Date: 2018-11-05

Gen. Yakubu Gowon, a former Military Head of State, said loyalty, hard work and competence exhibited by late Brig.-Gen. David Bamigboye earned him the first Kwara Governorship position in 1967. Yakubu Gowon Gowon made the statement in his tribute at the funeral of late Bamigboye at St. Paul Anglican Cathedral Church Omu-Aran in Irepodun Local Government of the state.

The former Head of State said Bamigboye was one of the youngest governors and a highly committed officer at the time of his appointment as the governor of old Kwara and Kogi State in 1967 when he was the Head of State. He said such sterling qualities were the magic wands that enabled him to undertake many viable developmental projects during his tenure.

According to him, Bamigboye was indeed an officer and a gentleman, a man with a great sense of mission and purpose. Gowon, who expressed happiness that the people of Kwara acknowledged the worth of the deceased, said he would forever be remembered by his immediate family, the community, the state and country at large. "It is on record that that he performed very well during his tenure as military governor of Kwara.

David was good, loyal, hardworking, highly competent and also a highly committed officer which stood him out for appointment as the first military governor of the state back then," he said.

Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara, in his own tribute, praised Bamigboye for laying a solid foundation for which the state was recognised and known for today. He expressed the government's determination to set in motion a plan to immortalise the deceased by getting a recognised edifice named after him.

Sen. Bukola Saraki, the Senate President, on his part, said the state had lost an industrious and dedicated son in person of Bamigboye, saying his legacies were glaring across the length and breadth of the state.

Chief Jide Adebayo, the Eesa of Omu-Aran, who spoke on behalf of Olomu-In-Council, said the community would greatly miss Bamigboye's fatherly role and advices as a son of the soil. Chief Mrs Aduke Bamigboye, the wife of the deceased, described her husband as a friend, a confidant, supporter and a loving father to his children and extended family.

"I never thought you will leave us so soon but I take solace in God that you are in a better place and looking at me and your children," she said. Bishop David Oyedepo, President of Living Faith Church Worldwide, urged Nigerians to pray fervently for free, fair and credible 2019 general elections.

He called on the political class to exercise restraint in the discharge of their political responsibilities, saying that no ambition was worth a single soul created by God.

"You politicians, you need to take things very easy as your ambition does not worth a single soul," he said. Rev. Philip Adeyemo of the Anglican Cathedral Church in a sermon, urged the gathering to always place the trust in God and not human, saying only God would not disappoint or fail.

"God is not like man; man can disappoint, fail, make mistakes but is the supreme creator who will never fail or disappoint," he said. Bamigboye died on Sept. 20 after a brief illness. He was aged 78 years. He was credited with the establishment of some landmark edifices such as the Kwara State Polytechnic (formerly School of Science and Technology), the Herald Newspapers, Kwara Hotels and host of others. (NAN)