A former Chief of General Staff, Vice Admiral Mike Akhigbe, is dead. He died in a New York hospital at around 1.06pm, about 7.pm Nigerian time on Monday.  Aged 68, Akhigbe, who was the second in command to the former military ruler, Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar, was said to have died of cancer-related ailment. Before his death on Monday, there was speculation over his state of health.

 The Special Adviser to the Senate President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Kola Ologbodiyan, who confirmed his death, said his boss was the deceased’s course mate at the Nigerian Defence Academy.

Mark in a statement on Monday night described his death as the loss of “a brother, confidant, friend and comrade-at-arms.”

Mark, who was overwhelmed by emotions, recalled their days together  at the Nigerian Defence Academy, noting that “Mike was fearless and very diligent in our course.

“He took these attributes to all the formations where he was privileged to have been posted either in his core military postings or political offices.

“He was one of the poster boys of our Course 3 and we were all very proud of him. His death is a huge personal loss to me, the members of Course 3, the Armed Forces, Edo State and the nation.

“But we cannot question God. He alone gives life and takes it when he so desires. We are bound by his decision to take our brother and friend at this time,” he said.

Mark, who is the Chairman of Course 3 Alumni of the Nigerian Defence Academy, said, “We are however consoled that while Mike was with us, he lived his life in the service of God and mankind. May the Lord grant all of us the fortitude to bear this very painful departure.”