By Correspondent in Lokoja
Okura-Lafia village in Kogi state has been thrown into mourning following the death of one of the prominent indigenes of the town and a former Military Administrator of Ondo and Oyo States, retired Col. Ahmed Usman (70).
Family sources told Tribune Online that Usman died around 3:00 a.m. on Wednesday in Jos, the Plateau State capital during an illness.
One of his nephews told Tribune Online: “Oga is gone. We lost him this morning.”
It was gathered that his remains were being moved to his village, Okura-Lafia, Kogi State, for burial according to Muslim rites today.
Usman was military administrator of Ondo State from August 1994 to August 1996 and that of Oyo State from August 1996 to August 1998 during the military regime of General Sani Abacha.
Some members of the public that spoke with The Reporters, another online publication in Lokoja, described the late Usman as an illustrious of Kogi State who made his mark in the sound of history of the state and Nigeria at large.
Alhaji Ocheni Mohammed,an Igala man, said the death of the former military was a big loss to Kogi state, most especially the Igala nation.
“Our illustrious son died when we, the mortals, thought we needed him most but almighty Allah says he loves him most and there is nothing we can do than succumb to His decree.
” May Almighty Allah forgive his shortcomings and grant him aljanah firduasi as well as his family, the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss,amin,” he told The Reporters’correspondent in Lokoja.
The late Usman was born in 1951 and grew up in Okura-Lafia, Dekina Local Government Area, Kogi State. After joining the army,his postings were: Second in Command, 192 Battalion, Abak and 141 Battalion, Kano (1983–1985), United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (1985–1986) and Battalion Commander G Amphibious, Elele Port Hartcourt (1990–1991), among others,according to Wikipedia.
