The remains of Noble Lady Victoria Aguiyi-Ironsi, the wife of Nigeria’s first Military Head of State, late Major-Gen Thomas Umunnakwe Aguiyi-Ironsi, was committed to mother earth at her husband’s compound yesterday in Ndume Ibeku, Umuahia North Local Government Ares.
The burial ceremony attended by dignitaries from all over the country was held amidst tight security as encomiums poured on her by family, government officials, and friends of the Aguiyi-Ironsi family.
The first son of late Aguiyi-Ironsi, Thomas Aguiyi-Ironsi, said his mother lived a fulfilled life and impacted the lives of many across the nation, pointing out that late Aguiyi Ironsi, as a virtuous woman, became the mother of the nation at a tender age even when her husband was no more.
According to him, Victoria Aguiyi-Ironsi, despite the unfortunate incident that befell her husband in 1966, was until her death a true patriot, a lover of peace and mother for all irrespective of where one comes from.
Governor Okezie Ikpeazie who spoke at the pontifical high mass in celebration of the deceased at the St Theresa Catholic Church, Afaraukwu Umuahia, said late Aguiyi Ironsi was a bridge builder and a shining example to other women.
The Abia chief executive disclosed that late Ironsi was a woman of virtue who tutored other women on how to live a decent and Christian, saying that Abia State, Southeast, and the entire nation will miss her good and motherly counsel and disposition.
Preaching at the pontification high mass in honour of the deceased which was presided over by the Catholic Bishop of Umuahia Dioceses, Rt Rev Dr Lucius Ugorji, the Very Rev. Father Henry Maduka warned that if nothing is done now by the government to avert the mayhem in the country, Nigeria will degenerate to a state of anarchy.
“If nothing is done to avert the high rate of banditry, kidnapping, killings by unknown gunmen and bandits, hostage-taking, bribery, etc, Nigeria may soon degenerate into a state of lawlessness where the powerful and strong will swallow the poor and weak”, he warned.
Amongst those that attended the burial ceremony include Senate Minority Leader, Senate Enyinnaya Abaribe, Deputy Governor of Abia State, Sir Ude Oko Chukwu, Bishops from other Christian denominations, captains of industries, military top brass and many government functionaries from the federal and many states across the federation.
