Kaduna Speaker mourns General Wushishi

Chairman Northern Speakers Forum, Yusuf Ibrahim Zailani on Sunday mourned the death of former Chief of Army, late General Mohammed Inuwa Wushishi

General Wushishi was reported to have died at a London hospital.

In a statement on Sunday by Senior Adviser Media and Publicity to Zailani, Ibrahim Dahiru Danfulani said the death of the late General was devastating, adding that the country has lost a rare gem who committed his life to the unity of our dear country Nigeria.

Zalani who is also the speaker, Kaduna State House of Assembly, further noted that late Wushishi was a thoroughbred Nigerian, a soldier with a patriotic heart who wanted the best for the country.

He condoled with the government, family and relatives of the late Wushishi while praying for the repose of his soul.

He further added that his wealth of experience will be missed, praying for Almighty Allah to grant him Aljannah Firdaus.

General Wushishi was born in 1940 in Wushishi, Headquarters of Wushishi Local Government Area of Niger State.

He joined the Nigerian Army on April 21, 1961, and attended the Nigerian Military Training College, Kaduna and then the Mons Officer Cadet School, Aldershot in the United Kingdom.

He was commissioned as a second lieutenant on 12 January 1962. He later attended the United States War College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

He served as a member of the United Nations Peace Keeping force in Congo in the early 1960s.

He was appointed Deputy Commandant, Army School of Infantry in July 1975. He served as Federal Commissioner for Industries (January 1975 – March 1976) and was a member of the Supreme Military Council from 1976 to 1978.

Wushishi was Chief of Army Staff (COAS) from October 1981 to October 1983 during the Shehu Shagari administration.

He retired on 3 January 1984, after the 31 December 1983 coup in which General Muhammadu Buhari came to power and later went into business.

He became chairman of the board of directors of UAC of Nigeria, retiring on 1 January 2010 at age 70, also Chairman of the board of UPDC (property development), a director of Stanbic IBTC Bank and MTS first Wireless, and a member of the board of Acorn Petroleum.

As part of his meritorious services, he received the national Honour, Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger.