A Speech Presented by His Excellency, Chief T. A. Orji, Abia State Governor, On The Occasion Of A Grand Reception In Honor Of LT General Azubike O. Ihejirika

A SPEECH PRESENTED BY HIS EXCELLENCY, CHIEF T. A. ORJI (OCHENDO), GOVERNOR ABIA STATE, ON THE OCCASION OF A GRAND RECEPTION IN HONOR OF THE RETIRING FORMER CHIEF OF ARMY STAFF, LT GENERAL AZUBIKE O. IHEJIRIKA, GSS, PSC…

DISTINGUISHED LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!

I am very pleased to be here as a part of this unique ceremony by our State, showing love and appreciation in honor of our brother and friend, Lt General Azubike Ihejirika, GSS, Psc, former Chief of Army Staff of the Nigerian Armed Forces.

As our brother General Ihejirika retires from his exalted and coveted position in the Armed Forces of our Nation, this civic reception organized by our State – is both to honor him for what he has done in the services of our Nation as a great patriot, and in particular – as one who has not only left a legacy of change and development through his services, but was able to show that he loves his home.

I can proudly declare here that in retirement from the Armed Forces of Nigeria, Lt General Ihejirika (Rtd), will eloquently prove to all and sundry that what the Nigerian Armed Forces has lost, Abia State has won!

Coming from a pedigree of many other talented Military Generals that Abia State has produced for the Nigerian Armed Forces, General Ihejirika has distinguished himself, as one General that can always be remembered in our history as a great Army General – who through the grace of His Excellency, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR, broke the jinx of decades of belief system, that accepted the fallacy that post-civil war Nigeria could never produce the topmost officer of Igbo extraction in the Nigerian Armed Forces – as Chief of Army Staff.

 

General Ihejirika did not only make it to the top of the Army, but as Chief of Army Staff, serving under very difficult security challenges – akin to another civil war in Nigeria, he chose to serve the Nation with the highest commitment to duty, honor, integrity and discipline of a soldier with an absolute resolve to safeguard the unity of the Nation and our nascent democracy.

In the South-East Region and in your State of Abia, you never forgot to open up opportunities for our people to integrate us into the mainstream of the development agenda of the Nigerian Armed Forces. You truly fulfilled His Excellency, President Goodluck Jonathan’s visions of the unity of this Nation in signifying the beginning of the ending of the marginalization of Ndi-igbo, when he lifted you up as the first Igbo man to occupy the exalted office of the Chief of Army Staff of the Nation in the post-civil war era.

That is why you did not hesitate to support and facilitate the establishment of the 14^th Brigade of the Nigerian Army Barrack at Ohafia, Abia State, and the Military School of Languages at Isuikwuato.

That is why in response to our security challenges in Abia State – where criminal violence, especially kidnapping forced the desertion of our cities and disruption of commercial activities – you supported Mr. President’s military security strategy to restore sustainable security and fight other challenges of illegal oil bunkering in our State.

It is your support and commitments to the security of Abia State that has now made Abia one have the safest and investment friendly States in the Nation.

We will also thank you because your tenure in office as Chief of Army Staff encouraged many of our citizens to begin to fill our State quota in the recruitment of men and women into the Nigerian Armed Forces. You were a renewal of their hope that there was room for them at the top, especially for good performers.

All these heritage and also the Helicopter Pad established in Isuikwuato during your tenure in office, and many other development activities which your office and personality attracted to our State, including new road constructions and other services, will remain your worthy legacy of service, and for which our people appreciate you.

You have therefore not only proved yourself as a Nigerian patriot, but also as a worthy son of Abia State and Isuikwuato. You deserve this civic reception of our people, – our highest mark of appreciation and show of respect for all you have done for our people.

Today’s civic reception for you is our way of assuring you that in retirement from the Nigerian Armed Forces, your brothers will continue to celebrate you and with great expectations from your new transformation.

With the confidence we have in your abilities, we summon all courage to assure you that outside the world of the Armed Forces, the other worlds we see beyond there, are wide open – both nationally and within our State. They present veritable policy and civic ‘battle’ grounds, and wonderful opportunities waiting for seasoned minds and ‘Generals’ to assume command.

Our State will continue to support you in all the good causes you elect to fight for, support and defend in search of honors and laurels. We believe the sky remains within your limit in this State and in our Nation, because you have proved to be one of our best!

May God continue to bless you and your family!

Thank you.

Abia State Government Press Release