Former Chief of Defence Staff, Lt Gen. Joshua Dogonyaro, is dead.
Dogonyaro, who turned 80 in September 2020, was said to have died in Jos on Thursday morning after a brief illness.
Donoyaro, you’ll recall, read the coup speech after the overthrow of the regime of Nigeria’s incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari as military head of state and brought into power General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd) on August 27, 1985.
Confirming his death, a family source who pleaded not to be identified, confirmed the former CDS’ death, saying, “Yes, It’s true. We just lost ‘Baba’ this morning. We cannot question God but thank Him for his life.”
Former Plateau State governor, Fidelis Tapgun, described Dongoyaro’s death as sad and a great loss to the people of the state and Nigeria in general.
Reminiscing on his military career, Tapgun said, “I just heard of his death and it is very sad. His death is indeed a big loss not only to the people of Plateau State but to Nigerians and the military in particular because whatever history is going to be written, the military is going to take a large chapter and he is one of those whose name will be mentioned severally on every chapter because of the great roles he played for the sake of the country.
“So, we thank God for his life and we pray that God will console everyone and rest his soul.”