Attahiru’s death a monumental loss, says Gombe governor

Ekhomu lauds army chief’s leadership style

Governor Muhammad Yahaya of Gombe State, yesterday, described the death of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, as heartbreak to the family and monumental loss to Nigeria.

Also, security expert, Dr. Ona Ekhomu, said the army chief employed a productive and congruent leadership style in motivating Nigerian troops in the war against terrorism in the North East.

The governor said this when he paid a condolence visit to the family of the former COAS, who died last Friday with 10 other senior military officers and crew in a plane crash in Kaduna.

Yahaya, in the company of the Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Alhaji Shehu Madugu Special Adviser, Abuja Liaison Office, Usman Garry and other aides, was received by the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Rear Admiral. Awwal Gambo, at the official residence of the late army chief in Niger Barracks, Abuja.

He urged the widow, Fatima Attahiru, and the entire household to take solace in the fact that “all mortals shall taste death and we must answer the call of Almighty Allah at one point in time or another.”

Praying God to grant the souls of the departed heroes eternal rest, Yahaya also described Attahiru as a gallant officer and fine gentleman who demonstrated courage and exemplary leadership while discharging his duties. On his part, Ekhomu said in Lagos yesterday that the army chief relied on expectancy theory and self-fulfilling prophecies when he charged the troops, which led to the recent successes of the military against Boko Haram/ISWAP.

Ekhomu, who is the National President, Association of Industrial Security and Safety Operators of Nigeria (AISSON), said the late COAS used to pay frequent visits to the frontlines where he would directly address the troops.

“An example was when he ordered his men to recapture Marte within 48 hours and it was done in real time. That was clearly a self-fulfilling prophecy,” he noted.

The security expert described Attahiru as a great hero who fought hard to ensure peace and security in Nigeria.

In the short time that Attahiru served as the COAS, there was a rejuvenation of the spirit of the Nigerian Army, he added.