For Lady Victoria Aguiyi Ironsi, the shock
of the news of the tragic death of her
husband, the late former Head of State,
Lt. General Johnson Aguiyi Ironsi can
never go away. She described the day and
entire period as shocking and terrible
dark days. But she remains grateful to
God that she weathered it all. In this
interview in Umuahia, Lady Aguiyi Ironsi
laments that both the Federal and State
Government do not accord the nation’s
heroes the respect they deserve.
•Lady Victoria Aguiyi Ironsi
Today is 50 years of the tragic death of
your husband. How did you receive the
news?
Well, it is 50 years now, I am happy that
God has kept us alive till today. And today,
one can look back to those dark days. It is
not a day one can forget in life, we keep
remembering it. The shock can never go
away.
How did you feel when the news came?
As the wife at home, all of a sudden
the news came that your husband, the
Head of State, has been killed. How did
you receive the news?
Shocking, it was a terrible thing. But
usually when a soldier marries a woman,
he always tries to bring her up to his
standard, that is to be brave and
courageous. Time without number, they
go out and they don’t return.
They tell us as wives, 'as a soldier, I can
die any day.' They don’t hesitate to tell us
something like that. And when they tell us
things like that, we always think they are
just talking, but they are teaching us
something serious, really.
In my case, when I got worried, he would
advise me not to be worried. He would
tell me, 'don’t be worried, I am a soldier, I
can die any day.'
So on this fateful day, it happened. Where
did he go to, a meeting in Ibadan; Fujuyi
was hosting him at the State House,
Ibadan. From a meeting you don’t see
your husband again; he was not sick,
nothing. What you do, nothing, you
wouldn’t even know what to do, you are
just empty.
It is only God that can console you, that
time you need God most. That was what
happened to me, it was shocking. You
don’t even know the true situation of
things. Nobody told me whether he was
dead or alive. For so many months, no
information on whether he was killed.
People just kept trooping in [to the State
House], saying this and saying that, then
you are dumb, you can’t even talk.
I just kept looking at thousands of people
that came to see me. Who were you going
to talk to? Some people said they saw him
in Umuahia, his home town, some said
they saw him in other places, I was just
looking at people talking, I did not know
what to contribute. I was just confused,
looking at them.
But being the wife of a general, and
going by what he used to tell you about
the risk in his profession, were you
able to put one and two together to
sense that he was dead?
Oh yes. That was why I called Emeka [Col.
Emeka Odimegwu Ojukwu, the Governor
of Eastern Region] and told him to take
me down to the East, that I didn’t think I
would continue to remain here [State
House], Lagos. I called him to make
arrangement to move me down, and he
did that immediately.
Were you with the children then?
Of course, even my first son who came
from London on holidays followed him
[Gen Ironsi] to Ibadan for the meeting. I
did not even remember that he was there
with him, he followed his father to Ibadan
for a meeting; he said he wanted to have
a sight-seeing. A young boy, who had
been in London all his life, just came
home on holidays. I didn’t even
remember again that he was with his
father because my brain was off.
How did your son feel the tragic
incident?
He was with his father in the State House,
Ibadan, when the soldiers came [to arrest
his father]. His father put him in the
wardrobe and went down stairs to meet
the soldiers who came for him.
He warned his son, 'don’t enter any car,
just take train and go back to Lagos.' A
very clever boy, he did as instructed and
came back to Lagos on train.
Was he the person who eventually told
you what actually happened to your
husband?
No, he did not even talk. He just entered
and said, 'oh, I have a brave father. I have
a brave father, he didn’t allow them to
touch him; he followed them to wherever
they were going.'
He said he looked through the window,
that his father just entered his car and
followed them. And Fujuyi, (who was his
host])insisted that he must go with them
where they were going. He said he was
looking at them as they left. He told me,
'mummy, dad said I should tell you not to
cry.'
How are you planning the memorial
service?
The church service will hold Friday, 29th
July, at the Martha Day Catholic
Cathedral, Umuahia, and reception will
hold here in the house. The memorial
service is to thank God for keeping us
alive. He, himself, being a man of God
would be happy where ever he is now. So
we have to thank God. Members of the
Legions have indicated interest to come
and they will go to his burial site to pay
him respect.
What of the Military authority, did you
extend invitations to them?
My dear, only members of the Legion
have said they would come. But the
Military know about it. 50 years
anniversary is a national thing. Even the
Federal and State Governments ought to
take it serious, but they are busy doing
their politics. It is their responsibility to do
everything I am doing now about this
programme, but they don’t care, the
Government, both Federal and State, are
busy doing politics, and the past heroes
they don’t recognize them.
It is a major event in the nation’s history,
but look at how they are handling it. The
man who just phoned me is the chairman
of the Legions in the State, informing me
that they are coming in their uniform.
www.vanguardngr.com/2016/07/many-months-didnt-know-husband-died-lady-aguiyi-ironsi/

