…Renew Pledge to Unity, Merit and Patriotism

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR, and Abia State Governor Dr. Alex Otti, OFR, led political, military, traditional and religious leaders in a solemn national tribute to Nigeria’s first Military Head of State, late Major General Johnson Thomas Umunnakwe Aguiyi-Ironsi, at the 60th Memorial Anniversary held at the Aguiyi-Ironsi Conference Centre and International Conference Centre, Umuahia.

The event drew dignitaries from across the country to honour the legacy of a leader described as a courageous patriot who made the ultimate sacrifice for Nigeria’s unity and stability.

President Tinubu was represented by the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa, Rtd.

In his address, the President described Major-General Aguiyi-Ironsi as a patriot whose life was dedicated to the progress and unity of Nigeria, and who assumed leadership at a time of immense political uncertainty.

“Nigeria remains grateful for the invaluable sacrifices made by your distinguished son, husband, and father in the service of our fatherland.
General Aguiyi-Ironsi was an outstanding professional soldier whose military career was marked by disciplined courage, loyalty, and commitment to duty.
His assumption of leadership came at a time when Nigeria faced immense political uncertainty and national anxiety. Although his tenure was brief, he demonstrated a firm commitment to preserving national unity, restoring stability and maintaining the integrity of the Nigerian State,”_ Tinubu stated.

The President added that the values of patriotism, discipline, selfless service, integrity and national unity which Aguiyi-Ironsi exemplified “remain as relevant today as they were 60 years ago.”

General Musa also commended Governor Otti’s leadership
“His Excellency, our hardworking Governor, I want to say a very big thank you for all the good works you have been doing. You have set a standard of governance… without any noise, and things continue to change. We appreciate you, sir. I’m looking forward to coming to celebrate during your inauguration for the second term.”

In his address,the host Governor, Dr Alex Otti called for greater national cohesion and merit-based leadership, describing the late Head of State as a selfless leader whose sacrifice should continue to inspire generations.

“We came here to celebrate a man who gave his life for the rest of us. Personally, I believe we are better off as one country, connected and working together, than divided,” Gov. Otti declared.

He said Aguiyi-Ironsi’s willingness to lay down his life demonstrated uncommon patriotism and emphasized the need for Nigeria to remain one indivisible nation united by a common purpose.

The Governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to meritocracy, noting that appointments in Abia are based on competence, integrity and capacity rather than state of origin. He cited the appointment of an Edo State indigene as Abia Head of Service as proof.

Gov. Otti also paid tribute to Chief Obasanjo as a father and mentor, and to Dame Patience Jonathan, announcing that Abia will join in celebrating Chief Obasanjo’s 90th birthday on March 5, 2027.

In separate goodwill messages, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former Chief of Army Staff ,General Azubuike Ihejirika (Rtd), and former First Lady Dame Patience Goodluck Jonathan described the memorial as a fitting tribute to a distinguished patriot who paid the supreme price in active service.

They commended Governor Otti for supporting initiatives that promote national unity, peace and historical remembrance, and urged Nigerians to remain united and uphold the values for which the late military leader stood.

They maintained that honouring heroes like Aguiyi-Ironsi would inspire future generations to embrace selfless service and unwavering commitment to Nigeria’s unity.

Presenting the citation, the late General’s daughter, Mrs. Louisa Aguiyi-Ironsi, described her father as a true nationalist whose leadership was anchored on discipline, meritocracy, patriotism and the professionalisation of the Armed Forces.

She said the wreath-laying was “a solemn tribute to honour a life devoted to the service of Nigeria and to preserve the legacy of a leader who made the ultimate sacrifice for national unity.”

“This gathering is not intended for mere performance of ceremonial rites. Today, we do not assemble to reopen old debates nor to magnify historical divisions. This commemoration therefore serves a dual purpose. First, it stands as a solemn tribute to his personal sacrifice and steadfast commitment to a united Nigeria. Second, it is a clarion call to present and future leaders to draw inspiration from that commitment. The Nigerian aspiration must be anchored on justice, accountability, discipline, and the collective good,”_ she stated.

Louisa also paid glowing tribute to the late Lieutenant Colonel Adekunle Fajuyi, describing his loyalty and sacrifice as enduring symbols of courage and national service.

Speaking on behalf of the family, former Minister of Defence and first son, Ambassador Thomas Aguiyi-Ironsi, expressed profound appreciation to President Tinubu and Governor Otti.

