By Sunday Ani

It was a day like no other in Agbor, the capital of Ika South Local Government Area last weekend as dignitaries from various walks of life in Nigeria and diaspora converged to honour the immediate past Chief of Defense Staff, General Lucky Irabor (rtd). The event was the home coming of the accomplished Army boss after a meritorious career spanning over three decades.

Those who witnessed the colourful event were not surprised over the crowd of dignitaries on hand in Agbor. It was after 37 years of unblemished service that saw Irabor rise to the pinnacle of his career and becoming Nigeria’s number one soldier that the Ika Nation who populate the two local governments, Ika North-East and Ika South and also parts of Edo State organized what many saw as a befitting homecoming for their illustrious son.

It is interesting to note that General Irabor’s homecoming came after his people a month earlier hosted another son, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa at the end of his tour of duty as governor of Delta State after eight years.

The Group Managing Director of Zenith Bank, Dr Ebenezer Onyeagwu, one of the guests captured the development when he said at the occasion that the Ika Nation has produced more than a proportionate number of dignitaries in the professions, sports and arts in the polity that surpass its estimated 600,000 population.

As the ceremony commenced just before midday following threats of rainfall that gave way to clear skies, remarks were taken from a number of dignitaries.

Dr Onyeagwu spoke of the dignity of men and women of Ika land that has given birth to the emergence of prodigies from the region in the professions even as he joked about the great disappointment from Irabor in going to Ika Grammar School, Agbor instead of the Saint Columbus College that he Onyeagwu attended.

While noting that Irabor must have excelled in discipline and military prowess to have risen to the top of the armed forces, the banker said:

“For you to get to the rank of general, you must have passed through a lot of discipline, a lot of regimentation. You don’t get there by mere announcement, you work your way through.

“So, today we celebrate a man who has worked assiduously, meritoriously, dedicatedly to become a Chief of Defence Staff of our nation, Nigeria.”

Senator Okowa while noting the general acclaim on the military prowess of General Irabor also harped on the discipline that his wife, Barrister Victoria helped to bring on the family while the general was in the field of battle.

Okowa perhaps recalling the encomiums poured on his children for not bringing disgrace to his family while he held office as was harped during his homecoming a month earlier praised Mrs Victoria Irabor for the discipline with which she marshalled the home front.

He said that from experience, if a wife does not maintain the home, then the husband would not be able to excel in the work place.

Prince Nduka Obiagbena in his brief remarks spoke of the dignity and capacity that Irabor brought to his duties as CDS and commended him as worthy of emulation.

Governor Oborevwori expressed pride that the erstwhile CDS was from Delta State and particularly commended the Ika Nation for the unity that they showed in bringing themselves together to organise the welcome reception.

He said the unity of the Ika people was one that should be commended to the other ethnic nationalities in the state.

Admiring the turnout of dignitaries across the nation and the presence of the different clans in Ika Nation at the ceremony, Governor Oborevwori said:

“You can see that this is not a hired crowd. You can see that the unity of the Ika nation has brought about this hosting. God will bless Ika nation.

“As governor, it is my duty to encourage other ethnic nationalities to continue to unite and to host their own and that will spur them to continue to do more. A lot has been said about our brother Gen. Irabor. As a speaker in the 7th Assembly, the lot that he has done I am aware and he was upgraded and almost at the point of retirement, he was made the Chief of Defence Staff and putting another 29 months.

“And he has done very well as a brilliant officer. And one thing I find about him is that he is someone that has a passion to serve. He is committed, very focused in all his doing and I am very sure that the person that has taken over from you, CG Musa is somebody that I know for almost two decades; is also a fine officer and I know with him peace will come to this nation.”

Oborevwori did not end his speech without noting that though the former CDS is from Delta, he also observed that his successor also has a link to the state being that the wife is from the state.

In his own speech that brought the colourful event to an end, General Irabor who was decked in Ika costume with a walking stick as he mounted the rostrum with his wife beside him, expressed his joy to all present and the organisers.

He particularly lauded Governor Oborevwori who he said took time to attend his pull-out ceremony, the traditional monarchs from Ika Nation, those who helped in raising him up including Dr Festus Okubor who stood in for his father-in-law and those who helped him to achieve his laurels in the military arena.

Asserting that the peace of the nation was guaranteed with the appointment of Gen Musa and the new service chiefs, Irabor said:

“I am glad that your pedigree is well known and I am happy that no other person was chosen to be the chief of defence staff at this time. Let me use this opportunity to assure the nation that with CG Musa as CDS, we certainly are well pleased and the security and defence of our nation is in good hands.

“The growth and development of the armed forces is in good hands and so be rest assured that Musa along with his team of service chiefs will do the best to ensure that they increase or escalate the approaches that we have established to ensure that within our nation that there will be no problem of insecurity.”

Besides Onyeagwu who is also chairman of the Committee of Bank chief executives, several dignitaries came in for the occasion from within and outside Ika Land.

Irabor’s successor, Major-General CG Musa with his wife who also hails from Delta State led the military top brass to show appreciation to the former defence chief.

Former military chiefs including General Alex Ogomudia (rtd), General Azubike Ihejirika who Irabor claimed exposed him to the fundamentals that led to his yeoman’s job in the Northeast were also there.

The chief host was of course, Governor Oborevwori who led his deputy, Sir Monday Onyeme, speaker of the House of Assembly, Emomotimi Guwor, the immediate past governor of Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, Dr Onyeagwu, Chairman of Thisday/Arise News, Prince Nduka Obaigbena, Chief Nduka Irabor, the Dein of Agbor, Dr Benjamin Ikenchukwu, the Obi of Owa, Dr Emmanuel Efeziormor, Senator Emmanuel Aguariavwodo, Senator Uche Ekwunife, General Nicholas Aigbogun, rtd. Rear Admiral N. Agholor, Senator Emmanuel Aguariavwodo, Dr. Festus Okubor, among other dignitaries.