As the count down to the 10th January 2025 election scheduled to elect late Chief Emmanuel Inwanyanwu 's successor continues to gather momentum, all eyes are definitely on Sir Mike Mbama Okiro to dust all others and become the next President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
Born on 24th July 1949 in Egbema Obiakụ Local Government Area of Rivers State, attended the University of Ibadan where his aluta disposition sprang from as he was elected Treasurer of Rivers State Students Association. Sir Okiro also studied at the University of Lagos, University of Jos, before his nomination to attend the prestigious National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru in Plateau State to earn the alumnus status of the revered mni.
His public service life saw him joining the Nigeria Police Force as a cadet Superintendent of Police on 1st August 1977, growing through the ranks steadily, until he emerged the 13th indigenous Inspector General of Police in June 2007.
Sir Okiro had a quite remarkable tour of duty as a police officer.
Among his most outstanding exploits cum achievements was when as an Area Commander, he stamped out the then marauding Area boys terrorizing the Lagos axis with alacrity, giving the commercial nerve center of Nigeria petrifying odium, thus gaining notoriety as a den of crimes and criminality, turning the place into where value for human life was a scarce commodity.
The manner that he deftly brought sanity to the area, Left many aghast, earned him rave commendations, and in recognition of his huge security prowess, he was made the Commissioner of Police for the State to sanitize the entire command.
As IGP, Sir Okiro introduced far- reaching policy innovations that purged or curbed the Nigerian Police of
much arbitrariness in their service delivery, throwing out the bad eggs and upscaling the judicious structure in the system amid process of recognizing valour, uprightness and ensuring inclusivity in personnel matters.
He retired without blemish on attaining 60 years on 24th July 2009.
Owing to the tranquility within the Force during his tenure as IGP, coupled with his vast experience in mitigating daunting challenges/ assignments, Sir Mike Mbama Okiro was appointed the Chairman of the Police Service Commission in 2013, a coveted office responsible for the Appointment, Promotion and Discipline of the entire police personnel with the exception of only the IGP.
He meritoriously served in that capacity for 5 years and bowed out in 2018, when his tenure expired.
Sir Okiro is an enigmatic personality who commands awesome respect across board, and is widely held in high esteem.
Sir Okiro is credited with being the initiator of the Amnesty programme, stemming from his advice on the boiling security threats posed by the militants then to late President Umaru musa Yar'Adua, which effectively and dramatically restored enduring peace in the entire Niger Delta till tomorrow.
The Kernel of this piece is that Ndígbo deserves a doff of hat for heeding wise counsel by strategically zoning the President General of Ohanézè to Rivers State.
This well-intentioned gesture will not only enhance the credibility and visibility of the socio-cultural bloc but will as well incredibly unite all the Igbo speaking scions irrespective of place or circumstances of birth.
Quintessentially, Sir Okiro is a master strategist who once elected, will deploy rave stratagem towards putting Ndígbo in a stellar enviable position in the Country 's scheme of things.
Sir Okiro, undoubtedly, has so much influence to midwife mainstreaming Ndígbo interest and ensuring that the present insecurity in especially the South East is quickly addressed devoid of blood letting.
As Rivers State Ndígbo March to the poll, all eyes of discerning minds can vouch for Sir Okiro coming tops.
This postulation is well informed and not the figment of imagination, unlike what some pretenders are peddling in bid to surreptitiously dissect misinformation luring the public to believe that certain vested interest groups have endorsed or are rooting for the candidate of their fancy without iota of proof.
Sir Okiro is not perturbed by such antics because his popularity in Rivers State Ndígbo is legendary and is destined to bring much value addition towards guiding Ndígbo to assume the rightful place in Nigeria.
Moreover he is an adept peace -maker, atop- notch security expert of international repute, who knows what is needed to restore normalcy in the South East, apart from his intimidating capacity to woo key stakeholders to revisit certain flashpoints issues agitating Ndígbo with a view to brokering much needed truce.
The 10th January 2025 election is not about just picking a leader for Ndígbo of Rivers State descent, rather it transcends mere politicking, it is symbolic and a wake up call for Rivers State Ndígbo to entrust it 's fate to some one with the nerve to stand the heat and to have as it's President General an experienced, well tested and exposed charismatic and reliable statesman, who knows his onions and is very intelligent and committed to brazing the new trails towards ensuring enduring peace is restored in all parts of Ndígbo land, while navigating the realization of long held common aspirations of a people with great zeal and penchant for excelling in all facets of life.
Sir Mike Mbama Okiro is in fact God sent.
Professor Obinna Chukwuemeka.
New York, USA.
