I also knew NNS Fearless

He set out to highlight his perceived failures, which was already so apparent with his death or his missed opportunities to make Nigeria a better place. For the most part, he ignored the truth and the many contributions Akhigbe made on national developments. He also failed to note that Akhigbe’s emergence on the big screen […]

He set out to highlight his perceived failures, which was already so apparent with his death or his missed opportunities to make Nigeria a better place. For the most part, he ignored the truth and the many contributions Akhigbe made on national developments. He also failed to note that Akhigbe’s emergence on the big screen only lasted for 11 months as Chief of General Staff, a de facto vice president. For the most part of his “decade and half at the height of his power,” Akhigbe only played a supporting cast.
As critical as the essay was of the Admiral, it only succeeded in showing that Olurnhense held Akhigbe in very high esteem beyond the imagination of the Admiral himself to have concluded that “he had every opportunity to provide or help provide the vision and inspiration and direction and dynamism that every society needs to fire up its development and empower its people.”
 
Really?
In Nigeria, such an inspirational dynamic vision can only be contemplated within a very narrow family circle. Again, why should Akhigbe carry the Nigerian burden? After all, Akhigbe was not a white man of the 1800 whose self- righteous duty was “to civilize the more brutish and barbaric part of the world”, including Nigeria. There are so many other intelligent officers within the military ruling class, some of who are still very active in the current civilian system.
There was no platform in place to articulate such a vision. It still does not exist. However, if Olumhense was talking about Akhigbe in the Brazilian military formation and dictatorship which transformed their country from a developing nation to its present status as a democratic and economic power house, he would have made a point. That dictatorship began its hold on power in 1964 and from the onset was determined to change the face of Brazil. It adopted nationalism, economic development and opposition to the spread of communism in the Americas as an ideology.
Within 21 years in power the Brazilian Miracle emerged. Today Brazil has a high level of economic development and once produced gasoline from its vast sugarcane plantations rather than depend on oil imports. So if Akhigbe failed to inspire Nigeria, it is a collective failure of the Nigerian Armed Forces.
However, to expect such a transformation from the Nigerian military as structured was simply delusional. And even to expect that Akhigbe had such a big influence on the leadership of the Nigerian Armed Forces showed two things: lack of knowledge on the command and control structure of the military; failure to recognize ethnic fault lines in Nigeria; behind the scene major players or he was simply deceived or probably too enthralled by Akhigbe’s energetic and charismatic nature. He was a gentleman with a swag undoubtedly, likeable and highly intelligent. But Olumhense failed to see the warmth and friendliness of the man.
Even at that, it is disingenuous to say Akhigbe did not leave Nigeria a better place considering the circumstance under which he emerged as second in command. Nigeria was in turmoil as a result of the fallout of June 12, there was a need for an impartial leadership to guide it out of chaos. It was not necessarily to hold Nigeria together as a united country but to avoid the human tragedy that was looming. The world could not contemplate Nigeria in a serious crisis of such magnitude because the ripple effect was unthinkable. Even today, the international community cannot and will not stand by, to watch Nigeria descend into the pit of hell. That was the situation!
If that was the only contribution he made to save the lives of millions of Nigerians, history will be kind to him. He emerged on the national scene at a very precarious time.
As a senior naval officer, Akhigbe had always demonstrated high levels of competence, knowledge, experience, vision, communication, leadership skills and the ability to motivate, manage and solve problems. He was not a carnival barker or rabble-rouser. Nor did he harbour any latent malice and envy against anyone.
He was a man with feelings and deep knowledge and was at any time prepared to defend his position on any issue. That was how he earned the sobriquet or the tagline of NNS Fearless. He spoke his mind with candour and logic and often supported his position with numbers. He had the moral courage to stand up to his superior officers not in defiance but efficient execution of his duties.
For example, when President Ibrahim Babaginda’s Structural Adjustment Programme required reducing the size of the armed forces, Akhigbe counselled navy superiors against such a move to cut naval ratings and officers. Hence, there was no mass retirement as opposed to what transpired in the army and air force. His argument was not complicated. He reminded them of the length it takes to fully train a naval officer after graduating from the Nigerian. Defence Academy. He argued that by the time naval officers fully complete their training to include naval operations, logistics, marine engineering and weapons engineering, their course mates in both the army and air force were already holding command positions. While these were decimated, the Nigerian Navy remained cohesive.
Akhigbe did not always get away with his brutal truthfulness. He paid the price when he was by-passed for promotion at least on one occasion, which was later rectified. Akhigbe was never a protege of Aikhomu. In fact, Admiral Augustus Aihkomu had impeded his political advancement and gave that chance to Fidelis Oyakhilome, who was as police officer.
When he finally emerged in Ondo State as governor, he ensured the state was given its due from the Federation Account. He got the Federal Government to include it as an oil producing state.
In Lagos State as governor, he ensured that the Third Mainland Bridge, which had been abandoned, was completed. Even IBB admitted at the commissioning that he was out-manoeuvred by Akhigbe for the federal government to release funds to complete the project, which was initiated by retired Major-General Mobolaji Johnson, the first governor of Lagos State during the Gowon administration. Akhigbe went beyond the metropolis of Lagos into the hinterland to build roads. Other projects embarked on by the Akhigbe administration were the Opebi link road and the Oba Akran flyover to ease traffic, to name a few.
In addition, he introduced model schools to support the Jakande educational programme. These are landmark achievements.
Finally, the late Admiral came to the United States, the land of immigrants not to die, but to find a cure for his illness. But he was fully aware as a practising Catholic that he had no control over his place to die. At least, we know where he died. But we do not know where we will end our journey on earth when the time comes.