Navy Commander Daba, the ex-boy who was the pilot of the ill-fated Augusta 105 helicopter that crashed on 15th December, 2012 was newly promoted with his coursemates (46 Regular Course). He was one year ahead of me at the Nigerian Military School Zaria. He was the smallest in stature among his coursemates, but he had a very big heart. This a tribute to him:


1. The death of Commander Muritala Mohammed Daba leaves a huge vacuum in our lives. According to news reports he died on active duty while flying the governor of Kaduna state and the immediate past National Security Adviser in a Nigerian Navy helicopter. We mourn not because we are naive about human mortality, fretful for our turn or impudent of God’s prerogative. It is Gods privilege alone to give life and every officer in the Nigerian Navy, Army or Air Force knew the risks before we bravely signed up. Naturally, the statistics for death are startling. One in every one will die, as none of us will leave this life alive. However, even the heavens applaud the brilliance of a shooting star and Commander Daba did shine. If the situation was reversed Oga would not bother with the circumstances of death like some do. He would smile and say “Allah Yayisah”. Well I am not that charitable. This is the second day since Al-Jazeera broke the news and we are in more shock than the first day. Despite the hurt in our hearts our thoughts and prayers go out to his family especially his beautiful wife and lovely daughter.

2. Every time I am privileged to witness the glory of a military wedding ceremony, my first amazement is the sparkle in the bride’s eye not the glitz of participating in the sword crossing ceremony. It fills me with awe that these amazing women dare to become what late Hajia Maryam Babangida calls the “Officers Wife”. It is incredible that any woman (or man) would accept to marry a man (or woman) who’s very job demands obedience without complaint and loyalty without restraint. Why would anyone want to settle with a military partner who is trained to love Country first, God second and then spouse/family in that order? At all times an officer’s wife waves her husband good bye without any guarantee he will return. Others live a life of sacrifice and loneliness. These superwomen wives often have to deal with long months without their partners because he is on assignment in another state, country or continent. It seems these courageous spouses essentially sign up to serve their nation along with their military spouses. Consequently officers and men are forever grateful to God for friends and family knowing that any moment could be the last. They hold their wives and family with high esteem and Oga Daba was no exception loving his wife and daughter till death.

3. Oga Daba was not just a compassionate father and faithful husband, he was a consummate professional. Since graduating from the Nigerian Defence Academy with a bachelor’s degree he has served his country both ashore and afloat. Commander Daba completed several courses within and outside Nigeria and earned his wings as a member of the elite squad of Nigerian Navy helicopter pilots. During one of his numerous trips to Italy we met up in Amsterdam for an unforgettable 36 hours in 2008. He told me of how he escaped racists in Hungary with “Regular” moves and military alacrity. Rather than save his course allowance as most officers on course would traditionally do, he chose like me to travel and see the world as means to understanding other people’s and cultures. He believed in a border-less world where race, tribe, wealth, nationality and religion could be defining but certainly not definitive. Lots of things happened that fateful day in Amsterdam but two of the actors will never speak and one is now gone.


4. Yet to live in the hearts and minds of those whose life you have impacted is never to die. As officers and men all over the world keep a stiff upper lip and grieve in silence, I will end with three lessons I learned from Commander Daba and for which he would be forever missed.


Lesson one. You do not need to be wealthy to be generous.

I am not certain how rich he was on Saturday 13 December 2012 when he piloted the Navy Augusta helicopter from Bayelsa to Port Harcourt but I do know that in 2002, I was so broke that I could not afford to fuel my Honda Accord. This was a time when a one week delay in salary payment or “NG” could wreck a new officer’s budget and a two week delay meant disaster. In between pay checks I asked Mac Olowu to “raise” me. He was in the same broke-boat but took me to Oga Daba who himself did not have. Within minutes Oga Daba took me in his car to another officer’s house in Arakan Barracks, borrowed from the officer without disclosing my identity, lent to me and never accepted the money back. I still do not know the officer he met but anyone that knew Oga will not be surprised that he could go to such lengths for a junior officer.

Lesson Two. Respect is best earned not demanded.

