The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede, has described the late Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, as a courageous soldier and a man of faith who championed troops’ welfare.
Oluyede said this during the One Year Remembrance Church Service in honour of the late army chief, in Abuja, on Sunday.
The CDS described the late Lagbaja as an exemplary professional soldier and devout Christian, whose faith guided his conduct, noting that Lagbaja’s courage, empathy, and generosity reflected his deep faith and strong sense of justice.
He said: ““Before this time last year, we were all mourning this great man. But today, we are here to celebrate him, a soldier’s soldier, a true soldier of Christ and a friend to many.
“His life teaches us to ask ourselves what we will be remembered for — for greed or for goodness, for selfishness or for service.”
The CDS said he was confident that the late army chief was resting peacefully in heaven, adding that his legacy of dedication and compassion would continue to inspire those he left behind.
“I pray that God will never forsake his family. As for me, I will stand by them for as long as I live,” he said.
The CDS commended the Chief of Army Staff for honouring the memory of his predecessor and the clergy for their inspiring message, while thanking all who attended the memorial.
In his sermon titled: “A Good Soldier of Jesus Christ”, the Acting Director, Chaplaincy Services (Protestant), Nigerian Army, Lt.-Col. Bitrus Nyam, while reading from the book of 2 Timothy 2:1-4, said the late COAS represented Christ and was also a good father who nurtured his children and wanted to see them become better than him.
Nyam said that the late Lagbaja fulfilled four exemplary demands as contained in the scripture, which according to him included being strong in the grace of Christ Jesus.
“Late lagbaja was not a distracted soldier but an exemplary one who remained focused till the end,” he said.
The church service was attended by two former Chiefs of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor (rtd) and Gen. Christopher Musa (rtd) with their wives; Oluyede’s wife, who is the President of the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA); the widow of the late Lagbaja, Mrs. Mariya, accompanied by Mrs. Safiyah Shaibu, wife of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and President, Nigerian Army Officers Wives Association (NAOWA); and other serving and retired officers.
The Nigerian Army also held a Jumat prayer session for the late COAS on Friday at the same Mogadishu Cantonment, where the current COAS, Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shuaibu, paid glowing tribute to the late Lagbaja.
