Burial Ceremony of Gallant Soldier Lagbaja
Di image resemble wreaths dem put for one grave, wey dey illustrate di solemn farewell of Lt. Gen. Lagbaja during burial ceremony.
Abuja for National Military Cemetery, na there emotions really overflow as dem lay Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja to rest. Dis kain burial no be wetin person fit forget anyhow. E be like say even nature self bow as di procession begin around 3:00 p.m. sharp. Na inside one solemn atmosphere family, colleagues, and dignitaries gather to bid di gallant soldier farewell.
As di coffin land for di cemetery, tears just dey everywhere. Lagbaja widow, Mariya, try hold herself, but di tears dey find way comot under di nose mask wey she wear. Dignitaries wey dey di burial no be small. President Bola Tinubu, VP Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and di Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, among others, all dey dere. One by one, dem lay wreaths for di grave as dem salute di man wey give di Nigerian Army im life.
Di Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, talk say Lagbaja death go ginger di military to dey more gallant against di enemies of Nigeria. Musa yarn say, “Make we take heart. Di man live im life well and leave legacy wey no go fade. As we dey lower am today, make we dey grateful for di impactful life wey e live.”
Musa still talk how Lagbaja no dey carry last for any battle. “Dis man action no dey ordinary at all,” e talk. “E take bold steps to face terrorists and bandits head-on. Di man sabi work, and e sabi human beings wey dey under am.” According to am, Lagbaja dey always in di middle of planning and execution of operations. Na why soldiers nickname am ‘Lagbaski’ and ‘Jump Master.’
Di burial ceremony no just end for words. President Tinubu even give Lagbaja posthumous national honor as Commander of di Federal Republic. Tinubu talk say di recognition na to appreciate Lagbaja service to di nation. Di president call am one of di best appointments wey im administration don make.
E no stop there. Tinubu talk say di man no just be soldier; e be leader, patriot, and trusted adviser. “Lagbaja care well well about di welfare of soldiers and dia families,” Tinubu yarn. “For trenches, e dey lead by example. E no just dey command; e dey front line dey do push-ups with soldiers. Dis kain gallant soldier no dey come often.”
Even for di videos wey dey circulate, you fit see di unique character of Lagbaja. One time, e dey dance for church; another time, e dey lead soldiers for battlefield. Na person wey understand say leadership no be mouth, na action.
For di Nigerian Army, Lagbaja career be like one film wey dey sweet for eye. From di time e dey command di 72 Special Forces Airborne Battalion, e don dey show say e get liver and brain join. Di man sabi strategies well well and no dey joke with di training of soldiers. As pioneer director of Force Generation for Nigerian Army, Lagbaja make sure say soldiers wey dey ready and fit always dey available.
For di northeast, Lagbaja hand no dey rest. As Chief of Staff for 8 Task Force Division for Monguno, Borno State, e lead many operations wey neutralize di Boko Haram people anyhow. E later command One Division, di oldest division for Nigerian Army. Na there e conduct di operation wey dem call “Forest Sanity,” wey dey tackle bandits for di Northwest.
Lagbaja no just sabi war; e sabi people wey dey fight di war too. E dey reward hard work and no dey tolerate nonsense. Soldiers dey call am ‘do as I do, not as I say.’ Na im style be dat. Di man show say to lead, you need first dey lead yourself.
Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, talk say Lagbaja represent di core values of soldiering. “For over 30 years, dis man serve Nigeria without any reservation,” Badaru talk. “E no dey find bigman life. E dey with soldiers, dey laugh, dey strategize, dey inspire.”
As di coffin enter ground and di soldiers salute am for di last time, e sure say many pipo dey think about di impact wey Lagbaja don make. E no just be soldier; e be legend. From di trenches to di boardroom, Lagbaja don write im name for Nigerian military history. Di ovation loud, but e bow out gallantly. Na soldier wey inspire soldiers and leaders alike.
For dis news in Nigerian Pidgin, di man don go, but im legacy dey remain and di work wey im do no be waste. Im name go dey mentioned whenever pipo dey talk about great military leadership for Naija. Oh! Di gallant soldier don take im rest. Hmmmmm.
