Constitutional lawyer, Chief Richard Oma-Ahonaruogho, has advised the Federal Government to take adequate steps upon completion of due investigations into Friday’s military helicopter crash, to protect its military hardwares and personnel.
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria said gave the advice in a condolence letter he entitled “Ironic as it may sound, death gives meaning to life” made available to newsmen in Benin.
Oma- Ahonaruogho described the death of the late Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, as one death too many for a nation at war with the Boko Haram insurgents and other criminal elements.
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He however, said Nigerians and family friends were relieved that the late COAS’s wife erreanously reported to have crashed with her husband turned out as false.
The lawyer said “while the nation mourns the death of Lieutenant General Ibrahim Attahiru, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and others who died in a military helicopter that crashed in Kaduna, yesterday, May 21, 2021;
“The relief that his beloved wife, Mrs Fati Attahiru, who was earlier but erroneously reported as one of the dead is alive, came as a soothing balm for a beleaguered nation.
“There is no gainsaying that the air mishap, is one too many for a nation at war with the Boko Haram insurgents and other criminal elements at this time in our nation’s history.
“And it is hoped that adequate steps would be taken upon completion of due investigations to protect our military hardware and personnel.
“With twenty days to his fifty-fifth birthday on Aug. 10, 2021, the life of the late Chief of Army Staff, whose appointment to that highly exalted office, lasted barely four months (116 days) from his appointment as the 25th Chief of Army Staff on Jan. 26, 2021, to May 21, 2021.
“That may be considered short-lived, but he no doubts lived a significant life and died in the line of duty for his beloved nation for it takes love for one’s country to enlist in the armed forces.
“Being too grief-stricken for now, a nation in mourning, will hopefully awake to a brighter and better tomorrow from the sacrifice of the life and times of the late Lieutenant General Ibrahim Attahiru who was a highly decorated officer.
“As we mourn his demise on the one hand and contemporaneously celebrate the life of his wife, Mrs. Fati Attahiru, ” adding that “Nigeria shall overcome.”
