Azubuike Ihejirika
Azubuike Ihejirika | |
|---|---|
| Chief of Army Staff | |
| In office September 2010 – January 2014 | |
| Preceded by | Lt-Gen. A.B. Dambazau |
| Succeeded by | Lt-Gen. K. Minimah |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 13 February 1956 Isuikwuato, Eastern Region, British Nigeria (now in Abia State, Nigeria) |
| Awards | Commander of the Federal Republic, CFR |
| Nickname | Dike Abia |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Nigeria |
| Branch/service |  Nigerian Army |
| Years of service | 17 December 1977–January 2014 |
| Rank |  Lieutenant general |
| Unit | 81 Division |
| Commands | Lagos garrison Command |
| Battles/wars | Boko Haram Insurgency War |
Azubuike Ihejirika,// CFR GSS psc(+) fwc fniqs (born 13 February 1956) is a retired Nigerian Army Lieutenant general and former Chief of Army Staff.[1][2][3]
Early life and education
[edit]Ihejirika was born on February 13, 1956, in Isuikwuato Local Government Area of Abia State, Southeastern Nigeria.[4] He was educated at Williams Memorial High School in Afugiri, a town in Umuahia North, Abia State where he obtained a London General Certificate in 1975, as well as the West African Senior School Certificate Examination with a grade I distinction.[2] He is a member of the 18th Regular Combatant Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna and was commissioned Second Lieutenant in December 1977 into the Corps of Nigerian Army Engineers (NAE).[5] Ihejirika holds a BSc (Hons) in Quantity Survey from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and is an alumnus of military institutions such as the Command and Staff College, Jajii and the National War College.[5]
Military career
[edit]Ihejirika was on the Directing Staff at the Command and Staff College, Jajii and was Principal Staff Officer at the Defence and Army Headquarters. He also held various command appointments including:[5]
- Commander 41 Division Engineers
- Acting General Officer Commanding, 1 Division
- General Officer Commanding, 81 Division
Ihejirika was appointed Chief of Army Staff (COAS) on 8 September 2010, by President Goodluck Jonathan.[6] He served as COAS for 4 years until his retirement in January 2014.[7]
Life after military
[edit]After Ihejirika retired as the Chief of Army Staff in January 2014, he returned to his hometown Isuikwuato where he was honored with a chieftaincy title, "Dike Abia" (in Igbo), the "Warrior of Abia" (in British English).[8][9] "I thought they will give me a chieftaincy title but they made me a king. I therefore dedicate this title to my commanders and soldiers who showed strength in the midst of daunting challenges", he said.[10]
Boko Haram sponsorship accusation
[edit]In August 2014, it was reported that Ihejirika was among the sponsors of the deadly Islamic sect Boko Haram alongside Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, the former Executive Governor of Borno State, Nigeria.[11] The allegation was made by the Australian negotiator Stephen Davis who has been working with the Nigerian Security Agencies in the rescue of the abducted Chibok School Girls.[12]
The State Security Service absolved Ihejirika of claims that he was a major financier of Boko Haram and said that he was proved innocent of the allegation leveled against him by Davis.[13][14][15]
Awards
[edit]Ihejirika has won several awards and honours, among others are;
- Commander of the Federal Republic, CFR awarded by Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, the President of Federal Republic of Nigeria[16]
- The Forces Service Star (FSS) awarded by the Nigerian Army
- Meritorious Service Star (MSS) awarded by the Nigerian Army.
- Distinguished Service Star (DSS)awarded by the Nigerian Army.
- Grand Service Star (GSS)awarded by the Nigerian Army.
- Passed Staff College Dagger (psc(+))awarded by the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji.
- Fellow National War College (FOC)
References
[edit]- ^ "Former Chief of Army Staff, GENERAL AZUBUIKE IHEJIRIKA set to join Abia guber race". encomium.ng. 14 February 2014.
- ^ a b "Meritocracy: Elevation Of Azubuike Ihejirika To Chief Of Army Staff". nigeriavillagesquare.com. Archived from the original on 2014-12-13.[dead link]
- ^ "Army Promotions: I'm not favouring my kinsmen – COAS - Daily Post Nigeria". Daily Post Nigeria. 2013-02-12. Retrieved 2017-12-20.
- ^ "Lt.Gen.Azubuike Ihejirika – The Abia State Government – Official Website". abiastate.gov.ng. 18 January 2012. Archived from the original on 28 January 2020. Retrieved 13 December 2014.
- ^ a b c "LT GEN OA IHEJIRIKA CFR Gss Psc(+)fwc fniqs {COAS 2010 -2013}". Nigerian Army. Archived from the original on 21 July 2015. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
- ^ "IHEJIRIKA: ONE YEAR AFTER, HOW FAR". The Nigerian Voice. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
- ^ agboola. "B'Haram sponsorship: SSS exonerates Ihejirika, to quiz Modu-Sheriff". Weekly Trust.
- ^ "Insecurity: Ihejirika Advocates Synergy among Govts, Security Agencies, Articles - THISDAY LIVE". thisdaylive.com. Archived from the original on 2014-12-13.
- ^ Eloti tV. "When a General returned home". elotitv.com. Archived from the original on 2014-12-13.
- ^ "A Hero's Welcome for Ihejirika, Articles - THISDAY LIVE". thisdaylive.com. Archived from the original on 2014-12-13.
- ^ "Nigerian Anti-Corruption Coalition Wants Modu Sheriff And General Ihejirika To Face International Criminal Court For Sponsoring Boko Haram". Sahara Reporters.
- ^ "Australian Negotiator Insists Modu Sheriff, Ihejirika Sponsor Boko Haram, Exonerates Buhari, El-Rufai". Sahara Reporters.
- ^ "Former Army Chief, Ihejirika is not a Boko Haram sponsor - SSS - DailyPost Nigeria". DailyPost Nigeria. 5 September 2014.
- ^ "[General] - Australian Negotiator Names Ihejirika, Sheriff as Sponsors of Boko Haram". Village Square Forums. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2017-12-20.
- ^ "Boko Haram Sponsor: Ihejirika, El-Rufai trade accusations - Vanguard News". Vanguard News.
- ^ "Why we offered GCON to Dangote - Jonathan - Vanguard News". Vanguard News. 14 November 2011.