IBB weeps at Aikhomu’s burial

By Sanni Onogu, Abuja

Former military President of Nigeria, General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd), yesterday wept as his former deputy, Admiral Augustus Aikhomu, was buried.
Aikhomu, who died recently in Lagos, was buried in Irrua, Esan Central Local Government Area of Edo State.
Babangida stayed indoors during the interment, while former Chairman of Nigeria Ports Authority, Chief Olabode George; former Minister of External Affairs, Chief Tom Ikimi; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ola Sa’ad Ibrahim; and other dignitaries accompanied the family to the venue of the burial.

Babangida

Aikhomu was buried after a funeral service was held at the St David’s Church at Irrua.
The federal government delegation led by Vice President Namadi Sambo was at the service.
Others on the delegation were Chief of Staff to President Jonathan, Mike Ogiadomhe; Secretary to the Federal Government, Senator Pius Anyim; Chief Tony Anenih; and Senate President, Senator David Mark.
Also present were Governors Adams Oshiomhole,Peter Obi and Liyel Imoke, former Vice President, Alex Ekwueme, former Minister of Information, Prof. Sam Oyovbaire, members of state House of Assembly led by its Speaker, Uyi Igbe, former Governor of Edo State, Chief John Oyegun, Samuel Afolahan, Alison Madueke, Ray Ekpu, Ibrahim Saliu, Amb. Yusuf Mammar, Senator Tunde Ogbeha, Ebitu Ukiwe and Col. Tunde Akogun (rtd).
Speaking on the occasion, Govenror Oshiomhole urged the federal government to immortalise Aikhomu by re-naming Irrua Specialist Hospital built when Aikhomu was military Vice President after him.
Oshiomhole said: “ That we have Irrua Specialist Hospital here is not an accident. It was built during the time of Aikhomu. The federal government should revisit the name to immortalise our elder statesman.”
Oshiomhole, who recalled how Aikhomu prevented a looming strike when he was the Vice President, said “death is a price everybody must pay”.
His words, “The only way to avoid death is not to be born. Once you are born, you must pay the price of death. As politicians, we must also know that death is not a democrat. It does not take votes or consult. It comes when it wants to come. It does not follow due process. It does not discriminate between the young and the old.
“I have come to celebrate the life of a man God was generous to. The man whose life was full of challenges and achievements. If he had lived another 100 years, assuming that was a possibility, he could have duplicated all what he had done. As we have seen, he was a good husband, considering the way the wife looks.”
President Jonathan, whose speech was delivered by Vice President Sambo, said he regretted with sorrow that his first visit to Irrua was to witness the burial of Aikhomu.
President Jonathan said Aikhomu distinguished himself as an outstanding Nigerian, a soldier, statesman and a patriot.
“As a soldier, he rose to the rank of an Admiral. He earned that by dint of hardwork, diligent commitment in his calling and above all steadfastness in the performance of any assigned duty. He was a loyal officer that fought for the unity of this country.
“When the call of duty brought Augustus Aikhomu into the political scene, his diligence became manifest. He believed in Nigeria and readily served to ensure unity and stability of this country. It was unalloyed loyalty that informed his patriotic rise from the Chief of General Staff to the Vice President of Nigeria. He served the country in a very sensitive position. By his death, Nigeria has lost one of his finest soldiers, a man of high integrity and a politician with conscience.”

SOURCE: Nation Newspaper 17 September 2011. http://www.thenationonlineng.net