Thomas Aguiyi-Ironsi

Thomas Aguiyi-Ironsi
Minister of State for Defence
In office
30 August 2006 – 28 May 2007
PresidentOlusegun Obasanjo
MinisterRabiu Kwankwaso
Preceded byRoland Oritsejafor
Personal details
Bornc 1953 (age 70–71)
Kaduna, Northern Region, British Nigeria (now in Kaduna State, Nigeria)
Parents

Thomas Aguiyi-Ironsi (born c. 1953)[1] is a career diplomat who was appointed by President Obasanjo to serve as a technocrat minister.He held the position of Minister of State for Defence from January to May 2007 and later became Minister of Defence, making him the first Igbo person to hold this role in over 40 years.He is the son of former military leader Major General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi,[2] and was the ambassador to Togo before former President Olusegun Obasanjo appointed him to succeed Roland Oritsejafor as Minister of state for Defence.[3]

While Aguiyi-Ironsi was Ambassador to Togo, the choices to replace the outgoing Foreign Minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, were reportedly narrowed down to him and Joy Ogwu.[2] However, after Obasanjo fired Oritsejafor, Aguiyi-Ironsi received the job of Defence Minister while Ogwu became foreign minister. The two were sworn in on 30 August 2006.[3]

On 24 January 2007, Aguiyi-Ironsi announced that Nigeria would send a battalion of peacekeeping troops to Somalia.[4]

References

  1. ^ "How I escaped death day coupists killed my father – Aguiyi-Ironsi's son, Thomas". Punch Newspapers. 16 February 2020. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  2. ^ a b Elendu, Jonathan (7 August 2006). "Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala: Tom or Joy". Elendu Reports. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  3. ^ a b Nwankwere, Lucky; Molly Kilete (31 August 2006). "Obasanjo drops Defence Minister…Aguiyi-Ironsi's son takes over". Online Nigeria. Retrieved 25 January 2007.
  4. ^ "Nigeria to send peacekeeping battalion to Somalia". reuter.co.uk. Reuters. 24 January 2007. Retrieved 25 January 2007.[dead link‍]
Preceded by Minister of Defence of Nigeria
30 August 2006 – 26 July 2007 		Succeeded by


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