, Aguiyi Ironsi, marked the murder of sleep in Nigeria. Since his demise, this country has known no peace.
“Nigeria should learn to extend hands of fellowship across various states and nationalities. Moments like these are of no use to mankind except we learn lessons, lessons that can be taught by the fond memories of our departed loved ones.
“Today will mark the closure of a great chapter and through this will open a new vista of hope especially on account of the handshake across the Niger because the circumstances of the death of her husband recorded what we are all fighting for in Nigeria which is the unity and love for one another”, Ikpeazu said.
He prayed that the event 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, 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 Faith 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 thanked the Governor and a host of others for identifying with the family.
Describing their mother as an example to Nigerian women, Ambassador Aguiyi Ironsi said the deceased during her life time championed the cause for the right of women adding that she will be sorely missed.
Those present during the funeral service include, the Deputy Governor Sir Ude Oko Chukwu and Wife, the Senator representing Abia central, Chief T.A Orji and wife, the senator representing Abia South, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, the President of Abia State Customary Court of Appeal, Justice Okey Nwamuo, the Catholic Bishop of Umuahia the most Rev. Lucious Ugorji,Col. Austin Akobundu , the SSG, Mr Chris Ezem and other members of the state Executive Council , Service Chiefs and other distinguished Nigerians.
