Lt. Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika (rtd), former Chief of Army Staff, marked his 70th birthday in Umuahia with a grand celebration that drew family, friends, colleagues, and admirers, writes Boniface Okoro

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It. Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika, a former Chief of Army Staff, celebrated his 70th birthday in style. Born February 13, 1956, Ihejirika hails from Ovim in Isuikwuato local government area of Abia State.

He joined the Nigerian Army in 1977 and retired after 37 years of meritorious service, rising to the pinnacle of his career as the Chief of Army Staff, from September 8, 2010, to January 16, 2014; a position he was appointed to by former President Goodluck Jonathan.

A dozen years after his retirement, Nigerians rolled out the red carpet to celebrate one of Nigeria’s finest soldiers and gentlemen at 70.

The celebration was organised by Abia State government at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia, to honour one of its illustrious sons and a courageous soldier who is currently the Chairman of Abia State Security Council.

A former Kaduna State Governor, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, delivered the birthday lecture, moderated by the Editorial Board Chairman of THISDAY Newspapers, Mr. Olusegun Adeniyi. Makarfi was in office when Ihejirika served in the State. The ceremony also featured cutting of the birthday cake by the celebrant, flanked by his wife, Mrs. Nnenna Ihejirika, and many guests, as well as culturaldisplays. The event attracted wife of the Deputy Speaker House of Representatives, Abia top government officials, traditional rulers, clergymen, people of Isuikwuato and others from all walks of life.

The grand ceremony was attended by dignitaries, including President Bola Tinubu, Governor Alex Otti, and other serving and retired military chiefs numbering over 200.

Three former Chiefs of Army Staff, namely, Alexander Ogomudia, Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau, and Farouk Yahaya; three former Chiefs of Defence Staff, including Lucky Irabor, Christopher Musa and Ogomudia; a former Chief of Air Staff, Mohammed Dikko Umar and a former Chief of Naval Staff, Ezeoba; as well as dozens of retired Army Major Generals/Brigadier Generals, Air Vice Marshalls/Commodores and Naval Vice Admirals/Rear Admirals, were in attendance.

The celebrant confessed that he expected many generals to come, but not in such an overwhelming number, saying he was very grateful for their presence.

 Ihejirika’s journey as a military officer is a testament to conviction, courage, and service. As Chief of Army Staff, he led the Nigerian Army during a critical period in the fight against insurgency.

His tenure was marked by significant reforms, including the establishment of the 7 Division in Maiduguri and the Counter Terrorism and Counter Insurgency Centre.

His leadership was characterised by strategic expansion, logistical foresight, and unflinching composure. He prioritised troops’ welfare, building new barracks and rehabilitating old ones. His approach to counter-terrorism earned him recognition as a courageous and patriotic leader.

Going Down Memory Lane

At the event, Ihejirika went down memory lane, recounting how he joined the Nigerian Army. In line with revelations that go with such occasions, the Dike Abia, a chieftaincy title his kinsmen honoured him with after his retirement, said he had many mentors, including a former Minister of Foreign Affairs, General Ike Nwachukwu (rtd), himself, an infantry soldier and late Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu.  In his reflection, Ihejirika said Gen. Nwachukwu taught him to be confident.

“By the time we were about finishing secondary school, for those of us who chose to join the military, we had some advantage. Those of us from Ovim or Isiukwuato, we knew of General Ike Nwachukwu, we knew of Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu, and, of course, they talked to us, they talked to the student unions and encouraged us.

“But one thing General Ike Nwachuku did when I went for internship, because he was right there in the Defence Academy, if it were today, what most people in such position would do would just be to write the name of the ward and say, please take this person. So when I met him a few days before the internship, he said, ‘sit down.’He sat in a position.

“He said I should consider him to be the interviewer. I bent my face. He said, ‘no, look up. Look straight.’ Then he kept tutoring me, asking me various questions, possible questions and then I would answer. After drilling me, he said, okay, just go confidently and perform.”

Ihejirika recalled he came tops when he sat for the Captain to Major practical exams in Ghana and Gen. Nwachukwu gave him another surprise because he never knew the implication of coming first.

“I went to his office. I said, brother, we just did the exams, and I came first. He said ‘what did you just say?’ I said I came first. He said ‘you have made my day.’ He said pack my suitcase, he had done enough for today. Now we should go to his house.”

 He said Gen. Nwachukwu carried him in his 504 air-conditioned car, with its flag flapping in the wind as they sped to his house. He said the General celebrated him.

“He brought champagne. I drank champagne for the first time. It wasn’t sweet. I said, so just for coming first, that’s what has caused all this celebration. So from that point onwards, I took my courses seriously.”

