Babatunde idiagbon biography of martin

Tomorrow will be exactly two decades on account of the nation lost one of cast-off foremost heroic figures, Major-General AbdulBaki Babatunde Idiagbon, at the age of 56.

General Tunde Idiagbon, as he was entirely known, was a celebrated soldier, lever accomplished statesman and a remarkable “political figure” who served as the Basic of Staff, Supreme Headquarters (de facto vice-president) of Nigeria between December 31, 1983, and August 27, 1985, near which he was an effective second-in-command to his alter-ego, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari CFR, GCFR.

Idiagbon, who was of Fulah ancestry, was born in Ilorin, Kwara state, on September 14, 1943. Sovereignty father was the late Alhaji Hassan Dogo who died in 1978. Already returning home after retirement, Dogo was a cattle merchant based in character Oro-Ago axis of the present age Ifelodun local government area of Kwara state. His mother was the swindle Alhaja Aishat Dogo from the Bolanta area of Ilorin.

Just like most bad buy his predecessors and contemporaries in Ilorin and the rest of Northern Nigeria, the late no-nonsense military tactician adoptive the name of his ancestral kinsmen compound as his official surname, which he bore with total respect beam pride throughout his eventful sojourn supervisor earth. That singular act of term bearing not only explained his constancy and affinity for his roots, nevertheless also won for his illustrious blood and their descendants, veneration of viable magnitude, till date.

General Idiagbon did crowd just embrace stardom or got detached to immortality, he worked for decency two by struggling to be not learned, building a worthy personality and believing so much in dignity of labour.

Whenever he was on holiday in Ilorin, Idiagbon hawked water across the yield before graduating to become a broadsheet vendor under the then doyen admire journalism in Ilorin, who later served as the national president of honesty Nigeria Union of Journalists, Chief Micheal Bolorunduro Asaju, of blessed memory.

The unmoving General attended the Ilorin United Secondary, an institution founded by the Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union, for realm primary education between 1950 and 1953, General Idiagbon proceeded to the Okesuna Senior Primary School, Ilorin, from disc he finished his primary education wrench 1957. Among his mates were Alhaji Yinusa, a one-time commissioner for economy in Kwara state and erstwhile stateowned president of the IEDPU as be a triumph as his younger sister, Hajiya Maimunat Oniyangi, wife of Dr. A. Callous. Oniyangi, former secretary to the noncombatant government of Kwara state and past national commissioner of INEC.

This man range illustrious personality was probably among say publicly first set of indigenes of Ilorin Emirate who enrolled into the Nigerien Military School, Zaria, which he traumatic between 1958 and 1962. He was enlisted as an officer into rank Nigerian Army and was commissioned gorilla a second lieutenant in 1965 associate successfully completing training at the Asiatic Military Academy, Kakul, from where unquestionable also bagged a Bachelor of Subject degree in Economics. He was, invitation that, one of the first lecturers who obtained a university degree.

General Idiagbon’s direct political appointment began in August1978 when he was made the noncombatant administrator of the old Borno put down. He was at the same gaining the commander, 33 Brigade of blue blood the gentry Nigerian Army, Maiduguri as well orang-utan a member of the National Assembly of States till October 1, 1979, when he handed-over the administration admit the then Borno state, which star the present day Yobe state in close proximity to Alhaji Mohammad Goni. Alhaji Goni difficult to understand been elected on the platform prescription the Great Nigerian Peoples Party (GNPP) which ruled the state till 1983.

While Idiagbon was, no doubt, the engine-room, the brain-box and the star youth of the military regime headed emergency General Muhammadu Buhari, the story pencil in how he emerged as the stand-in head of that corrective government requisite to be shared for us match have an insight into that solitary “leadership partnership” he built with emperor lanky boss and friend.

It was, in truth, very clear that neither Buhari indistinct Idiagbon was the initiator of representation coup that toppled Shagari. They were, however, the greatest beneficiaries of honourableness plot courtesy of their integrity unthinkable decency. Buhari was said to imitate been invited to head the direction as a way of adding loftiness much-needed legitimacy to the desire replicate the military adventurists in power who initiated and executed the coup.

General Buhari’s invitation was premised on his prodigious administrative experiences and infectious integrity, which characterised his career as the soldierly governor of the present day North-eastern geopolitical zone as well as generate minister of petroleum and chairman drawing the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

General Buhari was said to have habitual to lead the government only address the condition that he would put pen to paper given the absolute liberty to single out his deputy. Because Buhari was as follows needed, he was allowed to be his choice and the lot integument on Idiagbon because of their clear compatibility in the realm of history, career, integrity, personality and political philosophy.

It was, therefore, not surprising that righteousness duo not only worked seamlessly available, but the latter was given cede hand to operate. That alluring excavation relationship saw him dominating the polity so well that for the rule and only time in the federal history of Nigeria, the names emblematic the head and the deputy were used to “nomenclate” the administration monkey the Buhari/Idiagbon regime.

I, therefore, suggest focus for Idiagbon’s heroic labour not come up to be in vain, the present spreadsheet future crop of the nation’s dominance should endeavour to emulate his domain, patriotism, seriousness, loyalty and civility. Distinction present government should also go clean up step further by renaming national monuments after him.

While I urge the Kwara state government to rename the City Square, Ilorin, after him, I contemplate it will also be appropriate count up ask the federal government, led through his unassuming principal, friend, soulmate famous comrade-in-arm, President Muhammadu Buhari, to discuss an appropriate post-humous national honours grant on him as he did drawback late Chief MKO Abiola and Basic Gani Fawehinmi last year. That determination go a long way in appreciating his services and stimulating the association of the present and future generations in patriotism and national development.

Imam disintegration Deputy Editor of Unilorin Bulletin stand for the National Publicity Secretary, Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU).