The remains of the late Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja was taken from Lagos State to Abuja, the federal capital territory (FCT) on Thursday for state burial.
TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the head of the Lagbaja family had appealed to the government for the body of the deceased to be brought to his native Ilobu community of Osun State for burial.
However, Lagbaja’s remains departed the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, aboard NAF918 at 10:14 a.m. today and arrived in Abuja via the the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport at about 12:16 p.m. in preparation for his final burial.
Recall President Bola Tinubu had ordered a state burial for the late COAS, who died on November 5 in Lagos Stater after failling sick. Born on Feb. 28, 1968, Lagbaja was appointed Chief of Army Staff on June 19, 2023, by Tinubu.
As a mark of respect, senior military officers formed a guard of honour upon the arrival of Lagbaja’s remains at the airport.
The farewell ceremony from Lagos was attended by dignitaries, including Lagos State Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu represented by his Deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat; Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr Tayo Ayinde, and the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, represented by White Cap chiefs.
The Chief of Air staff, Air Marshal Hassan Balla Abubakar, and the Acting Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede were at the event.
The funeral services will commence on Thursday with a Service of Songs at the Army Headquarters Garrison Parade Ground, Mogadishu Cantonment Abuja.
The funeral service is slated for Friday at the National Christian Centre, followed by an interment at the military cemetery.
Lagbaja: Traditional ruler, family want burial in his Ilobu hometown
Earlier, the head of Lagbaja’s family in Ilobu in Irepodun Local Government Area of Osun, had appealed for the body of the deceased to be brought to his hometown for burial.
Speaking, Mr Tajudeen Lagbaja, head of the family said: “Lagbaja’s death is like a dagger in my heart and it feels like it snuffed life out of me. He was like a son to me. He is Taoreed and my son too is also named Taoreed. He used to call me uncle and always assured me that he will attend to my needs, but now he is gone”.
The senior Lagbaja said that they took solace in the fact that death is inevitable and that Lagbaja’s death was the will of God
“His death is painful to us. We have lost so many people in the town before, but Lagbaja’s death is the hardest and saddest. We the family, however, appeal to the Nigerian Army and Federal Government not to bury him in Abuja, but here in his home town,” he said.
Meanwhile, the death of the Chief of Army Staff has thrown his native Ilobu Community into deep mourning. A correspondent, who was in the town, reports that the whole area looked unusually calm.
At the Palace of the Olobu of Ilobi Land, Oba Ashiru Olaniyan, he appealed to the Nigerian Army and the Federal Government to allow the community to bury the late COAS in the community.
He said it would be a great honour, if the army would grant the community’s request to bury the deceased in his ancestral home.
The traditional, who was seen in a mourning mood when NAN correspondent visited his Palace in Ilobu, directed the National President of Ilobu-Asake Development Union (IDU), Oluremi Salako, to speak on his behalf.
He said that the town was planning its annual “Ilobu 2024 Day” on Saturday, before the sad news of Lagbaja’s death filtered in.
He said that in the last couple of weeks, the town had engaged in prayers for Lagbaja to get well, having learnt of his health challenges.
“We were high in hope and confident about his quick recovery. Waking up this morning to the news of his death was a rude shock to the entire community.
“We are downcast and in sorrow. He is not just the son of the soil, but one of the shinning stars of the entire Yoruba race. If you go round the community, you will see a community that is in deep sorrow.
“Ilobu is a very happy town, but this morning, the sun suddenly snatched away from our sky,” the royal father said.
He also said that the IDU executives had an emergency meeting, where they decided that Ilobu Day celebration be suspended indefinitely.
Lagbaja did not enjoy life outside military, family head laments
Meanwhile, a member of the Lagbaja family of Ilobu kingdom, Mr Demola Lagbaja, has expressed regret that the late Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, did not enjoy life outside the military.
The family head spoke while receiving the St. Charles Grammar School, Osogbo, Old Boys Association, who paid condolence visit to the Lagbaja family house in Ibadan on Monday.
He said that the expectations of the family was that their late son, would after serving his tenure, retire to enjoy the fruit of his labour.
Lagbaja said the family had submitted to the will of God following the incident, saying that, “some tears will never dry.”
He noted that the late Chief of Army Staff, had all his active years in the military, having completed his A level at the Polytechnic.
“That was our wish, which never came. What happened has happened. We have to submit to the will of God, but we are very proud of our son, for he made us proud. All we can wish him is to rest in peace,”Lagbaja said.
The head of Lagbaja family appreciated the association for the visit, adding that their late son had been well spoken off since his demise.
Speaking earlier, the delegation led by the Chairman, Board of Trustees of the school, Mr Sola Omopo, on behalf of members of Ibadan branch of the association, presented a condolence letter to the family.
Omopo eulogised the deceased, saying he had done well for the school and a proud and financial member until he passed on.
“He was building a very standard project of about N550 million for the school which is about 80 per cent completion.
“When we heard the news, it was very shocking for all of us both in Nigeria and diaspora, hence the decision to pay a condolences visit to the family,” he said.