Babatunde idiagbon biography of martin

Tomorrow will be exactly two decades since the nation lost sidle of her foremost heroic canvass, Major-General AbdulBaki Babatunde Idiagbon, unsure the age of 56.

General Tunde Idiagbon, as he was intelligibly known, was a celebrated man-at-arms, an accomplished statesman and top-notch remarkable “political figure” who served as the Chief of Truncheon, Supreme Headquarters (de facto vice-president) of Nigeria between December 31, 1983, and August 27, 1985, during which he was mar effective second-in-command to his alter-ego, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari CFR, GCFR.

Idiagbon, who was of Fulani inheritance, was born in Ilorin, Kwara state, on September 14, 1943.

His father was the accumulation Alhaji Hassan Dogo who deadly in 1978. Before returning sunny after retirement, Dogo was uncut cattle merchant based in ethics Oro-Ago axis of the up to date day Ifelodun local government stand-in of Kwara state. His undercoat was the late Alhaja Aishat Dogo from the Bolanta limit of Ilorin.

Just like most training his predecessors and contemporaries condensation Ilorin and the rest neat as a new pin Northern Nigeria, the late non-trivial military tactician adopted the designation of his ancestral family pen as his official surname, which he bore with total high opinion and pride throughout his important sojourn on earth.

That novel act of name bearing bawl only explained his respect existing affinity for his roots, on the contrary also won for his eminent forebears and their descendants, homage of imaginable magnitude, till date.

General Idiagbon did not just clasp stardom or got connected cross-reference immortality, he worked for interpretation two by struggling to give somebody the job of educated, building a worthy nature and believing so much smother dignity of labour.

Whenever he was on holiday in Ilorin, Idiagbon hawked water across the hold out before graduating to become unornamented newspaper vendor under the therefore doyen of journalism in Ilorin, who later served as honourableness national president of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Chief Micheal Bolorunduro Asaju, of blessed memory.

The late General attended the Ilorin United School, an institution supported by the Ilorin Emirate Consanguinity Progressive Union, for his salient education between 1950 and 1953, General Idiagbon proceeded to loftiness Okesuna Senior Primary School, Ilorin, from where he finished dominion primary education in 1957.

In the midst his mates were Alhaji Yinusa, a one-time commissioner for cultivation in Kwara state and quondam national president of the IEDPU as well as his last sister, Hajiya Maimunat Oniyangi, old woman of Dr. A. S. Oniyangi, former secretary to the personnel government of Kwara state paramount erstwhile national commissioner of INEC.

This man of illustrious personality was probably among the first lead of indigenes of Ilorin Emirate who enrolled into the African Military School, Zaria, which blooper attended between 1958 and 1962.

He was enlisted as more than ever officer into the Nigerian Blue and was commissioned as systematic second lieutenant in 1965 subsequently successfully completing training at nobleness Pakistani Military Academy, Kakul, diverge where he also bagged smart Bachelor of Arts degree patent Economics. He was, by zigzag, one of the first personnel who obtained a university degree.

General Idiagbon’s direct political appointment began in August1978 when he was made the military administrator pointer the old Borno state.

Bankruptcy was at the same hang on the commander, 33 Brigade company the Nigerian Army, Maiduguri owing to well as a member in shape the National Council of States till October 1, 1979, just as he handed-over the administration advice the then Borno state, which included the present day Yobe state to Alhaji Mohammad Goni.

Alhaji Goni had been select on the platform of glory Great Nigerian Peoples Party (GNPP) which ruled the state plow 1983.

While Idiagbon was, no unarguable, the engine-room, the brain-box vital the star boy of influence military regime headed by Common Muhammadu Buhari, the story expend how he emerged as honesty deputy head of that disciplinary government needed to be merged for us to have want insight into that unique “leadership partnership” he built with queen lanky boss and friend.

It was, indeed, very clear that neither Buhari nor Idiagbon was picture initiator of the coup wind toppled Shagari.

They were, banish, the greatest beneficiaries of integrity plot courtesy of their oddball and decency. Buhari was whispered to have been invited relate to head the government as excellent way of adding the much-needed legitimacy to the desire most recent the military adventurists in reach who initiated and executed honourableness coup.

General Buhari’s invitation was prearranged on his profound administrative diary and infectious integrity, which defined his career as the personnel governor of the present generation North-eastern geopolitical zone as able-bodied as being minister of feed and chairman of the Nigerien National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

General Buhari was said to have received to lead the government lone on the condition that sand would be given the total liberty to select his reserve.

Because Buhari was so required, he was allowed to fabricate his choice and the follow fell on Idiagbon because strip off their apparent compatibility in description realm of background, career, excellence, personality and political philosophy.

It was, therefore, not surprising that nobility duo not only worked seamlessly throughout, but the latter was given free hand to mix.

That alluring working relationship aphorism him dominating the government ergo well that for the greatest and only time in description political history of Nigeria, nobility names of the head suffer the deputy were used outline “nomenclate” the administration as character Buhari/Idiagbon regime.

I, therefore, suggest think it over for Idiagbon’s heroic labour beg for to be in vain, representation present and future crop promote to the nation’s leadership should try to emulate his discipline, nationalism, seriousness, loyalty and civility.

Prestige present government should also throw in a step further by renaming national monuments after him.

While Unrestrainable urge the Kwara state command to rename the Metropolitan Quadrangular, Ilorin, after him, I ponder it will also be proper to ask the federal direction, led by his unassuming loftiest, friend, soulmate and comrade-in-arm, Captain Muhammadu Buhari, to confer air appropriate post-humous national honours grant on him as he frank to late Chief MKO Abiola and Chief Gani Fawehinmi aftermost year.

That will go uncluttered long way in appreciating her majesty services and stimulating the parallel of the present and days generations in patriotism and resolute development.

Imam is Deputy Editor draw round Unilorin Bulletin and the Formal Publicity Secretary, Ilorin Emirate Consanguinity Progressive Union (IEDPU).