Brig-Gen Marwa Weeps, Says Late Zainab Was His Wife, Mother, Sister, Mentor, Confidant, Adviser

By Charles Igbo

Hundreds of people from all walks of life, from far and near, who converged at Ezedibia, Emekuku, Owerri North LGA, were, at once, shocked, weak and teary as they watched Brigadier-General Mohammed Buba Marwa, rtd,  Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, break down as the remains of his first wife, Her Excellency, Chief (Mrs) Zainab Salome Chioma, née Agbaso,Igolo Oha 1 were returned to mother-earth.

The steely mien of a General gave way to emotions. As he bid her a final goodbye, he and their four children held tightly to one another, and tears flowed.

From Mrs Marwa’s siblings, her children, her husband, it was a sobre and emotional farewell to a beloved sister, mother and wife.

Younger brother, Chief Martin Agbaso,  was so  emotional he couldn’t read the family tribute. Another younger brother, HE Jude Agbaso, former Deputy Governor of Imo State, tried to read it, but ended up, mostly, an emotional wreck.

Her husband, Brigadier-General Marwa, in a touching a tribute, recalled their love story which he disclosed, began 1974, in Porthacourt. It was love at first sight, he said. And they got involved in a whirlwind love story.

He had just been promoted to a full Army Lieutenant. Both were very young. He was 21 years old, and she was 18 years. They knew they were meant for each other.. And so couldn’t, and didn’t, wait to get older because, all they wanted was to stay together.

At that age, the Adamawa- born Lt.asked for approval from his Commander, because he was too young, in order to marry his Owerri-born Sweetheart.  They got married in 1975.

That marriage produced four accomplished children – three Lawyers and an Army Lt. Col. From the children, they also got 10 grandchildren.

Said Marwa: “She was not only a mother to the four children our marriage was blessed with ( and grandmother to 10 grandchildren), she was, also, a mother to me, and in addition, a sister,  wife, mentor, confidant, and adviser.”

He commended her for raising their children well with “the right morality and appropriate education that enabled them to grow into  responsible adults.”

He added: “Fathers may try, but ultimately,  it is mothers who do a better job at such duty.”

Marwa, also, acknowledged the role his late first wife played in his Military career. His words: “She played a very important role in my early career. She stood by me at all times, through thick and thin, sickness and in good health, good times and bad, when I was away on duty as in military operations or foreign courses. No doubt about it, she was a pillar of support to me.”

A former First Lady of Borno  State, Mrs Marwa, to the surprise of everybody, died in Abuja, in the morning of January 8, 2022.

Her body was laid to rest at her maiden home, Ezedibia, Emekuku, Owerri North, Imo State, on January 29, 2022. She was aged 66 years.