Gowon, IBB, Abdulsalami, Mark, others eulogise Prof. Elaigwu

By John Alechenu, Abuja
Former Heads of State, Generals Yakubu Gowon, Ibrahim Babangida, Abdulsalami Abubakar, arsenic good arsenic erstwhile Senate President, David Mark, were among dignitaries who paid glowing tributes to a erstwhile subordinate of the Presidential Advisory Council (PAC), Prof. Jonah Elaigwu.

The precocious Professor Elaigwu made his people arsenic 1 of Nigeria’s foremost governmental subject scholars and experts connected federalism, arsenic good arsenic civil/military relations.

Nigeria’s past subject leaders, academics, jurists and captains of manufacture gathered to wage their past respects during a nighttime of tributes held successful Elaigwu’s honour successful Abuja connected Friday.

In an eulogy work connected his behalf by Solomon Asemota (SAN), General Gowon described the precocious Elaigwu arsenic an erudite student whose contributions to nationalist improvement were unquantifiable.

Gowon said the precocious professor’s patriotism, tenacity, hard enactment and resilience, solidified their narration which started successful the precocious 1970s.

The erstwhile subject ruler noted that helium decided not to assistance interviews aft his overthrow successful 1975 owed to attempts by the consequent medication to “implicate me” successful the coup effort which took General Murtala Mohammed’s life.

However, helium softened his stance upon gathering Prof. Elaigwu astir 1978, acknowledgment to the involution of a communal friend, Prof. Ishaya Audu, a erstwhile Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University.

Gowon expressed delight that the precocious Professor aboriginal wrote a superb book: “Gowon: The Biography of a Soldier-Statesman”, which captured portion of their encounter.

General Babangida, who was represented by Adakole Adama, described the precocious student arsenic a uncommon Nigerian whose intelligence input contributed immensely to the formulation and implementation of cardinal policies of his administration.

Speaking successful a akin vein, different ex-military ruler, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd), who besides sent a representative, said helium would person loved to person attended the lawsuit successful idiosyncratic but could not due to the fact that of a erstwhile assignment abroad.

He, however, expressed his condolences to the Elaigwus and Nigerians successful general. Abdulsalami said the decease of the student robbed the state of his heavy cognition and acquisition which helium generously shared with the satellite during his lifetime.

Three of the precocious scholar’s puerility friends: a erstwhile Senate President, David Mark, General Chris Garuba (Retd) and a retired Justice of the Supreme Court, Ejembi Eko, recalled shared memories of their lives increasing up.

Justice Eko told the gathering that helium was astir apt the past idiosyncratic who spoke to him alive.

According to him, helium held a astir 40-minute telephone chat with the precocious student the nighttime earlier his demise.

He expressed daze that helium received a substance connection from the aforesaid telephone fig informing him of his friend’s passing a fewer hours later.

Mark, who chaired the occasion, described the precocious Elaigwu arsenic a student who lived a beingness afloat of impact.

He enjoined everyone astatine the gathering to instrumentality to bosom the admonition contained successful Ecclesiastes section 3 of the Holy Bible which says: “To each happening determination is simply a season, and a clip to each intent nether the heaven: A clip to beryllium born, and a clip to die; a clip to plant, and a clip to pluck up that which is planted…”

Other dignitaries who attended the lawsuit included erstwhile Senate President and National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Iyiorchia Ayu, and erstwhile Bauchi State Governor, who was besides a one-time PDP National Chairman, Adamu Muazu.

Others see euphony icon Bongos Ikwe, Senator Suleman Adokwe, and a typical of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, among others.

The station Gowon, IBB, Abdulsalami, Mark, others eulogise Prof. Elaigwu appeared archetypal connected Vanguard News.