By Ademola Akanni, Abuja
The Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has described the late former Military Administrator of Lagos State and pro-democracy activist, Rear Admiral (rtd) Ndubuisi Kanu as a great inspiration during the struggle for the actualisation of the June 12, 1993 Presidential mandate.
Ogbeni Aregbesola stated this via a condolence letter sent to Gladys, widow of the late Kanu and in extension the entire Kanu family.
In the letter, the Minister praised Kanu for being a great and totally detribalised Nigerian who took the June 12 struggle as not only national cause but also a worthy one.
“He has left a void that will be difficult to beat,” he said.
Below is the full letter by Aregbesola:
Mrs Gladys Kanu
I received with shock and much sadness the news of the passage of your beloved husband, the indomitable Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu, a rare and unique personality, and I write to commiserate with you on this huge and irreparable loss.
On behalf of my wife and our other associates, I offer and please accept my deepest condolences.
He was a gallant officer, administrator, patriot and foremost nationalist. He was one of the architects of modern Lagos and left indelible marks when he was military governor of the state.
He was also an intrepid human and civil rights activist and democracy advocate. He was a great inspiration for us during the June 12 struggle. He was with us everyday at the theatres of the actualization of June 12 mandate and demilitarization struggles. As a result of the onslaught on the June 12 activists and the clamp down on open protests, he and other pro-democracy activists formed the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO). He was totally committed and loyal to the cause.
Without discounting his Igbo identity, he was a great and totally detribalized Nigerian who took the June 12 struggle as a national and worthy cause. He braced the odds and was willing to pay the price.
He was an unobtrusive person and has lived post-retirement mostly as a private citizen, rarely making public intervention, except it is absolutely necessary.
His death, no doubt is a huge loss to the cause of building a democratic, truly federal, just and humane society. He has left a void that will be difficult to fill.
It is my sincere prayer that God will comfort and imbue his family with fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
May he wake up to joyful activities in the next station. Aamin.
Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola
Honourable Minister
Federal Ministry of Interior
Old Secretariat
Garki, Abuja
