By Chris Paul Otaigbe
Olusegun Obasanjo has lived all his life as a lucky man in the politics and life of Nigeria, yet by omission or commission, he always fritters away these opportunities to the detriment of the Nigerian nation and her people.
Yet, out of power, his words are still being regarded and his person being respected by people and media commonsense and natural wisdom expect to put in him check. However, among the voices of wisdom, only one man has been courageous enough to stand up to him and denounce the Ota retired General’s unbridled tongue and advertised hypocrisy. He said Obasanjo should be confined to the dustbin of history.
That man is equally a retired General but far respected and revered by both the military constituency and the civil populace as a strong soldier, true general, sincere patriot and a visionary leader.
That man is General Alani Akinrinade. Akinrinade few weeks ago joined the elite club of octogenarians. At 80, Akinrinade still burns with the passion for his nation. Although, most of the politicians in power and position of authority are his friends just as some would claim they were in the trenches together with him in the struggle to restore democracy to Nigeria, a forthright Akinrinade never shies away from telling anyone that he is neither
a politician nor can he say he has achieved the Nigeria of his dream…Even though his efforts has restored democracy back to country.
Moving synopsis of the life of the Osun State-born General was expressed by President Mohamadu Buhari in his congratulatory message to him and shared in the testimonies that poured out at the celebration organized to mark his 80 th birthday by his friends, who are largely the ones in power today at all levels of government.
As a junior officer to Akinrinade, Buhari admired him, his exploits during the
civil war and his post-war contributions to the “retooling of the Nigerian
Army, and eventually, his emergence as Chief of Army Staff.
In his tribute to this veteran of the Nigerian civil war, the President also
hailed his contributions to the growth of democracy through the National
Democratic Coalition (NADECO).
All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart and former Lagos State
governor, Asiwaju Bola AhmedTinubu, said Akinrinade deployed his all, to
accomplish any task given to him or goals he set for himself. “He served
and continues to serve his country with all that he has: his intellect, energy,
power, doggedness and commitment,” Tinubu said.
Thirty years ago, on the field, during the struggle to terminate military rule
in Nigeria, their paths crossed. Since then, Tinubu said the General has
remained a true democrat, an unrelenting fighter for rule of law and social
justice and a statesman extraordinaire. “He is very political though not a
politician.” Said Tinubu.
As co-founder of NADECO, Akinrinade suffered in the hands of the military
regime and according to the Asiwaju, they were both in the trenches
together. Together, they were forced onto exile from where they continued
the struggle. A combatant soldier who is no stranger to battles, he provided
direction and leadership for the NADECO group in the struggle against the
annulment of the now historic June 12, 1993 presidential election.
The APC chieftain is convinced that Akinrinade deserves all the accolades
he gets. Stressing the fact that the retired General was one of those who
fought for the democracy that now thrives in Nigeria, Tinubu said: “For
democracy, he suffered untold deprivation. He was hounded endlessly by
agents of the military dictator. After the junta failed in the bid to track him
down, his home was burnt, his business crippled… Notwithstanding all the
tribulations, the General has remained who he is – humble, modest, firm
and focused on changing our society for better.”
Osun State Governor Gboyega Oyetola described Akinrinade as “a
soldier’s soldier, a democracy icon, a patriot, a proud father and family
man, and a statesman at 80.”
He said the celebration was an appreciation and recognition of the mercy
and goodness of God to a life thoroughly sold out to humanity as well as a
celebration of fulfillment of destiny.
Tracing his career and active participation in the enthronement of
democracy in Nigeria over the years, Oyetola described Akinrinade as “an
Encyclopedia of Nigerian politics, having actively participated in the nation’s
political evolution through the military days to the present democratic
dispensation.”
Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi described Akinrinade as a detribalized
Nigerian, but who is unapologetic about his nativity. He described him as a
self-sacrificing, self-effacing man who never wants to be recognized for his
exploits for mere self-glory.
Of course, Fayemi should know what he is talking about because he met
Akinrinade as a research student writing his doctoral thesis on defense
planning in Nigeria. Fayemi said his relationship with the celebrator has
since grown to become that of a mentee and an adopted son.
According to him, the retired General paid for the first set of the equipment
used to start Radio Kudirat, stressing that he deployed his resources, time,
energy and commitment to the NADECO struggle.
“I am always credited for being the founder of Radio Kudirat. But, let me
openly say here today that Gen. Akinrinade paid for the first set of the
transmitters and other equipment used to start the radio station.” He said
Akinrinade affected him positively in his growth trajectory. He said he was
self-effacing to a fault. The Ekiti Governor and former Mines and Steel
Minister stressed that the General would rather operate in the shadows
than call attention to himself. “Yet, he is a patriot to the core, one who is
never afraid of speaking truth to power and challenging any status quo that
is not delivering development to the downtrodden.” Said Fayemi
Fayemi said his generation would continue to rely on the octogenarian’s
rich counsel, vision and sincerity of purpose.
Gen. Godwin Alabi-Isama (rtd) can easily be regarded as Akinrinade’s
closest friend. The activities of the duo in their days in the military college
and service were dramatic moments that have bonded both as brothers
even in their old age. He entertained the guests with some of their
escapades as young cadets in the military school and subsequent exploits
during service.
From the day, Alabi and Akinrinade met at a train station while traveling to
Zaria Military Training Depot in 1960, they were hooked to each other like
inseparable twins and have remained together till date just as they
weathered storms and savored pleasant moments together.
