It was an emotional event for families, friends, associates and colleagues of the late Chief of Army Staff Lt General Ibrahim Attahiru and the other personnel that died in the ill fated plane crash of 21st May 2021 as they gathered to eulogies him.
They gathered to immortalize their husband, father, friend, hero and a brave soldier by launching a foundation, a book a documentary to honour him.
The Documentary that was put together, celebrates the heroic deeds of the Nigerian military while the book titled, ‘The Man, The Soldier, The Patriot; the biography LT. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru’ written by Niran Adedokun and the forward done by the wife of the late COAS Mrs. Fatima Attahiru celebrates his life and times as Nigeria’s 21st Chief of Army Staff
While eulogising her husband, the wife of Attahiru said her husband was selfless and always had the people at heart.
She disclosed that her late husband made her organize programmes for women and widows right from the time he was serving as Commanding Officer 146 Battalion Nigerian Army (Operation HARMONY IV) in the Bakassi Peninsula.
Mrs. Attahiru noted that the launching the General Ibrahim Attahiru Foundation was born out of the need to continue and sustain the good deeds her husband had started while he was alive.
The General Ibrahim Attahiru Foundation (GIAF) is an independent and non-partisan foundation named after the late (COAS) GIAF set up to ensure the continuation of the ideals and qualities he embodied both as a military service leader and in his personal life as a man of integrity, generosity, and kindness of heart, as expressed in the various ways he helped fellow Nigerians.
An Endowment Fund to perpetually sustain the programs that uphold the leadership ideals and generosity of late General Ibrahim Attahiru in Nigeria and Africa would was also launched.
The Board Chairman of the Foundation Mr. Didi Ndiomu said the activities of the evening were in furtherance of the resolve of family and friends to honour the memory of the late COAS and the fallen heroes of 21st May 2021 air crash, as well as fulfill their unflinching commitment to keeping their memories alive.
He noted that the remembrance provides a platform for friends to identify with the family of the fallen heroes and appreciate the sacrifices of the soldiers.
“It is pertinent to reiterate that, this remembrance in honour of these fallen heroes, has been organized to provide families, friends, colleagues, members of the diplomatic corps, development partners, and the military family the opportunity to remember the late General Attahiru, and other deceased soldiers, who passed away on 21st May, 2021; provide an opportunity for us all to identify with families of these fallen heroes at this very important stage of their lives; as well as enable us to appreciate the sacrifices that all our soldiers make – including paying the supreme price – just to keep our country safe, free, and united”
While calling for support for the foundation Mr. Ndiomu also called on friends and associates of fallen heroes to always make out time to support their families.
“Let me simply say that, there are ways that all of us here today can support those who bear the physical, emotional and psychological scars of losing loved ones, who served in the military. One of such ways is to make conscious efforts to know the families that our fallen heroes left behind, and to reach out to them to assure these families that we really care, especially as they had lost their beloved fathers, husbands, sons, and breadwinners, while in active service to the motherland”
The foundation would focus on Strategic Leadership, Peace-building, Reconstruction, and Rehabilitation, Human, Environmental, and Social Development, Mental Health and Psycho-social Support, and Research and Defence Advocacy.
The event featured, poem, spoken words, tributes by to the Late COAS by prominent associates one of whom is the Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka.
It would be recalled that on the evening of 21 May 2021 Attahiru was traveling on a Nigerian Air Force Beechcraft King Air 350 on an official visit to Kaduna, where he was to attend the Passing out Parade of 80 Regular Recruits Intake (80RRI) in Depot Nigerian Army scheduled to hold on 22 May 2021.
The plane crashed, killing Attahiru and all ten other people on board.
Ime N
