By Sumaila Ogbaje
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, on Wednesday paid a condolence visit to Mrs Dorothy Chris Alli, widow of the late former COAS, Maj.-Gen. Chris Ali at his Osborne Foreshore Estate residence in Ikoyi, Lagos.
The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, in a statement on Wednesday, said that Lagbaja led some top brass of the Nigerian Army on the visit.
Nwachukwu said the visit was to commiserate with the widow of the deceased army chief.
She was also a one time National President of the Nigerian Army Officers’ Wives Association (NAOWA).
During the visit, the COAS described the demise of Gen. Ali as shocking and a colossal loss, not only to the Nigerian army, but also to the entire Armed Forces of Nigeria and the nation at large.
He extolled the virtues of the late COAS, describing him as an astute, forthright and visionary military leader, whose significant contributions to the development of the Nigerian Army and the defence of the nation, remained undiluted in the institutional memory of the service.
Lagbaja said that the army would work with the family of the deceased to accord him a befitting burial, assuring the family of the army’s support, whenever it was needed.
Responding on behalf of the family of the late COAS, retired Capt. Shuaibu Salawana, expressed appreciation to the COAS and the entire Nigerian army for the timely condolence visit and concerns for the deceased’s family.
Nwachukwu said highlight of the visit was the presentation of a bouquet of flowers to the widow and signing of the condolence register in honour of the late COAS.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the late former army chief reportedly passed on at the age of 79 after a brief illness at the Military Hospital Lagos.
The Army Headquarters haD on Monday, declared a three-day mourning, directing all formations and units across the country to hoist the Nigerian Army flag in half-mast and wearing a black band.
(NAN)
