The Anambra State Government and former governor of the state Mr. Peter Obi have expressed sadness over the death of two former First Ladies, Mrs. Victoria Aguiyi-Ironsi, and Mrs. Adanma Okpara, who died a day apart last weekend.
Mrs. Aguiyi-Ironsi was the widow of Nigeria’s first military Head of State, Major General Johnson Thomas Umunnakwe Aguiyi-Ironsi, who also was the first indigenous General Officer Commanding (GOC), Nigerian Army.
Mrs. Okpara, on the other hand, was the widow of Premier of the Eastern Nigerian Region Dr. M. I. Okpara from 1960 to 1966 when Nigeria experienced its first military coup d’etat.
While Mrs Aguiyi-Ironsi died at almost 98 years, Mrs. Okpara lived for 96 years.
A statement signed by the Commissioner of Information and Public Enlightenment C. Don Adinuba said the glorious passage of the wives of General Aguiyi-Ironsi and Dr. Okpara reminds all Nigerians that public service is a calling rather than an avenue for squandering of public resources and self-aggrandizement.
According to the government “History will be kind to Mrs. Victoria Aguiyi-Ironsi and Mrs. Adanma Okpara for always encouraging their husbands to tread the path of honour, integrity and the common good.
May their noble souls rest in peace.
Also, Mr Peter Obi, who was the Vice Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said that he was saddened by the deaths of Lady Adanma Okpara and Lady Victoria Aguiyi-Ironsi, the widow of Nigeria’s first military Head of State, both of who passed on recently.
In a release made available to the press, Obi expressed his condolence to the government and people of Abia State on the death of their “two great matriarchs, who he said, had their names etched on the history of Igbo land in particular and Nigeria in general”.
Obi encouraged the government and people of Abia State to accept the deaths as God’s will while imbibing the good legacies left behind by the matriarchs.
As for the bereaved families, Obi said that death remains a painful experience, especially the death of a loved one, more so, a mother.
He appreciated the fact that they lived till old age but added that one is never tired of their motherly presence and prayed God to strengthen and console them.
“May God who it pleased to call them home now grant them eternal rest in his kingdom”, Obi prayed
