The Special Service of Songs was held on Thursday in Abuja for the late Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja.
Speaking at the occasion, the Commander of Training and Doctrine Command, Maj.-Gen. Kelvin Aligbe, praised the late Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Lagbaja, as an extraordinary military leader.
He noted that it was no surprise Lagbaja was the only officer to command a battalion twice.
Maj.-Gen. Aligbe, speaking on behalf of the 39th Regular Course at the Service of Songs ceremony, reflected on their shared journey and recalled their commissioning as part of the 39th Regular Course on September 12, 1987, when 199 officer cadets began their training to join the armed forces.
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He pointed out that, from the beginning, Lagbaja stood out as a born leader.
According to him, “On September 12, 1987, I, then Officer Cadet Taoreed Lagbaja, and 199 others assembled for training as members of the 39th Regular Course.
“We trained and were commissioned together into the armed forces. Right from the start, he led with confidence. He was, first and foremost, an operational commander.
“Little wonder that while commands in the services are sometimes difficult to come by, he had the privilege of being the only person, if my memory serves me right, to have commanded a battalion at two different times.
“He commanded brigades at two different times. He was a general commanding at two different times.”
He urged the military community to embody the values of service and dedication that Lagbaja held dear.
According to him, ” he was primed for the operation that he led, through which, even though they say soldiers don’t die, his memories fade away.
“The only way I and my course mates and the other members of the armed forces, officers and soldiers that he left behind can honour his memory truly, is to continue what he believed in. He believed in the indivisibility of Nigeria.
“He believed in service. He gave everything at the risk of sounding immodest. I don’t know if we gave him enough. “
Speaking on behalf of the Nigerian Army Officers’ Wives Association, Bilikisu Ibrahim described Lagbaja as a man of faith whose spirit was rooted in devotion and conviction.
According to her “To those he served, he was a pillar of protection, an unwavering beacon amidst storms of insanity and threats.
“But beyond our soldiers was a man of faith, a spirit rooted in devotion and conviction.
“In the trials of duty, he held fast to his spirituality, finding in prayers the fortitude that guided him through the darkest battles.
“His beliefs were his anchor, a quiet force that strengthened him as he led a sacrifice for the nation he loved.
“His life was not only a mission of arms but of the heart. A journey where faith met duty and courage met compassion.
“As we gather hands held in solace and grief, we recall the gentleness in his smile, the depth of his wisdom, the vision that he led armies and inspired peace.”
The Global President of St Charles Old Boys Association, Tade Adekunle, who read a poem written by a Senior Secondary school two student of the school, described Lagbaja as an immortal hero.
According to him, “The immortal hero, a militant heart, now still and cold. The nation mourns, both young and old. A warrior’s soul, a poet’s might. On the field of faith, you shone so bright.
“With every piece of bread, you shield our motherland. Leading brave men with a steadfast hand, both now empty. Blade of honour now laid down.
“Its cannon’s cry extinguished, yet legend remains. A warrior’s pulse now stilled in time. On the altar of freedom, you laid your life, your sacrifice, our beacon of hope. “
