By MATTHEW OKORO, Kalu

Widow of late General Johnson Umunnakwe Aguiyi-Ironsi, first Nigerian Military Head of State and Nigeria’s second First Lady, Dame Victoria Aguiyi-Ironsi, has died in Umuahia, Abia State capital, at the age of 98.

She was reportedly admitted at the Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia few days ago and died early Monday morning at about 4 a.m.

Her son, Ambassador Tom Aguiyi Ironsi, has confirmed the death of the matriarch of the Ironsi family.

The former Ambassador said in a telephone contact: “Yes, the news is true and we are going to address a Press Conference at Umuana on Friday to make public the details.”

Dame Victoria Aguiyi-Ironsi’s death is coming barely 24 hours after that of Chief (Mrs) Adanma Okpara, wife of the late Premier of Eastern Region, Dr Michael Iheonukara Okpara, who died early Sunday morning.

Late Dame Victoria Aguiyi-Ironsi served as Nigeria’s First Lady for seven months as her husband, Gen. Johnson Umunnakwe Aguiyi-Ironsi, the first Nigerian Military Head of State, was killed in Ibadan in a countercoup led by late General Murtala Mohammed on July 29, 1966.

She married Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi as a student of Holy Rosary Convent School, Okigwe in 1953 at the aged of 16.

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