A plea has gone to the Federal Government to confer an appropriate post-humour national honour on a former chief of staff (Supreme Headquarters), the late Major-Gen. Abdulbaki Babatunde Idiagbon, for his outstanding contributions to national development a departed national hero.
This call was made in Ilorin on Tuesday by the umbrella socio-cultural organisation of the people of Ilorin emirate, the Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union(IEDPU),in a statement signed by its Acting National President, Alhaji Yahaya Ahmed, in commemoration of the 20 years anniversary of the demise of the heroic soldier and statesman.
The Union described the late Idiagbon as an exemplary leader, first-class patriot, a true nationalist and an embodiment of all that Nigeria of our dreams represents.
“The honour is necessary now more than ever in order to bring into the front-burner, the unusual courage and remarkable statesmanship of Idiagbon, who insisted on coming back to Nigeria from a safe haven; Saudi Arabia, to join his principal, in facing whatever consequences, following their dethronement in the 1985 palace coup.
“Such honour would also encourage the present and future crop of leaders to emulate the uprightness, selflessness, discipline, courage, candour and patriotism of that uncommon officer and gentleman, whom our national history remembers as an illustrious hero of all times.:
Alhaji Ahmed disclosed that IEDPU and indeed the good people of Ilorin, are particularly happy, that the man under whom their illustrious son served as the deputy head of state; Gen. Muhammadu Buhari has just gotten his mandate renewed for the next four years, as President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The IEDPU noted that if President Muhammadu Buhari could confer a well deserved post-humour national honour of the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic(GCFR)on late Chief M.K.O. Abiola and the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger(GCON) on the late Chief Gani Fawenhinmi, several years after their demise, Nigerians will applaud him and his administration the more if similar gesture were extended to his departed loyal deputy.
Gen. Idiagbon, who was born in Ilorin in 1943 remains the highest political office-holding indigene of Ilorin Emirate and, indeed Kwara State. He died at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital at the age of 56 on the 24th of March,1999 following a brief illness.
