Nnamani Mourns Aguiyi-Ironsi, Okpara’s Widows

By Deji Elumoye

A member of the National Assembly, Senator Chimaroke Nnamani, has condoled with the families of Nigeria’s first military Head of State, Major General Aguiyi Ironsi and former Premier of Eastern Region, Dr. Micheal Okpara, over the demise of their widows, Victoria Aguiyi-Ironsi and Adanma Okpara.

In the condolence messages sent to the two families on Thursday, the former Enugu State Governor described the fallen heroines as great amazons who were the back bones and pillars of their husbands’ achievements while in public service.

Specifically, Senator Nnamani praised late Madam Ironsi for her indomitable spirit in providing leadership, carrying on the family burden and her show of strength especially after the gruesome murder of her husband many years ago.
He said: “Late Madam Ironsi’s indomitable spirit, courage, perseverance and strength of character during and after that tragic era is worthy of commendation”.

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on on Integration and Cooperation in Africa/ NEPAD described her as a woman of inestimable capacity and ideas.
He recalled that late Adanma and her husband (Micheal Okpara) laid the solid foundation for socio-economic development in then Eastern Region (now Enugu, Abia, Ebonyi, Anambra, Imo, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Rivers and Bayelsa States) on which successive governments built on.
He added: “that was the foundation successive administrations including mine in Enugu State built on. We cannot forget the sacrifices made by the Okparas especially the establishment of industries and educational institutions that brought development to the region”.
The Enugu East Senator while urging the women folks to emulate the resilience, industry and indomitable spirits of the former First Ladies also prayed that God grants them eternal rest.