Immortalising a Fallen Hero
Chiemelie Ezeobi writes on the recent effort of the Nigerian Air Force to immortalise one of its fallen heroes who died in the cockpit while providing logistics support to troops fighting the Boko Haram terrorist group
The 10th stanza of the National Anthem reads thus; 'the labours of our heroes past, shall never be in vain' and borrowing a leaf from that, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) recently immortalised one of its fallen heroes, Squadron Leader Promise Lenton Gbenekannu, a pilot who died in the cockpit while providing logistics support to troops fighting terrorist group, Boko Haram.
Born on February 24, 1981, Gbenekannu enlisted into the military on September 24, 2000 as he studied at the Nigeria Defence Academy, Kaduna, and was commissioned on September 24, 2005. On May 18, 2016, Gbenekannu, aged 35, suffered a cardiac arrest and died while piloting one of the C-130 aircrafts in Borno State.
Despite the sudden seizure, the young officer was said to have successfully landed the logistics aircraft before he passed on. It was in recognition of his sacrifice and diligence that the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, recently named a newly constructed six by three block of flats built by Omron Construction owned by Jameel Olatunji, inside the Sam Ethnan Air Force Base in Ikeja, Lagos, after him.
Although the Nigerian Armed Forces honours its fallen heroes, who died in the line of duty while fighting to ensure the territorial integrity of the nation, whether on land, air or water is not breached or tampered with, on the Armed Forces Remembrance Day annually on January 15, it did not stop the Air Force from deciding to honour one of their own.
Present at the inauguration ceremony were the family of the late C-130H aircraft pilot as well as senior officers, both serving and retired.
A widow's pride For the widow, although she would have wished him to still be alive, she said she was happy that he died fulfilled in his quest to serve his nation. The couple were blessed with two kids; a boy and a girl.
The officer's widow, Dr. Justina Gbenekannu, who was at the event, said she was happy her husband gave his all to the service of the nation, adding that although his life was cut short, it was a fulfilled one as he enjoyed serving his nation.
While thanking the NAF for honouring him she said: "Life has not been the same after the passing of my husband. It has not been easy coping with two kids alone. Sometimes, it gets me down emotionally.
"But I am happy because he led a fulfilled life and as short as it was, his name has been written in the annals of the NAF. If the dead could see, I know that he would be happy wherever he is because of the honour.
"The NAF is proud of him and we, his family members are also proud of him. He died in active service. We were married for two years and four months. Those were the most favourable moments of my life.
"He was a humble man. He was a husband and a father. There are times I wished he was here to continue playing his role as a father to our kids. Our kids will miss him because they won't be able to say exactly how he was because they are still very young."
The Air Chief's eulogy The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, who was represented at the inauguration by the Air Officer Commanding (AOC) Logistics Command, Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Ibrahim Yahaya, said the project formed part of infrastructural renewal programme of the NAF, which was initiated in all bases for the good of personnel and their families.
He said, "These projects form part of the infrastructural renewal programme of this administration. They were initiated in all NAF bases to ensure the provision of a conducive atmosphere for personnel at their various work places and homes in line with the change agenda of the President and Commander-in-Chief.
"Accordingly, providing decent housing for officers, airmen and airwomen remain one of the first priorities of our policy thrust towards ensuring that NAF personnel and their families live in befitting accommodations and are better positioned to respond to various exigencies of the service.
"The project has been named after one of our fallen heroes who died onboard the C-130 aircraft while on a logistics support mission for troops fighting insurgency and terrorism in the North-east.
"The fallen hero was a C-130 pilot Squadron Leader Promise Leton Gbenekannu. The Sam Ethnan Air Force Base being one of the foremost bases in the NAF and the home of logistics command, is critical to the successful conduct of NAF operations.
"It is therefore, only appropriate that such a base received a commensurate attention in terms of the provision of facilities for the general well-being of the personnel and their families.
"We have embarked on the construction
Life has not been the same after the passing of my husband. It has not been easy coping with two kids alone. Sometimes, it gets me down emotionally