Why I’ll never forget my late deputy, Idiagbon – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has said that the late Maj.-Gen. Tunde Idiagbon was “a very rare example of what loyalty to fatherland and to a superior should be’’, and urged Nigerians to emulate him.

Idiagbon was Chief of Staff at the Supreme Headquarters (de facto vice president) when Buhari was Head of State.

Mr Femi Adesina, the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity in a statement on Monday, quoted the president as describing late Tunde Idiagbon as strong, loyal and committed Nigerian.

Buhari spoke on Monday when he received a delegation from Kwara state All Progressives Congress (APC).

“Tunde was strong, loyal and extremely committed to the cause of positively changing the narrative about Nigeria, which the administration set out to do at that time,” he said.

Buhari recalled how his former deputy, who, while on pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia when the administration was overthrown in 1985, insisted on returning to the country.

He said Idiagbon returned to the country despite the political uncertainty, especially as he had learnt that he, as Commander-in-Chief at that time, had not been killed in the take-over.

The President added that the late Idiagbon rejected the offer from the King of Saudi Arabia to bring members of his (Idiagbon) family from Nigeria to the Kingdom, as he was his guest at that time, and eventually returned to Nigeria to suffer arrest like he (Buhari) did.

The President further enjoined Nigerians to remain faithful and loyal to the country in all their dealings.