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MAJOR GENERAL BABATUNDE IDIAGBON

 

 

 

A mutual friend was to take a parcel or letter to Ilorin from Lagos. I cannot vividly remember what it was, time has eroded this from my memory, whatever it was, it was a mission to visit the Lion’s den, the great Major General Tunde Idiagbon.

My inquisitorial mind propelled me along. I wanted to meet this chivalrous, brave and fearless man in person. Just like most Nigerians, I have heard so many stories woven around his person. I was curious to find out if they were true.

Even though he was out of Government, he remained a puzzle. With unease and extreme caution at least on my part, we walked into the compound where we were ushered to an open place like a garden to wait for him.

He did not keep us waiting for long. Suddenly he emerged; I was expecting hell to let loose at his entrance. I held my breathe wondering if he was going to bark, snap, roar or lash at us for daring to come to his house. Those thundering words like “why are you here? who sent you here?  How dare you come into my house?’’ fizzled out of my imagination, when an unruffled, dignified, very cool man emerged, politely welcomed us to his house. I almost fell down from my seat.

He spoke to us with a calm, relaxed and unflustered voice, but he did not smile neither did his face have the trademark stone face he famous for. I was gob smacked! Wondering if he was the no nonsense soldier so dreaded as the number two man in Nigeria.

I went away with another imprint on my mind completely changed from what I had and what Nigerians had about him. I went away thinking; never judge a book by its cover.

No matter anyone’s preconceived or defined impression about him, you cannot take away the fact that Tunde Idiagbon was a fine man, a genteel, a VERY BRAVE SOLDIER who did not scamper away from Saudi Arabia when his regime toppled. He returned home with his son like a courageous soldier he was to face whatever was going to befall him. When he came back, he was under house arrest for three years.

I salute you fearless soldier. When you died on 24 March 199, we knew we had lost a laudable and heroic treasure.

He was born Babatunde Abdulbaki Idiagbon to Hassan Dogo and Aisetu Iyabeji Idiagbon on 14th of September 1943 in Ilorin, Kwara State of Nigeria. He attended Nigerian Military School and commissioned a soldier in 1962.  He was Chief of Staff and second in command. He was married to Biodun Idiagbon and they have children.

Rest on brave soldier.

 

 

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