By Victor Adeoti
Osun Governor, Ademola Adelele has described as `a huge misfortune and sad loss’, the death of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Taoheed Lagbaja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Presidency through Mr Bayo Onanuga, the spokesman to President Bola Tinubu, had earlier this morning announced the passing of Lagbaja at age 56.
Onanuga, stated that Lagbaja died on Tuesday night in Lagos after a period of illness.
Adeleke, in a statement he personally signed on Wednesday, in Osogbo, said that a huge misfortune had befallen the people of his state, the Nigerian army and the great Lagbaja family of Ilobu town.
“We lost a rare breed, a gentleman and a true patriot to the cold hand of death. Our late brother has a big vision of operational reforms for the Nigerian Army.
“He launched and commenced the implementation of root and branch reform of the Nigerian Army. Within his short stint in office, he enforced professionalism and battled terrorists and bandits with terrifying fierceness.
“Our late brother was a very hardworking officer, a true workaholic, a fierce soldier, a replica of the traditional army officer with an ambitious plan for modernisation and integration of the Nigerian Army.
“In my last encounter with him, he exuded hope and aspirations of a better Nigeria with the military as a stabiliser and unifier of the federation.
“In late General Lagbaja, we had a great military leader with the poise, the confidence and the firmness to realise the vision of a new Nigerian Army.
“Unfortunately, the end came suddenly, and we surrendered to the will of the Almighty creator.
“I commiserate with the Commander – in- Chief, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the men and women of the Nigerian Armed Forces, my people of Ilobu and the great Lagbaja family.
“On behalf of the people and Government of Osun state, we extend commiseration to Mrs Mariya Lagbaja and the two children,” he said.
Lagbaja who died on Tuesday night in Lagos after a period of illness was born on Feb. 28, 1968.
He was appointed Chief of Army Staff on June 19, 2023, by President Tinubu.
Lagbaja was a native of Ilobu, Irepodun Local Government Area of Osun.(NAN)
