Nigeria is a factory of great men.
Men and women who have gone on to achieve great things in the world call Nigeria home.
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala readily comes to mind, but so do countless others who have led remarkable lives while identifying with Nigeria.
Is greatness In Nigeria’s DNA? General Chikadibia Isaac Obiakor is proof that greatness is Nigeria’s factory setting. He was born in Zaria in 1951. From little inconspicuous beginnings, he went on to light up the Nigerian military, leaving a lasting legacy of service. He quickly rose through the ranks.
For him, service to country was indistinguishable from service to Africa and the world. He was appointed as Military Adviser for Peacekeeping Operations and Former Force Commander of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL).
His was an early success story. He was General Officer Commanding, Second Mechanized Division, of the Nigerian Army. He was also Commander of the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) Artillery Brigade in Liberia in 1996 and 1997.
Nigeria failed General Obiakor. With time winding down a distinguished military career, General Obiakor was phased out. After he retired, the first African United Nations advisor for peacekeeping operations was allowed to go the way of many of those who have served Nigeria.
He was simply underused. A key defect of Nigeria’s human resources policy lies in how it abandons older Nigerians. Very often, men and women who have served Nigeria with distinction are allowed to peter out until they die. General Obiakor was no different.
Nigeria should have devised new ways to enjoy his wealth of experience upon retirement. These days, Nigeria’s challenges are home-made and require homegrown solutions.
General Obiakor’s experience in keeping the peace elsewhere would have come in especially handy in tackling formidable challenges at home.
He was a fine military diplomat. Few countries are self-sufficient in containing terrorism. Countries usually work together. To contain terrorism, Nigeria would have greatly benefited from involving General Obiakor and utilizing the vast knowledge he garnered. General Obiakor was not alone.
There are many other fine Nigerian military officers who served and retired in various capacities.
These men and women can help Nigeria end insecurity. Rather than engage them, they are being treated like valueless relics and statues.
Nigeria should rally its resources. The military human resources the country has spent years molding should be fully utilized. Melding exquisite military professionalism and the finest traditions of diplomacy can give Nigeria the international leverage it needs to rein in insecurity.
Changes should also be afoot. Retirement should not always translate to replacement. Experience is invaluable. Older people who have served Nigeria in different sensitive capacities should be retired but not relegated to the background to waste away.
They can play useful roles. They can contribute to military intelligence, technology, or simply boost the morale of troops. Nigeria’s illustrious military legacy of keeping the peace in other African countries should translate to maintaining peace and security at home.
Ike Willie-Nwobu is a policy practitioner and social thinker