As funeral rites for Adm. Mike Akhigbe heighten,former Abia state governor Dr.Orji Uzor Kalu Wednesday sent his condolences to members of NDA Course Three.
Kalu said,”Akhigbe was an active member of the Nigeria Defence Academy Course Three,in and out ,of service.My condolences to all of them because they act like one family and are unique.”
Unique indeed.NDA Three has produced great officers and men who have also played important roles as officers and politicians.
“Akhigbe was Chief-of-General Staff, David Mark is Senate President.That set produced three Service Chiefs in Akhigbe,Alwal Kazir,Victor Malu and eight governors-Akhigbe,Mark,Kazir,Chris Garba,Tunji Olurin,Raji Rasaki,Tunde Ogbeha and Abdulkareem Adisa.There are threeb Senators,Mark,Ogbeha,Kazir, and three ministers-Mark,Festus Porbeni and Isaac Areola,” Kalu explained.
More interesting is that NDA Three, like the Course One of Gen. Oladipo Diya, produced one CGS and three Service Chiefs.But in politics,they are ahead with a Senate President.Give it to NDA 13 of Joseph Adeusi and Theophilus Bamigboye.They produced 11 Governors.
Unfortunately,due to the Civil War,NDA Three does not have an Igbo Officer.Nigeria Military School Class of 1966 mates like Emeka Okere,Emma Acholonu,Paul Omeruo and Herbert Eze could not advance their career while the crisis lasted.That is why you find Acholonu in NDA Course Nine 1971 alongside Buba Marwa,Tony Bob-Manuel and Fidelis Makka.
Of the 43 Cadets that made up Course Three,ten are late.Among them are Akhigbe,Adisa,Odeleke Lasun and Adamu Sakaba.”May their souls rest in peace,”Kalu added.