Queen Kunde
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Gwabin Musa, has bade his elder brother, Late Mr Timothy Musa Gwabin who died at an Egyptian Hospital after a brief illness, a farewell to eternity on Saturday.
The late Timothy was the eldest member of the Musa family according to the statement made available to Newsmen by the Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Tukur, Gusau.
Speaking at the All Saints Protestant Church, Mogadishu Cantonment in Abuja, the venue of the burial rites, General Musa said:” The earth takes the body, God takes the soul; our minds hold the memories; our heart keeps the love, and our faith lets us know we will meet again.
“Truly, those we love don’t go away, they walk beside us every day; unseen, unheard but always near, still loved, still missed and held so dear”.
He further described his brother as” a towering giant whose soft footfalls will remain indelible in many hearts. He maintained that Mr Timothy is a simple, amiable, genial, humane, and gentle soul.
He added that he is a father everyone would crave; a brother with a heart large enough to accommodate a city, and a friend one could run to and never feel disappointed.
Speaking further, the CDS appreciates everyone “who took time to be with us in this very trying period. In life, we’re used to celebrating; celebrating good things, sometimes we tend to forget that there’s always an end to this situation. And this is just one of them we give God the glory to thank him for the life of my brother, Timothy Musa Gwabin.” He added.
The General assured that as a family, they will do their best to continue to sustain the family values as a team: “Today is a Saturday, you could have been somewhere else, but you chose to be with us. We appreciate that. We’ll never take it for granted, thank you very much.”
General Musa further added, “Nigeria is a great country. Wherever we are, please let’s always say a prayer for our dear country to continue to strive”.
The officiating Minister, Reverend Father Mati preached with the theme:” Set yourself in Order; Death is real” The late Mr Timothy was a well-respected person in the community. He added that no matter how well one leaves, death is inevitable. He prayed for the repose of the departed.
Mr Timothy Musa was born on 1 July 1963 and died on 1 June 2024. His love for children and passion for education saw him acquire a National Certificate in Education from the Sokoto State College of Education. He worked for 35 years at the Sokoto State Education Board until his retirement. Late Mr Timothy Musa left behind Six children and Three siblings.
Among the dignitaries who graced the burial were the representative of the Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigerian, His Excellency, Kashim Shetima, the former speaker, House of Representatives, Rt Hon. Yakubu Dogara, the Chief of Army Staff, the Chief of Air Staff, immediate past Chief of Army Staff, the NDLEA Boss, Brigadier General Buba Marwa retired, traditional rulers, senior Military officers and other well-meaning Nigerians.