He commended the Abia Government for renovating the gravesite and supporting the event, and noted that Governor Otti “has performed exceptionally well in governance and deserves a second term in office.”

Relatives earlier appealed to Nigerians to reflect on Aguiyi-Ironsi’s contributions and assess his legacy with fairness and historical objectivity, urging citizens to uphold patriotism, peaceful coexistence and national integration.

The ceremony reached its emotional peak with prayers and consecration of the tomb by the Bishop of Umuahia Catholic Diocese, Most Rev. Michael Kalu Ukpong, alongside other clergy.

This was followed by the laying of wreaths by the President’s representative, Governor Otti, representative of Governor Charles Soludo, Commissioner Dr. Law Mefor, Dame Patience Jonathan, and other dignitaries.

Other dignitaries present included: Abia Deputy Governor Engr. Ikechukwu Emetu;  representatives of the National Assembly; Archbishops and other Clergy; heads of federal agencies, traditional rulers, military officers and other distinguished guests.

The ceremony ended with a renewed national call for unity, peaceful coexistence, patriotism and selfless leadership as enduring values exemplified by Major General Johnson Thomas Umunnakwe Aguiyi-Ironsi.

The Abia State Government has announced a packed week of high-profile events headlined by a South-East Security Summit, the 60th memorial of Nigeria’s first Military Head of State, and the handover of a new Nigerian Air Force complex.

The Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, disclosed this while briefing journalists on the outcome of this week’s State Executive Council meeting  chaired by Governor Alex Otti.

Prince Kanu said Abia will host a high-level South-East Security Summit on Thursday, July 30, 2026, at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia

The summit, themed Collaborative Approaches to Strengthening Security and Regional Stability is aimed at bringing together key stakeholders to deliberate on regional security strategies.

He said the summit will attract Governors of the five South-East states, the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, as Special Guest of Honour, while former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika (Rtd.), will deliver the keynote address and Governor Alex Otti will be the host.

The summit underscores the commitment of the South-East Governors to fostering stronger regional cooperation in addressing security challenges and promoting lasting peace and stability,Prince Kanu stated.

The Commissioner also announced that Governor Alex Otti will  lead eminent Nigerians to commemorate the 60th memorial anniversary of Nigeria’s first Military Head of State, Major General Johnson Thomas Umunnakwe Aguiyi-Ironsi.

Activities include a wreath-laying ceremony at the late General’s tomb at the Aguiyi-Ironsi Conference Centre, followed by a reception with tributes at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is the Special Guest of Honour, while former President Olusegun Obasanjo will attend as Guest of Honour. Governor Alex Otti is the Chief Host while Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe will be the royal father of the day,Kanu said.

On Friday, July 31, 2026, Governor Otti will formally hand over the newly constructed Nigerian Air Force Administrative Complex in Umuahia to the NAF.The ceremony will also be attended by the Minister of Defence, the Chief of Air Staff and other senior military officers.

Prince Kanu said the Executive Council reviewed the Ministry of Health’s annual performance and noted massive transformation across the sector. Key achievements include: 148 Primary Healthcare Centres fully functionalised, with 3 more this week and 35 others being equipped.
Increased hospital utilisation and reduction in maternal mortality.
Expansion of digital health initiatives and strengthened global partnerships.
233,000 beneficiaries enrolled in the Abia State Health Insurance Scheme since its 2025 launch. Government is developing strategies to extend coverage to more indigent residents.

On public health, the Commissioner assured that no cases of Ebola, Lassa fever, COVID-19, cholera, diphtheria, Mpox or yellow fever were recorded in the state during the period under review.

In a bid to expand access to education, the Abia State Government conducted the 2026 First School Leaving Certificate examination for 34 inmates across correctional centres.15 inmates from Umuahia Correctional Centre and 19 from Aba Correctional Centre participated, Kanu said. The exercise was facilitated by the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education through the Abia State Agency for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education.

The correctional walls are no barriers to the acquisition of education in Abia State. Every citizen deserves a second chance through education,he added.

The Special Adviser on Basic and Secondary Education, Sir Kenechukwu Nwosu, said the Agency has been revived to deliver quality education to adults and disadvantaged groups, with instructors and materials deployed to correctional centres.

Governor Otti is set to sign the Abia State Climate Change Policy Document, a landmark policy expected to position the state for global climate financing.

