Adekunle: COAS, CAS, Fashola Pay Last Respects

L-R: The Flag Officer Commanding, Rear Admiral Ilesanmi Alade; Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Kenneth Minimah; Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosun, at the funeral service of Late Brigadier General Benjamin Adekunle in Lagos...
Son says late father didn't commit atrocious war crimes
By Chiemelie Ezeobi
          
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant-General Kenneth Minimah, yesterday led the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Adesola Amosun, and Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, to pay their last respects to late Brigadier General Benjamin Adesanya Maja Adekunle, popularly known as Black Scorpion.

The funeral rites for the Nigerian Army (NA) war veteran, who died in Lagos at age 78 on September 13, 2014, began on Thursday with a service of songs at Abalti Barracks, Ojuelegba.

At the funeral service, the deceased was accorded all the respects of a full military burial, including the 21-gun salute and pall-bearers all in the rank of brigadier general.

The funeral service which was held at the Tafewa Balewa Square, Lagos Island, saw many senior and retired officers troop to the venue to pay their last respects before he was committed to mother earth at the Ikoyi Vaults and Gardens.

Also representing the Chief of Naval Staff was the Flag Officer Commanding, Rear Admiral Ilesanmi Alade, while the chief host of the event was the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 81 division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Tamunomieibi Dibi.

In an interview with THISDAY, the deceased's son, Mr. Adelaja Adekunle, said his father did not commit any of the atrocious crimes credited to him during the Nigerian civil war as the commander, third Marine Commando.

Dismissing the allegations against his father, Adelaja said he wished that those with such opinion had the opportunity of meeting the deceased for just five minutes.

He said: "Those views or opinions are born out of negligence. My father spoke the three Nigerian major languages - Igbo, Yoruba and Hausa.

"It helped him a lot during the war. I have heard a lot of negative things said about my late father, but I say without fear of contradiction that he was a man with great feelings for all.

"Though he hardly spoke to us about his escapades during the war, and having been born after
the war, things we heard about him were told by his colleagues. They all had enormous respect for him.

"What we heard was that he ensured that all soldiers under his command got adequate protection and that he believed in one Nigeria.

"All I can say is that my father was given a task, as regards his military calling, to restore peace in his area of responsibility and to ensure that the country remain one. That he did professionally. One should be thankful to him that Nigeria still exists.

"My father is one of the humorous person to be with. He is most honest and did not hide his feelings and treated all his children equally."

Earlier at the service of songs, the first military governor of Lagos State, Brigadier-General Mobolaji Johnson (rtd.), called for immortalisation of the deceased.

He said Adekunle's boldness and action brought a quick end to the civil war, adding that since he played his part well in the nation’s history and he should be recognised and immortalised.

According to him: "We have been very close friends over the years, the Army would miss him because people like Adekunle don’t come twice in the lifetime of a nation.

"He played his part and he would be remembered for a long time. When they write the history of Nigeria, talk about the civil war, you can’t but talk about Adekunle.

"He played his part very well, books are being written now and they must just mention him. The nation would have to decide on that one, so when they write the history of Nigeria and the civil war in particular, they cannot but talk about him in flying colours, Benji is going to be missed by a lot by a lot of us.”

Johnson added: "We all who are close to him are missing him greatly. He was a rare gem who loved his country and he was named Black Scorpion because of his agility in the army."
Also, the senator representing Oyo central, Mr Ayo Ademola, said a military installation in the country should be named after the deceased.

He said: "We have some major military installation that has been named after military men who never went to war. Adekunle should be named after a major military installation. He was also a patriotic Nigerian.

"He served his country with everything he had. He was devoted to his country, children and community but it was unfortunate the country does not celebrate its heroes.

"The government should start doing so. Any society that fails to celebrate heroes will perish. If you serve your country, you should be recognised for your service.

"Adekunle fought in the most terrible terrain of our land and also fought to stop the civil war early enough so he deserves to be celebrated."One of the guests at the service of songs, Air Vice Marshal Bayo Lawal (rtd), also expressed his sadness for the loss of the veteran, adding that he was Nigeria’s greatest war hero.

Paying his last respects also, Brigadier General Michael Toki, said the deceased was a good man, a friend and a hero, who must be recognised nationally.

Although the bereaved widow, Mrs Folake Adekunle, couldn't speak with journalists, her eldest child, Mrs Busola Olagunju, said her father was a dramatic, interesting and a caring man, who was also a disciplinarian.
She said: "He does not tolerate bad behaviour, he was appreciated by all and I think he deserves a national merit award."

Culled from: http://www.thisdaylive.com