The first thing that struck you on meeting him is his cheerful, humble and honest personality. This became most evident during the Junior Staff College course 59/2005 at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College. In true “onward together” fashion, he gracefully took “yabs” (petty jokes/ amusing insults) from my course mates who were the most junior on the course and sometimes returned “yabs” of his own. His initial pilot training meant that he had to attend this course with his juniors. Yet you could not tell how senior he was, because he would laugh, motivate and teach fellow syndicate members in an affable manner that endeared him to everyone but never diminished him. At no time did any of us his juniors “try” him. We just trusted him to help, advice and understand because he always did.
Lesson Three. True friendship has no boundaries. Think outside the box.

Oga Daba was my superior but more importantly he was a friend. In too many instances and in so many ways he was there. After several stints abroad I have painfully discovered how easy it is to lose track of friends, colleagues and most surprising of all course mates for many reasons. Yet the last time I spoke to Oga Daba was the same day he departed this world. I was on my way from Lebanon where I presented a research paper at the IEEE ACTEA 2012 conference. We discussed how pleasant my trip to Lebanon was, marriage conundrums (for me) and the significance of my research. In typical Daba style, he started the conversation at 8:38 PM Friday Lebanon time (GMT+2) and sent his last message 12:32 AM Saturday (see the blackberry screen shot).

http://www.facebook.com/notes/stephan-nonsoezeoke/in-memory-of-commander-murtala-mohammed-daba/10151583229814552

Beautiful Tribute.

rise in peace to d Gallant patriotic Naval pilot officer ...u chose dx wrk knwin evry day could b ur last but u did fr HOME COUNTRY may ur wife n kid hv s strenght to pull tru ..ADIEU

am i 3rd?

*speechless*

I CAME THIRD!

Chei forth to comment next time na me go carry first!!chei first attempt I try *claps*

RIP

What a useless job, where you are not allowed to complain even when everything seems wrong.

Ahoy my gentle officer, Rest In Peace!!!

Beautiful tribute. RIP Soldier may God give your wife and family the fortitude to bear the loss.

Oga Daba....i was just a" crab"..in JSS 1 when you were in class 6 in NMS...but i still remember your face...may You RIPP..NMS/92/......Exboy Alpha Coy

God go purnish all of una wey dey talk first, second, third to comment. Which kain children be this sef.

jumpmasta: Oga Daba....i was just a" crab"..in JSS 1 when you were in class 6 in NMS...but i still remember your face...may You RIPP..NMS/92/......Exboy Alpha Coy

----LIE

dick hardener: God go purnish all of una wey dey talk first, second, third to comment. Which kain children be this sef.

-

--Gerout olodo

jumpmasta: Oga Daba....i was just a" crab"..in JSS 1 when you were in class 6 in NMS...but i still remember your face...may You RIPP..NMS/92/......Exboy Alpha Coy

Is this a tribute?

morgist: i cant believe i am the 6th (7th the above mumu spoil show) to comment! haba wetin i dey do since. but i go try harder next time.

don't u have any tribute to drop for the fallen soldier?

May God forgive you your shortcomings and grant u eternal rest!nice tribute

Some people are so heartless or maybe they dont no how say or type an heratfelt message to departed souls instead so decline to extents of dragging am first,second, third,what a childish attitudes.May God forgives u all.To the departed soul,rest in peace,bro.

what a beautiful tribute..wonder y great hearts never last..R.IP

17th to comment...#closes eyes and sleeps off#

Adieu Gallant officer

Pain:
We mourn not because we are naive about human mortality, fretful for our turn or impudent of God’s prerogative. It is Gods privilege alone to give life and every officer in the Nigerian Navy, Army or Air Force knew the risks before we bravely signed up.

Nice epitaph but nonetheless God's prerogatives can sometimes be questioned just like some folks questioned why God allowed the Connecticut school shooting rather than deploying His Omniscient status to arrest such calamities.

God BleS the dead...

RIP
Life goes on

May Allah grant Daba's soul eternal peace. May He give his loved ones, particularly his breaved wife, the fortitude to bear the loss. BTW, the tribute is fascinating.

#80million:
am i 3rd?

*speechless*

I CAME THIRD!

Monkey!

mctemmy: Chei forth to comment next time na me go carry first!!chei first attempt I try *claps*

another Monkey!

morgist: i cant believe i am the 6th (7th the above mumu spoil show) to comment! haba wetin i dey do since. but i go try harder next time.

another Monkey! Still.

