Post by SSA.NEWMEDIA.ABIA (@SSANEWMEDIAABIA)
๐๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ป๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ข๐๐๐ถ ๐๐ฎ๐น๐น๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐จ๐ป๐ถ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐ง๐ถ๐ป๐๐ฏ๐ ๐๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐บ๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐ก๐ถ๐ด๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฎ๐ป๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐บ๐ฒ๐บ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐น ๐๐ด๐๐ถ๐๐ถ ๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐ป๐๐ถ ๐ฒ๐ฌ ๐ฌ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ ๐๐ณ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ.
Nigeria on Wednesday, 29th July 2026, paused to remember one of its most prominent military leaders as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, represented by the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (Rtd.), joined the Abia State Government, the family of Major General Johnson Thomas Umunnakwe Aguiyi Ironsi, and distinguished Nigerians at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia, to mark the 60th Memorial Anniversary of Nigeria's first Military Head of State.
Speaking on behalf of the President, General Musa described the late Aguiyi Ironsi as a courageous patriot whose devotion to duty, discipline and national unity remains worthy of emulation. He urged Nigerians to continue building a nation founded on integrity, sacrifice and peaceful coexistence, while also applauding Governor Dr Alex Chioma Otti, OFR, for setting a remarkable standard in governance and delivering visible progress across Abia State.
Addressing the gathering, His Excellency the Governor of Abia State, Dr Alex C. Otti said the memorial was not merely about recalling history but about celebrating a leader who gave everything in service to his country. He maintained that Nigeria stands stronger as one united nation and called on leaders at every level to place competence, character and patriotism above ethnic or sectional interests.
The Governor explained that merit remains the guiding principle of appointments in his administration, pointing to the appointment of an indigene of Edo State as Abia's Head of Service as evidence of his government's commitment to fairness, inclusiveness and equal opportunity. He also paid tribute to former President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR, whom he described as a mentor, and appreciated Dame Patience Goodluck Jonathan for her enduring commitment to preserving the nation's history.
Governor Otti further announced that Abia State would join in celebrating Chief Obasanjo's 90th birthday on 5th March, 2027.
In their goodwill messages, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, General Azubuike Onyeabo Ihejirika (Rtd.), and Dame Patience Jonathan described General Aguiyi Ironsi as a symbol of selfless service whose sacrifice should continue to inspire future generations. Presenting the citation, Mrs Louisa Aguiyi Ironsi portrayed her father as a nationalist who stood firmly for discipline, justice, professionalism and national unity, stressing that the memorial was intended to preserve enduring values rather than reopen old divisions.
In his vote of thanks, Ambassador Thomas Aguiyi Ironsi, former Minister of Defence and first son of the late Head of State, expressed gratitude to President Tinubu and Governor Otti for honouring his father's memory, adding that the Governor's performance in office has earned him widespread admiration.
The ceremony ended with prayers and the consecration of General Ironsi's tomb by the Bishop of Umuahia Catholic Diocese, Most Rev. Michael Kalu Ukpong, followed by the laying of wreaths by the President's representative, Governor Otti, the representative of Governor Chukwuma Soludo, Dr Law Mefor, Dame Patience Jonathan and other eminent Nigerians.
๐๐ผ๐บ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฒ ๐ฆ.๐ข.๐. ๐๐ด๐๐ฒ
๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ป๐ถ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฎ๐น ๐๐๐๐ถ๐๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ ๐๐ผ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐
๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ป๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ฏ๐ถ๐ฎ ๐ฆ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐ผ๐ป ๐ก๐ฒ๐ ๐ ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ฎ
๐ฎ๐ต๐๐ต ๐๐๐น๐ ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฒ.
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