Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Mr Peter Obi, has made a passionate appeal to Igbo youths to join the Nigerian military and other security agencies, insisting that there is honour and dignity in serving the fatherland.
Obi made the call on Friday in Awka during the burial of former United Nations peacekeeping commander, Lieutenant General Isaac Chikadibia Obiakor, where he paid condolence to the bereaved family.
The former Anambra governor described the late general as a rare, upright officer who served Nigeria with integrity at the highest level, including as Military Adviser to the UN.
But Obi said he was disappointed that Nigeria does not celebrate its true heroes.
“Obiakor served at the highest level as an ambassador at the United Nations Peace Keeping Force, but I’m unhappy that people like him are not celebrated enough,” Obi said.
“Just imagine if today was the burial of a general in the western world. In this country, we have lost someone as big as a former Chief of Army Staff and our president was not there, the Vice President was not there and political heavy weights were not there. That shouldn’t be. It should have been a place where all of us come together to give them the honour deserving of the sacrifices they made for the nation.”
The NDC presidential flagbearer for the January 2027 election, however, urged young people in the South-East not to be discouraged by the poor treatment of veterans, but to embrace a career in uniform.
“I urge our youths to see the dignity and respect that can be associated with serving your fatherland. It is not only the military but other forces, but people do not want to serve because those who have offered themselves for service are often neglected and not treated justly,” he added.
Obi further called for improved welfare for security personnel, stressing that those who risk their lives for the nation deserve the best treatment.
“Talking about remuneration, I think our military and others who have taken up service for fatherland deserve the best. They should be treated with dignity and respect as well as caring for them and their families,” he said.
Lt. Gen. Obiakor, who died recently, was one of Nigeria’s most decorated military officers and played a key role in UN peacekeeping operations in Liberia and beyond.