 In another incident, he narrated how he missed his promotion from Lieutenant Colonel to Colonel which rather turned out to be a blessing. He believed he may have offended a Commander who refused to forgive him, recalling that “that same promotion I missed was one that impacted on whatever followed, leading to my appointment as the Chief of Army Staff.”

The former COAS said he had several accidents but escaped unhurt. “I also had accidents a number of times without scratch. In one of the accidents, the vehicle somersaulted. So I used my boot to remove the rear screen and we came out unharmed. In another one, I traveled all the way from Kaduna to my village without getting official pass. It was a weekend. So I needed to go back before morning on Monday.

“In the process, I slipped off between Akwanga and Jos. I went into a valley. I just slipped off completely. I came out. And similar things like that. So one can only thank God,” he said in gratitude.

He told of how he worked harmoniously with his colleagues, including late General Patrick Owoye Azazi, as well as a former Governor of Kaduna State, Ahmed Markarfi.

“When I worked in Kaduna, if there was a problem, I did not need to refer to the Governor on what to do about a crisis already brewing. I did also not need to tell my GOC that there was a crisis and that I was taking action.

I would just take action and they would all be satisfied because we had agreed that so-so and so-so should not be allowed,” he said to underscore the cordiality of their work environment.

As a result of his career, Ihejirika said he grew up “not looking at ethnicity or tribalism or such things.”

“And as God will have it, there is no single Command an officer can hold in the Army that I did not hold. So, if the issue of marginalisation comes up, I will be the wrong person to talk about it. It was unknown to me,” the former Army chief said, highlighting the need for a united Nigeria. “Unity is not a difficult thing. In fact, it’s easier to be united than to be disunited,” he asserted, adding that as COAS, he did not discriminate against anyone, irrespective of tribe but promoted people based on merit.

According to the octogenarian, by the time he left the Army on January 16, 2014, he left with smiles.

“I didn’t have anything to bother because I had released the operational funds for all units in operation as far back as the first week of December,” made operations not to be disrupted.

Ihejirika’s birthday celebration was marked with tributes from President Tinubu, Otti, and other dignitaries, praising his contributions to national security and Abia State’s development.

 Tinubu, represented by the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Kingsley Ude, said, in his tribute, that he was delighted to be with Ihejirika “to mark the 70th birthday of one of Nigeria’s finest general.”

For Mr. President, the Public Lecture, themed: “Leading Nigeria Forward, Strategies for Security and National Cohesion,” “stands as a befitting tribute to a patriot, Pan-Nigerian, fine gentleman and a courageous General who served Nigeria as the Chief of the Army Staff at a very turbulent period in the war against insurgency and acquitted himself very credibly.”

 Otti, said Abia was celebrating a man who said not to status quo on account of the anti-crime exploits of security agencies in Abia.  

“We are celebrating him because he is a man that said no to the status quo. What people had accepted, oh! we have no choice; he said no. Yes, we appointed him to chair the Abia State Security Council. We appointed him on merit. And he has done the job very well.

If you are in doubt, go and check what has happened in this state in the last 32 months. Compare it with what has happened elsewhere. It is not magic. So I want to thank General Ihejirika for standing firm and strong. That’s what our people are known for. So, if God has given you an opportunity to serve, serve well,” the Governor added.

The Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa, said he was together with General Ihejirika during Operation Safe Conduct, and Ihejirika introduced “those long-range patrols and it made a great impact, that really resonated with me.”

Musa said he told himself that he would deploy such expertise whenever he had the opportunity of commanding any operation.

“And I did that when I was Theatre Operator and that made a great difference,” he said, recalling the military prowess of Ihejirika.

He said his further contact with Gen Ihejirika portrayed him as selfless leader.

“And then I had opportunities to go to China when you were the Chief of Army Staff. So, these are opportunities that you provided without even knowing who I was. And to me, that was the greatest of all.

“So, I rate a leader, someone who is able to produce other leaders that might even rise to be better than him, and I think that’s what leadership is all about. If you look here, most of the senior officers that have been here have benefited one way or the other through your tutelage and you continue to make that difference. We say we appreciate you. We say a very big thank you,” Musa concluded.

For the Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, Ihejirika has been a close family friend of the Umahis, having worked with his elder brother, Major General Obi Umahi (Rtd.).

He also related how Ihejirika seamlessly addressed the issue of marginalisation.

“And at the time that God elevated him to the Chief of Army Staff, we had issues. A lot of people were complaining, they would get to a point and they would not go up.

And that was part of the marginalisation that we were talking about. But he’s a man of courage. So when he came on board, he said no. What he did to the South, he did to the North. So a lot of people who were denied promotion, they got promotion by merit.,” Umahi said, describing Ihejirika as a man of integrity and humility.

The milestone birthday celebrated not just a distinguished military career, but a life of service, leadership, and impact on many. Guests lauded Ihejirika’s contributions to the nation, wishing him continued health, joy, and influence in the years ahead.