The late Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen. Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja’s widow, Mrs. Mariya Lagbaja, the former president of the Nigerian Army Officers Wives Association (NAOWA), has stated that she would always adore her late husband.

As part of the funeral event for Lagbaja’s national burial on Thursday at the National Military Cemetery, Mariya wrote a heartfelt ode to her late husband.

Mariya reflected on her life with her spouse of over 17 years, recalling their love and described their relationship as one based on friendship, affection, and constant support.

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Although she acknowledged that their time together was limited, she was thankful for the times they had together and claimed she would always cherish them.

“Meeting you more than 17 years ago left an indelible mark on my life,” she wrote. Our bond endured and was quite meaningful to me.

We were destined to be together for the rest of our lives. Even though our time together was brief, I cherish every second we spend together, my bright light.

She described her late husband as a guy who loved, cared for, and dedicated himself to her, calling him her source of joy and strength. She recalled their journey, which started on December 29, 2007, the day they made the commitment to live together.

She said, “We decided to embark on a lifelong journey together on December 29, 2007.” The guy who loved, cared for, and treasured me with all of his heart, however, has passed away. When no one else was around, you held me, you dried my tears when I couldn’t contain them, and your shoulder gave me the courage to face the world.

“You filled my life with so much pleasure and beauty. You brought me enormous joy in a world full of everyday moments. I boldly declare that my love for you will last forever as I reflect on how wonderful, gregarious, kind, giving, caring, and adorable you were to me.

Because of your love and support, which have always been my pillar of strength and guidance, I will always treasure the memories, time, and moments we had. Now if you could only hear me. I will always and forever adore you.

She referred to Lagbaja as the spiritual head of their household and claimed he encouraged her and their kids to fully love and serve God.

You taught us to love Jesus and serve him in spirit and truth as our home’s spiritual leader. Regardless of your position, you constantly sing and dance so cheerfully in God’s presence, and this gives me faith and confidence that you are in a better place, doing the same with the heavenly host.

“My guardian angel, you are watching over us as our priest, and I have no doubt that you were our pastor and our priest.”

You were a devoted and real father. You never had enough time at work to be with your family or celebrate the children’s milestones, but those fleeting moments together will always be cherished. You made time for Emmanuel and Dara whenever you could.

You played with them, worked through maths problems with them, or just looked at their schoolwork. You are our hero, and we will always remember you. Our children carry on your heritage and pledge to make you proud.

Mariya claimed her husband battled valiantly until the end, questioning who would now call her “Boss,” ask her about the newest fashions, or give her a morning embrace before work.

She said that Lagbaja was a devoted parent who made time for his kids in spite of his hectic schedule.

I knew you had put up a valiant battle right up until the very end when I looked at you laying there on that bed on November 5.

Even though you are no longer with us, your loved ones, everyone you know, and the many lives you impacted will all miss you. You will always hold a special place in my heart and the hearts of our kids.

“Who will ask me, ‘What is the latest?'” she went on. Who is going to call me “The Boss”? Before I leave for work in the morning, who will give me a hug?

“My Jump Master, I shall definitely miss all of these things and much more. I salute you, God’s General, my leader, my buddy, my spouse, our father, my hero, and my love. Until we cross paths again, rest on your father.

As you may remember, Lagbaja died on November 5 and was laid to rest on Friday, November 15.