The Presidential Candidate of the Social Democratic Party(SDP), Prince Adewole Adebayo has paid glowing tributes to the late Air Commodore Dan Suleiman yesterday, describing him as a man who not only defended the nation while he was alive but also fought against its adversaries right up until the moment of his death.
Prince Adebayo described Dan Suleiman as an astute leader who served the country meritoriously, only to be forced into an exile for opposing subsequent military dictatorships.
The presidential hopeful added that the late Suleiman depicts a God fearing, committed and dedicated leader who was intellectually inquisitive and most times compassionate, indefatigable, hospitable, well-meaning, resourceful,
egalitarian, charismatic, detribalised, conscientious and philanthropic to a fault.
Read the full statement below:
DAN SULEIMAN: TRIBUTE TO THE GENERAL WHO FOUGHT TILL HIS LAST DAYS
It is evident that our culture continues to adhere to the unhealthy custom of concealing all the excellent deeds, actions, and omissions until after the main character has died.
This is undoubtedly true of the
late Air Commodore Dan Suleiman, a man who not only defended the nation while he was alive but also fought against its adversaries right up until the moment of his death.
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Late Suleiman was a man of destiny, having traversed many pedestals of human challenges and terrains. He was a committed and unrepentant Nationalist who believed in the unity of our dear
country. As a military officer, he was arguably the best fighter pilot the country has ever produced.
He fought to preserve the unity of the country during the civil war and up until his passing, he directed his daily activities toward fostering that unity. An astute leader who served the country meritoriously, only to be forced into an exile for opposing subsequent military dictatorships.
The climax and eloquent testimony to Dan Suleiman’s singular and enduring contributions to the development of Nigeria’s democracy was the roles he played as one of the founding fathers of SDP and NADECO leader. He was a great democrat who fought and defended
our democracy with everything he had. We at the Social Democratic Party (SDP) are proud to associate with him as one of our founding fathers. His selfless services are worthy of emulation and we are proud to be associated with his efforts. All by a dint of hard work, devotion, vision and perseverance, the great Commodore successfully transmogrified from a military leader into an unrepentant democrat cum quintessential political leader.
Air Commodore Dan Suleiman was a devout Christian with a mixed trait of the spirit of a Christlike character. It is to his eternal credit that he used religion as a tool in fostering national unity. His life
was a true example that one need not be an elected official to be relevant to one’s community or nation.
He had in his kitty, the feelings of care and empathy for the wellbeing of others. He was not only a devout Christian, he was also famed in other admirable human endeavour and pursuits. A closer look
at the other side of him depicts a God fearing, committed and dedicated leader. He was intellectual
