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Jonathan, Others Mourn ‘Black Scorpion’

 

 

 

 

 

 President Goodluck Jonathan, Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, former Oyo State governor, Alao-Akala, Femi Fani-Kayode and governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the August 9 governorship election in Osun State, Senator Iyiola Omisore, all expressed shock yesterday and prayed for the repose of Adekunle’s soul.
 
Jonathan, in a statement Saturday, extended sincere commiserations to Adekunle’s family. “The President joins them and other Nigerians in mourning the very courageous soldier who achieved national fame during the Nigerian civil war for his gallant leadership of the 3rd Marine Commandoes in the successful effort to defend the unity and territorial integrity of the country,”  the statement read.
    “As the Black Scorpion’s soul returns to the Almighty Creator, President Jonathan enjoins his family, friends, former military colleagues and all who mourn his passing to also give thanks to God for blessing the nation with fearless soldiers and patriots of his calibre who stand ready to lay down their lives for the peace, unity and progress of their country.”
   Adekunle was born in Kaduna on June 26, 1936. He had his Secondary Education at the Government College, Okene, Kogi State.
   He enlisted in the Nigerian Army in 1958, and was trained at Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, in the UK. He was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant on December 15, 1960.
      Gov. Aregbesola, in a statement by the Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, said the death of Adekunle has closed a long chapter in the history of the nation as it relates to the Nigerian Civil war.
   The governor said Adekunle played a crucial role in the civil war that almost liquidated the country. He noted that irrespective of what some people might believe or not believe about the deceased, Adekunle played a vital role in making sure Nigeria remained a united country.
   The statement read: “Adekunle led the Third Marine Commando Division, during the Civil War with such great courage and determination. Up till today, his war exploits in the command of the Third Marine remains subject of discussion across Nigeria and beyond.
  “The history of post-independence Nigeria and the crises that threatened the young nation’s existence will be incomplete without a chapter for this courageous soldier.”
   Spokesperson for Pan-Yoruba group, Afenifere, Mr. Yinka Odumakin said Adekunle would be remembered as a courageous soldier, who gave a lot to his profession and his country, “especially during the war.” Afenifere, as well as other Yoruba groups had tried unsuccessfully to lure Adekunle into their fold.
   However, Odumakin explained that Adekunle played limited role in the affairs of Yoruba advocacy in the country owing chiefly to the way he felt about how he left the Army in 1974. “By many accounts, Adekunle was bitter about the way he was treated by the Army. This may have affected his trust level and thereby taking the fight out of him.”
 Adekunle served in the Congo as a peacekeeper and also served as ADC to the then Governor of the Eastern Region, Sir Akanu Ibiam.
   He briefly served as Adjutant General at the Army Headquarters in May 1965 and was appointed the commander of the Lagos Garrison as a substantive Lt. Col.
   When the Nigerian Civil War erupted in July 1967, Adekunle played heroic roles in the 3 Marine Commando, some of which have entered the myths of history. He was tasked to lead elements, which included two new battalions (7th and 8th) – to conduct the historic sea borne assault on Bonny in the Bight of Benin on July 26, 1968 (carried out by Major Isaac Adaka Boro’s unit).
 This happened after the Federal Government gained confidence of most southwestern ethnic groups as a direct result of Biafran push to mid-west state and probe into Western region. Adekunle was promoted to Colonel after the Bonny landing.
     Reacting to Adekunle’s demise, Femi Fani-Kayode said, “Adekunle was the greatest, the most courageous, the most disciplined and the most effective general in the history of the Nigerian Army. He was the single reason why the Nigerian Armed Forces prevailed over Biafra during the civil war. He was a great son of the Yoruba and of Nigeria. He led the gallant men of the 3rd Marine Commando into battle personally and he took no prisoners. He was a man of immense courage that Nigeria refused to honour in life and treated very badly after the war and over the years. 
   “It is my sincere hope and prayer that, now that he has gone, he will be given his proper due and honored by his country. I loved that man.
        In the same vein, Governor Ajimobi described Adekunle’s demise as monumental loss to the nation.  Ajimobi, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Festus Adedayo, said although Gen. Adekunle had, for some time, been facing some health challenges, his death at a time the country is passing through difficult times, in terms of security and national cohesion, is tragic and shocking.’’
   Similarly, former governor Alao-Akala said the late Adekunle left behind a legacy of patriotism that would be very difficult to forget in the history of Nigeria.  The former governor maintained that the contributions of the late army general to the successful end of the civil war in 1970 could not be erased in the country’s march towards one indivisible entity.
    In his reaction, the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Jimoh Oyewumi, said the contributions of the late Army general towards the unity of Nigeria would be difficult to forget and called on the Federal Government to immortalise him.
            Omisore, the governorship candidate of the PDP in the August 9 governorship election in Osun state, described the death of Adekunle as a great loss to the nation.
   Omisore, in a statement issued by his media aide, Victor Oriola, said, he received the news of the death of the civil war veteran, with rude shock.
   He said, ‘’it is unfortunate that Brigadier Adekunle, who fought the 30-month civil war to keep Nigeria together, had to take a bow when his service is most needed.