For the Last Time, the Admiral Lowers His Anchor

Admiral Okhai Mike Akhigbe

Former Chief of General Staff, Admiral Okhai Mike Akhigbe, finally lost the battle against throat cancer as he passed on in far away United States of America. SHAKA MOMODU looks at the life and times of the fallen Retired Naval officer

Sailing across the waters of life, the anchor was finally lowered for him. The boat berthed and the journey ended. The sailor sailed inexorably to the end of the sea. The shore beckoned and he responded. Even if Okhai Mike Akhigbe, retired vice-admiral of the Nigerian Navy, former military governor, former chief of general staff and an officer and gentleman, had wished to continue, the vagaries of life had decreed otherwise. If he had dreamt of holding on, the decimating factor of throat cancer would not allow. Hence, on Tuesday, October 20, 2013, the bells tolled; the owner of life demanded for it and the holder surrendered it. Akhigbe lost the battle but in death, he is winning accolades. He had first been diagnosed with the ailment in 2010 and he went to Germany to seek medical help. There he was said to have been told that the situation did not look encouraging. And three years after he was diagnosed, Akhigbe finally succumbed.

For the Fugar, Edo State-born military officer, death was the ultimate decider as he battled cancer in the last few years of his life. For years, he had rarely been seen in public as he attended to his health. An unassuming and easy-going man, Akhigbe had maintained a low profile since he left public service in 1999. He had had a very fulfilling career; reaching the pinnacle of his naval career as the nation’s number one naval officer. He also served as equivalent of a vice-president when he was named the chief of general staff in the military government of General Abdusalami Abubakar. Before then, he had held various military positions but going by the vagaries and vicissitudes of the period when his career was flourishing, Akhigbe could be said to have been a cat with nine lives.

In 1985 after General Ibrahim Babangida torpedoed the military regime of General Mohammadu Buhari, Akhigbe was thrust into public limelight at the age of 40 when he was named the military governor of the old Ondo State. He had succeeded the late Commodore Bamidele Otiko. Akhigbe was said to have acquitted himself well at his duty post and the reward was redeployment to Lagos State in August 1986 to succeed the late Group Captain Gbolahan Mudashiru. Akhigbe was the military governor of Lagos till July 1988 when he had to make way for the coming of retired Brigadier-General Raji Rasaki.

Akhigbe simply went to the barracks after these postings and continued from where he stopped. He was sent to the Nigerian Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, in Kuru, near Jos.

Born on September 29, 1945, Akhigbe was educated at the Afemai Anglican Grammar School, Igarra between 1961 and 1965. He worked briefly at the Federal Office of Statistics, Kaduna before enrolling at the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna in 1967. He was commissioned in 1970. Upon being commissioned, the naval officer underwent trainings outside the country. The trainings included the Midshipman Naval Weapons Technology and Operations Courses in Italy, Holland, UK and Germany. This was between 1972-73. In 1974, he was at the Royal Naval School of Maritime Operations Southwick. He was also at the Language School, University of Poiters, Royan, France, between 1978 and 79 and the German Naval School of Maritime Operations, Bremehaven, West Germany in 1981. He also attended trainings within the country. He was at the Command and Staff College, Jaji, between 1982 and 83.

He was the director of planning, Naval Headquarters, Lagos, between August 1988 and towards the end of 89 and also the flag officer commanding, Eastern Naval Command, Calabar, in 1993. He was there until his appointment by General Sani Abacha as the chief of naval staff in 1994 and was there till 1998 when he was named the chief of general staff; which is the equivalent of vice-president.

Upon retirement, Akhigbe went into business but before that, he saw the need to shore up his academic background by going for a law degree. This he achieved and was called to the bar. He qualified as an attorney with specialisation in maritime and real estate law. He is a seasoned businessman with substantial investments in real estate. But the man’s hand was also in other pies. He was also into oil and gas. 

But politically, Akhigbe was active. He was a staunch member of the ruling People’s Democratic Party, PDP, in Edo State and he fought the current chairman of the board of trustees of the party, Chief Tony Anenih, for the soul of the party in the state. His grouse with the octogenarian was that he was too overbearing in the way the party was being run in the state. He was also involved in the presidential campaign of President Goodluck Jonathan in 2011 and it was during this time that he took ill and that was when his public appearances dwindled and it was like that till he breathed his last by 1pm on Tuesday 29th October, 2013 in the United States of America.

Tributes have been pouring in for the late naval chief. Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi, said Nigeria had lost a committed naval officer who served his nation with utmost sense of responsibility and patriotism. Emmanuel Uduaghan, the Delta State governor, said Akhigbe was a courageous leader who always spoke truth even in the face of daunting challenges and great risk to his life. Emeka Ihedioha, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, said the death of Mike Akhigbe would surely leave a big vacuum in the political development of Nigeria. Olusegun Mimiko said the late former chief of general staff was an exemplary officer who contributed his quota to the development of the state when he was the military governor.
As encomiums pour in, the sailor continues his final voyage home. 

lifestyle 6:37:00 AM