Thomas Aguiyi-Ironsi | |
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Minister of State for Defence | |
In office 30 August 2006 – 28 May 2007 | |
President | Olusegun Obasanjo |
Minister | Rabiu Kwankwaso |
Preceded by | Roland Oritsejafor |
Personal details | |
Born | c 1953 (age 70–71) Kaduna, Northern Region, British Nigeria (now in Kaduna State, Nigeria) |
Parents | |
Thomas Aguiyi-Ironsi (born c. 1953) [1] is a Nigerian politician and diplomat who previously served as minister of state for Defence. 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]