Date: 2005-02-28

A record crowd of admirers, political associates, relations and prominent Nigerians including former Nigerian president, retired General Ibrahim Babangida and Governor Bukola Saraki of Kwara state, Chief of Staff to President Obasanjo, retired Gen-eral Abdullahi Mohammed attended the fidau of late General Abdulkarim Adisa, who was buried at his GRA residence in Ilorin yesterday.

Chief Imam of Ilorin, Alhaji Mohammed Bashar, assisted by his deputy Alhaji Abdullahi Hameed led the fidau prayer of General Adisa held at 12 noon.
Body of late retired General Adisa was flown into the Ilorin international airport at 10.05 a.m. in an aircraft marked EAS FN BEY led by retired General Raji Rasaki, former military governor of Lagos and General Tajudeen Olarenwaju and the Chief Medical Director of Unilorin Teaching Hospital, Dr Suleiman Kuranga.
Moments after the corpse in a casket neatly wrapped with a sack was discharged from the aircraft, a Peugeot station wagon ambulance registered FG 16 H12 of the Unilorin Teaching Hospital moved in to covey the body to his GRA residence, amidst chanting of Lailallahu by the teaming crowd waiting to witness the arrival of the body of General Adisa.

The security men on duty had a hectic time controlling the crowd as people strug-gled to catch a glimpse of the casket, while those who could not enter the residence hung on buildings to witness the ceremony.

Speaking to newsmen after the burial, President Babangida said Adisa would be remembered as a loyal person adding that "the country has lost one of its very fine officers and a patriot who lived his life providing services to the nation."

General Babangida who described Adisa's death as a necessity said "we expect everybody to eventually die at the end of the day." In his reaction, the chairman of the anti-corrup-tioncommission, retired Justice Mustapha Akanbi said General Adisa's death was a big loss to everybody and the country considering what he has been able to do for the community. Justice Mustapha said his scholarship scheme for the needy in the society had impacted on the people and hoped that the legacies he left behind would be cheri-shed in good memories. "On that very day he was travelling, we were together in Ogbomoso and we sat side-by-side. He left late in the afternoon. I did not know that was the last I was seeing General Adisa and we had a lot of jokes before he left," Justice Mustapha recou-nted.
Also reacting, the former Nigerian Ambassador to Lebanon, Alhaji Abdulwahab Adeyi who described Gen-eral Adisa as a kind, generous and progressive gentleman, said the Ilorin community would miss him dearly.

While praying to Allah to grant him eternal rest, Amb-assador Adeyi said what he has contributed to the state and Nigeria would continue to be his legacy.
Former governor of Kwara state, Alhaji Moha-mmed Lawal, who described General Adisa as a close friend and a major pillar of Ilorin community and the state, prayed for sustenance of the members of the family.

Among personalities who witnessed the fidau were retired Brig-General David Mark, retired Major General David Jemibewon, retired General Lawrence Onoja, Mr Barnabas Germade, former PDP national chairman, former Chief of Army Staff, Lt-General Victor Malu, Oba Timi of Ede, Governors of Niger and Abia states, Alhaji Abdulkadir Kure and Orji Uzor Kalu and Walin Ilorin, Alhaji Akanbi Oniy-angi, Dr Alimi AbdulRazaq, and minister for communication, Chief Cornelius Adebayo. Others include the Chief Justice of Kwara state, Justice Timothy Oyeyipo, Grand Khadi of the state Sharia Court of Appeal, Justice Mu-talib Hambali, former governor of Kwara State, retired General David Bamigboye, the former governor of Ba-uchi and Osun states, retired Colonel Theophilus Bamigboye and former IG, Chief Sunday Adewusi.