By Cajetan Mmuta
The Igbo apex Socio-Cultural organization,  Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide Tuesday mourned the death of two eminent women and widows, Chief (Mrs.) Victoria Aguiyi Ironsi (1923-2021) and Chief (Mrs.) Adanma Okpara (1924-2021), describing their demise as devastating.

The body extolled the virtues of the two Igbo daughters as virtuous whose husbands contributed immensely to the nation’s growth, unity, and peace.

Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Chiedozie Alex Ogbonnia in a condolence message made available to ThisNigeria in Awka the Anambra state capital noted that Chief Mrs. Victoria Aguiyi Ironsi was the Nigerian First Lady while her husband, Major General Johnson Thomas Umunnakwe Aguiyi Ironsi (JTU) lasted as the Nigerian Head of State from January to July 29, 1966.

He said, “Although her tenure as the First Lady was very brief, she added prestige, color, glamour, and regality to the office of the First lady.”

The apex Igbo group said, “Beyond her roles during and after the death of General Ironsi was her innermost Ironsi subconscious; she would pray for the soldier husband, she would nudge, motivate and package him for the tasks ahead and she would strive to be by his side to manage the exuberant gusto of the Lion, JTU.”
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“Above all, she was legendary in the unity of two separate souls that are brought together by marriage.”

Ogbonnia pointed out that, “JTU was promoted to the rank of a Major General when ethnicity and religion had no place in the military; what mattered most to the British as they were receding was a Nigerian public service well measured incompetence and efficient discharge of duties. JTU was not a quota General; his promotions were based on merit. In all, he was a true and detribalized gallant soldier.  All these were the unseen hands of Victoria.”

Similarly, “Mrs. Adanma Okpara, on the other hand, was an icon by her own virtues. At a time that western education was reserved for the daughters of the elite and also for the determined and exceptionally brilliant among the womenfolk, Adanma attended the Central School, Ndoro, Ikwuano Oboro, St Mary Flannery Memorial School, Oron;  Women Training College, Umuahia and the Westhill Teachers College, Selly Oak Birmingham, UK.”..

“She taught at Girl’s School, Ovim (1942 1943); Women Training College, Umuahia (1944 1947) and later the  Director, Mitchelson Nigeria Ltd- a maize milling Industry whose foundation was laid by Late Dr. M.I. Okpara.
Adanma was very famous among women. Her frugal lifestyle and prudent resource management endeared her to many.”

“The husband, Dr. M I. Okpara, a former parliamentarian and Premier of the Eastern Region at 39 was a charismatic, sagacious, and formidable politician whose legacies still resonate several years after his demise. He was known as MI Power because of his several exploits in politics and governance, more especially his triumphant entry into Ibadan in spite of pressures to the contrary during the crises ridden part of the first republic.”

“Dr. Okpara, like many others of his time was both methodical, philosophical, and ideological. Okpara’s Igbo pragmatic communalism was a movement most Eastern Nigerian communities tried to embrace by sponsoring their bests to study outside the country; building of schools and colleges, churches, hospitals, cottage hospitals, etc.”

“Space will not allow us to enumerate the accomplishments of the Okpara administration but suffice it to add that since Okpara left as Premier, there has never been anyone so close in the length and breadth of Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Abia, Imo, Anambra, Enugu, and the Ebonyi States.”

“Okpara presided over vast lands but refused to take any to himself. Okpara built houses for the public but resisted the temptation of building for himself. Okpara created wealth for the East but refused to appropriate it to himself. Okpara gave all and took nothing. This is where Adanma comes in as a disciplined noble wife.”

“The idiom that behind every successful man is a strong woman standing illustrates the life of Mrs Victoria Aguiyi Ironsi and Mrs. Adanma Okpara. They fit into the class of Mrs. Correta Scot King, a solid woman who strived on in spite of the assassination of her husband, Dr. Martin Luther King; Mrs. Jackie Kennedy whose head was bloody but unbowed.”.

“She insisted on wearing her blood-stained suit while Vice President Johnson took his oath, as a reminder and symbol of the assassination of the husband, J F Kennedy; Mrs. Kasturba Gandhi who shared in the daily crises of the husband, Mohandas K Gandhi; Nur Jahan, the wife of Mughal Emperor Jehangir, who displayed wizardry especially during her husband’s battle with alcohol and opium addiction.”

“She also expressed great physical prowess, participating in hunting expeditions and leading a battle against a rebel army; Mrs. Hillary Clinton who showed maturity and marital exemplariness by standing with the husband, President Bill Clinton amidst the Lewinsky controversy; Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt, Winnie Mandela, etc who stood firmly even after their husbands faced crises.”

Wives of Aguiyi-Ironsi, M.I. Okpara lived a robust, very active life – Sen. Abaribe

“Both Victoria and Adanma lost their heartthrobs early in life but they summoned courage, fortitude, and steadfastness in order to chart enviable courses for their children. This is the unassailable Igbo archetype rooted in hard work, tenacity, self-esteem, and faith in God.”

“It is possible that these two beautiful Igbo souls had seen heaven and hell while alive but their virtuous lives shall remain fresh in the minds of the present and future generations of Igbo women.”

The body added that “Ambassador Professor George Obiozor, the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide mourns with the Ironsi and Okpara immediate families, the people and government of Abia State and indeed all the good people of Igbo Land and prays that the Almighty will grant their souls an eternal repose in his blossom.”

Chiedozie Alex Ogbonnia, National Publicity Secretary, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.