A lot don’t know these facts:

A lot don’t know these facts:

A lot don’t know these facts:

Ironside had 8 children with his wife Victoria (6 daughters and two sons)

Ironside was in Ghana during the 2nd world war as Staff Sergeant and Warrant Officer.

Ironside loved to watch wrestling and horse racing

Ironside saved the lives of some Austrian peacekeepers during the peacekeeping in Congo, he was awarded their highest medal.

One of his son, Thomas Aguiyi Ironsi was with him the day soldiers stormed Government House at Ibadan on the 29th day of July 1966. Thomas was a 13 year old boy who was part of his father’s entourage to visit Lt. Colonel Adekunle Fajuyi. It was the Nigeria Police that spirited him away from that location disguised a girl and put on a train to Lagos.

Thomas would later serve as Ambassador to Togo and also Minister of a Defence of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

What else do you know about Ironside that isn’t commonly known?

Now you know
Greg Nwoko

Photo shows ‘Ironside’ and Thomas (son).

For the younger ones, ‘Ironside’ was the nickname given to Major General John Thomas Umunakwe Aguiyi Ironsi. He was the first Military Head of State of Nigeria after the failed coup of January 15th 1966. He was also overthrown during the 29th July 1966 coup.