Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has expressed sadness over the death of Ndubuisi Kanu, a former military administrator of Lagos and old Imo State, who died Wednesday morning in a hospital after a brief illness.
Sanwo-Olu, in a condolence message signed by his chief press secretary, Gboyega Akosile, on Wednesday, described the late Kanu as a complete gentleman and officer, saying the former military administrator contributed immensely to the development of Lagos State during his short tenure of office.
The governor praised the late Rear Admiral Kanu’s contribution to the country’s democracy, especially his fight, alongside the progressive elements in the country during the dark days of the military junta, for the enthronement of constitutional democracy in Nigeria.
Sanwo-Olu said the nation would miss the rich experience and knowledge of the late naval officer and democrat.
He reminded Lagosians that the best way to immortalise the deceased is to ensure that good governance he and others fought for spreads to every facet of the society.
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“On behalf of the Government and people of Lagos State, I want to express my sincere and heartfelt condolences to the family, friends and comrades of late Ndubuisi Kanu as well as the Nigerian Navy, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and the country in general,” Sanwo-Olu said in the statement.
“As one of Nigeria’s advocates of good governance, restructuring and true federalism, the late Ndubusi Kanu will be sorely missed by the people,” he said.
Sanwo-Olu said the death of Rear Admiral Kanu is a colossal loss to the country as the deceased made lots of positive impact and contribution during his lifetime to the growth and development of Lagos State and Nigeria.
“He fought, along with several other patriots, tirelessly for a united Nigeria during his days in the Nigerian Navy as well as a member of a pro-democracy group after he retired from service,” he said.
The governor said the late Kanu wrote his name in gold as a tireless fighter and an advocate of democratic government, playing a leading role as chieftain of NADECO in the agitation for the actualisation of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election and return of civilian government in May 29, 1999.
“We must ensure that the people enjoy the dividend of democracy, which the late Ndubuisi Kanu and other heroes and heroines of democracy in Nigeria fought for. Development must touch the lives of the people directly. This is the best way to immortalise the late Ndubuisi Kanu because this is virtue he lived for,” Sanwo-Olu said.
Femi Gbajabiamila, speaker of the House of Representatives, while expressing sadness over the passing of Kanu, said the deceased who passed on at the age of 78 would be remembered for his commitment to the development of Lagos State and the other states he governed.
Gbajabiamila noted that the deceased was a patriotic Nigerian who played a role in the making of Lagos State.
While sending his condolences to late Kanu’s family over the irreparable loss, the speaker prayed God to grant the soul of the departed eternal rest.
Born in 1943 in the present-day Abia State, the late Ndubuisi Kanu, a retired warrior-at-sea who occupied many command and political offices as part of his military postings, fought on the Biafran side during the civil war but was reabsorbed into the Nigerian Army.
His naval career included positions in Personnel, Logistics and Training. He obtained honorary Doctorate Degrees from the Imo State University and the Federal University of Technology, Owerri.
In July 1975 as a lieutenant commander, he was appointed a member of Murtala Muhammed’s ruling cabinet, the Supreme Military Council. When he was appointed governor of Imo State in March 1976, he brought in town planners to prepare a plan for Owerri.
Kanu built roads in Owerri metropolis, expanded that number of local government areas to 21 and founded the Imo Broadcasting Service, which went on air in December 1976.
