News Editor
Former Head of State Yakubu Gowon, former Defence Minister and Chief of Army Staff, General Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma (rtd), state governors, Traditional Rulers, and members of the National Assembly as well as members of the Diplomatic Community, among others, have confirmed their intention to grace the Commendation Service in Honour of the former Military Administrator of old Plateau State, Air Commodore Dan Suleiman (rtd) who passed away on Wednesday, February 1, 2023.
A statement released by the Media and Publicity sub Committee of the National Feneral Planing Committee for the late elderstatesman and military officer indicated that starting from Tuesday February 14, 2023, activities leading to the Internment in Guyuk will commence with a Service of Songs at the 1st Baptist Church, Port Harcourt Crescent, off Gimbiya Street, Abuja, @4pm. A Commendation Service is to be held at the National Christian Centre, (Ecumenical Centre) on Wednesday 15th February, 2023 @4pm.
The statement further stated that the remains of the late Air Force officer would be flown to Adamawa State for another Commendation Service in Yola, while a Wake Keep/Lying-in-State will follow in Guyuk town on Thursday February 16, 2023. The Interment is to take place on Friday January 17, 2023 @10am in Guyuk town, headquarters of Guyuk LGA.
Commodore Suleiman, a former member of the Supreme Military Council, who served as a Federal Commissioner for Special Duties, former Federal Commissioner for Health Services under Gen. Yakubu Gowon and the Murtala/Obasanjo regimes respectively, was appointed Nigeria’s Ambassador to Russia by President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2003, with concurrent accreditation to Georgia, Belarus and Kazakhstan after a distinguished Military career as one of the first four Nigerians who enlisted into the Air Force as combat pilots.
Dan Suleiman was also the first Chairman of the Middle Belt Forum (MBF) as was Chairman of the MBF Elders’ Council. He was at the forefront in the establishment of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), among other assignments of national interests.
Commodore Suleiman was also conferred with the traditional title of Kwalmila Nungugraba of Lunguda Kingdom by the paramount ruler of the Lunguda Nation, His Royal Majesty, Kwandi Nunguraya, Dr Kuruhaye Dishon Dansnada II.
The National Funeral Planning Committee is Chaired by Professor Jerry Gana and members are drawn from the Nigerian Airforce, the Middle Belt Forum and leaders from Adamawa, Plateau, Nasarawa among others