Ehya!

Brave Woman.

Ekiti always produces brave and courageous men. People should learn from the late fajuyi.

Fajuyi the great.

I don't understand how Aguiyi Ironsi has now become a Nigerian hero, the man who plotted a coup to dethrone a civilian government, killing mostly non igbos and installing igbos in power.

who come deh service her puna since den?

Eeyah! That was a dog eat dog era.

"He said he looked through the window,
that his father just entered his car and
followed them. And Fujuyi, (who was his host) insisted that he must go with them
where they were going"

Unfortunately, our Ibo brothers who are always trying desperately to rewrite history keep denying the occurrence of this event because it does not conform with their bigoted narrative that Yorubas are coward.

Kudos to Col. Fajuyi for that act of real bravery, a true Ekiti man in all ramifications.

youngest85:
who come deh service her puna since den?

Your brain needs resetting. Back to the story; Fajuyi demonstrated bravery and selflessness needed by this generation

Juxtified:
I don't understand how Aguiyi Ironsi has now become a Nigerian hero, the man who plotted a coup to dethrone a civilian government, killing mostly non igbos and installing igbos in power.

Chai. The dumpest post ever!

Like fuguyi like fayose. One word COURAGEOUS!

alawi5k:


So on this fateful day, it happened. Where
did he go to, a meeting in Ibadan; Fujuyi
was hosting him at the State House,
Ibadan.

He said he looked through the window,
that his father just entered his car and
followed them. And Fujuyi, (who was his
host])insisted that he must go with them
where they were going. He said he was
looking at them as they left.

www.vanguardngr.com/2016/07/many-months-didnt-know-husband-died-lady-aguiyi-ironsi/

A Yoruba soldier named Adekunle Fajuyi prefered to die with his brother soldier an Igbo named Aguyi Ironsi. However, Aguyi Ironsi's brethren today believe that Yorubas are their nightmare. Igbos believe it is the Yorubas that are making Igbo sons and daughter get involve in drug trafficking, money rituals, baby making factory, 419, incest, prostitution, e.t.c. Igbos believe that Yorubas made Indonesia to executive 4 Igbo drug traffickers yesterday. Igbos believe that it is Yorubas that are making them 3rd class citizens in Nigeria. How else can we help you?

youngest85:
who come deh service her puna since den?

Your mama have no issue...believe it u r not existing

kurt09:
Chai. The dumpest post ever!

Go and upgrade your brain. Otherwise everything will keep being dumb to you.

Awww... Serious trauma

jahsharon:


A Yoruba soldier named Adekunle Fajuyi prefered to die with his brother soldier an Igbo named Aguyi Ironsi. However, Aguyi Ironsi's brethren today believe that Yorubas are their nightmare. Igbos believe it is the Yorubas that are making Igbo sons and daughter get involve in drug trafficking, money rituals, baby making factory, 419, incest, prostitution, e.t.c. Igbos believe that Yorubas made Indonesia to executive 4 Igbo drug traffickers yesterday. Igbos believe that it is Yorubas that are making them 3rd class citizens in Nigeria. How else can we help you?

That was how they insult Victor Banjo till date even when he fought for there buafraud. They do same to Wole Soyinka that was jailed cos of there foolishness. I just hate greedy and wicked liars.