Please don't try to crucify me over my use of Hitler's quotation "Those who want to live, let them fight & those who do not want to fight in this world of eternal struggle do not deserve to live" Adolf Hitler

kalufelix: 17th to comment...#closes eyes and sleeps off#

Monkey! sleep

REVOLUTNIS:
Is this a tribute?

No nah LOVE LETTER... Ode

kalufelix: 17th to comment...#closes eyes and sleeps off#

Ashiaraba..! RIP o, oga Daba.

[quote author=Pain]Navy Commander Daba, the ex-boy who was the pilot of the ill-fated Augusta 105 helicopter that crashed on 15th December, 2012 was newly promoted with his coursemates (46 Regular Course). He was one year ahead of me at the Nigerian Military School Zaria. He was the smallest in stature among his coursemates, but he had a very big heart. This a tribute to him:


1. The death of Commander Muritala Mohammed Daba leaves a huge vacuum in our lives. According to news reports he died on active duty while flying the governor of Kaduna state and the immediate past National Security Adviser in a Nigerian Navy helicopter. We mourn not because we are naive about human mortality, fretful for our turn or impudent of God’s prerogative. It is Gods privilege alone to give life and every officer in the Nigerian Navy, Army or Air Force knew the risks before we bravely signed up. Naturally, the statistics for death are startling. One in every one will die, as none of us will leave this life alive. However, even the heavens applaud the brilliance of a shooting star and Commander Daba did shine. If the situation was reversed Oga would not bother with the circumstances of death like some do. He would smile and say “Allah Yayisah”. Well I am not that charitable. This is the second day since Al-Jazeera broke the news and we are in more shock than the first day. Despite the hurt in our hearts our thoughts and prayers go out to his family especially his beautiful wife and lovely daughter.

2. Every time I am privileged to witness the glory of a military wedding ceremony, my first amazement is the sparkle in the bride’s eye not the glitz of participating in the sword crossing ceremony. It fills me with awe that these amazing women dare to become what late Hajia Maryam Babangida calls the “Officers Wife”. It is incredible that any woman (or man) would accept to marry a man (or woman) who’s very job demands obedience without complaint and loyalty without restraint. Why would anyone want to settle with a military partner who is trained to love Country first, God second and then spouse/family in that order? At all times an officer’s wife waves her husband good bye without any guarantee he will return. Others live a life of sacrifice and loneliness. These superwomen wives often have to deal with long months without their partners because he is on assignment in another state, country or continent. It seems these courageous spouses essentially sign up to serve their nation along with their military spouses. Consequently officers and men are forever grateful to God for friends and family knowing that any moment could be the last. They hold their wives and family with high esteem and Oga Daba was no exception loving his wife and daughter till death.

3. Oga Daba was not just a compassionate father and faithful husband, he was a consummate professional. Since graduating from the Nigerian Defence Academy with a bachelor’s degree he has served his country both ashore and afloat. Commander Daba completed several courses within and outside Nigeria and earned his wings as a member of the elite squad of Nigerian Navy helicopter pilots. During one of his numerous trips to Italy we met up in Amsterdam for an unforgettable 36 hours in 2008. He told me of how he escaped racists in Hungary with “Regular” moves and military alacrity. Rather than save his course allowance as most officers on course would traditionally do, he chose like me to travel and see the world as means to understanding other people’s and cultures. He believed in a border-less world where race, tribe, wealth, nationality and religion could be defining but certainly not definitive. Lots of things happened that fateful day in Amsterdam but two of the actors will never speak and one is now gone.


4. Stiff upper lip and grieve in silence, I will end with three lessons I learned from Commander Daba and for which he would be forever missed.


Lesson one. You do not need to be wealthy to be generous.

