Buhari mourns as one of his country’s ex-Generals, Abisoye, dies at 81

*General Olanrewaju sends condolences over late ex-NNPC Reforms Panel chief

By Kemi Kasumu

Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari has extended heartfelt condolences to the family of Major-General Emmanuel Abisoye (Rtd), former General Officer Commanding (GOC) Second Infantry Division and Third Infantry Division of the Nigerian Army, who has passed away at the age of 81.

This was disclosed in a statement by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, copy of which was sent to The DEFENDER on Wednesday.

According to the statement, the President also commiserated with the government and people of Kogi State on the death of their illustrious son, a former Federal Commissioner for Health and member of the Supreme Military Council.

President Buhari, Adesina said, the family, government and people of home state of the late General “in mourning the loss of a former colleague in the Nigerian Army, who was greatly admired and respected by his colleagues for his discipline and dedication to duty.”

The statement said, “As one of his predecessors in the Second Infantry Division of the Nigerian Army in Ibadan, Oyo State, the President recalls with nostalgia the towering role and sterling leadership qualities of the late general in promoting professionalism in the military as well as securing Nigeria’s borders and territorial integrity during the Civil War.

“President Buhari believes that Major-General Abisoye, who once headed a panel of inquiry set up in 2009 to resolve the conflict involving Hausa/Fulani indigenes of Plateau State, will be greatly remembered for his outstanding contributions to the unity and peace of the country.

“He urges all who mourn the peace-loving octogenarian to honour his memory by upholding the values of discipline, inter-ethnic harmony, reconciliation and justice, which Major-General Abisoye passionately promoted throughout his career as a military officer and senior citizen.

“The President prays that God Almighty will comfort all who mourn the elder statesman and grant his soul eternal rest,” Femi Adesina said in the statement.

Abisoye will be remembered for his virtues – General Olanrewaju

In the meantime, another successor of both Generals Abisoye and Buhari as GOC Third Infantry Division Nigerian Army Jos, Major General Tajudeen Olanrewaju (Rtd) has expressed shock over the death of a man he described as fine officer, who headed what he called the Abisoye Panel on NNPC Reforms during the military regime of late General Sani Abacha.

General Olanrewaju, who himself was Chairman of Review Committee set up by the Abacha-led Presidency to review and generate the white paper on the Abisoye Panel report on NNPC reforms, said late General Abisoye would continue to be remembered as a military officer who wanted good for his country.