Family members, friends eulogise late COAS at Night of Tribute
By Sumaila Ogbaje
Family members, friends and colleagues of the late former Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Maj.-Gen. Chris Alli, on Tuesday eulogised the late general at a Night of Tribute in his honour.
The event was organised by the Ohiku Egbira Descendant Union (OEDU) in Abuja as part of the funeral activities of the former army chief, who was also the Chiarman, Board of Trustees of OEDU.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the late army chief on Nov. 19, passed on at the age of 79 after a brief illness at the Military Hospital Lagos.
The Chairman of the occasion and Member Board of Trustees of OEDU, Prof. Tom Adaba, thanked the guests for the honour done to the Egbiras and the late Gen. Alli.
Adaba said that the late general had been a humanist, democrat and supporter of justice who was always ready to give his best at all times for the nation.
According to him, if everyone who had been in leadership positions in this country was like late Gen. Alli, the nation would have been better than what it is.
He prayed to God to comfort and guide the family and called on the government and people to immortalise late Gen. Alli for his contributions to humanity and nation building.
A former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Martin Luther Agwai, said the late COAS was his superior in the army who helped to shape his career in the military.
Agwai said he got to know Gen. Alli much closer when he had the privilege of serving as Nigeria’s Defence Adviser in Harare, Zimbabwe.
According to him, Alli was the first Defence Advisor in Harare.
“So when I was being posted to Harare, a lot of people said make sure you see him before you leave and I got an opportunity of seeing him.
“He gave me all the titbits that I needed and honestly, everyone of them became very helpful,” he said.
Agwai described the late COAS as a man of very few words, but very meaningful, adding that he loved to share and to encourage the younger ones to grow.
“He was a wonderful person and even in retirement you saw his integrity that he would be sorted not only by his community but all other people in the country,” he added.
Also, Sen. Tunde Ogbeha, a retired Army General, described Gen. Alli as a patriot who loved his country, worked for his country and was prepared to contribute in whatever form.
Ogbeha added that Alli was also a family man who possessed and exhibited all the qualities of a general and a gallant soldier.
He urged young military officers to emulate his commitment, integrity, hard work and patriotism.
The National President of OEDU, Dr Musa Ahmadu, said the late COAS was a leader with the passion for a united Egbira people all over the country.
Ahmadu said the late general was a pillar of unity and development of Egbira, Kogi State and the nation in general.
“He was a great unified and one of our staunchest pillar of support who stood solidly by the ideals of a unified Egbira Nation,” he said.
The first son of the late former COAS, Churchill Alli, described his late father as bold and fearless, a man of truth who respected all but feared no one.
He said his father taught the children to be bold and fearless in speaking their minds, adding that the vacuum left by him could not be filled.
NAN reports that several retired and serving military officers as well as prominent Egbira sons and daughters graced the occasion. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Idris Abdulrahman
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