Buhari, others mourn ex-First Ladies, Adanma Okpara, Victoria Aguiyi-Ironsi

The month of August 2021 would remain remarkable and indelible to Nigerians, especially Igbo and Abians, following the death of the wives of two notable Nigerians of Abia origin both by birth and marriage in two successive days.

Lady Adanma Okpara, wife of the late Dr. Michael Okpara, the Premier of the defunct Eastern Region of Nigeria, died at the age of 97 years in the early hours of Sunday, August 22, 2021.

Besides, Lady Victoria Aguiyi-Ironsi, the wife of Nigeria’s first military Head of State, Maj.-Gen. Johnson Umunnakwe Aguiyi-Ironsi, was said to have died in the early hours of yesterday, Monday, August 23, 2021.

President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, commiserated with family of Lady Okpara.

The President also joined the government and people of Abia State and all Nigerians in mourning the passing of an enterprising and disciplined mother, who was a worthy example of humility and hard-work to her children and the many women she mentored in her community.

He said that the late wife of the very formidable figure in the First Republic and the Eastern Nigeria led by example even after leaving public office.

Buhari, therefore, prayed God to grant the soul of the departed eternal rest.

SIMILARLY, Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Onyebuchi Ememanka, said the late former Premier’s wife remained a model of good and excellent womanhood, describing her as “a fountain of knowledge from which most women, especially here in Abia, drank freely.”

The governor, therefore, urged the family members to take pride in the solid legacies of their parents and be motivated to keep the flag of excellence in public service, hoisted by their parents, flying at full mast.

IN a related vein, the Minority Leader in the Senate, Enyinnaya Abaribe and Secretary to the Government of the Federation,
Boss Mustapha, have expressed deep grief over the death of Victoria Aguiyi-Ironsi and Adanma Okpara, saying Nigeria and Abia State in particular have lost two great women.

Abaribe, in a statement by his Media Adviser, Uchenna Awom, in Abuja, yesterday, indicated that their death within a space of two days marked a sad end of glorious era.

He said both women leaders lived out their roles as worthy pillars of support to their husbands, who played pivotal roles in the shaping of Nigeria as a nation at various times when they held sway as Head of State and Premier of Eastern Nigeria respectively.

Mustapha described the late Lady Victoria Aguiyi-Ironsi as a devout Christian.
ALSO, Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, has commiserated with the families of the two First Ladies.

In a statement signed by Uzodimma’s Chief Press Secretary/Media Adviser, Oguwike Nwachuku, the governor regretted the deaths.

He, however, condoled with their families, the government and people of Nigeria, as well as the government and people of Abia State.