Widow of Nigeria’s first military ruler, Victoria Aguiyi-Ironsi, dies at 97

Widow of Nigeria’s first military ruler, Lady Victoria Nwanyiocha Aguiyi-Ironsi, is dead.

She was said to have died at 5.00am on Monday, exactly one day after her friend, age mate and wife of the former Premier of Eastern Nigeria, Adanma Okpara, died.

Her husband, Gen. Johnson Umunnakwe Aguiyi-Ironsi, was the first Nigerian military head of state; and he was in office from January 17, 1966 till July 29, 1966.

He was killed in Ibadan in a counter-coup led by Gen. Murtala Mohammed, also deceased.

Born on 21st November, 1923, Lady Ironsi was the second First Lady of Nigeria from January 17, 1966 to July 29, 1966.

She married Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi as a student of Holy Rosary Convent School, Okigwe, in 1953.

Lady Aguiyi-Ironsi was born in November 1923; while her friend, Adanma Okpara, was born in June 1924.