I couldn’t find a better person – Obasanjo mourns ex-Chief of Staff Muhammed
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, has disclosed that his former Chief of Staff, late Major General Abdullahi Adangba Muhammed was a patriotic Nigerian whose name could not be missed out when the history of the country’s unity, democracy and good governance is written.
Late Muhammed, who died at 86, served Obasanjo from 1999 to 2007 and Umaru Musa Yar’adua from 2007 to 2008 as their Chief of Staff.
The Special Assistant to the former President on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, in a statement on Wednesday, quoted Obasanjo as saying that Mohammed’s passing came to him unexpectedly and as a great shock.
In a tribute made available to newsmen, the former President said “The late Maj-Gen. Abdul Mohammed was a diligent and conscientious soldier who served his nation with patriotic zeal and distinguished himself in many spheres of military and public life.
“He was a bundle of integrity and incorruptibility and one of the few I know that can be so described. As a Military Governor of old Benue-Plateau State from 1975 to February 1976 during the military regime of General Murtala Mohammed, he made tremendous mark through dedication to duty, loyalty to his fatherland and an impeccable example of incorruptible leadership.
“He will certainly be remembered for his rare courage and contribution to the development of the Nigerian Army in which he rose to enviable heights. At the point that I decided to have a Chief of Staff with military background as part of the gradual transition from military to democracy to still give the military the sense and feeling of access to the seat of government at the highest level and one who has to be someone I knew well and who knew me well; someone I could trust and have absolute confidence in; someone dedicated and committed, I could not find a better person than Maj-Gen. Abdulahi Mohammed.
“He ran his office from 1999 to 2007 very capably and was one of my trusted aides who made my running of the Presidency an easy undertaking. He continued serving in the same capacity, though briefly, in the administration of President Umaru Yar’Adua on my prompting for him to assist the administration, in governance, until it fully settled down as requested by my successor.
“Abdul was a true soldier and a great nationalist who served Nigeria with dedication and unalloyed commitment. He fought for the unity of this country with complete dedication to the ideal of a great Nigeria in which fairness and justice will reign. Indeed, it is no exaggeration to say that the history of our struggle for national unity, democracy and good governance cannot be written without ample reference being made to the patriotic, selfless, visionary and heroic role played by him.
“On behalf of my family and on my own behalf, I extend heartfelt condolences to the entire family of Maj-Gen. Abdul Mohammed on the sorrowful passing a great but humble Nigerian. May Allah (SWT) forgive him and grant him Jannatul Firdausi. Ameen.”