I am not certain how rich he was on Saturday 13 December 2012 when he piloted the Navy Augusta helicopter from Bayelsa to Port Harcourt but I do know that in 2002, I was so broke that I could not afford to fuel my Honda Accord. This was a time when a one week delay in salary payment or “NG” could wreck a new officer’s budget and a two week delay meant disaster. In between pay checks I asked Mac Olowu to “raise” me. He was in the same broke-boat but took me to Oga Daba who himself did not have. Within minutes Oga Daba took me in his car to another officer’s house in Arakan Barracks, borrowed from the officer without disclosing my identity, lent to me and never accepted the money back. [\quote]
its funny how TRIBUTE makes people look like they lived a perfect life. Anyways oga Daba dont eat earthworm and dont eat millipede

Pain: Navy Commander Daba, the ex-boy who was the pilot of the ill-fated Augusta 105 helicopter that crashed on 15th December, 2012 was newly promoted with his coursemates (46 Regular Course). He was one year ahead of me at the Nigerian Military School Zaria. He was the smallest in stature among his coursemates, but he had a very big heart. This a tribute to him:


1. The death of Commander Muritala Mohammed Daba leaves a huge vacuum in our lives. According to news reports he died on active duty while flying the governor of Kaduna state and the immediate past National Security Adviser in a Nigerian Navy helicopter. We mourn not because we are naive about human mortality, fretful for our turn or impudent of God’s prerogative. It is Gods privilege alone to give life and every officer in the Nigerian Navy, Army or Air Force knew the risks before we bravely signed up. Naturally, the statistics for death are startling. One in every one will die, as none of us will leave this life alive. However, even the heavens applaud the brilliance of a shooting star and Commander Daba did shine. If the situation was reversed Oga would not bother with the circumstances of death like some do. He would smile and say “Allah Yayisah”. Well I am not that charitable. This is the second day since Al-Jazeera broke the news and we are in more shock than the first day. Despite the hurt in our hearts our thoughts and prayers go out to his family especially his beautiful wife and lovely daughter.

2. Every time I am privileged to witness the glory of a military wedding ceremony, my first amazement is the sparkle in the bride’s eye not the glitz of participating in the sword crossing ceremony. It fills me with awe that these amazing women dare to become what late Hajia Maryam Babangida calls the “Officers Wife”. It is incredible that any woman (or man) would accept to marry a man (or woman) who’s very job demands obedience without complaint and loyalty without restraint. Why would anyone want to settle with a military partner who is trained to love Country first, God second and then spouse/family in that order? At all times an officer’s wife waves her husband good bye without any guarantee he will return. Others live a life of sacrifice and loneliness. These superwomen wives often have to deal with long months without their partners because he is on assignment in another state, country or continent. It seems these courageous spouses essentially sign up to serve their nation along with their military spouses. Consequently officers and men are forever grateful to God for friends and family knowing that any moment could be the last. They hold their wives and family with high esteem and Oga Daba was no exception loving his wife and daughter till death.

3. Oga Daba was not just a compassionate father and faithful husband, he was a consummate professional. Since graduating from the Nigerian Defence Academy with a bachelor’s degree he has served his country both ashore and afloat. Commander Daba completed several courses within and outside Nigeria and earned his wings as a member of the elite squad of Nigerian Navy helicopter pilots. During one of his numerous trips to Italy we met up in Amsterdam for an unforgettable 36 hours in 2008. He told me of how he escaped racists in Hungary with “Regular” moves and military alacrity. Rather than save his course allowance as most officers on course would traditionally do, he chose like me to travel and see the world as means to understanding other people’s and cultures. He believed in a border-less world where race, tribe, wealth, nationality and religion could be defining but certainly not definitive. Lots of things happened that fateful day in Amsterdam but two of the actors will never speak and one is now gone.


4. Stiff upper lip and grieve in silence, I will end with three lessons I learned from Commander Daba and for which he would be forever missed.


Lesson one. You do not need to be wealthy to be generous.

I am not certain how rich he was on Saturday 13 December 2012 when he piloted the Navy Augusta helicopter from Bayelsa to Port Harcourt but I do know that in 2002, I was so broke that I could not afford to fuel my Honda Accord. This was a time when a one week delay in salary payment or “NG” could wreck a new officer’s budget and a two week delay meant disaster. In between pay checks I asked Mac Olowu to “raise” me. He was in the same broke-boat but took me to Oga Daba who himself did not have. Within minutes Oga Daba took me in his car to another officer’s house in Arakan Barracks, borrowed from the officer without disclosing my identity, lent to me and never accepted the money back.

its funny how TRIBUTE makes people look like they lived a perfect life. Anyways oga Daba dont eat earthworm and dont eat millipede

@ op ,touching tribute .."to live in the heart of those we impacted...". His friends and family shld take solace in these words. May God grant him and other departed souls eternal rest. RIP Navy Boy.