Once operational, the international community will begin to take Abia State more seriously in climate action, opening up several climate funding opportunities, Kanu said. The policy will address flooding, erosion, heat waves and food insecurity.

The Governor has also directed immediate intervention at the Amamba-Uzuakoli flood/erosion site in Bende LGA ,and the Ipupe-Ubakala flood site in Umuahia South LGA. Engineers have completed on-the-spot assessments and remediation works will commence immediately.

On sanitation, the Ministry of Environment visited 103 communities, inspected over 9,000 premises, issued 37,500 abatement notices, and recorded compliance in 2,500 premises after follow-ups. These efforts have continued to keep Abia among the cleanest states in Nigeria, Kanu restated.

The Ministry, in collaboration with the National Mathematical Centre, Abuja, organised the maiden 2026 Abia State Mathematics Kings and Queens Competition, which attracted over 600 pupils and students from public and private schools across the state.

Governor Alex Otti has attributed Abia State’s emergence as Nigeria’s third most improved state in the 2026 Phillips Consulting State Performance Index to his administration’s strategic investments in healthcare, education, infrastructure.
Also his governance and the growing collaboration with the Federal Government, including the recent visit of the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.

Speaking during the July edition of his monthly media chat at the Government House, Umuahia, Governor Otti described the latest ranking as a clear validation of his administration’s reforms.

The Governor said the progress reflects the positive impact of government policies on the lives of Abians.
The first Abia citizen noted that Abia has made one of the most remarkable improvements in the country’s performance ranking, rising from 36th position in 2024 to 10th in 2025, and now 3rd in the 2026 Phillips Consulting State Performance Index, behind only Enugu and Jigawa States.

Governor Otti said the state’s transformation has been driven by sustained investments in critical sectors, particularly healthcare, education, infrastructure, land administration and economic development.

Highlighting achievements in the health sector, he disclosed that Abia recorded one of Nigeria’s best performances in reducing maternal and infant mortality in the first quarter of 2026, while enrolment into the Abia State Health Insurance Scheme continues to increase.

According to him, 144 of the state’s 200 Primary Healthcare Centres have been fully functionalised, while 77 additional health facilities renovated through the World Bank intervention have also been completed, with about 30 more centres expected to become operational soon.

On transportation and infrastructure, Governor Otti announced that the state has received 20 additional electric buses, which would operate on routes including Umuahia–Bende–Arochukwu, Umuahia–Uturu (ABSU), Umuahia–Umudike–Ikwuano, Aba–Owerri and Aba–Ukwa. He added that surveillance systems have been installed in the buses to ensure accountability and improve service delivery.

The Governor further disclosed that work is progressing steadily on the Aba Bus Terminal, while the first phase of the Ekeoma Market remodelling has been completed and would soon be commissioned.
In the area of land administration, Governor Otti said the government has issued 4,923 Certificates of Occupancy within three years, with nearly 1,000 processed this year alone, adding that the completion of the state’s digital mapping project in partnership with UN-Habitat would usher in a fully digitised land administration system that would eliminate fraudulent land transactions and speed up property documentation.

On education, he said the administration’s Smart School initiative is gathering momentum with two Smart Schools already commissioned out of the planned twenty, assuring that the remaining eighteen schools would be completed soon.
“The idea is to expose our children to modern technology from an early stage,” the Governor stated.
Addressing ongoing infrastructure projects, Governor Otti acknowledged that the rainy season has slowed the pace of road construction but assured residents that work continues across major project sites. He also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ending flooding through the construction of durable drainage infrastructure.

Responding to concerns over rising rents in Umuahia and Aba, the Governor attributed the increase to growing demand for accommodation and announced that the government would soon commence the Pocket Layout Housing Project in Umuahia to bridge the housing deficit.
Governor Otti described the recent visit of the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, as a major boost to Abia’s creative economy. He revealed that a dedicated bank account has been opened for the Akwete Cloth Production Hub, while the First Lady has authorised the release of the funds she pledged to support the Akwete women’s weaving initiative.
He urged residents to promote indigenous industries by patronising and wearing the locally woven Akwete fabric.

The Governor also commended residents for embracing environmental sanitation, urged them to sustain the culture of cleanliness, praised security agencies for maintaining peace across the state and congratulated the Commissioner of Police on his promotion to the rank of Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG).