A General goes home: Former CDS, Alex Badeh laid to rest

The remains of the late 15th Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, were on Wednesday lowered into the grave at the National Military Cemetery in Abuja.

The ex-CDS, who served under ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, was shot and killed by unidentified gunmen on the Keffi-Abuja Expressway on Dec. 18, 2018, when he was returning from his farm.

Badeh’s remains were committed to mother earth after a prayer offered by Grp.-Capt. D.B. Gani, the Director of the Air Force Chaplaincy, followed by the laying of wreaths at his grave.

Mr Boss Mustapha, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), led others to perform the solemn ceremony.

He was followed by representatives of the Minister of Defence, Hajia Nuratu Batagarawa, Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Abayomi Olonisakin, and Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai.

Others were Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas, Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, Badeh’s wife, Mrs Mary Badeh, and a representative of Course 21, which late Badeh belonged.

The ceremony was rounded off with a 21-gun salute in honour of the late CDS, who was also the 18th Chief of Air Staff.

Born on Jan. 10, 1957 in Vimtim, Mubi Local North Government Area of Adamawa, former Gongola State, Badeh acquired his secondary school education at Villanova Secondary School, Numan.

Thereafter, he proceeded to the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) in 1977 as member of the 21 Regular Course and was commissioned as a pilot officer on July 3, 1979.

He attended both the junior and senior staff courses, rose through the ranks and was appointed the Chief of Air Staff on Oct. 4, 2012.

On Jan. 16, 2014, he was appointed the 15th Chief of Defence by ex-President Jonathan.

He is survived by his wife and three children, two sons and a daughter.

Dignitaries who graced the occasion included the Governors of Adamawa and Plateau, Umar Jibrilla and Simon Lalong, Deputy Governor of Bayelsa, retired Rear Admiral John Jonah, and Deputy Speaker of Adamawa House of Assembly.

Others were retired Air Marshal Oluseyi Petirin, a former CDS and former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika.

Source: NAN