BLACK SOCIAL HISTORY
Azubuike Ihejirika
| Azubuike Ihejirika | |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Dike Abia |
| Born | 13 February 1956 Isuikwuato, Abia State, Nigeria |
| Allegiance |  Nigeria |
| Service/branch |  Nigerian Army |
| Years of service | 17 December 1977–January 2014 |
| Rank | Lieutenant general |
| Unit | 81 Division |
| Commands held | Lagos garrison Command |
| Battles/wars | Boko Haram Insurgency War |
| Awards | Commander of the Federal Republic, CFR |
| Relations | Nnenna Ihejirika (Spouse) |
Azubuike Ihejirika, Commander of the Federal Republic, CFR (born 13 February 1956) was a Nigerian War Veteran and former Nigerian Army Chief of Army Staff, COAS.[1][2][3]
Military career
He was born on 13 February 1956 in Isuikwuato Local Government Area of Abia State, a Southeastern Nigeria.[4] He was educated at Williams Memorial, high school, Afugiri in Umuahia North Local Government of Abia State where he sat for the London General Certificate of Examinations (GCE) in 1975 as well as the West African Senior School Certificate Examinationwith a grade I distinction.[5] He later attended Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna after he won the best result in the entrance examination and was commissioned as a Second lieutenant into the Corps of Nigerian Army Engineers on December 17, 1977.[6] He held several commands before his retirement.[7] He served as Lagos garrison Commander of the 81 Division before he was appointed as the Nigerian Army Chief of Army Staff, COAS on 8 September 2010. He served in this capacity for 4 years until his retirement on January 2014.[8]
Life after military
After he retired as the Nigerian Army Chief of Army Staff, COAS on January 2014, he returned to his hometown, Isuikwuato Local Government Area of Abia State, a Southeastern Nigeria where he was honored with a befitting chieftaincy title " Dike Abia" (in Igbo), the "Warrior of Abia" (In British English).[9][10] " 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 quoted.[11] On August 2014, it was reported that he was among the sponsors of the deadly Islamic sect, Boko Haram alongside Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, the former Executive Governor of Borno State,Nigeria.[12] This allegation was made by the Australian negotiator, Dr. Stephen Davis who has been working with the Nigerian Security Agencies in the rescue of the abductedChibok School Girls.[13] The authenticity of the allegation generated a lot of reactions across the Nation and some part of the neighboring countries until he was proved innocent of the allegation leveled against him by the Australian negotiator.[14][15][16]
Awards
He 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[17]
- 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 Nigerian Army.
- Fellow National War College (FOC)
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