I left two monumental legacies as Governor of Anambra, Imo – Admiral Alison Madueke
Former chief of Naval staff, Rear Admiral Alison Madueke has disclosed that he left two monumental legacies for which he will continued to be remembered in history.
Rear Admiral Madueke was the military Governor of old Anambra and old Imo state for less than three years, before more states were created out of these two states.
This milestone achieved by the former Governor was contained in his autobiography : “Riding The Storms With God In my Sails”, which was unveiled recently in a gathering that attracted
the top brass of serving and retired Nigerian military, serving Naval and military personnel who were joined by other notable Nigerians at the unveiling of the book in Lagos amid accolades and encomiums.
The book gave the land mark achievements as the Nnamndi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu which was an abandoned project overgrown with grass and hardly beyond the foundation with N5million owed the contractor.
When Madueke became the Governor of old Anambra state, he brought the contractors back and with little or no funds, mobilised the people of Anambra state with the launch of a stadium appeal fund.
The Rear Admiral said this led him to visit all local government areas and the major cities of Enugu, Onitsha, Lagos, Jos, Kano in search of funds and eventually raised enough money to complete the project in record time of 20 months.
The other achievement worthy of note is the Imo Airport project which Madueke said, was borne through his identification of the people’s need for an airport. Based on that, he mobilised them using the strategy that worked for him. At the end he was able to start and move the imo airport project to a point of no return with the money his government realised from the Airport Appeal Fund.
The book explained Madueke’s disposition toward dialogue and compromise on the late Abiola’s issue as well as uncompromising stand on several other issues of national governance that earned him the displeasure of the Commander In Chief and precipitated the truncation of his Naval carrier.
Madueke advocated for a decentralised structure of governance in the country, arguing that it is absurd that the federal government should keep all the resources to itself and determines, from Abuja the needs of the federating states, adding that a better approach will be for national funds to be passed unto the states which should be in a better position to know their problems and needs and how to use the funds available to address them.
Speaking at the unveiling of the book, the chairman of the occasion, Vice Admiral Akin Aduwo (rtd) extolled Madueke’s sterling qualities as a fine officer who served his country meritoriously at the highest level without blemish.
Aduwo said when he was the Chief of Naval Staff, he appointed officers under his command based on merit and not on tribal or primordial sentiments.
Aduwo stated that he appointed Madueke as defence attache in Washington DC based on his competence, adding that he did not disappoint on the appointment.
Speaking while reviewing the book, professor Paul Modum noted that the 500 page autobiography was exquisitely and intelligently written in simple to read and understand language.
Professor Modum stated that the book is basically about the author’s gratitude to his maker for seeing him through in his Naval carrier through his retirement.
He said after the near fatal encounter at Ikeja airport with a British interrogator on July 30th 1966, three battle front injuries sustained during the Nigerian Biafra hostilities, after being detained at the end of the war, after being cleared by a military panel and reabsorbed in the Nigerian Navy among others, the author has every reason to be grateful to God.
Speaking also, the Alake of Egbaland, His Royal Majesty Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, said Madueke is a committed and a focused officer who did his best in the service of his fatherland.
While the former chief of Army staff, Major General Chris Alli described Madueke as a disciplined officer who rose to the top of his carrier based on hard work, commitment and honesty.
Speaking also, the President general of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief John Nwodo stressed the need for the reintroduction of scholarship into the educational system including the reintroduction of history into the country’s educational curriculum .
Madueke had extensive training and experience in engineering and communication system in his Naval carrier and commanded capital ships and establishments.
He attended several senior officers courses in management of organisations, human and managerial resources.
The retired Rear Admiral is also a graduate of the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPPS) Kuru.
He has to his credit, three doctorate degrees (Honoris Causa) in science from Enugu State University of Technology, Law, (LLD) from Abia State University and Business (DBA) from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
The public presentation of the book was attended by serving and retired personnel of the Navy, military and civilians among who are former chief of General Staff, Commodore Abitu Ukiwe (rtd), former chief of Army staff, Major General Chris Alli (rtd), former chief of Army staff, Lt General Azubike Ihejirika (rtd), former chief of Naval staff, Vice Admiral Dele Ezeoba, former chief of Naval staff, Vice Admiral Jibrila Ayinla, representative of the chief of Naval staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas and other serving and retired military personnel, the Alake of Egbaland, the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, the President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, chief John Nnia Nwodo, professor Geoge Obiozor, Dr Peter Obi, representatives of Imo state, and Enugu state governments, former chairman of MTN, Pascal Dozie among others.
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