FELIX NWANERI, Lagos, VINCENT ADEKOYE, Benin, and JIDE BAKARE, Ilorin

Remains of the deceased were laid to rest in his private home at the Government Reserved Area (GRA) in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

Dignitaries on hand at the burial included former military president, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, Govs Bukola Saraki, (Kwara), Orji Uzor Kalu, (Abia), Rashidi Ladoja, Oyo, and Abdulkadir Kure, (Niger).

There were also Communications Minister and former governor of old Kwara State, Chief Cornelius Adebayo, Chief of Staff to the President, Maj. Gen. Mohammed Abdullahi (rtd), former Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Victor Malu and former Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Chief Sunday Adewusi.

Former military governors and administrators who attended core Maj. Gen. David Jemibewon (rtd), Brig. Gen. Raji Rasaki (rtd) and Col. Theophilus Bamigboye.

Also in attendance were former National Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Barnabas Gemade, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Alhaji Abubakar Tanko, chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Justice Mustapha Akanbi (rtd), and business tycoon and Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji Azeez Arisekola Alao.

The late Minister’s body had arrived Ilorin International Airport aboard EAS Airlines placed with registration number 5N-BEY, about 10.55 a.m.

The body was accompanied by London-based daughter of the deceased, Moriamo, as well as the Chief Medical Director of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), Dr. Suleiman Kuranfa.

Adisa was rushed abroad from UITH following injuries he sustained in an auto crash.

Before the internet, Chief Imam of Ilorin, Alhaji Mohammed Bashir, led the 10-minute funeral prayers.

Gen. Babangida, who spoke with journalists later, eulogised the late Gen. Adisa as an officer who served Nigeria all his adult life.

Gov. Saraki, earlier, described the deceased as a frank and brave Nigerian.

Said he: "He was the one that would say his mind. You may not like him and his politics, but you cannot deny him one fact that, unlike others, he will let you know his position on any matter. Take it or leave it."

Gov. Kalu, on his part, described Adisa as a good friend, generous and loyal to Nigeria’s cause.

Meanwhile, the body of the deceased yesterday arrived Lagos from London, from where it was immediately flown to Ilorin for burial according to Islamic injunction.

Major Gen. Adisa’s body arrived aboard a Virgin Atlantic Airways flight around 5.25 am and was flown to Ilorin.

Also accompanying Adisa’s body Group Capt. Patrick Ugbana (rtd), Senator Musa Adede and Gen. Sam Tiedi (rtd).

In their separate tributes, former Communications Minister, Gen. Tajudeen Olanrewaju, former Military Administrator of Imo and Lagos States, Brig-Gen. Muhammed Buba Marwa and Governor Lucky-Igbinedion of Edo State, on different occasions, described the late former military Governor of the Old Oyo State as a gallant soldier, accomplished administrator and a man of strong covictions.

In a statement, Gen. Olanrewaju who is also the Lagos State Co-ordinator of Project 007, a political movement of the former military Head of State, Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB), said the death of Gen. Adisa "is a great loss to the country and Kwara State in particular, where he played leadership role in the community."