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Major General Aremu Agbola's death in the Sunday plane crash in Mbakunu village, Benue State, typifies the irony that fate sometimes weaves in the affairs of men.
Major General Aremu Agbola's death in the Sunday plane crash in Mbakunu village, Benue State, typifies the irony that fate sometimes weaves in the affairs of men.
The day before the ill-fated journey, Agboola had presided as chairman at a civic reception organised in honour of Osun State Governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, by indigenes of the state in Jos. The late Army officer was said to have been full of life and conviviality.
Barely 48 hours later, it was a grief-stricken Oyinlola that sought out Agbola's family to commiserate with them over his unfortunate end.
It was emotion galore in Ikiyinwa in Obokun local government area of the state, home of the deceased General as the state governor visited the family.
For about 10 minutes, Oyinlola just entered the house of the elder brother of the deceased, Elder Lawrence Agbola and sat down but was not able to say anything while the dead silence was continually interrupted by the wailing of some family members inside one of the rooms in the house.
The governor who later gathered himself together lamented that the deceased was full of life on Saturday as the chairman of the civic reception.
"When we finished the programme he told me he would not be able to attend the reception because of the assignment at Obudu, not knowing that would be the end," Oyinlola said, adding: "We have no control over all these. We do not know when it will happen, how it will happen and where it will happen. So all we could do is to take solace in God and strive to do good always."
Commenting on the kind of person the deceased was, Oyinlola described him as hardworking and a brilliant soldier who would for long be remembered in the military for his contribution to the development of the institution.
Among the dignitaries that visited the family were the deputy governor, Erelu Olusola Obada, former military administrator of Osun State, Col. Theophilus Bamgboye and members of the state executive council.
Also, the governor has sent a condolence message to the family of the deceased as well as the military where Agbola served as the force secretary before he died Sunday.