Thomas Aguiyi-Ironsi | |
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Defence Minister of Nigeria | |
In office 2006–2007 |
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Appointed by | Olusegun Obasanjo |
Personal details | |
Born | Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria |
Relations | Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi (father) |
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, and was the ambassador to Togo before former President Olusegun Obasanjo appointed him to succeed Roland Oritsejafor as Defence Minister. Aguiyi-Ironsi is from Umuahia, Abia State.
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. 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.
On January 24, 2007, Aguiyi-Ironsi announced that Nigeria would send a battalion of peacekeeping troops to Somalia.