Senate Minority Leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe, has expressed sadness over the death of Mrs Victoria Aguiyi Ironsi, wife of Nigeria’s first Military Head of State, Maj-Gen. Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi.

Abaribe in a statement by his Media Adviser, Uchenna Awom in Abuja on Monday, also mourned Mrs Adanma Okpara, the wife of former Premier of Eastern Nigeria, Dr Michael Okpara.

He said the deaths within a space of two days of Mrs Aguiyi-Ironsi and Mrs Okpara marked a sad end of a glorious era.

The senator said both women represented the best and were indeed true testament of the noble role of women in nation building and as moral conscience of society.

“Both women leaders lived out their roles as worthy pillars of support to their husbands who played pivotal roles in the shaping of Nigeria as a nation at various times.

“I’m happy they lived a robust and very active life of service that is worthy of emulation.

“Of course both of them raised good families and highly successful children who are contributing very well in the development of our dear country and State of Abia.

“We are very proud of them and will sorely miss them,” Abaribe said.

He condoled with the families of the deceased, Government and people of Nigeria as well as Abia in particular.