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Brigadier Benjamin Adekunle
The family of the late Brigadier General Benjamin Adekunle on Saturday called on the relevant government agencies to immortalise the civil war hero for his significant contributions to Nigeria.
Adekunle, a soldier from Ogbomoso in Oyo State, trained at the Sandhurst Military Academy and passed away about 10 years ago.
He was renowned for his leadership in reclaiming the Delta and riverine areas from Biafran forces during the Nigerian Civil War.
Speaking to journalists during the Golf Kitty organised by the family in his honour at the Ogbomoso Recreation Club, his eldest child, Busola Olagunju, said that the recognition of her late father was long overdue.
She said, “My late father was a patriot who loved his country and sacrificed everything he had for its unity. He was a good father, and we still miss him to this day.”
When asked how she wanted him to be immortalised, Olagunju said, “The same way they have honoured other patriots and nationalists by naming notable monuments, institutions, roads, etc., after them. It would be fitting for people to remember that such a patriotic person existed.”
She added, “I believe that, in time, some of the past oversights will be corrected. We are hopeful that in the future, more recognition will be accorded to him for his achievements and contributions to Nigeria.”
In his remarks, Brigadier General Samuel Ladipo said, “I am happy that the family has organised this event because, for a long time, ‘Black Scorpion’ has not received the recognition he deserves. Charity begins at home, and now that Black Scorpion is being recognised in Ogbomoso, I believe Nigeria will soon give him the honour he is due.
“He was one of the heroes of the Nigerian Civil War, and this is well-documented. However, there are hardly any monuments, roads, or military installations named after him. Now that Ogbomoso has started recognising its own, I suggest we name a major road after him. Nothing can be too much to immortalise him.”
Also speaking, retired Federal Civil Service Permanent Secretary Olusegun Adekunle said, “I believe the process is underway. There is no time God cannot touch the heart of a leader to remind them of someone who deserves to be honoured. It happened in the Bible, and I am certain it will also happen in our lifetime.”
The Captain of Ogbomoso Recreation Club Golf Section, Aderibigbe Adeyinka, announced that golfers from the IBB Golf Club, Abuja; Tiger Golf Club, Ibadan; and Ilorin Golf Club, among others, had arrived for the competition, and prizes would be awarded.
