Governor of Osun State, Ademola Adeleke lamented the death of Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, the Chief of Army Staff, on Wednesday, calling it “a huge misfortune.”
In a press release he signed on Wednesday, Adeleke expressed his condolences to President Bola Tinubu, the Ilobu community’s Lagbaja family, and the people of Osun State for the army chief’s tragic passing.
The governor, who described Lagbaja as a hardworking officer, a dedicated soldier, and a model of the traditional army officer, said the deceased had an ambitious vision for modernising and integrating the Nigerian Army.
The governor said, “A huge misfortune has befallen the people of Osun State, the Nigerian Army, and the great Lagbaja family of Ilobu. We have lost a rare breed, a gentleman, and a true patriot to the cold hand of death.
“Our late brother held a significant vision of operational reforms for the Nigerian Army. He initiated root-and-branch reforms for the military. In his short tenure, he enforced professionalism and fiercely confronted terrorists and bandits.
“Our late brother was a very hardworking officer, a true workaholic, and a fierce soldier, exemplifying the traditional army officer with an ambitious plan for modernising and integrating the Nigerian Army.”
Adeleke recalled his most recent conversation with the dead, saying it mirrored Lagbaja’s dreams and hopes for a better Nigeria, where the military serves as a unifying force and stabiliser of the federation.
“In the late General Lagbaja, we had a great military leader with the poise, confidence, and firmness to realise the vision of a new Nigerian Army.
“Unfortunately, the end came suddenly, and we surrender 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.
“We mourn together on this sad occasion. On behalf of the people and Government of Osun State, we extend our condolences to Mrs Mariya Lagbaja and the two children,” the governor stated.
