Lagos – Last week, the new Chief of Naval Staff Rear Admiral Ikechukwu Emmanuel Ogalla, paid a courtesy visit to the former chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Alison Madueke, Rtd. at his Lekki, Lagos State residence.
The Chief of Naval staff was accompanied by other senior officers (PSO’s , fleet commanders and chiefs of departments)
It was a very remarkable visit as history, experience and memories were shared. Admiral Madueke, who was CNS between November 1993 and August, 1994 under General Ibrahim Babangida, prayed for the new CNS, encouraged him and his entourage with words of wisdom.
Awards and gifts were exchanged in a very convivial environment.
Interestingly, the retired and the current Chief of Naval staff are both from Enugu State.
Public affairs analysts and indeed a wide spectrum of Igbo stakeholders commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for remedying the situation during the Buhari era where the South East region was not found worthy to be a service chief or even head any of the other security agencies.
Certainly, the choice of Adm. Ogalla as Chief of Naval Staff has been one of Tinubu’s wise decisions since assumption of office on 29th May, 2023.
From a professional view point, the choice was spot on since Ogalla had a glittering resume, both in terms of academics and professional accomplishments.
Politically, Ndigbo, no matter any grouse they may have against Tinubu must accept the fact that he has so far treated them with more respect than predecessor who infamously described them as “a spot in a circle”.
Ogalla in his humility has endeared himself to many, especially in his native South East region by the manner in which he has paid courtesy visits to the State Governors and other leaders of the region, with his visit to Madueke being the latest.
