By Seyi Odewale
A founding member and chieftain of the defunct National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), Commodore Dan Suleiman (retd.) has died.
The late retired Navy Commodore, fondly called DS by friends and associates, died yesterday. He was aged 81.
A statement by NADECO’s former General Secretary, Chief Ayo Opadokun, yesterday, said the late Suleiman’s transition was formally announced to NADECO by the current President of the Middle Belt Forum (MBF) Dr Bitrrus Porgu.
According to Opadokun, Bitrus informed NADECO that Suleiman died at noon yesterday.
The late Suleiman jointly formed the NADECO with other like minds to resist the dictatorial regime of the late former Head of State, General Sanni Abacha and to press for the revalidation of the annulled 1993 presidential election generally believed to have been won by the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Abiola (MKO).
“We were formally informed by the current President of the Middle Belt Forum (MBF), Dr Bitrus Porgu that our consistently courageous, nationalistic, genuinely patriotic Dan, passed on to eternity by noon today, the 1st of February 2023,” Opadokun said.
Born in Guwuk, now in Adamawa State, in 1942, the late Suleiman’s life and times, Opadokun said, were rich for good purposes and services to God and humanity.
Enumerating seven reasons to support his assertion, Opadokun mentioned some of his laudable achievements while in service as a military officer and administrator.
He said: “First, DS was a member of the General Murtala Mohammed’s Supreme Military Council (SMC) between July 1975 and March 1976 and was Military Governor of Plateau State from March 1976 to July 1978 after the state was created from part of the old Benue Plateau State.
“Second, he was appointed into the Cabinet of General Yakubu Gowon in January 1975 as Federal Commissioner for Special Duties, and he was instrumental in founding the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). After the overthrow of Gen. Gowon’s government by Gen. Murtala Mohammed, DS was again appointed Federal Commissioner for Health.”
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He continued, among others, “Third, when Gen. Babangida annulled the victory of Bashorun MKO Abiola at the 1993 Presidential election and General Abacha eventually established his military dictatorship, DS opposed and resisted the annulment and its new strongman.
“Four, as a leading light of the Middle Belt Forum Leadership, when the Forum decided at a meeting held in Chief D.B Zang’s home in Jos to attend the preliminary meetings and consultations that birthed NADECO in Lagos, DS was one of the founders and Titans of NADECO. He was a leading member of its Apex body, Steering Committee, which was the Policy Decision Making body.”
Opadokun, who condoled the late Suleiman’s family on behalf of NADECO members, said, “We commiserate with his children and family members and pray that God will soothe their pains with the balm from Gilead.”
