The former military head of state, Gen. Yakubu Gowon has said that late Gen. David Ejoor believed in the unity of Nigeria and was able to reconcile the people of Urhobo and Itsekiri ethnic nationalities as well as the Midwest region when he was a military governor.
Gowon stated this in his remarks at the funeral of the army general in Ovwor, Olomu Kingdom in Ughelli South local government area of Delta.
“Keeping Nigeria as one is a task that must be done. That is what is necessary. Ejoor was able to reconcile Urhobo and Itsekiri and also keep Midwest region as one,” he said.
He said he was deeply touched by Ejoor’s death.
He recalled that he (Ejoor) was his senior in the army at a time before he (Gowon) became Head of State.
“I am delighted to be here to sorrow with the family. I am sad with his passing away but his time has come. We are here to say goodbye. He has been a very loyal colleague. We worked hard to keep the country together, a professional soldier, a good administrator. He was my senior until the change took place. Goodbye, my colleague, rest well”, he said.
Gowon also recalled that Ejoor was the first military administrator of the defunct Midwestern region, adding that he retained him when he became head of state.
“As a good soldier, he avoided been captured so he can fight another day. When he came back, I put him on various appointments. I will never forget him; he kept me very informed and he pleaded that the Midwestern region should not be a battleground during the civil war but it was because of the invasion.
“He was a good man. I knew most of the children he had before 1975. They called me Uncle Jack. May I say to all the children and the people of the old Midwestern region, I say we are here to console with the family I will ever remember him for his sterling service to the country,” he said.
Also speaking, the governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki the deceased’s “spectacular contributions” to the struggle for keeping Nigeria as a united entity could not be forgotten in the annals of Nigerian history.
Obaseki said Ejoor would be richly acclaimed for his love and peaceful coexistence of the various ethnic groups in Nigeria.
“I interacted with him and saw in him a wonderful statesman. He cared for the state and the nation. We deserve his likes. If we believe in the thoughts he had we can impact on our nation.
“He will be remembered for his belief in true federalism and his pioneering role in drafting the Nigeria Defence Policy.
“The manner in which the Nigerian military is represented in this occasion gives credence to the rich legacy and the life he lived,” he said.
Also, the governor of Delta State, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta said Ejoor lived a diligent, loyal and dedicated life worthy of emulation.
“If a lot of us continued to live in a manner he lived and believed his thought, I believe we can impact very quickly on our nation. He had all the attributes of a good man.
“That is a lesson we have to learn. Emulate the very good qualities that he had so that we can impact in this on the nation and change the narrative of the future,” he said.
Earlier, the former military administrator of Kano and Benue states, Brig. Gen. Dominic Oneya, said Ejoor ran a good race that would always be remembered.
“He showed me good example of how to live a good life.
“I was close to him and his family when I was his Aide De Camp between 1974 and 1975,” he said.
Ejoor died on February 10, at the age of 87.
In his remarks, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, said the Nigerian Army and, indeed, Nigeria would forever miss late Ejoor.
“An astute professional soldier, great peace maker, good human resource manager, robust administrator and a distinguished elder statesman.
“Late General Ejoor’s passion for peace and development was displayed in some of his achievements as governor of the Midwestern region. He contributed significantly to save Nigeria from disintegration and saved many lives hence General Gowon’s declaration ‘without Midwest there would have been no Nigeria.’
“His quest to develop Nigeria’s education sector made him resettle students of the University of Nigeria Nsukka in other universities in Nigeria after their agitation during the civil war,” said Buratai.
In his sermon, Rev. Father Gregory Umukoro said late Ejoor lived a fulfilled life.
Personalities at the burial included the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ete-Ibas; Gen. Alani Akinrinade; Gen. Alex Ogomudia, the former Delta State governor, Mr. James Ibori, the president general of Urhobo Progressive Union, Chief Moses Taiga, the representative of Delta Central senatorial district, Mr. Ovie Omo-Agege, traditional rulers, religious leaders and other serving and retired military personnel.
With NAN/Vanguard reports