Speaking on the topic: ‘Akinrinade: the Early Years and the Making of A
Soldier’s Soldier,’ He said: “We started our training together at Zaria
Military Training Depot. From there, we proceeded to the newly built
Nigeria Military Training College (NMTC) at Kaduna. We were the first set
of Nigerian students at the college now known as the Nigeria Defense
Academy (NDA).
“All through our military career and thereafter, Akinrinade remains a
priceless value to the Nigerian military establishment in the areas of
strategy, tactical war assault, psychological welfare and war plan
maneuvering of the first order.
He is a man of absolute courage and a very respectable General in Nigeria
and anywhere in the world. He is always humble, and amiable.”
Reflecting on his contributions to the unity, growth and development of
Nigeria, a former Minister of External Affairs, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, said
Gen. Akinrinade’s career as an army officer, active participation and
leadership in the Nigerian civil war, which saw him lose many people who
meant so much to him, seem to make him believe that only democracy can
bring back the dream of a country they had.
“He seems to believe strongly that democracy can recreate the Army he
joined,” Akinyemi said, pointing out that the memory of the war seems to
keep nudging him to work for the unity and progress of Nigeria.
The former minister added that the nobility of the Army appears always in
his character.
“Generals always walk their talk. As soon as NADECO was formed, he
committed himself and his resources to it, although he knew that it would
cause a negative reaction from the then military government. He dared it.
He put his life on the line,” Akinyemi said.
Akinirinade, is grateful for the life he has lived knowing that only God’s
grace has kept him alive and thriving in the passion for his nation despite
his losses doing it.
He said: “That I survived till 80, I went through a few things that some other
persons didn’t survive. I’m particularly pleased because at every stage of
my life, I amassed people who not only care about themselves, but people
who cared about me and have helped me up to this stage. I am grateful to
all of them.”
On how he managed to transform from a military man to a democrat, he
said: “It wasn’t a transition. I was never a politician and I am still not a
politician, but I think all of us have our own pain, what we do, what we think
and what we will not do. I think rule of law, one-man-one-vote, government
being accountable to the people, but essentially, I am a leftist. I believe in
progressivism and that is what it is for me. I put human beings at the center
of every politics that we do. That is all I want to see.”
When asked if he was happy with today’s Nigeria, he said: “This is not the
Nigeria of my dream. No, it isn’t, but I still believe that if we strive hard, like
what we did today, if we can get together and have the elite acting,
understanding themselves very deeply, their background, where they are
coming from and what the wishes of their people are and if we can put that
together, we can still build a Nigeria that is going to be very comfortable for
us all. I still believe and I still believe in it.”
Having worked so hard for democracy, Akinrinade said democracy is still
unhealthy in Nigeria today.
Born on 3 October 1939 at Yakoyo near Ile Ife, Osun State , Akinrinade
attended Offa Grammar School for his secondary education (1954–1958).
He worked at the Ministry of Agriculture in the Western
Region, Ibadan (1959–1960). After he joined the army, he began officer
cadet training at the Royal Nigeria Military Forces Training
College, Kaduna in April 1960, then went to the Royal Military Academy
Sandhurst in the United Kingdom (August 1960). He was commissioned as
second lieutenant in the Infantry Corps on 20 December 1962. Later he
took the Infantry Officer Career/Airborne Course in the USA (August 1965 –
July 1966), attended Staff College, Camberley (January – December 1971)
and attended the Royal College of Defense Studies in the United Kingdom
(January – December 1978).
Akinrinade rose steadily through the ranks. He was promoted lieutenant on
29 March 1963, captain on 29 Mar 1965, major on 10 June 1967, lieutenant
colonel on 11 May 1968, colonel on 1 October 1972, brigadier general on 1
October 1974 and major general on 1 January 1976. He held various
infantry appointments, becoming commander of the Ibadan Garrison
(1970–1971) and GOC of 1 Infantry Division (1975–1979). He was a
member of the Supreme Military Council during the military regime of
General Murtala Muhammed and Olusegun Obasanjo (1975–1979). [3] He
was promoted to lieutenant general on 2 October 1979 and appointed Chief
of Army Staff, and then became Chief of Defense Staff in 1980, during the
civilian administration of Shehu Shagari . He voluntarily retired from service
with effect from 2 October 1981.
After retirement, Akinrinade engaged in large-scale farming and was
chairman of Niger Feeds and Agriculture Operations (1982–1985). In
General Ibrahim Babangida’s government he was appointed Minister of
Agriculture, Water Resources and Rural Development (1985–1986),
Minister of Industries (1988 – February 1989) and Minister of Transport
(1989). He became a member of the National Democratic
Coalition (NADECO), a pro-democracy group, during the Sani
Abacha regime.
One of the proofs of God’s blessings to a man is for his children to gather,
celebrate him and declare him blessed in his lifetime. The celebration of
General Alani Akinrinade by families, friends and fans who have, justifiably,
regarded themselves as his children – biological, political and military –
testify to God’s goodness in his life and in appreciation of a life of kindness,
service, humility and selflessness.
A fitting closure for this tribute is captured in the words of Akinrinade’s
State governor, Oyetola when he said “An entry into the octogenarian class
is a privilege and it is doubly so if such a life is still a rallying point for
national and international engagements. The composition of this audience
testifies to the enduring relevance of a man born in the ancient village of
Yakoyo 80 years ago, but now celebrated across the world.”
