- Departure of Mrs Aguiyi-Ironsi and Okpara reminds us of those good old days when moderation in office was watchword
The death within 24 hours of each other of two of the most notable spouses in Nigeria’s political history, Victoria Aguiyi-Ironsi and Madam Adanma Okpara brings to a sad end the lives of the first generation of first ladies in a post-independent Nigeria. Late Lady Victoria Aguiyi-Ironsi was the widow of the first Nigerian military Head of State, late General Thomas Umunnakwe Aguiyi-Ironsi, while late Madam Adanma Okpara was the widow of the late Premier of the Eastern Region, the very iconic Michael Okpara.
Till date, the nostalgic reference to their husbands’ achievements both in the Nigerian military and the administration of the defunct Eastern Region all speak to the kind of partners they were. If the social mantra, “behind every successful man is a powerful woman’ had any veracity, these two women epitomised and affirmed that. Late Aguiyi-Ironsi had an excellent military record that culminated in his becoming the first Nigerian military Head of State.
Dr Michael Okpara, on the other hand, was one of the most admired leaders in Nigeria, but more particularly the Eastern Region. His education as a medical doctor did not prevent him from providing excellent political leadership and he is remembered for integrating agriculture in the economic policies of the Eastern Region. His success in the administration of the region remains a reference point and might not have happened without a supportive spouse.
Late Victoria Aguiyi-Ironsi symbolised the trajectory of the average young African girl, mother and widow. She married very early, (at 16), had eight children and lost the husband before the kids grew up. A Catholic convent in Ibadan assisted in caring for her children after her husband was assassinated. It is remarkable to note that the Nigerian state did not take care of either the widow or the eight children of their marriage given that he served the country and died in active service.
It is worthy of note that the widow of the late head of state struggled to raise the eight children, some of who at different times have served the country in different capacities. It takes a very committed, strong and brave woman to go through what she went through raising eight children after the gruesome murder of her husband and still raise them to be loyal to the country where their father was killed and no plans made to cushion their loss at the time.
These two matriarchs died at 96 and 97, respectively. It goes to show that providence and possibly good choices helped them navigate the vagaries of life as widows in a very patriarchal system. Again, as former first ladies at national and regional levels, their simple way of life should be a model to most latter-day spouses of political leaders. They were real community leaders whose past status impacted positively on their communities and beyond. The widow of late Okpara was almost an unofficial consultant to many political leaders in the South East, telling them how to impact on the people as her husband did.
Victoria Aguiyi-Ironsi lived a simple but admirable and productive life. She had served in Abia State as Commissioner for the Local Government Services Commission.
The longevity enjoyed by these past first ladies is significant. However, that of Lady Aguiyi-Ironsi who passed on at 96, speaks to what is possible with human life in Africa. It is possible too that all the lives lost through coups and conflicts and wars could ordinarily not have been lost but for those ugly incidents. We can only imagine the contributions that all the men killed in coups and other man-made disasters in Africa could have made to development.
The story of late lady Aguiyi-Ironsi is not peculiar to her. Many military widows have sad tales to tell about the death of their spouses, most often in combat in or out of the country. The treatment widows and children get is often so harrowing that most young people are discouraged from joining the military. We hope the death of these two former first ladies teaches the nation many lessons for the future.
