Duke Of Shomolu in this opinion piece touches on human specificity.
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“God or whoever makes leaders have broken the mould and stopped creating leaders like this.” – DOS
A former military governor, Senator, minister of Foreign Affairs, GOC and Member Armed Forces Ruling Council and you sit with him in his modest victoria Island home and with him eshewing the simplicity of a Tibetan Monk.
General Ike Nwachukwu belongs to the very rare breed of Nigerians that have held very sensitive and ‘lucrative’ positions but came out untainted by the blood smear of corruption and avarice that is the albatross of most of our leaders.
I had gone to spend sometime with him this morning to present to him a collage of images from my plays – Gowon, Fajuyi, Sardauana and Aremu.
He was an elegant and very handsome officer who went to the war, commanded troops, represented Nigeria at the highest international diplomatic circles, won an election and went into the Senate where he comported himself with the dignity that continues to elude the rogues who lead us today.
As we sat on rubber chairs, he tells us about his house. A house he has lived almost all of his life and a house he built as a young officer with a loan of about N100, 000 secured from a Bank.
He told us of how he let it out and used the rents to offset the loan.
It is that same house that we sat this morning together with my close friend Dr Ebose who had gone to present him with his new book.
One thing I learnt today was the possibility of democracy being more prevalent in the military government than in the so called civilian caricatures that we are seeing
Just this week, the National Assembly just okayed in record time request to borrow more money without asking what exactly previous ones were used for
In response to my question, he explained that the Military Head of State would present a memo to the Supreme Military Council which would be debated and if he cant get a majority, he would go back and do his homework and come back
Wow, that hit me massively especially if you see the current situation where checks and balances in the three arms of government have been thrown out of the window.
I said-no way sir and he explained. We were all Generals even though he is head of state but in the military, if there is an objective in war, all sector commanders – Artillery, Signal, combatants etc would put head together and come up with a course of action
It is that sentiment that was now brought into governance and which guided especially the IBB regime.
He coudnt speak for the Abacha one cos he had retired.
I was blown over with that especially if you see how our Governors treat their Commisoners, Assembly and other elected officials in a democracy o!
Gen Ike Nwachukwu was a very handsome officer and this morning, his hair, silver grey, in a track suit, sneakers and about 84years was still looking better than Austin and I.
Gen Nwachukwu is my friend. I had met him at Chief Anyaokus 90th and after that at Air Mashal Ombu’s party – another rare bread, after which I invited him to speak at my Masterclass and since then, I would say, I had become his student.
I am now very enamoured by that generation of Nigerian leaders some of which include Chief Obasanjo, Christopher Kolade, Emeja Anyaoku, Gen Nwachukwu and Prince Julius Adelusi who at over 80 is still very handsome and debonair.
I am blessed to count them as my friends having interacted with them and engaged them.
I was sent to Christopher Kolade by Chief Obasanjo and that experience, I will tell you guys another day.
The value system that created these ones and guided them is totally diffenrt from the agbero own that is guiding us.
They remain aristicratocally gracious, humble, and elegant.
Ever so gracious, meticulous and engaging which now leaves you with a sense of – where did we get it wrong.
As we drove off, Austin was numb as he kept asking me-Edgar, see as that man humble, Edgar see him house, Edgar see as he gentle, Edgar see this man, no be Nigerian like us?
I will not weep for our current leaders, like that mumu Yahaya Bello but will continue to curate and engage leaders like General Nwachukwu and using my plays and writings to build bridges between them and us.
Yes, that is my own contribution and thankfully, the General has agreed to be on my Pod cast early next Year, God keeping us alive.
