Tribute: Joy Ezeilo Extols Victoria Aguiyi Ironsi and Adanma Okpara

Former United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Trafficking and Dean Emeritus, Faculty of Law, University of Nigeria( UNN), Prof. Joy Ngozi Ezeilo on Tuesday described former first lady Mrs. Victoria Aguiyi Ironsi and Madam Adanma Okpara, the widow of the Premier of the old Eastern region, Dr. Michael Okpara as ” unsung sheroes/ heroines.”

Ezeilo who is also the founding CEO, Women’s Aid Collective & WACOL Tamar SARC made the disclosure sequel to the demise of Mrs. Victoria Aguiyi Ironsi and Madam Adanma Okpara.

Part of Ezeilo’s statement read: “What a huge loss to Igboland and Nigeria? These were two great women — unsung sheroes/ heroines that stood by their formidable political giants’ husbands through thick and thin. Although they have been viewed largely through the prism of their husbands, the duo were women of valour and indomitable spirit.  May their souls  find eternal peace and may their memories be a source of pride and blessings for Ndi Igbo.
I hope they will be honoured by both state and federal Governments of Nigeria.

“Meanwhile, their deceased husbands remain under-recognized and celebrated despite their noble and transformational leadership qualities. Dr. M. I. Okpara was an astute leader of immeasurable value. We once had leaders of integrity worthy of emulation.  May God comfort their respective families.”

Two former first ladies, Lady Victoria Aguiyi-Ironsi, wife of the first Military Head of State, Late Gen. Thompson Umunnakwe Aguiyi-Ironsi and Lady Adanma Opara, widow of Premier of the defunct Eastern region, Dr. Michael Okpara, died within 24 hours of each other.

Both women were from Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia State. Lady Aguiyi-Ironsi, according to a close family source, died of age-related ailment. She was 98 years old.

Born on November 21, 1923, Lady Victoria was the second First Lady from January 16, 1966 to July 29, 1966, when her husband, Aguiyi-Ironsi, was killed in a counter-coup led by late Gen. Murtala Mohammed.

Earlier on Sunday, Lady Adanma, who would have been 97 years old in December, died; a village source said she died after a protracted illness.

The nonagenarian had been sick for some years before finally succumbing to death in an undisclosed hospital.

Attempts for formal confirmation of the demise of the late Lady Okpara were however unsuccessful as her second son, Chief Uzodinma Okpara did not pick calls put across to him.

Meanwhile, since the demise of her husband, Dr. Michael Okpara in December 1984, the nonagenarian had lived a quiet life and rarely seen in public.

She was a strong pillar behind her husband in the politics of the 1950s and 1960s as Michael Okpara ruled the then Eastern Region with dedication and commitment to people’s welfare, centred on massive industrialisation of the then Eastern Nigeria with agriculture as its centerpiece.

Her late husband, Dr. Okpara was reputed for his selfless but legendary leadership which was responsible for the agricultural and infrastructure transformation recorded in the Old Eastern region comprising the present day South-East, South-South states minus Edo State.

Additional reports from Vanguard News