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He is a precious gift to Nigeria, a national treasure.And a greater gift and treasure to humanity. His leadership traits as a police officer became noticeable as a young officer when he was a Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Enugu. As DPO in Enugu, he ruthlessly clamped down on criminals and made his area of jurisdiction totally crime- free.This made residents of the area to stridently appealed to the then Commissioner of Police not to transfer him out of the command. I am writing about Sir Mike Mbama Okiro, former Inspector-General of Police who is clocks 77 July 24th.
Sir Okiro is an impressionable personality, even while studying English at the university of Ibadan, he left no one in doubt about his exhilarating leadership traits. His superlative performance and salutary, examplenary leadership kill ensured his steady rise through the ranks. By the time Okiro became Lagos state Police Commissioner, it became clear that he was indeed destined for greater and higher responsibilities in the force. His sterling performance in Lagos was recognised and applauded even beyond the state. A security expert and former special anti-robbery squad (SARS) commander who preferred anonymity once described Okiro as a world- class security strategist. And he is indeed. The peace and relative crime- free atmosphere Lagos and Ogun State enjoyed while Okiro heldsway in Lagos as Police Commissioner were the results of his innovative policing method. He superintendented the arrest of notorious armed robbers like Shino Rambo, Tony Montana, EJA the golden fish and Kelvin, the robber that loved to kill Ambassadors and rape high profile women before killing them. In fact, security-wise, Okiro sanitized Lagos.
A country that doesn’t know how to utilize its potential resources will continue to suffer. Sir Okiro is an asset, a security asset any country would love to court and treasure. In other climes, a man like Sir Okiro would be retained, in other related spheres, to serve his country until he is tired rather than forcing tiredness on him as visionary leaders are rare to come by. He was the first Commissioner of Police to be promoted to the rank of Deputy Inspector-General of police. The double promotion subsequently catapulted Okiro to the exalted position of the Inspector-General of Police. As the 13th Inspector- General of Police, Okiro instinctively realised that a major insecurity was looming in the country hence his formation of an anti- terrorism squad. After forming the squad, he sent the team variously to Israel, Egypt, Spain, South Africa for special training. Okiro had explained that he chose these countries because they had long experience with terrorism.That is the man the Nigerian government excluded from the fight against terrorists like Boko Haram, Ansaru, ISWAP, Fulani bandits, Lakuruwa, JNIM etc!. If a man like Okiro was able to plan ahead, years before terrorist groups started holding Nigeria by the jugular, it means he knows what it takes to secure the country. If Okiro’s security template was sustained, Nigeria would not have been in a security mess it is in today. According to an American leadership expert, Professor John P. Kotter, “Leaders establish the vision for the future and set the strategy for getting there”.Sir Okiro is the calibre of leader Kotter spoke about. Unfortunately, however, immediately Okiro retired in 24th July 2009, all his security footprints were erased, some security stakeholders insist, out of sheer jealousy or how could anyone explain the reason the anti terrorism squad was disbanded and soon the country was gripped by octane terrorism? Even the safe school security program which was also his brainchild was also abandoned. Today, the country is paying dearly for doing away with Okiro’s visionary security architecture.
It is my view that visionary leaders and experts in security matters, whether retired or serving should be constantly engaged by the government as part of its inner security team, either as security consultants or full time members. Okiro is not a man that should be ignored either by the police, his home state, or the country.
As friends of Okiro, we are rolling the red carpet and wearing our dancing shoes to celebrate a security icon, a colossus, an elder statesman who has impacted and continue to impact on the society. Happy birthday, Sir Michael Mbamaonyeukwu Okiro.
May God bless your new age.
Sweet mother, I no go forget you, adieu, mama!
The Nigerian-Biafran War opened my eyes to the real value of my mother, the late Mrs Irene Mgbechikwere Okezie Nee Iroham. I briefly lived with my parents at a very young age until the Biafra war. The war forced everyone of us back home. That was when I realized the importance of my mother as she stood like an iroko tree around six of us, her children. She was a firm but at the same time a loving and caring mother. Mama would pamper us but would still scold and discipline us when the need arised. After scolding or disciplining us, she would later draw us close to preach and explain to us why she did what she did. Also, I recall that each time my father’s cane struck our buttocks, she would draw us close and advised us never to fall into temptations that warranted being flogged or punished.
Mama was workaholic.Shed loved farming and was one of the seasoned farmers in our community.
Mama was a very dedicated, devout Christian and prayer warrior who hardly missed church services and activities. She was sociable, welcoming and loved cooking.
One amazing thing about my late mother was that she was hardly ill. Till old age related health issues set in and her subsequent transition, we, her children never had any cause to take her to the hospital. And when the time came for her to join the saints, mama peacefully died in her sleep, in the comfort of her home and not in the hospital!. The only time she was taken to the hospital was to change her reading glasses, herself and her husband, our father, the late John Okezie were never hospitalized for any illness for one day, a rare grace from God! Looking back now, I believe my late parents enjoyed such rare health grace because they were devout Christians and prayer warriors.
Mama’s husband and my dear father, John Okezie was an Accountant and a chorister in the Methodist churc, Amaogwugwu in Ohuhu, Umuahia north in Abia state.
Even at old age and till she passed on my mother loved singing Christian songs just like her husband, my father. Mama was a quiet woman who loved listening rather than talking.
When my sister took her to stay with her in Enugu was when I noticed another part of my mother. I was informed that she devoted her late nights to praying for every of her children which interestingly created unprecedented bond and love with all her children- four boys and one girl- though unfortunately she lost one during the COVID 19 menace: Mr Godwin Okezie who left behind two sons.
Even at an advanced age, mama was still agile.Before she died at 98, she was still trekking to the church and would remain there till after the service when my sister would go pick her home. According to my sister, Mrs Ngozi Madubuko (Nee Okezie), mama died in her sleep in a prayer position. May her soul rest in perfect peace.
As I mourn my dear mother, I remember, “Sweet Mother”, one of the hit songs of Prince Nico Mbarga that my father used to play for her on his gramophone phone. The songs goes thus: “Sweet mother, I no go forget you for the suffer wey you suffer for me oh! You were indeed a sweet mother, my dear mother! ADIEU MAMA, TILL WE MEET AGAIN.
