A member of the National Executive Council (NEC) of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Issa Aremu mni, has suggested that the best way to immortalise late General Babatunde Idiagbon is to promote the values of war against corruption and indiscipline he left behind.
Comrade Aremu who is a former governorship candidate of the Labour Party in this year’s general elections in Kwara state gave the suggestion on Sunday (March 24,2019) at the memorial lecture to commemorate the twentieth year of the painful exit of late Major General Babatunde Idiagbon organized by The Zealous Kwara Youths, held at Mustapha Akanbi African Peoples Hall, Ilorin, the Kwara state capital.
Aremu said what is paramount is not just about naming a particular street or structure after the late General Idiagbon but to embrace all good values he stood for when he was alive.
” As for me, the best we can do is not just to name Airport after him, or to name metropolitan square after him as it is being suggested by many people, but the best we can do is to make sure we promote the values he left behind such as fight against corruption and fight against indiscipline” Aremu suggested.
Speaking on the theme of the Programme ” Patriotism and Selfless Services, Key Ingredients Towards Nation Building: A Study of Late Major General Babatunde Idiagbon”, the Labour leader, described patriotism, integrity and faithfulness as among the sterling qualities, Nigerians must look after in choosing their leaders.
He urged Nigerians to pick their future leaders based on their level of patriotism and antecedents not on the basis of mediocrity, affluence or nepotism.
We should find out about thei credentials of those who will lead us today in Nigeria, how patriotic are they, for me President Muhammadu Buhari remains a standing patriot that we have in Nigeria today” he added.
According to him, the crop of present Nigerian leaders are emergency ones who are not prepared for the mantle of leadership, adding that faithfulness and loyalty are not in the virtues of the most present leaders.
Comrade Aremu described late General Babatunde Idiagbon as a patriotic Nigerian that was loyal and faithful to the service of the nation, pointing out that the late General was the epitome of true reflection of dignity of labour.
He said ” It is time for us as a nation to celebrate great leaders like General Babatunde Idiagbon”.
Comrade Issa Aremu suggested further that Nigerians should henceforth be celebrating their heroes or leaders when they were alive and not when they are dead.
He said Nigeria has a good number of living patriots who have done this nation proud in their individuals and collective efforts, saying that celebrating such leaders will encourage the incoming generation and generations unborn to be more patriotic and disciplined in their private and public life.
In his remarks at the occasion, a former Military Administrator of Kebbi state, Brigadier General Saliu Tunde Bello also described late Babatunde Idiagbon as a true patriotic Nigerian that was committed to the services of the nation.
Bello, who was the chairman of the occasion, called on the Federal government to immortalise late Babatunde Idiagbon properly to serve as a due recognition for his invaluable contributions to the progress and development of this nation.
Also in in his lecture, Akogun Iyiola Oyedepo represented by Mr. Tunde Muhammed, also extolled the virtues of the late Babatunde Idiagbon, stressing the need to immortalize him.
In her remark, a former Chairman Kwara State Teaching Service Commission chairperson, Hajia Raliat Sanni, said the late Idiagbon was a pride of the Ilorin Emirate and kwara in general.
Hajia Sanni noted that the late Idiagbon and General Muhammadu Buhari started the War against indiscipline, wishing that he was alive to work with President Buhari to continue the war against indiscipline the duo concieved in the 80s.
In their separate addresses, the Chairman and Secretary of the 20th Memorial Lecture Committee, John Adegboye and Ahmed Akorede respectively, said the lecture was organised to keep the memory of late Idiagbon alive as an outstanding fellow who had contributed immensely to the progress and advancement of this nation.




END