Thomas Aguiyi-Ironsi

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Thomas "Tom" Aguiyi-Ironsi is a former Minister of Defence of Nigeria. He is the son of former military leader Major General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi,[1] and was the ambassador to Togo before former President Olusegun Obasanjo appointed him to succeed Roland Oritsejafor as Defence Minister.[2] Aguiyi-Ironsi is from Umuahia, Abia State.[1]

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.[1] However, after Obasanjo fired Oritsejafor, Aguiyi-Ironsi received the job of Defence Minister while Ogwu became foreign minister. The two were sworn in on August 30, 2006.[2]

On January 24, 2007, Aguiyi-Ironsi announced that Nigeria would send a battalion of peacekeeping troops to Somalia.[3]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c Elendu, John. "Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala: Tom or Joy", Elendureports.com, 2006-08-07. Retrieved on 2007-01-25. 
  2. ^ a b Nwankwere, Lucky; Molly Kilete. "Obasanjo drops Defence Minister…Aguiyi-Ironsi’s son takes over", Online Nigeria, 2006-08-31. Retrieved on 2007-01-25. 
  3. ^ "Nigeria to send peacekeeping battalion to Somalia", reuter.co.uk, Reuters, 2007-01-24. Retrieved on 2007-01-25. 
Preceded by
Roland Oritsejafor		 Minister of Defence of Nigeria
August 30, 2006 – July 26, 2007		 Succeeded by
Yayale Ahmed

[edit] External links

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