The remains of the immediate past Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, were laid to rest on Friday at the National Military Cemetery, Abuja, with full military honours.
The solemn ceremony was attended by dignitaries from across the country, including Vice President Kashim Shettima.
During the event, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu posthumously conferred the late Chief of Army Staff with the prestigious national honour of Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR).
The medal was presented to his wife, Mrs. Mariah Lagbaja, in recognition of his exemplary service to the nation.
Speaking at the ceremony, President Tinubu stated, “As an eternal symbol of our appreciation, I have granted the late Chief of Army Staff the posthumous national honour of Commander of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, CFR.”
President Tinubu charged the officers of the Armed Forces of Nigeria to keep the fighting spirit of General Lagbaja alive by defeating insurgency activities in the country
According to him, “To your office to you, the gallant officers, please do not let death defeat us; lift your heads in pride, in memory of your army chief. At the moment, he would have told you to honour him by pressing on gallantly with the unfinished business and further. Fight along, struggle on, and I, as Commander in Chief, renew my pledge to you today that the country will always support you and your families as you defend and protect our nation.
While consoling the family, the President said, “To his beloved wife, Maria, the children, and his family members, words can never convey our gratitude to you because you shared your beloved husband, father, and brother with an entire nation; you shared with us, allowing him to serve with honour. His sacrifice will never be forgotten. His life’s work will continue to inspire all who serve with him.
So no honour is higher than defending the motherland, which is what you are doing and what he did until he died. Lt Gen. Lagbaja was an embodiment of the honour that the nation could deserve. The Lt General will continue to live in the hearts.
“It is the time to rest now. It’s also left to the rest of us to carry on until the great job of securing and protecting this nation is done.”
In his oration before confiding the honour on Lagbaja, he said, “We stand here today to say farewell to one of Nigeria’s finest, Lieutenant General, Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja.
“This man was made of the finest stock. On behalf of a grateful nation that he served with utmost dedication and ability, I say thank you to him for his long and outstanding service.
“Today is a solemn day for the nation and for me as commander in chief, for on this day, at this place, we lay to rest a soldier’s soldier, a general and officer who symbolised the best of his profession and whose commitment to the nation he loved was singular and undiluted.
“For me, he was a trusted advisor whose formidable intellect and breadth of knowledge served this nation well. More than that, he was also a man of prudent action who cared more for his nation and for those who served under him than he ever did for himself, yet the hands of God work in his own sovereign way; the plans of God we cannot fully discern.
“At a time when service to the nation could mean so much, God took him home to serve in a celestial army.
“His departure could cause us great dismay. However, Lt Gen Toarred Abiodun Lagbaja will not want sorrow to overtake us. It has been said that the brave never dies. Their courage serves 1,000 living men. So be it then. May the courage with which Lt. Gen. Lagbaja served now shine forth and live in each and every one of us.
“While we are saddened by his passing, we still celebrate his life; thus, we must rededicate ourselves to the principles and love of a nation for which he stood. As such, I am filled with pride at the remarkable career of the selfless professional who gave everything for Nigeria.
“At a moment like this, we must look to the greater purpose and deepest meaning of itself; individually, we are all nothing but mere leaves in the wind. But when collectively wielded to great purpose, we become a strong house.
“This general dedicated himself to the preservation of the house we call Nigeria because of him, and men and women like him, this house shall stand firm and well protected.
“On this day we pay tribute to a general whose story of illustrious service will be told for generations to come. For his courage, sacrifice, and leadership left now, Gen. Olagbaja will forever reside in the pantheon of military greats.
“The son of a modest family, Lt Gen. Lagbaja, was encouraged by a patenal uncle to enlist in the army. Enrolling in the Nigerian Army Defence Academy in 1987, he rose to the highest rank of the Nigerian army as the Chief of Army Staff.
“Prior to his appointment, Lagbaja held several prominent positions, including General Officer Commanding of Headquarters 82 Division and Headquarters 1 Division.
“As president and commander in chief of the armed forces. I worked closely with him. He was more than I could have hoped for. He was one of my best appointments left. Lt. General Lagbaja embodied the finest ideas of a patriot and a soldier.
“He had an abiding faith and the capability and readiness of our armed forces to save and keep us from ills.
“As on participation in many internal security operations, Lt Gen Lagbaja had a clear understanding about the role of the military in securing and defending our country, its people and hard-won constitutional democracy.
President Tinubu added The general displayed uncommon valour in the charge of his duty, earning the admiration of the rank and file, for he cared about their welfare and that of their families.
According to him, “I remember the passion with which he championed the payment of the outstanding group Life Assurance benefits to the families of deceased persons; owing to his passion for the soldiers and colleagues, we give some needed financial relief to the deceased families, clearing a backlog that has been growing since 2011.
“Many tributes from senior officers and Nigerian Armed Forces serving and retired have come forth, and the common theme is that we lost an extraordinary general and a remarkable human being.
“One tribute states, and I quote, “in the annals of Nigerian military history, few leaders have left old, performed, and impacted on the nation’s security architecture, ad Lt Gen Lagbaja.
“His tenure, though brief, earmarked a transformative period in Nigeria’s fight against insurgency and banditry. His leadership embodied the true essence of visionary military leadership. His passion marks the end of an era characterised by exceptional military leadership and unwavering dedication to national security, with remarkable achievements in the fight against terrorism.”
The tribute concluded with a profound statement on Lagbaja’s legacy: “Lieutenant General Lagbaja, our nation has indeed lost a rare gem who truly distinguished himself as a thoroughbred professional soldier throughout his military career. His legacy of service will be cherished forever.”
