It was an outpour of tributes for an elder statesman, former National Security Adviser(NSA) and Chief of Staff in the Presidency, Major-General Abdullahi Mohammed Adangba (retd), who passed on Wednesday at the age of 86.

Adangba, who was the founding head of the National Security Organisation (NSO), at different times served as the NSA to the Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, and CoS to both Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and late Umar Musa Yar’Adua.

In a tribute, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu said the late military chief “left indelible marks on the nation’s security architecture, particularly in the establishment of the National Security Organisation, the precursor to the State Security Services, the National Intelligence Agency, and the Defence Intelligence Agency. He was also Governor of the defunct Benue-Plateau State between 1975 and 1976.”

He described the deceased as “a disciplined, loyal, and patriotic officer whose remarkable service to the nation spanned decades, marked by distinguished contributions to Nigeria’s stability and governance.

The president said General Mohammed “brought to public service an uncommon sense of duty, order, humility and integrity that left a lasting imprint on the institutions he served and the people who came into contact with him, particularly in the State House, where he was instrumental in shaping the workings of the Presidency.

“He was a man of exemplary character, who combined the precision of a soldier with the prudence of a statesman. His years in the State House were marked by humility, efficiency, and unwavering commitment to the Nigerian project.”

President Tinubu commiserated with the family, government, and people of Kwara state, the Nigerian Armed Forces, and all those mourning “this distinguished son of Nigeria.”

…Obasanjo

In a similar tribute, former President Obasanjo, in a statement by his media aide, Kehinde Akinyemi, said the news of his demise “came to me unexpectedly and as a great shock.”

Referring to him as a long-standing friend, brother and colleague, Obasanjo said he was “a bundle of integrity and incorruptibility.”

“The late Major-General Abdul Mohammed was a diligent and conscientious soldier who served his nation with patriotic zeal and distinguished himself in many spheres of military and public life. He was a bundle of integrity and incorruptibility and one of the few I know that can be so described.

“As a Military Governor of old Benue-Plateau State from 1975 to February 1976 during the military regime of General Murtala Mohammed, he made tremendous mark through dedication to duty, loyalty to his fatherland and an impeccable example of incorruptible leadership. He had series of training including becoming one of the early military officers to be trained as military intelligence officers.

“It was the skill and the expertise that he brought into the establishment of National Security Organisation (NSO – now known as Department of State Services) after the coup that assassinated General Muritala Muhammed. He headed the Organisation as its pioneer Director-General from 1976 to 1979 and served as a totally competent and loyal officer.

“It is also worthy of note that at the request of General Abdulsalami Abubakar, as the Head of State between 1998 and 1999, I had to persuade Abdul to take up the position of National Security Adviser (NSA) in his regime. He will certainly be remembered for his rare courage and contribution to the development of the Nigerian Army in which he rose to enviable heights,” he said.

The ex-president also recalled:  “At the point that I decided to have a Chief of Staff with military background as part of the gradual transition from military to democracy to still give the military the sense and feeling of access to the seat of government at the highest level and one who has to be someone I knew well and who knew me well; someone I could trust and have absolute confidence in; someone dedicated and committed, I could not find a better person than Maj-Gen. Abdulahi Mohammed. He ran his office from 1999 to 2007 very capably and was one of my trusted aides who made my running of the Presidency an easy undertaking. He continued serving in the same capacity, though briefly, in the administration of President Umaru Yar’Adua on my prompting for him to assist the administration, in governance, until it fully settled down as requested by my successor. It did not work out as my successor anticipated as Abdul could not put up with the unclean crowd of no virtue around the Presidency.

“Abdul was a true soldier and a great nationalist who served Nigeria with dedication and unalloyed commitment. He fought for the unity of this country with complete dedication to the ideal of a great Nigeria in which fairness and justice will reign. Indeed, it is no exaggeration to say that the history of our struggle for national unity, democracy and good governance cannot be written without ample reference being made to the patriotic, selfless, visionary and heroic role played by him.

“On behalf of my family and on my own behalf, I extend heartfelt condolences to the entire family of Maj-Gen. Abdul Mohammed on the sorrowful passing a great but humble Nigerian. May Allah (SWT) forgive him and grant him Jannatul Firdausi. Ameen.”