Former first lady, Victoria Aguiyi-Ironsi buried in Abia
By Oliver Udeogu
The remains of a former first lady and wife of Nigeria’s first military Head of State, Lady Victoria Nwanyiocha Aguiyi Ironsi, were laid to rest on Friday, in her husband’s home town Umuezuwere Umuana-Ndume in Umuahia Abia State.
The late Victoria Aguiyi Ironsi was the second first lady of Nigeria, from January 16 1966, to July 29, 1966.
The funeral mass of the deceased first lady held at the St Theresa’s Catholic Church Afara Umuahia, saw many dignitaries from all walks of life gathered to bid her farewell.
Parish Priest of the St Patrick’s Catholic Church Amuzukwu Umuahia, Reverend Father Henry, who was the Presiding Priest at the funeral, in his homily, described the late Nongenarian as a courageous and unwavering woman of faith, an elegant and humble personality, who undertook the challenge of bringing up her children, after the death of her husband, the late General Johnson Thomas Umunnakwe Aguiyi Ironsi.
The Cleric further urged Nigerians to reconcile themselves to God, by acknowledging Him as Author and Finisher of their fate, in order to escape eternal damnation at death.
The Abia State Governor Dr Okezie Ikpeazu in his tribute, described the late Matriarch of the Ironsi’s, as one that espoused the virtues of nobility, hard work, competence and faith.
These were the virtues the former first lady possessed according to the Governor, that saw her through the trying period, following the death of her husband, while describing her passage, as the closure of a great chapter in Ibeku land, where a great man sprang up to serve the country, while paying the supreme sacrifice in the course of that.
The body of the late first lady, was conveyed in a motor cade, by the foremost funeral Undertakers, the APAMS Funeral Home, amidst eulogy, testimony and funeral farewell songs by relatives, friends and Well-wishers of the deceased.
Among the dignitaries at the funeral event, were the Abia State Deputy Governor, Udo Okochukwu, former Senate President Adolphus Wabara, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, Senator Theodore Orji.
Others were Captains of Industry, religious and traditional rulers including Archbishop Opoko and Bishop Sunday Onugha of the Methodist Church Nigeria, and Eze Philip Ukaegbu, the Traditional Ruler of Afaraukwu Umuahia.
Lady Victoria Aguiyi Ironsi died on the 23rd of August at the age of 97.
She is survived by eight children which includes a former Defence Minister and Nigeria’s Ambassador to Togo, Ambassador Thomas Aguiyi Ironsi.
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