From Victor Osula, Abuja
The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has joined President Bola Tinubu and the rest of the country in mourning the death of the Chief of Army Staff (CoAS), Lt. Gen. Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja.
Lt. General Lagbaja, who was appointed Chief of Army Staff on June 19, 2023, by President Tinubu, died on Tuesday, in Lagos, at the age of 56.
The NGF in a statement signed by its Chairman and Governor of Kwara State, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, recalled Lagbaja’s unforgettable memories of unblemished services to the country.
“We send our profound condolences to Mr President, the Nigerian military establishment, and the family on the sad loss of this great patriot
“Our hearts are especially with the family and the Nigerian Army at this difficult moment. We are comforted by the unforgettable memories of his unblemished services to our country. Even in death, Lt. Gen. Lagbaja stands honoured for his bravery and dedication to a greater, united Nigeria.
“We ask Almighty God to forgive his shortcomings, admit him to Al-Jannah Firdaus, and give his family the strength to get through this tough phase of life”, the Forum prayed.
Meanwhile, Minister of Defence, Badaru Abubakar, has described the late CoAS as a warrior who served the country creditably well.
Abubakar said this while responding to the death of the military chief after the postponement of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Lagbaja’s honour at the Presidential Villa on Wednesday.
He said, “It’s really very sad. It’s really tragic. So we use this opportunity to condole Mr. President over this heavy loss, indeed, his family and the entire Nigeria? It’s a great loss for our country. He’s a gallant officer, very hardworking and has been in all the theaters of war and he has done commendably well for this country. It’s a very, very, very sad loss.
“Well, he was a gallant officer, very, very hardworking. He was indeed a warrior. He ha served in so many theatres and has done commendably well. It’s a very sad loss for the country.”
On his part, Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawale, said “We enjoyed working with him, because, as the Honorable Minister said, he’s a gallant officer, and it’s a great loss to this nation. And all we can say is to ask God to bless the family, and we urge Nigerians to continue praying for the spirit of Lagbaja.
“We send our condolences to the family of the deceased and Mr. President because it’s a great loss to our nation., Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja was a warrior.”
