By; JOSHUA I. EGBODO, Abuja.
The House of Representatives has called on the presidency to immortalise the late Lt. Col Muhammad Abu Ali by promoting him to the rank of a full Colonel, as well as the other personnel killed with him by the Boko Haram, to their expected new ranks.
Ali and six other personnel were killed by Boko Haram insurgents on Nov. 4, 2016 at their operational base in Mallami Fatori, Borno State.
The call was a fallout of a motion under matters of urgent public importance Tuesday, by Hon. Abdussamad Dasuki, who also urged the federal government to offer Ali’s wife automatic employment as well as offer the children education scholarship up to university level.
The lawmaker also called for accelerated disbursement of all benefits due to the families of the deceased.
Speaking on the motion, Minority Leader of the House, Hon. Leo Ogor described Ali as a dogged military personnel who served the nation with patriotism. “He proved that in any capacity, you can serve the nation with great enthusiasm and commitment,’’ he said.
Nicholas Osai who described the death of the soldiers as unfortunate also said “Ali became a nemesis to the boko haram, but his triumphs over the group’s plot to stop him only made him braver in the battlefield”.
“It could be recalled that Ali’s exceptional gallantry earned him accelerated promotion from Major to Lt. Col in September 2015. Having paid the highest price in defence of one’s nation, the question that should come to haunt Nigerians is a befitting way to immortalise such valour,’’ he said.
Minority Whip, Hon. Yakubu Bade in the same line, said the development was an unfortunate incident capable of demoralising other troops, even as Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara later mandated the committee on Defence to ensure the executive complies with the decision of the House.
