Former First Lady, Victoria Aguyi-Ironsi, is dead.
She died on Monday at 97.
Family sources said the former first lady died at the Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia, Abia State early on Monday after a prolonged battle with stroke.
The deceased was born on November 21, 1923.
She served as Nigeria’s first lady from January 17, 1966 to July 1966.
She married the late head of state as a 16-year-old student of Holy Rosary Convent School, Okigwe in 1953.
General Ironsi was killed in Ibadan, Oyo state, on July 29, 1966 in a military coup.
She had eight children who were taken and cared for by nuns in Ibadan during the Nigerian civil war.
President Muhammadu Buhari has commiserated with Aguiyi-Ironsi’s family, government and people of Abia State over the death of Mrs Victoria Aguiyi-Ironsi, wife of the first military Head of State, Major General Johnson Thomas Aguiyi-Ironsi.
Buhari, in a statement issued Monday by his spokesperson, Femi Adesina, said Lady Victoria’s incredible strength and exceptional courage during one of the darkest moments in the nation’s history put her as a mother of the nation, God-fearing and a foremost woman of valour.
Buhari said the former First Lady would be remembered for laying a solid foundation for women’s leadership in the seat of power.
The President recognised that 55 years after the death of General J.T Aguiyi-Ironsi, Lady Victoria never stopped working for the greater good of Nigeria, and for peace, stability, healing and reconciliation in the land.
