Gen. Obiakor: Obi, Umeh Urge Govt To Reward Selfless Public Service
By Gloria Anaeze, Onitsha
Calls for a national culture of honouring exemplary public service have taken centre stage at the funeral of retired Lieutenant-General Chukwukadibia Isaac Obiakor, with political leaders, family members and associates urging governments at all levels to preserve the legacies of distinguished Nigerians.
The call was made on Friday at Dr Alex Ekwueme Square, Awka, where prominent personalities, including the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, and Senator Victor Umeh, gathered to pay their final respects to the late military officer, whose life was celebrated as a testament to discipline, simplicity and service to humanity.
Beyond the grief of losing a respected military figure, the funeral exposed a broader national concern: the need for Nigeria to move beyond celebrating its heroes at their funerals and establish lasting ways of recognising their contributions while preserving their memories for future generations.
In his condolence message, Peter Obi emphasised that Nigerians who had served the country meritoriously, particularly personnel of the security agencies, deserved honour, dignity and appreciation for their sacrifices.
“Those who served Nigeria meritoriously, particularly security agents, should be dignified as an honour for their sacrifices,” Obi said.
His remarks highlighted the importance of recognising the contributions of those who dedicated their professional lives to national service, stressing the need for a society that values patriotism and does not allow the sacrifices of its citizens to fade into obscurity after their deaths.
The former Anambra State governor's position also lent weight to the growing appeal for a more deliberate approach to honouring public servants whose careers and personal conduct offer lessons for younger generations.
Senator Victor Umeh, who is the NDC's senatorial candidate for Anambra Central Senatorial District, also paid tribute to the deceased, urging the bereaved family to find consolation in the fact that Obiakor rose to the highest levels of his military career.
Umeh encouraged the family to remain courageous in the face of the painful loss, noting that the late general's professional accomplishments remained a source of pride and comfort.
Speaking on behalf of the family, the deceased's first son, Melvin Obiakor, expressed appreciation to Peter Obi, Umeh and other sympathisers for their presence, prayers and support during the family's period of mourning.
Melvin, an Assistant Head of the Data Management Unit of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, described his father as a man whose modest lifestyle, exemplary character and personal discipline made him a worthy role model.
“My father lived a very good and simple life worthy of emulation,” he said.
He expressed hope that the relevant government authorities would immortalise his father in recognition of his contributions to the country and society, noting that preserving the memory of distinguished Nigerians would help sustain the values they embodied.
Similarly, Ogbuefi Chukwuemeka Moneke, popularly known as Chukwudile Awka and an in-law to the family, called on governments at all levels to ensure that the late general's achievements received lasting recognition.
Moneke argued that Obiakor's contributions to humanity and society deserved more than ceremonial tributes, urging the authorities to adopt measures that would preserve the legacies of distinguished Nigerians and make their examples accessible to future generations.
The appeals at the funeral reflected a wider question about how Nigeria recognises its achievers, particularly those whose service to the country may not always translate into sustained public recognition after retirement or death.
For the family and associates of the late Obiakor, immortalisation would serve as a fitting tribute to a life marked by professional accomplishment and personal simplicity. For the wider society, the calls offered a reminder that national development depends not only on the service of exemplary citizens but also on a commitment to preserving their values and achievements.
As the mourners bid farewell to the retired lieutenant-general, the central message of the ceremony was clear: the true measure of honour lies not merely in tributes delivered at a funeral, but in the lasting recognition and lessons a society preserves from the lives of those who served it.
