The Inspector-General of Police,
Mohammed Abubakar, yesterday lauded the contributions of Mr. Benedict Odiase,
the composer of the National Anthem to Nigeria, saying it would remain
indelible in the history of Nigeria.
Abubakar who was represented by the
AIG Zone 2, Mamah Tsafe, at the lying-in-state of Odiase at the Police College,
Ikeja, said that the deceased’s commitment to the Force was worth emulating.
Tsafe said: “Death is a debt every
one must pay some day. No one can add one minute to his life when death comes.
It is not only the family that had lost someone dear to them; the Force too is
mourning him. We pray for the repose of
his soul and the fortitude for family members to bear the lost.’’
A former IGP, Musiliu Smith urged, upcoming
officers to emulate Odiase for his works, stressing that there was always a
reward for any job well done.
Smith added: “Upcoming officers
should put up their best in whatever they do. They would someday be honoured.”
A former AIG and one time
Commissioner of Police in old Bendel State, Casmir Akagbosun said that Odiase
was an example of a good police officer, whose contributions will be greatly
missed.
Elder Amos Akintunje, from the
Redeemed Christian Church of God, Ikeja, said that there was time for
everything under the sun, adding that people only succeed in whatever
programmes they desired to carry out if they prepared for it. He stressed the
need for everyone to prepare well on earth if they must meet God.
He noted that the preparation of
Odiase resulted to the various honours bestowed on him while alive, but
particularly the composition of the national anthem.
The Chairman of Nigerian Music Copy
Rights Commission, Mr. Orits Williki, who described Odiase as an enigma,
expressed sadness that the man had not been adequately honoured by the
government, in view of his achievements.
“Apart from naming him after any national
monument, government should give good amount of money to the family to
encourage them. The man should be celebrated all over the country,’’ Williki
said.
One of his sons, Anthony Odiase, who
flew in from South Africa described his father as a character builder,
stressing that his success as a musician and composer was as a result of his
late father’s influence.
He said that he was happy for the
honour bestowed on his father by the number of people present; saying that he
wished the number was more than those present.
“My Dad was the head of our family,
although he was the youngest in his family. My Dad influenced my life
positively in many ways,’’ the young Odiase noted.
Odiase, 79, retired Deputy
Commissioner of police was brought into the Police College in a motorcade at
about 9.05am, with the Nigeria Police band moving behind.
Six senior police officers of the
rank of Chief Superintendent of Police later carried the white casket, with the
Force Flag across it on their shoulders to lay him in state for the ceremony
that lasted about two hours.
The body was taken to Usobe in Edo State
after the church and police ceremonies were concluded.
No comments:
Post a Comment